264: Entangled by calamity

A month passed.

"Ahhh! Why! Why is this happening?!"

The strange state arrived once again as expected, and Mu Han's frenzied roar echoed throughout the empty Imperial City.

He couldn't understand. Did the opponent not need rest? Was there no backlash from using such a Secret Technique?

"No, no, there must be! There must be!!"

His Dao Heart was incredibly firm, and he believed his judgment even more.

"The opponent must be at the end of their rope now. As long as I stall for a bit longer, the advantage will surely be mine!"

"..."

Another month passed.

"Let's see how much longer you can last!"

Mu Han gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressed the unease in his heart, and continued sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Two more months passed.

"Soon, soon. Persistence is victory!"

Mu Han's eyes were bloodshot as he muttered to himself, seemingly trying to cheer himself up, but the trace of fear deep within his eyes could not be concealed.

Until three more months passed!

"No! No! No—!"

Mu Han suddenly stood up from the dried blood pool, his face twisted and ferocious, like a malevolent spirit climbing out of Hell. He had lost all traces of his former composure and calm.

He couldn't stand it anymore!

Month after month, month after month—it had been almost half a year!

Not only had the abnormal state failed to weaken, but it had intensified.

"That's wrong!"

Mu Han, in his fury, suddenly woke up with a start.

The opponent was clearly using the tactic of “cutting flesh with a dull knife,” intending to let him die a slow death.

Why had he failed to see through such an obvious scheme, and why was he so foolishly fighting this battle of attrition with that person?

If this continued, he would be slowly drained to death!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he immediately blurted out!

"The Source Tracing and Returning to Truth Method!"

That's right. Earlier, he had unrestrainedly activated this Secret Technique to transfer the abnormal state from his body.

Now, who knew how much his own Luck had declined?

"So, my Dao Heart is clouded, and I'm entangled by Calamity Qi?"

Mu Han's pupils constricted. Having figured out the core issue, he felt horrified yet slightly relieved.

"Fortunately, fortunately, it's not too late to realize this now. I can no longer hold onto any shred of Luck or hope!"

Although he didn't know how the opponent maintained the Secret Technique for so long, they were clearly well-prepared.

Therefore, he must seize the moment while his Realm hasn't completely dropped, allowing him a chance at survival!

But if he truly fell back to the Mid-stage Golden Core, he would face certain death!

Thinking of this, a flicker of decisiveness and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

"In that case... I shall kill!"

However, he couldn't just rush out recklessly. Who knew how many ambushes the opponent had prepared outside, waiting for him to walk into the trap?

Mu Han cautiously took a Talisman from his embrace. Silver light flowed across it, and Dragon and Phoenix seal scripts faintly appeared.

This Talisman was called the “Void Breaking Shadow Evasion Talisman,” and it was a Third-Rank Supreme-Grade Talisman.

Once activated, it left behind an afterimage while the main body instantly tore through space and teleported ten thousand miles away, making it a supreme treasure for saving one's life and escaping.

"What a pity about that 'void cicada molt'."

Mu Han's gaze darkened slightly. That Exotic Treasure, which offered even stronger life-saving capabilities, had been used by that idiot Shen Yuan. Otherwise, his confidence would be much greater.

Fortunately, the “Void Breaking Shadow Evasion Talisman” was also extremely effective.

He planned to go out first and meet the opponent. If he could defeat them in battle, that would naturally be best.

If the situation on the field turned unfavorable, he would immediately activate the Talisman and flee.

Having made his decision, Mu Han took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the various discomforts in his body, and then the Aura belonging to a Late Golden Core Stage Great Cultivator erupted violently.

His gaze returned to indifference as he looked toward the figure who had been sitting cross-legged for a long time in the Void Realm outside the city... outside the “Nine Dragons Controlling Heaven Grand Formation.”

Lu Ming, who had been sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, seemed to sense something and suddenly opened them. His gaze looked down, colliding with Mu Han's line of sight in the air.

"What, couldn't hold back anymore?" Lu Ming smiled coldly.

In fact, if he wanted to, the “Nine Dragons Controlling Heaven Grand Formation” couldn't stop him at all.

Don't forget, Ji Ruge, as the Ji Clan's Old Ancestor, possessed the authority to control the Formation.

Even though Mu Han later altered parts of it, tearing open a gap was still easy.

The reason he surrounded them without attacking was to execute the strategy of “boiling a frog in warm water.”

Unlike dealing with Cheng Qingxuan, that time required a quick resolution to stabilize the rear.

But when dealing with Mu Han, the longer the delay, the more advantageous it was for him.

He could continuously transfer the side effects through the golden book, hindering Mu Han's recovery progress.

On the other hand, not only did he have his “dharma body” leveling up for him, but his cultivation hadn't fallen behind either; in fact, he had improved slightly compared to half a year ago.

If this dragged on any longer, he might even Breakthrough to the Mid-stage Golden Core right where he was.

Therefore, Lu Ming later deliberately controlled the intensity of the transferred side effects, constantly giving Mu Han the illusion that “the opponent is about to give up,” making him complacent.

He originally thought such a small trick wouldn't last long, but unexpectedly, it dragged on for over half a year until the opponent finally reacted today.

"Is it because his Luck has decreased?" Lu Ming's eyes lowered slightly as he considered this possibility.

However, this was actually a good thing for him.

The timing, the location, and the people are all aligned... Today, Mu Han must die!