As soon as Xiao Man set up the formation, she felt a powerful aura rapidly approaching. She immediately understood that Qi Hong must have a mark on him that she hadn't discovered, and no matter where Qi Hong went, he would be found by the Five Poisons Sect.
Xiao Man dared not hesitate and quickly fled the swamp. She had thought of every possible method. As for whether she could save Qi Hong, it depended on his own luck. She had done all she could for Qi Hong, and even if she couldn't save him in the end, she would have a clear conscience.
Xiao Man had initially thought that Zang Xu would capture Qi Hong first, but to her surprise, Zang Xu abandoned Qi Hong and headed straight for her, moving at an incredibly fast speed. Xiao Man gritted her teeth, channeling her inner vital energy to its limit, attempting to widen the distance between herself and Zang Xu.
However, the disparity in their cultivation levels was too great. Even with Xiao Man's extraordinary talent, she was no match for a peak Golden Core cultivator.
"Are all people from the Five Poisons Sect this despicable?" Xiao Man couldn't help but curse. Luo Ke had chased her before, and now the sect leader of the Five Poisons Sect was also chasing her. Did she look like an easy target?
Xiao Man glanced back and was shocked to see Zang Xu within her line of sight. She thought, 'Cultivation is indeed powerful. I've just clawed my way up from the bottom, and I've already encountered such a master. The heavens truly favor me!'
Zang Xu watched Xiao Man sprint away, calmly pursuing her. He wanted to see just how fast and how far this brat could run.
No matter how much Xiao Man increased her speed, Zang Xu maintained a constant distance, creating pressure for Xiao Man while also giving her the illusion that she could escape with a burst of effort. Zang Xu acted like a hunter, toying with his prey.
After running for two hours, Xiao Man stopped. She decisively sat down on the ground and looked at Zang Xu, who was slowly catching up, panting as she said, "Kill me or cut me up, I'll accept whatever fate you decree. I'm not running anymore!"
Zang Xu sneered, "Aren't you quite good at running? Keep going, put in more effort, perhaps you can escape?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot!" Xiao Man lay down on the ground brazenly. "From the moment we entered this secret realm, we became your prey. There's nowhere to escape."
"You are indeed clever, but unfortunately, clever people don't live long." Zang Xu stepped forward, intending to capture Xiao Man first before returning to fetch Qi Hong.
After Zang Xu had taken only a few steps, he found himself sinking into a swamp. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't pull his legs out. Xiao Man, who had seemingly given up resisting, suddenly leaped up from the ground, swiftly pulled a sack over his head, and began pummeling him.
Zang Xu was furious. He used his qi to tear the sack covering his head to shreds and simultaneously sent Xiao Man flying. However, he failed to notice that some white powder had adhered to him. In his rage, Zang Xu didn't pay attention to this. All he wanted now was to tear Xiao Man to pieces.
Xiao Man retreated repeatedly, widening the distance between them. "I won't just stand here and let you kill me. Don't think that just because you're powerful, you can do whatever you want. Those who do evil deeds will eventually face retribution!"
"Retribution, I'll show you what retribution is today!"
Zang Xu shot up from the ground, finally escaping the swamp. The trap Xiao Man had secretly set was also shattered. Xiao Man was on the verge of tears, realizing that in the face of absolute power, all schemes and tricks were futile!
"Still trying to run!" A blast of qi struck Xiao Man's leg, causing her to stumble and fall to her knees. She rolled away, and as soon as she stopped, she dragged her injured leg and continued to flee.
Zang Xu was very interested in Xiao Man's unyielding spirit. He wanted to see how long she could struggle against absolute power. He immediately sent another blast of qi, hitting Xiao Man's back.
Xiao Man cried out in pain but showed no signs of stopping or begging for mercy. Her mind was filled with a single thought: if she could delay for just a little longer, maybe she could find a sliver of hope for survival.
Elder Qin was pacing anxiously in the Tongtian Tower. 'Why does this girl always provoke enemies she can't defeat? Luo Ke almost killed her, and now she's facing a peak Golden Core cultivator. Her journey is either a path to death or already on the path to death!'
"You troublesome girl, why must you seek death?"
Xiao Man was close to tears. 'Is this me seeking death? I don't want to provoke any of them, but they won't leave me alone! I have no choice but to use all my means to find a sliver of hope for survival.'
"Youngster, I see you have some backbone. If you kneel and beg me, I might spare your life."
"Immortal, have mercy, I was wrong." Xiao Man, who had been fleeing for her life, turned around and immediately knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy. All her actions were performed in one smooth, unhesitating flow.
Zang Xu was stunned by Xiao Man's sudden plea. He had already prepared for her to fight to the death and had imagined how he would torture her. But this person was too shameless, kneeling and kowtowing so readily, showing no sign of backbone.
"You... you have no backbone at all!"
Xiao Man cursed inwardly. 'You're the one who told me to surrender, and now you say I have no backbone. What exactly do you want me to do to satisfy you?'
"In the face of absolute power, backbone is useless. Immortal, you are magnanimous, please spare my dog-like life." Xiao Man felt no burden whatsoever. Only by living could there be hope. Kneeling and kowtowing meant nothing. Even if he asked her to call him ancestor, she wouldn't hesitate, as it was only words and didn't cost her anything!
Zang Xu was silent for a moment. "Youngster, I don't have to kill you, but you must join my Five Poisons Sect and acknowledge me as your master. From now on, you will obey my commands and do whatever I ask."
"I wonder what the Sect Master wants me to do?" Xiao Man asked fawningly.
"First, take Qi Hong to the Ice Plains, and then lure all the disciples of the Seven Sects to the Ice Plains."
"What if they don't believe me?" Xiao Man asked cautiously. She suspected the Ice Plains had issues, but she didn't know what secrets lay hidden there.
"Then you will have no value in living," Zang Xu said ominously. "Do you know what to do now?"
"Yes."
"Very good," Zang Xu said calmly. "Since you acknowledge me as your master, sign a servant contract with me."
Xiao Man got up from the ground and dusted off her clothes. The bleeding from the wound on her leg had gradually stopped. She was truly grateful for her body's resilience, otherwise, she wouldn't know how many times she would have died.
"It's absolutely impossible for me to be your servant." Xiao Man's expression was calm, and the fawning demeanor from before was gone, as if it were an illusion.
"It seems you truly wish to die."
"Sect Master Zang, you dare not kill me." Xiao Man's lips curved slightly. "I wonder if Sect Master Zang feels anything unusual about his body?"