Jieyin's Pursuit!

He watched the image appearing on the formation disc, only to see a gray-robed figure speeding toward their location.

His eyes widened as he cursed inwardly:

"How did that old bastard Jieyin catch up so quickly?!"

He knew the disturbance here could not be concealed, but he had never expected Jieyin to arrive so soon.

He immediately tried to send Guang Chengzi a voice transmission with a spell, only to find that his spiritual power was suppressed and unusable. He could not help but curse inwardly!

Damn it, a moment of carelessness had ruined a lifetime of caution!

Why had he not added a communication formation to these formation discs?!

Watching the gray-robed Daoist draw ever closer in the image,

Bai Ze shook Duobao and discovered that Duobao had already passed out!

"Are your injuries really that serious?!"

Bai Ze frowned deeply. Making a swift decision, he filled the magic treasure Guang Chengzi had lent him with black water, then hoisted Duobao onto his back and began running in another direction.

As for Guang Chengzi, with the strength he had displayed while fighting the Six-Winged Golden Cicada—strength capable of breaking through this place's restrictions—even if he could not win, he could still leave calmly!

As for how to contact him, the Scrying Formation Disc Bai Ze had developed was a Mother-and-Child Disc. The disc he had given Guang Chengzi was the child disc; as long as they were within a thousand zhang, he could sense its location!

For now, fleeing was the wiser choice!

If Jieyin Daoist caught them, then with Bai Ze only at the Early True Form Stage and Duobao severely wounded, they would not have even the slightest chance of resisting!

Only by escaping alive would they have a chance to reunite with Guang Chengzi!

Not long after Bai Ze left, a gray-robed figure appeared where the two had just been.

Jieyin Daoist glanced at the pit in the center of the Bone-Eroding Pool where the Dream Orchid had once grown.

He then looked toward the direction destroyed by the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's self-destruction.

He formed a hand seal, and a massive halo spread out from beneath his feet. Once it reached a hundred zhang, everything that had happened here in the past appeared one by one.

When he saw Bai Ze carrying the unconscious Duobao and fleeing south, the corner of his mouth curled up. "Little thing, I've found you!"

With a stomp of his foot, he swiftly pursued Bai Ze.

Within the dense forest, Bai Ze fled with Duobao on his back, scattering Observation Stones from time to time.

Each time he scattered an Observation Stone, he would switch to another direction and run, using this to confuse Jieyin.

Because of this place's rules, he could not use spiritual power. Even formations and divine abilities that required spiritual power could not be used.

He could only rely on his two legs to sprint without pause while concealing his aura as much as possible.

Yet as he watched image after image being destroyed on the Scrying Formation Disc, he understood that his misdirection was only temporary. Sooner or later, the other party would notice; catching up to them was merely a matter of time!

Bai Ze kept pondering how to break out of this predicament.

After passing through a stretch of jagged rocks, Duobao gradually woke up on his back.

"Brother, stop shaking me. Keep shaking me, and you'll shake your big brother to death."

Seeing Duobao awaken, Bai Ze had no time to trade barbs with him and hurriedly asked:

"Brother, do you have any means of contacting Brother Guang Chengzi?"

Duobao was still somewhat dazed. He raised his head and looked around, then instinctively said:

"No. Can't you just try sending him a voice transmission?"

Bai Ze's heart sank. If he could send a voice transmission, why would he need to run?

"Brother, this place seals spiritual power. I can't even send a voice transmission."

Duobao instantly came to his senses upon hearing that, and his gaze gradually cleared:

"...

I forgot we're still in the Black Forest. That Six-Winged Golden Cicada's self-destruction was too powerful—it blew my head into a splitting ache.

Right, weren't we at the Bone-Eroding Pool, little brother? Where are we now? Where's Senior Brother? Hasn't he returned yet?"

Duobao rubbed his head and asked in confusion.

"Brother Daoist went after the Six-Winged Golden Cicada. That thing was far too cunning.

I don't know where we are now either, but one thing is certain: we haven't left the Black Forest's core region!

And the Six-Winged Golden Cicada's self-destruction was too powerful. Along with the phenomenon when the Dream Orchid bloomed, it has already drawn Jieyin Daoist here."

Bai Ze sighed and swiftly explained the current situation at lightning speed.

Duobao was stunned, his mind unable to process it for a moment. He stammered:

"So... we're being hunted by Jieyin now?"

Bai Ze was utterly speechless. Was Duobao's reaction time really this slow?

Could that explosion have actually blown his brains stupid?

"Brother, stop being surprised and hurry up and think of a way to contact Brother Guang Chengzi.

Otherwise, with just me, a useless fighter worth five scraps, and you, a half-dead useless fighter worth another five scraps, we aren't even enough for Jieyin to swat with one palm!"

"Uh... let me think..."

Duobao looked troubled and tried to mobilize his spiritual power, but this place sealed spiritual power completely. He could not summon even the slightest trace of it. On top of that, he was badly wounded; every breath felt as though his five viscera and six bowels were being scorched.

After a long silence, Duobao sighed. "Little brother, put me down."

Bai Ze halted, turning to look at Duobao. "Brother, have you thought of a way?"

"Yes. Put me down, and I'll hold back that old bastard Jieyin!" Duobao said seriously as he looked into Bai Ze's eyes.

Looking at the complicated expression in Duobao's eyes, how could Bai Ze not understand what he was thinking?

"Brother, you know I hate owing karmic debts most. Though the crisis is dire right now, it hasn't reached the point where I need you to stay behind as a shield."

As he spoke, Bai Ze gripped Duobao tightly. Golden flames instantly ignited around him, and his speed suddenly doubled.

Duobao watched as this life-loving fellow burned his lifespan without hesitation just to carry him away. His fists clenched, but the intense pain immediately twisted his face.

Bar ing his teeth, he said:

"Little brother, do you remember what we said before?"

"If we truly reach the point of no return, throw me out. I'll bring up the rear!"

Without turning his head, Bai Ze laughed. "Don't worry, Brother. If it really comes to that, I'll definitely sacrifice you like a magic treasure."

Duobao froze slightly, then laughed and cursed, "Brat, I was only saying it, but you took it seriously!"

Though he said that, Duobao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Who told you to have such thick skin and be so hard to beat?" Bai Ze shot back with a smile.

Yet the golden flames around him suddenly surged, and his speed doubled again.

Watching Bai Ze's aura continuously weaken, Duobao felt a heavy weight in his heart.

"Little brother, stop burning your lifespan. With that little cultivation of yours, you can't endure such burning. Keep this up, and before Jieyin even arrives, you'll turn into dried beast jerky."

"Get lost! Who told you to eat so much? Keep talking nonsense, and I'll throw you out right now!"

Bai Ze naturally understood what Duobao meant, but Duobao's words were simply too cutting.

"Rest a while longer. Once we escape the core range of this Spirit-Sealing area, we might still need you to put in some effort!

There are so many people who entered Cloud Dream Marsh. Jieyin isn't the only one we have to guard against; we're also on guard against everyone else!"

Duobao nodded upon hearing that. He also understood the severity of the situation. Now was not the time to trade barbs—every bit of strength they could save meant another thread of hope for survival!

Looking at the silent Duobao behind him, Bai Ze sighed inwardly. He knew that if he put Duobao down, or even used Duobao as bait, his chances of surviving would be very high.

But after all these years together, he had long regarded Duobao as his own elder brother.

Following the images shown on the formation disc, he raced toward the outskirts.

Suddenly, his shoulder sank.

Bai Ze's heart immediately tightened!