Chapter 340 - 328: Capturing the Enemy in the Mountains
Chapter 340: Chapter 328: Capturing the Enemy in the Mountains
Following the scent, Zhao Lin tracked his target all the way to the foot of Baiyan Mountain.
The bug-eyed man had a small bird with him, so Zhao Lin didn’t dare get too close. He could only observe from the cover of the distant jungle.
’So many caves... this is going to be tricky.’
Zhao Lin frowned. ’I’m unfamiliar with the terrain. I can’t just barge into a cave to capture him.’
Most bandit cultivators carried escape talismans. Even in a direct confrontation, success wasn’t guaranteed. The previous Void Trapping Skill was a perfect example.
’The best way is to launch a surprise attack the moment he leaves his cave.’
’But what about that little bird?’
Zhao Lin was certain the reconnaissance bird was hiding nearby. The moment he revealed himself, the bird would alert the bug-eyed cultivator.
’I have to take that bird out first!’
Although he didn’t know where it was hidden, that wasn’t a problem for Zhao Lin. He quietly retreated some distance, searched the woods for a while, and caught a beast that looked like a cross between a wolf and a jackal, knocking it half to death with a single punch.
Returning to the front of the mountain, he forcefully threw the beast onto the slope, where it landed with a dull thud.
The beast immediately came to, struggled to its feet, and let out a low whimper.
CHIRP! CHIRP!
A small black and yellow bird flew out from a tall tree on the north side of Baiyan Mountain. It wheeled in the air, chirped twice, and flew toward one of the caves.
SHIING!
A cold glint flashed, and the bird fell to the ground.
Zhao Lin emerged from the woods and stealthily climbed toward the summit.
From the summit, he would have a panoramic view. No matter which cave entrance the bug-eyed cultivator emerged from, he would be ready.
Reaching the peak, he sent out ultrasonic waves in all directions.
The ultrasonic waves entered dozens of caves. After countless refractions, only a small portion returned to him.
This gave Zhao Lin a rough understanding of the situation inside.
As expected, the cave system was extremely complex, winding and twisting, with many of the caves interconnected.
Fighting a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in such an environment would be suicide.
Zhao Lin sat down cross-legged and began to wait patiently.
Time passed. Just as dusk settled, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from a cave on the western slope...
Song the Third, carrying three storage bags, slowly walked toward the cave entrance.
’Being forced to leave after only half a year is a bit frustrating. Fortunately, my storage bags are filled with Spirit Stones and Spirit Rice, enough to last for a long time.’
’As for the future—whether I should find people to establish a new base or seek refuge with Loose Cultivators in an outer sect—I’ll just have to take it one step at a time.’
He didn’t dare go out during the day. For one, he was worried that Zhao Lin hadn’t given up and was still searching for him outside.
On the other hand, traveling with three storage bags was too conspicuous and would easily make him a target for robbery.
It wasn’t until dusk that Song the Third finally made his move.
He reached the cave mouth but didn’t exit directly. Instead, he whistled.
’What’s going on? Why isn’t Little Yellow responding?’
Song the Third whistled a few more times, but when the bird didn’t respond, he couldn’t help but frown.
Years as a bandit cultivator had instilled in him a cautious nature. He wouldn’t go out unless he was certain it was safe.
At that moment, Zhao Lin was hanging upside down from the rock face above the cave, just like a bat.
Hearing the whistle, he knew the bandit cultivator was testing the waters. He had no good way to respond, so he could only hold his breath and remain completely silent.
Song the Third waited for a while, then turned around and went back the way he came. He crossed through the heart of the mountain, walked several hundred paces, and arrived at another cave entrance, where he whistled again.
Still no response.
’What’s going on? Did a hawk get it?’
Song the Third muttered to himself, unable to figure out what had happened, and turned to go back again...
An hour passed. Song the Third had tirelessly switched between seven different cave entrances.
Zhao Lin was extremely patient, following him and changing positions each time.
’A good hunter must be good at waiting. The more he acts like this, the more it proves the time is near.’
Late in the night, Song the Third finally lost his patience.
’If I keep waiting, I probably won’t be able to leave by dawn, and then I’ll be stuck here for another day.’
Song the Third released his Divine Sense and detected no movement outside. He finally made up his mind.
However, he didn’t exit the cave directly. Instead, he first tossed out a storage bag.
THUMP. The storage bag landed on the slope and rolled down.
Zhao Lin was very familiar with this kind of trick and remained completely still.
Inside the cave, Song the Third took a deep breath and leaped out.
Seeing him finally emerge, Zhao Lin kicked off with both legs, swooping down from the cliff face at high speed and landing directly in front of the cave entrance.
Song the Third whipped his head around in shock. In the darkness, he saw a tall figure holding an iron ruler. It was Zhao Lin. He was dumbfounded.
’How did he find this place?’
’Why did he know I would come out of this entrance?’
Questions flooded Song the Third’s mind, but he had no time to ponder them. He dropped the two storage bags in his hands and bolted for another cave entrance ten zhang away.
Zhao Lin’s figure blurred as he shot forward, his speed far surpassing that of Song the Third, who was using the Divine Movement Skill.
Seeing Zhao Lin close in from the side like a lightning bolt, Song the Third knew he would block the entrance before he could get in. He immediately spun around and ran toward a different cave entrance.
But when he turned, he saw dozens of air vortexes arranged in a fan shape, closing in on him from three sides.
"The Void Trapping Skill!"
Song the Third couldn’t believe his eyes.
A moment ago, Zhao Lin had cast a Magic spell behind him. Song the Third had sensed the Mana fluctuations and assumed it was an attack spell, preparing to defend with his Spiritual Energy Shield. He never expected it to be this particular spell.
A chill ran down Song the Third’s spine. ’This is just too damn strange!’
’I just used a talisman to activate the Void Trapping Skill this afternoon, and now Zhao Lin is using it tonight.’
’Although the Void Trapping Skill in front of me should be at the Minor Achievement Level, it’s still enough to tie me down.’
At this critical moment, Song the Third flicked his sleeve, sending out a talisman, and quickly slapped it.
With a "BANG," the talisman suddenly exploded, releasing a vast cloud of thick, black smoke.
In an instant, the area for dozens of zhang around was shrouded in pitch-black darkness, so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. The air also grew viscous.
This talisman was called the Concealment Talisman, also known as the Inkfish Talisman.
Once activated, it was like the ink released by a fleeing cuttlefish. It not only blocked sight and sound but could also interfere with one’s Divine Sense, creating an opportunity for a cultivator to escape.
After releasing the Concealment Talisman, Song the Third charged headfirst into the Void Trapping Skill. He immediately felt an extremely powerful pulling force on his body.
’Thank goodness it’s just the Minor Achievement Level Void Trapping Skill. If it were the Mastery level, I’d be a goner today.’
Song the Third used every ounce of his strength to break free from the air vortexes. Not daring to pause for even a second, he navigated by memory and ran toward one of the caves.
Under the cover of the Concealment Skill, he wasn’t worried that Zhao Lin could find him.
’Once I’m inside the cave, it’ll be my domain.’
’If that kid dares to follow me, I can turn the tables and win, thanks to my higher cultivation and familiarity with the terrain.’
Just as Song the Third was congratulating himself on his luck, he suddenly heard a vicious gust of wind by his ear. Before he could react, an excruciating pain shot through his back, and he lost consciousness.
With a "THUD," he fell stiffly to the ground.