Chapter 178: Lightning Fast
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The potency of Chen Fei’s arrows was consistent even against Marrow Tempering realm experts.
Had Pan Baoxue not detected the impending danger and reacted swiftly to evade, the arrow would have struck him, causing a devastating explosion.
“How dare you!”
Lei Yingchao’s eyes narrowed as he witnessed Pan Baoxue’s miserable condition. Lei Yingchao didn’t dwell on dealing with Pan Baoxue; instead, he directed his fury toward others. To Lei Yingchao, this was a clear sign of disrespect.
In a fit of anger, Lei Yingchao’s voice thundered, his body blurring as his fists surged forward. His intention was crystal clear – he aimed to eliminate Chen Fei on the spot. Failing to do so would tarnish his reputation among his peers.
A resounding boom echoed as the force of Lei Yingchao’s twin fists collided with the air, a testament to the formidable might behind his technique.
Yet, the potency of a technique meant little if it failed to find its mark.
Chen Fei’s movements were akin to a fish gliding through water. Lei Yingchao’s imposing aura struggled to lock onto Chen Fei’s position. Even if the lock succeeded, Chen Fei’s evasive abilities remained unscathed, his agile dodge evading the genuine threat.
Spatial Evasion. The foundational movement technique of Spatial Evasion was executed flawlessly by Chen Fei, revealing its essence in action.
Though seemingly a simple evasion, Lei Yingchao found himself at a loss on how to proceed. In martial exchanges, assessing an adversary’s moves was akin to predicting autumn through a single leaf.
Yet, Lei Yingchao refused to relent. He refused to believe that a martial artist at the Marrow Tempering realm could master such a movement technique to such an extent.
Lei Yingchao surged forth once again, his determination unyielding. Amidst Pan Baoxue’s anguished cries, his fellow guards joined the fray, their fury driving them forward.
Chen Fei’s audacity to inflict harm before a crowd provoked outrage among the guards. To let Chen Fei escape without retribution would be a humiliation they couldn’t tolerate.
Ma Xuefei’s visage turned icy as her arrows unleashed a flurry toward Chen Fei.
Precise, penetrating, and swift.
Ma Xuefei’s arrows epitomized these qualities, yet they all fell short of their mark.
As they impacted the ground, they left behind minuscule depressions. Chen Fei’s fluid movement made evading the arrows a trivial feat.
Gazing at the retreating Pan Baoxue, Chen Fei couldn’t help but harbor a hint of regret.
The sheer number of adversaries present made it impossible for Pan Baoxue to exact his revenge, a circumstance Chen Fei lamented.
Soul Chasing Step!
Chen Fei’s body pivoted as he eluded Lei Yingchao’s assault. A swift dash allowed him to create distance before he vanished into the distance.
“Don’t even think about fleeing!”
Lei Yingchao’s furious roar propelled him after Chen Fei, a determination to halt Chen Fei’s escape fueling his pursuit. Alas, his blows struck empty air behind Chen Fei. Lei Yingchao’s resolve remained unwavering, but he could sense the growing gap between him and Chen Fei.
Lei Yingchao glanced towards Ma Xuefei, who had fired more arrows recently. Despite being pursued, Chen Fei adeptly evaded her arrows while maintaining his forward pace.
“He’s too fast. I can’t keep up!”
Ma Xuefei’s teeth clenched as frustration boiled within her. A proficient archer with commendable agility, Ma Xuefei’s pride was challenged by Chen Fei’s speed.
Even if she caught up, hesitation gripped her. Proximity robbed her of the advantage her bow and arrows offered. How would she contend with Chen Fei at such close quarters?
Perhaps, her life would be forfeit.
Moreover, she had witnessed Chen Fei’s arrow aimed at Pan Baoxue – an arrow more formidable than her own.
The mysteries that Chen Fei concealed remained a source of unease for Ma Xuefei, who couldn’t afford to wager her life.
Nevertheless, her losses were minimal. At most, she forfeited the jade token, a disappointment she could tolerate.
“Senior Brother Lei, what now?”
His companions rallied around Lei Yingchao, their expectant gazes aimed at him. As the overseer of security, Lei Yingchao’s decision was paramount.
“Reinforce our original positions.”
Lei Yingchao drew a deep breath, quelling his anger. A wave of his hand signaled the others to return to their designated posts, maintaining the appearance of business as usual.
The group dispersed, leaving behind Pan Baoxue’s occasional cries of agony. The pain of losing an arm was excruciating, especially for martial artists.
Chen Fei’s figure perched atop a treetop, a mile away from the pond. His obscured view prevented a clear glimpse of the pond’s location or any other significant details.
“What just occurred?” Bacca’s presence materialized beside Chen Fei, his voice laced with confusion.
Bakar had witnessed the preceding events – Chen Fei’s interactions, followed by combat – yet comprehension eluded him, leaving him puzzled by the humans’ intentions.
“Nothing substantial, merely a brief encounter.”
Chen Fei shook his head, reflecting on the altercation that had transpired.
Engaging in direct confrontation seemed unwise, even with Bakar’s assistance. Furthermore, the extent of the spiritual artifact’s capabilities remained shrouded in uncertainty.
Considering the worst-case scenario – the artifact’s ability to suppress dimensional attacks – a direct clash with the artifact would be suicidal.
Retrieving the artifact from the secret realm proved far more perilous than anticipated.
The lesson was well-learned.
“Understood.”
“Shall we withdraw, maintaining a safe distance to avoid detection?”
“Shall we continue to retreat? After those individuals succeed, they will eventually seize the Dreamlike Lotus?”
Chen Fei couldn’t help but pause for a moment. While this idea wasn’t entirely infeasible, it did come with a considerable amount of risk. The pivotal factor lay in the spiritual artifact. Without comprehending its capabilities or how long others could control it, the danger was too great.
“But those individuals won’t succeed; the Dreamlike Lotus cannot be killed.” Bacca shook his head in response.
“Why can’t it be killed?”
Chen Fei raised an eyebrow, surprised by Bacca’s answer. Could it be that the Dreamlike Lotus he saw earlier wasn’t its true form but an illusion created by the Dreamlike Lotus?
Could the Dreamlike Lotus truly be this overpowering?
If it was indeed this formidable, Chen Fei’s previous idea of using the Ice-cold Soul Elixir to locate the Dreamlike Lotus’s true form seemed rather unrealistic.
“The Dreamlike Lotus is one of the food sources for rat demons. They don’t consume much, but they must partake in it periodically. If there’s a risk of the Dreamlike Lotus’s true form being destroyed, the rat demon will appear.” Bacca explained in a hushed tone.
Bacca’s original intention in accompanying Chen Fei was to gather more lotus seeds and leaves. He had never considered uprooting the Dreamlike Lotus.
Setting aside the feasibility, Bacca would never do so because the rat demon would go berserk.
The rat demon didn’t mind how many lotus seeds or leaves were consumed, as the lotus would naturally regrow. However, if someone attempted to uproot the Dreamlike Lotus, the rat demon would intervene.
“What’s a rat demon?”
Chen Fei’s brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued by the mention of a new creature. Judging by its name, it seemed to be a type of rodent. Bacca’s trepidation towards rat demons exceeded that towards the Dreamlike Lotus.
The fact that rat demons used the Dreamlike Lotus as a food source indicated their potency. The rat demons must be exceptionally strong.
“A rat demon is a rat demon, you’ll see when the time comes. Let’s head back and find a safe distance.”
Bakar scratched his head, unsure how to explain. He merely suggested that Chen Fei return and witness it for himself.
Chen Fei nodded, refraining from further questions. If the Dreamlike Lotus’s true form could indeed be uprooted, the rat demon’s appearance would confirm it.
Given Bakar’s wariness of rat demons, the dozens of warriors near the pond were facing a significant trial.
Nonetheless, this encounter would provide Chen Fei with insights into the artifact’s abilities. If he encountered it again, he’d be prepared.
Taking advantage of chaos might indeed offer an opportunity to acquire some lotus seeds or leaves.
With this thought, Chen Fei followed Bacca, discreetly approaching the pond’s location. The sounds of combat ahead gradually grew clearer. Bacca found a prime vantage point, affording an aerial view of the pond’s scene.
The jade pendant in Chen Fei’s arms emitted a soft light, automatically adjusting his vision to encompass the distant scene.
The Dreamlike Lotus’s endurance was waning. Around sixty to seventy percent of its roots had been compromised. Many warriors’ attacks could now reach the Dreamlike Lotus’s true form.
However, no one was making such an attempt. Each individual aimed to target the roots instead.
After all, lotus seeds, leaves, and lotus roots were all invaluable for augmenting mental strength. Damaging them would be a regrettable outcome, an action to be avoided.
Even the specific roots were being collected by designated individuals.
Though less potent compared to other parts, these roots still held value. Specialized individuals were harvesting them.
As the skirmish unfolded, Bacca’s tone shifted, laced with apprehension.
“Look, they’re here!”
Chen Fei’s attention turned toward the pond’s center. A black streak, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, hurtled towards them at remarkable speed.
Several martial artists stationed at the periphery seemed to sense something amiss. Before they could react, their bodies stiffened, crumbling into several pools of blood scattered across the ground..