One strike was effective.
The necromancy magic taught by Electrolux, although it manifested in this world like spirit rings, was not influenced by spirit power; it depended more on Lin Xiao's mental strength.
Lin Xiao knew Nangong Wan's personality well. With a raise of his hand, he unleashed Withering Technique and Fear Technique simultaneously. That sensation of spirit power being ignited was amplified by the Fear Technique, instantly preventing Nangong Wan from continuing his pursuit.
In reality, after some time, Nangong Wan would naturally discover that although his spirit power had been consumed considerably, it was impossible to truly burn away the spirit power of a Titled Douluo completely.
Unfortunately, by the time he recovered, Lin Xiao would long be gone.
Glancing back at the distant ball of firelight, Lin Xiao tapped his long staff again. A black shadow suddenly appeared; it looked somewhat like a beetle at first glance, yet it differed from ordinary beetles or typical spirit beasts.
As soon as the beetle emerged, a buzzing sound from the vibration of thin wings rang out of nowhere. A mass of black mist burst from its body, rising and enveloping Ma Xiaotao.
Only then did Lin Xiao turn around, increasing his speed further. With a twist of his body, the light from his soul guided thrusters on his back instantly extinguished as he plunged into the darkness and vanished completely.
"You can't continue heading east. The people from Mingdu can guess you're from Shrek Academy, so they'll naturally search eastward. I'll take you around Mingdu to the west, and then you'll head north all the way, taking a sea route through the port into the Heavenly Soul Empire."
Landing back on the ground, Lin Xiao gently released his hold, but his feet didn't stop. A light tap of his toes propelled him a great distance forward.
Traveling through the air was too conspicuous. After all, there weren't that many illumination soul guides outside Mingdu; concealing oneself on the ground was far easier.
"If news of this incident spreads and they investigate too strictly, follow the coastline all the way to the vicinity of the Extreme North Land, then enter the Heavenly Soul Empire's territory. Few people venture there, so there won't be many watching."
After speaking, Lin Xiao didn't wait for Zhang Lexuan's response. He followed the shadows on the ground, heading northwest.
Zhang Lexuan said nothing, only following closely behind Lin Xiao, occasionally looking up at him.
Only now did she realize that it wasn't just in terms of strength, even in simple travel like this, as the eldest senior sister of Shrek Academy's inner courtyard, she was struggling to keep up with Lin Xiao's pace.
Moreover, not only that—the martial soul Lin Xiao had just released...
"Additionally—" Lin Xiao suddenly spoke, interrupting Zhang Lexuan's thoughts.
"I won't tell anyone else."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao paused for a moment but still said, "Thank you."
With that, silence fell between them once more.
Zhang Lexuan gazed at Lin Xiao's back. She opened her mouth but didn't say a word, only lowering her head slightly to follow behind him.
When she had gone to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, she might have harbored a faint hope of seeing Lin Xiao again. But now that he was right in front of her, she didn't know what to say.
Lin Xiao was equally silent. He knew too many things, events that had already happened, those yet to occur, ones he had experienced, or those he hadn't witnessed firsthand...
But precisely because he knew too much, he didn't know what words to say to this proud daughter of heaven from Shrek Academy.
Perhaps that was why, when returning to the academy and seeing that solitary waiting figure, he had hesitated to appear.
Though much slower than flying, both were at the eight-ring level after all. Soon, the surroundings were no longer the previous scenery but an endless stretch of mountains.
Halfway through, there were no longer any traces of others around. Only then did Lin Xiao gradually slow down. Surveying the area, his brows furrowed slightly.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Lexuan stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Xiao. Catching her breath, she noticed his expression and asked again.
"Nothing." Lin Xiao shook his head, straightening up to gaze at the scenery ahead. "I just miscalculated the distance. I didn't expect that after all this detour, we'd end up back here."
"If... you come to the Sun Moon Empire again in the future, remember to stay far away from this place. It's very dangerous here."
"Dangerous?" Zhang Lexuan looked up toward the front upon hearing this. The area was surrounded by continuous mountains, with a clear lake encircled by a valley.
The lake had no visible outlet or source; it seemed formed from accumulated rainwater.
There was no moonlight tonight. The mirror-like lake surface reflected the stars in the night sky, twinkling and beautiful. No matter how one looked at it, it didn't match the danger Lin Xiao described.
Lin Xiao could probably guess what Zhang Lexuan was thinking. In fact, not just her, even he, on his first visit here, wouldn't have imagined this was the foremost of the Douluo Continent's three great blessed lands.
When no ritual was being performed, this place was indeed calm, with nice scenery. But no one could guarantee an accidental intrusion wouldn't trigger some change.
"Something's wrong, leave here quickly!"
Just as Lin Xiao and Zhang Lexuan silently gazed at the lake before them, Electrolux's voice suddenly rang out from deep within Lin Xiao's mind.
Lin Xiao's expression changed drastically. He did not doubt Electrolux's words. Turning around, he pulled Zhang Lexuan into his embrace without hesitation. Ignoring everything else, light flashed on his left leg, the soul guide thrusters on his back ignited, and he even unleashed the power of space that he hadn't fully mastered yet.
In almost the blink of an eye, his figure left its original spot, appearing on a farther mountain peak.
But he was fast; something was faster than his movements.
On the calm lake surface, the originally scattered points of light grew increasingly bright, soon covering the entire lake. Silver light filled the body of water, as if a bright moon was rising from within this valley.
A dazzling light suddenly flared behind Lin Xiao, completely engulfing him. He only felt his body lighten before his consciousness vanished into that light as well.
In that instant, a question suddenly arose in his mind.
Had he returned here after all this wandering simply because he miscalculated the distance and arrived by coincidence, or had something unknowingly drawn him here?
But his doubt was destined to go unanswered.
When Lin Xiao regained consciousness, all he saw was a vast expanse of white, nothing else. No sound, no sensation of air.
Looking down slightly, he was still in the same attire, but upon careful sensing, it didn't feel like his own body. His entire form seemed immersed in warm water, somewhat similar to when he absorbed the Gold of Living Creatures, yet far gentler.
Doubts assaulted him one after another.
Without a doubt, a power capable of making even Electrolux cry out in surprise, one against which he had no resistance, not even detecting the process of that light swallowing him, was no ordinary force.
Perhaps he had encountered the situation he least wanted to face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)