The Dark Soul Mountain Range teemed with poisonous insects and demonic beasts; even a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator at their peak would be in danger if they ventured in rashly.
Much less someone like him, who only possessed the realm without its full power.
For now, all he could do was watch Xu Chuan flee into the mountains.
He cautiously followed behind, exploring the path forward.
Relying on the system, Xu Chuan dodged powerful demonic beasts and escaped to a hidden location, where he began cultivating to recover his vital energy.
He appeared exceptionally disheveled, completely depleted of vital energy, and his stamina severely overdrawn, forcing him to stop and rest.
His ability to escape from the hands of a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator was entirely thanks to the support of the Xuan Yang Jue.
Otherwise, any other Mortal Transformation Realm martial cultivator would have long since been caught by the Chen family's Old Ancestor.
An hour later.
Xu Chuan finally recovered, his vital energy replenished.
"I can't keep running like this; I'll definitely be caught."
The Chen family's Old Ancestor would absolutely not let him go; that was a certainty.
As time passed, other Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators in Lin'an County would undoubtedly receive the news and come to hunt him down.
At that point, Xu Chuan's situation would become extremely difficult, an uphill battle at every step.
To escape, he first had to deal with the Chen family's Old Ancestor behind him.
After his assessment.
The Chen family's Old Ancestor was already at the end of his rope.
And with the Heaven-grade treasure blade, the God Slaying Saber, in his possession, a surprise attack might just allow him to counter-kill him.
Instantly, a plan formed in Xu Chuan's mind.
He then deliberately revealed himself to the Chen family's Old Ancestor, choosing an ideal location for an ambush, and luring the Old Ancestor to chase him there.
As expected, the Chen family's Old Ancestor took the bait.
Not long after Xu Chuan had set up his ambush, the Old Ancestor caught up to him in this mountain hollow.
"This brat must be nearby; this time, I won't let him escape no matter what."
The Chen family's Old Ancestor said with a grim expression and began searching the area for Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan suppressed his aura to the extreme. While not as effective as a Jade Talisman, it wasn't easy to detect him either.
Several times, the Chen family's Old Ancestor passed right by Xu Chuan's hiding spot, yet he didn't discover Xu Chuan, who was hidden underground.
Xu Chuan did not make his move.
He was waiting for the Chen family's Old Ancestor to completely let down his guard.
Only then could he achieve a swift and decisive kill, leaving no loose ends.
Otherwise, if the Old Ancestor were to react, Xu Chuan would have nowhere to die.
"Where did this brat hide? His aura just vanished here; he must be around, I shouldn't be unable to find him!"
"Don't let me find you, or I will tear you into a thousand pieces and refine your soul!"
The Chen family's Old Ancestor stood on the ground where Xu Chuan was hidden, his face ashen and filled with rage.
He was already on the verge of decay, and after such a long pursuit, his vitality had further weakened.
He could not even maintain his realm, and was just a sliver away from falling back to the Mortal Transformation Realm.
He could not accept such a drastic decline.
At this moment, he desperately needed Spirit Crystals to break through his cultivation and cleanse his frail body.
Otherwise, only death awaited him.
It was precisely for this reason that he was so eager to capture Xu Chuan.
The more he couldn't find Xu Chuan, the more anxious the Chen family's Old Ancestor became.
He was so focused on catching Xu Chuan that he even neglected his own defenses.
However…
Despite all his calculations, he never dreamed that Xu Chuan would be hiding underground.
"Now!"
"Old ghost, die!"
Having awakened the seed of his Martial Dao True Soul, Xu Chuan's spiritual sense was extremely powerful. He had long since pinpointed the Chen family's Old Ancestor's location.
When the Old Ancestor stopped directly above him, Xu Chuan's God Slaying Saber erupted with a blinding blade light and burst from the earth with a roar.
No escape!
The strongest move of the Heaven-grade martial skill, the God Slaying Saber Technique, displayed astonishing power under Xu Chuan's full exertion.
*Chh!*
The God Slaying Saber directly slashed from the Chen family's Old Ancestor's crotch, passing through his posterior, cleaving his lower body in two. The Great Sun Vital Energy, killing intent, and malevolent aura erupted violently within the Chen family's Old Ancestor's abdominal cavity.
"Ah…!"
The Chen family's Old Ancestor let out a heaven-shaking scream, his bright red blood staining a patch of grass.
"Spare my life, I promise, I will never hunt you again!"
"I can give you everything the Chen family has!"
Under the threat of death, the Chen family's Old Ancestor finally showed fear.
He incessantly begged Xu Chuan for mercy.
Xu Chuan would not give him this chance.
Besides, once he was dead, wouldn't his possessions still be his?
"Fist Dominates the World!"
Xu Chuan's fist smashed towards the Chen family's Old Ancestor's remains. His fist, enveloped in Great Sun Vital Energy, unleashed a powerful attack.
*Boom!*
With just one punch!
The Chen family's Old Ancestor was directly blown to pieces, his flesh and blood scattering!
Until his death, he could not understand why a Martial Cultivator at the second level of the Mortal Transformation Realm could unleash such power.
With one saber strike and one punch, Xu Chuan swiftly killed the Chen family's Old Ancestor and finally relaxed.
He plopped down on the ground, unmindful of the scattered flesh and blood, panting heavily. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Indeed, the power of a Heaven-grade weapon is not to be underestimated."
Looking at the corpse of the Chen family's Old Ancestor, Xu Chuan couldn't help but sigh.
However, while the power was immense, the consumption was also enormous.
That one strike had completely drained him.
If it were another cultivator at the second level of the Mortal Transformation Realm using it, let alone performing the saber technique, they might have been directly drained to death.
After recovering, Xu Chuan scooped up the Chen family's Old Ancestor's storage ring and fled.
Now was not the time to relax.
Lin'an County City did not have only one Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator; others were surely on their way.
The other Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators were not like the Chen family's Old Ancestor, who was on the verge of decay.
If he lingered any longer, he might face several Spirit Transformation Realm martial cultivators in their prime.
At that point, it would truly be a situation of no escape, heaven or earth.
After all, he did not have a protector by his side at this moment, only a pile of contingency plans left by his protectors.
But he couldn't always rely on others; the path of martial arts was his own, and he had to walk it himself!
…
As Xu Chuan had expected.
Several hours after he left the area.
Several men and women of various attire appeared at the scene.
Seeing the Chen family's Old Ancestor's dismembered corpse on the ground, they were all stunned, a chill piercing their hearts.
Their faces were filled with disbelief.
"This is the Chen family's Old Ancestor; a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator was actually killed here, and the perpetrator was so ruthless."
Looking at the tragic state of the Chen family's Old Ancestor, they dared not act rashly.
They were merely ordinary cultivators at the first level of the Mortal Transformation Realm, the vanguards sent by their respective factions.
Even the Chen family's Old Ancestor had been slain; what hope did they have?
They cautiously followed the trail left by Xu Chuan.
They were extremely vigilant along the way.
Fearing that Xu Chuan might suddenly appear and kill them directly.
Although the Heaven-grade treasure saber and Spirit Crystals were enticing.
They had to be alive to obtain them.
Hadn't they seen the Chen family's Old Ancestor fall into a ditch?
They didn't want to die like him; they were still young and had bright futures.
There was no need to fight to the death for something they were destined not to obtain.
They all knew clearly that from beginning to end, they were merely pawns for those powerful figures!
But there was no choice; everything was for survival.