On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

The night grew deeper.

The air inside the cave was cold and damp, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible, fishy smell. The smell was so faint that Zhao Fan wouldn't have noticed it if he hadn't been on edge.

He walked in the middle of the group, his gaze always fixed on the back of the Zhou family cultivator in front of him.

The man's steps were steady, each step taken with composure, as if he were extremely familiar with the terrain—or rather, as if he knew there would be no danger here.

Behind him, the young master's breathing was even and calm, and even his heartbeat did not quicken at all.

This made Zhao Fan even more certain of his judgment.

They know what's inside.

Or rather, they knew there was no danger inside.

At least, there is no danger to them.

Zhao Fan's right hand remained pressed on the storage bag, and the Netherworld Mirror had been quietly activated, its surface emitting a faint gray light.

The spiritual energy within the Cloud-Stepping Boots circulated continuously, ready to erupt at any moment. The Golden Marrow Thorn was attached to his wrist, ready to fly out at a moment's thought.

He just needs an opportunity.

An opportunity for them to lower their guard.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a bend suddenly appeared ahead.

The stone steps turn here, extending deeper into the area, where the view is obstructed by the rock wall, making it impossible to see what lies behind.

The Zhou family cultivator didn't stop walking. He turned the corner and disappeared from Zhao Fan's sight.

Zhao Fan's heart suddenly raced.

But he didn't move.

He continued walking forward, his steps still steady, his breathing still even, as if nothing had happened.

His figure gradually disappeared into the bend.

Just as his body rounded the bend, he caught a glimpse of what was happening behind him out of the corner of his eye.

The young master was leisurely brushing aside a vine that was hanging down, his gaze not even falling on Zhao Fan, but casually scanning the rock walls on both sides.

His vigilance had been lowered to a minimum.

Zhao Fan no longer hesitated.

The spiritual energy within his body suddenly erupted!

His target is the young master behind him.

The blue light of the Cloud-Stepping Boots surged, and Zhao Fan shot backward like an arrow released from a bow!

At the same time, the Golden Marrow Thorn transformed into a dark light that was almost invisible to the naked eye, heading straight for the young master's throat!

The Dark Mirror emitted a bright gray light, and a spiritual veil covered the young master like a blanket, sealing off all his escape routes!

The young master's pupils suddenly contracted.

He never expected that this kid, who had been silent and submissive and had been driven to the brink, would dare to make a move at this moment!

But his cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining was not just for show; in the face of life and death, his reaction was extremely fast.

As he retreated rapidly, he waved his right hand, and a golden light screen unfolded in front of him!

"clang!"

The golden marrow pierced the light screen, unleashing a piercing metallic clang!

The light barrier trembled violently, cracks spreading like a spider web, yet it barely managed to block the attack.

But Zhao Fan didn't want to kill him; he just wanted to escape.

Just as the young master was forced back by the Golden Marrow Thorn and the light screen unfolded, Zhao Fan had already used the speed of the Cloud-Stepping Boots to pass by him!

Zhao Fan didn't have time to think further.

With his left hand, he pulled out a Swiftness Talisman from his robes and quickly activated it!

With the power of the talisman activated, Zhao Fan felt his body become lighter, and his speed suddenly increased by nearly double!

Behind them, the angry shouts of the Zhou family cultivators had already exploded!

"Boy, don't run away!"

A fierce and unparalleled sword aura swept in, so fast that it almost tore the air apart!

Zhao Fan didn't even turn his head. With a wave of his left hand, the Golden Spirit Shield unfolded behind him!

The pale golden light shield solidified instantly, protecting his back.

"Bang!"

The sword energy slammed into the golden spirit shield!

The light shield trembled violently, flickering and cracking instantly covering its entire surface, but the thin layer of golden light ultimately blocked the attack.

Using the force of the attack, Zhao Fan flipped over and flew away!

The spiritual light of the Cloud-Stepping Boots had been pushed to its limit, and the power of the Divine Speed ​​Talisman was still surging within his body, causing the stone steps beneath his feet to rush past him at high speed.

The rock walls on both sides became blurry afterimages, and all I could hear was the howling wind and the angry shouts growing ever more distant behind me.

The light at the cave entrance was getting closer and closer. Zhao Fan took three steps at a time and rushed out of the cave.

"Chase!"

The voice of the Zhou family cultivator came from behind, icy cold and devoid of any warmth.

"He can't go far!"

Zhao Fan did not turn around, nor did he dare to be distracted in the slightest; all his attention was focused on his feet.

Moonlight shone on him, and the cold mountain wind filled his lungs. Zhao Fan rolled several times on the ground to dissipate the force of his forward momentum.

He didn't stop, and he didn't even look back.

The Cloud-Stepping Boots lit up again, and with the remaining power of the Swiftness Talisman still intact, he dashed down the mountain!

Behind them, the figures of Zhou family cultivators and the young master rushed out of the cave.

"Damn it!"

The young master's face was ashen, and there was a thin bloodstain on his neck, left when the Golden Marrow Thorn had grazed him.

"Chase!"

The Zhou family cultivator's voice was as cold as ice.

"He can't run very far!"

The two figures flashed and chased after Zhao Fan in the direction he had fled.

Zhao Fan fled frantically through the dense forest.

He chose not the way he came, but the direction of Mount Fuling.

Having informed Su San beforehand, Su San must already be on her way.

What I need to do now is stall until Su San comes over.

At this moment, he dared not stop.

Behind them, two whooshing sounds were rapidly approaching.

Zhao Fan ran very fast, but they were just as fast in pursuit.

Zhao Fan gritted his teeth and exerted force with his feet again. The power of the Divine Speed ​​Talisman was fading, and the spiritual light of the Cloud-Stepping Boots was also beginning to dim.

Zhao Fan lowered his body and, using the trees and rocks for cover, frantically ran down the steep hillside.

He didn't know how long he had been running, he only knew that he had to keep running, and the farther the better.

Behind them, the two whooshing sounds continued relentlessly.

Suddenly, the sound of water came from ahead.

It was a mountain stream, not wide, but with a rapid current. Moonlight shone on the water, creating shimmering ripples.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Fan leaped into the air!

He crossed the ravine, landed on the rocks on the opposite bank, and continued running wildly!

Behind them, the two figures also crossed the mountain stream, chasing closely.

Zhao Fan's heart sank.

They were chasing too closely.

At this rate, he won't last long.

But he didn't stop.

Zhao Fan gritted his teeth. Now, he could only use the barely-learned Shadow Escape technique.

With this in mind, Zhao Fan made a hand seal, and the spiritual energy in his body flowed along a specific path. In the blink of an eye, Zhao Fan's speed increased by nearly 50%.

His body almost became a blur, disappearing into the dense forest in just a few breaths.

"They actually let that kid get away!"

Seeing that the person had disappeared, the cultivator surnamed Zhou decided not to continue the pursuit.

"He can't escape. My spirit insects have been monitoring him. He suddenly accelerated just now, so he must have used some special method. This method shouldn't last too long. We just need to follow him."

The cultivator surnamed Zhou nodded, made another hand seal, and increased his speed again.

Zhao Fan had already stopped using the secret technique. This Shadow Escape technique was too much of a burden on his body. In just about ten breaths, Zhao Fan felt sore all over.