CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: OUTMANEUVERED

After Duan Shulin rushed into the Profound Yin Cave, he found that Chen Guan’s figure had completely disappeared. He felt a bit anxious and took some medicine to continue the pursuit.

However, Duan Shulin was still cautious enough to turn off his headlamp to avoid being tracked.

Although he didn’t think this would happen, he did it anyway.

The cave paths were interconnected and so dark that trying to track someone in such an environment was almost impossible. Moreover, even if he could track them, by the time he got there, he could have already picked the Nether Lotus. Unless he arrived the very moment, it would be useless to catch up a few minutes later.

Now, Duan Shulin’s biggest fear was that Chen Guan had already figured out the approximate location of the Nether Lotus. If by chance, Chen Guan found it first, he would suffer a great loss.

In the dark, Duan Shulin quickly groped his way forward. His eyes glowed faintly green, allowing him to distinguish things in the darkness.

Along the way, Duan Shulin didn’t see the light of a headlamp, and became more worried that Chen Guan might have already found the location of the Nether Lotus. He deeply regretted it and thought that had he known Chen Guan had these abilities, plus being so shameless, he would never have shown off in front of Chen Guan.

He didn’t know he had already become Chen Guan’s guide, personally leading him to the location of the Nether Lotus.

Chen Guan did not have the ability to see in the dark, nor did he turn on his headlamp, otherwise he would have certainly been discovered by Duan Shulin.

Yet he didn’t move slowly in the darkness, always following Duan Shulin’s tracks at a certain distance.

Chen Guan was able to do this, thanks to Warring States.

Common canine breeds generally have some night vision abilities, which a spirit pet like Warring States naturally possessed, stronger than ordinary dogs. Additionally, its sense of smell was sensitive enough, enabling it to track Duan Shulin’s location just by tracking the scent.

Duan Shulin grew more restless as he pursued further, not seeing any sign of the headlamp’s light. He feared that Chen Guan could have found the Nether Lotus first.

Impatiently, he rushed to the location of the Nether Lotus. He squeezed through a narrow gap just big enough for one person to crawl through. After crawling over a hundred meters in the winding, narrow space, he finally emerged. Ahead was a rock tunnel sloping downward.

At the end of the tunnel’s bend, blue light could vaguely be seen.

Duan Shulin quickly rushed over in two strides, turned a corner, and immediately saw inside the cave space in front of him, blue geothermal flames burst up from a subterranean fire pit, rising several meters high, dyeing the entire cave blue.

Though the flames appeared fierce, they did not emit overwhelming heat. Instead, they gave off a chilling sensation.

Duan Shulin dared not approach the cave ravaged by the Profound Nether Yin Fire and craned his neck to peer inside. He saw at the bottom of the cave, next to the subterranean fire pit, an alluring and unsettling blue lotus blossoming within the Yin Fire, appearing as if sculpted from blue crystal, flickering with blue sparkles from within. Its eerie form was akin to a Netherworld flower blooming in the depths.

"The Nether Lotus is still here..." Duan Shulin suddenly realized something, abruptly turned around, and turned on his headlamp, shining it towards the passage from which he came.

In the beam of light, sure enough, a tall figure stood there. Who else could it be but Chen Guan?

"Impressive, truly impressive. To be able to keep up with me, being outsmarted by you, I do not regret. Apart from Jiang Qiemo, no one had ever outsmarted me like this in my life," Duan Shulin stared at Chen Guan, not with gritted teeth, but rather clapped his hands in admiration.

Chen Guan did not speak, merely summoned Yan Zhi silently.

Now, if he wanted the Nether Lotus, only strength would speak.

Duan Shulin also summoned the Grave Master to confront Yan Zhi, while he made his way towards Chen Guan.

He moved forward while slightly stretching his body. His entire skeleton crackled with every stretch, making his body appear a size larger. The originally somewhat fatty body now appeared taut, with prominent muscle lines, giving him an explosive power.

Duan Shulin’s eyes seemed to flicker with sharp light, staring coldly at Chen Guan, "Your Evil Adorable Rabbit is certainly no ordinary pet, but it may not match the Grave Master. Even if it is stronger, if the Grave Master can hold it off for three minutes, that’s enough time for me to handle you."

"Seems like you’re quite confident in yourself," Chen Guan said lightly.

"I told you, I could walk since birth, learned the Hundred Schools Fist by the age of three, and by ten, the academy had nothing more to teach me. In this world, apart from Jiang Qiemo, no one my age is my match. Do you think I’m joking with you?" Duan Shulin’s entire aura changed, making even the contours of his face appear chiseled, giving an overbearing presence, unmatched in dominance.

"Sounds strong indeed," Chen Guan wasn’t bothered. In his current state, during the first awakening, he was nearly invincible.

Even against a mutated Profound Yin Ghost Mother, Chen Guan had a chance to fight, with nearly no chance of defeat.

Duan Shulin couldn’t even defeat a mutated Profound Yin Ghost Mother, so what could he do against him? Thus, Chen Guan wasn’t worried at all.

"It’s not just strong in words or seems to be, it truly is strong," Duan Shulin coldly watched Chen Guan, "To have outsmarted me, you’re quite a talent. I’ll give you a chance to follow me, ensuring you a lifetime of glory and wealth."

"Beat me first, then we’ll talk," Chen Guan said indifferently.

"If I make a move, you will have no life left. My Great River Demon Fist makes me invincible, enemies dead and me alive, even I can’t hold back, and won’t spare your life," Duan Shulin, seeing Chen Guan did not let the Evil Adorable Rabbit attack, similarly did not let the Grave Master rush forward, only ordered it to stay in position to restrain the Evil Adorable Rabbit.

"Great River Demon Fist, never heard of it," Chen Guan quietly prepared, his hand turning a blood-red hue.

"You can witness it firsthand now, but once seen, you may not survive. I advise you, it’s better not to see," Duan Shulin walked towards Chen Guan step by step, his presence becoming overwhelmingly tyrannical, like a Demon God that had slain countless on the battlefield, emerging from mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

"What if I want to see it?" Chen Guan assumed a battle stance, ready to unleash the Blood Hand Seal at any moment.

Unfortunately, his Primordial Energy wasn’t enough to use the Profound Nether Yin Fire Palm, otherwise, dealing with Duan Shulin would be easy.

"Wise words are wasted on the damned, so don’t blame me for being ruthless then," Duan Shulin’s figure suddenly swelled another size, muscles bulging, ripping his shirt to reveal iron-hard muscles.

Boom!

Duan Shulin threw a punch, creating a sonic boom, as if mist exploded from his fist.

The punch was swift and fierce, almost instantaneously reaching Chen Guan.

Bam!

Chen Guan did not dodge, his right hand turned blood red, meeting Duan Shulin’s Great River Demon Fist head-on. The clash of fist and palm immediately erupted with explosive sound waves.