Chapter 63 - Hearts Stirred

In the streets and alleys of the great city of Da Huang, countless people screamed and fled. Dust and gravel were scattered and flying everywhere under the impact of the source energy, and many powerful people on the roadside came forward to block it to prevent weaker people from getting hurt. However, almost none of them dared to intervene in the battle that had spread to dozens of streets, with one side chasing and the other fleeing.
Those two experts were both extremely powerful innate perfectionists, their speed so fast that even the patrolling soldiers couldn't catch up. However, such a big commotion undoubtedly caught the attention of the city guards, who quickly surrounded the area according to their pre-planned defenses. Unfortunately, even though they were completely surrounded, those two experts could easily tear apart the encirclement.
"It's just a battle between innate masters, it shouldn't alarm Grandmaster He Jia and other peak-level experts," the high-ranking experts on the side of the road watched this fight with trepidation, silently thinking to themselves, "But soon there will be innate masters with similar strength coming here, and there will also be unknown experts who cannot resist the urge to intervene."
As the battle continues, more and more people are alerted. Whether they are wearing official hats or simple clothes, they won't tolerate such reckless behavior. Not to mention the Great Wilderness Dynasty, which follows the law of the jungle and survival of the fittest, even fighting in the city is already against the rules and laws.
"It's only been a short time since we last met and you've become stronger again?"
With two swords in hand, Xie Ji easily evaded and deflected Lin Xuan's relentless attacks. The green elemental energy burning with the essence of life turned into fierce and snake-like blades on the long spear. However, Xie Ji's dual swords sliced through them effortlessly, sometimes accidentally injuring innocent bystanders.
"Damn it, this guy's arm has fully recovered, and his skills are as difficult to deal with as before, even more so!" Lin Xuan tried to control his attacks while his source energy surged. "Gather wind...sound the horn!"
The long halberd wrapped in source energy seemed to have condensed into a mini rhinoceros, with the longest sharp tip in the middle of the halberd resembling the sharp horn of a rhinoceros. It seemed to rely on its colossal size and momentum to charge straight at Xie Ji, its ferocious momentum almost unstoppable. Even Xie Ji's expression changed at the sight of it.
He condensed almost all of his source energy onto his dual swords, using them to block each other and resist Lin Xuan's attacks without daring to use source techniques to deflect them elsewhere. This was Lin Xuan's first time using this move, and it was much less agile than his "Python" technique, so his attack route was easily anticipated and difficult to change in the moment even if it was seen through. However, his strength and speed were absolutely superior, and if his opponent's strength was equal to his own, the vast majority wouldn't be able to avoid even if they saw through the attack!
At this moment, Lin Xuan even disregarded exposing his identity and unfolded the Wind Source Feather Wings to charge towards Xie Ji faster. Because this move was not like "Python" that used two other sharp edges on the long halberd, it relied on the kinetic energy caused by his own strength and speed to create greater damage, so the faster the speed the better!
Boom!
A powerful collision sent Xie Ji flying, crashing through several hundred feet and piercing through three inns and two restaurants along the way before finally nearly reaching the banks of the Yih River.
"Thundering Demon Body!" Lin Xuan shouted angrily, and the temperature of his body kept rising. The flame of the passing element fire burned his source energy to the fullest, and his arms holding the Xuanhong halberd seemed to be emitting flames. The arm guards had crimson cracks that seemed to be about to burst open.
Zap!
Xie Ji's strength seemed to have finally given way, and the rhinoceros's horn finally pierced his body, emitting a piercing sound that seemed like a collision of metal. Dazzling light and majestic origin energy flowed out of Xie Ji's wound, frighteningly reminiscent of an originium explosion. Lin Xuan instinctively stepped back, but Xie Ji seized the opportunity to kick him in the stomach.
"Xiangmu!"
Finally injuring Xie Ji in the process, Lin Xuan grits his teeth and activates his Source Arts for the first time, opening the eye on his forehead and feeling his remaining Source Qi deplete rapidly like snow melting under boiling water. However, he also witnesses the surge of energy within Xie Ji's body.
During Phang Mo's practice, his time was too short and he consumed too much energy, so once he opened his eyes, he had to act quickly. Therefore, after injuring Xie Ji, Lin Xuan used it to find opportunities. Xie Ji, who was injured, was sure to be more likely to expose his weaknesses.
If Lin Xuan cannot find any flaws in Xie Ji's plan for the time being, he will not easily resort to his trump card - the Xiangmu ability. He only needs to keep Xie Ji occupied, as this is in the capital city and soon there will be skilled individuals coming to pursue them. With his identity as a patrol officer, Lin Xuan can easily apprehend Xie Ji, who will have no chance to escape!
Since he knew that Xie Ji couldn't escape, he didn't need to push himself so hard, but he just wanted to defeat Xie Ji with his own hands!
"Good, very good!" Xie Ji held his chest and seemed not angry but laughed heartily, "I didn't expect to be easily injured by you again. It's not wrong for me to recognize you as my opponent, but the personal victory or defeat between us cannot be ended today."
"Arrogant bastard...there are plenty of experts stronger than me. What's there to be proud of in injuring you?" Lin Xuan sneered, "And you can't even defeat me, yet you still indulge in self-satisfaction?"
Lin Xuan procrastinated, his brow furrowed as he watched intently. He was surprised to find that Xie Ji's body seemed different from everyone else's, with no discernible blood or qi flow, as if it were filled with qi everywhere. The immense qi condensation blurred Lin Xuan's vision, making it impossible to identify weak links in Xie Ji's qi flow.
"Is that so? It seems that you have forgotten something."
Shi Jizhi restrained his smile and calmly said, gracefully waving his right hand and bowing slightly, "I have received the ore from the Treasure Competition and have once again crossed swords with you. Today's business is finished, I won't stay any longer."
Lin Xuan was slightly startled, and had a bad feeling in his heart. The primordial beings that the Burning Thunder Demon Body had sensed approaching seemed to have new breaths and were rushing in at a more astonishing speed. Then he immediately realized what it was, and he no longer hesitated, directly rushing over.
If I can't find your weak source energy, I can still see the flaws in your movements with my eyes! The important thing is, while you're sick, I'm going to take your life!
"Hmph, goodbye!" Xie Ji grinned and smiled, leaned back along the bank of the Yishi River, and fell directly into the river.
Lin Xuan stopped his footsteps after missing his target, and quickly looked down: "Disappeared? How is that possible? Is he under the river? Even if he's injured and in the water, how could there be no blood?"
Under the gaze of the gaze, Lin Xuan finally saw the source of the gas shadow that quickly flowed under the water. Is that really the swimming speed that humans can achieve? But Lin Xuan didn't have time to think about it anymore, no matter how he chased on the shore, he was definitely faster than Xie Ji!
However!
As if calculating with precision like Xie Ji, dozens of puppets rushed out from the streets and alleys from all directions at this exact moment, blocking Lin Xuan's path without regard to their own lives. Even with Lin Xuan's strength, he could not ignore them. Unless he unfolded his Wind Source Feather Wings and flew into the air, although he didn't know whether these innate puppets were absurd enough to be able to fly, but once he did so, he would definitely be seen by everyone.
Just now that strike only exposed for an instant and it was a fierce collision of source qi, it should be fine, but now...
"Quickly, over there! Catch them!"
The opportunity was fleeting, and Lin Xuan's hesitation for just a few breaths had already allowed Xie Ji to escape hundreds of feet along the Yi River. The city guards had also caught up with many disciples of the Wilderness Mountains, and Lin Xuan could feel his own source qi constantly depleting, even his vision had directly disappeared.
Darn it!"
Lin Xuan scolded angrily and then punched the puppet in front of him. These puppets seemed to be faster, but their true strength was just some small fry in the innate realm. Under the explosive power of his Thunderous Body, the punch directly punched a hole in the puppet, and the red light in the puppet's eyes gradually went out.
But there seemed to be dripping sounds coming from the puppet's body, and the remaining source gas used to drive it was gradually surging.
"That crazy bastard of a bitch!" Lin Xuan immediately realized what was going on, and ran out while shouting, "Run! Don't get close to them!"
If these puppets could be obtained, maybe Lin Xuan could also study their construction, at least he could study the device patterns on the puppets. In the past, the puppets in Mian Valley were completely destroyed under Chen Chao's formation and nothing was left. Otherwise, Xie Ji would definitely take such measures to prevent the secret of puppet making from leaking.
In the distant underground treasure hunt, Su Yao is directing Dou Dou, Qing Tian and others to move wooden boards and stones, trying to treat every injured person. However, in an instant, the temperature around them began to gradually rise due to the source of gas. As the only Round Sky powerhouse who did not leave because he did not get the treasure he bought, Su Yao was the first to sense that something was wrong.
"Clear skies, have your people take the rescued casualties away!"
Su Yao shouted in an unusual manner, frightening everyone, but they all heard the fear in Su Yao's voice. "Everyone get out! Quickly!"
He could feel the residual source energy constantly condensing in the wreckage of those puppets, especially the six puppets that barely had the strength of a Round Sky realm, and the surging energy made Su Yao feel frightened.
恐怕连他都没办法轻松抵挡！
没人敢质疑圆天强者的命令，所有人都争先恐后地向外逃去，随着源气暴动逐渐明显，所有人也都明白将要发生什么。
"Shake, hurry up and go!"
Standing beside a large, broken wall with a gaping hole, Su Yao forcefully pushed Qing Tian out and turned back to shout at the only one who hadn't moved, "You can't save them anymore!"
"But I can't just leave them alone..." She felt increasingly in danger and started to get more anxious.
She tried her best to pull out the other injured person who was trapped under the rocks in front of her. If she ran away like this, what would happen to these people? She couldn't just turn a blind eye to it!
In Doudou's eyes, the motionless figure buried underneath was not a guardian of Baoling Mountain, but rather her long-lost sister. It seemed as though she could see the same helplessness, pain, and despair in her sister's eyes that she had seen in SeSe's when she was in danger.
Su Yao's heart suddenly sank as if he had remembered something. Immediately, he acted quickly and rushed to the side of Dou Dou. Following closely was a thunderous boom, and the surging source energy was detonated in an instant. Whether it was rocks or steel, everything was burned to ashes without leaving anything behind.
As a huge shadow loomed over her, Dou Dou felt a scorching hot air current and deafening roar around her. She instinctively condensed her Source Qi for defense, but the violent shockwave still caused her to spew blood, even though it had been weakened a thousand times.
And the poor guard was directly shattered without resistance from the impact.
It seemed like a very long time had passed, and Shiver only came back to her senses from dizziness. The pitch-black night sky told her that the entire house had been razed to the ground, and the reason she was almost unscathed was because there was a figure tightly hugging her and protecting her in their embrace.
The scorching flames almost incinerated the man's clothes, leaving scars on his sturdy physique from the power of the exploding source energy. Behind him, a pair of towering purple wings stretched out, providing shelter and protection for the man. The falling feathers turned to ashes in the flames.
Su Yao was panting heavily, with a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. Seeing the young girl in his arms unharmed, he felt relieved but also somewhat helpless.
"Silly girl..."