This Time, Let's See Where You Fly

At first, Luo Xiao had not taken Ji Juechen seriously.

His Soul Power was a little stronger than that of an ordinary two-ring Soul Master, and he had an ordinary Sword Martial Soul and two Hundred-Year Soul Rings.

It was not as though Luo Xiao had never killed someone like that before.

But after actually taking two strikes, he realized something was wrong.

His opponent's swordplay had few tricks, yet every strike landed exactly where it was most awkward for him. Despite the gap in their Soul Power, he could never free himself up to suppress the sword completely.

When he moved left, the sword reached the left first.

When he tried to retreat, the sword followed wherever he set his feet.

And once the kid's Second Soul Ring lit up, the force behind his sword abruptly grew heavier.

Luo Xiao twisted sharply to the side, letting the blade graze open his cloak as his right claw struck straight for Ji Juechen's chest.

The sword came back across just in time.

Clang!

The impact sent Ji Juechen sliding backward, both arms jolting as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

The gap in their levels remained, after all. In a head-on clash, he could not hold out forever.

But as he retreated, Xu Sheng came slashing down from above and to the side.

Luo Xiao had to turn again!

The crimson blade cut a gash through the dark feathers, sending fragments flying. The impact made Xu Sheng's wrist ache, but he did not stay to tangle with Luo Xiao. His white wings folded and spread, carrying him away to the other side.

Luo Xiao looked down and saw that his cloak had split at the shoulder.

Blood was seeping out beneath it.

Two two-ring Soul Masters actually dared to gang up on him!

"Die, all of you!"

His First Soul Ring flashed repeatedly, and the Black Feather Blades stopped chasing Xu Sheng and scattered toward the ground instead.

Lu Song hurriedly angled his shield, protecting Ren Yu behind it. Feather blades struck the Black Armor Shield one after another, numbing his shoulder and pushing him and the shield back some distance.

Cen Zhao deflected only one before another slashed his arm.

Bai Ji ducked low and pulled Jiang Shi behind a tree, just in time to avoid the last few.

Taking advantage of the opening as everyone dodged, Luo Xiao spread his wings and finally broke free of those pesky vines on the ground.

He did not stay to fight.

Deacon Fang could arrive at any moment. The most important thing now was to leave first!

His black wings beat, and Luo Xiao shot straight up between two trees.

Before he could clear the canopy, a white figure had already appeared across his path above.

Sword in hand, Xu Sheng met him without hesitation.

This time, he did not hold the higher position and wait for Luo Xiao to come to him. Instead, he plunged straight into Luo Xiao's path of ascent. The two figures crossed in midair, crimson sword light grazing the black wings and sending a great scattering of feathers falling.

A feather blade also cut open the side of Xu Sheng's shoulder, making his temple twitch with pain.

But both of them had been forced lower.

Luo Xiao was driven back below the canopy again.

"You think you can stop me?" he shouted sharply.

"Let's find out!"

Xu Sheng gritted his teeth, and his Second Soul Ring lit up again.

Firmament Holy Wings carried him sideways, evading the claws lunging at him. Luo Xiao was faster. His Third Soul Ring flashed, and he darted around from the side to get in front of Xu Sheng, nearly crashing straight into his chest.

Xu Sheng had no time to turn his sword. He could only hold the blade upright before his chest and take the blow head-on.

A tremendous force struck him, sending him flying backward and wrenching the roots of his wings with a burst of agony.

That really hurt.

Wind rushed through the tear in his clothing and brushed against the wound, making even the fingers gripping his sword tighten.

But Xu Sheng's eyes grew brighter instead.

Luo Xiao had used his Third Soul Skill again.

He had used it earlier to break out of the vines, and now he had used it once more to knock Xu Sheng aside.

He was fast, of course, but speed cost Soul Power!

Xu Sheng dropped some distance and used the momentum to sweep toward the two trees on the right.

Luo Xiao did not pursue him. He turned and tried to escape through the gap on the left.

At that moment, a refined steel sword thrust out from beside a tree trunk.

Using the low branch he had grabbed earlier, Ji Juechen stood at a fork in the tree, waiting for precisely this moment. His blade did not aim for Luo Xiao's chest, but struck straight for the armpit exposed by his outspread black wings.

Luo Xiao pressed downward in anger, dark feathers shielding his body once more as his claw slapped at the blade.

Ji Juechen did not meet the blow head-on, letting it carry him down from the tree.

But blocking him had already forced Luo Xiao to change direction.

On the right was Xu Sheng.

On the left was the flame-colored spearpoint, blazing once more.

Below was that shield that stubbornly refused to fall.

At last, a hint of unease rose in Luo Xiao's heart.

Even with their strength combined, these people were no high-level Soul Master team. Yet from the start, they had been forcing him toward the same patch of ground!

Two thick branches crossed low overhead. To charge straight up, he would have to fold his wings and break through them, then steady himself again; the few spots on either side where he could spread his wings were already being watched.

Every time he changed direction, he had to take another sword strike and expend a little more Soul Power.

But the people on the ground were nearing their limits too.

Ren Yu's palms had gone pale. The more vines that had been severed, the more Soul Power she had lost. She had already withdrawn two from farther away, leaving only one to block the path and one to support Lu Song.

Cen Zhao no longer kept the flames burning constantly along his spearpoint either. If he could do something with the spear and chain alone, he would rather run a few extra steps himself.

Xu Sheng could see it clearly from above.

If this dragged on, Luo Xiao might not be the first to reach his limit.

He had wanted to wear down more of his opponent's Soul Power before finding a reliable opening. But when he saw Lu Song's arms trembling, Xu Sheng knew they could not wait like that.

He tapped the thick tree on the right with the flat of his sword and gestured downward.

Gasping for breath, Lu Song followed Xu Sheng's gaze and immediately understood what he wanted to do. It was a way of borrowing momentum that the group had tried in the courtyard, except that before, he had caught Xu Sheng during practice, with no Soul Elder chasing behind to kill him.

Without thinking further, Lu Song dragged his shield to the roots of the tree and planted both feet firmly again.

Luo Xiao looked at Xu Sheng again. The one who angered him most was still this white-winged kid who clung to him without letting go!

"Xu Sheng!"

Ren Yu suddenly called out.

Xu Sheng glanced sideways. A Green Jade Vine had stretched taut from the tree roots, its other end resting behind Lu Song's shield.

It was not meant to bind the Soul Elder in flight.

Lu Song was ready to catch him!

Xu Sheng understood at once. His body dropped sharply toward the front of the shield.

Seeing him fall so suddenly, Luo Xiao thought his opponent's Soul Power was giving out, and a vicious look flashed in his eyes.

Before leaving, I'll cripple the most troublesome one first!

His Third Soul Ring blazed.

His black wings folded in, and Luo Xiao plunged straight at Xu Sheng's back like a black arrow shot diagonally downward.

Xu Sheng did not look back.

His toes struck the face of the shield hard. Lu Song's First Soul Ring lit up, and Profound Armor Body Protection reinforced his defense as he held the shield. Gritting his teeth and bending his knees, he braced his back against the thick tree roots and thrust the shield upward by half a foot.

At the same time, Xu Sheng's wings spread fully once more!

With that push, his downward momentum changed into a diagonal ascent. He flipped out between Luo Xiao's reaching hands, his sword using the spin of his body to slash viciously upward from below!

Crimson Holy Judgment!

Luo Xiao hurriedly threw his left wing in the blade's path.

The place that had already been wounded was struck again. Dark feathers scattered, and blood sprayed.

Luo Xiao screamed, his body losing its balance at once.

This was the moment Cen Zhao had been waiting for.

He flung out his chain spear, but its point did not aim for a vital spot. Instead, it swept past Luo Xiao's feet. Cen Zhao gripped the chain in both hands and yanked hard, catching one of Luo Xiao's lower legs and pulling it sideways.

With just that one pull, he was dragged stumbling forward in return.

But it was enough!

Ji Juechen had already arrived.

The severe wound to his left wing made Luo Xiao raise his arm instinctively, loosening the dark feathers that had hugged and protected his armpit. Ji Juechen had been waiting for precisely this exposed opening.

The Soul Power boost from his two yellow rings had not yet faded. His refined steel longsword thrust in from the side, piercing Luo Xiao beneath the ribs.

Luo Xiao's body jolted. He raised his right claw, still trying to seize Ji Juechen by the throat.

Crimson sword light followed close behind.

Xu Sheng landed in front of him and, gripping his sword with both hands, cleaved through the reaching hand. After suffering heavy blows in succession, Luo Xiao's protective dark feathers were already dispersing. The crimson blade followed through and struck deep into his chest.

A short, breathy sound escaped Luo Xiao's throat.

His black wings trembled twice, then finally went limp.

The forest suddenly fell silent.

Xu Sheng held his sword, his chest heaving. His palm was so numb he could barely feel the hilt, the side of his shoulder burned with pain, and even folding his wings took him a little longer.

But the three-ring Soul Elder before him really had fallen!

Leaning against the tree roots, Lu Song first looked down at his shield, then up at Xu Sheng, and suddenly burst out laughing.

"I caught you."

"I saw."

Xu Sheng laughed too, but a single laugh tugged painfully at his wound.

"You kid, that move today-"

Before he could finish, Bai Ji's shout suddenly rang out from the other side.

"Jiang Shi, get down!"

Xu Sheng whipped around.

Yue Zheng had not run.

While everyone was surrounding Luo Xiao and trying to kill him, he had circled around behind them!