The wind had started to blow at some unknown time.
Fallen leaves rustled underfoot.
Zhang Kui's eye twitched, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly,
"Old Demon Chang, I've arrived, why don't you show yourself!"
With a squeak,
the small temple's wooden door slowly opened.
An old man with a white beard stepped out, looking ordinary and unremarkable, like the kind of elder you often see, his eyes cloudy and filled with the aura of dusk.
However, seeing the true form of the old man, Zhang Kui was shocked; a huge snake with scales at the brows raised upward, looking as though it had sprouted two horns.
Seeing the golden light on Zhang Kui, a sharp gleam flickered in his cloudy eyes, "Not a bad protective magic technique. Which family's disciple are you?"
Zhang Kui's eyes flickered slightly.
This old guy took me for a disciple of a large sect?
Indeed, snakes are cunning and cautious, and this old demon has always lurked under the eyes of the Faceless Ghost King without being discovered, evidently doing things with deep calculations.
Thinking of this, Zhang Kui blinked,
"Guess!"
Chang San snorted coldly, "No matter which family's disciple you are, for the sake of your elders, leave your protective magic technique and leave, and I'll spare your life."
Zhang Kui chuckled,
"My sect has commanded me not to disclose it."
Chang San's eyes narrowed slightly, then suddenly opened, transforming into bloody and cold snake eyes.
"You're lying, courting death!"
After speaking, he suddenly stretched out his withered claw.
A fierce wind suddenly whipped up, and Zhang Kui felt as if a giant snake's mouth was lunging at him, swallowing everything in sight.
Without a word, Zhang Kui swung his Lu Li sword to meet it.
Clang!
A vast force came from the blade, and Zhang Kui's feet dragged long traces on the ground, being pushed back more than ten meters.
Chang San also withdrew his hand, looking at a small patch of frost on his palm with a cold snort, his figure suddenly disappeared.
Zhang Kui hadn't reacted yet when he was shocked to find that this old demon had suddenly appeared in front of him, casually striking with a palm.
Bam!
The protective golden light shattered, and Zhang Kui only felt a heaviness in his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and flew out.
He dared not hesitate, reactivating the protective golden light mid-air, just in time to block an attack from a snake curse, spinning to stand firmly.
A trace of surprise flashed in Old Demon Chang San's eyes.
Zhang Kui was also quite delighted.
It turns out when the protective golden light shatters, it can actually dispel most of the attack, only receiving a minor injury.
There's a chance to escape!
Without hesitation, Zhang Kui immediately clicked twice in his mind's interface, upgrading Rock Jumping Skill to level two, and then opened Body Fixing Skill.
Rock Jumping Skill (Level 2): Active Skill
Skill Description: A lightweight body technique, climbing mountains and crossing ridges, traversing the land as if it were nothing, the higher the level, the faster the speed. At max level, one can learn Wind Riding Skill and Cloud Summoning Skill for flight.
Body Fixing Skill (Level 1): Active Skill
Skill Description: Consumes 100 mana, casting body fixing on an opponent to stun them for 1 minute. As the target's level increases, the failure rate increases, and the effect duration decreases.
Then, with a swoosh, he disappeared from where he stood.
With Rock Jumping Skill at level two, his speed significantly increased, Zhang Kui felt the wind roar around him, the earth under his feet retreating rapidly, and in a flash, he reached the foot of the mountain.
"Trying to run?!"
Chang San snorted coldly, instantly transforming into a stinking black smoke and chased after him.
He was clearly surprised by Zhang Kui's speed.
"Humph, running fast, but still a bit lacking!"
Under the dim starlight, Zhang Kui whipped up a gust of wind, sprinting across the barren mountain like an arrow.
Behind him, a streak of black smoke drew closer.
Zhang Kui gritted his teeth, turning as he ran, pointing a finger.
"Stabilize!"
Chang San froze for a moment, wondering if the kid ahead was playing some trick, but felt no change on his body.
"Humph, daring to tease this old man!"
Chang San was somewhat infuriated, speeding up further.
If he let this puny Enlightenment Realm kid escape today, wouldn't it be a joke?
Zhang Kui in front was also irked.
Indeed, facing such a level gap, the failure rate of the Body Fixing Skill greatly increased.
A few breaths later, seeing the old demon getting closer, Zhang Kui immediately formed a hand seal with one hand.
"Clone Skill!"
With a bang, the clone turned and raised the greatsword, while the true body accelerated forward.
"So many little tricks..."
Chang San crushed the clone with a squeeze, scoffed, and continued the pursuit.
However, this delay ultimately pulled away some distance again.
Minutes later, as Chang San closed in once more, Zhang Kui turned and pointed again.
"Stabilize!"
Still playing that trick!
Chang San had just begun to feel angry, but was horrified to find his entire body stiff, unable to move his mana or form.
"Haha, die now!"
Zhang Kui was overjoyed and immediately turned around, flying up, the Greatsword wrapped in Gang Evil, slashing straight down.
Chang San, scared out of his wits, roared and surprisingly broke free of the bonds, striking up with one palm.
Bang!
Zhang Kui's Protective Golden Light shattered once again, and he was sent flying far away.
Damn it...
Zhang Kui spat out a mouthful of blood, cursed under his breath, and continued running with his Protective Golden Light on, covering his head.
"Kid, prepare to die!"
Carelessly, nearly capsized, the cunning Chang San was furious, killing intent overflowing, chasing closely behind.
However, upon closing in again, he saw Zhang Kui turn and point, "Stabilize!"
Chang San was startled, hurriedly on guard, but found no abnormalities, and continued the chase.
This time Zhang Kui was playing a trick.
After using magic repeatedly, his mana was running low, and he was only bluffing.
Once the Old Demon closed in again, he shouted "Stabilize" loudly to scare, widening the distance.
"Still trying to deceive me..."
After several times, Chang San realized, sneered coldly, "Afraid it only works once."
Just after saying that, he saw Zhang Kui turn and point again,
"Stabilize!"
Chang San's whole body went stiff, revealing his form from the black smoke, and due to inertia, rolled a few times on the ground, eating dirt.
"Hahaha..."
Zhang Kui laughed heartily, "How does it feel, Old Demon?"
Though his words were relentless, he didn't turn around, instead accelerated, putting a good distance between them.
Chang San roared angrily, shedding his restraints, his eyes blood-red, completely losing his sanity, frantically chasing.
At this time, Zhang Kui had calmed down completely, escaping the pursuit with ease.
He even started reflecting on his route.
Previously, the Demon-slaying Skill was sharp, charging all the way through, but now the enemies he met grew stronger, and those neglected support skills began to play a role.
The path of magic, ever-changing.
There seems to be much more to study...
In this cat-and-mouse game, they unknowingly arrived at Black Water City.
By now it was daylight, and the townspeople at the gate were terrified at the sight, screaming and running away.
Zhang Kui frowned, turning to change direction.
If this rampant Old Demon entered the city, the common folk would surely suffer.
Yet at this moment, Chang San suddenly regained clarity, laughing wildly, "You idiot, stop and die, or I'll slaughter all of Black Water City!"
With that said, his form transformed within the rolling black smoke into a huge black snake, standing upright taller than the city gate.
The giant snake flicked its scarlet tongue, looked at the crying townspeople, and made no effort to hide its threatening intent.
Zhang Kui stopped, a fierce glow in his eyes.
"Old Demon, don't threaten me. If you dare do this today, I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth and slay you!"
"Hahaha..."
The giant snake hissed with laughter, "Stop wasting words, either you die, or the people of this city die!"
Then it began to slither towards Black Water City.
Just then, the sky above Black Water City suddenly became shrouded in sinister winds, ghostly aura abound, as a white-haired old woman slowly appeared atop the city wall, giggling:
"What are you trying to do in this old body's place, little snake?"
The giant snake immediately halted, uncertainty in its eyes, "Nine-Child Ghost Witch..."
Apparently, it had heard of this old woman's notorious reputation, its body curled into a defensive posture, slowly retreating.
Beside the Nine-Child Ghost Witch, the scholar Qin Yi walked out, fan in hand, smiling slightly:
"Brother Zhang is indeed extraordinary, to escape from a Grain Avoidance Realm Old Demon, but today, we cannot allow you into the city, lest the townsfolk be harmed, we ask for your understanding."
Zhang Kui laughed heartily,
"No need for your pretentiousness, this Old Demon can't do anything to me."
"Oh..."
The Nine-Child Ghost Witch seemed intrigued, laughed like a night owl: "This boy speaks boldly, yet it seems this little snake is quite laughable as well."
The scholar Qin Yi bowed and smiled:
"Senior Nine-Child's mana is profound, these petty demons are no match for you."
Zhang Kui sneered coldly, this scholar sure knows how to fan the flames.
Indeed, under everyone's gaze, the Snake Demon Chang San's face couldn't bear it, with a bang he revealed his form, face dark, said:
"Boy, today you must die!"
With that, he took out a stone bowl from his bosom, dripped in fresh blood, chanting incantations.
"Ancient Artifact?"
Above the city wall, the Nine-Child Ghost Witch paused, a glint of greed in her eyes, then shook her head helplessly.
Ancient Artifacts choose their owners, even if seized, they are likely unusable.
But Zhang Kui's heart sank.
The old weasel had said, Chang San's true specialty is that terrifying, invisible curse...