The owner of the black claws turned out to be a giant black rat walking upright.

It was eight feet tall, with short, stout limbs, sharp black claws gleaming with a metallic luster, bulging chest muscles, and eyes blood red, ready to devour.

"You... ugh!" Zhang Zhiqiang sighed hopelessly and fell, coughing up blood.

Another member of the Corpse-Driving Sect had perished!

"Spirit Pet, Earth Escape?" Du Xing's expression was rather grim.

He wasn't unaware of the sect's information about the earth-escaping spirit pet but assumed its realm was in the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, completely dismissing it.

Of course, even if Du Xing had been cautious of underground threats, there was nothing he could do against such a well-prepared ambush.

"Hehe, to prevent you from noticing, I had the spirit pet dig a tunnel ten feet deep and buried the magical artifact there.

Once you arrive, it rises at the right moment, and even a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator would hardly detect it!" The black-robed evil cultivator sneered, "Especially you, a martial artist. Even if your spiritual sense is extraordinary, how could you discover an ambush ten feet below?"

Lou Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.

By now, he could confirm that the previously deceased evil cultivator was bait released by this guy.

The purpose was to observe the tactics of him and his companions.

Now daring to appear, he probably thought he had fully understood the group and held the winning ticket.

Lou Yi had first killed Yang Haiying because she was an Earth Element Cultivator and might have a way to counteract the earth-escaping spirit pet.

What a cautious strategist, truly too damn cautious.

Lou Yi felt a deepened awareness of the harsh reality of martial contests in the Cultivation Realm.

And at that moment, Du Xing took action.

'Whoosh!'

A red light flew out of his sleeve, rapidly shooting towards the distant evil cultivator.

The evil cultivator dared not be careless against the powerful Flying Sword attack, manipulating a black nail to block it.

'Bang!'

The two collided hard, a thunderous explosion resounding in the air as red and black halos intertwined, sending countless white airwaves scattering from the collision.

"Ugh!"

Du Xing's face turned pale, and he spat a mouthful of fresh blood.

Clearly, he was at a complete disadvantage in the clash just now.

Yet, his face still showed defiance, roaring angrily, "Despicable evil cultivator!

Junior Brother Lou, Junior Sister You, let's fight him together to avenge Fellow Daoist Yang and the others!"

He continued to throw a talisman paper into the air, transforming into a massive gray Qi Arrow, flying forward.

The black-robed evil cultivator raised a hand to control the Child and Mother Magical Artifact to intercept while quickly dodging to the side.

But then, a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.

It turned out that after making his fierce declaration, Du Xing unexpectedly left his comrades behind without hesitation and turned to flee!

Realizing he wasn't a match for the evil cultivator, he decisively made the decision to run.

Du Xing even extravagantly stuck green Divine Movement Talismans on both legs, significantly boosting his speed, vanishing from sight in an instant.

"Can you escape?" The black-robed evil cultivator sneered, turning his gaze towards Lou Yi and You Qingyi.

He naturally understood Du Xing's intention was to use Lou Yi and You to hold him back, giving himself a greater chance of survival.

Shameless, yet effective.

However, how long could these fledglings hold him off?

Wait!

The black-robed evil cultivator watched in shock and anger as Lou Yi swiftly embraced You Qingyi, lifting her onto his shoulder.

Then, with a powerful stomp on the ground, leaving a deep pit, his body shot off like a cannonball into the distance, moving even faster than the fleeing Du Xing!

"Where do you think you're going?" The black-robed evil cultivator raged, pursuing relentlessly from behind.

These orthodox sect members, why have they become so slippery?

'Swish!'

A black nail was controlled by the evil cultivator, harshly shooting toward Lou Yi's back!

Behind him, Lou Yi seemed to have eyes on his back, swinging an axe to precisely knock the black nail away.

But his brow furrowed; the axe forged from meteorite iron now had a missing corner.

The magical artifact used by a Late-stage Qi Refiner was indeed extraordinary, capable of damaging meteorite iron.

The reason Lou Yi fled without looking back.

Was because the opponent had clearly plotted for a long time, taking advantage of having a plan when there was none, and was also a late-stage Qi Cultivator; there was no need for him to wade into this muddy water.

"You can't escape!" The black-robed evil cultivator's malicious voice faintly came from behind.

Above, several black nail artifacts closely followed, like the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead, ready to strike at any moment.

'Can't escape.'

After running for a while, Lou Yi made the judgment and stopped in his tracks, putting You Qingyi down, telling her, "You go first; I'll hold him off."

With her nearby, it was cumbersome, and there were some trump cards he preferred fewer people to witness.

You Qingyi, having been carried on Lou Yi's shoulder, was already dizzy.

Hearing Lou Yi's "You go first," she was stunned, turning sharply to look at him.

At that moment, scattered sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on Lou Yi.

It made him appear as if bathed in golden light, exuding a 'sacred' aura.

'He's risking his life for me!' You Qingyi felt shock; an unprecedented sensation welled up inside her.

She thought of her cold family, the various schemes, her strict father, and the heavy burden of family revival pressing on her.

These seemed trivial after hearing 'You go first.'

"Hurry up and go!" Lou Yi said impatiently.

That You Qingyi, normally so keen, why was she dawdling now?

Yet the more impatient he became, the more You Qingyi felt like crying.

"I'll stay with you..."

"You can't, doing so is seeking death!" Lou Yi said sharply, "Hurry now!"

You Qingyi's eyes reddened.

She suppressed the urge to cry, took a long look at Lou Yi as if to memorize him forever, then decisively ran away.

"You wish to leave?" The evil cultivator's sneer echoed in the forest.

The Mouse Demon suddenly emerged from the ground ahead of You Qingyi, sending large clumps of dirt flying.

It swung its claws, preparing to attack.

But a substantial white air pillar already spanned the distance, striking it harshly.

Making it stumble, nearly falling.

"Roar!" The Mouse Demon roared in rage, its beastly nature flaring; it abandoned its pursuit of You Qingyi, instead charging at Lou Yi.

Two sharp black claws flashed with a metallic luster.

Lou Yi didn't concede, swinging his axe at it.

'Clang clang clang!'

'Bang bang bang!'

Their fierce clash echoed, clear metal-on-metal strikes, sparks flying.

"Oh, it's unexpectedly a rare Martial Arts Grandmaster?" The black-robed evil cultivator appeared from behind.

But he didn't approach, maintaining a safe distance from Lou Yi, a guarded look in his eyes.

Though he generally looked down on martial artists, he knew of their close-quarters strength.

It's not uncommon in the Cultivation Realm for cultivators to be overturned by a martial artist at close range.

...

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