Blood swung his rusty spear, cleaving through the bull's defenseless neck and splitting its body in two.
Without wasting a second, he stowed the carcass and dashed deep into the forest. He knew he was in grave danger if he were caught—he could manage a chase.
However, before he could take a step, a horrifying force suddenly descended, forcing him to a halt. He ducked the moment he felt a threat.
The black-robed lady had blocked his path, cutting his escape.
He had narrowly escaped her strike, had he been a heartbeat slower, his head would have been spilling red liquid on the ground.
Blood's gaze hardened, his expression solemn. This lady before him exuded a pressure he couldn't fathom. Blood knew he had to take the opponent seriously—her aura radiated the power of a fifth-stage Bronze expert.
He himself was only at the peak of the Iron Realm.
He suddenly remembered his newfound strength and felt a wave of relief. Though he might not be able to defeat enemies of a realm higher, he believed defending himself now should be easy. After all, he was told that the stubborn wolf was itself a Bronze Realm beast.
Straightening his back, he assumed a defensive stance.
Flames dripped from Shiva's spear continuously, hissing as they scorched the earth. She was ready to bring the thief to his knees.
It had been a long time since anyone had dared to steal from her, she would not let this go so easily.
It now appeared to be a duel between spear wielders.
A fluffy wave of energy was sensed, halting her advance.
"Friend, there is no need to steal from one another." Blood could hear a friendly voice from the back and looked in that direction. That person seemed to be a kind one.
"It would have been yours had you asked from the start. There is no need to cut at each other's throats." the voice added.
Balin appeared with a friendly smile, though he was fuming in his heart. He was usually the one who took from others—how dare someone steal from him.
The mercenaries and the others shook their heads bitterly when they saw the thief willing to comply. They knew this young master was no saint—if he were truly so kind, their lives would have been far better.
"Ha, thank you!" Blood replied. "Since there's no need for this, I will be on my way. Until then..." he said, taking a step.
Blood wasn't foolish enough to take those words at face value. He had wandered the outer region for many years; there was no way anyone could remain so kind after being robbed.
It would've been mine? he thought. It's already mine.
Blood lunged forward at once, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
Something was definitely amiss. He sensed ridicule hidden in the stranger's tone.
He didn't just dash, but attacked with all the speed he could muster, hoping to catch the lady off guard while her focus was diverted.
He had to get past her.
His sudden dash already surpassed the limits of third-stage Bronze experts.
He didn't aim for her head since he knew he might fail; he went for her thigh.
"Not so fast."
Blood could hear a snort, then followed by a gush of wind. Shivers speed was far greater than that of ordinary fifth-stage cultivators. He had miscalculated.
Contrary to his thoughts, her eyes never left him. Flames burst from her boots as she swung them against his strike.
His spear smashed into the boot, bouncing backward. It was a miracle he still held his grip.
The force did not end there. Her boot smashed right into Blood's face, hurling him through the air and tearing down small trees in his path.
He rolled across the ground before crashing against a large tree.
Hamizz shook his head heavily. People truly don't know who to provoke.
"How daring of you to sneak attack me." Shiva said coldly, flinging her hair back. She was furious. "Your skills are barely average. You can now see what you've brought upon yourself. Since you dared to steal from us, it is only right I teach you a lesson. You will remain here."
She leapt forward, appearing before the hooded figure who struggled to stand.
Blood's eyes were clear, though he dared not act recklessly. He knew he was genuinely weak before this lady.
He drew a deep breath, his heart pounding rapidly.
Behind her, the others looked on with ease, as if the outcome was already decided. Their gazes were predatory, like wolves watching a hare.
Without hesitation, Blood did what he had intended from the start. He crossed four meters in an instant, choosing a random direction.
He chose to run. This battle was beyond him. The last kick had already told their differences. There were others besides her, and he knew he could never defeat them all.
Shiva landed and pursued.
A fiery net appeared which looked to have been retrieved from molten irons, enveloping him in an instant.
Blood stumbled, sliding just enough to narrowly avoid the blazing sheet.
He picked up his pace. Nothing was on his mind but escape from the stretching terror.
The others quickly joined the chase, while some remained behind. The man whose speed rivaled Shiva's was rapidly closing in.
Blood was still in the lead, to his own surprise. He had felt the lady's cultivation base, yet somehow, he surpassed her in speed.
They went deeper and entered the inner region.
Relief flickered across Blood's face when he saw his pursuers behind hm, making him feel they might never reach him—until the next moment, when his expression contorted.
Through his spiritual sense, he felt an overwhelming energy from the side. The trees swayed under the sudden force. Desperate, he cursed inwardly and tried to steady his thoughts.
What are these powerful experts doing in the outer region? What could possibly draw them here? Or did they hunt that beast down from the inner region? Its aura was equally terrifying.
Blood suddenly made a bold decision when he saw the terrain changed and evaded yet another strike. He found himself climbing a hill.
Hamizz's face darkened as he watched Blood slip past his attacks. His gaze then shifted to where Blood was now headed, and his expression contorted with dread.
"Be careful, pretty lady!" he shouted to Shiva who was chasing the guy relentlessly. "That person is up to no good. Do you realize where we are? That bastard will soon cross the ant hill borders." His voice trembled with fear.
The guy had gone crazy.
Realization instantly struck Shiva, a wrinkle creasing her brow.
She had been oblivious to the danger and she was this close. She had nearly been tricked. Her frown deepened, growing curious about the hooded figure's identity.
That guy was clearly weaker than them, and that was the only reason he was still running and trying his best to escape from them.
The ant hill borders were no trifling matter. They had no choice but to abort the pursuit.
Looking around, it was true—they had truly arrived at the ants' territory. Shiver's pace slowed as she considered retreat.
A single beast and a petty thief were not worth trespassing into the ants' domain.
Blood's lips curled into a smug smile as the gap widened. He cast her a sidelong glance, eager to see what decision they would make. But he knew this was far from over.
They would watch him enter the ants' territory; perhaps they would even remain for hours to ensure he wasn't deceiving them.
Blood had no choice. His energy was running low, and sooner or later, they would catch him—whether through relentless pursuit or hidden tricks.
Blood found himself caught upon a narrow bridge, and he weighed his decision carefully.
If he stayed, he would die. If he entered the ants' territory, he might also meet his end.
Death awaited either way. However, the unknown, though perilous, offered a sliver of hope.
The ant hill territory it is!