Chapter 155: Void Cloud

Li Ting cried out anxiously in her heart, "Zhao Feng, do not sleep!"

Zhao Feng felt as though his eyelids were locked in a fierce battle.

His eyes fluttered open and closed, on the verge of shutting completely.

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed in Zhao Feng's mind.

"Boom!!"

Within the depths of Zhao Feng's consciousness, the figure of a woman in white materialized.

That figure possessed an unmatched, peerless grace—truly a wondrous woman of this world!

Zhao Feng stared in a daze at the figure, murmuring, "Sen-, Senior Sister..."

The woman slowly turned around, yet her features remained utterly blurred. It was as though a veil of mist shrouded her face; no matter how hard Zhao Feng tried, he could not make out her features.

The woman spoke slowly, "Xiao Feng, when you trigger this spiritual projection, it means you have encountered a dire crisis!"

"Senior Sister has left three spiritual projections within your body, which can protect you from death three times!"

The woman pressed her red lips together. "Xiao Feng..."

It seemed she had more to say, but in the end, it faded into a lingering sigh.

Finally, the image vanished.

"Hum!!"

Zhao Feng felt a surge of energy flood every corner of his spiritual soul.

That energy felt like the purest dew of the heavens, a single drop of which could grant ultimate liberation.

In an instant, Zhao Feng felt his spiritual soul brimming with vitality.

However, Zhao Feng felt anything but happy.

He muttered, "Senior Sister, why wouldn't you let me come with you?!"

Meanwhile, in the outside world.

Li Ting was facing a grave crisis.

"Clang, clang, clang!!"

"Swish, swish, swish!!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!"

"Tap, tap, tap!!"

Griping a dagger in her hand, Li Ting parried the arrows raining down from the air.

Yet her parrying speed simply could not keep pace with Li Guang's archery.

Wielding a longbow, Li Guang loosed three arrows at a time, each shot terrifyingly fast and accurate.

Li Ting gritted her teeth. "Zhao Feng, you damned idiot! You've already recovered—are you just going to stand by and watch me die?"

Yet, at this moment, Zhao Feng was still lost in sentimental melancholy.

Li Ting's face turned dark and ashen.

It was not from the fatigue of battling Li Guang, but from pure anger at Zhao Feng.

Even so, despite the perilous battle against Li Guang, knowing that Zhao Feng had recovered gave her inner confidence, chasing away her fear.

Still, there was no telling when this fellow Zhao Feng would snap out of it, so she could not pin all her hopes entirely on him.

"Flee!!"

With that thought, Li Ting stopped tangling with Li Guang.

She threw a feint, spun around, and bolted.

"Bound, bound, bound!!!"

Li Ting leaped forward with incredible agility, fleeing toward the east.

Suddenly, the terrain ahead began to rise.

Li Ting knew this meant she was approaching a mountain range.

Li Ting halted her run and glared darkly ahead. "A mountain range has appeared in front of me. How much further must I run?"

She glanced back to see Li Guang bounding after her at a leisurely, unhurried pace.

Li Ting took a deep breath and fished a small medicine vial from her bosom.

She uncapped it and poured out a yellow pill.

"Hah!"

Li Ting let out a soft breath. "This precious Great Yellow Pill was given to me by my father! I really hate to take this!"

"Gulp!!"

She tossed it straight into her mouth and swallowed it whole.

Rubbing her lower abdomen, she felt a warm current spreading outward. The weak martial qi throughout her body surged with fullness once again.

Her gaze hardened with resilience.

"Boom!!"

Holding her breath and bending her knees, she sprang upward into the air like a giant grasshopper.

"Bound, bound, bound!!"

Li Ting continued her desperate escape eastward.

"Coo!"

"Coo, coo, coo!"

The calls of turtledoves echoed all around.

Li Ting had fled deep into the primeval mountains and ancient forests.

By now, pitch-dark shadows surrounded her on all sides, exuding a gloomy and eerie chill.

She ran for who knows how long.

Eventually, Li Ting could no longer sense Li Guang's presence.

"Phew!"

Exhaling deeply, Li Ting decided to rest here for a moment.

"Hah!"

Wiping her brow, she slowly sat down with her back against a massive tree.

Suddenly.

"Crack!"

The sound of a snapping tree branch rang out.

Startled, Li Ting leaped to her feet in an instant.

"Who's there??"

Yet, not a single figure was in sight.

"Li Guang, I know it's you! Come out! I'm not afraid of you!"

In truth, Li Ting was already at the end of her tether.

Pills like the Great Yellow Pill could only stimulate a person's potential; they could not truly heal injuries.

Especially for martial artists, physical injuries demanded quiet recuperation.

However, the surroundings remained devoid of any human presence.

Li Ting frowned.

She took a step forward.

Just as her foot lifted and remained suspended in mid-air.

Suddenly, a palm patted her shoulder.

"Ah!!"

Li Ting shrieked in terror.

"Boom!!"

Throwing her elbow backward, she struck out fiercely behind her.

However, a pair of withered, twig-like hands effortlessly neutralized her martial force.

Taking advantage of the opening, Li Ting leaped far away.

As she whipped around to face her attacker, she froze in astonishment.

It was an emaciated, twig-thin elderly monk holding a lantern, half-hidden in the shadows. With his long hair and long beard, his features were obscured from view.

Li Ting asked in surprise, "Who are you??"

"Ahem! Ahem, ahem!"

The old monk coughed a few times and replied evasively, "Patron, what are you doing up the mountain in the middle of the night?"

Li Ting frowned. "I am fleeing from my enemies!"

The old monk nodded silently without speaking.

Li Ting stared closely at the old monk, confirming that he posed no threat. Moreover, she could sense no martial qi from him, which allowed her to relax considerably.

Taking a deep breath, she cupped her fists and asked, "Master, what place is this?"

The old monk chuckled softly. "Mount Huangbo!"

"Oh!"

Li Ting nodded and asked, "What is further to the east?"

The old monk smiled and said, "Still Mount Huangbo!"

Li Ting furrowed her brow.

She glanced toward the east, turned around, and prepared to resume her flight.

"Patron, wait a moment!"

Li Ting spun back. "What is it?"

The old monk smiled cheerfully. "Since the patron has nowhere to go, why not come to my humble abode and rest?"

Li Ting shook her head.

"Why not?" the old monk asked with a smile.

Li Ting took a deep breath. "I am still fleeing for my life and cannot stay long!"

The old monk shook his head with a smile. "Rest assured, Patron, here, no one can threaten your safety!"

Li Ting frowned, thinking the old monk was just boasting. But when she caught a glimpse of his face, a sudden urge of obedience rose within her.

It was a face beyond description.

The old monk had long hair and a long beard.

His facial features looked as though they had been chiseled by a blade—peculiar in shape, yet leaving one with the distinct feeling that they ought to look precisely that way. He looked like a bodhisattva descended to the mortal realm, manifesting and appearing in accordance with affinities.

Frowning in thought, Li Ting said, "Very well, I shall trust you, Master! May I ask your name?"

"Xuyun."

The elderly monk softly uttered the three syllables, then turned and walked away.

Li Ting hurried to follow.

The two of them continued walking deeper into the ancient mountain forest.

After walking for an indeterminate time, a cave appeared before them.

Inside the cave flickered a campfire, casting dancing shadows of light and dark.

Elder Xuyun walked straight into the cave.

Li Ting followed him inside.

The interior of the cave was extremely spartan, furnished with nothing more than a straw meditation mat and a campfire. There was literally nothing else.