Chapter 2201 - 2202: As Many as Can Escape

The target was not aimed at the people; it was aimed at the Lightning Bird. As long as the Lightning Bird was attacked, the two people on its back wouldn't be able to escape.

Ling Zhenfei had already received the attack from that precious sword, and was engaged in battle with his Tang Horizontal Saber, so he naturally couldn't take care of the situation with the Lightning Bird.

At this moment, Anna suddenly soared into the air and jumped off the back of the Lightning Bird. At the same time, a leaf appeared in her hand, instantly enlarging in her grip.

The short sword shot towards the Lightning Bird, striking exactly onto the leaf, which immediately wrapped around it.

Although this neutralized the short sword's attack, Anna also fell from the Lightning Bird.

Alice shouted in surprise, "Anna!"

Anna yelled to Alice, "Go quickly, one of us should escape, don't worry about me."

The Lightning Bird had already accelerated to its maximum speed, soaring hundreds of meters away in an instant.

Meanwhile, Anna fell straight down, landing beside Ling Zhenfei.

Ling Zhenfei looked at Anna, uncertain of what fate had in store for them both.

Anna smiled at Ling Zhenfei and said, "Welcome me to join, would you?"

Ling Zhenfei replied, "Do I have any other choice now?"

Enemies were everywhere around them. Ling Zhenfei glanced around and saw at least dozens of people surrounding them, though they were not attacking.

Ling Zhenfei and Anna stood back-to-back, cautiously observing the people around them.

Torches were lit, brightening the surroundings significantly. The crowd suddenly parted to create a path, through which a person walked in.

The newcomer wore a black robe, embroidered with a large golden bird.

Ling Zhenfei knew that normal gang members wore plain black robes with no embroidery, and only those with status in the Li Hen Palace were allowed any embellishments. The embroidered bird indicated that this person had significant standing within the Li Hen Palace—a faction with which Ling Zhenfei had some tensions.

Be it in Moergawa or Wuliang Mountain, Ling Zhenfei had had conflicts with members of the Li Hen Palace and was unsure if they would recognize him.

The person looked at Ling Zhenfei and Anna and spoke, "Impressive, very impressive. You dare to break into our Li Hen Palace at night to rescue someone. You're the first."

Ling Zhenfei said, "She's my friend, I must take her away."

The person replied, "Sure, if you have the ability, take her away as you please. I just worry you won't survive to leave."

At this moment, Anna, from behind Ling Zhenfei, said, "This person's name is Jinying. He's the one who captured us."

Jinying, just like the embroidery on his robe.

Ling Zhenfei could tell that this person's strength was immense; though they hadn't fought, he sensed that Jinying's skill was at least at the Pursuit Heart Realm Peak.

Facing someone at the Pursuit Heart Realm Peak, surrounded by countless Li Hen Palace disciples and more unknown experts from the palace, was daunting enough. The worst was having to protect Anna as well.

Ling Zhenfei knew he was in deep trouble today, facing a level he couldn't stand against.

Shanlingzi, too, was at the Late Stage of the Pursue Heart State and nearly defeated Ling Zhenfei before. If not for quick escape, he might have been in grave danger.

This situation was evidently even more perilous than the last, extremely dangerous.

Despite knowing he couldn't win, Ling Zhenfei maintained his composure, "Isn't it a bit early to say that? We haven't fought yet, how are you so sure I can't leave?"

Jinying laughed aloud at Ling Zhenfei's words and said, "Since you are so confident, let me see where your confidence comes from."

With that, Jinying took two steps towards Ling Zhenfei. Although just two steps, Ling Zhenfei felt as if Jinying had already closed in on him.

The force of his momentum was overwhelming, instantly bringing him close, striking at Ling Zhenfei with a sword.

The strength in any skill has a corresponding increase in speed; the stronger the person, the faster they appear.

This person's speed was incredibly fast, to the extent that even though both were at the Pursue Heart State, Jinying's speed was terrifying to Ling Zhenfei.

To Ling Zhenfei, Jinying's speed was merely an afterimage.

This was why Alice said she couldn't resist in front of Jinying. Her inadequacy meant she was captured before she could even attempt to fight back.

Although Ling Zhenfei was shocked by Jinying's speed, he still managed to perceive his silhouette, and his Tang Horizontal Saber unleashed the Boundless Blade Technique.

Ding!

With a sound, Ling Zhenfei's Tang Horizontal Saber struck against it.

As the sword and saber clashed, Ling Zhenfei immediately felt a powerful spiritual energy transmitting through the blade, so potent it made his arm go numb.

Realizing his own strength was inadequate, Ling Zhenfei quickly elevated his own spiritual energy.

Then, Jinying made rapid moves with the sword at Ling Zhenfei.

Jinying's figure was barely visible, as was the spiritual energy from the sword.

Watching from the side, Anna was frightened, seeing what seemed like an afterimage to Ling Zhenfei as well as Anna.

These afterimages swirled around Ling Zhenfei with several sword flashes.

Ling Zhenfei's hair nearly stood on end; if Jinying was using spiritual energy to attack, he might have been able to defend with the Sky-Splitting Ten Blades.

But Jinying wasn't relying on sheer spiritual energy for victory. Rather, he used swift movements combined with exquisite swordsmanship.

While Jinying's sword seemed devoid of spiritual energy, each clash of sword and blade revealed its powerful presence.

Ling Zhenfei understood that the stronger one was, the more concealed their energy might be.

In the Dawen Realm and early Pursue Heart State, battles were intense, heavily reliant on overt use of spiritual energy.

Most at this stage were newly discovering the secrets of spiritual energy, unleashing it aggressively.

Like Ling Zhenfei's Sky-Splitting Ten Blades, which utilized the outward release of spiritual energy.

However, this approach had significant flaws. Once unleashed, spiritual energy was large, easily detectable, and consumed heavily upon impact.

This made them easy targets for opponents to notice and defend against.

But the experts Ling Zhenfei faced often internalized their energy.

Weapons like flying swords and Shanlingzi's rings, during their attacks, revealed little about their spiritual energy.

Only upon contact would Ling Zhenfei realize the immense energy they carried.

The Jinying he faced now mirrored this. Jinying's sword seemed absent of any trace of spiritual energy, only revealing its power upon striking.