Unlike the youth and Yan Zhen, he couldn’t push his body to maintain such incredible speeds for long, especially not with his severe internal injuries.

Though his cultivation realm surpassed that of Yan Zhen and the youth, he could not stave off the decay of old age. The explosive power his physical body could muster was a far cry from theirs.

He had relied primarily on the power of his Qi Sea White Tiger to slay Zamuhu Hamu and the others, and to carve a path out from their two-hundred-strong force.

If he hadn’t been injured from fighting so many battles earlier, he could have used the power of his Qi Sea White Tiger to rapidly catch up to Chu Lingguang, just as Yan Zhen and the youth had. His speed might have even surpassed theirs for a brief moment.

But alas, as powerful as he was, he was not invincible.

BOOM!

Just then, the youth launched himself toward Chu Lingguang, aiming a palm strike at the center of his back.

Chu Lingguang sensed an unprecedented level of danger. He executed the first form of his Flying Leaf Lotus Spear—the Thrust—striking out behind him. Though he couldn’t create a three-foot defensive perimeter like Guo Wei, it was still easy for his Spear Technique to envelop the youth’s Palm Technique.

However, the terrifying force was more than he could withstand.

Chu Lingguang felt the Lightning Spear about to be torn from his grasp. A wave of Palm Force surged along the shaft of the Long Spear and rushed toward his chest. It felt as if he would be blasted right off Little Red Horse’s back.

If he were on solid ground right now, upon receiving the youth’s palm strike, he could have used the Heaven and Earth Art to transfer part of the impact into the ground.

But mounted on Little Red Horse, Chu Lingguang could not. And even if he could, he would never vent the force into his steed, allowing it to be struck dead by the youth’s Palm Force.

Little Red had been with him for two years.

During the Daoist Examination, the horse had helped him achieve outstanding scores in Mounted Archery and Lance. Chu Lingguang had long since formed a deep bond with him.

He had carried Chu Lingguang out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, keeping him just ahead of the youth. Chu Lingguang could not possibly abandon him.

BANG!

The penetrating Palm Force shattered the Qi Phase Scale Armor on Chu Lingguang’s body. The force bypassed the four layers of his Dharma Aspect—skin, flesh, tendons, and bone—and slammed into his internal organs.

Chu Lingguang let out a muffled grunt.

Though the Dharma Aspect had weakened the blow, he still suffered an internal injury. Thankfully, it wasn’t fatal, and he wasn’t thrown from Little Red’s back.

However, the youth’s next palm strike was about to shatter his spear’s defense and land squarely on his chest. Chu Lingguang knew that if that palm connected, he would likely die right here, even with his awakened Divine Image Small Vortex.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, an arm shot through the afterimages of his spear and intercepted the youth’s palm strike.

BOOM!

A shockwave of qi threw Chu Lingguang from his saddle. Bracing the Lightning Spear against the ground and clinging desperately to the reins, he used his core strength to swing himself back onto the horse.

He saw that the arm belonged not to Guo Wei, but to Yan Zhen.

The two young men had exchanged a blow at full power. Yan Zhen seemed to have gained the upper hand at the crucial moment, forcing the other youth to retreat five or six steps.

"If you want a real fight, follow me into the mountains!"

Yan Zhen stood protectively behind Chu Lingguang and shouted at the youth. Chu Lingguang, on Little Red Horse, galloped relentlessly toward the National Border.

The youth was furious, but with Yan Zhen in his way, he had no hope of catching Chu Lingguang—especially not with Guo Wei now charging toward them.

"You’ve already witnessed Master Guo’s power. You injured his disciple. Once he has you in his sights, he won’t let you go. Do you want to face the might of the Flying Leaf Lotus Spear, or do you want to settle things with me? The choice is yours!"

Yan Zhen warned.

With that said, he immediately charged toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Chu Lingguang had already pulled away from the youth, and Guo Wei, having shaken off his own pursuers, was charging in their direction. The master and his disciple were out of danger. Yan Zhen knew the youth would make the correct choice.

"Fine! We won’t rest until a winner is decided!"

Just as Yan Zhen predicted, the youth charged after him, and the two disappeared together into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

Guo Wei watched them go but did not give chase. A duel between two evenly matched prodigies within the Hundred Thousand Mountains was a stroke of fortune for them both—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If he were to interfere, even if he managed to kill the youth, it would only ruin the experience for Yan Zhen. He knew that it was a rare thing in life to find a worthy, evenly matched opponent.

So, he quickly caught up to Chu Lingguang. The master and disciple raced toward the National Border, and soon, they crossed into Great Yuan Territory.

"Master!"

"Master Guo!"

Seeing the master and disciple break free from their pursuers and emerge from an unguarded stretch of the National Border, Hei Hu, Zhuoyi, and the others all ran from the main gate to meet them.

"Master!"

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu knelt together before Guo Wei.

Hei Hu was ashamed that he had been unable to help, unable to charge into the fray alongside Guo Wei.

Chu Lingguang was grief-stricken that Guo Wei had been injured saving him.

"Get up, both of you."

"We made it through today’s danger unscathed, and it is thanks to all of you."

Guo Wei casually pulled Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu to their feet. He then turned to Zhuoyi, Pan Tonghui, and the others, cupping his fist in salute. He knew they had contributed a great deal.

"We are ashamed!"

Zhuoyi, Pan Tonghui, and the others knew they hadn’t been of much help. On the contrary, they had let Guo Wei and his two disciples walk into danger, and so their faces were filled with shame.

"Master Guo, your Flying Leaf Lotus Spear is truly a divine art. It was a dazzling sight to behold."

A moment later, the group gathered inside Wei Tu’s barracks.

By now, the two opposing armies had disengaged.

Xie Xiaohuan’s forces had already vanished from sight. Though Guo Wei had failed to kill Xie Xiaohuan this time, he had slain many from the Aika Tribe.

Baru was the defending general, as well as a warrior of the Aika Tribe. When he learned that his tribe had suffered grievous losses and that the perpetrator was right there in Wei Tu’s barracks, he was filled with rage, yet utterly powerless to do anything.