I cultivate the Chaos Technique

Chapter 51 The Gray Robe Falls, the Black Robe Returns

Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu finally broke free of the Shadowy Bamboo Sea, leaving that oppressive and dangerous dense forest behind. However, before the joy of escape could fully wash over them, an inexplicable sense of heaviness weighed on Zhang Yifan's heart. He gazed ahead, yet he couldn't suppress the urge to turn back.

"Senior in gray robes...can he really stop the one in black robes?" Zhang Yifan kept asking himself, his fists clenched tightly. He felt the effort he had put in during that dangerous duel, but he couldn't shake off the lingering shadow in his heart.

Lin Qingzhu noticed Zhang Yifan's worry and said softly, "Junior brother, let's leave here first. Since the gray-robed senior chose to stay, he must have his reasons."

Zhang Yifan gritted his teeth and nodded, but he was still uneasy, as if something unfinished awaited them in the bamboo forest. He looked around to make sure no more demonic energy was chasing them, then finally relaxed and sped away from the bamboo forest.

Meanwhile, the battle deep within the bamboo forest had already reached a fever pitch. The gray-robed man was fighting with all his might against the black-robed man, trying to buy Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu more time to escape. But in this endless struggle, he gradually became exhausted, and his breathing became increasingly erratic.

"You think that by doing everything in your power to hold me back, you can save their lives?" The black-robed man sneered, his eyes flashing with a cold light. His demonic energy surged and transformed into countless black blades, approaching the gray-robed man with a world-destroying force.

With nowhere to dodge, the gray-robed man formed a hand seal, creating a gray light shield in front of him. The two powerful forces collided in mid-air, stirring up gusts of wind that pulverized the surrounding bamboo forest. Blood seeped from the corner of the gray-robed man's mouth, but his eyes still held a trace of defiance.

"I... as long as I can buy them a little time, even if it's a sacrifice, it's worth it," the gray-robed man said breathlessly, his voice carrying a chilling resolve.

"Foolish." The black-robed man sneered, his figure transforming into a black shadow, instantly appearing before the gray-robed man. His demonic aura was like a blade, aimed straight at his throat. The gray-robed man hastily raised his hand, a flash of gray light blocking the fatal blow. However, his body trembled violently under the impact of this powerful force, and more blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The man in black robes looked at the man in gray robes in his disheveled state with a mocking gaze: "You think you can stop me like this? You are just a part of me; your true power is insurmountable."

"Perhaps... I can't fight back... but I have my own choice." The gray-robed man smiled bitterly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew the gap between himself and the black-robed man, and knew he would die in this battle, but in order to protect Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu, he was prepared to die.

A cruel smile appeared on the black-robed man's face: "My clone dares to make such a presumptuous choice? You really think I would hunt them down at this time? No, the reason I let them escape was simply to ensure that you are completely powerless to resist."

The gray-robed man's heart sank. He finally understood the black-robed man's intention. The other party was not in a hurry to kill Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu, but rather to refine his clone so as to return to his complete form and ensure that his own power reached its peak.

"You..." The gray-robed man's voice was tinged with surprise and resentment. He thought he had held off the black-robed man and bought Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu a chance to escape, but he never expected that it was all a conspiracy by the black-robed man.

“Foolish clone,” the black-robed man said coldly, his voice filled with contempt. “You should have understood long ago that you are merely a part of me. There is only one true master, and that is me!”

The gray-robed man trembled slightly; he knew he had nowhere to escape. The black-robed man before him was incredibly powerful, and his own strength seemed so insignificant in comparison. Yet, even so, he did not give up the struggle.

“Even if you erase my consciousness, you cannot change the fact that I once existed.” The gray-robed man looked up at the black-robed man, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. “I have my own consciousness, and even if I am to be annihilated in this bamboo forest, I will have no regrets.”

"What a fine 'no regrets' statement." The man in black robes sneered. "But you've forgotten that your existence is merely to assist my power. Now, it's time to return to your true form."

He raised his hand and waved, and a monstrous demonic aura instantly transformed into black light, heading straight for the gray-robed man's brow. The gray-robed man tried his best to resist, but found that his power was utterly insignificant before this powerful demonic aura. The light pierced his body, instantly tearing apart his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Ah—!" the gray-robed man cried out in pain, his body trembling violently, the light in his eyes gradually dimming. He felt his mind being stripped away bit by bit, his consciousness becoming increasingly blurred.

"I will eventually return to wholeness." The black-robed man's voice seemed to come from hell, his eyes flashing with a chilling light. Under his control, the gray-robed man's body gradually transformed into countless gray specks of light, eventually merging into the black-robed man's body.

At that moment, the entire Shadow Bamboo Sea seemed to lose all its vitality, and the demonic energy in the bamboo forest condensed instantly, as if the whole world had submitted to it at this moment.

"I am finally complete," the black-robed man murmured, his voice filled with arrogance and evil. As the gray-robed man's consciousness was erased, his power reached its peak, his figure merging with the Shadow Bamboo Sea, as if the entire bamboo sea was his domain.

The man in black robes stood deep within the bamboo forest, his eyes gleaming with a cold light, as if he could see Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu's escape through the mist. A slight, sinister smile curled at the corners of his lips.

"Zhang Yifan, Lin Qingzhu, do you really think you can escape my control?" the black-robed man said in a low voice, his voice filled with killing intent. "I will personally take your lives."

With a wave of his hand, the surrounding bamboo forest shook violently, as if responding to his command. The aura of the black-robed man spread like a demon, and the demonic energy of the entire bamboo forest was under his control, resembling a hellish place.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yifan, carrying Lin Qingzhu, fled the bamboo forest at top speed. He could feel the oppressive aura behind him gradually disappearing, but he remained uneasy. He glanced back at the direction of the Shadowy Bamboo Forest, his brows furrowed.

"Senior in gray robes..." Zhang Yifan murmured, his heart filled with complex emotions. He knew that the gray-robed man was facing the powerful threat of the black-robed man alone, in order to buy them a chance to escape. He, on the other hand, could only choose to flee, without even the strength to turn back and help.

Lin Qingzhu was held tightly in Zhang Yifan's arms, feeling his tension and unease. She raised her head and whispered, "Junior brother, we must leave here as soon as possible. Only by escaping far enough can we make the sacrifice of the gray-robed senior meaningful."

Zhang Yifan gritted his teeth and nodded; he knew Lin Qingzhu was right. The appearance of the gray-robed man had allowed them to escape, but it also meant they now had to cherish this hard-won opportunity and get as far away as possible.

"I will definitely come back and avenge Senior Gray Robe!" Zhang Yifan vowed silently in his heart. He hugged Lin Qingzhu tightly, his spiritual power surged again, and he continued to fly towards the edge of the bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest receded into the distance, and Zhang Yifan and Lin Qingzhu disappeared into the horizon. However, the chilling killing intent deep within the bamboo forest remained. The man in black robes stood among the bamboo trees, his gaze coldly fixed on the direction they had fled.

"Run, run as far away as possible..." the man in black robes muttered to himself, his voice filled with mockery and chilling intent, "In the end, none of you will escape my grasp."