In the sky, the gray octagonal diagram rapidly reversed, casting eight gray pillars of light that sealed off the area, obscuring the scene within.
Zhang Ling's face darkened as he realized this was likely a talisman formation—a rare technique that embedded formations within spiritual talismans, enabling the instantaneous deployment of their power.
"Your reaction is quick, but still a step too slow." An emotionless voice echoed from above the gray octagonal diagram. The masked cultivator had appeared there, looking down at Zhang Ling.
Simultaneously, the beautiful woman and the crimson monster revealed expressions of delight.
"Fellow Daoist Yan's methods are indeed superior, instantly trapping the two of them. Boy, your bad luck has arrived!" The crimson monster cackled, brandishing his long staff, sending a fiery red staff shadow sweeping toward Zhang Ling.
Zhang Ling's expressionless figure swayed, retreating over a hundred feet to evade the blow, and without looking back, he fled.
The crimson monster's eyes flashed with bloody light, transforming into a streak of fire to pursue him.
The masked cultivator intercepted him, saying, "Leave this one to me. You two take that wisp of wicked cloud and depart. This Mixed Spirit Octagonal Formation Talisman has some flaws in its creation; it won't be able to trap two Core Formation cultivators for long. If they entangle us, it will be difficult to escape."
After speaking, the masked cultivator enveloped himself in a gust of Yin wind and chased after Zhang Ling.
At the same time, the Blue Ghoul from White Crane Old Ghost's side transformed back into a blue mask and flew back into the masked cultivator's hand.
As for White Crane Old Ghost, he naturally noticed the situation here. His expression was extremely unpleasant, but after a moment's hesitation, he steered the white paper crane and flew in another direction, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
With the sudden change in circumstances, if he stayed, he might be besieged by three enemies. One of the enemies was a mid-Core Formation cultivator. As a mere early-Core Formation cultivator, he was willing to help but powerless to do so.
He could only leave first.
He naturally couldn't care about Celestial Wind Old Ancestor and Purple Cloud Old Daoist.
In a short while, White Crane Old Ghost had fled twenty or thirty miles. During his escape, he didn't sense any pursuers behind him. He couldn't help but expand his spiritual sense and scan behind him.
His expression then became strange, and he slightly slowed his escape, turning back to glance at the previous battlefield.
He sensed that only a gray octagonal formation diagram was left there, rotating forlornly in the air, making it impossible to see what was happening inside. But he could vaguely hear violent whistling winds and enormous flames within.
Although the gray octagonal formation diagram looked impressive, it flickered intermittently, becoming very unstable. Clearly, Celestial Wind Old Ancestor and Purple Cloud Old Daoist were breaking the formation from within.
There seemed to be no life-threatening danger.
In this light, the gray octagonal formation seemed to only have the effect of trapping enemies. After hesitating for a moment, White Crane Old Ghost returned.
The masked cultivator chased after that Zhang kid, and the remaining two enemies didn't pursue him.
The only possibility was that the gray octagonal formation couldn't trap two Core Formation cultivators for long. They didn't dare to delay too much, so they left in a hurry without pursuing him.
White Crane Old Ghost's face turned red and green, feeling like he had been tricked. He quickly returned to the battlefield and immediately began to cast spells to assist the two from the outside, attacking the gray octagonal diagram.
With his attacks, the gray octagon became even more unstable.
After a dozen or so breaths, with a loud bang, the octagonal diagram exploded. Celestial Wind Old Ancestor and Purple Cloud Old Daoist rushed out, covered in dust and dirt.
White Crane Old Ghost informed the two of the current situation, making Celestial Wind Old Ancestor's and Purple Cloud Old Daoist's expressions even more gloomy.
"Purple Cloud, I don't plan to pursue them anymore. Junior Brother Zhang was chased by that masked cultivator. I don't know how he is. I need to hurry over and see."
Celestial Wind Old Ancestor snorted, using his spiritual sense to sense a trace of Junior Brother Zhang's weak spiritual power fluctuations. He waved the jade talisman in his hand and, enveloped in white light, chased after him.
"These few alien demons are so cunning; we've suffered a hidden loss. Let's go over and see. We can't let Fellow Daoist Zhang also have an accident, or else the reputation of our three sects might be completely ruined." Purple Cloud Old Daoist looked at the direction Celestial Wind Old Ancestor left, his expression changing several times.
As he spoke, a yellow spiritual talisman appeared in his hand. He cast a spell on it, and the talisman released a cloud of yellow light, quickly writing out a small passage of text, which flickered a few times and then dissipated.
White Crane Old Ghost glanced at it and recognized the yellow spiritual talisman as a Thousand Mile Transmission Talisman, with the mark of Misty Cloud Immortal City on it.
Clearly, Purple Cloud had notified the Immortal City of their interception.
Perhaps the Immortal City elders who were rushing over here could still intercept the enemy. But this matter already had little to do with them.
The two smiled wryly at each other and chased after Celestial Wind Old Ancestor, heading towards Zhang Ling's location together.
...
In the sky, a yellow light and a gray light sped past, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye. The two chased and fled, crossing two or three thousand miles.
Suddenly, a cluster of dark green light flashed from the gray light, splitting into a dozen huge skulls, their speed suddenly increasing by more than double, charging towards the yellow light ahead with the sound of wailing ghosts.
Zhang Ling had no expression, only gently flicking his arm, several thick black vines wrapped around his body, like long whips, scattering the skulls.
He did not stop his escape. However, the scattered skulls did not dissipate but turned into a gust of Yin wind, instantly enveloping him in place.
The Yin wind surged, and ghost energy was dense.
The scene before him became extremely dim, and dense ghost shadows appeared, emitting strange sounds of crying and laughter. Countless ghost shadows pounced towards him.
These ghost sounds entered his ears, greatly affecting his mind.
"Profound Soul Ghost Sound."
Zhang Ling raised an eyebrow and instantly recognized this as a secret technique from the Netherworld King Manual, which had the effect of interfering with a cultivator's spiritual soul.
He immediately guarded his mind and let out a low shout, "Break!" He mobilized a portion of his spiritual sense power and used Soul Shattering Sound. An invisible shockwave erupted from his mouth.
The ghost shadows, still baring their fangs and claws, as if severely injured, turned into phantoms one by one in horror and fled in all directions.
Zhang Ling broke free and did not continue to flee. The Earth Yuan Gourd emerged, releasing a large cloud of Heavenly Star Sand to protect himself. Seven cyan-gold flying swords also flew out from his sleeves, spitting out beams of dazzling sword light.
He seemed ready to fight.
