"Then what brings the ladies of Chanmian Pavilion here?" Xiao Yifeng asked.
"Originally, we only intended to capture you and that little girl beside you," Plum Attendant chuckled. "We never expected a buy-one-get-one-free deal that came with a true disciple of the Wentian Sect. What a pleasant surprise. Would you mind taking a trip with us, Young Master?"
Xiao Yifeng hesitated no longer, secretly transmitting his voice to Little Bing. "Do it."
At the same time, he pushed the Spiritual Power within his body into Falling Rainbow with all his might, the spirit of Zhan Xian silently assisting him from within.
Little Bing struck first, throwing its head back with a roar and spewing a torrent of freezing dragon breath. The icy blast surged straight toward the three women.
Xiao Yifeng flung the immortal sword into the sky as the Zhan Xian sword spirit instantly drained his Dantian empty. Falling Rainbow transformed into a massive sword radiating a terrifying aura, cleaving down upon the trio.
caught off guard by his sudden assault after such casual conversation, the three women were frozen in place by Little Bing's frost before being struck head-on by Xiao Yifeng's giant sword.
Yet Xiao Yifeng showed no joy. He signaled Little Bing beneath him to turn around and flee toward the city immediately.
Sure enough, the figures of the three women reappeared in the next instant, completely unscathed. With a cold snort, they gave chase.
One party fled while the other pursued, both moving at incredible speed. His Spiritual Power depleted, Xiao Yifeng hurriedly swallowed several Spirit Recovery Pills. Daoist Bichen stood up, unleashing wind blade after wind blade toward the rear in an attempt to delay their pursuit.
Yuge clung tightly to Little Bing's scales, doing her best not to fall off and bring further trouble upon Xiao Yifeng.
Biting her lip, she spoke up. "Young Master Xiao, their target is me. Why don't you leave me behind? They might stop chasing you then."
Xiao Yifeng opened his eyes, glanced at her, and then closed them again to focus on adjusting his breathing.
Little Bing was indeed a uniquely gifted Demon Beast. Its flying speed was exceptionally fast, no slower than that of a Golden Core cultivator, keeping the three demonesses from closing the gap immediately.
However, their pursuers were relentless. If this chase continued, they would be overtaken sooner or later, and none of them would escape.
Moreover, the unseen Bamboo Attendant had yet to show herself. Xiao Yifeng had no idea if she was waiting in ambush along the road back to the city.
Just as Xiao Yifeng was caught in this dilemma, Daoist Bichen stood up. "Young Master Xiao, let this old Daoist draw away one of the pursuers. With your capabilities, I believe you will find a way to escape."
Xiao Yifeng's expression darkened slightly. With the old Daoist's current cultivation, drawing away a Golden Core pursuer meant capture at best and death at worst.
Yet three Golden Core opponents were behind them, and there was no telling if Foundation Establishment enemies waited ahead.
Seeing Xiao Yifeng hesitate, Daoist Bichen said, "Young master, you have always been decisive in matters of life and death. Why hesitate now? Though my Dharma name is Bichen-Avoiding Dust-I have tumbled through the red dust my entire life. It is only right that I return to it."
Xiao Yifeng hesitated no longer. Handing over a Middle Grade Magical Artifact shield, he said, "Take care, Daoist. I grant this to you."
This shield was the other Middle Grade Magical Artifact given to him by Xuan Yi. Within a single day, he had given both away.
"To think this old Daoist would have the chance to use a Middle Grade Magical Artifact in his lifetime," Daoist Bichen chuckled.
He then turned to the tearful Yuge, bowing deeply. "Princess, Bichen can only escort you this far!"
Transforming into a streak of light, he fled in another direction.
"You demonesses! What you want is right here with this old Daoist! Come and get it if you dare!" Daoist Bichen shouted arrogantly as he ran.
Sure enough, his antics drew away Orchid Attendant, one of the Golden Core cultivators. Seeing her give chase, Daoist Bichen executed the Blood-Burning Secret Art without hesitation, instantly widening the gap between them.
Two Golden Core demonesses remained in pursuit of Xiao Yifeng.
As the distance shrank, Xiao Yifeng knew he would be caught before long.
He retrieved all his rare treasures meant for Foundation Establishment, hovering them in a cluster above his palm. Flames erupted from his hand as he refined the precious herbs directly with his bare hands.
Disregarding any waste, he forcibly condensed the materials into a multicolored liquid and swallowed it whole.
He intended to use such a crude method to force a breakthrough into Foundation Establishment. He had no other choice; the pursuers were closing in, and reaching the city in time was impossible.
Even if he did reach the city, he had no idea what state it was in. If he failed to break through to Foundation Establishment, he would almost certainly be captured alive.
Ten li from the city, Xiao Yifeng had Little Bing land on a nearby hill. He brought out a formation disk and deployed a formation-his familiar Fire Crow Array.
Pouring his full power into this top-grade Foundation Establishment formation, he pushed it to its absolute limit, deliberately damaging the formation disk to draw out its maximum potential. Nine massive fire crows began to circle within the barrier. He sought only to buy a little more time.
When the two Golden Core demonesses landed and saw the array, their expressions turned solemn.
Chrysanthemum Attendant snorted coldly. "Disciples of famous sects truly carry treasures all over their bodies."
Plum Attendant produced a crescent blade, tossing it into the air where it split into countless small blades that slashed relentlessly against the array barrier. The other demoness drew a flexible sword, unleashing waves of sword Qi.
Under their joint attack, the Fire Crow Array began to tremble precariously.
Inside the formation, Xiao Yifeng paid them no mind, concentrating entirely on refining the liquid medicine within his body and sensing the profound, elusive aura of the heavenly law.
Yuge watched him with deep worry, her mind filled with chaotic thoughts.
Just then, a streak of green light shot across the sky and landed beside the two demonesses. A green-clad woman appeared-the remaining Bamboo Attendant.
In her hands were two people: the long-missing Zhang Tianzhi and Yurou.
"Brat, and Princess Yuge over there, you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to your brother and friend, would you?" Bamboo Attendant chuckled. "If you know what's good for you, come out and surrender quietly."
Xiao Yifeng had not expected Zhang Tianzhi and Yurou to fall into enemy hands. Anxious, he worried even more for Su Miaoqing, whose whereabouts remained unknown.
Yet he knew that charging out impulsively would not save them and would only result in his own capture. Forced to remain cold, he turned a blind eye.
"Young Master Xiao, take Yuge and run! Don't mind us!" Zhang Tianzhi roared.
"Still stubborn? Let us see if you can keep that sharp tongue once I extract your life essence!" Bamboo Attendant pressed her palm onto his head, activating her cultivation technique.
Zhang Tianzhi visibly withered before their eyes as a strange power was drawn from his body. She was forcibly extracting his life force; if drained completely, he would be reduced to a dried corpse.
The agony of having one's life force extracted while alive was agonizing beyond words. Even a man of Zhang Tianzhi's resolve could not hold back a scream of agony.