Zi Linling cursed under her breath but had to keep running.
The Youlong Steps and Youlong Movement Technique, imbued with the profound principles of the先天八卦 (Xiantian Bagua), were being utilized to their absolute limit by Zi Linling. Her speed was beyond describing as mere wind.
However, her cultivation was still several realms below Xie Shenghua's, so even with the Youlong Steps, a supreme escape art, the distance between them was steadily closing.
This wouldn't do. She'd be caught by this fake immortal sooner or later. What could she do?
Zi Linling pondered as she ran.
But the Youlong Steps and Youlong Movement Technique were already at her peak performance, her body a blur of afterimages. Yet, Xie Shenghua continued to draw nearer.
“Elder Du, do you have any way for me to escape that fake immortal?”
Elder Du mused for a moment. “I have a set of ‘Illusory Phantom Heart Technique.’ Paired with your movement and footwork, it can achieve an effect comparable to teleportation. However, it’s not something that can be mastered in a short period.”
Desperate times!
Zi Linling gritted her teeth and said, “A drowning man will grasp at straws! Elder Du, give me that heart technique of yours!”
Elder Du exclaimed in surprise, “Are you sure?”
Zi Linling grew impatient. “If you keep dithering like this, I’ll be captured. And then they’ll inevitably discover your existence!”
Elder Du haughtily declared, “So what if they discover me? They'll still fawn over me!”
Zi Linling slyly countered, “I don’t know what they’ll do, but if they push me too hard, I’ll throw you into a cesspool. You know the consequences, right?”
Elder Du imagined the disgusting scene of the Nine Spirit Ring falling into a latrine and shuddered.
“Girl, you’re too cruel!”
“Cruel?”
Zi Linling rolled her eyes. “If I fall into their hands, how can I bear to let them have everything? So, of course, I have to disgust them a little!”
She glanced at the approaching Xie Shenghua and continued, “Think about it. Would they still fight over something that fell into a cesspool? So, I’ll have to trouble you, elder! Like this…”
Elder Du felt close to vomiting at Zi Linling’s words and quickly interrupted her. “Fine, fine! I’ll transmit it to you right away!”
As he spoke, the ‘Illusory Phantom Heart Technique’ appeared in Zi Linling’s mind.
Zi Linling used her mind for two purposes: continuing to flee with the Youlong Steps while immersing her spiritual sense in the ‘Illusory Phantom Heart Technique.’
She discovered that the so-called ‘Illusory Phantom Heart Technique’ was essentially a method for fusing spiritual energy with other forces.
Zi Linling concentrated her spiritual energy into her feet according to the instructions and said, “Hurry!”
There was no reaction!
Elder Du’s laughter echoed from the Nine Spirit Ring. “Hahaha! Girl, I told you it wouldn’t be mastered overnight, but you didn’t believe me.”
Zi Linling, annoyed and embarrassed, retorted, “You old rascal, if you say one more word, I’ll immediately throw you into a beast’s dung heap!”
As she spoke, she took out the Nine Spirit Ring.
Elder Du’s goatee trembled with anger. Grinding his teeth, he said, “You truly are poisonous! Fine, I won’t say another word. Run yourself!”
With that, he petulantly severed the Nine Spirit Ring’s connection to the outside world.
Of course, despite his pique, Elder Du still monitored Zi Linling’s situation from time to time.
After all, Zi Linling possessed the ‘Human Emperor’s Medical Canon,’ making her the most likely person to help him regain his peak.
Besides, his fate was now intertwined with Zi Linling’s. He didn’t want his fortunate owner to accidentally lose her life.
Soon, Xie Shenghua’s clear voice sounded behind Zi Linling.
“Little sister, why are you running so fast? This elder sister sincerely invites you to join the Hundred Flower Palace. If you act like this, this elder sister will be heartbroken!”
Zi Linling inwardly thought, “I’d sooner believe in ghosts than you!”
Then, she gave a wry smile, stopped, turned around, and chuckled softly. “You’re quite fast, but…”
Xie Shenghua paused, “But what?”
A hint of cunning curved Zi Linling’s lips. “But do you think you can catch me like this?”
Confidence flickered across Xie Shenghua’s face. “Aren’t you in my grasp now? Are you coming with me willingly, or must I use force?”
Zi Linling sneered, “I choose neither.”
“That is not up to you!”
A dangerous glint appeared in Xie Shenghua’s eyes as she coldly declared, “Wood Vine!”
Zi Linling watched her warily, her hands already condensing fire spiritual energy into a fireball.
Xie Shenghua looked at the fireball in her hand with disdain. “You still think of resisting? I must admire your courage. But I am curious, as a cultivator at the ninth stage of Body Tempering, what confidence do you have in escaping from me, a cultivator at the Yuan Transformation realm?”
Zi Linling scoffed. “Didn’t I escape once already?”
Xie Shenghua’s expression turned frigid. “Sharp-tongued! Wood Vine, entwine!”
Just as she was about to attack, she heard Zi Linling exclaim in alarm behind her, “Fu Liuyun, why are you so late?”
Xie Shenghua, who already suspected Fu Liuyun was Zi Linling’s accomplice, instinctively turned her head at the mention of his name.
However, when she looked back, she saw no one.
“Bad! I’ve been tricked!”
Xie Shenghua quickly turned back, and a fireball flew towards her.
“You little wretch, you’re courting death!”
The Wood Vine, already formed in her hand, lashed out at the fireball.
This strike directly caused the fireball to explode.
In mere moments, Zi Linling had once again gained three hundred meters.
Xie Shenghua finally understood she had been played by Zi Linling.
She roared, “Wretch, stop right there!”
Then, she channeled her spiritual energy and pursued.
Although the distance between them was only three hundred meters, it wasn't something that could be closed in an instant.
She had spent nearly half an hour covering the previous three hundred meters.
Meanwhile, behind Xie Shenghua, Xiong Tai, Li Luo, and Fu Liuyun were also in hot pursuit.
Xiong Tai and Li Luo were one thing; their cultivation was on par with hers, so their speed was similar.
But Fu Liuyun was a peak Yuan Transformation realm expert. His speed could definitely leave her far behind.
Earlier, Xie Shenghua had a lead because Fu Liuyun had started a dozen breaths later than her.
Now that Fu Liuyun had reacted, with his speed, Zi Linling would eventually be his prey.
Zi Linling stole a glance back and inwardly cried out in despair.
Xie Shenghua was two hundred meters behind her. Fu Liuyun was about a hundred meters behind Xie Shenghua. Xiong Tai and Li Luo followed about fifty meters behind Fu Liuyun, and beyond them were the others from the four major powers.