EBE Chapter 172 Survival from desperate situation
Chapter 172 Survival from desperate situation
Outside the cave, the pursuers' footsteps grew increasingly hurried, the heavy thud of their boots seeming to pound on Zhang Yifan's heart, each step making his heart race. The cacophony echoed within the cave, mingling with the pursuers' heavy breathing and hushed shouts, intensifying the already tense atmosphere, as if an invisible hand had gripped Zhang Yifan's throat.
Zhang Yifan knew that this was a life-or-death situation. If he didn't come up with a solution, not only would he lose his life, but the ninth-grade pill that Xuan Qingzi had risked his life to protect, as well as the black dragon he had just subdued, would also fall into enemy hands. His gaze urgently swept towards the stone deep in the cave that emitted a faint blue light. At this moment, this blue light was like a lifeline in the darkness, his only hope.
Without a second thought, Zhang Yifan sat down cross-legged without hesitation, closed his eyes slightly, adjusted his breathing, and then his hands moved swiftly like phantoms, forming a series of complex and mysterious hand seals. His whole body was tense, and the veins on his forehead bulged, clearly indicating that he was exerting all his strength to activate the legendary Chaos Technique.
In an instant, a powerful aura erupted from his body, stirring the surrounding air into a state of unease. The spiritual energy around him burned fiercely and surged violently like a flaming fire, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy around him.
At the same time, the wisps of blue light emanating from the mysterious stone began to slowly peel away. These lights appeared and disappeared, like twinkling stars in the night sky, beautiful yet somewhat eerie. They first drifted towards Zhang Yifan extremely slowly, initially as subtle and imperceptible as a trickle flowing into the sea.
However, as time went by and Zhang Yifan became more proficient in using the Chaos Technique, he became increasingly adept at guiding this mysterious power. Gradually, the speed at which the blue light flowed began to increase, changing from a trickle to a babbling brook, and finally transforming into a torrent that continuously poured into Zhang Yifan's body.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment, the clamor outside the cave contrasting sharply with the tranquility inside. The black dragon lay prone to one side, its blood-red vertical pupils fixed on Zhang Yifan. Although it was seriously injured, it knew that its master was facing a critical moment, and dared not even breathe loudly, for fear of disturbing Zhang Yifan's refining process.
Before long, an astonishing change occurred. Zhang Yifan felt the previously depleted spiritual energy within his body surge forth. The nine nascent souls, which had been listless, were now rapidly replenished, as if injected with a stimulant, and restored to their peak condition. His eyes suddenly opened, flashing with a sharp light, and a powerful aura emanated from his body, permeating the entire cave.
Just then, the pursuers outside the cave arrived.
The first to enter the cave was a tall, burly man, wielding a massive battle axe. The axe's surface gleamed with a cold light, runes flowing across it, displaying its extraordinary power. His muscles bulged, as if cast from steel, his skin a bronze hue, veins bulging like writhing snakes. His eyes were fierce and savage. After scanning the cave, they landed on Zhang Yifan, and he grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, roaring like a wild beast spotting its prey: "Boy, today is your death day!"
Immediately afterward, several more cultivators filed in. They were dressed in uniform black outfits and each carried a magical weapon: a longsword emitting a ghostly light, a flying wheel swirling with spiritual energy, and a magic wand capable of releasing ice shards. These individuals were all of considerable cultivation level, with the weakest being at the late Nascent Soul stage, and the leaders even reaching the early Void Refinement stage. The oppressive aura emanating from them seemed to solidify the air within the cave.
Zhang Yifan slowly stood up, his longsword twirling in his hand, producing a clear, ringing sound. Now back to his peak, his confidence had surged, and he showed no fear in the face of his pursuers. His icy gaze swept over them as if scrutinizing a group of ants, and he coldly snorted, "You want my life? You're not qualified!"
Upon hearing this, the burly man wielding the battle axe flew into a rage. He swung the axe down at Zhang Yifan's head. The axe sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound, as if it could tear space itself apart. Zhang Yifan remained calm, sidestepping the fierce attack with ease. At the same time, he swung his longsword, unleashing a sword aura like lightning, aimed straight for the burly man's throat. The burly man reacted quickly, hastily parrying with his battle axe. With a loud clang, sparks flew, and the powerful impact forced the burly man back several steps. His hands went numb, and he was secretly shocked that this seemingly young man possessed such strength.
Seeing this, the other pursuers roared and attacked. Instantly, the magical artifacts inside the cave shone brightly, and various spells and sword energies intertwined, forming a dazzling yet deadly net of light that enveloped Zhang Yifan. Zhang Yifan moved nimbly, darting freely through this net of light. He unleashed the exquisite sword techniques of the Xuanqing Sword Art and the Thunderous Sky-Severing Sword, each swing of his sword either deflecting a magical artifact or repelling an enemy.
The black dragon, unable to contain itself any longer, though injured, was no ordinary cultivator at the Refinement Realm. It suddenly tilted its head back and spewed out a black curtain of water, containing corrosive venom, which swept towards the pursuers. Wherever the water reached, the rocks sizzled and corroded. Several pursuers who couldn't dodge in time were instantly infected by the venom, screaming in agony as their clothes and skin rapidly rotted away.
However, these pursuers were no pushovers either; they quickly adjusted their tactics. Several early-stage Void Refinement cultivators joined forces to cast a powerful sealing spell, attempting to trap Zhang Yifan and the black dragon. A massive spiritual energy barrier appeared in the air, like a transparent cage, slowly pressing down on them. Upon seeing this, Zhang Yifan's eyes narrowed. He activated the Chaos Technique to its maximum, gathering all his spiritual energy in his longsword, and thrust it fiercely towards the barrier. With a "crack," the barrier was pierced by his sword, dissipating into specks of spiritual light in the air.
The two sides exchanged blows, locked in a fierce battle that escalated rapidly within the cave. Debris flew, dust billowed, and the already cramped cave now resembled a living hell. Although Zhang Yifan held the upper hand thanks to his restored peak strength and the assistance of the black dragon, he knew this couldn't continue indefinitely. Reinforcements from the pursuing forces were constantly arriving, and while his spiritual energy was abundant, it couldn't withstand such prolonged exhaustion.
Just as Zhang Yifan was pondering a way to escape, an even more powerful surge of spiritual energy suddenly emanated from outside the cave, as if a storm was about to sweep in. Immediately afterward, a mysterious figure dressed in black robes slowly stepped into the cave. This person was shrouded in a layer of black mist, his face obscured, but the aura emanating from him sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. It was a pressure far exceeding the Refinement of Void realm, as if emanating from the deepest abyss, sending shivers down their spines.
Zhang Yifan's heart tightened; he knew the real challenge had only just begun. Who exactly was this mysterious person, and why was he so relentlessly pursuing this ninth-grade elixir? All the mysteries would be revealed in the battles to come…