Yu Sui considered Mei Chengyu's answer thoughtfully. While listening to the lectures at the School of Medicine, she occasionally checked on the situation around the Light Core.
As she left the School of Medicine that afternoon, she unexpectedly ran into Wei Ren, who was there too.
By the medicinal fields, Wei Ren took the initiative to greet Yu Sui. A few traces of a smile strained across his pale face. "Yo."
With both hands tucked into her sleeves, Yu Sui ambled over, her gaze lifting slightly. "You're well enough to come out for a walk?"
"I came to the School of Medicine to pick up some medicine." Wei Ren tugged at the corner of his mouth, looking somewhat helpless. "Surely I can at least do that?"
Yu Sui asked him, "Have you thought of a new way yet?"
Under Yu Sui's gaze, Wei Ren saw those beautiful, dewy almond eyes. They usually held a gentle smile, and even without one, there was a softness to them—an innocent or well-behaved air, not the slightest hint of aggression.
At that moment, though, her unsmiling eyes were still beautiful, their pitch-black pupils reflecting Wei Ren. Yet they were like a net, strung with Ice Dew in the Spring Cold, trapping him so he couldn't move. Even the slightest motion would make the sharp, icy Silk Threads tighten against his flesh, bringing a piercing pain.
Wei Ren dared to guarantee that no one else in the world had ever been looked at by Yu Sui with such a gaze.
The singular honor left him both rueful and helpless.
"Not yet. I need to recover first, so I'll have the strength and energy to think of more solutions, right?" Wei Ren tried to reason with her, only to see Yu Sui turn away without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm serious. I need to recover before I'll have the strength to help. Your Senior Martial Brother—I'm not trying to criticize him, but I've crippled my own cultivation and severely damaged my Light Core, and he still won't stop trying to Stabilize my Po. He keeps giving me nightmares, so I can't sleep properly." Wei Ren smiled without humor. "Too bad I won't give him what he wants. I'm not moving."
Yu Sui didn't care. "You're pretty stubborn about little things like this."
Wei Ren drew a deep breath. "Getting a good night's sleep isn't a little thing."
Perhaps Mei Chengyu thought the most important thing in life was to Eat Well. Wei Ren, meanwhile, thought the most important thing in life was to sleep well.
Yu Sui didn't care who would win the battle with Mei Chengyu over the single dorm room. She turned back to Wei Ren, her expressive eyes seeming to have lit on a new idea. "Animal Language is a unique skill of the School of Agriculture. Even if crippling your cultivation drops you to the first realm, that shouldn't affect your ability to interpret it, right?"
Wei Ren nodded. "It won't."
That made him at least a little useful.
Yu Sui rolled her eyes and held out her hand to Wei Ren. "Give me two Sound Transmission Beasts from the School of Agriculture."
"And don't give me any you've raised yourself. Someone might catch them later."
Wei Ren glanced at her soft, fair palm, then looked back at Yu Sui's face. Her voice was still gentle as she spoke, sweet with a young girl's charm without being cloying. It perfectly concealed every sharp, barbed edge in her words.
No wonder so many people had never seen through Yu Sui.
She had been so convincing from childhood onward. Maybe sometimes she wasn't even pretending. She simply showed the side of herself that best served her in each different situation and environment.
Whatever her expression or tone, every side of her was real.
"All right, but what are you planning to do?" Wei Ren asked.
Yu Sui lifted her chin slightly. "You don't need to know."
Wei Ren tried to persuade her. "You don't have to keep fighting alone."
Yu Sui replied crisply, "You're not in a position to get involved right now."
Wei Ren rubbed his thumping heart, then went to the School of Agriculture and caught two Red Scorpions for Yu Sui. He even took some time to teach her how to use them.
By sunset, Yu Sui had reached the academy gates. Black Beard had already sent a carriage to pick her up. Technicians from the Nangong Family guarded her on either side, with several more hidden nearby.
The School of Agriculture's ambush last time had left Black Beard with serious psychological scars. Whenever he couldn't personally come to pick Yu Sui up, he sent at least five guards instead.
Yu Sui looked out the carriage window. The setting sun hung over the sea, surrounded by vast swathes of splendid, fiery clouds. As the waves shifted, the deep red reflected on the water looked like a sea of flames swaying in the wind.
It was the fifteenth today. The stars avoided the moon, and high in the gradually dimming sky, the faint outline of a bright, full moon could be seen.
On the way, Yu Sui watched the Five Elements Light Core on Gu Gan's side:
Gu Gan had brought Huo Xiao and Xiang Feifei with him on this outing, one from the School of Law and one from the Yin-Yang School. He himself cultivated both Name and Law, so they would probably use the School of Names Nine Schools Technique against Mei Chengyu this time.
They had chosen a mountainous area far from the bustle of the outer city. The ground all around was strewn with sand and stones, and green trees stood sparse. A few small hills offered cover, with the Shallow Sea beyond them. Pale blue water washed over the sand, leaving a stretch of wet ground before retreating.
There weren't many green trees, but there were plenty of thickets of weeds as tall as a person. Green and yellow blades mingled together, all looking rather unhealthy. Who knew what might be hiding among them?
Gu Gan and the other two stood in the shadow of a hillside. Beyond it lay the beach by the Shallow Sea.
All three wore long black cloaks that concealed their figures, allowing them to gradually blend into the night.
Xiang Feifei asked, "How are things on Wei Kun's end?"
Gu Gan lowered his head to check the Listening Wind Ruler. "He's already on his way. As soon as he leaves the academy gates, Mei Chengyu will find out. We have to move fast."
Xiang Feifei pulled up her hood. The broad hood covered her entire small face, hiding it completely. "The cloak can't fall off, or Swallowing Shadow won't be able to cover us. He can't find out until he's dead."
Huo Xiao held two pieces of black mystic wood, each about as long as a thumb. Red runes circled both pieces. They were Demon Sealing Pillars made by a Mechanism Artist.
Within the formation created by any two Demon Sealing Pillars, the use of certain Nine Schools Techniques and Heavenly Secrets Techniques would be restricted.
Demon Sealing Pillars were an exceptionally rare and extravagant kind of tactical treasure.
"Set up the Demon Sealing Formation first," Gu Gan told Huo Xiao.
Huo Xiao tossed the two pieces of black mystic wood, one to the left and the other to the right. They marked out a long, slanting line around the hillside and thicket.
Gu Gan looked toward the sandy ground. "Seize the opportunity. We should finish it in one go."
Yu Sui rested one hand on the carriage window. Her sleeve slid up, revealing her fair arm. Two Red Scorpions dropped from her fingertips into the hills and headed toward the wind coming from Gu Gan and the others.
Soul Control Second Level allowed her to monitor two Five Elements Light Cores at once.
After studying Gu Gan's setup, Yu Sui spotted Mei Chengyu eating with Xing Chun and the others. He had just received word that Wei Kun had left the academy.
Mei Chengyu set down his chopsticks with an elegant motion and stood. "I'm going out for a bit."
"Where to?" Xing Chun asked, looking up.
"To kill someone," Mei Chengyu replied.
Xing Chun swallowed a mouthful of food, then turned to Zhongli Shan. "Did Wei Kun go out?"
Zhongli Shan also asked Mei Chengyu, "Should I come too?"
"No need." Mei Chengyu left alone.
"I'll go, I'll go!" Kong Yiyi sprang to her feet, only for Nian Qiuyan, who was playing with the Listening Wind Ruler beside her, to take her hand and pull her back into her seat. "You shouldn't go either. Let Meimei handle it himself."
Kong Yiyi knitted her brows. "Wei Kun's gotten away from him several times!"
"He won't this time." Nian Qiuyan soothed her gently. "They have a score to settle. Let them settle it themselves."
Kong Yiyi glared at him. "You make it sound like Wei Kun's never messed with me!"
Nian Qiuyan put away the Listening Wind Ruler, served her some food, peeled a shrimp, and smiled. "Then it won't hurt to let Meimei get his revenge. You should eat your fill, sleep well, and take it easy. Aren't you working on Three Bodies lately? There's no need to throw off your rhythm over Wei Kun."
Only then did Kong Yiyi pick up her chopsticks again.
Mei Chengyu reached the academy gates. People came and went in front of the entrance. As someone passed him, they slipped him a Flying Dragonfly from the School of Agriculture that could track Wei Kun's movements.
The red Flying Dragonfly hovered in the air, covering a thousand li in an instant. Mei Chengyu followed close behind with his Wind Riding Technique.
Sitting in the carriage, Yu Sui rubbed her eyes. He was moving so much faster than he had the night he sparred with her.
Yu Sui had just entered the bustling outer city when Mei Chengyu caught up with Wei Kun, who was trying to get in.
Wei Kun pretended he was heading into the outer city. At an entrance where the crowds were growing thicker, he ran straight into Mei Chengyu. The street lamps shone brightly, and the shouts of hawkers mingled with clanging and banging from the blacksmiths at work.
The red Flying Dragonfly stopped on a white stone archway. Mei Chengyu landed at its entrance with his Wind Riding Technique, immediately spotting Wei Kun in front of an open-air blacksmith's stall.
Wei Kun was tall and sturdy. He didn't have the elegant, ethereal bearing of someone from the Yin-Yang School. Instead, he looked more like a burly, formidable warrior from the School of War. Constantly on guard, he resembled a rat sneaking out to steal food, his narrow eyes shrewd and his expression wary.
The blacksmith's hammer rang out into the early-summer night, stirring up a fiery warmth. The instant Mei Chengyu locked onto him, Wei Kun whirled around, alert. His face changed when he saw Mei Chengyu beneath the archway. He cursed under his breath and immediately fled with his Wind Riding Technique.
The two began chasing each other through the night, stirring the Five Elements Qi wherever they went.
By the Shallow Sea, Gu Gan murmured, "They're here."
Wei Kun ran ahead, darting through the woods and along the narrow paths. When he plunged into the shadows, the killing intent rising in his eyes twisted his face into a momentary grimace. He glanced back at Mei Chengyu, who was still hot on his heels.
At first, Wei Kun had only had a bit of bad blood with Xing Chun in the Yin-Yang School. He couldn't stand that Xing Chun never applied himself yet always won the teachers' favor. So whenever they met, he made snide remarks, and in private he maligned Xing Chun's character.
Xing Chun hadn't cared. He really was a laid-back person who didn't like getting into conflicts. If something concerned him personally, he could put up with it.
Mei Chengyu wasn't one to stick his nose into other people's business, and his friends weren't spineless weaklings who let others bully them. Most of the time, they handled their own problems themselves.
But later, Wei Kun developed a thing for Kong Yiyi. He genuinely liked her to some extent, but she didn't like him. Wei Kun thought he had a chance, so he spent all day showing up in front of her and trying to ingratiate himself.
Xing Chun and Kong Yiyi were friends who ate together too, and they shared meals all through that period. Seeing them made Wei Kun jealous. He went after Xing Chun during several trials at the Yin-Yang School. Xing Chun escaped danger, but Wei Kun succeeded in making Kong Yiyi loathe him.
Kong Yiyi called Wei Kun a wicked, treacherous villain with a crooked heart. After Kong Yiyi beat him up once, Wei Kun's affection turned to hatred. In his rage, he attacked her, vowing to ruin her reputation and make her understand that she wasn't good enough for him—she would have to come back and beg his forgiveness.
After all his various schemes, he ended up offending everyone in Xing Chun and Kong Yiyi's circle. Wei Kun had drawn Mei Chengyu's attention because he wanted to eliminate a rival in the Yin-Yang School. If that person died, no one would compete with him for the chance to inscribe a Heavenly Secrets Technique.
That disciple from the Yin-Yang School, Wan Jiang, had also happened to receive Mei Chengyu's help and greatly respected him. Wei Kun had used Mei Chengyu's name to lure Wan Jiang to the outer city, then taken the opportunity to eliminate his rival.
That was what made Mei Chengyu decide to kill Wei Kun, no matter what.
Wei Kun had some ability, but poor character. He was petty and vindictive, yet his methods were low and crude.
Ever since the night he killed Wan Jiang and was almost hacked to death by Mei Chengyu in the outer city, Wei Kun had been terrified. He'd spent nearly a year avoiding Mei Chengyu.
Because his ranking had dropped after he killed someone, every time he tried to raise it and return to Grade A Disciple, Mei Chengyu found a chance to stop him. His cultivation had stagnated as a result. Even when he ran into Mei Chengyu at the academy, Mei Chengyu might use the rules as an excuse to beat him up.
Mei Chengyu didn't care about losing points, anyway. He could earn them back quickly.
At the rate Wei Kun killed people, he should have dropped from Grade A to Grade B ages ago. But whenever Mei Chengyu lost points, he'd have them back in a couple of days.
Wei Kun couldn't figure it out. How did the guy earn points so fast? Could it be because of Sage Chang Gen? The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Mei Chengyu was only relying on having a good master. Without Sage Chang Gen backing him up, what the hell was Mei Chengyu?
After hiding like a rat for so long, Wei Kun's hatred for Mei Chengyu had long since surpassed what he felt for Xing Chun, Kong Yiyi, and the others.
So when Gu Gan approached him with an offer to work together, Wei Kun had agreed without hesitation. Better to cooperate with someone than struggle alone. He was desperate to escape the shadow of Mei Chengyu, but Mei Chengyu had cut off almost every path before him. Now that an opportunity had finally landed in his lap, Wei Kun would seize it with both hands.
Tonight, it would all end!
Wei Kun had just finished making his bold vow when a flash of Blue Light caught the corner of his eye. A thunderclap struck his heart, making his pupils contract.
Mei Chengyu appeared behind Wei Kun in an instant. His oppressive presence surged over him with the shadow. Wei Kun abruptly sped up again, pouring nearly all his Five Elements Qi into his Wind Riding Technique as he fled ahead.
Yu Sui saw all this and decided that, without Gu Gan and the others' help, Wei Kun would be doomed in a one-on-one fight against Mei Chengyu.
Wei Kun knew it himself. That was why he avoided Mei Chengyu.
Wei Kun ran with all his might, leading Mei Chengyu toward the agreed-upon meeting place with Gu Gan.
Black Beard waited at the outer city entrance, where people streamed along the street. Yu Sui got out of the carriage, raised a hand to press down her hair stirred by the night wind, and instinctively looked toward the Shallow Sea.
The Red Scorpions she had released were already waiting in the thicket.
Thunder Serpents descended from the sky, roaring as they chased the fleeing Wei Kun. Every bolt that missed and struck the ground kicked up sand and stones, blasting a charred pit into the earth.
Just as Wei Kun was about to lead him into the Demon Sealing Formation, a Thunder Serpent lashed him into the air. He lost his balance midair and crashed onto the hillside, tumbling down against the slope until he hit the ground.
Gu Gan and the other two watched from the shadows in silence.
Fortunately, after landing with his Wind Riding Technique, Mei Chengyu walked forward at an unhurried pace and happened to enter the Demon Sealing Formation's boundaries.
Black Beard said to Yu Sui, "County Princess, the shops you requested have all set aside their goods. They're waiting for you to choose."
"Let's go." Yu Sui walked down the bustling street, chatting and laughing with Black Beard. Meanwhile, her Second Soul kept watch on the changes around the Light Core.
There was nothing unusual at all.
Only when she noticed that Gu Gan had been holding the Listening Wind Ruler the entire time did she finally understand why he had arranged to meet on the fifteenth.
For ordinary messages with the Listening Wind Ruler, you only needed to learn how to fill in the character grids.
But sending voice messages required learning Star Position. Because of the Communication Institute's restrictions, voice messages could only be sent on the first and fifteenth of every month, as well as the last three days of the month.
Tonight was the fifteenth, and the full moon shone high overhead.
There were no lampposts or fireflies by the Shallow Sea, only cold moonlight that drove back the darkness.
Mei Chengyu wore a dark blue outfit. His features were cool and composed, and his upper body happened to be in the shadow of a tree. The deep, handsome lines of his face were cast in shadow, lending him a cold, bloodthirsty air.
His tied-back hair was also a dark blue, mingling with his thick black hair and dancing in the night breeze. From afar, his tall, straight figure looked as elegant as an immortal's.
Wei Kun clutched his chest as he staggered up from the ground. He glared at Mei Chengyu and sneered viciously. "You really are a ghost that won't leave me alone."
Mei Chengyu lazily lifted his eyelids, glancing around from the corner of his eye. His tone was teasing. "And you really are as timid as a mouse."
He taunted him. "Keep running?"
"Run? Why would I run? You're the one who'll be running now." Wei Kun's voice was vicious, golden Five Elements Qi gathering around him.
The night wind gathered around Wei Kun too, blowing sand and stones across the ground until they rattled against one another. The wind became blades, severing branches and grass.
Wei Kun exhaled. "Shattered Wind."
Mei Chengyu's expression remained cool. As several sharp whirlwinds converged on him, he said, "Shattered Wind."
The moment the two whirlwinds collided, Wei Kun's figure lurched. He lunged forward, intending to wear down Mei Chengyu's Five Elements Qi first.
Yu Sui strolled through the outer city's most luxurious and prosperous shopping district. She chatted and laughed with the shopkeepers at her side while watching the battle by the distant Shallow Sea.
This was her first time seeing Mei Chengyu fight.
Shattered Wind was only a Bagua Life Technique. There was nothing unusual about Wei Kun being able to use it.
Wei Kun used a few Bagua Life Techniques to disrupt his opponent's vision and hearing. Once his preparations were complete, he quickly widened the distance between himself and Mei Chengyu, then joined his hands in rapidly forming seals.
Seven blue-purple Star Threads appeared in a row behind Wei Kun, each one representing a Star Position.
The Yin-Yang School's Nine Schools Technique · Xuanwu Seven Mansions Star Array.
The seven Star Threads hovered in the sky like another world. Within that new world, the Xustar Star Thread descended in tangible form, becoming a gigantic python, snow-white from head to tail and shrouded in a chilling white mist, which came to Wei Kun's side.
It was a Xustar Star General summoned by Wei Kun with the Yin-Yang Techniques.
A thin layer of frost spread across the sandy ground, but Mei Chengyu showed no sign of panic. He raised a hand, and seven blue-purple Star Threads appeared overhead as well, arranging themselves into the Northern Black Tortoise's star array.
"Xustar." At Mei Chengyu's quiet summons, another Xustar Star General took the form of a Frost White Python and descended to the ground.
The chill brought by the two Frost White Pythons turned even the seawater surging onto the beach into icicles.
Wei Kun said sarcastically, "Mei Chengyu, don't tell me you really have the Mystic Technique that can copy Nine Schools Techniques, like everyone else says?"
Mei Chengyu walked forward without a care. "The dead will find out."
Heh!
Wei Kun let out a cold laugh. The two of them attacked at the same time, moving as fast as flickering Thunder Serpents. Five Elements Qi shielded them both, and as their fists clashed, their Xustar Star Generals moved too.
It took only a moment to see that Wei Kun was at a disadvantage. His Five Elements Qi barrier was broken through. As Mei Chengyu scattered his golden Five Elements Qi with one punch, Wei Kun joined his hands again and formed a seal: "Xustar · Stone Condensation!"
Wei Kun's Frost White Python turned back at his summons. Its slit pupils shone golden as it stared at Mei Chengyu, dispersing the Five Elements Qi swirling around him.
Mei Chengyu looked back, his brows drawing together slightly. "Xustar · Stone Condensation."
His Frost White Python whipped its tail across, blocking the attack in front of him.
The Listening Wind Ruler at Wei Kun's waist glimmered faintly. He had been in continuous voice contact with Gu Gan from beginning to end. Now, a low male voice came from the Listening Wind Ruler. "All Arts, Break."
Voice messages sent through the Listening Wind Ruler left no record in the Number Mountain. So unless someone happened to be monitoring the other person's Listening Wind Ruler, Yu Sui couldn't retrieve the message from the Number Mountain either.
Now Yu Sui heard Gu Gan's low murmur. The three short words carried vast Five Elements Qi, manifesting it as a technique. Its authority was so high that it instantly destroyed someone else's Nine Schools Technique.
The Frost White Python blocking Mei Chengyu shattered with a bang, breaking into countless ice flowers that scattered through the world. Even the seven Xuanwu Star Threads hovering in the air broke apart with it.
The shattering came suddenly and was unexpected. Mei Chengyu merely lifted an eyebrow, but in that instant the Frost White Python's gaze had broken through his Five Elements Qi barrier.
The Frost White Python stared at Mei Chengyu. As it broke through his Five Elements Qi defenses, it also restrained his movements, freezing him for a brief moment.
The three people in hiding attacked at once.
When Xiang Feifei rose from the thicket, the ground bathed in moonlight plunged back into darkness. No one could see her hands forming seals beneath her oversized black robe, but she had already used the Yin-Yang School's Heavenly Secrets Technique · Swallowing Shadow.
Darkness swallowed the ground and sky, creating a world of nothing but shadows. Everyone else—even the Frost White Python—melted into the darkness. Only Mei Chengyu, frozen in ice, remained where he was.
Inside the thick ice, Mei Chengyu merely shifted his eyes. He remained calm and collected, showing not the slightest trace of panic or fear.
This was precisely the quarter hour when he could not summon Sage Chang Gen.
Hidden in the darkness, Wei Kun gripped his Curved Blade, murder in his eyes. As the ice gave a faint crack, he struck. Just as the blade grazed the flesh of Mei Chengyu's neck, golden lightning flashed, illuminating Wei Kun's shocked face.
Daoist Nine Schools Technique · Heavenly Dipper Five Thunders.
Ice shards flew everywhere. Mei Chengyu caught the Curved Blade barehanded, his palm pressed against its sharp edge, yet the Five Elements Qi in his palm kept him from being hurt.
Mei Chengyu's dark eyes were filled with darkness, but the flashing golden lightning let him glimpse Wei Kun's terrified face for an instant.
What the hell—just how many other people's Nine Schools Techniques did this guy know?!
Wei Kun was horrified and tried to retreat, but golden lightning flashing beside Mei Chengyu shot through the Curved Blade and slammed into him. The Five Elements Qi shield Wei Kun had just gathered broke again, and he cried out in pain.
Mei Chengyu twisted the Curved Blade from his hand and prepared to attack again. Then the Listening Wind Ruler on Wei Kun sounded once more: "Break."
The Heavenly Dipper Five Thunders were broken again. A cruel smile flickered in Wei Kun's eyes as he let go and vanished into the darkness. Mei Chengyu reacted quickly. He didn't bother chasing Wei Kun; instead, he turned and knocked back Xiang Feifei as she emerged from the darkness to attack him from behind.
Xiang Feifei vanished into the darkness again, taking turns with Wei Kun to wear Mei Chengyu down.
When Mei Chengyu used the Daoist Heavenly Lightning again, Gu Gan dispelled it with a single word: "Break."
Watching from the window of the commercial building, Yu Sui raised an eyebrow. This was interesting.
Downstairs, people bustled back and forth. Black Beard was calling for the shopkeepers to load all the goods onto the carriages. As Yu Sui watched the battle in the distance, she considered Gu Gan's ability.
It wasn't a Legalist Nine Schools Technique. It seemed like the School of Names, but none of the School of Names Nine Schools Techniques could be manifested by transmitting a voice through the Listening Wind Ruler.
Had he seen through the flaw in Mei Chengyu's use of other schools' Nine Schools Techniques, or was this the power of his own Nine Schools Technique?
Mei Chengyu's Nine Schools Techniques had been broken several times in a row, dispelled as soon as he used them. There were only three figures in the Swallowing Shadow Space: one was Wei Kun.
The second was very familiar with the rules of Swallowing Shadow.
The third didn't appear and vanish as often as the first two. Instead, he looked for a chance to kill with one strike, attacking decisively and ruthlessly.
Mei Chengyu had fought all three at once. That meant someone else was dispelling his Nine Schools Techniques.
There was a fourth person.
Yu Sui watched Gu Gan closely. He was actually within the range of Swallowing Shadow, too. In that enormous dark space, only Mei Chengyu had been excluded from the shadows, as if he were a dazzling full moon that the darkness could not swallow.
Gu Gan kept his eyes fixed on Mei Chengyu's every move. It seemed that to dispel Mei Chengyu's Nine Schools Techniques, he couldn't take part in the fight at the same time.
Yu Sui noticed that several times when Gu Gan dispelled Mei Chengyu's Nine Schools Techniques, he hadn't stirred even the slightest trace of Five Elements Qi.
Any Nine Schools Technique would cause a fluctuation in Five Elements Qi. By transmitting his voice through the Listening Wind Ruler, Gu Gan could cover that up.
He was concealing the fact that he could use Mystic Techniques, which didn't require Five Elements Qi.
Once Yu Sui confirmed it was a Mystic Technique, she pressed the Listening Wind Ruler in her hand and glanced at Mei Chengyu. His Nine Schools Techniques kept getting dispelled, and his Five Elements Qi shield had just been broken yet again.
Mei Chengyu was fighting three people at once. He could still hold his own, but he had sustained quite a few injuries. Wei Kun had the strongest killing intent, making him the easiest to sense.
Of the other two, one should be the master of Swallowing Shadow, free to come and go as he pleased.
The third hid his presence most deeply. Whether killing intent, battle intent, or Five Elements Qi, he was difficult to detect.
Wei Kun led the attack, drawing Mei Chengyu's attention as Xiang Feifei struck from behind once more. Golden light flashed in the Frost White Python's eyes. It flicked its scarlet tongue and lunged to bite Mei Chengyu.
The Frost White Python slammed into Mei Chengyu, staining his shoulder red with blood. Flying shards of ice sliced through his clothes, leaving one cut after another, and even sheared off part of his hair ribbon.
But he steadied himself and kicked Wei Kun away. Wind Riding Technique flashed beneath his feet as he seized Xiang Feifei's sword-wielding hand and snapped it. Xiang Feifei slipped away like a loach, vanishing into the darkness.
Xiang Feifei clutched her injured right hand, vexed.
In the next instant, golden light flashed again, and the Daoist Heavenly Lightning descended. Gu Gan opened his mouth. "Break!"
But the instant he spoke, Yu Sui severed the Listening Wind Ruler link between him and Wei Kun.
Gu Gan failed to stop the Nine Schools Technique this time. Huo Xiao, who trusted him, was caught in range of Mei Chengyu's golden lightning. With a flick of his hand, Mei Chengyu sent Huo Xiao flying with a heavy lash of lightning.
What was going on!?
Gu Gan was shaken to the core. He stared down at the Listening Wind Ruler in his hand, unable to believe it.
Yu Sui, standing by the window of the commercial building, tilted her head and smiled.
Xiang Feifei rushed to help Huo Xiao, but Mei Chengyu seized the opening. Golden lightning flashed, scattering the darkness within the Swallowing Shadow Space and illuminating the entire space for a brief moment.
Unable to escape through the darkness, Mei Chengyu had already realized during the earlier fight that Xiang Feifei was the master of Swallowing Shadow. He flashed after her. With her path blocked, Xiang Feifei had no choice but to fight. The silver-white glint of the dagger in her hand reflected the man's cool, impassive eyes.
Wasn't she supposed to be able to stop his Nine Schools Techniques?
Xiang Feifei wondered in surprise what had gone wrong. Her movements faltered for an instant, but Mei Chengyu was far faster than she was. When he caught the wrist of her attacking hand again, Xiang Feifei couldn't escape this time. As he snapped her wrist, she bit down hard on her lip, instantly breaking into a cold sweat.
Pale blue Thunder Serpent twisted into intricate runes and crawled up Xiang Feifei's arm. Her expression turned horrified as she watched it.
Ghost Dao School Life Talisman!
Sweat dripped from Xiang Feifei's chin as the pain of her broken wrist hit her. Mei Chengyu wasn't even interested in lifting her hat to see who she was. She was going to die anyway.
Before you continue