Chapter 478 - 283: Golden Armored Thunder Ape, the Marvel of the Escape Technique
Chapter 478: Chapter 283: Golden Armored Thunder Ape, the Marvel of the Escape Technique
Even though everyone had tried to evade it in advance, the coverage and aftershocks of the Thunder Spear were still terrifying!
SPURT!
"Argh!"
Several Late Stage Cultivators who were either too slow or too close to the explosion’s center were not hit directly, but they were still violently thrown back by the terrifying shockwave. They coughed up blood mid-air as their Protective Spiritual Light shattered in an instant. They had clearly suffered severe internal injuries, some even fainting on the spot.
Lin Changheng reacted with extreme speed, escaping farther than anyone else. Even while carrying someone, none of the other Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators could match his pace. The moment he touched the ground, he immediately activated his Earth Escape Demon Technique, enhanced by the Earth Control Demon Technique. He transformed into a streak of light and vanished underground, disappearing in a flash.
During the process, however, Lin Changheng still felt a searing wave of heat mixed with fine arcs of electricity strike him from behind. Fortunately, he had pushed his Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood to its absolute limit, causing his skin to glow with the luster of cyan jade, greatly enhancing his defense.
Even after taking the brunt of the impact head-on, his back only felt a little numb.
After tunneling for a mile or so, Lin Changheng was forced to resurface.
Mo Zhaoli didn’t know this skill and couldn’t withstand the immense pressure of the earth and rock for long.
They had to come out early.
After emerging, Lin Changheng couldn’t get his bearings, but as long as he knew which way the Beast Tide was, that was enough. He calmly took Mo Zhaoli and once again fled through the forest, heading away from the advancing horde.
Since everyone had been scattered, there was no need to regroup. When disaster strikes, it’s every man for himself.
As he fled, he glanced back. He couldn’t see the exact state of the massive, charred crater, but the exploding arcs of lightning and billowing smoke told him enough.
’So this is the power of a True Core!’ ’If we hadn’t made the split-second decision to scatter and flee, we would have been reduced to ashes just like that patch of land!’
Lin Changheng even saw the figure of a gray-robed cultivator who had just struggled to his feet before being swallowed by the Beast Tide.
Amidst the ceaseless thundering of hooves and roars, the faint sounds of cracking bones and agonized screams could be heard.
It was one of the Late Stage Cultivators who had politely refused Mo Zhaoli’s offer to exchange Essence Blood. Lin Changheng remembered him—the one with the gaunt, unsmiling face.
’And now... he had met such a tragic end.’
Lin Changheng didn’t stop. He and Mo Zhaoli flew onward together. He activated his Divine Light one last time to look at the two Tier Three Demon Beasts. They were still clashing, their battle shaking the earth with the force of a volcanic eruption. He took a long, hard look at the Golden Armored Thunder Ape in particular, committing it to memory before turning away and speeding off without a second glance.
This ape was an extremely rare Purebred Thunder Element Demon Beast.
Its bloodline was at least at the Nether Void Level, perhaps even higher!
It was far superior to a Five Elements Bloodline.
’If I could obtain this beast’s Essence Blood one day, would my Profound Root have a chance to undergo Metamorphosis?’
The thought flashed through Lin Changheng’s mind.
He had tried too many things, even using the Essence Blood of a Human Race Cultivator for his Primordial Cauldron to absorb. All his attempts to induce the Metamorphosis of his Profound Root beyond the Original Tenth Layer had failed.
This left Lin Changheng scratching his head in frustration.
He felt a sense of helplessness, as if he had run out of options.
This problem constantly weighed on his mind, a persistent knot he couldn’t solve or dispel.
Now, seeing this Golden Armored Thunder Ape, a thought suddenly and inexplicably surfaced in Lin Changheng’s mind...
’Perhaps the solution lies with this ape!’
It was a baseless guess, but Lin Changheng had a strong premonition, and the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
For someone who was practically drowning, who had tried every method without success, even a sudden flash of insight was a cause for excitement.
But now was not the time for contemplation. He activated his Concealing Breath Demon Technique and continued to streak through the air without pause.
After flying for a while, the sounds of Magical Combat between cultivators, mixed with the roars of Demon Beasts, drifted from the distance.
At that moment, Lin Changheng felt that learning all those Escape Techniques had not been a mistake.
’Survival skills really are the most important thing. Otherwise, if you get caught in a Beast Tide, all the powerful techniques in the world are useless.’
A hint of pity flashed across Mo Zhaoli’s face. She knew that if those unknown fellow sect members didn’t get help, they would surely die on the spot.
But her expression quickly hardened with resolve, and she left without another thought, determined to press on.
...
An unknown amount of time passed.
The commotion from the Beast Tide behind them seemed to have faded considerably. It was unclear whether they had simply fled too far and too fast, or if the tide itself was beginning to disperse.
But the suffocating sense of crisis, like a thorn in their backs, had indeed weakened a great deal.
Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli now stood atop a sand dune, looking out at the silhouette of the Golden Sand Marketplace in the desert. Bathed in the crimson sunset and the gilded reflection of the vast desert, it seemed both distant and reassuringly solid.
"We’re safe here."
Lin Changheng swept the area with his Divine Sense and discovered the Purple Extreme Sect’s border warning formations. He felt a sense of relief. These were warning measures put in place by the Purple Extreme Sect after the Cyan Mist Temple was severely damaged by a sudden Beast Tide two incidents ago.
They were meant to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
At the same time, it meant they had reached the territory of the Human Race and were no longer in the Endless Wilderness.
WHOOSH! Mo Zhaoli also let out a sigh of relief.
The two looked at each other’s disheveled state and couldn’t help but smile. Mo Zhaoli gently reached out and straightened Lin Changheng’s robes.
While they weren’t in tatters, they were certainly covered in dust and grime after being on the run for so long.
However, thanks to Lin Changheng’s Escape Technique, they hadn’t encountered any major dangers afterward, a stark contrast to the other cultivators who were constantly hounded by peril.
Lin Changheng even had a moment to take out the Lifebound Gu Insect that Ye Qingwu had handed over, just to see if she was still alive.
The nature of a lifebound connection was to flourish as one and perish as one.
If Ye Qingwu were to die, it would be impossible for the Lifebound Gu Insect to survive.
Fortunately, the Lifebound Gu Insect was lively and vigorous, showing no signs of weakening. It was clear that Ye Qingwu had also escaped danger and was unharmed.
’It seems this woman is quite capable after all,’ he thought. ’If I hadn’t acted swiftly and decisively to subdue her back then, and had instead allowed her to use her full arsenal of skills, it might have taken quite some effort to deal with her.’
"Let’s go to the Immortal Inn in the Marketplace to rest and recuperate."
Lin Changheng said with a smile. Fleeing for days on end had been exhausting. Although they had Elixirs to supplement their energy, their Magical Power and spiritual stamina were severely depleted and needed to be restored.
"Okay."
Mo Zhaoli nodded obediently.
The two stepped onto a Dharma Ship and flew toward the Marketplace. Along the way, Mo Zhaoli kept casting some kind of mark below them, intending to guide her fellow Purple Extreme Sect members to a rendezvous point.
"This is a no-fly zone, you..."
As they entered the Marketplace, they didn’t stop to land and enter through the bustling gates below like everyone else. Instead, they flew directly through a specific area in the Array Light Curtain above without pausing.
When a Cultivator on guard duty below noticed them, he frowned and shouted, attempting to stop this "unruly" behavior.
However, he had barely gotten the words out when an older, more sharp-eyed companion violently grabbed his arm and clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
The older cultivator hissed in a low, urgent voice, his eyes filled with lingering fear. "Look closely at the mark on their Dharma Ship! That belongs to a member of the Purple Extreme Sect! Half the rules in this Golden Sand Marketplace were set by them! Forget flying over, as long as they don’t tear down the Marketplace, who’s going to stop them?"
Hearing this, the young guard who had spoken earlier turned pale, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Only then did he notice the inconspicuous purple cloud marking on the side of the cyan Dharma Ship—a symbol of this region’s overlord.
He quickly fell silent and lowered his head, not daring to look again. He silently thanked his stars that his companion had reacted so quickly. If he had offended someone from the Purple Extreme Sect, his job as a guard would have been over.
Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli seemed oblivious to the small incident below as their Dharma Ship flew straight toward the core of the Marketplace.
After checking into separate rooms at the Immortal Inn, the exhausted Lin Changheng set up a protective Array, took a quick shower, and then fell onto the bed, instantly falling into a deep sleep.
He didn’t stir until the afternoon of the next day.
The first thing he did upon waking was, naturally, to begin the Metamorphosis.
The Metamorphosis of the Muddy Evil Level Profound Peak Vulture Treasure Seed!
The Insight Skill from this seed was incredibly useful. The Divine Light produced by the Three Techniques Combined could even scout a Clear Pill Level Demon Beast without being detected—it was remarkably mysterious.
During their escape, he had taken the opportunity to neatly slaughter an entire nest of Gold Element Profound Spirit Demon Beasts, which was how he had gathered enough Essence Blood.
BUZZ—
The Primordial Cauldron trembled.