Chapter 210 - 156: Escape from the Forest

Chapter 210: Chapter 156: Escape from the Forest

The pair fled through the forest. Boosted by Divine Wind Talismans, they covered several hundred meters in just a few seconds. Unsure if anyone was pursuing them, they could only run on instinct.

The ancient trees around them grew ever denser, blotting out the sky and casting vast shadows upon the ground.

"Hold on."

Zhao Zuo stopped, realizing this spot was perfect for setting a trap. He took out several Yang Flame Talismans and Delayed Activation Talismans and began to activate them.

The Yang Flame Talisman was a powerful High-Level, One-Tier talisman. Paired with a Delayed Activation Talisman, it created a devastatingly powerful trap.

He hid several talismans among the dry branches at his feet, then affixed a few more in the shadow of a nearby tree trunk.

This formed a simple but effective trap. He didn’t expect it to seriously injure his enemies; he just needed it to confirm whether or not they were being followed.

Shen Yunjiao, meanwhile, dug a pit and covered it with a thin layer of soil. She then placed a few Intermediate, One-Tier Earth Thorn Technique talismans around it before they continued on their way.

In truth, retreating directly toward the Moyun Sect was the simplest and safest option.

But a defiant fire burned in both their hearts; neither wanted to turn tail and flee back to the Moyun Sect. Of course, Shen Yunjiao was also rather hungry for the Flesh and Blood Spiritual Power their pursuers possessed.

Setting the traps and falling back took less than thirty seconds in total. The two exchanged a look and continued their retreat.

About a minute and a half later, an intense fluctuation of Spiritual Power came from behind them, followed by a wave of fire that shot toward the heavens.

The traps had been triggered.

Zhao Zuo leaped into a tree and looked back at the pillar of fire. His suspicions were confirmed.

"Just as I thought. We’re being followed," Zhao Zuo said softly.

Behind them, a group of people raised a Mana barrier against the raging fire, simultaneously using Water Attribute talismans to protect themselves. Only one unlucky soul stepped right into the trap Shen Yunjiao had set.

Meter-long earth spikes erupted from all sides, filling the entire pit in the blink of an eye. As clods of dirt rained down, the man’s face contorted in fury as he frantically channeled his Mana to erect a blood-red shield around himself.

Of course, that wasn’t the end of it.

The initial fire triggered the other talismans on the tree trunks. Orange-red flames erupted in a chain reaction, wave after wave of explosions burning and engulfing the group.

The others had no choice but to channel their Mana and blood, forming blood-red barriers over their bodies before accelerating out of the inferno.

Su Ying’s lips curled into a vicious grin.

"Finding traps means we’re on the right path," he said. "Everyone, pick up the pace and keep after them!"

Zhao Zuo had confirmed they were being followed, and his pursuers had now confirmed they were on the right trail.

At his command, the men immediately used talismans to boost their speed. Only one, a black-robed man lagging slightly behind, spoke up coolly.

"Chasing enemies deep into the Yunlan Mountain Range wasn’t part of our original agreement."

"What are you getting at, Brother Mo? Are you planning to back out of this deal?" Su Ying’s demeanor shifted instantly, his voice becoming deceptively polite as a smile spread across his face.

"Of course not... but you’ll have to pay more!" Mo Bolan said, staring at Su Ying. He’d heard rumors about this man from his sect brothers. They called him a ’smiling tiger,’ a man who enjoyed killing.

"No problem," Su Ying agreed with a nod.

"Tsk, tsk. I certainly hope, Brother Su, that you don’t get any funny ideas about me."

"Also... you’re well aware of the mission we’re on. We can only pursue them for two days at most," Mo Bolan said with a smile, his voice carrying a veiled threat.

"Of course I’m aware of that. The sect’s mission comes before all else," Su Ying replied at once, a slight smile on his face, as if this weren’t a deadly pursuit but a simple country outing.

Of course, he was also well aware of the price for failure. For missions issued by his sect, there was only one outcome for those who didn’t succeed: death, and an extremely painful one at that.

Within seconds, the two had agreed on a new split of the spoils and immediately resumed their pursuit of Zhao Zuo and his companion.

Tree shadows flashed past as the vibrant, lush green scenery blurred by. But after a while, the endless green began to feel monotonous.

Mo Bolan glanced at the Magical Artifact in his hand, a confident smile spreading across his face beneath his cloak. Once his Magical Artifact had a lock, their position would be tracked anywhere within a thousand-li radius.

They just had to wait for their targets to grow weary, then accelerate to successfully capture them.

The two groups, one pursuing and one fleeing, kept this up for the better part of a day.

The prolonged chase made one thing clear to Su Ying: his quarry’s speed was top-tier among those at the Late Period of Qi Cultivation. In other words, they were a step faster than his two subordinates.

If they didn’t change their plan, they most likely wouldn’t catch up today; in fact, the distance between them might even continue to grow.

"Liu Wuwen, Huang Daniu, you two maintain this speed and continue the pursuit. Brother Mo, you’re with me. We’ll speed up and head them off."

"Alright." Mo Bolan had clearly reached the same conclusion—that they couldn’t break the stalemate at their current pace. He agreed without another word.

Besides, Mo Bolan could tell from the Magical Artifact in his hand that the distance between them was slowly increasing, and his targets showed no intention of resting or even pausing.

Up ahead, Zhao Zuo and Shen Yunjiao were also trying to figure out their enemies’ tracking methods, hoping to break the stalemate and regain the initiative.

BOOM!