Chapter 36: Fleeing Desperately

Su Hao’s gaze swept over the information, only to recoil as if he had touched a scorching hot potato. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic rhythm that felt like a harbinger of the storm to come. This was far more than a mere clash of strength; it was a collision of intellect and will.

Ji Yuchen was the hegemon of this region of the evil cultivation world, possessing power that defied imagination. Su Hao knew well that to stand against him was to throw an egg against a rock. He immediately stowed his reconnaissance gear and sent a telepathic message to the nearby disciples of the Biluo Sect: "Emergency situation. We are retreating in the opposite direction immediately."

In the dead of night, Su Hao’s breathing grew heavy and rapid. As he transmitted the message, he gestured for them to move. His hand signals were etched with unquestionable resolve, yet they masked a hidden, heavy burden. Under the moonlight, tension and unease were etched onto every face, but none faltered. They knew that Su Hao was their leader—the lighthouse guiding them through the encroaching darkness.

"Retreat first! I will hold the rear. Remember, do not worry about me; only when you are safe will I be secure." Su Hao’s voice was low and resonant, each word striking their hearts like a heavy hammer. He understood that a true warrior does not blindly face every enemy, but rather assesses the situation to make the wisest choice.

The night remained profound, the wind carrying a biting chill as it brushed past their faces. Led by Biluo Chun, the team silently merged into the vast darkness, every step taken with caution and determination. This night was destined to be extraordinary. Su Hao felt that if he were to engage Ji Yuchen directly, he would surely be slaughtered on the spot. Realizing the vital importance of his reconnaissance gear, he immediately spent 800 Universe Coins to purchase a one-day usage license.

Eight hundred meters away, Ji Yuchen—the leader of this evil cultivation sector—remained in ambush. His gaze pierced the night, locked onto that insignificant marker like a cold, otherworldly spectator patiently waiting for his next prey to step into his hunting ground.

In this moment, so quiet that heartbeats could almost be heard, Ji Yuchen’s perception spread like an invisible net. He keenly caught six distinct auras—some strong, some weak—creeping along winding paths toward his position. He noted their light, cautious footsteps, yet they could not escape his sharp senses.

However, just as these auras drew near, almost within reach, a subtle shift occurred. The five auras in the front seemed to trigger some unknown alarm simultaneously; like a startled herd of deer, they abruptly retreated, moving with such speed they left only afterimages. Only one, a slightly stronger aura at the rear of the group, did not follow suit.

He paused, standing firm like a rock in a surging torrent, neither risking an advance nor immediately retreating. Instead, with extraordinary patience, he stood perfectly still. The cultivator wore a plain Daoist robe, his face hidden in the shadows of the night, save for eyes that flickered with occasional flashes of vigilance and resolve.

Su Hao remained motionless, seemingly blending into the night for a full half-hour. Only when he sensed that the Biluo Sect disciples had moved far away did he slowly turn. With almost imperceptible steps, he retreated until he vanished into the depths of the darkness.

A playful smile tugged at the corners of Ji Yuchen’s mouth; he had seen through it all. "Interesting. To be so alert... he is not a bone that will be easy to chew." He whispered to himself, his tone a mix of appreciation and challenge. He rose slowly, his movements possessing a calm, leisurely grace, as if every muscle in his body were savoring this moment of awakening. He stretched his limbs, his joints emitting faint but powerful cracks.

Soon, like a leopard poised to strike, he lunged at incredible speed toward another direction—the position of Su Hao.

On this dark, windy night, Su Hao’s perception was as keen as a hunting panther. He suddenly sensed the terrifying evil leader, Ji Yuchen, moving like a phantom through the dark. The man had finally lost patience, transforming into a bolt of black lightning, racing toward him with speed that seemed to tear through the air.

Su Hao’s heart sank, but years of cultivation experience allowed him to stay calm. Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and ran, the ground beneath his feet trembling under his frantic pace. Yet, his flight was not blind, nor was it toward the location of Biluo Chun and the others. Instead, he adjusted his trajectory, drawing this powerful enemy toward a more secluded area, far from his teammates, to ensure their safety.

The night was as thick as ink. Su Hao wove through the forest like a nimble fox, searching for the best escape route in the dark. He knew that Ji Yuchen’s strength was formidable; the consequences of a direct confrontation would be unthinkable. Thus, he could only rely on his familiarity with the terrain to delay, searching for a glimmer of opportunity to escape.

Shadows danced, the wind roared, and every breath Su Hao took was filled with tension and urgency. He could feel Ji Yuchen’s aura like an invisible, giant hand, steadily closing in and pressing against his nerves. Yet, Su Hao did not give up. Relying on his extraordinary perseverance and intelligence, he constantly changed directions, attempting to confuse his cold-blooded pursuer.

In this night filled with hidden perils, the chase between Su Hao and Ji Yuchen intensified. Every turn and every leap was fraught with the danger of life and death.

In the unfathomable darkness, Su Hao moved like a nimble nightingale through the dense woods. With an agility stat of 13, he relied on his superhuman speed and flexibility to narrowly evade the traps and dangers of the night. However, even with his best efforts, his advantage paled in comparison to Ji Yuchen’s agility stat of 21.

Ji Yuchen, the evil leader, was like an elegant, cold-blooded leopard, displaying astonishing speed and endurance. His stride was steady and powerful, each leap seemingly covering dozens of feet, closing the gap between them. Though he was not rushing, the invisible pressure was like a web, binding Su Hao and making escape seem impossible.

Su Hao’s breathing grew ragged and heavy. He could clearly feel Ji Yuchen’s presence closing in behind him; every heartbeat felt like a race against death. He kept changing direction, trying to use the complex terrain and the cover of darkness to buy a chance for survival. But no matter how he struggled, that terrifying sense of oppression remained like a shadow.

In the darkness-shrouded forest, the chase grew more intense. Su Hao leaped through the shadows, each move filled with the thrill of survival. Ji Yuchen, like an elegant hunter, pursued without haste, cold light flashing in his eyes as if he already held Su Hao’s fate firmly in his grasp. Su Hao’s heart was filled with despair and unwillingness, yet he did not yield. He kept telling himself that as long as there was a shred of hope, he could not give up. In the dangerous night, he poured all his strength into running toward the unknown, searching for a ray of light in the despair.

In the deep, dark night, Ji Yuchen was like a cold, elegant feline hunter, savoring this game of cat and mouse. Each pursuit was accompanied by a playful, cruel smile, as if he were admiring the beauty of his prey’s desperate, dying struggle.

"This little mouse ahead is really quite good at running," Ji Yuchen’s voice was low and magnetic, yet filled with undeniable mockery and contempt. His eyes were like two sharp, cold beams, locked tightly onto the fleeing figure ahead—Su Hao, a prey who was insignificant in his eyes, yet unexpectedly tenacious.

"Judging by his speed, he must have the strength of the mid-Stage of Golden Core. However, before me, Ji Yuchen, he is nothing more than a slightly sturdier little mouse."

Ji Yuchen’s lips curled into a smug smile. He did not rush, instead maintaining a leisurely, graceful pace, as if enjoying the pleasure of the hunt. Su Hao wove through the woods, every leap filled with despair and persistence. He could clearly feel Ji Yuchen’s aura like an invisible net closing in. Still, he did not stop. He knew that to stop meant death. Thus, he could only exhaust his every ounce of strength, running toward the unknown, seeking a sliver of life.

Excitement flickered in Ji Yuchen’s eyes; he could almost see the moment Su Hao would collapse from exhaustion and beg for mercy. He reveled in this pleasure of pursuit and conquest, as if it were an innate instinct and joy.

"I wonder how long you can run," Ji Yuchen’s voice echoed in the night sky, carrying a cold, unquestionable majesty. His figure was like a ghost in the dark, closing in on Su Hao, as if to swallow him whole into the abyss.

The contest between Su Hao and Ji Yuchen was not just a battle of speed and strength, but of will and determination. As Ji Yuchen pressed closer, Su Hao’s fate became increasingly precarious. Su Hao could clearly feel that with every rapid breath, his stamina was slipping away like sand in an hourglass. He knew that if this continued, he would eventually exhaust his final ounce of strength and become a soul under Ji Yuchen’s claws.

At this critical juncture of life and death, a flash of resolve crossed Su Hao’s eyes. He realized that only by fighting to the death might he win a glimmer of a chance. He looked around; the dense forest was like an unknown maze, hiding countless possibilities and dangers. Su Hao calculated in his heart: since escape seemed hopeless, he would seize the moment while he still had strength to launch a surprise attack on this powerful enemy.

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes burning with unprecedented determination. However, no sooner had this thought emerged than another crossed his mind—returning to the Universe Environmental Protection Agency. It was a safe, distant haven, a place he had longed to return to countless times. But the thought of the five innocent disciples of the Biluo Sect facing unprecedented danger pierced his heart like a thousand arrows. He knew he could not just walk away; for their safety, he had to grit his teeth and continue to stall for time.

Su Hao took a deep breath of the freezing air, temporarily suppressing the fear and exhaustion in his heart.