Chapter 255: Trapped
Bald Monk moved like the wind, fleeing into the distance, with Lu Hui and Zhang Lan giving chase.
Mo Hua stayed behind.
The battle in the valley was gradually coming to an end. The criminal cultivators were either dead or subdued, and the Dao Court Division suffered minimal casualties.
After a while, Mo Shan and Ji Qingbai also appeared at the valley entrance. They wanted to pursue Bald Monk, but Mo Hua stopped them.
"Father, let me go with you. Uncle Ji doesn't need to come."
Ji Qingbai hurriedly said, "That won't do."
Mo Shan glanced at Mo Hua, seeming to understand, and said, "Brother Ji, you don't need to go."
"This matter arose because of me…"
Mo Shan shook his head. "The Kong family is bullying people. This happened because of them, not because of you. The fault lies with them."
Ji Qingbai frowned. "But…"
Mo Hua smiled mysteriously. "Uncle Ji, don't worry."
Ji Qingbai still wanted to insist, but Mo Shan and Mo Hua had already activated their movement techniques and chased after Bald Monk.
Ji Qingbai stayed behind, recalling Mo Hua's smile, and thought in confusion, "What exactly is this child planning?"
Mo Hua and Mo Shan pursued, occasionally stopping to check the compass, confirming the general direction.
Bald Monk, being chased by Zhang Lan and Lu Hui, had to exert himself to use his escape technique, which inevitably caused fluctuations in his spiritual energy, leaving a clear trace on the compass.
Before long, a residual spiritual shadow of Bald Monk appeared in Mo Hua's Divine-Sense.
Being wind-element, his spiritual energy was pale white, very easy to identify.
Bald Monk, alone, cautiously hid in a forested area, with no sign of Zhang Lan or Lu Hui nearby.
He had temporarily evaded them using his movement technique.
"There, father," Mo Hua pointed out Bald Monk's location.
Mo Shan's Divine-Sense wasn't as sharp as Mo Hua's, but his eyesight was excellent. At Mo Hua's words, a single glance revealed Bald Monk crouching among the bushes.
He flashed forward toward Bald Monk.
At the same time, Bald Monk noticed Mo Shan's figure, spat, and had to use his spiritual energy to activate his body technique again, fleeing into the distance.
Bald Monk cursed inwardly.
He had already tricked Zhang Lan and Lu Hui, planning to rest and recover some spiritual energy, but now he was discovered again.
Still, Bald Monk had confidence in his movement technique. Over the years, his survival and success as the "big brother" relied entirely on his wind-element escape skill.
For a criminal cultivator, no matter how strong, speed was everything.
As long as he ran fast enough, enemies wouldn't catch him, and the Dao Court Division couldn't apprehend him.
Over the years, stronger criminal cultivators had fallen—some dead, some crippled. Only he survived, relying on his speed.
This was just another routine chase.
However, gradually, he sensed something was off.
His speed was faster than the pursuing hunter, but no matter how fast he ran, once he stopped to rest, the hunter quickly caught up.
It was as if a single pair of eyes were constantly watching him.
"What's happening?" Bald Monk felt a chill.
Carefully observing himself, he realized there was a faint Divine-Sense clinging to him like a maggot on a bone.
If he wasn't fully focused, he almost wouldn't notice it.
The more hidden a Divine-Sense, the stronger it was.
Cold sweat ran down Bald Monk's back. "Whose Divine-Sense is this?"
Could it be a Foundation Establishment cultivator watching me?
Panicking, Bald Monk misstepped. Mo Shan spotted the flaw, closed the distance, and slashed with a blazing fire blade.
The blade surged like a raging flame, red spiritual energy roiling.
Bald Monk's heart sank. He tried with all his might to evade, but fell just short, and the blade cut his arm, burning painfully as blood flowed.
He had to stop and deal with Mo Shan.
Mo Shan didn't waste words, swinging his blade directly.
Bald Monk wanted to stall with words, but Mo Shan gave him no chance, forcing him to fight.
Their swords clashed, wind and fire spiritual energy surging, power radiating outward.
After a few exchanges, Bald Monk realized he was no match; defeat was inevitable.
Since he would lose, he had to plan ahead.
After a few more clashes, he retreated, raising his right hand to release a few talismans.
Mo Shan stopped in surprise.
At the same time, Bald Monk activated the talismans.
Dust swirled from the ground as earth-element spiritual energy surged, attacking Mo Shan wave after wave.
Mo Shan had no choice but to retreat.
Bald Monk's eyes sharpened, and he turned to flee.
The talisman, an Earth-Shaking Talisman, had been taken from a family of three cultivators he killed.
He activated it now to push Mo Shan back and create space to escape.
With his body technique, wind escapes fastest!
In this Great Black Mountain, he had killed countless people and looted many, yet no one had ever caught him.
A faint smile appeared on Bald Monk's lips. Wind spiritual energy wrapped his body as he started to leave, giving Mo Shan a contemptuous glance.
But as he took a step, something was wrong.
He seemed locked in place, unable to move!
Looking down, his pupils contracted.
At some point, water chains had formed around him, binding him tightly in place!
"No!"
Panicking, Bald Monk looked up and saw Mo Shan's blade descending like fire.
He struggled with all his strength, finally breaking free from the spell just before the blade struck.
He raised his own blade to block.
The spell was broken, the blade blocked, but the chance to escape was gone.
Bald Monk was furious, fighting while shouting, "Who's secretly plotting against me?"
His angry voice echoed around.
But Mo Hua, hidden in the trees, didn't answer. Since it was a secret ambush, he could not reveal himself.
To reveal oneself would no longer be a secret.
Mo Hua leisurely sat on a branch, holding a wild fruit in his left hand, right hand raised in midair, Divine-Sense locked on Bald Monk.
His face showed a cat-and-mouse-like amusement.
He was right: Water Prison Technique was perfect against a slippery, body-technique-based cultivator, and even better than expected.
Whenever Bald Monk tried to flee, Mo Hua used the technique to pin him in place.
Water Prison Technique could hold him for about two breaths. During those two breaths, Bald Monk could never escape experienced Mo Shan.
Bald Monk tried repeatedly but failed each time.
Every time a slight chance appeared, the strange spell immobilized him.
Fast, precise, and impossible to defend against.
Bald Monk grew more fearful and disheartened.
His agility, which had dominated the Black Mountain, was completely countered by this unknown and bizarre spell!
If this continued, he would fall here today.
(End of chapter)