Chapter 230: Chapter 123: Just Because I Took One More Look at You in the Crowd

"Fellow Daoist Zhou is indeed amazing!"

Hearing the commotion from behind, Fang Shitong, who was also fleeing, was silent for a moment before speaking up.

The others nodded in agreement.

Isn’t it so?

The first time he stopped everyone, it might have been an accident, but the second time, he predicted danger again and avoided it in advance, which definitely wasn’t a coincidence.

He must have real skills.

Being insightful is not an exaggeration.

Zhou Changwang didn’t respond; he was planning to lead the group on a detour when Qian Xiaoyue suddenly spoke up, "Sister Shen sent a message saying they were attacked by a group of loose cultivators and are planning to withdraw. She asked when we can reach Shuiyun Pavilion."

"You actually have a Sound Transmission Jade Scroll?"

Lu Wei’Er asked in shock.

"This was given to me by Sister Shen, but it can only be used over short distances. Beyond a certain distance, it’s useless."

Qian Xiaoyue explained.

Hearing this, Zhou Changwang glanced around.

The road ahead was blocked due to the Foundation Establishment battle, and taking a detour would take at least a stick of incense’s time, not to mention the potential dangers.

The marketplace now is like a powder keg; no one knows what might happen during this time.

The best plan now is to leave the marketplace as soon as possible.

Therefore, Zhou Changwang pondered briefly and decisively said, "Tell Elder Shen we have our own plans; we’ll meet her outside the marketplace at Ten-Mile Slope. Tell her to be careful on the way."

"The distance to rush out of the marketplace isn’t short; there’s fighting everywhere inside, and we could be affected at any time... Can the four of us do it without meeting up with Elder Shen and the others?"

Lu Wei’Er asked worriedly.

The others were also concerned.

For now, they hadn’t encountered late-stage Qi cultivation practitioners; however, if they did, their safety wouldn’t be assured.

Instinctively, they believed it was safer to meet up with Shen Xinyue and the Shuiyun Pavilion people.

"Don’t worry, just follow me."

Zhou Changwang said as he quietly used the Derivation Technique again.

In an instant, the route ahead revealed all the dangers, big and small, before him.

Then, he led the group forward decisively.

Despite some doubts, the others did not argue.

Zhou Changwang kept moving, and under the Derivation Technique, any danger around them was detected immediately; if unavoidable, he could choose the path with the least risk.

Soon, Fang Shitong and the others noticed with surprise that they rarely encountered cultivators or battles.

Clearly nearby, the battlefield was intense, with talismans and magic falling occasionally and the sound of protective arrays shattering.

Yet, the danger seemed to avoid them.

Even when they occasionally encountered hostile cultivators, upon seeing their group of four, the enemies were wary and dared not attack.

Indeed.

The four of them weren’t weak.

Three were mid-stage Qi cultivation, and one was early stage. Unless facing late-stage Qi cultivation practitioners, fellow mid-stage practitioners typically dared not act rashly.

As for those past Seventh-Layer late-stage practitioners?

They hadn’t encountered any.

Even when spotted from afar, the opponents seemed not to notice them at all and quickly moved in another direction.

Thus, half a stick of incense passed, and they hadn’t encountered any battle.

"Is this the South District?"

Fang Shitong asked, noticing the surroundings.

"We’re farther from leaving the marketplace.

And I remember there’s no path from here to the outside of the marketplace, right?"

Lu Wei’Er asked with some confusion.

Qian Xiaoyue, trusting Zhou Changwang, remained silent.

"I’m aware.

At the end of South Street, there’s a cliff, and below it is technically outside the marketplace boundary."

Zhou Changwang explained.

"But the cliff is over sixty zhang high and extremely steep; only Foundation Establishment True Cultivators could possibly pass through it.

Even Ninth-Layer Qi cultivation practitioners would die from such a fall."

Lu Wei’Er hesitated.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou surely has a way, though I don’t know what it is."

Fang Shitong said more calmly.

"Indeed."

As they spoke, they arrived near Zhou Changwang’s residence.

In South Street, especially the area where Zhou Changwang lived at the street’s end, it was relatively quiet; although some protective arrays were broken here, the signs of battle were less severe.

When Zhou Changwang and the others reached the entrance of his courtyard, seeing the intact protective array, Zhou Changwang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly opened the door.

The group entered smoothly.

"Is this Fellow Daoist Zhou’s residence?"

Fang Shitong asked surprised.

"Yes."

Zhou Changwang nodded, quickly leading the group into the Cultivation Secret Room and said, "Here, I dug a secret passage leading to the cliff’s mid-slope.

Through this passage, we can escape directly to the cliff’s bottom and safely leave the marketplace, finding vast lands with no danger.

After that, we just need to meet Elder Shen and the others at Ten-Mile Slope."