Vol. 1 - Ch. 165 - Mutual Pursuit

Words : 1327 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

Only a handful of leaves fell from the Divine Tree—fewer than ten. This time, the enemies were Innate Realm martial artists. Ordinary soul bodies posed little threat to such opponents. Only the souls like Chen Changming, who had also reached the Innate Realm, could exert meaningful force against them. Still, to be cautious, Ji Yang granted a leaf to a few Blood Coagulation Realm souls as well. Beneath the tree’s dense shade, Chen Changming and the others had already heard the news. Now, watching the Divine Tree reveal its divine power once more, their excitement was palpable. Hadn't they spent every day absorbing Yin energy just for this moment? Yet when they grasped the leaves, they discovered that the familiar suits of armor no longer materialized on their bodies. Chen Changming quickly realized the Divine Tree’s intention. The journey ahead would be long, and the armor's protection wouldn't last indefinitely—they would need to conserve their strength and use it when it mattered most. After respectfully bowing to the Divine Tree, the group swiftly set out. With the Divine Tree’s guidance, they had no fear of losing their targets. Under the tree's shelter, the other soul bodies watched the departing figures with envy. It was clear they needed to train even harder if they wanted to contribute to the clan in the future. The soul bodies moved through the night with impressive speed, even faster than the green wolves. Unburdened by the terrain, they could travel directly toward their target as long as they knew the precise location. ... The night sky stretched vast and dim. Beneath the silver glow of the moon, two figures raced across the rugged terrain. Despite the bundles each carried, their movements remained swift and fluid. Even among the uneven hills and rocky outcrops, they moved as though walking on level ground, using every branch or leaf they encountered as a stepping stone. After a short time, one of them stumbled onto a flat clearing, gasping for air. "Brother, I can't go on. Let's rest for a bit," he pleaded between ragged breaths. The scarred man leading the way paused briefly but shook his head firmly. "No. We keep moving. The Shi clan is powerful and possesses a clan totem—they may have ways to track us. Only if we flee beyond their sphere of influence will we be safe." "But brother," the younger man protested, "this technique drains too much of our vitality. We've already been running for hours, and we're heading directly opposite from the Shi clan’s domain. Even if they notice, they shouldn't be able to catch up so soon." The scarred man glanced around, carefully scanning the surroundings. Seeing no immediate threat, he finally nodded. "Fine. We'll rest for a little while." Taking advantage of the pause, the younger man eagerly opened his bundle, grinning with excitement. "Brother, we made it big this time! Once we leave this place, we can find a mountain of our own. With the jade coins we saved, maybe we can even establish a clan someday." Listening to his brother's hopeful words, the scarred man couldn't help but feel a flicker of longing. They had stayed too long in Mei Mountain. Though they had once served the Shi clan, even outside the main house, they had remained firmly under the Shi clan's control. Their freedom had been little more than an illusion—a gilded cage. This time, if they succeeded in escaping, they would truly be free. Perhaps they could live ordinary lives, marry, have children, and taste a normal existence for once. A wolf’s howl shattered the quiet night. The two brothers paused. In these mountains, wild beasts were common. A wolf’s cry wasn't unusual and didn't immediately concern them. Yet moments later, the scarred man’s expression darkened. He barked a terse warning. "Someone’s coming. Move!" They hurriedly repacked their belongings and fled once more into the darkness. "Brother, could it be the Shi clan chasing us?" the younger one asked anxiously. The scarred man shook his head grimly. "Unlikely. This place is too remote. Unless the Shi clan had prior warning, there’s no reason they would be this quick." Even as they sprinted, the scarred man’s sharp eyes surveyed the terrain ahead. Amidst the wild undergrowth, a wide, well-trodden road suddenly emerged into view. He hesitated, momentarily puzzled. How could there be such a road in an isolated place like this? The scarred man’s instincts screamed at him that something was wrong, but there was no time to ponder. He shifted direction and led his brother away from the road. Another wolf's howl pierced the night air, much closer this time. The scarred man's brow furrowed. Despite changing their path, the distance between them and their pursuers was shrinking. Their trackers clearly had a means of following them. Realizing escape was futile without first confronting their enemies, the two brothers stopped and took a moment to regulate their breathing, recovering a portion of their spent vitality. The scarred man’s expression hardened into something grim and ruthless. If they didn’t deal with their pursuers now, they would never make it out alive. Not long after they stopped, faint green lights flickered in the darkness—eyes, dozens of them. As the figures came closer, green wolves emerged one by one from the dense woods, stepping silently into the moonlight. Mounted atop the wolves were Chen Qingyu and several Blood Coagulation Realm warriors from the clan. Seeing these formidable beasts, the scarred man scowled. Those who could tame such creatures surely belonged to a significant clan. Yet as he gauged the strength of the newcomers, confusion flickered in his heart. They weren’t as strong as he had anticipated. If anything, they were weaker. Still, he dared not underestimate them. Members of influential clans often carried hidden techniques or deadly tools far beyond their surface strength. Chen Qingyu sat calmly atop his wolf, unmoved by the brothers' Innate Realm aura. His tone was cold and even. "Return what you took, and the clan will let this matter rest." seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the clan’s final offer; otherwise, Chen Qingyu wouldn't have wasted any words. They had been able to catch up so quickly because, after stealing from the clan, the brothers had made the foolish mistake of running toward the clan’s territory rather than away from it. Beside the scarred man, his younger brother sneered. "Why waste time talking, brother? It's just an Innate Realm warrior. Let’s take them down quickly before the Shi clan shows up!" With a two-on-one advantage, the brothers clearly held the upper hand. Hearing his brother’s arrogance, the scarred man hesitated slightly. He had already guessed that their pursuers were not from the Shi clan, but from the other clan they had offended earlier. So he had decided that if the pursuers were strong, they would surrender what they had taken to ensure their safety. But now it seemed the pursuers were not strong at all. Like them, the man was merely in the early stage of the Innate Realm—and he was alone! The items they had looted this time were worth thirty thousand jade coins. Thirty thousand jade coins might not mean much to a major clan, but for the two of them, who had neither clan backing nor other resources, it was equivalent to two or three years' earnings from working for the Shi clan! How could he simply give up such an easy prize? Hello readers! Read up to 12 advance chapters by joining us on Patreon! 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Vol. 1 - Ch. 165 - Mutual Pursuit

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