144: The show's over? It was fantastic!

Fang Hanyu flicked his fingers as if he had done something insignificant, as if to shake off non-existent dust.

Xiao Ruobai watched silently from the side, his eyes not wavering in the slightest.

However, just as the two were about to continue their journey, or consider whether to “pass by” the pursuit ahead—

“Whoosh!”

A somewhat disheveled, chubby figure returned, darting out from the narrow mountain valley fork like a startled rabbit, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was none other than that Xiao Pangzi!

The panic from his earlier escape was completely gone from his face, replaced by an expression of extreme shock, disbelief, and wild joy, as if he had discovered a new continent.

He stared with wide eyes, first incredulously at the headless corpse of the Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator on the ground, then suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed intently on the composed Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, and slapped his thigh.

“Oh my dear mother! I misjudged, big shots! Help me!”

As he shouted, he scurried behind Xiao Ruobai even faster than he had fled earlier, his movements so practiced that it was heartbreaking, clearly not his first time seeking a backer and clinging to a powerful figure.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu exchanged glances, both somewhat speechless.

This kid’s ability to adapt to circumstances and climb the ladder was truly exceptional.

Xiao Ruobai looked at him and asked in a flat tone, “Didn’t you run away? Why did you come back?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Pangzi immediately put on a pained and regretful expression, patting his chest as he said, “Oh dear! Brother, you don’t know! After I turned that corner, the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt!

Although I, Wang Xiaopang, usually like to take a few small advantages, at critical moments, I am still loyal! The thought of that old Devil Head in the Heavenly Human Realm staying behind to deal with you guys made my heart ache like a cat scratching it!”

As he spoke, he cautiously observed Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu’s expressions. Seeing that neither of them reacted, he pulled out a silver Talisman from hisin my arms, which had lost its luster and whose runes were dim, and displayed it to them with a pained expression.

“Look, look! This is my trump card for saving my life—a Small Void Teleportation Talisman! One less used means one less left!

Just now, I gritted my teeth and stomped my foot, thinking I couldn’t just watch you guys suffer, so I wasted this treasure. I specifically teleported back, planning to take you all with me to run away!”

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his voice even taking on a crying tone: “If I had known that the two big shots were so strong, why would I have used a Talisman?!

I was truly blind! Just now, I actually mistook two deeply hidden experts for fellow Core Formation Realm Cultivators!”

As he spoke, he even pretended to rub his eyes, secretly observing their reactions through his fingers: “Now what? My trump card is also used… Two big shots, you can’t just stand by and do nothing!”

His round face was filled with “sincere” regret and “pity,” his acting skills reaching a pinnacle of perfection.

Xiao Ruobai looked at his performance, which combined singing and acting, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly, revealing a half-smile: “Oh? So, you’re a loyal person?”

Wang Xiaopang immediately straightened his back and said righteously, “Of course! What I, Wang Xiaopang, values most is loyalty!”

He then quickly added, “Of course, the premise is to save my own life first…”

Fang Hanyu watched silently from the side, unable to help but shake his head gently. This kid could describe his fear of death in such a fresh and refined way; he was truly a prodigy.

Just then, the sound of rushing air came from afar, and the Qi of the other four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators was rapidly approaching.

Wang Xiaopang’s face turned pale, and he no longer bothered with his act. He quickly shrank behind Xiao Ruobai, urging in a low voice, “Big shots, they’re here! Shouldn’t we…”

Xiao Ruobai glanced into the distance, his tone still calm: “Stand still.”

When Wang Xiaopang heard Xiao Ruobai say “stand still,” he didn’t feel relieved; instead, he became even more anxious.

He nervously looked at the four increasingly strong Qi approaching from afar, and then, from who knows where, he pulled out another golden glowing Talisman, muttering in a low voice:

“Brother, tell me honestly, do you have confidence? There are four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators on the other side! If you don’t, we still have time to run now!

I still have a ‘Golden Light Earth Escape Talisman’ here. Although it’s not as good as the Small Void Teleportation Talisman, it’s excellent for escaping by burrowing into the ground!”

As he spoke, he was about to slap the Talisman on the ground, his movements so practiced that it was heartbreaking.

Xiao Ruobai looked at him, ready to escape into the earth at any moment, and couldn’t help but ask, “What on earth did you do to incur such wrath that four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators are chasing a mere Purple Mansion Cultivator like you?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaopang’s face flashed with a hint of guilt, and he stammered, “This… it’s a long story… actually, it’s just…”

Before he could finish speaking, the four figures had already arrived with a whoosh, landing steadily not far in front.

They were the other four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators dressed in dark red robes. They immediately saw the headless corpse of their fellow disciple on the ground, and their faces instantly became extremely grim.

“Fifth Brother!”

The leader, a stern-faced middle-aged Cultivator named Xue Li, erupted with terrifying killing intent in his eyes, staring intently at the three: “Did you kill him?”

His gaze swept over Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, filled with doubt and surprise. He sensed their Core Formation Realm cultivation, but to be able to easily kill Fifth Brother, who was in the Early Stage of the Heavenly Human Realm, they were definitely not simple.

Seeing this, Wang Xiaopang immediately shrank his neck and whispered to Xiao Ruobai, “See, see! I told you it would be troublesome! The one leading them is Xue Li, in the Late Stage of the Heavenly Human Realm, a ruthless character! Brother, we still have time to run now!”

Xiao Ruobai ignored him, simply looking calmly at Xue Li and the other three.

Xue Li suppressed his anger and said coldly, “No matter who you are, killing someone from my Blood Demon Sect will cost you! And that Xiao Pangzi, hand over the item, and we can leave your bodies intact!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaopang immediately jumped up: “Hey! Is there no reason?! You guys made the first move! My brother was acting in self-defense!”

He shouted, but his feet subtly shifted back half a step, clutching the Golden Light Earth Escape Talisman tightly in his hand, ready to flee at any moment.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Xue Li clearly had no intention of wasting any more words and roared, “Form the Formation! Kill them!”

The four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators instantly spread out, and their blood-red Qi soared into the sky, forming a strange combined Formation that enveloped the three.

The powerful pressure made Wang Xiaopang’s face turn pale, and his legs felt a bit weak.

“It’s over, it’s over, there’s really no escaping now…”

Wang Xiaopang had a mournful face, but meeting Xiao Ruobai’s calm gaze, he gritted his teeth as if making a huge decision.

“Damn it, I’ll risk it! Brother, I can only hold back the weakest one on the left at most! You guys deal with the other three!”

As he spoke, he painfully pulled out a handful of colorful Talismans— “Thorn Entanglement Talisman,” “Crimson Flame Blazing Fire Talisman,” “Phantom Illusion Talisman”… and threw them all at the Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator on the left.

For a moment, the ground beneath that Cultivator’s feet turned into a quagmire, thorns grew wildly around him, and multiple illusions appeared before his eyes. Although these Talismans were not powerful enough to severely injure him, the cumulative negative effects indeed made him flustered and unable to break free for a while.

Wang Xiaopang himself hid inside a suddenly appearing earthen-yellow light shield, nervously watching the battle while shouting towards Xiao Ruobai.

“Brother! How are things on your side? I’m under a lot of pressure here! This guy is thick-skinned, and my Talismans are almost giving out! If it’s really not working, we’ll retreat!”

He shouted hoarsely, as if experiencing a life-and-death struggle. He then haphazardly threw out several explosive Talismans, blasting the trapped Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator until he was covered in dust, yet he still couldn’t break through the layers of obstacles.

After a while of frantic activity, Wang Xiaopang felt the time was right and was about to urge a retreat again. He suddenly turned his head, wanting to see the battle situation on Xiao Ruobai’s side… Then, he completely froze.

He saw that Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu had somehow already finished their battle and were leisurely standing not far away.

Xiao Ruobai had even pulled out a bag of melon seeds from somewhere, sharing some with Fang Hanyu, and the two were leisurely cracking seeds while watching him jump around and gesticulate, performing his “solo battle against a Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator”… On the ground, Xue Li and the other two Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators lay motionless, completely lifeless.

On his side, the Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator he had trapped with Talismans had just managed to break free from the last illusion, and was panting and furiously trying to charge over. But when he looked up, he also saw this bizarre scene, as well as his Senior Brothers lying on the ground… His charging motion instantly froze, and the anger on his face turned to terror.

Wang Xiaopang: “…”

He looked at the two calm individuals cracking melon seeds, then at the scattered bodies of the powerful enemies on the ground, and finally at the unused explosive Talisman still clutched in his hand. His throat bobbed with difficulty.

“My… my dear mother…” he muttered, completely dumbfounded.

That newly freed Heavenly Human Realm Cultivator was even more terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and he turned to flee.

Fang Hanyu flicked his finger, and a Sword Qi flew out, precisely striking the back of that person’s neck. The person didn’t even let out a grunt, collapsing directly to the ground.

Xiao Ruobai clapped the melon seed husks from his hands, walked in front of Wang Xiaopang, and seeing his dumbfounded expression, couldn’t help but smile:

“Finished your performance? Quite spectacular!”