CHAPTER 1583: CHAPTER 1583: SOUL SEVERING EXPERT

"Oh? A transformed Wind Roc, an extraordinary holy body... haha, this is truly searching high and low, only to find it all effortlessly!"

While Fang Bai and the Wind Roc were eating, a skeleton-like, white-haired short elder suddenly entered the tavern.

Upon seeing Fang Bai and the Wind Roc, the dull eyes of the elder suddenly lit up, his gaze pierced like lightning onto the two of them.

Fang Bai and the Wind Roc, caught by that elder’s gaze, felt their hearts skip a beat, sensing immense pressure.

"A Soul Severing mid-stage expert! This person comes with ill intent, Wind Roc, be careful!"

Fang Bai scanned the elder with narrowed eyes, fully on guard, and quickly transmitted the message to the Wind Roc.

The Wind Roc, hearing this, turned pale with a "swish", his nerves taut and fists clenched, entering a pre-battle state.

A Soul Severing expert’s divine sense is greatly enhanced over a Nascent Soul realm expert’s; their Nascent Soul within is as substantial as a physical body, when flying out, it can attack and defend on its own, allowing for dual cultivation benefits.

Though Fang Bai can challenge levels above, at high ranks, the effectiveness of level-challenge weakens.

With Fang Bai’s current Nascent Soul Perfection level, he could barely fight a Soul Severing initial stage expert, but against a mid-stage expert, he could only keep a respectful distance.

The short elder chuckled eerily, leaning on a snake-shaped cane, with a sinister smile, sat at the table beside Fang Bai and the Wind Roc, shamelessly sizing them up, as if they were fish on the chopping block, at his mercy.

"Senior, do you have any business here?"

Fang Bai did not expect to encounter a Soul Severing mid-stage expert in this Golden City, shocked inwardly, but outwardly feigned calm.

The elder’s skin clung to his bones, lacking blood color, dry and rough like a piece of wood, looking quite terrifying.

"I’m not long for this world, hoping to borrow two things from you, to prolong my life. How about it?"

The short elder laughed chillingly, causing alarm.

Seeing his malicious smile, Fang Bai knew what he wished to borrow would undoubtedly put him and the Wind Roc in a difficult position, so he said, "I have a few bottles of King Grade spirit pills, how about giving them to senior as a meeting gift?"

The short elder shook his head and said, "Though King Grade spirit pills are good, I have plenty, so I’m not interested in yours."

Fang Bai frowned and asked, "May I know senior’s name? Maybe my master and you are old acquaintances!"

"Old me is Spirit Serpent Venerable! Who’s your master?"

Upon hearing Fang Bai say "master," the elder named Spirit Serpent Venerable couldn’t help but have his heart skip.

He thought Fang Bai himself was a Nascent Soul Perfection expert, so his master’s cultivation must be formidable; he might have encountered a hard nut to crack, and getting into a fight wouldn’t be good.

Fang Bai keenly caught a glimpse of worry on Spirit Serpent Venerable’s face and immediately smiled, "My master is called ’Thousand-Hand Venerable’, a Soul Severing high-rank expert... hehe..."

Spirit Serpent Venerable’s eyelid twitched, muttering, "Thousand-Hand Venerable? I’ve traveled three thousand great worlds for hundreds of years and never heard of that name..."

Fang Bai said, "My master always stays hidden; it’s normal senior hasn’t heard of him!"

Spirit Serpent Venerable hummed, appearing a bit hesitant, then sighed lightly, laughing harshly at Fang Bai, "Good lad, almost fooled me, trying to bluff me away, right?"

Fang Bai, unfazed, said, "Why would I lie to senior? If you mistrust, you can come meet my master with me!"

Spirit Serpent Venerable gritted his teeth, angrily said, "Enough nonsense! If you two will lend me your Nascent Soul and lifeblood today, I’ll let you live, otherwise, I’ll annihilate your existence, turning you into dust!"

As he spoke, afraid Fang Bai and the Wind Roc would self-destruct their Nascent Soul, he locked his breath tightly onto them, leaving no opportunity to self-destruct.

Fang Bai and the Wind Roc looked at each other, frowning in thought.

If they fought, even together they wouldn’t be Spirit Serpent Venerable’s match.

If they fled, with Spirit Serpent Venerable’s cultivation, he would surely catch them, and the outcome would be grim.

"Ten breaths have passed, have you decided?"

Spirit Serpent Venerable’s gaze swept coldly over Fang Bai and the Wind Roc, asked icily.

"When the chance arises, you escape! I’ll think of a way!"

Fang Bai communicated to the Wind Roc.

"Master goes first, I’ll hold him off with my life!"

The Wind Roc, bent on protecting its master, urgently responded.

Fang Bai said, "You are no match for him, how can you hold him off? Don’t worry, once you escape, I’ll go with him and have my means to escape!"

"Master, don’t deceive me!"

Wind Roc knew if his master spoke true, staying would only hinder him, better to escape first.

"Absolutely truthful!"

Fang Bai smiled and winked at the Wind Roc, giving a reassuring look.

"Alright, I’m going!"

The Wind Roc moved at a word, exerting force at his feet, his figure shot through the tavern window, transforming mid-air into the Wind Roc, flapping his wings furiously, ascending to the sky, vanishing instantly.

As the Wind Roc flapped, a gale swept around the tavern, sand and stones whipped up, blurring the vision, resembling the end of days.

"Haha... He escaped quickly! But a Wind Roc escaping is not a big deal, my true target is you."

Spirit Serpent Venerable watched the Wind Roc fly away without pursuit, smiling at Fang Bai.

Fang Bai also smiled, "I know your target is me, that’s why I knew you wouldn’t pursue it, allowing it to escape. Otherwise, after killing me, you might kill it too. Am I right?"

Spirit Serpent Venerable clapped and laughed, "You’re a clever kid, I like it! Now, will you lend me your Nascent Soul and lifeblood?"

"Lend you... in your dreams!"

Fang Bai suddenly flipped over the stone table, causing it to spin rapidly through the air, crashing toward the neighboring Spirit Serpent Venerable, while he retreated swiftly, crashing through another window, riding his Spiritual Artifact, fleeing with all his might.

"Oh, what a blood-colored long blade! I can’t even discern its grade! At least a King Grade superior Spiritual Artifact!"

Seeing the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade beneath Fang Bai’s feet, Spirit Serpent Venerable, chasing closely behind, lit up with astonishment, clicking his tongue in admiration.