Chapter 160: Fell into the Trap Again

The Hui Wu Ren was so furious his lungs felt like they were about to explode.

He swore he would never say another word to this young man, not even half a sentence...

This guy was just too cunning; one wrong move and you'd fall right into his traps.

With a surge of Ling Yuan in his hands, the Hui Wu Ren was once again enveloped in a sphere of gray mist, completely shielding all heavenly secrets from the outside.

"Liu Dao · Man Tian Shu!" A muffled voice rang out.

Xu Xiaoshou stared in disbelief as the creature's cultivation level... skyrocketed once more!

This was impossible!

Tian Xuan Men was a small world, and the highest realm it could accommodate was only the peak of Xian Tian.

At most, it might allow someone just entering the Zong Shi level, and that was only because a cultivator had once broken through to Zong Shi within Tian Xuan Men after reaching Xian Tian peak.

But now, the Hui Wu Ren in front of him was somehow pulling off a deception, secretly upgrading his power?

Was this... sealing off the heavenly secrets to evade the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny and break through on his own?

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

What an incredible ability! It probably went beyond the scope of Ling Ji, perhaps even touching on the realm of "Da Dao Gan Wu"!

And even with Da Dao Gan Wu, you'd need genuine insights to pull something like this off.

Clearly, the Hui Wu Ren's background was truly terrifying...

Without another word, Xu Xiaoshou struck out with his sword.

Though the sword energy was powerful, the creature's sealing force was utterly repulsive, neutralizing it with a dull "clang."

"Oh, come on, what the hell am I supposed to do with this?"

Xu Xiaoshou dashed over to Mu Zixi's side in a flash, scooped her up, and bolted.

"Junior sister, I've already avenged you with two punches and a sword strike—strictly speaking, you've come out way ahead. Now..."

"Thirty-six stratagems: retreat is the best option!"

Mu Zixi's injuries had mostly healed under the nourishment of the "Life Ling Yin," but she still seemed to be in a coma, not even noticing she was being carried.

Xu Xiaoshou flipped her over his shoulder and kept running.

"Think you can get away?" the Hui Wu Ren said coldly. "Da Feng Shuo!"

He clasped his hands together, and once again, sinister winds began to howl through the heavens and earth.

Xu Xiaoshou's mind raced.

Before he had arrived, he had used his Ling Nian from a distance to scan this thing and discovered that these winds could gradually seal off all connections between a person and the outside world over time.

He wasn't sure if his "perception" would be sealed, but thinking back to the "Feng Yun Zheng Ba" where his "Sharp Light" had been blocked during his fight with Mo Mo...

He couldn't risk it—he had to avoid it at all costs!

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't the same as before; he had made progress too.

An invisible flame instantly enveloped his entire body, incinerating the sinister winds before they could even touch him, reducing them to ashes upon approach.

This was Chen Zhao Tian Yan—invisible, colorless, ultra-high temperature, capable of burning anything!

"Indeed, my Ling Nian is already useless..."

Even though the winds hadn't reached Xu Xiaoshou, he could no longer use his Ling Nian to sense the path ahead.

He grew anxious—if he got lost in this gray mist, he'd end up just like the trapped Mu Zixi!

He quickly glanced at the red interface in his mind.

"Passive Value: 38694."

He was incredibly grateful for his foresight in not spending it all, leaving over thirty thousand Passive Values.

"Perception (Xian Tian Lv.1)."

"Perception (Xian Tian Lv.6)."

He instantly spent twenty-five thousand Passive Values to upgrade "Perception."

From his experiences, as long as he didn't get touched by the Hui Wu Ren's sealing energy, these skills wouldn't be affected.

When he had upgraded "Perception" before, it had greatly improved its clarity, reaching nearly original-resolution levels. So, what would it enhance now?

It had to be the range!

Sure enough, as the level increased, the scenery in his mind expanded instantly.

His perception range jumped from about ten meters to nearly five hundred meters—one li away!

And everything was crystal clear, unlike Ling Nian, which was always so frustratingly vague.

"Amazing!"

Xu Xiaoshou spotted the Hui Wu Ren not rushing to attack but taking advantage of his blocked senses to stealthily pull out a pill and swallow it hesitantly.

"This..." Xu Xiaoshou was baffled.

Talk about an image to maintain!

Couldn't eat it earlier? Had to wait until now?

And it was a Chi Jin Dan, no less...

How tacky!

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled to himself, pretending to be disoriented as he wandered around, seemingly circling in place but actually inching his way out.

Pulling away might not be the best strategy, but with escape on his mind, he didn't care anymore.

The Hui Wu Ren seemed even more pleased with this long-range approach. After swallowing the pill and barely stopping his wounds, he formed seals again.

"Liu Dao · Chen Feng Zhi Men!"

Six gray light doors slowly shifted toward Xu Xiaoshou. Once they locked into place, it would likely form the same gray mist crystal that had trapped Mu Zixi before.

But...

"This is way too slow!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked on with a strange expression, finally understanding why the sinister winds had come first.

If Mu Zixi hadn't had her perception blocked, she probably could have jumped out of the encirclement with one leap.

Xu Xiaoshou casually twisted his body and slipped through the gaps between the six doors, continuing outward.

The Hui Wu Ren paused, stunned.

Was that a coincidence?

—It had to be!

While the kid hadn't noticed the doors yet, he'd strike again!

He formed seals once more, and six gray light doors appeared in the void, slowly pressing toward Xu Xiaoshou.

"Ouch!"

Xu Xiaoshou acted as if he had twisted his ankle and slipped through the door gaps again.

The Hui Wu Ren: "..."

Was it really just a coincidence?

He clasped his hands together again: "Liu Dao · Chen Feng Zhi Men!"

Another six doors materialized.

This time, Xu Xiaoshou didn't bother hiding it—he dashed straight through the wide gaps and burst out of the sinister wind's range, breathing in fresh air.

The Hui Wu Ren: ???

Was he toying with me?

He could see them all along?!

"I..."

"Passive Value: +1."

The Hui Wu Ren's entire fog form erupted in rage, vanishing from the spot in an instant as he transformed into mist and chased after Xu Xiaoshou.

"Xu Xiaoshou, how dare you deceive me?!"

"Deceive you?" Xu Xiaoshou feigned complete innocence, though his feet never stopped moving. "I really did twist my ankle, but I fixed it myself. Did something happen just now?"

"Passive Value: +1."

The Hui Wu Ren was so angry he nearly spat blood. He stopped talking altogether—he had sworn not to, to avoid falling for more tricks!

Xu Xiaoshou realized his Zong Shi-level "Min Jie" had met a real challenge. The Hui Wu Ren, like a sticky plaster, was glued to him and wouldn't shake off.

Upon closer inspection, the creature was even a bit faster than him.

"A Zong Shi powerhouse is terrifying!" Xu Xiaoshou sucked in a breath of cold air.

He stopped, still carrying Mu Zixi, who was shaken so much her mouth was watering, and reached into her chest to pull out the "Life Ling Yin."

"Don't chase me anymore—your asthma... er, your Ling Yin!"

Xu Xiaoshou held it out, gesturing for the Hui Wu Ren to stop and negotiate. "This thing's yours. We go our separate ways, okay? A distant trade would work fine!"

"Passive Value: 13694."

"Passive Value: 3694."

"Sword Technique Mastery (Xian Tian Lv.1)."

"Sword Technique Mastery (Xian Tian Lv.3)."

A flood of knowledge surged into his mind. Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the "Sen Luo Mi Lin" beneath his feet, where leaves fell in the sinister wind.

A flash of insight struck him.

Regaining his focus, he saw the Hui Wu Ren's speed unchanged, while Xu Xiaoshou stood his ground, no longer fleeing.

"Don't come any closer! I'm being sincere—we can handle this from afar!" His tone was full of panic.

A mocking glint flashed in the Hui Wu Ren's eyes. This kid must be out of options, trying to trade the seal for his life.

Today, I want that Ling Yin—and your life too!

Without a word, he lunged forward in a rush...

This charge took him straight into the range of Xu Xiaoshou's new move, and the Hui Wu Ren suddenly felt his hairs stand on end, his body freezing in place.

He looked down.

The ancient trees below, though still green at first glance, were actually bare!

Every leaf—whether fallen naturally or forced—had been infused with fierce sword intent and Xu Xiaoshou's newly comprehended "ordinary Nian Li."

At a rough count, there were tens of thousands!

The Hui Wu Ren: ???

Fooled... again?

"Passive Value: +1."