{Three Days Later}
The assassins had already scouted Bai Chen's movements and predicted his path. They chose to ambush him in the outer region in a valley.
Although the place was dangerous, the deeper regions were far worse, filled with high-ranking beasts even experts avoided. But here, they could act with certainty.
Xu Yuan was hiding some distance away, crouched behind a thick tree, his face covered with a white mask, his burning eyes fixed on the forest path ahead. "Today is your last day…. Bai Chen!"
The plan was simple: first sneak attacks to paralyze him, bring him on ground, so reduce his chances of escape and then just finish him with their teamwork.
After some time waiting, finally a figure appeared on the horizon of their scouted location.
A young man in whitish robes, his speed steady, his aura sharp, standing over a flying sword just at a good height above trees. His features were striking enough to shine out even in the dark, the kind of face that stood out even in a crowd.
The assassins didn't waste time.
[Swish!] [Swish!]
Thin needles flew through the air like shadows, aimed directly at Bai Chen's vital points.
But Bai Chen's eyes flashed coldly. His body twisted with surprising speed, avoiding the attack.
And so he lost his balance on sword, almost saving himself from crashing on the ground, bringing that sword in his hand like a flash of light.
[Cling!]
Knocking another needles away.
"Who's there?" Bai Chen shouted, his sharp gaze scanning the trees. His senses spread out, alert. Suddenly,
A man rushed from behind him, fist glowing with fierce qi, aiming at Bai Chen's back.
[Bam!]
The punch collided, but Bai Chen reacted quickly, turning his sword to block. His body was thrown backward, sliding across the ground.
"Not bad!" the assassin sneered, "Then TRY AGAIN!" His fist charged again.
At that same moment, another assassin came from behind with a sword strike, fast and ruthless.
Bai Chen's eyes narrowed. He spun, sword in hand and parried the strike, but the first assassin's fist crashed into him at the same time.
[Thud!]
"Tch!" He clicked his tongue, glaring at them, "Who are you guys?"
The assassins didn't answer. Their only reply was the cold gleam of their weapons. They rushed forward again. The forest rang with the sound of weapons.
[Clang! Clang! Bam!]
Xu Yuan, hidden behind his tree, clenched his fists. At first, he was pleased, watching Bai Chen getting beaten.
But his expression soon darkened. Bai Chen was fighting fiercely. Each strike of his sword was sharper, his movements faster.
Instead of falling, he was pushing the assassins back step by step and then eventually managed to injure three of them.
"Damn it!" Xu Yuan cursed under his breath. His eyes darted around, "Where the hell is that fat Pig?"
Bai Chen's sword glowed with Qi as he forced the two assassins to their knees, he had already managed to kill three of them, his strength was weakened.
"Tell me! Who sent you?" He raised his blade for the finishing strike.
[Boom!]
Just then a large figure jumped down from the trees, crushing a dead body under feets. A muscled man, far larger than the others, landed heavily on the ground, the pressure of his aura shaking the leaves.
"Hahaha! Kid, you're really something! I didn't expected, you'd be this strong.
Then, Why don't you.. MAKE ME FEEL GOOD!" The big man pulled out a heavy weapon and rushed at Bai Chen like a wild beast.
The muscled assassin was a kind of freak who didn't care about his comrade whether they were dead or alive. The only things he cared about was money and the fun he had in killing.
From his hiding spot, Xu Yuan's lips curved into a sly smirk. "Hmph! Bai Chen, just die already!"
The clash grew fiercer. Bai Chen fought back with everything he had, his breathing turning heavier, his robes torn and blood-stained.
"huff… huff…" He wiped the blood from his lips, and shouted through gritted teeth glaring at the assassin. "YOU BASTARD!"
He suddenly joined his hands, forming rapid hand seals.
The muscled assassin saw the strange technique and, instead of slowing down, only roared louder, his voice booming through the forest like a wild beast's cry.
His massive frame surged forward, qi flooding into his limbs, and every step cracked the ground beneath his feet as he closed the distance with killing intent
"Haaaah!"
Then, a strange yellow light erupted from Bai Chen's sword. The energy exploded outward, blinding everything. The ground shook, trees shattered, the air itself roared.
Xu Yuan's eyes widened "What… What is this technique?!"
[Boom!]
Before he could see further the explosion swallowed everything. Xu Yuan was thrown into the air, his body slamming into trees, he coughed blood violently.
"Cough… Cough… Damn it!" He struggled to rise, only to see Bai Chen, bruised and bloodied, walking slowly toward him, his body glowing with a faint golden energy.
[Step] [Step]
"You… You've been hiding for quite a while..." Bai Chen's eyes locked onto him. "Now, SHOW YOURSELF!"
Xu Yuan pushed himself up on his stumbling feet, panickingly.
"No!"
He pulled out a boat-shaped artifact, throwing himself on it flying at high speed in the sky.
Bai Chen smirked coldly. "Hmph!
Trying to escape…
DRAGON FURY SLASH!"
A wave released from his sword strike, Qi forming a massive force. It shot through the air and crashed into Xu Yuan's artifact.
[Boom!]
The boat shattered, Xu Yuan was blasted into the trees, blood spraying from his mouth. Pieces of his broken face-mask scattered across the dirt.
"Damn it!" he greeted his teeth, pulling out another artifact shaped like a leaf. Using his Qi, he flew, running away at full speed.
Even then, he could feel Bai Chen's aura chasing him. His heart pounded, he fled as fast as he could into the forest.
"Teleport!" he said, burning talisman after talisman in his hand.
—
—
—
Xu Yuan's artifact carried him deeper into the Mountain ranges. The further he went, the darker it became.
Towering trees blocked the sunlight, their shadows stretching like giant claws. The air grew heavy, and the sound of beasts echoed in the distance.
Yuan had already used his lots of qi, his face became pale, his breath unsteady.
The sun was sinking low, Standing on his flying artifact he saw a cave at a rocky cliffside. The cave mouth was hidden beneath vines and moss.
He landed near the cave and spread his spiritual sense cautiously "…No signs of beasts."
He entered the cave. The cave wide open from inside has a pond covering its more than half area, above which few openings through which light scattering across the water's surface.
In the middle of the pond there was an unbloomed lotus white-pink shining in dim brightness. A faint fragrance spread through the cave, and waves of spiritual energy rippled from it endlessly, filling the air like mist.
Yuan was pleased to see such a calm and soothing sight.
But right now, the first thing for him should be, recovering his strength because even with his cultivation, the second layer of the Foundation realm, if any beast attacks him now in such a condition, he will die for sure.
Also, if cultivation is taken as scale and compared to beasts strength, then his cultivation could nearly match to second tier beasts, but if encountered any stronger beast even at the peak of second tier, he would surely be in trouble.
Xu Yuan sat down on the stone floor, far from the pond. He closed his eyes, guiding his breath, and stabilized his Qi.
At once, he felt that energy was flowing in him far faster than normal. His wounds began knitting, pain fading, strength returning.
His eyes snapped open, "This is… what's going on?"