Origin Guarding Formation

The fact that these two persistent nuisances were still chasing him enraged Lu Xiaotian. He fled for over ten miles through the mountains, actively avoiding other adventuring parties along the way. At one point, he nearly ran headfirst into a second-tier Yao Beast, which startled him. Otherwise, caught between the Yao Beast ahead and his pursuers behind, he would have truly had nowhere to escape.

"That damned Fan Qing, next time I see him, I'll make him pay," Lu Xiaotian thought bitterly as he ran. If that guy hadn't abandoned them at the critical moment, they might have had a chance to fight back. However, Fan Qing's actions had taught Lu Xiaotian another lesson. After experiencing the Body Seizure by the Black Robe Old Man, he understood the cruelty of the Cultivation World and became more wary of other cultivators. He believed that by guarding himself against He Tuozi, he could resolve the crisis within their team. With their team's strength, they were capable of contending with other teams.

But Lu Xiaotian hadn't expected that Fan Qing, who had been so dependable at the start, would flee at the last moment. Perhaps Fan Qing's strength had been severely damaged, and he felt he had no chance of winning. Or perhaps Fan Qing had already obtained what he needed for the sect mission and didn't need to risk his life fighting like the rest of them.

"People's hearts change, which is why Fan Qing ran. In the Cultivation World, amidst treacherous human hearts and complex entanglements of interests, the only constant and reliable thing is one's own strength," Lu Xiaotian mused. Once he got past this ordeal, he vowed to be more cautious in the future.

However, the hurdle before him was not easily overcome. In total, he had only cultivated for three to four years, and had learned spells for even less time. The Big Forehead Monster and the Brocade Clad Man chasing him, on the other hand, were Rogue Cultivators who had been cultivating for nearly twenty years. They were ruthless and had at least a few lives on their hands. Their proficiency with spells was in no way comparable to Lu Xiaotian's, a newcomer to the Cultivation World.

Even when casting the same "Wind Riding Technique" and "Body Lightening Technique," the distance between them continued to shrink. If it weren't for the Spirit Talismans he carried specifically for escaping, he would have been caught by the two behind him long ago. Seeing the gap closing, Lu Xiaotian affixed another "Divine Speed Talisman" to himself. His speed suddenly increased significantly.

"Brat, you can't escape. Hand over the Spiritual Materials in your Storage Bag obediently, and Grandpa Zou will spare your life!"

Zou Xin was chasing him furiously. His Cultivation was slightly inferior to the Big Forehead Monster's, and his Method Power was not as profound. He could only constantly take Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag to replenish his Origin Energy, to avoid any complications from excessive energy depletion during the upcoming battle. He hadn't gained any advantage, and instead, had wasted several Spirit Stones. Zou Xin was naturally heartbroken.

The Big Forehead Monster chuckled coldly, "Fellow Daoist Zou, no need to be anxious. This fellow is cunning, and he actually carries so many Spirit Talismans for escaping. It's clear he's quite wealthy. As long as we capture him, do we need to worry about not recovering our losses in Spirit Stones?"

"That's true. Once he runs out of Divine Speed Talismans and Swift Wind Talismans, where else can he flee? He's cost me several Spirit Stones. When I catch this guy, I'll flay him alive to vent my hatred," Zou Xin said through gritted teeth.

Ahead, the sounds of a fight erupted. Lu Xiaotian was now cornered, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, and yet there was a battle ahead. As he got closer, he saw Wang Ping, wielding a Mysterious Iron Staff, and another Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator with a Spirit Blade, locked in a fierce struggle.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, help me!"

Wang Ping's Cultivation was lower than his opponent's. After a fierce battle with the Silver Winged Centipede, his Origin Energy had not recovered. He was currently being suppressed by his opponent. Upon suddenly seeing Lu Xiaotian rushing towards him, he cried out in surprise and joy. However, when he saw the Big Forehead Monster and the Brocade Clad Man, Zou Xin, chasing after Lu Xiaotian, Wang Ping immediately fell silent, lamenting his misfortune. He had thought a savior was coming, only to realize the savior had turned into a disaster.

Lu Xiaotian, unable to save himself, had no time to bother with Wang Ping. He ignored this fellow escapee and continued to run.

Ah! A scream rang out. Wang Ping, momentarily distracted by seeing Lu Xiaotian and the Big Forehead Monster, had taken a knife to the chest. Blood gushed out, flesh and skin peeling back to reveal the white bone beneath.

"Die!" The Blade Wielding Man rejoiced and pressed his attack. After desperately blocking several blows with his Mysterious Iron Staff, Wang Ping, severely wounded, could no longer sustain the fight. His Mysterious Iron Staff was cleaved in two by a blade.

The Blade Wielding Man grinned sinisterly and took the opportunity to chop off Wang Ping's head. The bloody head rolled a few times on the ground.

"Well done! Quickly help me intercept this kid," Zou Xin exclaimed with delight. He had been chasing for a long time and was getting impatient. Now that he had an extra helper, even if he had to share some of the spoils, it was better than this tedious pursuit.

"You got it!" The Blade Wielding Man picked up Wang Ping's Storage Bag and moved towards Lu Xiaotian from the front left.

Lu Xiaotian let out a cold snort and threw several Smoke Fruits. Several puffs of black smoke rose, and while their vision was obscured, he affixed another "Earth Escape Talisman" to himself and burrowed underground.

"Where did he go?" Zou Xin asked with a grim expression.

"It's just an Earth Escape Talisman. He can't have gone far. Search the surroundings," the Big Forehead Monster said, his face stern.

The three immediately dispersed to search. Soon, the Big Forehead Monster discovered Lu Xiaotian's tracks.

Lu Xiaotian glanced back. The appearance of the Blade Wielding Man made him reconsider his plan of simply continuing to flee. He was not familiar with the surrounding mountain paths, and he might encounter similar situations later. While the Earth Escape Talisman provided temporary escape, the talismans would eventually run out. He had to find a suitable location to deal with this damned Big Forehead Monster and the Brocade Clad Man. Of course, the prerequisite was to shake off the weakest, the Blade Wielding Man. Fighting two opponents required careful planning; fighting three would be a sure death. He did not want to die.

Replacing the depleted Spirit Stones in his hand, Lu Xiaotian sped off again. He used several Earth Escape Talismans and Wood Escape Talismans consecutively, managing to shake off the weaker Blade Wielding Man. Only the other two managed to keep up.

After running for nearly twenty more miles, Lu Xiaotian entered a small grove. Birds flew up behind him, indicating that the Big Forehead Monster was close.

A fierce glint flashed in Lu Xiaotian's eyes. These two were relentlessly pursuing him, forcing him to fight back desperately.

Lu Xiaotian's gaze swept around. He stopped on a relatively flat patch of grass and took out several Formation Flags from his Storage Bag, planting them around the area.

Sensing the approaching presence of his pursuers, Lu Xiaotian affixed another "Wood Escape Talisman" to himself and hid behind a tree trunk about two people thick nearby.

Whether it was "Earth Escape Talisman," "Wood Escape Talisman," or "Water Escape Talisman," if one remained stationary, the consumption of Spiritual Power was relatively low, and they could last longer. Once one moved, they could not be maintained for long. Furthermore, these low-grade Spirit Talismans could not completely conceal a person's aura. Therefore, after the Big Forehead Monster and Zou Xin entered the small grove, they sensed that something was amiss.

"What's going on? He's not running anymore?" Zou Xin's eyes darted around as he spoke in a low voice.

"Hmm, I can sense he's nearby. Perhaps his Spirit Talismans are about to run out, and he knows he'll be caught eventually, so he wants to use this forest to hide. He's most likely using a Spirit Talisman. However, the Spiritual Power from the talisman won't last long. I'd like to see what tricks he can pull," the Big Forehead Monster said confidently, breathing a sigh of relief. "Once we find this guy, it will be his death day."

"Indeed. After chasing for so long, let's see how he dies later," Zou Xin said with a sinister grin. The two searched carefully, one after the other, for Lu Xiaotian's possible hiding spots. Soon, guided by the faint aura leaking from the Spirit Talisman, they arrived at the flat grassy area not far from Lu Xiaotian.

Lu Xiaotian secretly observed the approaching duo. The Brocade Clad Man was walking in front, with the Big Forehead Monster behind him. This was slightly different from his plan. Lu Xiaotian had intended to use the Origin Guarding Formation to trap the powerful Big Forehead Monster. However, the "Wood Escape Talisman" wouldn't last much longer, so he couldn't afford to be too picky. Seeing the Brocade Clad Man enter the range of several Formation Flags, Lu Xiaotian muttered softly, "Origin Guarding Formation, activate!"

Buzz! The several Formation Flags, originally hidden underground, suddenly emerged from the ground. The small flags fluttered in the wind, making rustling sounds. Four Formation Flags were arranged in the four cardinal directions. The tips of the flagpoles flashed with red, yellow, blue, and green light.

"Not good, an ambush!" the Big Forehead Monster and Zou Xin cried out simultaneously. They shot backward. The Big Forehead Monster flew back several yards. Without encountering any obstacles, he felt a slight sense of relief. However, Zou Xin collided with a green light barrier. The strong impact made Zou Xin cry out in pain. At this moment, four light barriers descended, rotating between the four Formation Flags, forming a mixed four-colored barrier that trapped Zou Xin within an area of about two to three yards.

"You think this little trick can trap me? Dream on!"

First, he was outsmarted by his prey and fell into a trap. Then, he bumped his nose until it was bruised. Zou Xin was furious. He took out a wolf-tooth club from his Storage Bag and then summoned his Spirit Beast Bag. A giant black ape reappeared. He wanted to break through this light barrier as quickly as possible, then kill his way out and smash the guy who tricked him with one blow!

Zou Xin swung his wolf-tooth club, smashing it against the light barrier.

Bang! The wolf-tooth club hit the light barrier as if it were hitting a bronze wall. The wolf-tooth club bounced back.

Zou Xin's hands went numb from the shock, and his expression changed. He had already used five-tenths of his strength, yet the light barrier hadn't budged at all.

Disbelieving, Zou Xin increased his strength and swung twice more. The black ape also swung its fan-like large hands, striking. They couldn't break through, so they tried ramming it with their bodies. After trying everything, the man and the beast were panting heavily, but the Origin Guarding Formation remained completely still.

Lu Xiaotian sneered. The Origin Guarding Formation could trap a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator. The Brocade Clad Man was only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. Although he had a black ape, it was no match.

The Big Forehead Monster was on high alert, unable to launch a surprise attack. He secretly popped a pill into his mouth. Lu Xiaotian emerged from his hidden tree trunk.

"I see you have such courage, with a formation at your disposal. But your formation is also used up. If you have no other means, I think you can go die."

The Big Forehead Monster gave a sinister smile. A cultivator at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, even an Alchemist, had used so many Spirit Talismans. He had ambushed He Tuozi and now trapped Zou Xin with a formation. He didn't believe that Lu Xiaotian would be his opponent in a fair fight, even if the latter was an Alchemist. Besides having more wealth, it didn't have much effect in combat. He had led his team to kill dozens of cultivators and looted their Storage Bags. In terms of wealth, he was not inferior. That formation could easily trap someone as powerful as Zou Xin. Once he killed Lu Xiaotian, the formation would be his.

Thinking of this, greed flashed across the Big Forehead Monster's face. He pressed his hand to his waist and drew out a black Meteor Hairpin. Simultaneously, a large swarm of Shadow Ants buzzed out.

"You think these low-grade Shadow Ants can stop me? Dream on!" Lu Xiaotian said with disdain. He summoned a Diamond Talisman to protect himself, then, holding his Spirit Sword, charged towards the Big Forehead Monster.

"I'll show you my power later!"

The Big Forehead Monster let out a cold sneer. This brat's reliance was nothing more than the Diamond Shield, and perhaps other defensive Spirit Talismans. Once these Spirit Talismans were also depleted and the shield was gone, let's see what methods this brat had left to block his Ant Swarm. If not for the limitations of his Cultivation and insufficient Spiritual Sense, which only allowed him to command seven squads of Shadow Ants. If he had three to four more squads, even facing a cultivator at the Late Qi Refining Stage, the Big Forehead Monster was confident he could fight them. Sixty to seventy Shadow Ants were more than enough to deal with Lu Xiaotian, who was one level lower in Cultivation than him.

Led by seven Head Ants, the Shadow Ants divided into seven small squads, encircling Lu Xiaotian from different directions.

Lu Xiaotian successively unleashed over ten Spells, including Wind Blade Technique, Fireball Technique, and Ice Arrow Technique. Several of these were blocked by the Head Ants. The defensive power of the Head Ants was clearly greater than ordinary Shadow Ants. Although they swayed in the air like drunken men after being hit by low-level Spells, they were not fatal.

At this moment, the Big Forehead Monster grunted and brought up the remaining Shadow Ant squads to replace the one led by the injured Head Ant, maintaining the attack intensity on Lu Xiaotian.

Soon, one squad of Shadow Ants, during a gap in Lu Xiaotian's attacks, latched onto the Diamond Shield and began to bite it ferociously.

Lu Xiaotian's expression changed slightly. He cast a Whirlwind Technique, sweeping away a few of them, but immediately another squad of Shadow Ants flew over from a different direction, joining the army gnawing at the Diamond Shield.

"Frost Technique!"

"Fire Arrow Technique!"

After a layer of Frost, over a dozen Fire Arrows shot out. Four or five Shadow Ants fell to the ground, emitting a burnt smell.

"It's useless. As long as you can't kill all the Shadow Ants, you'll be worn down to death," the Big Forehead Monster cackled. At least three or four people had died like this under his hands; he was all too familiar with using the same method.

"Impossible, I will definitely kill all these damned bugs." The Diamond Shield began to shake under the gnawing of dozens of Shadow Ants, then shattered like glass. Lu Xiaotian quickly conjured another Diamond Talisman, shielding himself within it. He then resumed killing the Shadow Ants.

However, the Big Forehead Monster protected his Head Ants very carefully. If one Head Ant suffered damage, another would immediately replace it to fill the attack gap. As for the Shadow Ants that died, the Big Forehead Monster merely chuckled, patted the gourd at his waist, and a few more Shadow Ants flew out.

Although Lu Xiaotian had killed nearly thirty Shadow Ants, with the Big Forehead Monster's reinforcements, the number of Shadow Ants besieging Lu Xiaotian never decreased.

After the third Diamond Shield was gnawed apart by the Shadow Ants, Lu Xiaotian conjured another Spirit Talisman, but this time it was an Earth Spirit Shield. Its defensive power was slightly weaker than the Diamond Talisman.