The dense forests of the Western Border Mountains were bathed in the inky darkness of night.
Two figures darted swiftly through the shadows of the trees, their robes brushing against the leaves, leaving only the faint sound of the wind.
Several miles behind, dozens of Soul Power auras relentlessly pursued them, and the beams of soul-guided detection light swept across the treetops of the forest again and again, so bright that they shone so brightly that they made half of the mountain forest flicker between light and shadow.
Leading the group were two Soul Douluo, who led six teams of elite Spirit Hall, pursuing them for nearly twenty miles.
The chaos caused by the earth's ley lines only delayed them for half an incense stick's time. As soon as they left the city, they locked onto two escaping auras and held on tightly.
"Go three miles west, there's a rocky slope there that can block detection," Tang San said in a low voice, his steps never faltering.
He had long since mastered the terrain of this area. Two years ago, when he left the Slaughter City, he had memorized all the terrain features along the way that could provide cover.
The pursuers behind him arrived faster than he had anticipated, clearly indicating that Bibi Dong, in her fury, had given a death order.
Xiao Wu nodded, and pink Soul Power condensed into several faint afterimages at her fingertips.
"I'll distract the group on the west side; you wait for me on the rocky slope."
Before she finished speaking, her figure blurred, and three soft bone clones shot out in different directions, each carrying a faint fluctuation of Soul Power, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake in the night.
The westernmost clone deliberately broke a tree branch, causing the three pursuing teams to immediately change direction and chase after it.
This was a technique she had honed over two years in the Tranquil Mind Hall. Her Soft Bone Soul Power was best at concealment and mimicry. She used to use it only for close combat, but now she was equally adept at using it to escape.
Tang San's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't say anything more and turned to rush towards the rocky slope.
He knew she was no longer someone who needed constant protection.
Two years in prison did not diminish her resilience; instead, it allowed her to unleash her full potential.
The piles of rubble on the rocky slope are very high, and the crevices are filled with wild grass, making it a natural hiding place.
After Tang San landed, he flicked out several dark red needles from his fingertips and buried them in the cracks in the rocks.
It wasn't a killing move, but a maze infused with the aura of Asura. If the pursuers stepped into it, their divine sense would be interfered with by the killing intent, making them unable to discern directions for a short period of time, giving them enough time to create a greater distance between them.
Just as the arrangements were completed, Xiao Wu's figure swept out from the woods, her breath slightly ragged but still steady.
"We've shaken off three teams; the rest are still behind."
"Walk."
Tang San raised his hand to support her arm, then withdrew it, and the two of them flew side by side into the depths of the mountains.
Soon after, the angry shouts and chaotic footsteps of pursuers came from behind, clearly indicating that they had stumbled into a maze and were in complete disarray.
On the high platform of the Pope's Palace, the night wind whipped the hem of a purplish-black robe, making it flutter loudly.
Bibi Dong stood by the railing, listening to the news of the manhunt relayed by her subordinates, her knuckles turning white from gripping the railing so tightly.
An entire Soul Douluo squad couldn't even catch up with two people; instead, they were completely outmaneuvered.
In all her years, she had never suffered such a humiliating loss.
" Pope Holiness, should we send in Titled Douluo?" The guard asked, his head bowed, his voice tense.
" Ghost Douluo is waiting in the city. If we set off now, we will surely be able to stop them."
Bibi Dong remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
"Need not."
She knew very well that since Tang San dared to run west, he must be heading towards the Slaughter City.
That place is the territory of the Asura, filled with sinister energy. Soul-guided detection is useless there; sending more people in will only result in them never returning.
If we really push him too far, he might use the location of the Slaughter City to launch a counterattack, and the losses will only be greater.
"Pass on my order: have Ghost Douluo lead a team to guard all the entrances and exits outside the Slaughter City."
"No need to go deep, no need to fight head-on, just keep an eye on them." Her voice was as cold as ice.
"I'd like to see if he can hide inside forever."
"Furthermore, issue the order to issue a nationwide manhunt for Tang San and Xiao Wu. Anyone who provides clues will be rewarded with a Spirit Bone."
The guards received their orders and withdrew, and silence returned to the high platform.
Bibi Dong raised her eyes and looked in the direction of the Slaughter City, her eyes surging with murderous intent.
She lost the first move in this game, but that doesn't mean she lost the whole game.
People may run away, but the legacy cannot.
The Rakshasa God Trial is just one step away. Once she fully assumes the divine position, not Slaughter City be unable to escape her grasp, but the entire continent will be beyond her control.
She has plenty of patience to wait.
The day she becomes a goddess will be the day she washes away all the traitors.
With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and walked back into the hall. The severed branches of the earth veins still needed repair, and the refining of the Rakshasa's essence could not be stopped.
All the accounts will be settled at the very end.
On the mountain peak thirty miles west of the city, the morning mist is slowly rising.
The holy light at Chen Jieqi's fingertips slowly returned to his palm.
The aftershocks of the ley lines have completely subsided, the sealing array is operating smoothly, and there is no black energy leaking out within the Western Territory region.
The trail of pursuit continued westward, into the deep mountains, getting further and further away from the resettlement site, so that it would not affect ordinary people.
He stood up and looked into the depths of the mountains.
In the westernmost valley, the familiar stench of blood faintly wafted from the direction of the Slaughter City.
Two fleeing figures were heading in that direction, and the pursuers behind them stopped at the outer perimeter, not daring to go any further.
Chen Jieqi nodded slightly.
The dust has settled.
He raised his hand and reinforced the sealing array on the mountaintop with another layer of sacred runes.
The murderous aura of the Slaughter City always tends to spill outwards, especially after Tang San returns; the aura inside will only grow stronger.
Adding an extra layer of protection will always provide more shelter and prevent the surrounding villages from being affected.
After doing all this, he turned and walked down the mountain peak.
There are still follow-up matters to be dealt with in Ashen Territory, and the refugees in the resettlement sites also need to be cleaned up regularly.
The chaos in the city has subsided, and he has finished his duties of guarding the border; it's time to go back.
The figure in white disappeared into the morning mist, leaving only a faint trace of Sheng Hui on the mountaintop.
He didn't care how far the feud between the Spirit Hall and Tang San would escalate, nor did he care what would happen in the Slaughter City.
What he has always wanted to protect is the everyday life right beneath his feet.
Just before leaving, he glanced back in the direction of the Slaughter City, his brow furrowing slightly.
The murderous aura emanating from there was even stronger and more ferocious than it had been two years ago.
Like a Ferocious Beast awakening, it will sooner or later break through its underground cage and sweep across the entire continent.
As the sun rose above the treetops, Tang San and Xiao Wu finally stopped behind the vines deep within the cliff.
Parting the drooping dark green vines, the dark entrance to the cave was revealed.
A damp, cold wind blew out from inside, carrying a faint smell of blood; it was one of the hidden side entrances to the Slaughter City.
This path is extremely hidden; even the people from the Spirit Hall might not be able to find it.
Come in.
Tang San went in first, a wisp of dark red light shining from his fingertips, illuminating the path ahead.
"It's safe here for now; they won't dare to chase us in."
The cave was very deep, with water droplets seeping from the stone walls. The deeper you went, the stronger the smell of blood became.
Xiao Wu followed behind him, her fingertips slightly curled.
What concerned her even more was the person walking in front of her.
Two years had passed, and his back was more upright and more silent than before.
His aura was completely concealed, yet the occasional wisp of killing intent that swept through was chillingly cold, carrying the scent of blood and iron.
He's quite different from the stubborn yet bright-eyed boy he was two years ago.
Reaching an open area in the middle of the cave, Tang San stopped and turned around to set up several protective barriers.
"Rest here for a day to recover your Soul Power." His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.
"We'll enter the inner city after some of the pursuers outside have withdrawn."
"Okay." Xiao Wu nodded, found a dry stone wall to sit on, and began to regulate her breathing.
Tang San sat near the cave entrance, his back to her, gazing into the darkness deep within the cave.
Unconsciously, his fingertips caressed the handle of the Clear Sky Hammer, the dark red patterns flickering in the dim light.
She was rescued, but that was only the first step.
Bibi Dong will not give up easily; the power of the Rakshasa is still growing wildly, and the curse of her great-grandfather has not yet been lifted.
The road ahead is long, and it will only get harder and harder.
He subconsciously activated his Asura Origin, and a trace of killing intent unconsciously seeped outwards from his body.
" Third Brother."
Xiao Wu's voice came from behind me, very softly.
Tang San snapped back to reality, concealed his aura, and turned around. "What's wrong?"
Xiao Wu looked at him, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she shook her head.
"It's nothing, just reminding you not to overwork yourself."
She ultimately didn't ask.
She knew he Slaughter City over the past two years, and she also knew that the increase in power inevitably came at a price.
She was just afraid that he would leave too quickly and too far, and in the end, she wouldn't even be able to find her way back.
Tang San hummed in agreement and turned back around.
The cave was quiet, with only the soft sound of water dripping from the stone walls.
He knew what she was worried about.
But he had no way out.
If you want to protect those you care about, and if you want to overturn the Spirit Hall's scheme, you can only hold onto the power in your hands tightly, even if that power is tainted with blood and rust.
The path I chose is the one I'll walk to the end, even if I have to crawl on my knees.
The sunlight outside the cave slowly moved, and the light and shadow inside the cave gradually shifted.
Beneath the surface of temporary stability, undercurrents have already begun to surge and grow unseen.