Though Li Mo was conversing with the person before him, he had been preparing to escape all along. The moment he heard the crystal-jade giant speak in an unfriendly tone, he immediately swept his sleeve. Clusters of ghostly blue yin-fire flew from within his robe sleeves, shooting toward the crystal-jade giants in every direction, as well as the cultivator surnamed Ding.
At the same time, he leaned backward, and a huge pitch-black humanoid shadow appeared behind him. It had no facial features, a single unbroken shade of darkness. It stretched out both hands as if to enfold him in an embrace.
This was his visualization diagram, the Canal Man. He could conceal himself within it and merge with it. Thereafter, he could transform as he pleased, entering places of water and fire without hindrance, and for a short time, fear no external force.
Its only flaw was that it consumed far too much mental strength. If he remained immersed in his own visualization diagram for too long, he might be assimilated by it and become a chaotic monster.
Yet he believed that his mental strength should be enough to break free from here. Once he reached the wasteland, he knew of an underground passage that only he knew about. With it, he would still have some chance of escaping.
But at that moment, a strange sound suddenly drilled into his mind. A wave of dizziness swept over him, and his movements stalled.
Though it lasted only an instant, the situation in the field had already changed. He had missed the best moment to escape. The crystal-jade giants formed pairs. One raised a hand, and a luminous barrier immediately appeared around it, blocking the ghostly blue yin-fire outside. Its companion then deftly released a golden beam at Li Mo.
Golden beams