The old man from the Hijazi family stared intently in the direction where Raed had fled with astonishing speed.
His face twisted with a mix of shock and fury, the air around him crackling with his suppressed rage.The old man's eyes widened as he processed the sheer destructive force of Raed's punch.
The blow had not only shaken him but also inflicted a deep wound on his pride, making him seethe with anger over Raed's audacious escape.
"Do you think that in the world of Qi collection, you can escape my grasp? Hmph, you must die today."
He surged forward through the dense forest, his robes fluttering like dark shadows among the towering trees and thick underbrush.
His spiritual power stretched out to cover a 500-meter radius, allowing him to track Raed's fleeting trail.
Even though Raed was moving at breakneck speed, the old man's spiritual sense kept him on track.Raed, despite fleeing at top speed, was acutely aware of the old man's spiritual power honing in on him.
The explosive pill's effects would soon diminish, leaving him vulnerable.
"What should I do? This old man is relentless. I have no choice but to use the second pill and fight, despite the massive level difference."
Raed's heart pounded furiously, a mix of fear and determination surging through him as he formulated a desperate plan. He stopped abruptly, clenching the pill in his left hand.
He drew his bow, placed an arrow on the string, and channeled all his remaining strength into it.
As the old man drew closer, Raed waited until he was within 50 meters before releasing the arrow.
The arrow whistled through the air, cutting a sharp, high-pitched note as it sped toward its target, glowing with a brilliant starlight. Raed's face tightened in concentration as he watched the arrow's trajectory.
"Hmph, you really overestimate yourself. Do you think this arrow can hit me?"
The old man sneered, dismissing the arrow with a casual wave of his hand. But his smirk faltered as a sharp, unexpected pain shot through his arm.
"What is this? Ah…"
Though the arrow was deflected, a violent force transferred to the old man's arm.
Raed had poured every ounce of his strength into the arrow, and its impact was devastating.
The old man's cry of pain startled Raed. His left arm, which had intercepted the arrow, exploded into a mist of blood.
The force wasn't supposed to be this strong given the level difference. But the old man's careless attitude and lack of protection had made him vulnerable.
"An opportunity…"
Raed's eyes narrowed as he swiftly consumed the pill, preparing to capitalize on the old man's weakened state.
His level had surged from the fifth to the ninth with the first pill. He hoped the second pill would push him to the Blood Refinement Realm.
To his astonishment, his level climbed to the tenth of Qi Condensation, then a half-step to Blood Condensation, before abruptly halting.
"Damn it, aren't there only nine levels? What's this tenth level?"
Raed's disbelief was short-lived as he refocused on the imminent threat. An enemy was before him, and distractions could be deadly.
"Die, you damned old man!"
Raed unleashed the Mountain Crushing Fist with all his destructive intent, targeting the old man, who was writhing in pain.
"Damn, you child, dare to crush my arm?"
The old man roared with anger, but this time he was ready. He used Qi protection, unlike before when he had underestimated Raed.
When their fists clashed, Raed was pushed back, but not as severely as before. The old man was stunned, recognizing Raed's increased strength.
"Why are you attacking me with such intensity? Is it really because of your expulsion from the Alchemy Wing?"
Raed asked, his voice calm, eyes fixed on the old man's furious expression. He added with a sardonic smile,
"Or is it something more? You seem desperate to hide something."
"Hmph, don't let your illusions of grandeur fool you, boy. You're nothing but a fleeting nuisance."
The old man's lips curled into a sneer, his voice dripping with contempt.Raed's calm analysis left the old man in shock.
How could someone so young possess such insight? But his astonishment was fleeting as he felt Raed's presence vanish into a black mist.
The old man, still reeling from the pain of his severed arm and the gushing blood, found Raed reappearing beside him.
Raed had used Shadow Steps to its full extent, leaving a deceptive shadow behind.
Raed chose not to continue the attack but instead fled with all his speed, leaving the old man on the ground, bleeding from his mouth.
Raed knew he couldn't maintain this power for long and would soon be incapacitated.
"Ah… damn it, I have an internal injury. I must kill this bastard, or I'll never find peace."
The old man took out a level four healing pill and swallowed it.
The pill healed his injuries in twenty breaths, but his left arm remained as it was. Restoring lost limbs required special pills or bloodlines.
"This kid has gone too far, but he's still deep in the forest. I must ensure his death personally or I won't be able to sleep. He's incredibly dangerous!"
"I must also inform that person about this kid's threat, or our plans will be ruined by this unforeseen anomaly."