Using Conceal and Shadow and Mountain River Step, Lin Jichen successfully evaded Chu Tianhan's pursuit.
But he knew that Chu Tianhan would never give up so easily.
The most rational choice was to use a teleportation talisman to escape immediately. The current teleportation talismans were still quite overpowered; as long as one was out of combat, they could be used.
In the future, as the game updates, the teleportation talismans would gradually be weakened until they disappeared altogether.
These were originally game items designed to reduce players' travel time and accelerate their cultivation progress.
As the two worlds continued to merge, the teleportation talismans would gradually lose their effectiveness and eventually disappear.
In the future, the only way to travel would be through teleportation arrays.
But that was a matter for a few years down the line. Even if they were weakened, it wouldn't happen for another six months, so there was no need to worry for now.
Although he could use a teleportation talisman, Lin Jichen didn't want to leave just yet.
He hadn't completed his task. If he went back now, it would take several more days to return.
That would be a waste of time, and Lin Jichen didn't want to give up so easily.
So he continued on foot, trying not to use mana to avoid being detected by Chu Tianhan again.
This cowardly feeling made Lin Jichen very uncomfortable.
But there was no choice. With his Heaven-defying Fate talent, the cost of dying was too high.
Otherwise, Lin Jichen wouldn't need to be so cautious; at worst, he would just lose some cultivation.
Moreover, his early involvement in the NPCs' storyline had made his enemies exceptionally powerful.
While other players had no connection with NPCs, he had become a Sect Master's disciple early on and even gained Nangong Yue's high favor.
This triggered Chu Tianhan's jealousy, bringing a powerful rival upon himself.
These were things Lin Jichen hadn't anticipated.
But even if given another chance, he would still do the same.
High risk comes with high reward.
If he gave up opportunities out of fear of offending NPCs, his Dao Heart would collapse, shattering at the slightest touch.
A true Dao Heart requires unwavering determination. Even knowing the path ahead is fraught with difficulties and dangers, one must forge ahead, cutting through all obstacles.
Lin Jichen traversed the Hundred Thousand Mountains, deliberately choosing rugged, pathless areas.
While avoiding Chu Tianhan's search, he also tried to steer clear of the mountain beasts.
This path allowed him to steadily approach his destination, though much slower than before, but it was safer.
He looked quite disheveled by the end of the day, his face covered in grime, his clothes muddy, and his hair a mess, looking more like a refugee than a graceful young master.
But to complete his task and break through to the Golden Core Realm, he was willing to endure any hardship.
"Why does it feel so eerie?"
As Lin Jichen moved through a mountain stream, the surrounding silence and the cold air gave him a sudden shiver.
The sky was already darkening, and night was about to fall.
Without much thought, Lin Jichen decided to find a safe place to hide for the night.
There happened to be a stone cave in the mountain stream.
Lin Jichen immediately hid inside, releasing Panda Xiong to stand guard as he prepared to log off.
At that moment, Panda Xiong suddenly became alert, standing at the cave entrance, unwilling to go further.
Lin Jichen reacted instantly.
When he threw a light cocoon inside, the scene that unfolded made his scalp tingle.
The cave was filled with the blood and bones of beasts, with a Golden Core Realm tiger demon lying lifeless in the center.
A grotesque figure was feasting on the tiger demon's flesh, making satisfied sounds as it gnawed on the meat.
This 'person' resembled a beast more than a human, with twisted features, eyes without pupils, and serrated teeth dripping with blood and flesh.
Seeing this, Lin Jichen cursed his luck. He hadn't expected to encounter an evil demon here!
Yes, this humanoid monster was the same kind of evil demon Lin Jichen and Fang Qingzhu had previously encountered.
No wonder the area felt so eerie and lifeless; it turned out a monster from the Land of Sealing Demons was hiding here.
With a glance, Lin Jichen could tell from experience that this evil demon was in the early stage of the Gathering Spirit Realm.
Although this type of demon was a Gathering Spirit creature, Lin Jichen had recently broken through to the later stage of Crystal Formation, significantly boosting his strength, so he wasn't too afraid.
But he didn't want any complications.
Knowing that Chu Tianhan had tracking methods, he dared not use mana recklessly, lest he be discovered again.
Compared to Chu Tianhan's threat, this Gathering Spirit Realm demon was nothing.
Even though both the demon and Chu Tianhan were in the early stage of the Gathering Spirit Realm, Lin Jichen could confidently say that even a hundred of these demons couldn't match Chu Tianhan.
Lin Jichen quietly retreated, planning to leave while the demon was engrossed in its meal, taking Panda Xiong with him.
However, the light from the cocoon attracted the demon's attention.
When it saw a human cultivator and an Iron-Eating Beast at the entrance, it thought it had hit the jackpot, losing interest in the tiger demon's corpse.
Its pale eyes stared intently at the cave entrance, drool dripping from its mouth, filled with bloodthirsty desire.
Panda Xiong hid behind Lin Jichen, terrified of the monstrous creature, seeking its master's protection.
"Master, I'm scared~"
Lin Jichen, however, felt no fear. He had seen countless demons and ghosts far more terrifying in his past life; this was child's play to him.
It was just annoying to encounter an evil demon in such a crucial and sensitive moment.
But he knew that since he had been discovered, there was no running away. Without using mana, he couldn't outrun the demon.
The only option was to kill the demon and then make a quick escape.
"Stop hiding and help me deal with it."
Lin Jichen patted Panda Xiong's head, summoned the Dark Night Sword, and charged at the demon in the cave!
The demon let out a strange screech, releasing dozens of black fog clouds that surged toward Lin Jichen!
Lin Jichen remained calm, gripping his sword, and with a slash, the Dark Night Sword unleashed a burst of Sword Qi.
The Sword Qi collided with the black fog, creating a deafening explosion, splitting the fog in two.
As the fog parted, a terrifying ghost face lunged out, jaws wide open, aiming to bite Lin Jichen!
But Lin Jichen was faster, suddenly retreating, his sword dancing in the air, unleashing feather-like Sword Qi like the blades of Xing Tian, shooting out!
The ghost face, being too close, was hit by a barrage of feather Sword Qi.
[-5900! Crippled effect triggered!]
[Crippled: Any part can trigger a critical effect, lasting fifteen seconds.]
The demon let out a scream, the ghost face flying backward.
Lin Jichen finally obtained detailed information about the demon.