Finished performing That was brilliant

Fang Hanyu acted as if he had just done something utterly insignificant, flicking his fingers as though to shake off some nonexistent dust.

Xiao Ruobai watched silently from the side, his eyes not wavering in the slightest.

However, just as the two were preparing to continue their journey, or considering whether they should pass by the pursuit happening up ahead—

Whoosh!

A somewhat disheveled plump figure returned, darting out from the narrow valley fork like a frightened rabbit and kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was none other than that plump youth!

Where was the panic of fleeing for his life on his face now? It had been replaced by an expression of extreme shock, disbelief, and the ecstatic joy of discovering a new continent.

His eyes went wide. First, he looked in disbelief at the decapitated corpse of the Heaven Realm cultivator on the ground, then abruptly raised his head, staring fervently at the calm and composed Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, and fiercely slapped his thigh.

Mother of mine! I was blind, big shots! Save me!

As he shouted, he zipped behind Xiao Ruobai with a speed even faster than his previous escape. His movements were so practiced it was almost pitiful; clearly, this wasn't his first time seeking a backer to cling to.

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat speechless.

This kid's ability to bend with the wind and climb up any given pole was truly unmatched.

Xiao Ruobai looked at him and asked in a flat tone, Didn't you run away? Why did you circle back?

Hearing this, the plump youth immediately put on a look of deep sorrow and regret. Patting his chest, he said, Oh man! Brother, you have no idea! After I turned that corner just now, the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt!

Although I, Fatty Wang, like to take small advantages usually, I am fiercely loyal at critical moments! Thinking about that old devil of the Heaven Realm staying behind to deal with you guys, my heart felt as awful as if it were being scratched by a cat!

As he spoke, he carefully observed the expressions of Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu. Seeing no reaction from them, he pulled a silver talisman out of his robes—one that had already lost its luster and had dim runes—and showed it to them with a look of physical pain.

Look, look! This is my trump card for saving my life—the Lesser Void Shifting Talisman! Once used, it's gone!

Just now, I gritted my teeth, stomped my foot, and thought I couldn't just watch you suffer. So I wasted this treasure to teleport back here specifically, planning to take you guys and run away together!

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, his voice even taking on a crying tone. If I had known you two big shots were this strong, why the hell would I have used the talisman!

I'm really blind in these dog eyes of mine! To think I mistook two hidden experts for fellow Daoists of the Core Condensation Realm just now!

Saying this, he put on a show of rubbing his eyes, secretly observing their reactions through the gaps in his fingers. Now look what happened, my trump card is used up... You two big shots can't just leave me to die!

His round face was written all over with sincere remorse and pitifulness; his acting skills were absolutely masterful.

Watching his stellar performance, the corners of Xiao Ruobai's mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint, enigmatic smile. Oh? So you're saying you're a loyal person?

Fatty Wang immediately straightened his back and spoke with self-righteous indignation, Of course! The thing I, Fatty Wang, value most is loyalty!

After saying that, he quickly added, Of course, the prerequisite is keeping my little life intact first...

Fang Hanyu watched silently from the side, unable to stop himself from gently shaking his head. For this kid to speak of his fear of death and clinging to life in such a refreshing and refined way, he was truly a rare talent.

Right at this moment, the sound of tearing air came from the distance, and the auras of the other four Heaven Realm cultivators were rapidly approaching.

Fatty Wang's face paled. Abandoning his act, he hurriedly shrank further behind Xiao Ruobai and urged in a low voice, Big shot, they're here! Shouldn't we...

Xiao Ruobai glanced into the distance, his tone remaining calm. Stand still.

Hearing Xiao Ruobai say stand still, Fatty Wang, instead of feeling reassured, became even more anxious.

While nervously watching the four tyrannical auras drawing closer from afar, he pulled out another faintly glowing golden talisman from who-knows-where and muttered softly:

Brother, tell me the truth, are you confident? Those are four Heaven Realm cultivators over there! If you aren't sure, it's still not too late for us to run!

I still have a Golden Light Earth Escape Talisman here. Although it's not as good as the Lesser Shifting Talisman, it's top-notch for burrowing underground to escape!

As he spoke, he was about to slap the talisman onto the ground, his movements once again pitiably practiced.

Looking at his readiness to use earth escape at any moment, Xiao Ruobai couldn't help but ask, Just what kind of heaven-forsaken thing did you do to make four Heaven Realm cultivators relentlessly chase after a little Purple Mansion Realm cultivator like you?

Hearing this, a flash of guilt crossed Fatty Wang's face. He stammered, Well... it's a long story... actually it's just...

Before he could finish his sentence, those four figures had already arrived with a whistling sound, landing steadily not far ahead.

It was exactly the other four Heaven Realm cultivators dressed in dark red attire. At a glance, they saw the decapitated corpse of their fellow sect member on the ground, and their faces instantly turned incredibly ugly.

Old Fifth!

The cold-faced middle-aged cultivator leading them, Xue Li, had eyes that erupted with terrifying killing intent as he stared dead at Xiao Ruobai's trio. Did you kill him?

His gaze swept over Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu, filled with uncertainty. Sensing the Core Condensation Realm cultivation of the two, yet seeing they could easily slay the early Heaven Realm Old Fifth, they were definitely not simple.

Seeing this, Fatty Wang immediately shrank his neck and whispered to Xiao Ruobai, See! See! I told you it was big trouble! That leader is named Xue Li, late Heaven Realm, a ruthless character! Brother, it's still not too late to run!

Xiao Ruobai ignored him, merely looking calmly at Xue Li and his three companions.

Xue Li forcefully suppressed his anger and said coldly, No matter who you are, anyone who kills a member of my Blood Fiend Sect must pay the price! And that little fatty, hand over the item, and we might leave your corpses intact!

Hearing this, Fatty Wang immediately jumped up. Hey! Are you being reasonable at all! You guys attacked first! My brother was just acting in self-defense!

Even as he yelled, his feet quietly shifted half a step backward, tightly clutching that Golden Light Earth Escape Talisman in his hand, looking ready to slip away at a moment's notice.

A battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Xue Li clearly had no intention of wasting more words. He shouted fiercely, Form the formation! Kill them!

The four Heaven Realm cultivators instantly scattered. Blood fiend aura surged into the sky, forming a bizarre combined attack formation that enveloped Xiao Ruobai's trio within it.

The powerful coercion made Fatty Wang's face pale, and his calves turned somewhat weak.

It's over, it's over, now we really can't run...

Fatty Wang wore a miserable expression, but meeting Xiao Ruobai's calm gaze, he gritted his teeth as if making a massive decision.

Damn it, I'll risk it all! Brother, at most I can only tie down the weakest one on the left! You guys deal with the other three!

Saying so, he pulled out a handful of colorful talismans with an aching heart—things like Thorn Entanglement Talisman, Crimson Blazing Fire Talisman, Phantom Traceless Talisman...

And threw them all at once toward the Heaven Realm cultivator on the left.

In an instant, the ground beneath that cultivator's feet turned into a quagmire, thorny vines grew wildly around him, and overlapping illusions appeared before his eyes. Although the power of these talismans was not enough to seriously injure him, the stacking of various negative effects indeed left him scrambling, making it difficult for him to break free for the time being.

Fatty Wang himself hid inside a suddenly appearing earthen-yellow light barrier. While nervously staring at the battlefield, he shouted toward Xiao Ruobai's direction.

"Brothers! How are things on your end? The pressure here is huge! This guy's skin is too thick, and my talismans can barely hold him off anymore! If it really comes down to it, let's retreat!"

He shouted himself hoarse, as if he were experiencing a life-and-death battle. He then frantically threw out a few more explosive talismans, blasting the trapped Heaven and Human Realm cultivator until he was covered in dirt, yet the man still could not break through the layers of obstacles.

After bustling about for quite a while, Fatty Wang felt the time was right and prepared to urge them to retreat once more. He abruptly turned his head to check on the battle situation on Xiao Ruobai's side...

Then, his entire body froze.

He saw that Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu had, at some unknown point, already finished their battles and were standing leisurely not far away.

Xiao Ruobai had even pulled out a bag of melon seeds from who knows where and shared some with Fang Hanyu. The two of them were cracking melon seeds while watching with great relish as he jumped around and flailed his arms, putting on a performance of single-handedly fighting a Heaven and Human Realm expert...

On the ground, Xue Li and the other two Heaven and Human Realm cultivators had already fallen, completely devoid of life.

On his end, the Heaven and Human Realm cultivator he had trapped with talismans had just finally broken free from the last layer of illusions. Panting heavily and enraged, he was about to charge over, but when he looked up, he also saw this bizarre scene and his senior brothers lying dead on the ground...

His charging motion instantly froze, and the anger on his face morphed into terror.

Fatty Wang: ...

He looked at the two calmly cracking melon seeds, then looked at the formidable enemies lying scattered across the ground, and finally looked at the unused explosive talisman still clutched in his hand. He swallowed hard.

"My... my sweet mother..." he muttered, utterly dumbfounded.

The Heaven and Human Realm cultivator who had just escaped his trap was scared out of his wits and turned to flee.

Fang Hanyu flicked his finger, sending a streak of sword qi flying out to accurately strike the back of the man's neck. Without even a grunt, the man directly slumped to the ground.

Xiao Ruobai clapped the melon seed shells off his hands, walked up to Fatty Wang, and looking at his dumbstruck expression, could not help but laugh:

"Finished your performance? It was quite wonderful!"