“There they are!” the leader shouted.
He pointed at his staff, and Qin Yu felt the trees beneath her feet begin to move like living creatures.
“Go!” Luo Shangyu grabbed Qin Yu’s hand and pulled her away, fleeing into the distance.
The surrounding branches and trunks moved like pythons, coiling toward Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu to surround them.
“Life Element Magic,” Luo Shangyu said, her expression grave, “And that person’s control over it isn’t low!”
“Can you defeat him?” Qin Yu asked nervously.
She knew that if she and Luo Shangyu were caught this time, they would be completely finished.
“I can!” Luo Shangyu’s confident tone helped settle Qin Yu’s racing heart.
Luo Shangyu waved her staff, and her Atmospheric Magic condensed into blades of wind, slicing through the seemingly sentient branches.
Soon, the two reached the end of the branches—a massive trunk.
Qin Yu estimated that the trunk was at least 10 meters in diameter.
Luo Shangyu tapped the trunk lightly with her staff, and the branches transformed into a series of steps, building a path for them toward the depths of the forest.
The two pursuers ran wildly on the ground behind them, refusing to let Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu go.
Various elemental magics emerged one after another.
Rays of magic condensed from Base-state mana — the simplest form of magic power that can be converted into various elemental magics after adjustment by a Mage, and the form in which mana is stored within the body — also streaked through the air as primitive but deadly means of attack.
With the cover of the dense foliage, Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu were able to flee through the intense barrage with relative ease.
“Are we going to keep running like this?” Qin Yu felt Luo Shangyu’s hand turning cold and trembling.
“I can hold on,” Luo Shangyu said through gritted teeth.
She could clearly feel the mana in her body being rapidly consumed.
Although Luo Shangyu hadn’t been using offensive spells, using Life Magic to manipulate branches into paths, cutting down attacking limbs, and constructing protective shields was draining her mana with every move.
Having lived in seclusion for 1,000 years, Luo Shangyu’s movements were indeed a bit rusty.
This was the first time in nearly 1,000 years that she had consumed so much mana; more than half of it was already gone.
The voices of the pursuers behind them grew faint.
Qin Yu looked down and saw that the two men were nowhere to be seen.
“Luo Shangyu, they haven’t caught up.” Qin Yu pulled on Luo Shangyu’s hand.
Hearing this, Luo Shangyu stood still and used magic to scan the surroundings.
After a moment, she confirmed that the two men from before were at least 1,000 meters away.
“Let’s rest for a bit.” Luo Shangyu led Qin Yu to the junction where the branches met the trunk and slowly sat down against it.
As soon as her nerves relaxed, Luo Shangyu’s mind grew hazy.
The moment she sat, her consciousness blurred, and she nearly fell from the tree.
“Luo Shangyu!” Qin Yu quickly supported her and shook her awake.
“Mmh… yes, I’m here,” Luo Shangyu said, regaining her senses.
Qin Yu knelt in front of Luo Shangyu and grasped her cold hand, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? I think I have some medicine…”
As she spoke, Qin Yu prepared to take out her Key-shaped Pendant.
“I’m fine,” Luo Shangyu said with a weak smile on her pale face.
“I just haven’t exercised in too long. I’m not used to it yet.”
Qin Yu gave her a suspicious look, clearly not believing a word of it.
Qin Yu interlaced the fingers of her right hand with Luo Shangyu’s.
At the same time, she used her left hand to brush aside the sweat-soaked bangs clinging to Luo Shangyu’s forehead, revealing her slightly exhausted eyes.
“If you can’t hold on anymore, just use me as a bargaining chip to surrender. We can wait for another opportunity to escape later!”
“Idiot!” Luo Shangyu snapped with a reproachful look, “Do you really think that would work? By the time they see us, Lu Han will definitely have us both killed!”
Seeing that Qin Yu was about to say more, Luo Shangyu squeezed her hand tightly, “Stop. I just need to sit for a little longer…”
Since Luo Shangyu insisted, Qin Yu could only drop the subject and sat down beside her.
“What should we do next?” The development of events had exceeded her expectations, and Qin Yu was now completely at a loss.
“We’ll set out once I’ve rested, then head east until we reach the Chengji Empire.”
“However, this forest is likely the most famous forest in the world today. It’s composed of these tall, magnificent trees and spans a vast area.”
“Even at our fastest, it will take several days to get through,” Luo Shangyu said, her voice tinged with weakness.
“Oh, now that you mention it, I remember. There are many powerful magical beasts in this forest. Some area lords are even Calamity-class monsters.” Qin Yu recalled the geography she had learned before.
“So, our journey will be very difficult,” Luo Shangyu nodded.
Just then, Luo Shangyu suddenly became alert.
Her intuition told her that danger was approaching.
“Go, quickly!” Luo Shangyu jumped up and pulled Qin Yu along as they continued to run.
By the time they reached the next giant tree, the one they had just been sitting on collapsed with a thunderous crash.
A violent gust of wind carrying a sharp, cutting aura swept toward them, causing Qin Yu and Luo Shangyu’s legs to go weak with fright.
“This… this magic is terrifying!” Qin Yu shouted, picking up her pace.
Behind them, blades of wind driven by Atmospheric Magic flew and danced, as rows of trees collapsed in their wake.
These were giant trees with diameters of over 10 meters!
Taking advantage of a gap, Qin Yu glimpsed the two people behind them.
They were strolling leisurely.
The one in the lead was elegantly waving the staff in his hand as if conducting a grand symphony.
His expression was calm, but Qin Yu knew he was intent on taking their lives!
‘This isn’t a long-term solution…’ Luo Shangyu calculated.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks.
While Qin Yu was still confused, Luo Shangyu moved to the edge of the branch and swept her staff across the forest.
A tongue of flame burst forth, igniting a row of trees.
A massive fire broke out instantly, blocking the path of the two pursuers.
“Go! I don’t know how long this will hold them back!” Luo Shangyu took Qin Yu’s hand and continued running.
“Won’t this attract other magical beasts?” Qin Yu asked.
“I can’t worry about that now. As long as it stops them. Besides, magical beasts shouldn’t attack us proactively, right? It’s much better than having those two chasing us like mad dogs,” Luo Shangyu replied.
Qin Yu turned her head to look at the sea of fire behind them.
The flames had already spread, with giant tongues of fire licking the sky.
Sparks fell like rain in every direction.
The fire dyed half the sky red.
Though it was only 4:00 PM, the sky looked as if it were dusk, glowing with a brilliant orange-red hue.
The heat wave had already reached Qin Yu.
This was no place to linger.
She and Luo Shangyu continued their flight toward the west.