194: The Crazy Guizhen Ancestor

It had to be said.

The speed brought by the [Blood Escape Pearl] was extremely startling.

Especially after Xiao Shi injected a large amount of Natal Martial Blood, the speed erupted by the entire [Blood Escape Pearl] had already reached the limit of the Blood Martial Realm, being incredibly close to the Martial Soul Realm.

But even so.

Compared to Old Ancestor Guizhen, it was still somewhat slow.

It could be seen.

Xiao Shi, having transformed into a streak of blood light, flickered through Lieyin City at an extremely fast speed.

However, the distance between him and Old Ancestor Guizhen, who was chasing from behind, was constantly shrinking.

As the City Lord's steward, Lord Mo watched this scene indifferently.

He had no intention of lending a helping hand.

Although he appreciated Xiao Shi very much.

It was just appreciation.

It was impossible for him to take action because of it.

For people of the Demonic Path like them who only looked at interests, they wouldn't do anything that didn't yield a profit.

On the contrary... if Old Ancestor Guizhen killed Xiao Shi, he could instead extort a sum from Old Ancestor Guizhen.

Even without looking back while fleeing at full speed, Xiao Shi could clearly feel Old Ancestor Guizhen constantly approaching behind him.

He remained very calm about this, without any panic.

"It's about time..."

Xiao Shi lowered his head.

He looked at the formation spread across the ground of the entire Lieyin City.

In fact, after he used the [Blood Eye Foundation-Snatching Pill] to plunder Ke Zhuozheng's foundation, aptitude, and comprehension.

Countless memories of Ke Zhuozheng's years of researching and perceiving formations flooded into his mind.

A massive amount of insights and understanding regarding formations all merged into his memory, becoming a part of it.

Because there was so much varied information.

It took him some time to perform a preliminary organization of this information.

Although he hadn't yet gained a deep understanding.

His attainments in the field of formations had already advanced by leaps and bounds, incomparable to the past!

When he looked down at the formation below.

In his eyes, the entire formation was already vastly different from before.

A sharp light flashed in Xiao Shi's eyes.

He raised his hand.

And pressed it violently toward the ground.

At the same time.

Swish!

A formation formed out of thin air behind Xiao Shi, and from within the formation, Old Ancestor Guizhen's figure emerged.

His eyes were blood-red, filled with fury.

His violent killing intent even caused his white hair to flutter without wind.

"Die!!"

He struck instantly.

He blasted a palm toward Xiao Shi.

Yet, at the moment he was about to touch Xiao Shi.

Swish!

The speed of the blood light Xiao Shi had transformed into suddenly increased several times over its original base.

He flashed past.

Causing Old Ancestor Guizhen's strike to hit nothing but air.

Old Ancestor Guizhen's brows furrowed deeply.

He discovered that the blood light Xiao Shi had transformed into was actually covered in a layer of deep black flame.

He instantly realized that Xiao Shi was using the Yinyan Grand Formation in Lieyin City to form a boost for his own speed.

Originally, with Xiao Shi's authority.

He wouldn't have been able to achieve this.

But now, with his improvement in formations, he directly understood many applications of formations and immediately brought about an enhancement in speed through the Yinyan Grand Formation in Lieyin City.

"It's just a pity..."

"I still can't perform formation cracking to obtain more formation authority."

Xiao Shi felt regret in his heart.

If he could crack formations like Ke Zhuozheng to obtain more formation authority, he would be able to bring about a greater degree of enhancement through the Yinyan Grand Formation in Lieyin City.

However, to achieve this.

He would need to undergo some deep perception and understanding.

But there was clearly no time for that right now.

What he was currently adopting.

Was a method of consuming the Remnant Yin within his body to bring about a speed boost.

Although this method could increase his speed significantly, the Remnant Yin in his body would be constantly consumed and thus become less and less.

Once the Remnant Yin was exhausted.

He would no longer be able to obtain the speed enhancement brought by the formation.

But Xiao Shi figured he should be able to escape from Old Ancestor Guizhen's hands before the Remnant Yin in his body was exhausted; a bold thought even surfaced in his mind.

Thinking of this.

Swish!

Xiao Shi, who was originally fleeing toward the Zhiyan Division at an extremely fast speed, suddenly turned... Old Ancestor Guizhen, who was constantly chasing behind Xiao Shi, immediately noticed the change in Xiao Shi's escape direction.

Recalling Xiao Shi's bold move of daring to go to the Guizhen Clan's manor to kill people while being chased by him earlier.

A terrifying guess instantly formed in Old Ancestor Guizhen's heart.

"Could he be planning to... Damn it!!"

This guess made Old Ancestor Guizhen anxious instantly.

He hurriedly pursued at an even faster speed.

With the enhancement of the Yinyan Grand Formation.

Xiao Shi's speed had already reached a level that an ordinary Blood Martial Realm would find difficult to bear.

To the point that during his charge.

Not only did cracks spread across his body, but even the Natal Martial Blood inside his body showed cracks as well.

Xiao Shi knew well.

If he continued to maintain this speed, his body would be unable to withstand it and would break apart and crumble on its own without Old Ancestor Guizhen even needing to act.

"Time is running out..."

Xiao Shi silently calculated the time.

He estimated that at this speed, he could only last ten breaths at most.

Once ten breaths were exceeded.

His body and the Natal Martial Blood within would all crumble.

Under his rapid charge.

Xiao Shi already saw his target ahead.

It was... Ke Zhuozheng!

The previous situation had made it impossible for Xiao Shi to kill her, as he had needed some time to escape; if he had killed Ke Zhuozheng then, Old Ancestor Guizhen would have certainly chased him directly.

Only a living Ke Zhuozheng would make Old Ancestor Guizhen check on her situation first, giving Xiao Shi a chance to escape.

Now.

Xiao Shi needed to deliver the finishing blow and kill Ke Zhuozheng!

After all, the items dropped after the death of a three-blood Blood Martial Realm like Ke Zhuozheng would at least be high-quality items of the Blood Martial Grade.

Xiao Shi even felt that given Ke Zhuozheng's extraordinary nature among those with three drops of blood, it was highly likely she would drop even better items.

This kind of opportunity... definitely could not be missed!

"I must kill her!"

The killing intent in Xiao Shi's eyes was chilling.

He charged over at high speed.

At this time, several Blood Martial Realm members of the Guizhen Clan were treating Ke Zhuozheng.

The moment they saw the blood light Xiao Shi had transformed into charging toward them.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically.

But before they could take any action.

Xiao Shi had already suppressed these few Blood Martial Realms through the Yinyan Grand Formation in Lieyin City, causing their cultivation to be suppressed by the formation so they couldn't use it.

Although the members of the Guizhen Clan were generally proficient in formations.

Not everyone could crack the Yinyan Grand Formation in the city to obtain formation authority.

Only a peerless genius like Ke Zhuozheng could do it.

Suddenly.

After Xiao Shi suppressed these Blood Martial Realms of the Guizhen Clan through the Yinyan Grand Formation.

Without facing the slightest obstruction, he flashed right past these Blood Martial Realms and Ke Zhuozheng.

The entire process took only two breaths!

A field of corpses had already appeared on the ground!

Although Old Ancestor Guizhen had already guessed Xiao Shi's intention, he was simply too late to stop it.

He watched helplessly as Xiao Shi swept past and killed Ke Zhuozheng and these clansmen.

His eyes were blood-red, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were nearly bursting!

Because he had suffered a heavy injury in his early years that damaged his foundation, his Martial Soul Realm cultivation was less than a tenth of its original strength, so he had never been able to catch up to Xiao Shi.

Now, in his towering rage.

Madness ignited in Old Ancestor Guizhen's eyes.

The power he had suppressed for a long time within his body began to erupt!

Even if using this power would worsen his injuries, at this moment, the violent killing intent in his heart had made him willing to sacrifice everything!

Only one thought remained in his mind now.

And that was to tear the person in front of him... to shreds!!

"Not good! The old fellow has gone mad..."

Xiao Shi also felt the terrifying aura emanating from Old Ancestor Guizhen's side.

He felt as if the ground beneath his feet was shaking.

It seemed as if a great horror was about to descend.

This made him run even more desperately for his life.

Even though more cracks spread across his body, he was still trying to continue accelerating.

He wanted to make himself even faster.

Under his continuous wild running.

He successfully rushed into the Zhiyan Division.

But he knew the crisis was not over yet.

It was still intense.

Boom!!

Just as Xiao Shi's front foot stepped into the Zhiyan Division.

Old Ancestor Guizhen, whose whole body was burning with raging flames, appeared out of thin air in front of the Zhiyan Division's gate.

"Did you think you could live by hiding in the Zhiyan Division!?"

He sneered in fury.

Under normal circumstances, barging into the Zhiyan Division would naturally be a taboo act.

But right now, he couldn't care less about that.

He charged directly toward the Zhiyan Division.

But just then...

The statue in front of the Zhiyan Division—the one with disheveled hair howling at the sky—seemed to come alive.

The numerous eyes on its body rolled their pupils one after another, fixing their gaze upon Old Ancestor Guizhen.

A low, echoing voice resounded in all directions.

"Zhiyan Division! Entry is forbidden!!"

Old Ancestor Guizhen did not slow down.

"A mere watchdog thinks it can stop me? Get lost!"

...Xiao Shi ignored the massive boom coming from behind him.

He maintained his maximum speed, sprinting forward as the sound of spreading cracks constantly echoed from his body.

At this moment, his entire body was covered in cracks, like a vase that had been shattered and glued back together; it seemed he could break apart at any second.

Eight breaths had passed; only the final two remained.

The sense of crisis behind him had not faded; instead, it was constantly intensifying.

Xiao Shi felt as though he were currently racing against death!

Finally.

During the very last breath.

He successfully reached the main hall within the Zhiyan Division that led to the Yin Flame Valley!

At this moment, outside the main hall...

Ming Wu, pale-faced but having already awakened from his coma, was waiting there for Xiao Shi.

This was an arrangement Xiao Shi had made long before the operation.

He had anticipated early on that this mission would likely provoke the experts of the Guizhen Clan.

Therefore, before acting, he had already decided on a refuge!

The Yin Flame Valley beneath Lieyin City was undoubtedly the best sanctuary!

Even the Old Ancestor of the Guizhen Clan could not enter there.

As he drew near...

Xiao Shi grabbed Ming Wu and, without stopping for a moment, rushed directly into the main hall.

Almost at the same time he stepped into the hall...

Boom!!

A giant pillar of fire, hundreds of meters high, exploded violently from the spot where he had just been standing.

The pillar of fire carried a terrifying power capable of easily annihilating anything in the Blood Martial Realm, spreading out in all directions.

However, when this force slammed into the main hall...

It was blocked by a layer of energy shielding that surged over the building.

But aside from this hall, many nearby houses and buildings instantly shattered and collapsed.

It was fortunate that no one else was here.

Otherwise, anyone caught in the crossfire would have been heavily injured if not killed.

Old Ancestor Guizhen's body trembled violently, his eyes filled with grief, indignation, regret, and resentment.

He was one step too late after all.

"Argh!!!"

He tilted his head back and let out a roar of fury.

A mouthful of old blood sprayed from his mouth.

This time, not only had he failed to kill Xiao Shi...

But Xiao Shi had killed the peerless genius of their clan right in front of him, and he had even used power that worsened his own injuries... the losses were immense!

He never would have imagined, no matter what...

That he would be led around by the nose by a mere Blood Martial Realm brat!

The resentment and fury in his heart made Old Ancestor Guizhen like a maddened old beast, full of murderous intent with nowhere to vent it.

Just then.

A figure stepped out from behind Old Ancestor Guizhen.

It materialized into the black-robed Lord Mo.

His expression was indifferent, as if he possessed no emotions, and he spoke calmly.

"Gu Meng, considering you were blinded by hatred this time, I will not hold the crime of trespassing into the Zhiyan Division against you. However, you injured my Zhiyan Division guards and destroyed our buildings. You must give me an explanation for this."

Old Ancestor Guizhen's fists clenched tightly.

He did his best to suppress his rage.

Gritting his teeth, he said in a low voice,

"I want to see the City Lord!"

"The City Lord is not here."

Lord Mo shook his head.

"Actually, you should feel lucky. When this person entered Lieyin City, the City Lord happened to be away. Otherwise, given his performance... do you think the City Lord would let you kill him?"

Old Ancestor Guizhen's body jolted.

He turned and gave Lord Mo a deep look.

He understood the meaning behind the words.

This was a reminder that if he wanted to kill Xiao Shi, he had to do it before the City Lord returned.

Thinking of the losses this time, Old Ancestor Guizhen's anger and murderous intent surged uncontrollably. He stared at Lord Mo and said solemnly,

"I know what you want. When this is over, I will give that item to you."

"Very well."

Lord Mo nodded.

A hint of a smile finally appeared on his expressionless face.

"Then, until the City Lord returns, you may freely enter and exit the Zhiyan Division."

This was telling him that he could stake out the place!

After speaking.

Lord Mo's entire figure vanished into thin air from before Old Ancestor Guizhen.

Old Ancestor Guizhen's expression was icy.

He felt no gratitude toward Lord Mo for this.

On the contrary, he was filled with loathing.

"Jackal!"

He had known long ago that this man was a jackal!

As long as he saw any profit, he would pounce and take a bite!

Having such a rare opportunity this time, there was no way he would let it go.

After all, he had coveted that precious treasure of the Guizhen Clan for a long time, but had never found an opportunity.

Although he had let this jackal seize the chance to take a heavy bite out of him, given Old Ancestor Guizhen's current murderous intent toward Xiao Shi, he was willing to pay an even greater price if it meant he could kill him.

Now, with the other's permission...

Before the City Lord returned, he could stay here indefinitely. The moment Xiao Shi came out, he could kill him instantly!

"I don't believe you can hide inside for a lifetime without coming out!!"

...Phew!

When Xiao Shi and Ming Wu appeared in the valley...

Xiao Shi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That was close... he almost slipped up!

"I need to do less of this life-risking stuff in the future."

Xiao Shi thought to himself.

He realized that after coming to the Demonic Path forces, he seemed to have been invisibly influenced and was no longer as cautious as before.

If this were the past...

With his steady personality, he definitely wouldn't have done something so dangerous.

However, although it was very risky, the rewards were also immense.

Especially the plunder from Ke Zhuozheng, which had given Xiao Shi an astonishing transformation in terms of formations.

He even felt that if he studied it carefully, he might have a chance to research that Forbidden Array Ke Zhuozheng used to transform into a violent bear!

Once he could also perform this Forbidden Array... his overall strength would surely receive another massive boost!

In addition to that.

The items dropped after killing Ke Zhuozheng also made Xiao Shi very expectant.

But before checking them...

He needed to treat the injuries on his body first.

At this moment, his body was still covered in large patches of cracks, looking as though it might crumble at a slight touch; it was a shocking sight.

Compared to Ming Wu beside him...

It felt like his injuries were even more severe than Ming Wu's.

But thinking of Ming Wu, Xiao Shi couldn't help but look over at him, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He discovered that after entering this place, Ming Wu actually hadn't suffered any damage at all.

One had to know.

The main hall in the Zhiyan Division that led to the Yin Flame Valley was usually only accessible to Flame Bearers.

Anyone else who stepped into the hall would be instantly killed by the formations within.

Even a Martial Soul Realm expert like Old Ancestor Guizhen could not step inside.

Yet, before Xiao Shi acted, Ming Wu had told him that he could choose this Yin Flame Valley as a refuge.

At that time, Ming Wu had confidently stated that he could also enter the Yin Flame Valley.

Xiao Shi was certain.

Ming Wu himself was not a Flame Bearer.

Nor did he use some special means to avoid the formation's lethal strike; rather, he had endured the hall's formation-based killing blow through sheer force.

A lethal strike that even a Martial Soul Realm expert could not withstand...

Had actually failed to cause him any damage?

This couldn't help but make Xiao Shi think of the strange substances in Ming Wu's body that could ensure he didn't die.

"This guy seems to be quite extraordinary..."

From the moment Xiao Shi had first sensed that strange substance in his body, he had realized that the secrets Ming Wu carried were quite remarkable.

However, he didn't intend to dig deep into the other's secrets.

Instead, he was thinking... did Ming Wu meet the conditions for the [Lifebone Seed Foundation Pill]?