Shen Fan had originally been certain that he had covered every angle, that every arrangement had been foolproof.
However, just as he left the market and prepared to set off back to the Heavenly Xuan Sect, a shout suddenly came from behind him:
"Brother, you still haven't taken all your things!"
The voice exploded beside Shen Fan's ear like a clap of thunder.
He instinctively turned around and saw Biaozi hurrying after him with two others, their expressions urgent.
Shen Fan's brows immediately furrowed, an ominous feeling rising in his heart.
"Left something behind?"
Shen Fan pondered inwardly. How could that be possible?
Before leaving, he had carefully counted everything. There could not possibly have been any omissions.
In an instant, Shen Fan's heart sank as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.
He knew full well that he had changed into two different sets of clothes, wandered through both the stall district and the shantytown, and taken several twists and turns before coming out. There was no way these people could have caught up to him so easily.
That could only mean they had been determined to latch onto him this time, following him all the way here.
If so, they had very likely followed him last time as well, only to lose him then.
This time, however, they had clearly come thoroughly prepared, which was why they had not lost him again.
With that thought, Shen Fan answered aloud, but his feet did not slow in the slightest. Instead, he quickened his pace.
"I didn't leave anything behind. I checked everything carefully!"
As he spoke, he sped up.
"Well, uh, my neighbor's great-grandmother is giving birth today. I've got something urgent to do, so I'll be going first!"
Before his words had even faded, Shen Fan spun around and bolted toward the Heavenly Xuan Sect.
At the same time, spiritual energy circulated through his body. Wind rose beneath his feet, and his speed abruptly increased severalfold.
"Catch him!"
Seeing that their scheme had been exposed, the three immediately accelerated and chased after him like starving wolves.
What made Shen Fan's heart tighten was that all three had learned the Wind Riding Technique. With a few leaps, they swiftly surrounded him.
"Hehe, brother, why are you running? You don't even know the Wind Riding Technique, yet you dared come to make your way through the market?"
Biaozi sneered viciously as he closed in step by step.
"I'm a disciple of the Heavenly Xuan Sect. This place is still close to the market, and the Heavenly Xuan Sect's enforcement team patrols within a hundred li of this area. If they find you, even if you sprout wings, you won't escape!"
Shen Fan invoked the Heavenly Xuan Sect's name, trying to intimidate them.
But clearly, such a childish trick could not frighten them at all.
"Heavenly Xuan Sect enforcement disciples do patrol around the market, but they're changing shifts right now. As long as we move fast enough, no one will notice us!"
Biaozi looked utterly disdainful. Holding a low-grade magical artifact broadsword, he swung it fiercely at Shen Fan's head.
The man's attack was ruthless and swift, without the slightest hesitation. The moment he struck, it was a killing move. He was clearly a habitual criminal.
Boom!
At the critical moment, Shen Fan hurriedly cast the Flame Serpent Art.
A half-meter-long flame whistled forth, only to vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye.
"Haha..."
That sight immediately made Biaozi burst into loud laughter.
"The Flame Serpent Art? It's actually the Flame Serpent Art? You brat bought that piece of trash and actually cultivated it?"
After all, Biaozi had been the one to introduce the Flame Serpent Art when Shen Fan bought it.
No one knew its power better than he did. Seeing Shen Fan had truly cultivated it, he laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.
Perhaps only he himself could understand what was so amusing about it.
"Biaozi, what are you dawdling for? The enforcement team will be here soon!"
At that moment, a figure swept over from the distance like a ghost. Upon arriving, he immediately barked out a stern rebuke.
Shen Fan took a closer look and found that the man was Baishitong.
Only then did he clearly see that among the four of them, two were at the second layer of the Qi Refining Stage, one was at the third layer, and one was at the fourth layer.
Seeing so many enemies, Shen Fan's heart instantly turned cold, and he cried inwardly, I'm finished!
"Kid, if there's a next life, be smarter. The lesson that wealth should not be flaunted—I've taught you that in this life!"
Thick killing intent filled Baishitong's eyes as he charged straight at Shen Fan.
Seeing this, Shen Fan immediately retreated.
But when he turned, he crashed into the two second-layer Qi Refining Stage lackeys.
"Scarlet flames as the guide, burn away all evil!"
Shen Fan moved both hands and shouted in a low voice.
Before this, he had already crushed a Fire Poison Pill and absorbed all the fire-poison spiritual energy within it.
Boom—!
A fire serpent over three chi long roared forth, carrying scorching heat as it exploded directly against the two men's faces.
Its power was so great that it blasted both their heads apart.
A gap was instantly torn open in the encirclement. Shen Fan did not dare hesitate for even a moment and immediately ran for his life toward the Heavenly Xuan Sect.
"Damn...!"
Biaozi was utterly dumbfounded by the sight, his mouth hanging wide enough to fit an egg inside.
"This is the Flame Serpent Art?"
Baishitong was likewise shocked by the sudden explosion, his face filled with disbelief.
After a brief moment of shock, Baishitong immediately took Biaozi and used the Wind Riding Technique, chasing after Shen Fan as closely as a shadow followed a form.
"Is that really the Flame Serpent Art? Can the Flame Serpent Art be that powerful?" Baishitong was especially puzzled, asking as he pursued.
"It really is the Flame Serpent Art, but I don't know why it's so powerful either. I saw with my own eyes that this kid bought the Flame Serpent Art!"
Biaozi followed close behind and replied with certainty.
"This guy definitely has a secret. Catch him and get him away from here first!"
As Baishitong spoke, he lightly tapped the ground with his toes. His figure flashed like lightning, and in an instant, he was behind Shen Fan.
He raised a hand, preparing to seize Shen Fan.
However, in the next moment, Shen Fan abruptly stopped. Then he formed hand seals and shouted in a low voice, "Scarlet flames as the guide, burn away all evil!"
Baishitong's eyes went wide. With the strength of the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Stage, he forcibly bent backward and dodged it.
But Biaozi, who was following behind him, was not so fortunate.
The three-chi-long fire serpent flicked its flaming tongue like a savage venomous snake.
Biaozi only instinctively raised an arm to block, but the fire serpent viciously bit down on his arm and then exploded.
Neither of them had expected such a sudden turn-and-strike.
Fortunately, Baishitong reacted quickly enough to dodge it.
But Biaozi was finished, blasted dead on the spot.
"Kid, you've hidden yourself well!"
Baishitong seemed not to care in the slightest about the deaths of the other three.
After glancing around, Baishitong flicked his wrist, and a dagger with a dark green sheen on its blade stabbed straight toward Shen Fan.
It was so fast that Shen Fan had no way to dodge.
He was merely a newly advanced disciple at the third layer of the Qi Refining Stage.
His combat performance just now had already been beyond his usual limits.
Against such a desperado, Shen Fan had no idea how to respond.
It was already too late to cast the Flame Serpent Art by hand. All Shen Fan could do was instinctively raise an arm to block.
Before you continue