HIDDEN EVIL [XIAO SHUXIANG THE SERIES]
157 - The True Being

Aaaakhs..!

Xiao Shuxiang watched the opponent in front of him who let out a groan of pain and looked extremely pitiful. He actually liked this kind of scene if he did not feel pain all over his body, let alone in his internal organs.

Xiao Shuxiang might be faceless as usual, yet if he was watched carefully-he was enduring the pain at the moment. Of course, fighting against Yi Shisi with a fast and fierce battle groove weighed heavily on his body.

"Tsk, i .... Unable to move," Xiao Shuxiang found it difficult to move his legs. He gasped when Yi Shisi came back screaming in pain.

The girl scratched the skin of her arm that had become rotten, she also scratched her neck and Xiao Shuxiang could see Yi Shisi's flesh starting to fall.

!!!

Xiao Shuxiang held his breath, "There's something wrong with him. It's not like I'm used to seeing,"

Aaaakh...!

"Why hasn't he turned into a lump of meat for so long?"

Xiao Shuxiang had an uneasy premonition about Yi Shisi. The problem is, he can't move his legs right now. Its power has also been drained a lot.

Xiao Shuxiang's hand moved despite trembling slightly. He started to pet Ying xiong and then threw his sword with a blade that pointed towards Yi Shisi's chest.

The sword quickly moved. But before it actually hit its target, five creeping roots instantly appeared on the ground and became a shield protecting Yi Shisi. The ground suddenly shook at that very moment.

Xiao Shuxiang held his breath.

His premonition was right, something was wrong with Yi Shisi. The girl is not dead. The skin and flesh that fell was precisely like a wrapper from the skin of Yi Shisi's actual body. In fact, the girl's facial skin also fell and was replaced with a completely different facial skin.

Xiao Shuxiang's expression changed, he was clearly shocked. The face of the girl before him was terrifying with black skin and full of shaky scars. It felt like the girl was a victim of inhumane persecution.

!?

The groan of pain that had previously sounded so heart-wrenching had now turned into a terrifying laugh and a shout full of anger. It was even able to create a shock wind that pushed Xiao Shuxiang down to a fall.

Although it was very surprising, but because of the shock wind it was also what made Xiao Shuxiang's legs move again. The previously thrown ying xiong is now back in the hands of its owner.

Yi Shisi rubbed his right cheek with his hands completely black and long fingernails red. He stared fiercely at his opponent and showed a terrifying laugh.

"It's been a long time since I've fought seriously. You'll be the first to feel my power...!" Yi Shisi spread his hands and the trees around him trembled unnaturally.

The trees shook violently before finally moving and descending to the ground. Not only did the trees around Xiao Shuxiang, but also the entire tree that had barely reached half the forest area of Xiling Canyon disappear.

Xiao Shuxiang gulped as he started to stand back up, the poison from his sword was most likely not effective against this girl-it was precisely him waking up the monster instead.

"I told you .... This forest is under my control...!" Yi Shisi exclaimed and countless creeping roots came out from the ground.

Xiao Shuxiang tried to avoid the lunge from the roots, he was shocked when some of the roots emitted a faint green smoke and nothing but powder that created an illusion.

Xiao Shuxiang swung his sword and five attacks instantly created from a single swing of the weapon. The roots spread into a shield from Yi Shisi as well as playing a role in replying to every attack addressed to him.

Xiao Shuxiang's breathing was heavy because his strength was increasingly drained, while the opponent he faced actually had a Life Dantian that clearly benefited greatly.

Yi Shisi laughed, "You won't be able to win against me. Your defeat is absolute!"

Yi Shisi was an expert cultivator in long-range attacks and even after the change in his appearance, the opponent could no longer reach him. From this distance he was able to see clearly every move of the opponent.

"Trash practices like you dare to brag in front of a Grand Master like me. You're just a little pebble in the street..! A child who cannot measure his own abilities..!"

"You talk too much..!" Xiao Shuxiang exclaimed before his voice turned cold, "It's best to be careful .... Because the person you think is this little kid can make you cry."

"Hmph! In dreams!"

!!!

Yi Shisi's attack was strong and fast. Xiao Shuxiang was actually very overwhelmed, yet the expression seen on his face was completely different. He was so serious about paying attention to every opponent's attack.

On the other hand, Wang Zhao was also in trouble. He also had to face the creeping roots that were no longer countless. His strength was drained very much and his legs began to be heavy to step.

Wang Zhao's breathing was panting, his heart pounding getting stronger. He was still trying to fend off the attacks of a few more roots, but it was indeed not all of them he was able to deal with.

A creeping root shot out and pierced through Wang Zhao's right shoulder. The young man's hand was almost cut off if it had not been saved by a flash of red light.

A person treads on the ground and a swing of the fan creates a huge attack that can slash through the roots into small pieces.

The fluttering of red clothes and the long hair of the figure was visible in Wang Zhao's gaze. He grimaced while holding his injured shoulder.

"Your wound band."

Wang Zhao held his breath. The voice of the figure before him and the posture he saw belonged to none other than Liu Wei Lin. He grimaced and then said, "Why did you just come?"

Liu Wei Li again swung his red fan and his attack again made the creeping roots into small pieces. He was even able to get rid of the greenish smoke.

Liu Wei Lin said, "You should be grateful that I was still able to arrive on time. You didn't lose an arm, including your life,"

Wang Zhao grimaced, blood spurted quite a lot on his right shoulder and his vision gradually blurred. Nevertheless, he still replied to Liu Wei Lin's words with a taut tone of voice.

"What is there to be grateful for? Because of your delay, many participants lost their lives. Where have you been?!"

"....... Sleeping," Liu Wei Lin replied casually and without turning towards Wang Zhao. The answer made the young man behind him extremely shocked.

"Sleep?! You..!!" Wang Zhao did not think through Liu Wei Lin's head, "How can you sleep in this condition?!"

Wang Zhao grimaced again, his wooden sword dropped and his face looked pale. Liu Wei Lin who turned around instantly realized Wang Zhao's condition and immediately approached the young man.

Wang Zhao was just about to make a sound when he was actually pulled by Liu Wei Lin and led away from the creeping roots that seemed to be wriggling on the ground.

"W-what are you doing?! Where are you taking me?!" Wang Zhao was obviously shocked that he was suddenly treated like this by someone who honestly had no good relationship with him.

"Of course to the command tower, it's safe for you." Liu Wei Lin said, "Although I don't like you... But you are still part of the Cloud Sea Sect. It'd be sad if you were to die being stabbed to death by those roots,"

"You better put me down! Don't take me to the command tower, it's too far. Mister Xiao is there and fighting the enemy alone!"

Liu Wei Lin gasped at Wang Zhao's words, darting down and treading smoothly on the ground. Her face was so serious, "What did you say? My brother Xiao is fighting alone?!"

"That's what I said. You go and save mister Xiao, he needs your help even more."

"My soul mate ...." Liu Wei Lin held his breath and then looked at Wang Zhao, "You just go straight from here. Be careful of anyone you see in the woods and hide as much as you can to avoid them. This place is filled with illusory fog, but if you keep walking straight-you'll arrive outside the forest."

The blood on the wound on Wang Zhao's shoulder had indeed stopped, but he could still feel the pain from the wound he had sustained. Wang Zhao grimaced, "That illusion fog----"

"I can't explain it any further, it's not the right time. I have to help my soulmate,"

Wang Zhao gasped as Liu Wei Lin suddenly darted away, "Hey..! Wei Lin..?!"

Wang Zhao exhaled and tried to calm the strong thump on his heart. The circumstances he was in were still not Wang Zhao believed in. There were many questions in his chest and it all had to do with his current situation.

Unlike Wang Zhao, Xiao Shuxiang himself was already able to deduce what his enemy actually wanted for daring to act recklessly to disrupt the conference. Merely, he was worrying about his condition that was almost at the limit.

Yi Shisi himself seemed to be frowning. The figure that he was fighting against did not look at all would give up. Precisely his opponent's movements are increasingly fast and really troublesome.

"Don't you know when it's time to give up, huh?!" Yi Shisi sped up his attack, the veins stiffened on his forehead. He clucked, "Why is it so hard to find a gap in his movements? He could even dodge an attack that was clearly at his blind spot."

"You told the wrong person to give up," Xiao Shuxiang took a breath and took out his Fire Respiratory Technique.

Xiao Shuxiang fused it with the Wind Breathing Technique and this was an attack from the energy he had gathered. Ying xiong reacted and also helped Xiao Shuxiang to magnify the impact of the attack.

!!!

A sudden thunderous sound rang out and was accompanied by a sound like the roar of a large animal. Yi Shisi's eyes widened when he saw the opponent's attack which was actually shaped like the head of a dragon.

Yi Shisi also made a big attack from his creeping roots to signify the attack, but the roots burned in such a shock.

Yi Shisi was almost burned alive if he was not agile to avoid it. He was amazed at an opponent who was completely different from the other cultivators.

Yi Shisi's face slightly changed, he also started to be very wary of the young man before him. "It's great .... I have fought with him for a long time and this guy's attack is still very strong, he even keeps the attack technique as strong as it was. He's great, but I guess ...."

The smile on Yi Shisi's face, he said. "You seem to have begun to reach your limits...."

Xiao Shuxiang was breathing slowly and was still wary of the figure before him. He snorted and then smiled, "If you think this is my limit. Then I just have to go beyond it..!"

"Fire Breathing Techniques .... The Flame Dragon Roar...!!"

"You..!!" Yi Shisi was shocked not to play because his opponent could still pass such a powerful technique just now. He bluffed and said, "Aren't you thinking? That when you fought with me-the other participants lost their lives. You can't save anyone if you stay here.

Xiao Shuxiang grinned, he could feel uneasiness at the figure before him. "You don't have to try hard. Who knows, if I finish you in this place-the illusion you make will set everyone free."

"Optimis. Then .... Try this one..!!" Yi Shisi throttled the creeping root that burned his and surprised Xiao Shuxiang.

Yi Shisi laughed, "I told you so. Your cultivation practices are too weak. You'll never be able to beat me---!!"

A lesion made Yi Shisi startled and spontaneously stopped his call. Xiao Shuxiang saw that the lesion was a red-clothed youth figure with a fan in his right hand.

"Brother Liu..?" Xiao Shuxiang was aware and knew full well that the figure in front of him was none other than Liu Wei Lin.

"Brother Xiao, your actions are very careless." Liu Wei Lin snapped, "How can you fight a figure whose cultivation practice is ten times more than yours?! Are you looking to die?!"

Xiao Shuxiang flinched. It was unexpected that he would get a scolding in this situation. Though, he was just about to praise Liu Wei Lin who came in time.

"Brother Xiao, I really appreciate your ability. You are brave and great" Liu Wei Lin said. "But you also need to know who you're dealing with. He is definitely not an opponent comparable to you, you seem to have come to give your life..!"

"Brother Liu, I know the limits of my own abilities." Xiao Shuxiang stepped up and patted Liu Wei Lin on the shoulder, "Help me to be able to attack him from close range. I'll finish this fight as soon as I can,"

Liu Wei Lin gasped at the serious remark from Xiao Shuxiang. He was startled as the young man darted out abruptly without waiting for him to give a response first.

"Brother Xiao...! You won't be able to..!" Liu Wei Lin swung his fan and the fire that burned the creeping roots grew even more.

Yi Shisi felt pain from his burning roots, but he could still control them to attack. He even laughed at Xiao Shuxiang's careless actions.

"Basic Boy! With this apimu .... You have benefited me..!" Yi Shisi smirked. He could see how difficult the two young men were to approach to give him a counterattack.

Xiao Shuxiang snorted and then smiled faintly, "Really? Guess ... You've been wrong,"

Xiao Shuxiang tightly clenched his left hand and along with that -- the fire that burned the creeping roots belonging to Yi Shisi exploded and his voice was twitching with each other. Liu Wei Lin who was also there was even shocked by what happened, right before his eyes.

!!!

Yi Shisi's shriek was heard again, this time louder than the one before. The expanding fire continued to explode and the loud noise did not stop. Yi Shisi could no longer control his roots as his body felt like it was on fire.

Liu Wei Lin took some distance, his ears buzzing due to the loud screams from Yi Shisi. He saw that Xiao Shuxiang had now managed to give Yi Shisi a kick to make the monster hit the ground hard.

Liu Wei Lin looked at Xiao Shuxiang's different-looking eyes and tried to dart closer to his friend. He gasped when Xiao Shuxiang pulled Yi Shisi's hair and intended to pierce the woman's eyes with his sword.

"Brother Xiao, don't kill him! We need it to dig up information..!" Liu Wei Lin said quickly until the tip of Xiao Shuxiang's sword stopped at a distance of 1 cm from Yi Shisi's eyes.

******