Chapter 153 - 148: Shock, Numbness, Indignation

Chapter 153: Chapter 148: Shock, Numbness, Indignation

Tracking wasn’t entirely impossible within the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array, but the deviation in distance would be severe.

The farther the distance, the more inaccurate the results.

To find someone, one needed to track them constantly, correcting the results along the way.

If Ge Fangrong had another item capable of tracking Jiang Zuo, he would have entered without a moment’s hesitation.

But he could only use Wu Zhonghai’s soul lamp to track Wu Zhonghai himself.

And the soul lamp couldn’t withstand such continuous strain.

If he did so, the soul lamp would most likely extinguish before he even caught up to his target.

’Forget it. I’ll have to think of another way.’

After some deliberation, Ge Fangrong ultimately decided not to pursue him inside.

He was late by the better part of half a day. The man was incredibly fast and must have already ventured deep into the Mortal Territory.

For him to enter alone would be no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

「Meanwhile.」

Although Jiang Zuo was on the run, he was no longer panicked after entering the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array.

The years Jiang Zuo had spent as a blacksmith for the Xu Family had not been for nothing.

He was already well aware of many details about the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array. He knew it possessed many properties that severely restricted the various abilities of Cultivators.

Furthermore, after entering the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array, Jiang Zuo had even created a Blood Qi Avatar and had it follow him from a distance of about ten li.

This way, if anyone were to pursue him, Jiang Zuo would know at once and could respond accordingly.

With Cultivators unable to pinpoint his exact location, this maneuver all but guaranteed he wouldn’t be caught.

In that respect, Ge Fangrong had been wise not to pursue him.

As he witnessed Jiang Zuo pull one trick after another, Wu Zhonghai’s shock had turned to numbness.

’He was clearly just a mortal, yet he even possessed a technique to create an avatar.’

If he hadn’t experienced it firsthand, Wu Zhonghai wouldn’t have believed it for the life of him. These were not abilities a mortal should possess.

More than a day later, Jiang Zuo felt he was more or less safe.

’They hadn’t caught up after a full day. The chances of them finding him now were slim.’

However, Jiang Zuo also knew the Divine Wood Sect would not let the matter rest.

The sect’s higher-ups hadn’t pursued him personally, but they would definitely dispatch others to find him.

He hadn’t revealed many distinguishing features when he encountered the Divine Wood Sect’s disciples in the Cyan Wood Secret Realm. To find him, the sect would likely have to start with his status as a Grandmaster and his exceptionally powerful martial might.

Therefore, until he dealt with this old coot in his Sea of Consciousness, he could not reveal his identity as a Grandmaster to anyone.

’Still, the safest place would undoubtedly be the Ancient Beast Forest.’

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Zuo decided to head for the Ancient Beast Forest.

Once inside the Ancient Beast Forest, neither Cultivators nor ordinary people would be able to find him.

Along the way, Jiang Zuo avoided all contact with people.

「Half a month later.」

He once again reached the outskirts of the Ancient Beast Forest.

"Going into the Ancient Beast Forest? A good idea, indeed."

"But you’d better think carefully. Don’t forget what kind of poison you’re afflicted with!"

Seeing that Jiang Zuo intended to hide deep within the Ancient Beast Forest, Wu Zhonghai chuckled sinisterly.

As a master of the Dao Fruit Realm, he was of course aware of the Ancient Beast Forest’s strange properties.

But for that very reason, he knew Jiang Zuo would be unable to hide inside.

Sure enough, Jiang Zuo had only ventured a little deeper when his whole body began to feel uncomfortable. It was as if his very flesh and blood were being eroded by some corrosive power.

It was because of the poison in him, the one that sapped his Lifespan!

’A poison capable of shortening a person’s life could hardly be ordinary. It must contain some kind of Spiritual Power!’

And the corrosive power from the Heaven and Earth Sealing Spirit Array made no distinction—it would attack any Spiritual Power, regardless of its origin.

If Jiang Zuo dared to go any deeper, he would soon be corroded to death on the spot.

Seeing this, Jiang Zuo could only retreat in silence.

"Haha! Your clever plan didn’t work out, did it?"

"I don’t mind telling you—I specifically concocted this poison to prevent people from fleeing into the Ancient Beast Forest!"

Wu Zhonghai laughed with glee.

"Are you happy? You think I’m a dead man walking, that you’ll be able to take over my body sooner or later, is that it?"

Jiang Zuo stopped in his tracks and spoke coldly to Wu Zhonghai.

"And why wouldn’t I be? You can’t do anything to me!"

"In another twenty or thirty years, your Lifespan will be all but spent. At that point, won’t your body become mine?"

Seeing Jiang Zuo’s apparent desperation, Wu Zhonghai began to laugh.

"Is that so? Then you should watch closely."

With that, Jiang Zuo sat down cross-legged.

He gradually calmed his mind and entered a state of Cultivation, practicing the Body Freedom Technique.

After Xu Xiuyun left and he could no longer engage in dual Cultivation, Jiang Zuo had spent most of his time practicing the first level of the Body Freedom Technique: the Visualization Technique.

Over the past twenty-odd years, while Jiang Zuo’s progress in the Visualization Technique hadn’t been enormous, there was still a distinct change compared to two decades prior.

As Jiang Zuo entered his meditative state, a faint human figure gradually took shape within his Sea of Consciousness.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, Jiang Zuo had visualized his own form.

This was far from the first time he had done so. It was just that in the past, he had done it to interact more with the Mysterious Stele.

’But now...’

Jiang Zuo gazed at Wu Zhonghai, then suddenly charged toward him.

"Visualizing your own form in the Sea of Consciousness, a reflection of your true self! You’ve also practiced a Visualization Technique, and you’ve already achieved mastery?!"

Seeing Jiang Zuo’s faint figure, Wu Zhonghai lost his composure and roared in shocked fury.

’He couldn’t help but wonder once again: was this person truly a mortal?’

But regardless of his suspicions, Jiang Zuo’s visualized shadow was already charging at him, ready to kill.

Compared to Wu Zhonghai’s Divine Soul, the figure Jiang Zuo had visualized was exceptionally weak.