Chapter 315: What a Rabbit
The spatial vibrations grew stronger and stronger.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen, who had already been severely injured, suddenly straightened his body. His eyes sharp and fixed on the charging Cao Lin, he swung his arm and slashed toward him.
His swing cut through the void, as if carrying no power at all.
Yet, the space in front of Cao Lin split open, forming a two-meter-long crack.
Space shattered. Within the crack was a chaotic void, erupting with a powerful suction force that emitted a "woo woo" sound.
The entire underground space became a scene of utter chaos.
That spatial rift became the center of the entire space, as if it would devour everything in the underground realm.
Seeing the torn space, Cao Lin's expression changed drastically. But he was charging forward at that moment and had no way to dodge.
"No... how could this be..."
"Chi!"
The spatial rift completely swallowed Cao Lin, leaving only his scream echoing.
The rift closed again.
"What a formidable old eunuch. Luckily, he let his guard down around me; otherwise, even a spatial rift might not have been able to harm him." Zhang Ruochen let out a long breath.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen had been preparing to use a spatial rift against Cao Lin all along. However, Cao Lin was extremely fast, and using the rift rashly might not have killed him.
So, he had to wait for an opportunity—a moment when Cao Lin had completely relaxed his vigilance.
Only then could he strike with certainty.
After killing Cao Lin, Zhang Ruochen felt no excitement. The battle with Cao Lin had only worsened his injuries.
Given his current physical state, it was hard enough to even move a finger, let alone jump into the underground river.
"There's a secret passage here leading underground. Zhang Ruochen must have escaped through it."
"Hurry, chase him!"
Voices came from nearby, clearly indicating that the Elephant Army had discovered the underground passage and was pursuing him from above.
"So what if I killed Cao Lin? I still can't escape."
Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth, struggling to control his body as he crawled toward the nearby underground river.
Even in the most desperate moments, one must never give up the will to survive.
"Squeak, squeak!"
A strange sound came from the stone stairs in the distance.
A bright red rabbit tumbled and scrambled down the stairs, as large as a small pig, revealing two snow-white buck teeth as it ran at lightning speed.
Seeing that rabbit, Zhang Ruochen was overjoyed and quickly called out, "Guoguo, over here..."
The fleeing Guoguo heard Zhang Ruochen's voice, immediately stopped, and looked over.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen lying on the ground, Guoguo's eyes widened. It rushed over, making "squeak squeak" sounds, as if asking why Zhang Ruochen was here and why he was lying on the ground.
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had given it the spirit flesh of the Black Wind Giant Serpent to eat, but he had forgotten that the energy of the spirit flesh was too violent. The icy power had frozen the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit, rendering it completely immobile.
That was why Chang Qiqi couldn't find it during the retreat and left it behind in the manor.
Only now had it digested the power of the spirit flesh and, following the group's aura, arrived at the underground river—only to encounter the severely injured Zhang Ruochen.
"Hurry up! Zhang Ruochen can't have gotten far."
"Lord Cao Lin has already gone after him. Zhang Ruochen might have been captured by now."
...
The voices from above the passage grew clearer, and it seemed they would soon reach the underground river.
"Guoguo, take me away from here quickly." Zhang Ruochen said.
Guoguo stared blankly with wide eyes, tugging at Zhang Ruochen's clothes, but it couldn't drag him.
Zhang Ruochen quickly said, "Take me away, and I'll give you endless good things to eat."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen mention "eating," Guoguo's spirits lifted. It grabbed Zhang Ruochen's body, hoisted him onto its shoulder, and with a "plop," jumped into the underground river, sinking to the bottom and swimming downstream.
Moments later, Jin Chuan and Guo Shisan led a group of Elephant Army soldiers to the bank of the underground river, but there was no trace of Zhang Ruochen or Cao Lin.
"They must have escaped through the underground river. Guo Shisan, take your men and continue the pursuit. We absolutely cannot let Zhang Ruochen get away like this. I'll return to report to the Young Master and the Commandery Prince."
After giving his orders, Jin Chuan turned back through the passage to the surface, heading toward the six-story tower in Death City.
Jin Chuan saw Di Yi sitting above him, immediately showed a respectful expression, knelt on the ground, and said cautiously, "Reporting to the Young Master, Zhang Ruochen and the inner palace students of the Martial Market Academy have escaped."
Jin Chuan had expected Di Yi to erupt in thunderous rage and was already prepared to be punished.
But to his surprise, upon hearing the report, Di Yi remained unusually calm and said flatly, "I was watching the battle against that Martial Market Academy student the whole time. His cultivation is formidable, and he prepared many methods. Even if he escaped, it's not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it's the Black Market's intelligence organization for their incompetence."
Sifang Commandery Prince stood to the side and asked, "What does the Young Master mean?"
"That Martial Market Academy student's strength is far beyond the top 100 of the Earth Ranking. He should be close to the level of the top 20."
Di Yi smiled and said, "I never expected the Demon Ridge to produce such a powerful expert. Impressive, truly impressive."
Sifang Commandery Prince flattered, "No matter how formidable Zhang Ruochen is, compared to the Young Master, he's still a world apart. Even Bu Qianfan, the number one on the Earth Ranking, can't withstand three moves from the Young Master. How could a mere Zhang Ruochen be a threat?"
Di Yi snorted coldly and said sternly, "Do you truly not regard the top 20 experts of the Earth Ranking as figures?"
"An expert like Zhang Ruochen appearing in the Martial Market Academy—do you know how great a threat that is to our Black Market? Let me make it clear: his threat is even greater than his master, Lei Jing. This man must die. Otherwise, once he grows up, he will surely become a scourge to our Black Market."
"Where is the Red Desire Star Envoy?"
A wisp of red mist flew through the void, coalescing in midair into the seductive, voluptuous figure of a woman.
The Red Desire Star Envoy hovered in the air, dressed in red, with strands of sinister mist swirling around her, making her appear dreamlike and illusory.
Di Yi said, "From now on, you will assist them in hunting down Zhang Ruochen. Remember, this man must die."
"Your subordinate understands." The Red Desire Star Envoy said.
After the Red Desire Star Envoy and Jin Chuan withdrew, Di Yi's gaze grew even deeper. "Purple Wind Star Envoy, pass the order. The situation has changed. Have the various Black Market forces prepare. Tonight, I will go to the underwater Dragon Palace to investigate."
The Purple Wind Star Envoy said with some concern, "Young Master, the underwater Dragon Palace is too dangerous. It would be better to send people to scout a few more times and find the path of life into the Dragon Palace before you go."
"We can't wait any longer. I have a feeling that the Martial Market Academy and the Moon-Worshipping Demon Sect have already caught wind of this and will soon send experts."
Di Yi said, "Besides, I'm only going to scout ahead. I don't necessarily have to force my way in right now."
"Your subordinate understands. I will now notify all forces to prepare."
With that, the Purple Wind Star Envoy also withdrew.
...
The death section of the Tongming River had water as black as ink, with extremely low transparency.
Moreover, the river water was bone-chillingly cold, making it impossible for ordinary barbarian beasts to survive in such waters.
But the barbarian beasts that could survive here were all extremely ferocious creatures.
"Splash!"
The once-calm river suddenly bubbled up with a massive water bubble.
A rabbit, carrying a man in armor, emerged from the water. Its eyes darted around, and upon seeing no enemies on the bank, it trudged ashore.
The other end of the underground river led to the death section of the Tongming River.
Reaching the shore and entering the forest, Zhang Ruochen immediately retracted the Flying Fish Armor, which turned back into a metal iron ball.
Then, Zhang Ruochen took a healing pill and began circulating his technique, using all his strength to neutralize the palm force of the Bone-Melting Yin Mian Palm.
About a quarter of an hour later, the spiritual fire true qi had cycled through nine major circuits in his body, almost completely neutralizing the palm force of the Bone-Melting Yin Mian Palm.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes and looked ahead. Before him was a chubby rabbit face.
Guoguo was staring at him intently. Seeing Zhang Ruochen awake, it immediately showed joy, extending its two small paws to beg for food.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "We're not in a safe place yet. The enemy could catch up at any moment. Although I've neutralized the palm force of the Bone-Melting Yin Mian Palm, my injuries haven't healed. I can probably only use twenty to thirty percent of my strength. Take me to a safe place, and I'll give you plenty of good things to eat."
Guoguo made "squeak squeak" sounds, as if asking where was safe.
Right!
The entire area around Death City was now filled with Black Market personnel. Where was safe?
Although Zhang Ruochen could hide inside the Time-Space Crystal, top experts who had cultivated a martial soul could track him down by the aura he left behind and find the Time-Space Crystal.
Could Zhang Ruochen hide in the Time-Space Crystal forever?
Besides, while the Time-Space Crystal was indestructible to ordinary martial artists, it might not be so to the top experts of the Black Market.
At least for now, Zhang Ruochen couldn't pin his hopes on the Time-Space Crystal. He had to find another safe place.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps the most dangerous place is the safest. Let's go to the death section of the Tongming River and enter the waters. That might be our only way out."
Zhang Ruochen chopped down a two-meter-thick ancient tree, hollowed out the middle, and made it into a ten-meter-long dugout canoe.
He placed the canoe in the water, then sat cross-legged at the bow to continue healing.
The death section of the Tongming River was like a vast lake, far larger than any ordinary lake. Stretching as far as the eye could see, it resembled an ocean, boundless and endless.
Guoguo stood at the stern of the canoe, holding a branch and paddling vigorously, sailing deeper into the Tongming River.
For the sake of the good food Zhang Ruochen had promised, this Swallowing Elephant Rabbit was giving it its all!