Chapter 259 - 181: Escape, Gains, Secret Technique, Thousand-Year Red Ginseng

Chapter 259: Chapter 181: Escape, Gains, Secret Technique, Thousand-Year Red Ginseng

This only served to slow the trio’s advance.

The ground beneath them suddenly cracked open. A great maw stretched out from the fissure—a blood-red mouth lined with hundreds of pale, fang-like barbs.

A viscous, dark purple digestive fluid dripped from the fangs. The creature struck like a demon lurking in the shadows, attacking when its enemies were at their most lax.

The great maw, having burst from the earth, loomed over Zhao Zuo. Its exterior was as vibrant as fresh blood, but its interior was a purplish-black abyss. It radiated a savage, brutal aura and a palpable, rising malice.

It looked as if it would swallow Zhao Zuo whole!

The rows of fang-like barbs were sharp enough to shatter human bone. At the center of the maw was an abyssal black hole, where a viscous, deep-purple liquid pooled, emitting a foul, putrid stench.

Zhao Zuo tapped his right foot on the ground and leaped high into the air. He activated three Talismans at once, and scorching flames instantly filled the creature’s mouth, causing it to swell rapidly.

He then used his Mana to twist his body in mid-air, instantly moving several meters away to evade the Cannibal Flower’s surprise attack.

Zhao Zuo spun around. He thrust his Black Flame Saber straight through the massive Cannibal Flower, channeling high-temperature flames into its core.

Two seconds later, Liu Heng and Wang Yao skirted the enormous flower bud and sprinted toward a nearby tunnel. Meanwhile, Zhao Zuo casually activated his Golden Light Mirror, and a dense Golden Light formed a barrier over his body.

Zhao Zuo focused his spirit and gathered his strength. The muscles in his arms swelled, veins bulging on their surface. He channeled the Qi Blood Flame Saber technique, swinging the blade upward in a vicious arc that sliced the massive flower bud open. Black Flame poured into the wound, gushing forth as if it cost him nothing.

Zhao Zuo could feel the plant’s agony. Showing no mercy, he tossed two jars of fire oil into the gaping wound, further intensifying the internal blaze.

Then, Zhao Zuo withdrew his saber. Eyes wary, he began to back away.

WHOOSH.

The trio dashed into the narrow tunnel and burst out the other side, a dozen or so meters later. The passage seemed to be inscribed with some sort of Array that restricted the growth of the blood-red vines.

The vines could only chase them down the length of the tunnel; they couldn’t burst up from the ground beneath their feet.

Zhao Zuo spun around, infusing a Talisman with Mana before throwing it. Flames spread out like a great serpent. With his left hand, he hurled his last few jars of fire oil, successfully driving the blood-red vines back. He then turned gracefully and resumed sprinting toward the entrance of the Cave Mansion.

"Don’t stop! Keep running!" Zhao Zuo yelled to the other two.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, the blood-red vines surged out from the tunnel. Even outside the Cave Mansion, they continued to pursue the trio relentlessly, stretching for several hundred meters before they seemed to hit a limit and finally gave up the chase.

By now, both Liu Heng and Wang Yao were injured. Their Taoist Robes were covered in tears from the thorns, and they looked utterly drained. Clearly, the light purple smoke had been poisonous.

Liu Heng, having protected Wang Yao, was more seriously injured. Blood flowed continuously from a wound on his arm.

Even with Zhao Zuo taking most of the pressure, the other two had still been injured.

Even now, several kilometers away from the Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion, they were still shaken.

Zhao Zuo, by contrast, seemed perfectly composed. His Taoist Robe was only slightly torn, and the skin beneath was completely unscathed. He was calm and collected, as if the recent battle had been... no trouble at all.

"Thank you! Thank you, Younger Brother Zhao! You saved our lives."

Panting heavily, Liu Heng leaned against a thick tree trunk. He respectfully offered the wooden box containing the Thousand-Year Red Ginseng. ’Before... I had only suspected Zhao Zuo was strong, but it was just a vague concept.’

But after witnessing his power today, Liu Heng realized he had still underestimated Zhao Zuo.

"In that case, I’ll accept it." Zhao Zuo didn’t hesitate, taking the wooden box directly.

Even through the box, he could feel a dense, pure Fire Series Energy. Wisps of it were even seeping slowly from the cracks in the wood.

’Zhao Zuo estimated that if he could successfully absorb and complete its Refinement, he would surely be able to improve the quality of his Fire Series Spiritual Root. At the same time, his speed of absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power would increase once again.’

"It’s only right," Liu Heng replied with a smile.

Nearby, Wang Yao’s expression was complex. She had always felt that Liu Heng was overly respectful to Zhao Zuo, but today’s battle had completely changed her mind. It wasn’t as if she’d never seen Inner Sect Disciples of the Moyun Sect fight, but those people... were absolutely no match for Zhao Zuo.

And yet, he was so low-key and reserved.

"Let’s go. We need to hurry and get back to the Moyun Sect as soon as possible." Zhao Zuo put the wooden box into his Storage Bag. He wasn’t the least bit interested in what else the other two had gained on this trip. ’With this time, I might as well be Refining a few more Middle Grade Magical Artifacts.’

"Okay, let’s head out."

A peculiar glint flashed in Wang Yao’s eyes. ’She had thought Zhao Zuo would use this as a chance to demand more of their spoils, but he wasn’t even curious about what else they had found. He had only taken what was rightfully his.’

Liu Heng and Wang Yao tended to their injuries, applied some Beast-Repelling Powder, and then followed Zhao Zuo out of the area. Only after they had walked about ten kilometers and the two small mountain peaks had vanished from sight did the pair begin to relax.

「In the blink of an eye, night had fallen.」

They had only covered about half their usual distance today, mainly because Liu Heng and Wang Yao were in poor condition. Their faces were pale and their spirits low. Even after taking a detoxification Pill Medicine, they still hadn’t recovered. They would simply have to let time heal their wounds.