Chapter 163: Wait for Xiao Long to Escape, Then Desperately Block Qi Xuan

With a single flight, Yu Xian soared over three and a half miles before coming to a stop.

He quickly landed atop another mountain peak, concealed his presence, and gazed distantly at the small mountain from which he had escaped.

The fate of the eight people inside was uncertain.

But just because it was uncertain didn’t mean they were doomed.

Maybe… they could still break through?

If they did escape, Yu Xian still wanted to save Jiang Xiaolong if possible.

And as for Qi Xuan—Yu Xian also wanted to kill him!

He wasn’t foolish enough to think he could fight Qi Xuan head-on.

Qi Xuan had a mid-tier Grade 5 defensive treasure, a pagoda, protecting him—making him nearly invincible. None of Yu Xian’s attacks could do a thing to him.

On top of that, Qi Xuan practiced terrifyingly powerful lightning techniques, and he was already at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Yu Xian, a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator—even with his high-grade defensive shield—wouldn’t last more than a few exchanges.

Ultimately, Yu Xian wasn’t some unparalleled genius who could slay those far above his realm as if it were a game.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators he had killed before were only defeated because of sneak attacks, superior timing, and the element of surprise paired with powerful artifacts.

But against someone like Qi Xuan—a true prodigy—Yu Xian had no advantage in treasures or techniques. He was three sub-realms lower, with techniques that were directly countered by lightning. There was simply no way he could fight him directly.

But… if Qi Xuan ended up getting swarmed and injured by ghosts, worn down and battered…

Then of course Yu Xian would strike! Either to finish him off or trap him inside, letting the ghosts devour him!

In any case, he would not let Qi Xuan get away easily!

About an incense stick of time passed when waves of sharp, shrill howls echoed out. Yu Xian saw ghost after ghost flying out of the cave passage—dozens of them.

Yu Xian’s gaze sharpened as he stared at the entrance, his aura starting to gather.

Yet despite waiting another full incense stick of time, only ghosts emerged—no sign of those people.

Could it be they were already dead inside?

Yu Xian frowned and began to ponder.

If Jiang Xiaolong had already perished in there, then Yu Xian would love nothing more than to immediately rush forward and collapse the cave with his spells, sealing off the exit to stop the ghosts from escaping.

But if Jiang Xiaolong was still alive and struggling to get out, such an action would kill him instead.

Suddenly—

“ROAR!!”

A deafening roar shattered the air.

From within the passage, a serpent-dragon several zhang long emerged, its entire body swarmed with more than a hundred ferocious ghosts. It was bloodied, bones exposed, and its flesh torn apart.

Yet it still charged out forcefully, and with its last strength, opened its mouth and spat out a bloodied figure before collapsing to the ground and being devoured.

That figure—was Jiang Xiaolong!

He was covered in wounds and severely burnt—obviously injured by lightning techniques.

He watched, eyes filled with grief and pain, as his beloved beast was swallowed by the ghosts.

But he couldn’t stop.

With a mournful howl, he borrowed the force from the serpent-dragon’s final effort and launched himself into the air, fleeing at full speed.

Yu Xian’s eyes lit up with joy.

As expected of an old Foundation Establishment expert like Jiang Xiaolong—deep foundations, numerous life-saving methods—he had survived!

Though he had escaped, he had paid a tremendous price—his powerful golden core-rank beast had died to protect him.

Such a loss was almost impossible to recover from.

In the future, it would be nearly impossible for Jiang Xiaolong to raise another pet of that caliber.

Still, now that Jiang Xiaolong had escaped, Yu Xian felt relieved.

Now all that remained in his gaze—was cold killing intent.

If Jiang Xiaolong could escape, then there was a good chance Qi Xuan could too.

And Yu Xian could feel deep down—Qi Xuan was even stronger than Jiang Xiaolong!

So he waited… and waited…

After the ghost swarm finished devouring the serpent-dragon to its bones, they began to scatter in search of other living beings. Yet they failed to sense Yu Xian’s hidden presence, just a few miles away.

Meanwhile, no more ghosts emerged from the cave.

“JIANG XIAOLONG!!!”

After another half incense stick of time, a crazed roar thundered from inside!

Suddenly, blinding lightning filled the entire passage, explosions mixing with ghostly screams to create a maddening cacophony.

Deep in the passage, hundreds of ghosts were frenziedly attacking a massive lightning sphere.

Although the defensive pagoda barrier was still active, it had been battered to its limit—it was about to shatter!

Qi Xuan was covered in wounds, blood gushing out. His chest was especially gruesome—he had been struck by the mid-tier Grade 5 offensive treasure, the Great Sun Wheel!

Just that one strike nearly took his life!

Jiang Xiaolong had hidden himself inside the mouth of the serpent-dragon and escaped—leaving Qi Xuan behind to face hundreds of ghosts!

Now, driven insane, Qi Xuan began to burn his own bloodline with lightning secret techniques, even using up the source of his Foundation Establishment base, sacrificing everything to gain power and force his way out!

Luckily, lightning techniques were extremely effective against ghosts.

Though swarmed, Qi Xuan managed to suppress their aggression slightly, buying himself a slim chance to break through!

He could see the exit ahead!

If he could just make it out… he could flee!

Even injured, even if his foundation cracked, as long as he survived—he could rise again!

“Aaaargh!!”

Through agonizing pain and maddened fury, Qi Xuan roared like a beast, accelerating even faster toward the exit!

He reached within ten meters of freedom!

Just one more push!

But in that instant—

A streak of light, like a falling star, shot toward him from outside the cave!

“What!?”

Qi Xuan’s pupils shrank to their limits. He reflexively formed a hand seal, summoning the final glow from his pagoda to block the incoming spherical treasure.

“Jiang Xiaolong!!” he roared.

Clearly, he thought Jiang Xiaolong had set a trap and was now blocking the exit.

But he didn’t expect that injured man, who had fled with the help of his beast, to have the courage and strength to still block him!

Face twisted like a ghost, Qi Xuan screamed in rage, eyes blazing as he continued his charge.

As long as this one attack didn’t kill him—he would make it out!

Boom!

Though it was only a low-tier Grade 5 treasure, the Sea Suppression Pearl was entirely specialized for offense—it had abandoned all other functions.

Its strike was terrifying!

With a loud boom, the pearl was deflected after impact, losing its glow.

But Qi Xuan’s mid-tier defensive pagoda—finally broke!

The tower crumbled.

Qi Xuan was blasted backward, vomiting blood, his face twisted with shock and rage.

Still, he didn’t hesitate—he charged again!

“You can’t stop me!!”

With a screech sharper than a ghost’s, Qi Xuan lunged forward—only ten meters from freedom!

“Die!!”

A cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the tunnel.

Yu Xian had appeared, collecting the dim Sea Suppression Pearl and pointing his finger coldly at Qi Xuan!

Seven massive vines shot forward like dragons, accompanied by a stealthy spiritual finger technique aimed at Qi Xuan’s brow!

“You!?”

Qi Xuan’s eyes bulged in fury as he recognized Yu Xian.

“YOU DAMN DOG!! If I survive this—I’ll make sure you wish you were dead!!”

He had almost forgotten about Yu Xian—a mere early Foundation cultivator.

How could he still be here amidst this chaos!?

Why wasn’t he running for his life!?

And now—he was standing at the cave mouth, trying to block him!?

This ant dares to stop me!?

“Break!!”

Qi Xuan roared, lightning flaring around him, forcing the ghosts back.

But with the pagoda gone, more ghosts surged forward, overwhelming him.

He only had one chance to escape!

If he failed now—he’d be completely devoured by ghosts!

He went all out!

As for Yu Xian—

He stood there coldly, eyes filled with killing intent, muscles tensed.

He didn’t retreat a single step.

Even facing a berserk peak Foundation Establishment cultivator—this could kill him instantly from backlash—but he didn’t flinch.

He would block him—

or die trying.

“GET OUT OF MY WAY!!”

Qi Xuan’s crazed eyes met Yu Xian’s cold, unyielding gaze.

It was the look of a man who was ready to die—just to stop you.

Qi Xuan actually felt a chill in his heart!

We’ll both die, is that it!?

So be it!!

He roared like a madman, turning into a ball of thunder and flame, charging at the vines and the spiritual strike!

Boom!!

Thunder burned through the wood—seven vines withered under the lightning. Yu Xian’s face tightened, but he channeled all his energy into his techniques!

The hidden spiritual strike, laced within the vines, shot straight toward Qi Xuan’s brow!

“Ah!?”

Qi Xuan screamed as a thunder-shaped mark appeared on his forehead—it clashed with the incoming strike and shattered!

“MY HEAVENLY THUNDER SEED!!”

With its destruction, lightning surged from his body, blasting the ghosts back!

“I have a natural thunder spirit root—almost a heavenly root!! I will NOT die here!! KILL!!”

He howled like a demon, lightning exploding around him, burning away the withered vines.

Nothing could stop him now.

He—

broke through!