Watching the Waterfall, Comprehending the Halberd, Condensing the Angry Tide; Riding the Wind, Playing with the Enemy, Chasing Through the Forest Hollow

Seeing the peerless technique he had relied on to stall for time vanish without even raising a splash, Jianlongzi froze in place. His pupils dilated with horror, and his mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg.

A chill rose in his heart, and endless shock and terror swallowed him whole.

Zhao Cheng's smiling gaze fell upon him. The "anticipation" and "curiosity" in those eyes now seemed to Jianlongzi like the darkness of the abyss of hell.

Jianlongzi didn't dare stay another instant. With a yelp, he tapped the Azure Underworld Sword beneath his feet with his toe and shot out of the cave like a startled bird. The sword dragged an unsteady streak of azure light as he fled frantically toward the Sword Hut.

What the hell! This was really a ghost!

The gale whipped across his face, stinging his cheeks until they went numb, but Jianlongzi barely noticed. His mind was a jumble of questions.

How is this guy always behind me?

When did he catch up?

Why didn't he reveal even a trace of his aura?

Why can't I use Cloud Sea Swallowing Edge?

He only saw it once. How could he see through the technique's core?

The questions tangled in his mind like a ball of thread. Terror and panic left his thoughts utterly blank.

He didn't dare look back or think too hard. He only knew he had to squeeze every last bit of True Essence from his Dantian and push the Azure Underworld Sword to its absolute limit.

The forests rushing past became nothing but blurry afterimages. He didn't even notice when he crashed into branches that tore his robes.

But to Zhao Cheng, all that desperate speed was barely faster than a tortoise crawling.

Standing at the cave entrance, he watched Jianlongzi flee