Chapter 202

Chapter 202: Chase

Similar ambushes to Xiao Yize’s ordeal occurred across the eastern line battlefield.

To eliminate Tiger-Chasing’s young talents, the Eastern Wilderness deployed Gathering Qi cultivators vastly outnumbering them.

The four most prominent figures—Shen Yue, Li Qingwan, Qiu Ran, and Yang Lingrui—received special attention.

Shen Yue’s sheer power ensured that without Condensing Essence cultivators intervening, those who challenged him either died or fled.

Li Qingwan survived two sieges, remaining undefeated through battlefield advantages inherent to martial arts cultivators and her disciplined troops.

Qiu Ran needed no explanation—the Purple Thundercloud appeared countless times over the northern front of the eastern line, each projection marking the deaths of multiple full-level cultivators.

Yet among the four, Yang Lingrui suffered the fiercest pursuit.

His "yellow wind ghost" had become a psychological plague upon Eastern Wilderness forces, driving their desperate resolve to eradicate him.

More Eastern Wilderness cultivators hunted him than any other target.

Twelve joined this ghost-hunting operation!

All twelve were Perfected Gathering Qi cultivators between Tenth and Twelfth Level, split into four teams. Each leader commanded the Spiritual Manipulation method, while their two subordinates wielded multiple combat techniques.

Yang Lingrui walked into their trap during a raid, becoming isolated from Tiger-Chasing’s main force.

For over half a month, he constantly evaded and fought these four teams near the Eastern Wilderness frontline.

Using his illusionary body and talismans, he repeatedly escaped fatal encirclements, even killing two weaker pursuers.

However, lacking Xiao Yize’s extraordinary combat strength, he sustained heavy injuries during these days of relentless attacks.

His limited stock of thunder talismans stayed mostly unused except in dire emergencies—two expended solely to eliminate those cultivators.

"Damn! That ghost slipped away again!"

"How many talismans does he have? Can’t he run out?"

Two Eastern Wilderness cultivators cursed after losing Yang Lingrui’s trail in a sandstorm.

"Relax. With his blood collected, my spirit beast can track him even through spiritual concealment talismans."

The speaker opened his palm, revealing a furry creature—a gray rat, his spirit beast from practicing beast control.

He produced a small bottle containing Yang Lingrui’s blood. After the rat tasted drops through a secret method, its nose glowed green.

It squeaked repeatedly before pointing its tail westward.

"After him!"

The group resumed pursuit.

Yang Lingrui’s spiritual concealment talisman only masked him for ten miles before failing. But with the spirit beast’s guidance, this safety margin shrank to three miles.

This meant he had no chance to stop and rest—he had to keep racing nonstop.

Fortunately for this trip, Chen Yang had stocked them up with plenty of talismans, including an endless supply of superior-quality divine movement talismans they could use as needed.

This was how Yang Lingrui managed to endure days of pursuit by Eastern Wilderness cultivators.

Hum—

Yang Lingrui reappeared on a barren plain.

His eyes darted around, searching.

During these ten days, he’d actually had one chance to retreat to the Tiger-Chasing line. But after spotting the He Family’s signature rolling tumbleweeds mid-route, he’d deliberately lured his pursuers here instead.

"There!"

After intense scanning, Yang Lingrui finally glimpsed a tree silhouette far south.

He immediately channeled spiritual power and bolted toward it.

Eastern Wilderness cultivators’ battle cries erupted behind him.

This time Yang Lingrui didn’t bother hiding—he simply poured all energy into speed. Upon reaching the first tree shadow, he spotted a second ahead and raced onward.

These were He Shenglai’s trail markers.

Using the rootless tumbleweeds’ mobility, seeds had been scattered to grow into guiding trees along Yang Lingrui’s escape route.

"Still resisting?"

"Just a dying struggle."

"Exactly. Days without rest? His spiritual power’s nearly gone. Three quarters at most before collapse."

A Tenth Level Eastern Wilderness cultivator declared smugly. He’d meticulously tracked Yang Lingrui’s spiritual expenditure during each clash.

Given the endless chase, untreated injuries, and Yang Lingrui’s cultivation level, his calculations seemed flawless. The group nodded, tailing their prey while awaiting exhaustion.

Three quarters passed. No slowing.

"Patience. He must have elixirs."

"I’ve brought extras. Friends, take these."

They gulped elixirs and resumed chasing. But something felt wrong.

After three elixir rounds in one hour, Yang Lingrui still showed no fatigue. When pill toxicity began numbing their limbs, their target kept full speed.

"What’s going on? How’s he still going?!"

The baffled pursuers had replenished multiple times, yet Yang Lingrui showed zero strain.

Unknown to them, Chen Yang had once noted Yang Lingrui’s unique trait: "An unusually vast Qi Palace holding more spiritual power than ordinary cultivators." This allowed Yang Lingrui’s signature yellow wind to cloak entire armies—a feat impossible for others using identical cultivation methods.

Overshadowed by Yang Lingrui’s combat prowess, this deep spiritual reservoir remained hidden even from Zi He and He Shenglai. Now it became his lifeline.

Burning through his immense reserves, Yang Lingrui reached the shadow-marked forest. He dove in. Thinking he’d hide with talismans again, the cultivators followed.

Instantly, their divine awareness flickered out.

The four captains activated cultivation methods, summoning Spirit Projections—only to watch them get devoured by the trees like Deng Jin’s during the tournament.

"Ambush!"

"Retreat!"

Too late. Canopy leaves blotted sunlight as the forest feasted.