"How could that be? Grandpa Feng, I just felt stifled in the cave, so I came out for some fresh air." By this point, I had instead become calm and unhurried. After all, when facing an existence several realms above me, no matter how fast I ran, there was no way I could escape from his grasp—especially with Xianli behind me.
Xianli was currently at the threshold of breaking through to the Crystal Formation Realm and could not be disturbed for even a moment. If her attempt to form a crystal failed, the release of power beyond what her body could contain would bring down the divine punishment of heavenly tribulation. So at this moment, what I needed most was patience—and to lower my head.
"Fresh air? Heh heh, North Mountain is at least forty or fifty li from my cave abode. What kind of air are you breathing?" Feng Zhen asked with a beaming smile.
"Heh heh, old man, since you've come all this way, just say what you want." I forced a grin through clenched teeth.
Feng Zhen reached out, and in an instant his fingers clamped around my neck. He lifted me straight into the air. His withered-wood-like hand was as tight as an iron hoop, making me instantly unable to breathe. I even spared myself the effort of grunting, merely watching him calmly. At worst, he could destroy my physical body. Could he really do anything to my consciousness?
Perhaps he saw that I was actually prepared to face death, or perhaps the spiritual energy had made a circuit through my body and discovered my strange transformation. The old man Feng cackled, gradually loosening his grip and allowing me to stand on the ground. "Interesting. Grandpa just wants to know how you escaped this cave abode