SpaceMage

Ximen Wei's heart was pounding in his chest as he swam frantically through the bloody waters, desperately trying to put some distance between himself and the Song Family Young Master who was hot on his heels. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he fought against the currents, his muscles burning with exertion.

Bai Gu Jing's taunting voice echoed in his ears, only adding to his frustration. The old fossil was supposed to be his ally, but here he was, sitting on his ass and laughing while Ximen Wei was in danger.

"Shut the fuck up, Bai Gu Jing," Ximen Wei snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "If you're not going to help me, then at least have the decency to stay quiet."

To his surprise, Bai Gu Jing's laughter grew even louder. "Hahaha, you really are a feisty one, aren't you?" the old man chortled. "I like that in a disciple. Alright, let me see what I can do."

Ximen Wei gritted his teeth as he pushed himself harder, his arms and legs pumping furiously. He could hear the sound of the Song Family Young Master's breathing getting closer and closer, and he knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer.

Ximen Wei's heart sank as he saw the bronze lantern in the Song Family Young Master's hand. He knew all too well the power of Qi Artifacts and the devastating Qi Techniques they could unleash.

As the young master began to chant his incantation, Ximen Wei could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The air around them crackled with energy as the young master's hands flashed in complex gestures, summoning the power of the bronze lantern.

"Beacon of Light, Azure Cage! Seal Space, Seal Time, Seal Heaven and Earth!" the young master intoned, his voice ringing out with a commanding authority. Ximen Wei watched in horror as the lantern's light turned an ominous shade of azure blue, pulsating with a terrifying aura that made his mind go numb.

Suddenly, azure chains shot out from the lantern at unfathomable speeds, heading straight for Ximen Wei. The chains expanded boundlessly, encompassing a 20-meter area.

Ximen Wei's heart was pounding in his chest as he desperately searched for a way out of this situation. His mind raced, trying to come up with a solution, but it seemed like he was out of options. He knew that he couldn't hold on much longer.

His eyes darted to the medallion in his pocket, and he called out to Bai Gu Jing, hoping that the ancient devil would finally step in to help him.

"Bai Gu Jing! If you're not going to act now, then when will you act??" Ximen Wei shouted in frustration.

There was a brief moment of silence before a sigh rang out from the medallion.

"Fine fine, but don't ever talk to me like that kid! If it were not for Karma, I would've killed you already," Bai Gu Jing's voice boomed in response.

Ximen Wei breathed a sigh of relief as the beam of light shot from his pocket and shattered the azure chain, breaking it into countless pieces that fell down into the swamp's bloody waters. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at seeing the powerful Bai Gu Jing's attack.

Bai Gu Jing, on the other hand, couldn't contain his delight at his own power. "Haha, I'm great, aren't I? Back in my prime, I was one of the most powerful people under the Heavens. How could a trifling Level 3 Qi Technique stand in my way?" he boasted, his smug grin widening.

However, the Song Family Young Master's expression turned ugly and wary. The Azure Seals technique was a signature move of his family, used to seal and imprison powerful experts of Heaven and Earth. It was not to be taken lightly.

He stopped in his tracks before resuming the chase again, his eyes fixed on Ximen Wei's pocket where the attack that broke his technique had come from. He caught a glimpse of the medallion that lay there and assumed that Ximen Wei had a Qi Artifact like him. He wagered that the young boy could only use it once without paying a heavy price, just as he had to pay a price to unleash the Azure Seals.

But the Song Family Young Master was not happy at all. In fact, his mind was racing with worry and suspicion. How could a Level 1 Qi Trainee, who was not even 11 years old, possess such a powerful artifact?

Dongfang used a Qi Technique to gain an incredible boost of speed, zooming past him in the blink of an eye. Dongfang's speed was so great that he was close to catching up to Ximen Wei, who was swimming, in no time at all.

Without hesitation, Dongfang pushed his hands forward, unleashing yet another Qi Technique. "Qi Technique - Azure Hand!" he exclaimed.

However, this time, the technique was not as powerful as when the Song Family Young Master had unleashed it. As a Level 1 Qi Trainee, Dongfang simply didn't have the same level of skill and power. The Azure Hand was even more illusory than before, barely stretching to a meter in length. Its power was significantly weaker than its former incarnation, but it was still sent hurtling towards Ximen Wei with the intention of inflicting serious harm.

Fortunately for Ximen Wei, the effects of his Dash Action were still in place, giving him the agility and speed he needed to evade Dongfang's attack by a hair's breadth.

The Azure Hand attack whizzed past Ximen Wei, creating a deep crater in the murky swamp waters where it landed. Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that he had just narrowly escaped a potentially lethal blow.

"Slippery bastard, get back here!" Dongfang growled in frustration, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Despite his injuries, he waved his hands and unleashed yet another Qi Technique, determined to catch Ximen Wei at all cost.