Lost His Mind . . .
Unbeknownst to the observers below, the man in black had executed a rapid retreat, distancing himself by no less than three hundred meters in a mere instant.
As the needles soared through the air, he nimbly moved away, covering a distance of a hundred meters in a breathtaking display of swiftness.
This escape was executed in mere seconds, the man's speed almost incomprehensible. The onlookers were left befuddled; they scarcely managed to discern his evasive maneuvers before he had vanished from their sight. Within moments, he appeared as nothing more than a minuscule, indistinct dot in the sky. A second later, even that dark speck had vanished into the ether.
Ji Chengfeng, who had gathered energy for a considerable time, found himself unleashing his strike into an empty void. The man in black had employed an extraordinary, nearly instantaneous method of departure.
The luminous pillar wavered in the heavens, then abruptly inverted, as Ji Chengfeng bellowed in frustration, "Boundless Saint! Where have you vanished to?"
Evidently, Ji Chengfeng was unwilling to allow matters to conclude in this manner. Fueled by the power of his unity with his sword, he transformed into a blazing star shooting through the celestial expanse.
While Ji Chengfeng could not rival the man in black in terms of aerial techniques, his human-sword fusion form permitted him to channel his entire energy into acceleration. Consequently, he managed to bridge the gap between himself and the man in black, making him the only one among the Sunlight Sect disciples who could do so.
Ji Chengfeng seized this opportunity, further enhancing his speed by tapping into the energy of their merged state. He was determined to catch up to the man in black, convinced that even if he couldn't defeat him single-handedly, he could at least slow the assailant down until his fellow sect members arrived. Once reinforcements materialized, they could launch a coordinated attack that would ultimately overpower the man in black. Regardless of the assailant's formidable prowess or exceptional agility, there would be no escaping their combined assault.
This was Ji Chengfeng's well-devised plan, one that he was steadfastly committed to executing. However, the man in black harbored intentions of his own. He was resolute in ensuring Ji Chengfeng's plan never came to fruition.
Observing Ji Chengfeng gaining ground behind him, the man in black experienced a jolt of surprise, though his reaction remained composed. He lightly brushed his arms, propelling himself forward with even greater velocity. A sharp, almost inaudible whistling pierced the air as he darted through the sky like a shadowy projectile.
While maintaining his acceleration, he addressed Ji Chengfeng in a resolute tone, "Ji Chengfeng! You and your Sunlight Sect cohorts shall live to regret this! I've made it clear; I am not the Boundless Saint. The manner in which you denigrated him will not go unanswered. You will receive your just desserts!"
For now, the man in black persisted in denial, his words carrying a distinct, ominous threat.
Ji Chengfeng, pushed to the brink of exasperation, felt as though he might erupt in anger, possibly even spew forth a torrent of blood from sheer frustration.
Ji Changfeng realized that the man in black possessed the ability to accelerate his speed, leaving no room for complacency. He refrained from uttering a single word and focused on maintaining his pace by harnessing the energy derived from the human-sword merger. Any spoken word would have dissipated his spiritual qi, impeding his pursuit. Consequently, he remained silent and persisted in chasing the evasive figure.
The other disciples of the Sunlight Sect also followed suit, each giving their utmost effort to close the gap.
Due to their varying speeds, the pursuers naturally formed several distinct groups. Ji Changfeng led the first group, immediately trailing the man in black, with eight cultivators comprising the second group due to their swifter progress, while the remainder constituted the third group, advancing at a comparatively slower pace.
The sky above suddenly lit up with numerous streaks of brilliant azure light, nearly illuminating the entire nocturnal firmament. This vivid display unmistakably signaled the ongoing clash of Sky Origin Stage cultivators to anyone who gazed skyward.
In the mortal realm, particularly within the Land of Han-Yang, the sight of so many Sky Origin Stage cultivators simultaneously engaging in combat was exceedingly rare.
The chase, for the most part, saw the majority of the pursuers unable to close in on the man in black. It was Ji Changfeng who remained in closest pursuit, thanks to the energy derived from the human-sword fusion, maintaining a scant hundred-meter gap.
Throughout the pursuit, the man in black adroitly modified his flight patterns and altered directions on multiple occasions, in an effort to confound his pursuers. Yet Ji Changfeng exhibited unwavering determination, continuously conserving his energy and remaining in close proximity.
Though the disciples behind Ji Changfeng moved more slowly, they remained tenacious, drawn to the beacon of light emitted by his radiant pillar. As long as Ji Changfeng kept the man in black within sight, the others were assured of eventually closing the gap. The question was not if but when.
Their relentless chase garnered significant attention as it unfolded, prompting a growing audience of onlookers.
It was impossible not to attract attention when a group of Sky Origin Stage cultivators engaged in a fierce aerial confrontation. The conflict unfolding high above drew the gaze of countless onlookers below.
Seizing the opportunity to disrupt their relentless pursuit, the man in black unleashed a furious tirade, his teeth gritted in frustration. "Ji Chengfeng, you imbecile! I've already told you, I am not who you think I am! Why the hell are you persistently chasing me?"
Ji Changfeng was fully aware of the man's ploy, as he attempted to provoke a response. If he were to speak, his stored spiritual qi in his dantian would dissipate instantly, negating the benefits of his human-sword merger. If he engaged in verbal exchanges, he'd never catch up with the man in black, who was undeniably the cunning and formidable Boundless Saint.
Therefore, Ji Changfeng staunchly maintained his silence, refusing to utter a word. His unwavering focus remained on the preservation of his human-sword merger, ensuring he kept pace.
Indeed, he couldn't help but be astonished at the Boundless Saint's might. In a normal situation, Ji Changfeng would have long since abandoned the pursuit. He had no delusions of his ability to apprehend the man in black. Even with his human-sword merger, a confrontation would be arduous and uncertain. Observing the man's exceptional flying skills, Ji Changfeng realized he shouldn't be overconfident about prevailing in a combat scenario.
However, his current state of mind was far from rational..