Chapter 265 - 170: The Chase

Chapter 265: Chapter 170: The Chase

The furious roars of the demons echoed through the mountain forest, shaking the trees until they rustled. Beasts and low-tier demons scattered in all directions.

The four Tier Three Demons chased after Su Mu, Wu Yiqi, and Xue Shan. Their eyes were filled with fury and killing intent; they swore they would not rest until the three were dead.

"You’re not dead?"

Xue Shan chattered nonstop as he sprinted. "Great! I was worried about who I’d collect my money from. Now that you’re alive, at least this job won’t be a loss."

"We might not even live, and you’re still thinking about silver?" Wu Yiqi asked, a rare long sentence for him.

"You think everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouth like you?" Xue Shan said with contempt. "You have no idea how important silver is. As the saying goes, a lack of money can stump even the greatest hero."

"Enough with the nonsense," Su Mu said irritably. "Let’s just run. They’re catching up."

"Shoot them!" Xue Shan clamored. "Use your big bow and shoot them!"

"You think I don’t want to?" Su Mu rolled his eyes.

’I could probably fire another arrow or two, but my stamina would be completely drained afterward.’

’Two arrows definitely won’t be enough to kill four Tier Three Demons, but after firing them, I won’t even have the strength to run.’

’So I have to conserve some energy to escape. I can’t just use the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow carelessly anymore.’

"Wait a minute."

Su Mu suddenly had a realization. "You’re a direct disciple of the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect, and you’re the Young Master of Golden Wind Tower. You should both have gone through nine blood exchanges, right? You should be able to use the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow too."

He turned back to look at them.

"I can, technically," Xue Shan said, "but I’ve never properly learned archery."

"I can try," Wu Yiqi said cautiously.

"Here. One arrow each."

Su Mu handed over the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow without hesitation.

"Use your blood to prime it, draw the bow, and shoot," he said as he continued to run.

At that moment, the closest Tier Three Demon was only a little over thirty yards away from them.

Xue Shan didn’t refuse. He caught the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow, spat a mouthful of fresh blood onto the bowstring, then turned and fired an arrow.

He really could draw the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow!

However, his archery skills were, indeed, just as he’d said.

SWOOSH.

The blood-red arrow whizzed past the demon’s head from over thirty yards away and soared into the sky, striking the trunk of a large tree and exploding with a BOOM.

The five-colored flames instantly ignited the trunk, setting it ablaze.

Although he hadn’t hit the Tier Three Demon, it was startled and subconsciously slowed its pace. The distance between them instantly widened to nearly a hundred yards.

"Son of a bitch, this Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow is so heavy!"

Xue Shan yelled. "I can’t do it. I can’t draw it again.

Wu the Second, your turn!"

He shoved the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow at Wu Yiqi.

Wu Yiqi’s face was expressionless, and he said nothing.

He took the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow and, without hesitation, turned and fired an arrow.

SWISH!

Wu Yiqi’s archery was much better than Xue Shan’s. The blood-red arrow shot straight toward the nearest Tier Three Demon.

The Tier Three Demon’s pupils contracted. It stopped in its tracks and let out a furious roar.

A visible sonic wave blasted toward the blood-red arrow. Then, a ferocious aura erupted from the demon’s body, its surrounding energy churning as it swiped a claw at the incoming projectile.

RUMBLE!

The five-colored flames were blown away by the violent force.

The shockwave left a wake of destruction dozens of yards across.

The massive Tier Three Demon took two steps back.

But the blood-red arrow shattered into pieces.

Staring at its scorched, blackened, and bleeding claw, the Tier Three Demon was both shocked and enraged.

With a furious roar, all four Tier Three Demons simultaneously transformed.

Originally, they were only about ten feet tall, but in an instant, their demonic bodies nearly doubled in size, looking like small mountains from a distance.

With their increased size, their strides became much longer.

But their speed didn’t increase by much.

This was because they were wary of the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow!

With their power, they could block an attack from the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow head-on.

But they were afraid of a sneak attack.

Just like their companion before, who had been shot and killed by a sneak attack from the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow.

Otherwise, with its strength, it could have easily blocked the bow’s attack.

The intelligence of a Tier Three Demon was no less than a human’s; they knew how to react.

The four of them were far stronger than the three human Martial Artists. The humans’ only advantage was the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow.

As long as the demons kept draining their stamina, it was only a matter of time before the humans became their food.

TWANG!

The bowstring sang as Wu Yiqi fired another arrow.

Although it still failed to harm the four Tier Three Demons, it successfully increased the distance between them again.

Wu Yiqi’s breathing grew ragged, and his steps became much heavier, each one leaving a clear footprint in the ground.

A flicker of shock also crossed his eyes.

’Su Mu made using the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow look so easy. I never expected it to be this heavy.’

’Just firing two arrows made me feel like my stamina was completely gone.’

’Even though I’d already used up most of my stamina fighting that Tier Three Demon, this Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow is still way too heavy.’

’Even at my peak, I estimate I could only fire ten arrows at most.’

’But Su Mu has obviously fired more than ten arrows, and he’s still running with ease. He clearly has energy to spare.’

Making this mental comparison, Wu Yiqi came to a conclusion he was unwilling to believe.

’This Su Mu’s true strength is greater than mine.’

Wu Yiqi found this incredible.

’I might still be in the Rebirth Realm, but that’s only because I’ve been suppressing my Cultivation to awaken a Physical Divine Technique, holding back from a breakthrough.’

’I’ve already cultivated to the absolute peak of the Rebirth Realm.’

’Even Xue Shan, the Young Master of Golden Wind Tower, chose to suppress his Cultivation like me, but he’s no match for me.’

Wu Yiqi had always believed himself to be invincible below the True Essence Realm.

No other practitioner in the Rebirth Realm could match him in a one-on-one fight.

But now, he had finally met his match—and been surpassed.

It should have been impossible from any perspective. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.

’I, Wu Yiqi, come from a good background and joined the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect. Since I began cultivating, I’ve had the best Martial Arts Techniques and the most abundant resources.’

’But what about Su Mu?’

’Could this be true talent?’

’Is all my hard work worthless in the face of such talent?’

"I know!"

Wu Yiqi suddenly spoke up, "Your Physical Divine Technique... it’s Blood Body!"

Su Mu gave Wu Yiqi a strange look. ’We’re running for our lives, and you spent all this time trying to figure out my trump card?’

"You know about it?" Su Mu replied nonchalantly.

’Plenty of people know I have a Physical Divine Technique, but no one knows exactly what it is.’

’I’ve never explained it to anyone.’

’I can’t believe Wu Yiqi actually knows the name Blood Body.’

’But of course, Wu Yiqi could never guess that I have more than one Physical Divine Technique.’

"I’ve carefully studied all known Physical Divine Techniques in the world," Wu Yiqi said. When it came to Martial Arts, he was suddenly much more talkative. "Earlier, I personally saw you get smashed to bits by that Tier Three Demon. That must be an avatar-type Physical Divine Technique, and the only one that fits the description is Blood Body."

Xue Shan looked at Su Mu with a hint of envy. "So it’s Blood Body. To awaken Blood Body means your blood exchange efficiency has reached a limit unattainable by ordinary people. No wonder you can fire so many arrows with the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow.

"Having Blood Body means you have immense vitality, so of course you’d have more stamina."

Wu Yiqi breathed a sigh of relief. ’That’s it. Su Mu being able to shoot more arrows doesn’t mean he’s stronger than me, just that he has more vitality. My Cultivation in the Rebirth Realm is definitely stronger than his.’

’I’ve already had some enlightenment. As long as I can make it back alive this time, I’m ninety percent confident I can awaken a Physical Divine Technique.’

’Once I have my own Physical Divine Technique, my position as the number one in the Rebirth Realm will still be secure.’

Listening to their analysis, Su Mu mentally scoffed. ’Whatever makes you happy. I’m not going to tell you my Physical Divine Techniques also include the Indestructible Golden Body, and I certainly won’t tell you that the Rebirth Technique I practice is the world’s strongest, the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique.’

’Blood Body is just my most insignificant little skill.’

"These four Tier Three Demons are dead set on catching us. We can’t go on like this," Su Mu said, changing the subject. "I suggest we hide in that cave from before, make a stand there, and fight them to the end. What do you think?"

"I can barely run anymore. Let’s do it!" Xue Shan said, gritting his teeth.

Wu Yiqi also nodded. If Su Mu dared to do it, why wouldn’t he?

’In all my life, I have never been second to anyone.’