"Now!"

Xu Changshou drew a Wall-Piercing Talisman, slapped it against his chest, and phased directly through the walls, vanishing from the auction hall.

"Hm?"

In the brief moment Mo Futu's attention wavered, he attempted to lock his spiritual sense back onto Xu Changshou, only to find the target completely gone.

"Where did this brat flee?"

Mo Futu swept his Divine Sense across the hall time and time again, only to realize with sinking dismay that Xu Changshou had truly vanished without a trace.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, what's the matter?"

He Shuixiu looked at him and asked with a smile.

"Nothing!" Mo Futu shook his head in frustration.

He Shuixiu pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but smile, understanding that Xu Changshou had slipped away right under Mo Futu's nose.

A flicker of surprise passed through He Shuixiu's eyes. That kid possessed some true skill, actually managing to escape from under the nose of a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Emerging from the solid stone, Xu Changshou found himself on the bustling main street. Without hesitation, he activated an Invisibility Talisman, fading from view.

Concealed from the naked eye, he chained his Wall-Piercing Talismans, phasing through multiple structures and crossing several streets in rapid succession.

To ensure absolute safety, Xu Changshou changed his robes mid-stride, shedding his disguise to momentarily reveal his true features before morphing his visage into that of a burly, red-faced man.

To evade the deadly pursuit of a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, Xu Changshou exhausted every trick in his arsenal.

In truth, the only reason Xu Changshou dared to compete with Mo Futu was because he held his own trump cards.

He held an array of life-saving methods: Invisibility Talismans, Wall-Piercing Talismans, Flight Talismans capable of traversing five thousand li a day, and a supreme art that allowed him to instantly alter his soul signature.

Without such trump cards, Xu Changshou would never have dared to court death by provoking a Foundation Establishment master.

Free from the auction hall, Xu Changshou dared not linger.

He immediately slapped a three-thousand-li Windwalk Talisman onto his leg, rushing frantically toward Pingyang Market.

He dared not board a flying carriage, fearing the myriad eyes of the crowd might see through his facade.

In truth, his caution was excessive. With his soul signature completely altered, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even an eccentric Nascent Soul old monster would fail to recognize him.

Ten days later, the silhouette of Pingyang Market appeared in the distance.

Thoroughly exhausted, Xu Changshou intended to recuperate within its walls.

Traveling ceaselessly for ten days and nights, even with the aid of Windwalk Talismans, had heavily drained his True Essence.

"Swoosh!"

Suddenly, a golden flying boat streaked across the firmament. Standing upon the deck was a young man drenched in blood. Xu Changshou narrowed his eyes, his heart violently clenching—the young man was none other than Li Linhao.

What calamity had befallen Pingyang Market? Why was Li Linhao fleeing for his life? And where was Yang Jieyuan, who had been traveling by his side?

Countless thoughts flashed through Xu Changshou’s mind as an ominous premonition washed over him. Something terrifying had undoubtedly transpired at Pingyang Market.

"Should I investigate? No, it's better to take a detour!"

Filled with trepidation, Xu Changshou cast a final glance at Pingyang Market and decisively chose the longer route.

Behind the market loomed a massive mountain, and beyond it laid a hidden valley threaded by a secluded trail. This path also led to the Green Immortal Sect, though the journey would be considerably longer.

Safety above all else.

He would take the hidden trail.

Xu Changshou pivoted, venturing around the rear of the towering peak.

With a Windwalk Talisman burning brightly on his leg, he moved with the speed of a fleeting shadow.

He shuttled rapidly through the desolate valley.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, why are you in such a rush?"

A seductively melodic voice drifted from behind, sending a layer of ice down Xu Changshou's spine.

The owner of this voice was none other than Su Miaomiao.

Xu Changshou froze, slowly turning his head. There she stood—Su Miaomiao, her exquisite figure draped in a pristine white dress, her bare feet resting lightly upon a pale green flying boat.

She was staring down at him, a bewitching smile playing on her lips.

"Impossible! How can this be?!"

Xu Changshou’s spiritual pressure flared, facing her like a mortal enemy.

He simply could not fathom how Su Miaomiao had tracked him down.

He had entirely masked his soul signature and physical form. Logically, even if they had brushed shoulders in the street, she should have remained completely oblivious to his identity.

Yet she had tracked him down. This could only mean one thing—she had secretly locked onto him long ago.

No matter how desperately he fled, he was merely dancing in the palm of her hand.

Perhaps he had become her prey from the very moment their eyes first met. Li Linhao and Yang Jieyuan must have been her targets as well.

Li Linhao's blood-soaked flight was undoubtedly her doing.

As for Yang Jieyuan, Xu Changshou darkly deduced that the man’s Dao had already been extinguished.

What should he do?

Xu Changshou stared at Su Miaomiao with absolute vigilance. He initially intended to flee, but the sight of the pale green flying boat beneath her feet made him hesitate.

This flying boat was equipped with a propulsion array disk, its speed no less than that of high-tier long-distance vessels.

His fastest Flight Talisman could only cover five thousand li a day; he could never outrun her.

As for his Invisibility Talismans and Wall-Piercing Talismans, they were likely useless against her as well.

Otherwise, she would never have cornered him in this desolate valley.

As his mind raced, Xu Changshou covertly slipped an Illusion-Breaking Talisman into his palm.

Su Miaomiao was a disciple of the Joyous Union Sect, masters of demonic charm arts. His Illusion-Breaking Talisman was the natural bane of such techniques, capable of shattering any beguiling mirage.

Su Miaomiao swept her soul-stealing gaze over Xu Changshou, causing his Dao heart to ripple involuntarily.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, the scenery here is quite enchanting. Why don't we share a moment of intimacy and not let this beautiful hour go to waste? Hehehe~"

As she spoke, Su Miaomiao's flawless bare feet gently parted her skirt. Her toes were as plump and rounded as jade pearls, each one practically radiating an intoxicating allure.

Her charm arts were terrifyingly profound; a mere sentence was enough to ignite a burning heat within Xu Changshou's blood.

"Fellow Daoist Su, exactly how did you catch up to me?" Xu Changshou asked cautiously.

"Hehehe!"

Su Miaomiao giggled, a silver-bell-like sound. "Of those I wish to pursue, not a single one can escape."

Xu Changshou questioned, "What about Fellow Daoist Li and Fellow Daoist Yang?"

Su Miaomiao paused slightly at the mention of their names. "That Fellow Daoist Li possessed some hidden methods. He actually managed to slip away."

A chill seized Xu Changshou's heart. If Li Linhao had barely escaped with his life, then Yang Jieyuan was undoubtedly dead.

"Fellow Daoist Su, how exactly did you track me down?" Xu Changshou asked once more.

If he did not uncover the truth, he would not be able to rest in peace even in death.

He had managed to shake off a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, yet he failed to elude Su Miaomiao.

What heaven-defying method had she employed to hunt him down, even after he had completely altered his appearance and soul signature? It defied all reason.

"There is no harm in telling you."

Su Miaomiao smiled radiantly and stepped gracefully toward him. "Our Joyous Union Sect possesses a unique spiritual rouge. Once its scent is planted upon someone, we can track them anywhere within a radius of a hundred li."

So that was the trick.

Xu Changshou finally let out a dark breath of relief. Her methods were not as unfathomable as he had feared.

The only reason she caught him was because she had tainted him with this specialized rouge.

This time, she had marked three targets: Li Linhao, Yang Jieyuan, and himself.

With Yang Jieyuan dead and Li Linhao fleeing, he was the only one left bearing the scent of the rouge.

Coincidentally, when he drew near to Pingyang Market, Su Miaomiao must have been lurking in the vicinity.

Once the distance between them closed to within a hundred li, her tracking art activated. She hadn’t been pursuing him this entire time after all.