บท 99: Failing to steal the chicken, but losing the rice instead
Western Desert, Qiu clan's territory
Four immortals were following Bao Zhi's tail, soon to catch up with him.
"Are you sure we have the right person?" The most senior among them asked. "The person ahead does not match what you described." He added after cancelling his investigative killer move.
"There is no mistake, brother. I have left a mark on his soul in Tian Qucheng blessed land. I could tell him apart from a million others." He affirmed. "It has to be that cheat who took my immortal essence stones!"
The two other gu immortals didn't comment, their methods seemed insufficient to glimpse anything of this person.
"If anything, even if he appears different now, isn't that also very suspicious?" The wronged immortal continued. "I remember it clearly, he said he wanted to take part in the soul beast tide. It was all a lie! Look, we are already in Qiu clan's territory, far from the soul beast tide's path."
The other two gu immortals cast glances at the one who just spoke, making him regret he said the last part.
"It isn't surprising. I wouldn't risk my life in the soul beast tide if the spoils of Tian Qucheng blessed land were mine." The rank seven among them mediated.
The other three nodded in agreement.
"His good fortune will turn into our good fortune."
The four of them wouldn't be here, especially at the time of the soul beast tide, looking for Bao Zhi, if they didn't hope to gain more than they otherwise would.
"We are getting closer. Start to activate our killer move." Their leader made the call.
The four gu immortals activated their gu worms in unison.
The aura of the three rank six and one rank seven mixed together.
A move they practiced and used hundreds of times before. They were very proficient in their cooperation.
Immortal Killer Move — Four-Sided Soul Cage!
A cage formed of purple qi appeared above the gu immortals. Four chains hung from its four corners, each connecting to one of the four immortals.
"Go." Their rank seven leader pointed into the distance.
The chains fastened as the four-sided soul cage shot forward like a purple chariot.
Bao Zhi had a baleful premonition. His human qi was stirred by the distant action, warning him of the imminent danger.
But his attackers were outside of his detection range, Bao Zhi didn't know what kind of threat he was facing at the moment.
"I was still discovered with Concealed Human Qi activated?" Bao Zhi immediately knew he was facing someone formidable to have discovered him.
He changed his route and activated his own techniques.
Bao Zhi was only a false immortal with a stolen aperture origin core. If it came to a head on confrontation, he could not sustain it with just his own essence.
He started to convert some of the immortal essence stones to immortal essence, ready to be used by immortal gu.
Whoosh!
The four-sided soul cage flew by at a very fast speed. It arrived Just where Bao Zhi would have been, had he not changed direction.
"It missed?" The rank seven gu immortal was stunned by the failure of their surprise attack. "The cage went right through him."
"Brother, what are you doing! He is not there. Let me control the cage!"
"What an interesting method." The rank seven gu immortal let go of his control.
Under the guiding of the soul mark, the four-sided soul cage charged after Bao Zhi's true location.
"!!!" Bao Zhi's deception has proven ineffective, he could only change his tactics.
Bao Zhi struggled to dodge the soul cage, he used his offensive methods to gain some distance.
But the soul cage had top tier rank seven power, it was unaffected.
The four gu immortals closed the distance by half in the meanwhile.
"He is very slippery." One of the rank six gu immortals complained.
Each time used, the Four-Sided Soul Cage killer move expended immortal essence rapidly. It was a technique designed to capture soul beasts, which were larger and less nimble, all in one go.
"Don't worry. He won't be able to escape now."
Combination Move — Soul Suction!
Fwoop!
Bao Zhi suddenly felt a great pulling force with no strength to resist. At the next moment he found himself inside the soul cage.
The loose chains tightened in the immortals' hands, reeling in their catch.
"We did it! We've struck it rich!"
"Even if we can only extort a portion. It was well worth it."
Their faces were covered with congratulatory smiles.
So what if they lost some immortal essence, it would be replenished over time.
But immortal resources were even more valuable.
Refining gu, developing the immortal aperture, trading; It had many more uses.
"Huh?"
Bao Zhi's figure flickered and disappeared from the cage!
Immortal Killer Move — Hole Earth Movement!
"He even has a space path technique?!"
"There!" The soul mark revealed Bao Zhi's new location.
The movement technique he activated used the space path Hole Earth immortal gu as its core.
Due to Bao Zhi's lacking space path attainment, the killer move could not take full advantage of the immortal gu's power, it could only transport him to a short distance of a hundred li.
The four gu immortals cursed.
"Chase him!"
"Don't let him escape!"
A game of cat and mouse ensued.
Bao Zhi got captured multiple times by the Four-Sided Soul Cage, but it couldn't contain him for long. He was escaping even faster than the first time.
But the repeated use of Hole Earth immortal gu started to cut into Bao Zhi's finances as he urgently had to convert immortal essence stones into immortal essence.
It was a huge waste to rely on immortal essence stones to be able to use immortal gu, but he had no other options to evade capture.
Running was futile, the soul cage was faster than Bao Zhi, but the pursuers also couldn't get the upper hand and keep him inside.
It was a stalemate.
The four immortals had invested too much to let Bao Zhi go. Only by capturing him could they recoup the losses.
Dealing With Bao Zhi turned out to be far more troublesome than they estimated.
"Brother, I know you have a battlefield killer move. How much time do you need?"
"The setup is almost complete. Once my battlefield killer move is activated, the space outside and inside will be separated. He will have no choice but to give up any hope of escaping!"
"Once it is activated, we can stop the Four-Sided Soul Cage and use our own methods." One of them remarked with anticipation in his voice.
"It will turn into a four versus one battle. Even if he struggles to the bitter end, we will put him down and simply loot his blessed land."
The gu immortals' sentiments were turning darker by the moment as Bao Zhi continued to incur a drop in their precious immortal essence reserves.
Darkness!
Bao Zhi's vision was obscured when he escaped the soul cage this time.
He found himself inside a soul path battlefield killer move.
The four gu immortals surrounded him, their killer moves ready to strike if they deemed necessary.
"We have finally caught you, thief of Tian Qucheng."
"Inside this battlefield killer move we have the absolute advantage. Surrender at once if you know what's good for you." A rank six gu immortal spoke.
Bao Zhi silently observed the four of them, neither admitting nor denying any wrongdoing.
It was true, this battlefield killer move created a temporary soul path environment, letting soul path gu immortals enjoy an advantage here.
"Return all of your wrongful gains and we will let bygones be bygones." They urged.
"So this is it. I seem to have garnered some reputation after Tian Qucheng's fall." Bao Zhi thought. "Or rather, some had gambled more than they were willing to lose." He recognized one of the gu immortals from when they played star skipping.
Despite the threats, Bao Zhi greeted them cordially, as if they weren't his captors but equal parties.
"We haven't had the chance. I'm Xin Cheng. Pleased to meet you, friends." Bao Zhi said.
"Cut the cra-" The familiar looking gu immortal sneered, but got interrupted.
"I'm Tang Si Yuan." The rank seven gu immortal cupped his fist. "Forgive my little brother's temper. He was very eager to see you again so we could exchange pointers as fellow soul beast hunters."
"Do not do anything unnecessary. This is different from soul beast hunting. If he cooperates, it is for the best, don't antagonize him anymore." Tang Si Yuan transmitted to Tang Si Yao in secret.
"Oh! I understand. Hehehe. The only thing he can hide behind now is an act of cordiality. Now that we have cornered him, this is his only way to avoid a fight to the death." Tang Si Yao realized.
Tang Si Yuan introduced this group of soul beast hunters he lead, they had some limited fame due to Tang Si Yuan's Four-Sided Soul Cage, but there were many more prominent hunter groups.
The two sides continued to exchange pleasantries.
If someone joined this conversation at this moment, it would seem as if the two sides had nothing but respect for the other.
The rules of the righteous path were on full display in their manners.
"So brother Xin Cheng." Tang Si Yuan changed the topic. "It was our shared fortune to meet each other here, but now the time of parting has come. I assure you, we will treasure every trace of this encounter in our hearts." He smiled meaningfully.
"Oh I agree, I agree. But, please say, how fortunate are we exactly?"
The four immortal rubbed their palms mentally. This was the moment they waited for.
Tang Si Yao took over and started to list their demands, starting with his immortal essence stones he lost to Bao Zhi.
What would his expression be like if he knew, those same immortal essence stones were the ones Bao Zhi had to use during his escape?
Just as he was in the middle or recounting the different immortal resources Tian Qucheng produced, he stopped abruptly.
"What's wrong brother?" Tang Si Yuan transmitted.
"I think, he is not here." Tang Si Yao replied, looking left and right in alarm.
He could feel the soul mark gaining distance!
"Is that everything?" Bao Zhi raised an eyebrow.
The three others glanced at Tang Si Yao with curious gazes, before looking at Bao Zhi right before them.
What is he talking about, how could he be not here?
Tang Si Yao struck Bao Zhi's smiling figure in disbelief.
But this attack slipped through the perfectly life-like man before them, hitting thin air.
Bao Zhi was indeed not there!
"???" All four of them were puzzled.
Rightly so, Bao Zhi was one step faster.
Before they realized, he had already activated his escape technique.
Immortal Killer Move — Hole Earth Movement!
Whoosh!
Bao Zhi had disappeared, leaving behind only a false perception of his presence.
So what if he was outnumbered four to one?
So what if this battlefield killer move boosted soul path?
So what if the inside and the outside were cut off?
Hole Earth Immortal gu's power could even connect through the walls of rank eight grotto heavens!
Connecting two locations was Hole Earth immortal gu's specialty.
Bao Zhi had been stranded in Xu Lian blessed land without a way out, having to plan his escape long and hard.
He had seen the might of the Soul Taker Battlefield created by the founder of soul path, the young Spectral Soul himself.
With these experiences, how could Bao Zhi, whose specialty was movement techniques even in his first life, let this flawed imitation of a battlefield killer move trap him?
He stayed inside only as long as he wanted to!
The four gu immortals got the short end of their own scheme.
Battlefield killer moves were known to take a long time to set up and deactivate compared to other killer moves.
So at this point, they could not leave even if they wanted to!
"Curse you Xin Cheng!" Tang Si Yao fumed, he suffered the biggest overall loss among the four of them.
But Tang Si Yuan knew better, quickly readjusting his mindset.
As a rank seven gu immortal, he knew when to cut losses. Even if they chased after Bao Zhi and caught him again, then what?
Without capturing Bao Zhi and ensuring him a way out, no sane person would willingly leave gains for his killer. Tang Si Yuan knew, Bao Zhi would likely destroy everything he had if he couldn't live.
"Everyone, it was my mistake. My battlefield killer move is still lacking, it can trap a group of ancient desolate soul beasts with rank seven strength, but the comprehensive effect is still lacking."
"Boss, in my opinion it wasn't your fault. We let our guards down and let him sweet talk his way." Naturally, his underlings had to agree.
Could they have escaped if they were in Bao Zhi's place? Hardly. They have assumed no other rank six gu immortal would be any different either.
"Let's just return to honest-to-goodness soul beast hunting. Less scheming, more fighting."
The two others didn't voice it before Tang Si Yuan, but in their minds they could only blame Tang Si Yao's greed for dragging the whole hunting group into this mess.
Chasing after Bao Zhi was simply inviting further humiliation.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Tang Si Yuan suffered an intense backlash and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Boss!"
"What's wrong brother?"
At the next moment, a large hole appeared on the battlefield killer move before it completely broke apart.
"Qiu clan!" They immediately realized who attacked the weaker outside of the battlefield killer move.
"How did we not have enough time to leave?! Qiu clan arrived so quickly!" Tang Si Yuan was dumbfounded.
But Qiu clan's second supreme elder stood in the air with an immortal gu house menacingly floating next to him.
"You are violating my Qiu clan's territory!" The harsh voice boomed.
Tang Si Yuan knelt in surrender. They could not afford to offend a proper clan, like Qiu clan, as a group of lone immortals
Tang Si Yuan calmed himself. Already having an explanation for the disturbance they caused, he raised his head to speak.
"Eeek!" But the words stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.
The reason was simple.
Tang Si Yuan noticed Bao Zhi stepping out of the immortal gu house.
* * * * *
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