Under the series of fireball explosions, the vegetation within a hundred feet was reduced to ashes, and debris near the high temperatures burned fiercely, instantly filling the air with smoke and dust.
Shen Wang took advantage of the chaos and dashed into the forest, disappearing from sight in an instant.
He knew that with the speed of his pursuers, they could easily catch up, so he had to find a way to stall them.
Moreover, after the last pursuit by the people of the Black Water Stronghold, Shen Wang knew he had to erase his traces to temporarily shake off Ge Changzhuang.
He was already prepared, occasionally sticking a Talisman on the way, then using Sword Flight.
While moving might be agile, touching the vegetation could easily leave traces. Sword Flight allowed him to pass through the air without leaving any scent or trace.
He didn’t believe his pursuers’ senses could compare to a dog nor was he afraid of them flying. In this forest, he was more familiar with the terrain than they were.
Behind him, Ge Changzhuang was chasing like a gust of wind.
But he hadn’t pursued far when he instinctively sensed danger.
Ahead, a ball of fire suddenly lit up, and Ge Changzhuang glimpsed the source, a Detonator Talisman unleashing its destructive power.
Obviously, the opponent had calculated that he’d pass through there at that exact moment. Even if he were on alert, he couldn’t completely evade it.
An explosion ten times larger than a Fireball Talisman erupted, and amid the deafening noise, a large pit appeared in place, the vegetation within a hundred feet reduced to ashes.
The explosion engulfed Ge Changzhuang instantly, and with a muffled grunt, he was blown backward. The Protective True Essence over his body almost shattered, and at the crucial moment, his belt released a golden light, blocking the impact and saving him from injury.
But the unexpected explosion left his ears ringing and his chest tight. It took him a while to catch his breath.
"Damn, even Detonator Talismans now."
He tapped the ground a few times, dodging away from the explosion area and looked at the empty space ahead, his expression changing.
Releasing True Essence formed a whirlwind, and he tapped a few spots in midair, briefly soaring forward to quickly locate Shen Wang.
At that moment, a Detonator Talisman appeared on a tree ahead and exploded as he passed.
Ge Changzhuang realized he was outsmarted again. Shen Wang seemed to anticipate he’d rise to look for tracks, intentionally leaving a Detonator Talisman up high, disrupting his pursuit once more.
After this explosion, uncertain if there were more Detonator Talismans ahead, he felt uneasy. He was already unsure where Shen Wang had run off to when he continued the chase.
Ge Changzhuang waved out a piece of Cyan Leaf, which quickly enlarged into a three-foot-long special Magical Artifact.
He stepped onto it, and the leaf, catching a breeze, propelled him quickly into the sky.
Not being a Cultivator, he wasn’t adept at Sword Flight and could only use Flying Magical Artifacts to lift off. His speed was considerably slower, and even with a broad view once elevated, he couldn’t locate Shen Wang.
His expression fluctuated as he said, "This kid is really slippery. Without so many Talismans, how could he have escaped?"
Muttering a few curses, he turned back for Fengming Mountain.
Shen Wang escaped solo, having brought no one along. Ge Changzhuang didn’t believe he had a Magical Treasure capable of carrying people; the person they wanted was surely still in place.
Flying back to Fengming Mountain, he saw Grave Mountain from afar, faintly sensing a strange and chilling aura.
Recalling some legends, he frowned as he descended.
"Hmph, he even crafted Detonator Talismans, throwing Talismans as if they cost nothing. How to chase?" Ge Changzhuang snorted.
"No wonder I heard two booms. So it was Detonator Talismans."
Yun Conghui frowned, "This kid does have some talent with Talismans. If not for Miss Ling Shu’s matter, I’d certainly want to recruit him."
"What’s the point of saying that now? You can only choose one between Miss Ling Shu and him, and this outsider can only be given up."
Ge Changzhuang snorted, "I don’t know what he ran out to do, just keep guarding the Paper Kite."
"Probably went to buy an Array or to fetch reinforcements, but the Shen Family can’t help him; likely, he’s buying an Array."
Yun Conghui didn’t pursue, as he’d thought through Shen Wang’s motives.
"Then he’s bound to return. We must capture him, just the two of us."
Ge Changzhuang gritted his teeth, "Can’t give him another chance."
Yun Conghui nodded, "He goes to buy an Array; we can set up a temporary Array here as well."
"I forgot you’re with the Chamber of Commerce; lots of good stuff."
Ge Changzhuang glanced at the latter and then toward Grave Mountain, "I heard the Shen Family’s Grave Mountain is ominous. The Shen Family was forced to move; could anything odd happen at night?"
"You and I both practice Thunder Attribute Cultivation Methods, which are most effective against Demons and Ghosts. We aren’t afraid."
Yun Conghui didn’t mind, "The strongest Shen Family members are only at our realm, and any evil presence probably won’t be too frightening."
He took out several Array Flags, "Shen Wang thinks he’s the only one with Arrays, but we have them too. If we can’t catch him, we can always spend more resources to break his Array with Arrays."
"Sending you was the right decision. I don’t have so many things."
Ge Changzhuang nodded and began setting up with Yun Conghui.
Running for a while and hiding occasionally in the forest, Shen Wang noted that Ge Changzhuang hadn’t pursued and felt a bit frustrated.
Was that guy really so dismissive of him, only caring about the Paper Kite?
"I must return quickly to avoid any mishaps."
Shen Wang accelerated, heading toward the Lingxi Sect Market, the largest sect in Xi Province with relatively abundant resources.
An hour later, he reached Xijiang again. After entering the market, he started purchasing supplies, buying Spirit Rice enough to last two years, various herbs, and then more seeds before heading into a Lingxi Sect shop to purchase Arrays.
When he mentioned higher-grade Arrays, the shopkeeper serving him gave Shen Wang a deep look, "Dear guest, Arrays of this level cannot be sold casually. It’s not just about money.
As you know, Top-grade Arrays can trap, kill, and resist Golden Core level threats. Their cost is high, and their power is great. Even if we wanted to sell them, they cannot be sold casually. You must discuss with the sect’s Elders to possibly obtain permission first."
"Then a Middle-Level Array will do."
Shen Wang felt helpless; Top-grade Arrays were akin to controlled items. Unless he had enough cultivation or status, it was normal for them not to sell it to someone of his current standing.
"We do have Middle-Grade Arrays, mainly Five Elements Single Attribute Arrays, priced between one thousand and three thousand, with comprehensive ones generally above five thousand. Have you prepared enough Spirit Stones?"
The shopkeeper was somewhat dubious if this mysterious person could bring out so many Spirit Stones.
"Introduce them to me."
Shen Wang instinctively touched his Storage Pouch; he planned to buy two sets of Arrays if possible, or one comprehensive Middle-Grade Array to have some confidence in resisting a Golden Core level attack.
"Alright, please follow me."
The shopkeeper led the way,
A stick of incense later, Shen Wang, cloaked, walked out of the store, exhaling deeply.
"Buying Arrays is expensive, I’ve spent everything I’ve got inside. I hope it can hold."
Shen Wang glanced around, melting into the crowd, deliberately taking a roundabout path in the market and eventually staying in an inn, then used a Fake Body Talisman to slip away.