Chapter Sixty-Eight: Escape

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Escape

A sudden tearing sound—Little Dongfang approached Wu Hong, and with a swift movement, she snatched away the black mask covering Wu Hong’s face. She was startled at his appearance, but upon closer inspection, her expression changed dramatically.

She nearly cried out, but managed to restrain herself, her body trembling, her index finger quivering as she pointed at Wu Hong. “You’re Wu Hong?”

Wu Hong was unable to speak, but his face was expressive. Seeing that Little Dongfang had recognized him, he could only smile bitterly.

With a flick of her finger in the air, Little Dongfang released the mute acupoint on Wu Hong.

“I am Wu Hong. I’m not sure how I’ve offended you, miss!”

Wu Hong tried to defend himself. Little Dongfang’s hatred must have been caused by the false Wu Hong; if he could clear up the misunderstanding, it would be for the best.

“Haha! Wu Hong, you never imagined you’d see this day! I thought catching you would require some effort, but you came here yourself, longing for your little lover. Truly, fortune favors me!” Little Dongfang ignored Wu Hong’s words, speaking only for herself, a hint of mania in her tone. Though her beautiful face twitched with emotion, it did nothing to diminish her allure.

Wu Hong fell silent. What could make a young woman hate him so? It must be that the imposter had stolen her innocence.

Suddenly, Little Dongfang swept her sleeve wide, and an invisible surge of vital energy enveloped the entire space. Though Wu Hong could not see it, he sensed the area was shrouded by intangible and formless energy. He marveled inwardly; no wonder Little Dongfang had risen so quickly in the martial world. This formless energy was everywhere, deadly and unseen—truly formidable.

He too had fallen victim to her skill.

Little Dongfang glanced at Wu Hong, pondering what martial arts he had cultivated to become so formidable. From their first meeting to now, his appearance had changed repeatedly. Had she not seen him once within the Celestial Tome Cave, she might not have recognized him at all.

So, the notorious Wu Hong of the martial world must be another person impersonating him.

My great vengeance for Wang Liang will be fulfilled today. Once I kill the real Wu Hong, I’ll gather the heroes to destroy the imposter. My reputation will soar, and I’ll better help my father in his cause.

It turned out Little Dongfang was actually Wang Liang, who had taken the Sunflower Manual left behind by Invincible Dongfang from the cave in the Celestial Tome Mansion.

He was the first to leave the cave and devoted himself to cultivating the Sunflower Manual. He returned home once, so changed that his father was nearly frightened to death. After repeated confirmations, it was indeed the son of Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites, and the two finally acknowledged their kinship.

But Minister Wang seemed to have a grand scheme, so he instructed Wang Liang to seize the now vacant Blackwood Cliff in the martial world. Thus, Wang Liang appeared as Little Dongfang, the rising star.

Over a year of rigorous cultivation of the Sunflower Manual not only altered Wang Liang’s temperament but transformed his appearance, turning him from a man into a woman. The shift between genders troubled Little Dongfang greatly.

Sometimes, on Blackwood Cliff, seeing the young maids serving her bath would stir desire in her heart, but she had no masculine traits whatsoever. At times, seeing powerful men made her heart race with unfamiliar feelings that nearly drove Wang Liang mad.

Only in the past half year, as her powers grew, did she become increasingly feminine, yet it was difficult for anyone to discern the change.

“Wu Hong, I will kill you—prepare to die!” Little Dongfang suddenly drew three embroidery needles, thrusting them at Wu Hong’s temples. She knew his external martial arts made him nearly impervious to ordinary weapons, so she targeted his vital points.

Wu Hong’s heart sank. “It’s over, I’ve been caught off guard!”

Little Dongfang gathered all her energy into the needle tips, making the attack unstoppable.

Before the needles could pierce Wu Hong’s temples, a surge of formless vital energy emanated from his temples and rushed into his body.

A rush of delight flooded Wu Hong—his blocked acupoints were instantly cleared. At his level, it was hard to be subdued by acupoint strikes; it was only because the embroidery needles’ force was so concentrated that, though his tough body wasn’t pierced, his acupoints had been sealed.

With a sudden slap, Wu Hong struck Little Dongfang’s jade hand, causing her arm to veer off course.

Without hesitation, since his identity had been exposed and the space was sealed, Wu Hong decided to subdue Little Dongfang quickly.

He drew vital energy into his hands; his palms didn’t expand to hundreds of meters, only just over ten, but this was the result of concentrated power, no less potent. Since his battle with Yang Zhen, Wu Hong had grasped the essence of reaching the Bone-Refining Stage: continuously condensing inner strength until it transforms, breaking through in one leap.

Though time was short, he could only concentrate his energy to form palms about ten meters wide.

Little Dongfang was astonished to see Wu Hong break free from the acupoint seal, but confident in her skills, she didn’t leave the formless energy barrier. With a swing of her sleeve, countless embroidery needles flew forth.

These needles, metallic and sharply pointed, were more vicious than any hidden weapon, impossible to defend against. Had it been Wu Hong in daylight, he might have suffered from such an attack.

Yet now, Wu Hong’s condensed energy formed a golden hand, dozens of times denser. The countless needles clattered against it, making only ringing sounds, failing to pierce him as Little Dongfang had expected.

She was shocked—Wu Hong was the first to withstand her embroidery needle assault, and her heart was shaken, her expression changing dramatically.

Since Wang Liang became renowned as Little Dongfang, he had never lost a fight.

To suffer defeat at Wu Hong’s hands was unexpected.

Little Dongfang swung her sleeves again and again, unleashing all the needles hidden within. The room erupted with golden palm shadows and invisible vital energy, carrying thousands of needles swirling through the air, omnipresent.

Wu Hong’s face grew grim—Little Dongfang’s vital energy was truly miraculous, formless and intangible, driving the needles with external destructive force, making them erratic and impossible to guard against. If even one needle struck him, he would surely die.

Little Dongfang moved like a fairy from a painting, her figure ethereal as she commanded the swirling needles, elusive and unpredictable.

Wu Hong enveloped himself in the powerful Golden Vajra Palm energy, his right hand sweeping through the air.

The room was instantly shattered by their battle—the white jade bath’s waters blasted apart by the flows of vital energy, transformed into countless droplets suspended in the air, refusing to fall.

Only now did Wu Hong’s anxious heart finally settle. Though the opponent’s energy was unique, invisible and intangible, so long as he protected himself, her defeat was only a matter of time. Then he could force her to reveal Li Ruolan’s whereabouts.

Sweat trickled down Little Dongfang’s forehead. She was deeply shocked—every time she met Wu Hong, he was stronger. To lose to him was inevitable.

She must summon the experts outside to besiege him.

Suddenly, she pulled all the swirling needles together, forming a sword of needles bound by formless energy. It resembled a flying sword conjured from thin air, whistling toward Wu Hong.

Wu Hong was startled—Little Dongfang’s skill in controlling objects with energy was at an extraordinary level. If she grew any stronger, he would be in danger. Without hesitation, he condensed his golden hand in front of him, compressing it to block the attack.

Little Dongfang smiled strangely, and with a sweep of her left sleeve, withdrew the barrier of vital energy.

With a thunderous crash, the absence of the energy barrier meant the room was rocked by the shockwaves, shattering windows and doors, the noise echoing through the dark night.

Wu Hong’s face changed—this was Blackwood Cliff. Little Dongfang’s actions would certainly attract countless experts. The best strategy was to escape.

With a forceful slap, Wu Hong scattered the needle sword. The needles, deprived of energy, fell to the ground with a clatter.

“Who dares cause such chaos at Blackwood Cliff at night? Are you courting death?”

Different shouts rang from afar, as countless formidable foes closed in on the room.

Wu Hong took advantage of the moment when Little Dongfang was stunned by the energy shock, jumped out of the room, and called out, “Miss Dongfang, I don’t know what grudge you have against Wu Hong, but I assure you—the Wu Hong you know is not me! Farewell!”