Chapter 605: Turning the Tables on the Enemy |
Ning Qi kept following the same path forward, and eventually sensed Zhao Shilin and the others’ auras.
“Master, over there.”
The Pill Spirit hurriedly reminded him.
“Good!”
Ning Qi replied, then sped off.
Just as he was about to approach them, they detected him.
“Commander Lei.”
Zhao Shilin cried out, then told everyone, “Everyone, return, Commander Lei is back.”
“Commander Lei, are you all right?”
Obviously, during the time he had been missing, everyone had been searching for him.
“I’m fine. Sorry for making you worry.”
Ning Qi shook his head, then turned his gaze to the group. “Is everyone okay?”
“We’re fine. The pursuers have been dealt with.”
“Commander Lei, it’s good that you’re safe.”
Everyone responded one after another, relief evident on their faces.
“Commander Lei, what about the Sacred Maiden?”
Zhao Shilin came over to ask.
“There was originally a chance to capture her, but she had a treasure that was too powerful.”
“A small compass could enlarge to dozens of feet and swallowed me whole.”
“If I hadn’t thought of a way to escape, I probably would have been taken with her.”
Ning Qi heard this and did not hide anything, bluntly stating the facts.
“A compass?”
Zhao Shilin repeated in surprise, “It can enlarge and even swallow someone of Celestial Immortal strength?”
“That’s not an Immortal Realm treasure. A QianKun Plate?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of it too. How did it end up in her hands?”
“This intel is wrong. If she has something that powerful, why didn’t anyone tell us?”
...
Their conversation triggered whispers among the nearby demonic race members,
each wearing shocked expressions, while some inwardly grumbled.
Clearly they were displeased with tonight’s operation.
After all, this failure was caused by someone’s poor handling.
Not knowing the enemy’s true strength is a grave mistake.
“All right, this is not the place to argue. Let’s head back and talk there!”
Zhao Shilin waved, then called the group together.
“Commander Zhao, how do we get back?”
“Yes. If we go out now it’s certain death.”
“With such a commotion, the reason they haven’t stormed in is because this place is a void space.”
Several demon folk heard his words and showed reluctant expressions.
“We can only gamble.”
Zhao Shilin gritted his teeth, then said in a low voice, “Use the compass to open a space. Let’s see if we can find the right direction.”
“Preferably toward a courtyard in this city. Even if there are pursuers, we won’t be completely annihilated.”
“That’s the only option.”
“Then split up and search, try to head as far as possible.”
After his speech, others echoed in agreement.
“Everyone, follow the path I came from.”
“We chased out a long way just now, at least far enough to leave this city.”
Ning Qi pointed to the route he had returned by and told them.
“That’s not certain. The void space is different from our real space.”
“If you fly ten thousand miles here, outside it might only be a few steps.”
Zhao Shilin shook his head, sighing.
Hearing this, Ning Qi finally understood the situation.
So this space had such effects.
“Exactly. Otherwise the Sumeru spaces we open wouldn’t be so small.”
“All these spaces are interconnected.”
Someone else interjected to remind them.
“Is there any method? We can’t stay out forever.”
Ning Qi looked at everyone and asked.
“At the moment the only option is to gamble.”
“We’ll try connecting the compass to nearby Sumeru spaces.”
“If we can find one, we’ll exit from there and leave.”
Zhao Shilin pondered a moment, then continued, “Everyone split up and keep searching.”
“If you find anything, immediately transmit.”
“Yes.”
...
After his instructions, everyone responded and many departed.
Each face was heavy with concern.
They all knew that beyond this place, the city’s defending forces had long since assembled.
If they dared to go out, they would face encirclement and annihilation.
Though the pursuers might not be the strongest, they surely had sect backup.
At that point death would be certain.
Ning Qi meanwhile had found a direction and continued searching for an exit.
“Master, this is troublesome. Who knows when we’ll find it.”
The Pill Spirit sighed inside his dantian, “If I’d known they were so unsure about getting out, we wouldn’t have risked coming with them.”
“I feel like Lei Shan tricked us. Why would he send us to such a dangerous place?”
“It wasn’t that he tricked us. Their strength was genuinely too great.”
“They made too much noise, so we couldn’t slip away.”
As Ning Qi flew, he said, “This matter went beyond our expectations, so Zhao Shilin couldn’t do much.”
“For now, we should focus on finding an exit Sumeru courtyard.”
“Yes, but our compass doesn’t have that kind of capability.”
The Pill Spirit sighed, emerging from his dantian.
Lin Fan kept flying, holding the compass Zhao Shilin had given.
“Master, I have a solution.”
At that moment, Shi Xiaokun’s voice came from his Consciousness Sea.
“Oh? What’s your plan?”
Ning Qi’s interest was piqued instantly.
Shi Xiaokun flashed forth from his Consciousness Sea.
“Spit it out, don’t be coy.”
The Pill Spirit also asked impatiently.
“Your Sumeru space can already communicate with the outside.”
“I’ve refined most of the method now.”
Shi Xiaokun thought for a moment, then continued, “As for where to connect, I can control that too.”
“Good, then it’s yours.”
“After I open the link, I’ll call them over.”
Ning Qi agreed and had him begin.
Shi Xiaokun stepped aside, entered Ning Qi’s Sumeru space, and started operating.
So Ning Qi and the Pill Spirit waited patiently here.
“Master, where do you think that woman went?”
“Even though we aren’t together with her, she should have exited by now in theory.”
The Pill Spirit stood on his shoulder, curious.
“I don’t know. Maybe she didn’t even realize we’re out.”
Ning Qi shrugged, showing nonchalance. “But if she shows up again, I won’t fall for it twice.”
“This time she dares show herself, I’ll make her pay.”
“Right, that woman plays dirty.”
The Pill Spirit nodded vigorously, looking fully convinced.
“Could she be fetching reinforcements?”
Ning Qi suddenly thought of something and said.
“That’s very possible. We need to hurry.”
The Pill Spirit’s eyes widened. Ning Qi’s words made him uneasy.
“Shi Xiaokun, how’s it going? How much longer?”
Ning Qi snapped back to attention and hurriedly asked.
“Master, almost done.”
“This isn’t refining, just communicating with the outside. It’s easy.”
Shi Xiaokun replied and continued his work.
“All right, let’s wait a little longer.”
Ning Qi nodded, then thought: “Since it’s almost ready, I’ll transmit to Shi Xiaokun.”
“I can. I’ve found it.”
Shi Xiaokun quickly answered.
“Good!”
Ning Qi agreed, then activated his Voice Transmission jade talisman.
Soon the talisman trembled.
Whoosh.
After a breeze passed, a wave of spiritual energy erupted from the jade pendant.
Quickly, a phantom image appeared within.
“Commander Lei!”
Zhao Shilin’s illusory figure appeared, greeting respectfully.
“I’ve found a method.”
“Bring your people to my aura. You’re nearby!”
Ning Qi looked at Zhao Shilin and said in a low voice.
“All right, I’ll contact the brothers now.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shilin visibly relaxed and immediately ended the transmission.
“Good, we’re ready to move out.”
The Pill Spirit also breathed a sigh of relief, then flashed back into Ning Qi’s dantian.
“Master, it’s ready. Just wait for them to come and we can leave.”
Shi Xiaokun came over and told Ning Qi.
“All right!”
Ning Qi agreed and waved his hand.
Shi Xiaokun submerged back into his Consciousness Sea.
Whoosh!
For a moment, only Ning Qi remained here.
Fierce winds swirled about.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ning Qi saw Zhao Shilin and his men flying over one after another.
“Commander Lei!”
When they arrived, everyone stepped forward to greet him.
“All right, we must hurry. The Sacred Maiden could bring pursuers at any moment!”
Ning Qi scanned the surroundings and said in a low voice, “I suspect she vanished to fetch reinforcements.”
“Then how do we get out?”
Zhao Shilin nodded gravely and asked anxiously.
His subordinates all showed tense expressions.
Everyone watched the void around them warily.
“Come, enter my Sumeru space first.”
“We’ll exit from there!”
Ning Qi opened his Sumeru space.
“Go there? How do we get out?”
“Yes, isn’t it the same?”
...
Upon hearing they were to go into his Sumeru space, several people immediately displayed disappointment.
Obviously, they had not expected to enter Ning Qi’s Sumeru space.
“Don’t worry. I have a way!”
Ning Qi smiled at them, “You made the right choice coming with me.”
“All right, then.”
Zhao Shilin nodded and said to the others, “Let’s follow Commander Lei!”
“Yes!”
...
Everyone responded and followed Ning Qi into his Sumeru space.
After entering, Ning Qi had been worried they might discover the secret of this place,
but he found Shi Xiaokun had already tampered with it.
Inside, there was only a simple Sumeru space to be seen.
The mountains and waters were concealed; clearly Shi Xiaokun had hidden them.
“How do we get out of here?”
...
The group grew puzzled again.
“From here.”
Ning Qi knew his Sumeru space’s layout.
He quickly found the exit channel.
Clearly it was intentionally left by Shi Xiaokun.
Ning Qi signaled, then led everyone to the exit.
With a single gesture he tore it open.
Whoosh!
A breeze from outside immediately blew in.
“Go!”
Ning Qi called, and they walked through the channel together.
“Keep up!”
Zhao Shilin followed closely.
The others filed out one after another.
Once they were all outside, they looked around at the environment.
“We’re out!”
“What is this place?”
“Anywhere is fine, as long as it’s not inside the city.”
...
Seeing the landscape, everyone showed the look of survivors who had narrowly escaped.
Ning Qi smiled at them, “This place is relatively safe. We found a position, let’s prepare to return.”
“All right. I’ll check where we are.”
Zhao Shilin flew up and began to survey their surroundings.
After observing for a while, he quickly returned down.
“How is it?”
Ning Qi asked in a low voice.
“Let’s go. This place isn’t far from our teleportation formation.”
“The spot we exited at is good. We avoided their encirclement.”
Zhao Shilin looked at everyone and said, “I already transmitted and asked about the situation.”
“The route we would have to take out was tightly sealed by their people.”
“I heard the Myriad Swords Sect sent people.”
“Oh? The Myriad Swords Sect came to help as well?”
Ning Qi smiled upon hearing this, “It seems we guessed correctly; they really went to fetch reinforcements.”
“They called for help, but it’s useless now. We’re already out.”
Zhao Shilin relaxed and continued, “Let’s go meet up with them ahead.”
“Yes!”
Everyone agreed and they departed together.
After crossing two mountain ridges, they soon reached a valley.
From a distance Ning Qi saw Lei Shan,
now disguised, unrecognizable as his true appearance,
but Zhao Shilin still recognized him.
They stopped in a deserted spot.
“Commander Lei.”
Zhao Shilin greeted respectfully.
“Ning brother, Zhao Shilin, how did you get out?”
“I was worried you were trapped.”
Lei Shan looked at the two with surprise and joy.
He hadn’t expected them to escape a close encirclement.
“This is all thanks to Ning Young Master. If you hadn’t found a way out, we’d have been trapped.”
Zhao Shilin said appreciatively, “I didn’t expect that even without preparation they could catch us off guard.”
“Is the Sacred Maiden that strong?”
Lei Shan’s expression turned serious.
“Yes. She’s not just strong—she has endless magical treasures!”
Ning Qi nodded and added, “I almost fell into her trap.”