The fierce battle had already lasted about the time it took to burn half an incense stick, and the atmosphere on the battlefield was exceptionally tense. A dense murderous aura poured from Xiao Wujiu's body, like a mass of black flame tightly enveloping him. Yet as time passed, that aura gradually began to dim, as though some invisible force were suppressing it.
At the same time, the blood-red patterns on the ink-black saber in his hand grew blurred. Their once-vivid crimson slowly faded, losing its former brilliance.
Xiao Wujiu's breathing became increasingly labored. Every breath sounded like a gasp, his chest heaving violently. His movements had clearly slowed as well; attacks that had once been swift as lightning now seemed sluggish, their force far weaker than before.
The flush on his face had completely faded, replaced by a sickly pallor.
Clearly, burning one's blood and vitality could increase one's strength in a short time, but it also brought enormous aftereffects.
Now, those aftereffects were appearing at a visible rate. Xiao Wujiu's strength was plummeting, and his body was already nearing its limit.
This is bad! Xiao Wujiu inwardly cried out. He tried to rein in his aura and steady himself, only to discover that his blood and vitality had already fallen into chaos, entirely beyond his control.
In the instant his attention wavered, Qin He's Silver Spear shot forth like lightning. The spear tip swept past Xiao Wujiu's ear, slicing away a lock of hair, while the fierce spear wind lashed his cheek with burning pain.
Xiao Wujiu broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly raised his saber to block, but lacking strength, his long saber was sent flying by Qin He's strike.
The Silver Spear pressed forward with the momentum, its tip stopping steadily before his throat. It