Chapter 191: Invisible Opponent
An invisible opponent.
It wasn’t even certain if he would be able to see them once the fight started.
But it was always best to prepare for the worst.
’I’ll just have to assume I’m fighting an invisible person.’
’So how do I see them? How do I break their invisibility?’
Tang Wen mulled it over anxiously, but he wasn’t worried about his own safety.
The Blood Crows and Brown-tailed Crows had told him that General Zhao was already on his way.
Furthermore, his mount was an Extraordinary Sand Wolf King.
Three against one!
’How could I lose?’
’The advantage is mine.’
’Hmm, saying that is just asking for trouble.’
He carefully replayed the events in his mind:
’I was targeted the moment I arrived at the Beast Taming Garden today.’
’So I can pretty much rule out this being an Extraordinary from the Black Water Gang sent to protect me.’
The Sand Wolf continued racing toward Four Seas Camp.
Tang Wen had noticed something along the way.
Whenever the Sand Wolf sped up, his pursuer would fall behind a bit, and the feeling of being watched would lessen.
But when the Sand Wolf turned or slowed down, the sensation grew stronger.
He refused to believe that the Extraordinary tailing him couldn’t even keep up with a High-Level Sand Wolf.
There were two possibilities.
’One: my pursuer can’t use a Power Burst while invisible, which makes it hard for them to keep up.’
’Or two: they’re simply in no hurry.’
’The first scenario would be manageable.’
’But what if it’s the second one?’
’If they’re not in a hurry, does that mean they have a backup plan?’
A gust of wind kicked up a cloud of yellow sand.
Ahead, the endless sand glowed under the starlight, looking as if it were covered in a layer of white frost.
’A good place.’
Upon reaching the center of the sandy expanse, the Sand Wolf slowly came to a halt.
Tang Wen looked behind him, his eyes fixed on a spot where there was nothing.
He shifted his gaze from time to time, as if tracking an invisible person.
’What! Can he really see me?’
’Impossible.’
’He’s just an ordinary Extraordinary.’
’I don’t even leave footprints on the sand! How could he have possibly found me?’
’Could it be... my gaze?’
’I get it. I’ll lower my head. I won’t look at him!’
Tang Wen frowned. The feeling of being watched had vanished.
"AWOO!"
The Sand Wolf howled, stirring up the wind.
Sheets of yellow sand swept out in all directions.
The sandstorm came and went in a flash.
The ground was clear of any tracks.
The sand had fallen freely, unobstructed by any object.
’They’re gone?’
’Impossible.’
’They must have retreated from the sandy area.’
Tang Wen felt as if he were locked in a battle of wits with the air itself.
A light night breeze began to blow.
’Wind has a shape.’
Tang Wen couldn’t see it, but the Sand Wolf could.
"AWOO!"
It began howling incessantly in a specific direction.
An idea struck Tang Wen, and he tapped into his beast’s senses.
His perspective shifted.
The wind flowed like water.
At a certain spot on the edge of the sandy expanse, the wind flowed around something.
Its path outlined the shape of a person.
A cloaked figure.
They weren’t very tall, and judging by their silhouette, it was a woman.
’The Extraordinary Woman who set up the safe house?’
’I see you!’
Without betraying a thing, Tang Wen commanded the Sand Wolf to kick up a sandstorm in that direction.
The sand blasted right toward her.
In order not to reveal her form,
the woman dodged to the side.
The moment she moved, her heart leaped into her throat!
’Not good.’
’A Hidden Weapon.’
VMMMM, VMMMM.
A violent, vibrating hum filled the air.
"The Hidden Weapon Visualization Technique?!" the woman’s horrified voice cried out.
Several pebbles flew in a triangular formation, cutting off her escape.
Tang Wen sneered. ’Done playing ghost?’
In a flash, the woman realized her escape was cut off.
She had no choice but to face it head-on.
*Night Divine Fist—Night Battle Eight Directions!*
Two pale fists materialized out of thin air.
Wreathed in a black mist, they slammed into one of the pebbles.
BANG!
The air erupted.
The stone disintegrated into dust.
The woman staggered back three steps.
’A freak!’
’An absolute monster!’
’With that kind of power, is he a Veteran Extraordinary? Or even a Peak Extraordinary?’
’Impossible!’
’He’s too young!’
’Is it a superior Hidden Weapon Visualization Technique?’
’Damn it.’
Before she could think any further,
another volley of pebbles shot toward her with incredible speed.
It was too late to dodge!
She could only block them head-on.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Her fists became a blur of afterimages as they repeatedly collided with the stones.
A series of explosions rang out.
"Ugh! Despicable!"
A muffled grunt escaped her.
Her fist had slammed into a hard steel ball.
’She fell for it already?’
Tang Wen fired continuously with both hands.
Every Flying Locust Stone he launched carried immense force.
Each one boomed like a cannon!
The Extraordinary Woman’s head had also become visible.
Her face looked shockingly young.
’She’s a genius, too?!’
The scene was bizarre.
A disembodied head and two fists, floating in mid-air, were locked in battle with Tang Wen.
SWISH!
The Extraordinary Woman’s figure flickered.
A Flying Locust Stone, wreathed in darkness, grazed her calf.
’This isn’t working!’
’I can’t let this drag on!’
’He’s clearly a mid-to-long-range expert. I have to get in close!’
A sharp glint flashed in the woman’s eyes.
Darkness emanated from her, spreading out for several meters in every direction.
This darkness was abrupt and absolute.
Even the starlight from above could not penetrate it.
Tang Wen silently backed away, his hands never ceasing their barrage, as he secretly gauged the extent of this Extraordinary Woman’s Dark Ability.
’Twenty percent?’
’Thirty percent?’
’Or even higher?’
FWOOSH!
A Flying Locust Stone plunged into the darkness.
Like a bullet shot into water,
it vanished without a sound.
VMMMMMM!
The sphere of darkness, several meters in diameter, began to move toward Tang Wen.
Like a black hole, it devoured a volley of Flying Locust Stones.
WHOOSH!
The black hole suddenly accelerated.
Like a giant specter, it lunged forward, intent on consuming Tang Wen.
This, however, actually put Tang Wen at ease.
’Her Dark Ability is impressive.’
’Unfortunately for her, its range is too limited.’
One pursued while the other fled.
Tang Wen circled around the small, sandy clearing.
The Sand Wolf also began to reposition itself, making sure to keep its eyes locked on the sphere of darkness.
’Just as I thought! This man doesn’t dare let me get close!’
’He cultivates Hidden Weapon Visualization. While rare, its weakness is obvious. Once I get into close range, eighty percent of his skills will be useless!’
The Extraordinary Woman was certain her deduction was flawless.
Before coming here, she had already made extensive inquiries about Tang Wen.
A Beastmaster and a cultivation genius!
And he was supposedly not even seventeen years old!
A classic case of someone hailed as a prodigy due to his immense Talent.
Before deciding to test Tang Wen’s mettle,
she had investigated every last detail.
Her Thief Sect excelled at casing their marks.
Understanding the situation before making a move was a fine tradition that had been passed down for countless years.
Although she didn’t know why Tang Wen had concealed the fact that he was an Extraordinary Powerhouse,
once they started fighting, it all made sense to her.
To become an Extraordinary at such a young age was already the stuff of legends.
To be skilled in *Hidden Weapon Visualization* was even rarer.
If a Tang Wen this young was also an expert in close-quarters combat, then every other powerhouse in Ganshan City might as well just go and kill themselves!
All those years of their lives would have been for nothing.
After careful consideration, she was convinced her speculation, which took into account Tang Wen’s age and the current reality of their fight, was sound!
There was absolutely no doubt about it!!
’It’s like asking if a seventeen-year-old could be both a top author and an international athlete at the same time.’
At this thought, the darkness surrounding the Extraordinary Woman billowed out like a storm cloud.
Tang Wen was on high alert.
The black cloud shifted, and the Extraordinary Woman abruptly changed her direction of pursuit, lunging toward the Sand Wolf.
She had seen it clearly long ago.
The Stone Slab was tied beneath the saddle on the wolf’s back.
Although she didn’t know what the Stone Slab was, just a single glance from afar had made her Spiritual Power surge uncontrollably.
’It has to be one of the Curiosities!’
Its temptation was the very reason she had persisted in following him all this way.
Now, she saw that Tang Wen and the Sand Wolf had separated.
’Wasn’t this the perfect chance to seize the treasure?!’
The Extraordinary Woman couldn’t restrain herself any longer.
Unleashing her Shadow Nether Step, she pounced toward the Sand Wolf.
’This is a classic feint—attacking what the enemy is forced to protect!’
Beneath the black mist, the corners of her mouth curved into a smirk.