Chapter 239: Chapter 172: Shan Lingguan’s Heartbeat_2
This was already showing mercy. If I pursued any further, I would only be asking for trouble. But in reality, he had only guessed half of it correctly.
WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
Under the night sky, Chen Ku kept running. He had no grudges with those three; moreover, he had been the one to steal their kill. His unwillingness to deliver a killing blow was one reason. However, the true reason compelling him to leave as quickly as possible was... I feel like there were more than just those three people there earlier.
At the same time, there was also a scent that had been hidden in that part of the forest all along.
Could it be the Taoist Protector of those three? Chen Ku recalled the recent events, cold sweat nearly dripping down his forehead. Just now, someone was secretly observing my confrontation with those three, but my Hundred Li Tracking Technique didn’t detect any scents or presences. Not until I used the Strange Techniques of Swallow Fire and Spew Flames, and Spit Water into Ice. At that moment, the person seemed to experience intense emotional instability and revealed their presence. This meant they had been using a type of martial art that ’conceals their own scent and presence’ to hide in the shadows...
He had every reason to speculate that the person in the shadows was the Taoist Protector of those three: Di Jianqing, Fu Huangfei, and Cai Feihong. Such outstanding figures, wherever they were, would be seen as the hope of their Sect, the future of their families. How could they not be protected?
Therefore, the reason Chen Ku chose not to continue fighting just now was because he feared this very point. After exposing all his abilities, even if he could kill any one of the three, he had no confidence that he could withstand the mysterious person lurking in the dark.
WHOOSH!
Chen Ku employed his footwork techniques in the forest. Unsure if he was still within the other party’s line of sight, he dared not rashly use the Transformation Technique to turn into an animal. He simply used his movement technique to distance himself.
Unexpectedly, however, just as Chen Ku was using his full speed to flee toward a safe area, a voice called out.
"Young fellow? Where are you off to?"
Suddenly, a mocking old man’s voice came from behind him.
What? They caught up to me! Chen Ku quickly turned his head. He scanned all directions behind him but saw not a single shadow. Only the bright moonlight poured through the trees, spilling onto the earth.
This? No one? Is it Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission? Or some other martial art?
"Don’t look every which way." At this moment, Chen Ku heard the old man’s voice again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Look up. Above your head."
Chen Ku abruptly looked up.
To his astonishment, he saw an old man hovering high in the moonlit sky, hands clasped behind his back. His tall figure resembled a Divine Spirit as he gazed down at him. Though his face was unclear, Chen Ku could keenly feel the other party’s powerful presence.
What? Flying? Chen Ku’s heartbeat accelerated. He felt a tingling on his scalp, the hair on his body standing on end as he sensed an unprecedented threat. An expert! A great expert! What level of expert is the Taoist Protector behind those three outstanding figures? Standing in the sky! This is definitely not something a Martial Practitioner could achieve. He is like one of the Immortal Gods!
At this moment, Shan Lingguan, hovering in the sky, looked down at the young man’s figure below. Even with the youth’s face covered by a mask and a Conical Hat, the old man could completely sense the shock and terror on Chen Ku’s face. He couldn’t help feeling somewhat satisfied.
Truthfully, this ’flying technique’ isn’t without its costs. After a Martial Practitioner cultivated to the Seventh Realm, they can achieve short-term flight for about a hundred breaths. But even for these hundred breaths, the consumption of Inner Qi is absolutely massive. Normally, if there isn’t a crucial reason, a Seventh Realm Martial Artist, even if capable, wouldn’t bother flying aimlessly. The reason I chose to fly was purely to ’intimidate’ this young man in the forest.
However, what Shan Lingguan utterly failed to anticipate was that as he looked down at the young man in the forest, watching the look of horror appear in his eyes, something else happened.
The next moment, the young man tapped his foot and disappeared into the earth, vanishing from his original spot.
He has an Earth Spirit Body too! A Triple Spirit Body!!! Shan Lingguan cried out, his expression changing in shock. He was completely dumbfounded. He promptly descended but saw no trace on the ground. A full-grown man had just used Earth Escape to vanish before his very eyes.
The old man was left standing in the night wind, utterly discomposed.
Originally, the moment Chen Ku clashed with Fu Huangfei and displayed the ability to Swallow Fire and Spew Flames, my eyes lit up... This masked youth actually had a Fire Physique as well! Instantly, all of my attention shifted from Fu Huangfei to this masked youth. The reason was simple: the youth not only possessed a Fire Physique but also had a Divine Power Root Bone and seemingly high Martial Arts Qualifications. I had been assessing Di Jianqing, Fu Huangfei, and Cai Feihong, picking and choosing among them. Now, this one masked youth seemed to equal the combined potential of all three and was far more worthy of my attention than Fu Huangfei.
Unexpectedly, Chen Ku then gave me another huge surprise. After spitting fire, he then spat out Cold Current... At that moment, I almost couldn’t help but shout out excitedly. It was precisely because of that excessive excitement that I let a trace of my presence leak out. Chen Ku immediately detected this, which made him want to flee at once.
And seeing Chen Ku escape, how could I let such an excellent prospect go? Although I’ve seen some Triple Spirit Bodies over the years, without the crucial Fire Physique, one would be unable to begin cultivating the First Level of the Huntian Overlord Body. Dual Spirit Bodies are already rare, and among them, those possessing a Fire Physique are even scarcer. I never expected this youth to have both Water and Fire Physiques. This qualification alone was enough for me to consider him as a disciple candidate.
Therefore, I followed him, aiming to first intimidate the youth to instill awe, then smoothly transfer skills and provide guidance. For this purpose, I even resorted to using the flying technique, just to put on the airs of a great master.
Who would have thought it would backfire, yet also bring a tremendous surprise? The youth, in addition to Water and Fire Physiques, also possessed an Earth-based ability! A Triple Spirit Body, including a Fire Physique! Though still far from my own Five Spirit Body of the past, this youth is already entirely eligible to be chosen as a Disciple for imparting the Huntian Overlord Body.
At the same time, after experiencing layer upon layer of surprises from this youth, I have every reason to suspect... Does this youth possess other Physiques? Could he be like my past self with a Five Spirit Body, but just hasn’t had the chance to reveal them all before I scared him off?
Thinking of this, the old man was filled with even deeper regret, tugging at his beard. Shan Lingguan, oh Shan Lingguan, why did you have to act like such a grand master? Now look... you’ve scared him away.
No! The last time I encountered a Triple Spirit Body with a Fire Spirit Body was a hundred years ago. At that time, my arrogance led me to look down upon Triple Spirit Bodies, and I missed that inheritor, resulting in a hundred years lost. Now, looking back, if I had taken that inheritor under my wing and assisted him for a hundred years, I could at least have helped him achieve the Fifth Realm of the Huntian Overlord Body.
Today, a hundred years later, as I grow older and my time lessens, I understand the profound regret that comes with letting certain individuals slip away.
Now, I’ve finally encountered another Triple Spirit Body that includes a Fire Physique: I must, I absolutely must find him! I cannot miss out on this successor again; otherwise, my Huntian Overlord Body might truly be lost to the ages! We must ask Qin’s Qiu Dragon Martial Meeting for help. He absolutely must find this little junior brother, find him!