Dense white mist poured down from the heavens, and the hundred ghosts began their night march.
Hidden in the fog, the tiger's eyes blazed with fire, captivating and terrifying.
It charged wildly, toppling countless innocent trees, its heart beating like a great bell, its wild, savage aura spreading.
Some mutated demonic beasts, caught by its gaze, felt the oppressive aura of the king of beasts and fainted from fear.
But as it drew closer to the forest, the tiger demon's speed suddenly slowed.
Based on the energy contained within the rune fragments, it knew the owner of this item was insignificant, perhaps crushable with a single stomp.
If so weak, then where did this instinctual sense of danger come from?
It slowly halted its charge, placing its forelegs on a dead wild boar demon, and lowered its head to sniff.
Many demonic beasts in this area had died.
It could not discern who had killed them.
Its lantern-like eyes, as if ablaze, watched the dark mountain forest ahead with caution, a hint of hesitation.
Had it grown timid from not hunting for so long?
Unsure, it let out a roar towards the forest ahead.
"Aowu!"
That tiger's roar, like the rune fragments at the beginning, pierced through countless trees and spanned vast distances, reaching this place.
Birds took flight in alarm, demonic beasts stirred, and the many ability users present changed their expressions simultaneously.
"Stage Four, Lord Tiger Demon, fifteen seconds?"
Hearing this series of descriptions, Yin Shui'er's expression became increasingly exaggerated.
"Why didn't you say so sooner!"
"I'm slow-witted, and you all talk too much, I couldn't help it."
Yin Zhongxiu coughed awkwardly, facing the indignant gazes of the crowd.
It was true, he had tried to speak earlier, but neither Lin Yan nor Jin Jiao had given him a chance.
"No need to panic, I do have a scroll of formations, but this item cannot be used within close range."
Unlike Yin Shui'er, most of the ability users present were battle-hardened veterans. Having faced life and death, they quickly calmed down.
Jin Jiao, the grand leader of the Golden Silver Merchant House, retreated and fumbled for a brown parchment scroll from a golden ring in his spatial storage.
All eyes were immediately drawn to it.
This was a teleportation scroll, extremely valuable, meticulously crafted by ability users skilled in formations and spatial abilities, a treasure beyond market price.
Activating it also required a vast amount of spirit stones, and it was estimated that only the people of the Golden Silver Merchant House possessed such wealth in the entire Gu Ye Domain.
"Ten miles."
"We need to retreat ten miles in that direction to deploy the teleportation formation."
Jin Jiao patted his bald head and pointed grimly to the north.
Teleportation scrolls were excellent in every way, except they could not be used in the same location.
This was because each space had its corresponding stellar trajectory in the heavens, governed by its own rules.
Spatial teleportation would disrupt the stars, breaking the original order and making the space more complex.
Unless one was a truly masterful spatial ability user who could perceive the celestial changes at all times, or if a teleportation formation was pre-arranged, one had to find a different location.
Jin Jiao sighed with great concern.
He was not worried about the old man in the black robe; that person could not stop him.
The ten-mile distance was not a difficult task in itself, but there was one problem.
βIt was currently Gu Ye time, and the mist was pervasive.
Even if he successfully reached ten miles away and used the teleportation scroll, where would they be teleported to?
Could they, amidst this chaotic and vast power, still pinpoint the location of the Undying City brothers this time?
The crowd exchanged glances, none of them feeling confident.
If they found the right place, it would be fine. But if they teleported to the wrong location, directly into the core region of Xishan, there would be no escape, only certain death.
It would be better to turn back and fight the tiger demon, as their chances of survival would be greater.
Following the direction of the man's finger, Yin Zhongxiu's eyes sharpened.
Because that place was directly behind the old man in the black robe, meaning they had to deal with him first if they wanted to escape?
Recalling their previous confrontation, Yin Zhongxiu frowned.
"Everyone with the ability, please voluntarily carry the wounded."
"Don't waste time, depart immediately!"
From the indication of the direction to the spontaneous lifting of the wounded ability users, and then their scattered charge, all of this happened within three seconds.
Vilitan, several hundred meters away, watched the ability users preparing to flee and suddenly laughed.
His rune fragments had been taken by the opponent and placed in the golden ring, but they had not completely dissipated.
Within them, there was some residual dark energy belonging to him, which, while incapable of causing significant trouble, could serve as his eyes and ears.
"An incredibly precious teleportation scroll. The Golden Silver Merchant House is indeed a wealthy establishment."
"However, for you to attempt to pass in this direction is akin to a fantasy."
Looking at the ability users charging from all directions, Vilitan revealed a sinister smile.
"You like to reinforce and devour my rune fragments?"
"Today, you will all remain here!"
The old man swung his staff, and a massive elemental torrent surged out, with the remaining rune fragments caught within. Like the dark aurora of the far north, it spanned a hundred meters across the sky, grand and imposing.
Even Jin Jiao, who had previously contended with the runes, frowned slightly.
"Everyone, try not to touch this elemental torrent. The explosive power is immense!"
Yin Zhongxiu shouted loudly. The explosion generated by the combination of these elemental energies was terrifying; he could barely withstand it, let alone these Stage Two ability users.
Thus, he immediately charged forward with his spear.
He did not carry any wounded.
"I don't know who you are, but this night's events end here!"
A new moon bloomed in the sky. Yin Zhongxiu, facing the torrent of power, rushed to Vilitan and clashed heavily with him.
Boom!
Both retreated simultaneously.
Vilitan, his expression still indifferent, swung his staff. Instantly, several Stage Two ability users attempting to break through at this point were hit by the elemental torrent, their bodies flung back by the force of the explosion.
Seeing this, Yin Zhongxiu gritted his teeth and advanced again.
"It's coming. If we continue to entangle like this, none of us will escape."
"The best option is for us to each step back, and I will seek you out another day!"
Hearing Yin Zhongxiu's words, Vilitan fell into a rage.
Another day?
Did he think my Soul Seizing Formation was worthless?
"After tonight, I will leave Gu Ye, and you will have no chance to find me again!"
Vilitan snorted coldly. The commotion he had caused tonight was too great; the hunters of the Royal Court would surely suspect him, so he could not remain in the Gu Ye Domain.
It was a pity for his years of painstaking effort.
Vilitan's expression turned cold as he channeled his abilities. The elemental torrent in the sky suddenly broke down into several palm-sized spherical objects.
At the center of these spheres were the rune fragments of the Soul Seizing Formation. Then, with a tremor of the old man's wrinkled face, these numerous elemental rune spheres rained down in all directions like a storm.
Although not as grand as the previous torrent, they were superior in their sheer number and density, filling the space everywhere, making them unavoidable.
Apart from the Stage Three ability users and the wounded they were escorting, almost everyone else was temporarily held in place, unable to advance even half a step.