The speed of that demon wolf is truly incredible,” Elder Wu thought anxiously. When ordinary people and ordinary wild beasts run, a human’s speed is generally slower than that of a four-legged beast.

Upon reaching the Void Realm, even the maximum speed of a human Void Realm expert is slower than that of a beastly Void Realm entity. Moreover, when it comes to burrowing speed, a four-legged Void Realm demon beast is still faster than a human Void Realm expert burrowing underground!

Therefore— Unless capable of flight, a human Void Realm master cannot surpass a beastly Void Realm entity in terms of sheer speed. This was precisely why Elder Wu avoided burrowing when attempting to escape.

“Hiss-hiss~~” A sharp, silver gleam shot out from the pointed horn of the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf, aimed directly at Elder Wu. “Vicious beast,” Elder Wu cursed, bringing his divine sword up with a sharp ‘clang’ to deflect the attack.

But blocking that single strike caused Elder Wu to lose the state of ‘Body Merged with Heaven and Earth.’ His speed plummeted. By the time he managed to re-enter the state of ‘Body Merged with Heaven and Earth’ and vanish into the power of the world, that brief delay had allowed the blind Sword Saint behind him to close the distance by two or three li.

The Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf did not engage Elder Wu head-on; instead, it continuously flashed about at astonishing speed while unleashing wave after wave of silver light. “This is truly troublesome.” “The Sacred Sun Mountain is actually aiding that damnable blind man,” Elder Wu fumed.

The attacks from the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf couldn't kill him, but they completely disrupted his momentum! Disrupted once, twice, three times...

Behind him, the blind Sword Saint maintained his maximum pace, the gap between them steadily shrinking. “Blind fool, I advise you to retreat quickly, or I will drag you down with me even if I die,” Elder Wu transmitted his voice, simultaneously dodging another strike from the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf.

The blind Sword Saint was now even closer. “Hmph, you want to die with me?

You are not worthy,” the blind Sword Saint returned the transmitted message. … Whoosh!

Whoosh! Two human Void Realm masters and one Void Realm demon beast—these were all peak entities on the great land of Jiuzhou.

They were now tearing westward in a lethal chase. For the ordinary travelers and villagers along their path, it was merely a fleeting blur of light before their eyes.

Approximately three hundred li west of Jiangning Commandery City lay Mount Dayan! At the speed of Void Realm experts, by the time the blind Sword Saint and Elder Wu closed the distance to a mere two li apart, the trio had already reached Mount Dayan.

“He ran west; so that’s why he headed for Mount Dayan,” the blind Sword Saint gasped in surprise. “Could it be that he has connections with those two Void Realm demon beasts on Mount Dayan...” The Sword Saint’s heart tightened.

During the battle at Mount Dayan back then, the Golden Dragon Turtle and the Demon Dragon ‘Zixi’—which had existed since the distant Tribal Era—had both shown themselves! The blind Sword Saint felt a distinct apprehension toward these two ancient beasts that had lived for untold ages.

When a peak Void Realm human encounters a peak Void Realm demon beast! In most cases, the beast emerges victorious!

“My only chance of survival lies here.” “If that Demon Dragon Zixi, or that Golden Dragon Turtle, helps me just once, I can survive today,” Elder Wu darted through the mountain forest, punctuated by sharp silver rays occasionally shot by the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf toward him. Although the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf was no weaker than Elder Wu, its strategy was not to fight head-on but to hinder Elder Wu using sheer speed, which was the safest approach for the wolf.

“Not good,” Elder Wu’s expression shifted dramatically. “Haha, you cannot escape,” the blind Sword Saint closed in.

“Blind fool, the Demon Dragon Zixi resides within my Jiangning Commandery territory, and it owes my Guiyuan Sect a favor,” Elder Wu transmitted, even as he charged directly above Zixi’s lair. Regardless of whether it was Elder Wu, the blind Sword Saint, or the Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf, they all sensed a colossal, swirling mass of chaotic silver aura beneath the earth.

This aura was far more potent than even the aura of the blind Sword Saint! Simultaneously, not far from this terrifying presence, there was another dense, dark-gold aura deep underground.

Both auras were overwhelmingly powerful! “The Demon Dragon Zixi owes the Guiyuan Sect a favor?” The blind Sword Saint sneered, without hesitation, his slender iron rod suddenly transforming into a streak of black light, stabbing toward Elder Wu.

“Hah!” Elder Wu let out a fierce roar, his green divine sword also dissolving into an afterimage, desperately trying to block what appeared to be an ordinary streak of black light. “Rumble~~” Where Elder Wu and the blind Sword Saint clashed, a sudden explosion erupted.

A violent surge of vital energy, intentionally guided by Elder Wu, slammed toward the surface. With destructive force, it blasted open a dark, deep chasm leading straight down into the earth—the very resting place of the Demon Dragon Zixi.

“Demon Dragon Zixi, come out quickly,” Elder Wu could only transmit a plea that exploded like a shockwave near Zixi’s ear. “You court death!” the blind Sword Saint roared, his iron rod instantly transforming into nine successive streaks of black light.

These nine streaks of black light connected one after another, front to back, forming a single entity! A terrifying, heart-stopping, singular black ray!

“Aaaah~~~” Elder Wu screamed in utter unwillingness. Pfft!

This black ray, like a needle, pierced directly through Elder Wu’s body, hitting the critical spot between his eyebrows! “Hoo-hoo~~” A hole appeared in Elder Wu’s brow, devoid of any blood.

Elder Wu was dead! “Hmph, this old man actually tried to trick me into believing the Demon Dragon Zixi would save him,” the blind Sword Saint coldly snorted as he looked down at Elder Wu’s corpse on the ground.

“Awooo~~~” A deep, earth-shaking roar echoed from the dark chasm. The entire pit vibrated, showering falling gravel everywhere.

Then, with a ‘thump,’ the earth cracked open a short distance to the Sword Saint’s front-left, and a massive dragon head emerged. Its enormous, golden pupils stared coldly at the blind Sword Saint.

Whoosh! The Sun-Shooting Heavenly Wolf, sensing the shift in danger, had already fled.

“Go,” the blind Sword Saint moved without the slightest hesitation, soaring upward. This massive dragon head watched the Sword Saint depart, then slowly retracted, allowing the falling earth and sand to bury the opening, restoring silence to the surface.

… Flying through the air, the blind Sword Saint still felt lingering apprehension. “Indeed, the Demon Dragon Zixi is worthy of its reputation, having once battled Yu the Great,” the Sword Saint marveled.

“This Zixi is likely one of the absolute top existences among all Void Realm demon beasts in the world.” In fact, the moment he sensed Zixi’s aura, the Sword Saint knew— He probably wasn't a match for the Demon Dragon Zixi. “To deal with a beast so naturally gifted and at the peak of the Void Realm, one would likely need to reach the Void Glimpse realm,” The Sword Saint, after only a moment's thought, arrived above the Guiyuan Sect’s territory.

His purpose in returning to the Guiyuan Sect was to kill Zhuge Yuanhong! After all, Zhuge Yuanhong’s talent and comprehension were in no way inferior to Guyong’s, perhaps even slightly superior.

“He ran fast enough,” The blind Sword Saint merely smiled faintly. “He can run for a moment, but not forever.

Without that old man’s protection... we’ll see how long he can survive.” “He fled to Mount Dayan and tried to fool me by claiming the Demon Dragon Zixi had ties with his Guiyuan Sect?

If they had ties, Zixi could have easily protected Teng Qingshan during the Mount Dayan campaign, preventing that pitiful wretch from fleeing across the world,” The Sword Saint was in excellent spirits. Killing the only Void Realm master of the Guiyuan Sect—how could he not be pleased?

“From this day forward, Yangzhou belongs to my Green Lake Island,” the blind Sword Saint held no regard for the Guiyuan Sect now that it lacked a Void Realm pillar, immediately transforming into a streak of black light and flying south. * Nine Wolf Island.

Standing by the lake shore, the wind blew, churning up thousands of waves. “It should be this way,” Teng Qingshan stood on the shore, sometimes meditating deeply, sometimes practicing his fist techniques.

Months had passed on Nine Wolf Island, yet Teng Qingshan still hadn't managed to create the final move for the 'Earth Element Fist.' However, he had made some progress on the 'Water Element Fist.' Every day, observing the lake water, sensing the water... Teng Qingshan occasionally gained some insight.

“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan’s expression shifted, and in almost an instant, he transformed into a ray of rainbow light, darting toward the Six-Legged Saber Cicada. “Roar~~” The Six-Legged Saber Cicada was resting in a den atop an earthen mound, looking curiously at Teng Qingshan, who had rushed in and leaped onto its back.

“Why did that blind Sword Saint pass by my place?” Teng Qingshan clearly sensed the aura of the blind Sword Saint high in the sky. It was because he sensed the Sword Saint’s presence that Teng Qingshan immediately went to the Cicada.

… “This Jing Yi still has backup measures,” the blind Sword Saint flew over the top of Nine Wolf Island, looking down. “There is a rather strong aura beside him, stronger than most of the Innate Golden Core beasts I’ve encountered.

It must be an exceptionally formidable demon beast.” The aura of the Six-Legged Saber Cicada was indeed powerful. “The moment he sensed me coming, he rushed over to that demon beast.” “It seems he is confident that with that beast, he can survive my attack.” The blind Sword Saint instantly deduced several points.

In truth, the Sword Saint had deliberately made a detour over Nine Wolf Island on his way back to Green Lake Island to see what trump cards this Jing Yi possessed. * Teng Qingshan felt a surge of relief after sensing the blind Sword Saint depart.

In fact, Teng Qingshan was confident: once he reached the Void Realm and was paired with the 'Six-Legged Saber Cicada,' even if the blind Sword Saint brought allies, killing him would be difficult! Firstly— The flying speed of the Six-Legged Saber Cicada was inherently fast, only slightly slower than a Green Luan.

Once Teng Qingshan assisted it with the power of Heaven and Earth, determining who was faster between the Cicada and a peak Void Realm human would be uncertain. What Teng Qingshan valued most about the Six-Legged Saber Cicada, however, was not its flight, but—burrowing!

The Six-Legged Saber Cicada lived underground year-round; burrowing was its greatest specialty! If Teng Qingshan were to assist it with the power of Heaven and Earth, the speed at which the Cicada could burrow was unimaginable.

… It was the morning of the twenty-fourth day of the third month. Splash!

Splash! Splash!

It was the spring plum rain season; the rain never seemed to stop. Countless raindrops hammered down on the endless surface of Nine Wolf Lake, instantly enveloping the world in a curtain of water.

Teng Qingshan sat under a pavilion. Occasionally, a few stray drops, carried by the wind, would land on his body and face, bringing a penetrating, refreshing chill.

“Hmm?” Teng Qingshan turned his head eastward with some surprise. “Master has come to my Nine Wolf Lake?” … The heavy rain poured ceaselessly.

Across the vast, shimmering expanse of Nine Wolf Lake, a lone figure was sprinting across the water’s surface toward the island. “I waited a full day at my post in Nanxing Commandery, only to receive news that Elder Wu had not returned to the sect.” Acting with caution, Zhuge Yuanhong, without activating his Innate True Essence shield, was soaked to the bone, his face pale, and a trace of grief in his eyes.

“Elder Wu… Green Lake Island!!!” Zhuge Yuanhong burned with hatred! After speeding across the water for a long time, Zhuge Yuanhong finally spotted the blurry silhouette of the island in the lake’s center through the torrential downpour—Nine Wolf Island.