Running for his life! Li Wuyang rode Huaihuai at full speed, weaving through the narrow streets of the market district. Little Fire followed close behind, occasionally spewing flames to hold back their pursuers. Yingying clung tightly to his hair in terror, while Jinbao lay weakly in his arms, hugging the troublesome compass.
The attackers behind them were formidable, with strange movement techniques, and they refused to let up. Fortunately, the market district's streets were labyrinthine. With Huaihuai's agility and speed, Li Wuyang could still keep them at bay for now.
But he knew this could not continue. Sooner or later, they would catch up.
He had to find a way to shake them off!
As he ran, he thought rapidly. Back to the inn? No, that would drag the inn into this. Seek out Daoist Master Xuanhe? Pure Tranquility Studio was too far away, and he had no idea whether the other party would be willing to intervene.
The pursuers were drawing closer and closer, even beginning to launch ranged attacks. Danger lurked at every turn.
Just then, the purple token he had swiped from the richly dressed young man suddenly grew slightly warm in his arms. It emitted a peculiar spatial fluctuation, faintly resonating with some direction ahead!
"Hm?" Li Wuyang froze, then instinctively turned toward the source of the resonance.
It was an even more secluded alley, one that was nearly deserted. At its end stood an ordinary-looking wall.
But the token's resonance grew stronger and stronger!
Li Wuyang could not worry about that now. He urged Huaihuai straight at the wall!
The collision he expected never came. The instant they touched the wall, the purple token in his arms flashed, and the wall rippled like water, revealing an entrance barely wide enough for one person to pass through!
Li Wuyang charged in without hesitation!
Huaihuai and Little Fire followed immediately.
The moment they entered, the entrance closed at once, and the wall returned to normal.
When the pursuers reached the end of the alley, they saw only a solid wall. Li Wuyang and the others had seemingly vanished into thin air! They attacked the wall furiously, but to no avail, and could only leave in frustration.
Beyond the wall lay a hidden world.
Li Wuyang found himself in a quiet, elegant little courtyard. It was not large, but it had pavilions and waterside terraces, exotic flowers and rare herbs, and abundant spiritual energy. Completely cut off from the clamor outside, it seemed like another world.
"Where is this...?" Still shaken, Li Wuyang looked around. It seemed that purple token was the key to some hidden space?
He quickly checked Jinbao's injuries and fed it a healing pill. After swallowing the pill, Jinbao's breathing steadied considerably. Hugging the compass, it soon fell into a deep sleep.
Only after breathing a sigh of relief did Li Wuyang begin carefully examining the courtyard. At its center stood a peculiar little tree, only as tall as a person. Its entire body was emerald green, its branches and leaves like green jade. Three fist-sized, bright red fruits resembling plums hung from it, giving off an enticing fragrance and a dense Dao aura.
"These fruits... look delicious." Li Wuyang's stomach growled again at the worst possible time. After that escape, he was already starving.
He moved closer to the little tree, and the fragrance became even richer. Yingying flew from his shoulder as well, circling the fruits curiously.
"Could this be... some kind of Innate Spiritual Root?" Li Wuyang guessed, practically drooling. He remembered that many spiritual roots in myths bore fruit.
He hesitated briefly, then, following the principle of "a thief never leaves empty-handed"—scratch that—"when fate arrives," reached out and plucked one of the red fruits.
The fruit was warm and smooth in his hand, its fragrance filling his nose.
Unable to resist, he took a bite.
Sweet juice instantly filled his mouth, turning into a warm current that surged through his limbs and body! Not only did his hunger vanish, but even his cultivation seemed to improve slightly! His spirits were lifted as well!
"Delicious! So delicious!" Li Wuyang wolfed down the fruit in a few bites, still wanting more.
Looking at the two fruits remaining on the tree, he forcefully suppressed the urge to pick another. "Forget it. I should leave some for Huaihuai and Little Fire."
He picked the remaining two fruits and fed them to the eagerly watching Huaihuai and Little Fire. After swallowing them, they too became invigorated, their auras growing stronger.
"Haha, a blessing in disguise! Who would have thought this token was connected to such a treasure trove!" Li Wuyang was in high spirits as he began exploring the courtyard.
Aside from the spiritual root, he found a stone table inside the pavilion. On it lay a thin book made of neither silk nor cloth, with four ancient words written on its cover: Introduction to Space.
"Spatial arts?" Li Wuyang's eyes lit up. This was a life-saving divine skill! He quickly put it away.
In a corner, he also discovered a small pile of sparkling, extremely high-quality spirit stones—probably more than a hundred high-grade spirit stones!
"I'm rich!" Li Wuyang was ecstatic! Now the auction was within reach!
This hidden courtyard was practically a safe house and treasure vault rolled into one!
He decided to hide here for the time being and wait until things calmed down before leaving. In the meantime, he could study Introduction to Space and that troublesome compass.
(End of Chapter Eighteen)
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