Chapter 41: A Narrow Escape from Death

Among the Xiao family disciples, there was no shortage of the brave, many attempting to break through in numbers to secure a sliver of hope for survival.

However, just as they prepared to breach the line, those dozens of men in hempen robes instantly shifted their tactics, unleashing attacks using Yuan techniques. The disparity between the Initial Yuan Realm and the Spirit Yuan Realm was laid bare in an instant.

Bai Ling observed the situation from front to back, his mind racing to devise a method of escape. At present, his only reliance was the power of his mysterious bloodline and the Wind Shadow Technique. He was uncertain whether his current strength was enough to contend with Spirit Yuan Realm cultivators capable of wielding Yuan techniques. Yet, the presence of fifteen such cultivators immediately extinguished any such notions.

There were fewer than thirty people left around Bai Ling. Perhaps in the next second, he would be the one being hunted. As for why these men had suddenly appeared, why they possessed Spirit Yuan strength, and what their ultimate purpose was, Bai Ling had no idea. The Xiao family members were even more clueless.

Escape!

The ten men before him, seeing that few targets remained, had slowed their pace by a fraction. The five in the lead wielded cold blades; after each strike, a gleam of intense, sadistic pleasure appeared in the depths of their eyes. The five behind them used Yuan techniques to finish off any survivors, striking down those who managed to flee with a single blast of energy.

*Now.*

In front of Bai Ling, a Xiao family disciple had just fallen to the ground. He was a meter away from the man. As the middle-aged man in hempen robes withdrew his blade, Bai Ling sprang forth like a hunting leopard!

*Whoosh!*

Before the man could raise his cold blade again, Bai Ling hugged the wall and slipped past him in an instant.

"Oh, interesting!" A flash of surprise crossed the man’s face, though it vanished a moment later. He continued slashing forward, not even bothering to turn back to hunt the boy down, for behind him, his companions were still unleashing Yuan techniques.

Physical combat might be dodged, but Yuan techniques were far beyond what an Initial Yuan Realm cultivator could resist. To be touched was to die! That was the gap in power! And he was only a third-level Initial Yuan Realm cultivator!

Standing in the center of the crowd just moments ago, Bai Ling had witnessed the entire process and simulated countless paths to escape. Only by breaking through these final five men could he hope to slip out of the encirclement.

Seeing Bai Ling instantly bypass their companion, the final five men were all struck with astonishment. They thought to themselves: *This young man, the speed he just erupted with—it is far too fast! This is not speed that a third-level Initial Yuan practitioner should be capable of!*

It was a speed that faintly transcended the limits of an Initial Yuan practitioner. At the same time, their expressions shifted, their eyes gleaming with the excitement one might show upon discovering a treasure.

One of the men licked his lips and sneered, "Heh heh heh... you are the first person to make us feel surprised!"

His companion followed up, "Then we must not let him escape. If a third-level Initial Yuan cultivator slips through our net, where will we hide our faces?"

Another added, "Heh heh... he must have secrets. Kill him, and Master will surely be pleased with everything he possesses. Cackle, cackle..."

"Die!"

The last man uttered the grim word. He drew his long sword, and a surge of Yuan power erupted from his body, coalescing upon the blade. At this moment, the sword was no longer a common weapon; it was a Spirit Sword augmented by Yuan power!

*Yuan technique!*

Bai Ling’s eyes darkened. In a split second, he saw a blade of energy manifest and slash toward his neck.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The other four men struck simultaneously! Five blades of Yuan energy transformed into light, radiating a terrifying power that chilled the heart. In less than a breath, they were two meters from Bai Ling, expanding into a lethal web before his eyes.

Bai Ling stared intensely at the incoming energy. He felt as if his head were about to burst. *Am I going to die? No!*

Bai Ling let out a low roar. "Bloodline power! Wind Shadow Technique! Thunder Cloud Art!"

"Urghhh!"

Bai Ling spun violently, throwing a punch at the man standing with his back to him. At the moment of impact, *crack!* A spark of electricity flashed from his fist!

The spark was small, but it instantly surged into the man’s body. The man, who had just raised his sword, froze in mid-air. The inexplicable sound of thunder echoing within him left him bewildered, and the electricity coursed through his meridians in an instant.

*Boom!*

The lightning tore through his veins, and the expression on his face locked in place. Bai Ling’s gaze was cold; in that sudden strike, he had found the perfect angle and driven his fist into the man's spinal meridian. With all his might, Bai Ling hoisted the man up and held him as a shield!

*Crack!*

The five blades of Yuan energy tore through the air, burying themselves deep into the man’s body.

"Hah!"

With another low roar, Bai Ling hurled the corpse at the remaining five men. In the brief moment they were stunned, he sprang up and sprinted away at full speed.

*Boom!*

Like a startled bull, Bai Ling slammed a punch into the chest of the man leaning against the wall. The blow forced the man to stumble back, creating a half-meter gap between him and the others.

A breach! Bai Ling leaped through and, to the shock of the remaining four, vanished into the dim tunnel.

"Urgh... who was that! Damn it, he killed our companion!"

"Bullshit, he crashed into your Yuan energy—you five killed him yourselves!"

"Strange, why did Brother Wang freeze in place?"

"Why does he look so familiar? Such explosive power, such speed..."

A moment later, their gazes converged, and they exclaimed in unison, "Bai Ling!"

"Damn it, we’ve been searching for him for over ten days; I never expected to find him here. The rest of you, continue! You four, with me!" the scarred man hissed.

"Yes!" Nine voices echoed through the tunnel.

On the ground lay their companion, used by Bai Ling as a meat shield and slain by his own comrades' techniques.

...

Five hundred meters deep in another tunnel, Yang Qing had just finished off a Yuan beast. Her mind kept replaying the image of Bai Ling appearing suddenly to stand before her. She stared blankly at a Yuan crystal, expressionless, her thoughts drifting to unknown places.

At that moment, a woman in white appeared behind her, passing by Yang Qing.

Her eyes were hazy. Yang Qing whispered softly, "Bai Ling, I will never forget what happened today. Perhaps... we shall never meet again in this lifetime."

Just as Xuan Ningyue’s figure was about to vanish from her sight, she felt a vague sensation—she had seen this woman in white somewhere before... where was it?

Xuan Ningyue was fast; it took her less than three minutes to pass through Yang Qing’s tunnel. Just as she was about to step out, she heard Yang Qing’s soft murmur. Her body trembled, and a brilliant smile bloomed on her face before she immediately turned back.

In Yang Qing’s field of vision, the figure of the woman in white was racing toward her, growing larger by the second.

Three meters away, Yang Qing finally saw Xuan Ningyue’s face clearly. A cold expression rested upon those beautiful features. Yang Qing’s mind buzzed, and she stood frozen. After several moments, she smiled, "It really is you!"

Xuan Ningyue looked puzzled. "You know me?"