44: swamp

Under the collision, both of their figures simultaneously retreated.

Zhuo Fu retreated five steps in a row, each step leaving a deep footprint on the ground.

Xiao Shi, on the other hand, retreated seven steps.

"As expected, with my current blood energy intensity, a head-on confrontation with a Ninth Level Entering Martial Realm Warrior like him will put me at a disadvantage."

Xiao Shi was not surprised by this.

The reason he didn't choose a sneak attack this time, but rather a direct confrontation, was to verify his current strength.

From the current exchange, he was slightly at a disadvantage.

However, the gap was not very large.

"Again."

His figure moved.

He charged forward again.

The clashes between the long saber and the broadsword continuously rang out.

The two fought fiercely.

Booming sounds resonated repeatedly.

Although Zhuo Fu's blood energy, cultivation, and combat experience were far superior to Xiao Shi's,

Xiao Shi, relying on the speed and agility of Arc Flash, fought back and forth with Zhuo Fu. Although he was slightly at a disadvantage, Zhuo Fu couldn't do anything to him.

Clang!

After a sword strike repelled Xiao Shi, Zhuo Fu frowned.

"Meaningless combat."

The difference in their combat power was not significant; clearly, neither could overcome the other.

Continuing to fight like this would be a complete waste of time.

Especially after he realized that this guy seemed to be using him for practice, he was even less willing to waste time here.

He prepared to find an opportunity to retreat directly.

Xiao Shi also saw that the other party had no intention of continuing the fight.

"I originally wanted to play with you a bit longer, but since you're in such a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish."

Xiao Shi flipped his hand.

He directly took out a flag from his storage bag.

This time, besides wanting to verify his strength, he also wanted to test the power of the Swamp Array!

Since this formation could only be used three times in total,

it couldn't be tested out of thin air.

It required a suitable target.

This Ninth Level Entering Martial Realm Warrior was clearly a good target.

Hiss!

As Xiao Shi plunged the formation flag in his hand into the ground,

with the flag's insertion point as the center, within a radius of three hundred meters, a thick miasma of swamp gas immediately began to rise.

The surrounding scenery became blurred under the swamp gas.

"This is!?"

Zhuo Fu was startled.

He felt the ground beneath his feet rapidly softening, and his feet began to sink.

A strong sense of crisis instantly enveloped his entire mind.

He no longer hesitated for a moment.

He decisively tried to flee.

However, the soft ground made every step he took incredibly difficult.

It was as if he were running in a swamp.

Extremely arduous!

After a great deal of effort, he only managed to take two steps forward.

Just these two steps had already exhausted all his strength.

"Damn it!"

Zhuo Fu's face turned grim.

The sense of crisis in his heart grew even stronger.

The ground beneath his feet had already begun to turn into a swamp, clinging to his feet, not only making every lift of his foot require maximum strength, but if he remained still, his body would slowly sink.

"What in the world is this!!!"

A huge wave of shock surged in Zhuo Fu's heart.

Since Seven Stars Province had no formation masters skilled in formations, he had never seen such a formation!

In his panic, he couldn't help but raise his broadsword and forcefully slash at the swamp beneath him, wanting to break through this swamp with his strongest strike.

However, when the sword struck the swamp, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, stirring no ripples.

Instead, the moment the broadsword touched the swamp, the entire broadsword also got stuck!

Even with all his strength, he found it difficult to pull it out of the swamp.

Fear exploded little by little in Zhuo Fu's heart.

This strange method gave him a sense of powerlessness; he was completely unable to break free from the swamp.

He could only watch as his body slowly sank.

Not far away, Xiao Shi watched this scene with bright eyes.

Although he was also within the swamp's range,

these swamps beneath his feet had no effect on him; he still felt as if he were standing on solid ground, not in a swamp.

Watching Zhuo Fu struggle continuously in the swamp,

although he had anticipated this formation would be very powerful, its strength still far exceeded Xiao Shi's imagination.

Now, even if he did nothing,

Zhuo Fu would sink deeper and deeper into the swamp.

While it wouldn't be fatal, this formation had an extremely strong trapping effect.

Even a Ninth Level Entering Martial Realm Warrior would find it difficult to break free under such confinement, only sinking deeper and deeper.

In this state, it would be quite simple for him to kill him.

The only thing to note was that

the duration of this formation was limited; it could only be maintained for three minutes. After three minutes, the formation would dissipate.

"Three minutes is enough!"

Xiao Shi's eyes burned with fervor.

With the power of this formation, he could even kill a Bounty Hunter in the city!

When he returned, he would immediately go and slaughter that shark!

Then he could gain another item dropped by a Ninth Level Entering Martial Realm Warrior.

How delightful!

As for now... let's see what good things drop after killing this Zhuo Fu.

Xiao Shi immediately walked over step by step.

At this point, Zhuo Fu had already sunk to his thighs in the swamp; his feet were completely immobile, and he could only watch helplessly as Xiao Shi approached.

His eyes were filled with fear, and even despair.

Although his hands could still move, he was fixed in place, able only to become Xiao Shi's live target.

Xiao Shi went directly behind him.

He brought his saber down.

Shhh!

The blade struck the blood energy surrounding his body.

This blood energy provided strong protection; when Xiao Shi's saber struck, it couldn't penetrate the blood energy directly at first, feeling as if it were blocked by a membrane that needed to be cut through before reaching his body.

The intense crisis made Zhuo Fu struggle even more violently.

However, the more he struggled, the faster he sank.

Unable to move, he could only endure every saber strike from Xiao Shi with the blood energy surrounding his body.

Puff!

Finally, after the blood energy around his body was broken through, the battle saber in Xiao Shi's hand swept across his neck.

One strike severed his head.

Following Zhuo Fu's death, Xiao Shi quickly picked up the items he dropped and left directly.

After arriving outside the town, he quickly changed back into his previous clothes and waited for Cen Qingci.

Calculating the time, Cen Qingci should be back soon.

Indeed.

He didn't have to wait long.

He saw Cen Qingci rushing from a distance at an extremely fast speed.

"Nothing happened, right?"

Cen Qingci scrutinized Xiao Shi.

"No."

Xiao Shi shook his head and asked curiously.

"Sister, have you prepared the killing weapon?"

"Mm!"

Cen Qingci nodded, a hint of excitement on her delicate face.

"Although there will still be some risks, I think there's a chance to kill him! But it's still too dangerous inside, Junior Brother, so don't go. Wait for me here; I'll go kill that Zhuo Fu first, then come back to pick you up to find the wanted criminal."

"Okay, Sister, go for it!"

Xiao Shi encouraged her.

"Wait for my good news!"

Cen Qingci charged in with surging killing intent.

Then, in less than a minute, she came out.