Heading east.

Yan Zhen entered the wilderness area of the Divine Fall Mountain Range, maintaining his speed. After all, for a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the so-called wilderness was no different from a back garden; even if a Tier Two Great Demon attacked at night, it wouldn’t be a concern.

During these seven or eight days, he carefully observed from the shadows, meticulously probing for any suspicious individuals, and acted with extreme caution. Only after ensuring nothing was secretly monitoring him, did Yan Zhen dare to secretly return to the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

At the same time, to prevent Wusheng’s Three Life Gates from divining his movements, he left a Tier Two Top Grade Purple Spirit Puppet Substitute in the Far West, which was a foundational item, but it was the only way to return smoothly to the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

The Purple Spirit Puppet Substitute, though only Tier Two Top Grade, was essentially a Golden Core Level secret technique. If upgraded to Tier Three, it could transfer fortune and fate to the Purple Spirit Puppet Substitute, making it bear misfortune on its behalf.

It could also block certain Celestial Secrets, and even a Golden Core Level Life Technique Cultivator couldn’t see the reality. Even if they forced themselves to expend lifespan, they would only glimpse the tip of the iceberg. Although the Tier Two Top Grade Purple Spirit Puppet Substitute wasn’t that powerful, it was sufficient to resist all life techniques and divination techniques below the Golden Core.

Even the notoriously ruthless Fate Calculator from Wusheng’s Three Life Gates, reputed as the strongest soul cultivator below the Golden Core, couldn’t deduce anything.

Such caution was due to the seriousness of matters concerning External Foundation Establishment, which related to the future of the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

During this journey, although he didn’t discover if Li Mu’s Demon Corpse was indeed an External Foundation Establishment Item, it revealed something no less significant than External Foundation Establishment.

Though it was not at the level of External Foundation Establishment,

it was still the hope of the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

Thus, he refrained from sending a message.

He needed to personally journey to the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks.

Wusheng’s Three Life Gates had already gathered at the Outer Sea, undoubtedly keeping a close watch over the Divine Fall Mountain Range with spells and Magical Artifacts. If the message were intercepted, the opponent would surely launch a surprise Golden Core attack, leaving the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks without hope.

Even though Pei Wuxing was in the Little Demon Realm, would he offend the entire Wusheng’s Three Life Gates for the sake of Li Mu?

Clearly not.

...

The moon was dark and the winds were high.

Yan Zhen traversed above the dark clouds, moving silently, his presence almost indetectable. Even passing by a Tier Two Winged Demon would not cause any disturbance. Nevertheless, Yan Zhen’s Divine Sense remained ever vigilant.

Not until he crossed the wilderness of the Divine Fall Mountain Range into its central region did Yan Zhen finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I’ve entered the territory of the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks. If anyone truly has been watching me, they wouldn’t dare make a move now."

The wilderness zone within the Divine Fall Mountain Range was an excellent spot for assaults, and since nothing happened there, he feared no attack after entering the central region. Even if someone acted now, with his strength, he could easily hold off even a Foundation Establishment Perfection Cultivator for half a day.

As for Golden Core Cultivators,

the war has not started yet; why would a Golden Core recklessly make a move?

After all, should a Golden Core fail, all previous plans would go to waste.

Suddenly,

a faint yet extremely sharp ghostly aura appeared abruptly behind him, moving so quickly that the nerves Yan Zhen had just relaxed instantly tensed up.

Upon sensing the ghostly aura behind him, Yan Zhen employed his Escape Technique without the slightest hesitation. Thus, by the time the East Spring Undying Bone appeared, Yan Zhen had already escaped thirty miles away.

"As expected from an elder cultivator, cautious indeed." Seeing East Spring Undying Bone’s attack fail, Wen Jiu remained calm.

For this attack was never meant to capture his soul.

In the next moment,

East Spring Undying Bone pursued once more.

Catching up to Yan Zhen, who had just landed in a forest, Yan Zhen was about to turn around and probe with his Divine Sense the entity behind him when the East Spring Undying Bone was already upon him, causing Yan Zhen’s expression to change drastically.

The opponent also had an Escape Technique!

"You think you can catch me? You’re still too green." At the instant, he sensed the ghostly aura again, Yan Zhen once more decisively used the Escape Technique.

Escaping another thirty miles.

In one smooth motion.

Without a hitch.

Simultaneously, to prevent the opponent from catching up again, Yan Zhen summoned three lightning-imbued Flying Swords to guard around him. With the Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks Golden Core Secret Technique "Shadowless Escape Technique," and the three Tier Two Top Grade "Hidden Thunder Sword" specialized in combating evil entities, even if that ghostly entity pursued again, he could attack or retreat effortlessly, facing no fear.

Yet, as the three Hidden Thunder Swords flew out, the ghostly aura reappeared, once again manifesting beside him.

The three swords instantly erupted with lightning, crashing toward the newly appeared ghostly aura, while Yan Zhen retreated a thousand meters, simultaneously unleashing several Tier Two Middle Grade Talismans. This process was without hesitation, performed with the same fluency.

However. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

When the lightning descended and the Talismans exploded, the ghostly aura suddenly vanished, leaving the Hidden Thunder Sword and Talismans to strike in vain. Before Yan Zhen could react, that strange ghostly aura reappeared again.

Still beside him.

"Another Escape Technique!"

Yan Zhen’s expression changed drastically.

This ghostly entity managed to use the Escape Technique thrice in succession, completely ignoring the damage to its Ghost Body and the consumption of ghostly energy. Such capability was rare in the entire Divine Fall Mountain Range.

Fortunately, he was a Dual Cultivator of Body and Technique, with his body cultivation already in the Foundation Establishment Realm, allowing him to continue using the Escape Technique.

"Go!"

The Shadowless Escape Technique was utilized again.

The three Hidden Thunder Swords instantly turned back to stab toward the spot where the ghostly aura appeared, but struck nothing and vanished from the original spot along with Yan Zhen.

At Lengxi Mountain, Wen Jiu watched as each successive attempt failed, maintaining his usual demeanor, "Let’s see how many times you can use that Escape Technique."

With that said,

East Spring Undying Bone pursued once more.

Using the Escape Technique three times in a row, East Spring Undying Bone only expended half a layer of corpse energy.

But Yan Zhen was different.

Simultaneously, after using the Shadowless Escape Technique to flee thirty more miles, the moment Yan Zhen landed, various torn wounds appeared all over his Spirit Body, blood gushing out, quickly staining his clothes.