129: Anxiety

“Very good, as expected of Refining Heaven Hall’s fourth most talented genius. If those three strongest body-refining geniuses were here, they probably wouldn’t even need to activate their cultivation techniques; they could just tank such moves with their physical strength, right?”

Watching Man Gu’s outstanding performance, Xu Xi couldn’t help but secretly admire Man Gu, as if he wasn't his opponent at all, but rather a close friend testing his strength.

“Kid, don’t be arrogant! Even if you’re Ru Xuan, it’s absolutely impossible to kill me!”

“Who do you think you are? If I can’t beat you, can’t I run?”

A single sword qi had already shattered Man Gu’s pride as a great sect disciple.

Putting the facts aside, even if the opponent wasn’t Ru Xuan, his strength wouldn’t be far off. Man Gu didn’t want to waste time on such meaningless things.

Xiao Canghai was still chasing him from behind, and if word got out, even more people would come to trouble him. For now, it was best to hold onto the spirit cleansing pearl and ensure it ended up in his own pocket.

After spouting some ruffian-like words, Man Gu took off running, ignoring Xu Xi’s surprised expression, and vanished in an instant.

It must be said, Man Gu wasn’t just thick-skinned; his movement technique was also maxed out, completely unlike a typical tank.

“He runs quite fast. Where’s that bravado from earlier?”

“Moreover, unlike the arrogance possessed by other Central Continent geniuses, although he has a proud spirit, he also knows when to retreat when facing difficulties. He’s encountered a truly cunning fellow.”

Looking at Man Gu, who had changed direction and continued to run, Xu Xi was surprised. He had originally thought that with the arrogance of these Central Continent geniuses, they would immediately become furious, then, unwilling to admit defeat, would engage him in a fight to prove themselves.

Unexpectedly, Man Gu was a master of knowing when to advance and when to retreat. Xu Xi had originally wanted to start a fight, even pulling out his Drunken Sleep Sword and unleashing sword qi. Now, he could only continue the chase.

And in just a moment, even with Roufu, a character like a burden, Xu Xi still easily caught up to Man Gu. The gap between Spirit Refinement peak and Ru Xuan was evident.

Chasing all the way, though quickly, Man Gu and Xu Xi had already left the Yunqi Platform territory and entered another location within the Juefeng Secret Realm—the Splashed-Ink Landscape Pavilion.

In contrast to the lush imagery of Yunqi Platform, the Splashed-Ink Landscape Pavilion had only two colors.

Ink black and pure white.

Between heaven and earth, only these two auras permeated. As soon as he entered, Xu Xi could feel the extremely oppressive atmosphere within.

“Hey, stop running! You’re running so fast, you’ve already entered the Splashed-Ink Landscape Pavilion. Don’t you feel uncomfortable?”

“Why don’t we go back to Yunqi Platform and have a good chat?”

“I just want the spirit cleansing pearl. You can’t beat me.”

“It’s reasonable to make a friend with a spirit cleansing pearl, right?”

Blocking Man Gu’s path, Xu Xi directly made his move, wielding Cán Xīn Sword Qi. And this time, it wasn't just a single Cán Xīn Sword Qi.

Sword qi rained down from the sky, forming a perfect cage. If Man Gu wanted to tank it, he would have to use all his might, and it would be a thankless effort.

But if he wanted to run, he was helpless. The sword formation Xu Xi had set up perfectly predicted Man Gu’s every landing spot.

It seemed Man Gu could only retreat a great step, or hand over the spirit cleansing pearl to Xu Xi and then make a friend.

“Make a friend?”

“Make your mother!”

“You want to make friends, you want me to stop?”

“Bah!”

“Watch my Eight Desolations Kan Dragon Formation.”

Already somewhat exasperated, intercepted by Xu Xi for the second time, Man Gu now knew that running was no longer an option.

But to make him hand over the spirit cleansing pearl was also absolutely impossible.

No one could ever snatch away something that Man Gu had set his eyes on!

Even the three Holy Sons who outranked him in the sect had to exchange things for it.

What right did that Xu Xi fellow have to try and get something for nothing?

And make a friend. Who cares about being your friend!

In a flash, he pulled out a formation plate from his storage bag.

But this formation plate was unlike any Xu Xi had seen before.

The formation runes engraved on the plate could be easily pulled out.

Man Gu enveloped those runes with spiritual power, and those runes perfectly embedded themselves onto his body, then formed a formation.

Immediately after, Man Gu’s entire demeanor suddenly changed. An ancient giant dragon appeared on Man Gu’s body, its aura surging and powerful.

“Formation body refinement?”

“Simultaneously bolstering one’s own strength is also a specialty of Refining Heaven Hall.”

Compared to those jade talismans that became ineffective after one use, formations could be used multiple times. For this, Refining Heaven Hall had not spared any ridicule for those sect disciples who used jade talismans to save their lives.

Used once or twice and then gone, how pathetic. Formations, which are reusable, are the best (yyds), alright.

“Not bad, not bad. I’ve long heard that Refining Heaven Hall has such a method.”

“But there’s nothing I want that I can’t get my hands on!”

“If soft doesn’t work, then we’ll go hard.”

“You know, I’m always very hard!”

Seeing Man Gu’s strong counterattack, Xu Xi knew that without some real skill, he wouldn’t be able to take him down.

The previous Cán Xīn Sword Qi had been swiftly blocked by Man Gu without any losses. The giant dragon coiled around Man Gu’s body was still full of vigor, and even its pupils, like Man Gu’s, revealed a hint of disdain.

It was as if it was mocking Xu Xi, asking what he could do.

With a smirk, Xu Xi also became interested in this Man Gu, determined to take him down in one fell swoop.

Of course, the last sentence was directed at Roufu.

Roufu, who was watching the excitement from the side, couldn't help but blush after hearing that sentence. This “hard” seemed a bit suggestive.

“Compare hardness with me?”

“Sorry, my Sect Leader said I was born hard, a good material for body refining.”

“I’d like to see if your sword qi can cut off a piece of my flesh!”

Xu Xi’s booming voice, in Man Gu’s ears, seemed like mere exaggeration.

A signature item like the Eight Desolations Kan Dragon Formation allowed Man Gu to face even a full-power attack from a Reaching the Profound master without changing his expression.

However, the price to pay was also quite high; his entire blood and qi would be depleted, requiring a long time to replenish.

But the strength Xu Xi displayed was only Ru Xuan. The immense chasm between Ru Xuan and Reaching the Profound was insurmountable.

Man Gu knew that although this young man was exceptionally talented, like a monster, he could absolutely not cross such a chasm and shatter his Eight Desolations Kan Dragon Formation.

“Damn it, he’s quite tough. It seems I can only wear him down.”

Knowing that Man Gu was right, Xu Xi didn’t argue, but an endless stream of sword qi shot out from Xu Xi’s Drunken Sleep Sword, then transformed into a sword formation, battling Man Gu’s giant dragon.