If Gu Gan still didn't act, the Life Talisman would drain Xiang Feifei of all her Five Elements Qi and vitality, turning her into a twisted Human Skin Talisman.
They didn't have much time left.
Gu Gan flashed behind Mei Chengyu.
Legalism Judgment Technique: Lingchi.
The sound of bursting wind rang in Mei Chengyu's ears. Countless tiny Wind Blades drilled desperately into his skin, completely ignoring the protection of his Five Elements Qi.
In the instant Mei Chengyu blocked him, Gu Gan seized Xiang Feifei's hand and pulled her back. But Mei Chengyu risked having his hands shredded by the Wind Blades and bound Xiang Feifei with a Thunder Serpent in the Blood Mist.
The explosive Wind Blades ripped the flesh from Mei Chengyu's palms, leaving wounds deep enough to expose bone. Yet he didn't hesitate for a moment. He refused to let this chance to break out of Shadow Devouring slip away.
The Thunder Serpent and golden lightning struck Xiang Feifei at the same time. Gu Gan swept her up in his arms, shielding her at once, but the golden lightning still blasted both of them away and sent them tumbling into the darkness.
Xiang Feifei coughed up blood and collapsed in Gu Gan's arms, no longer able to maintain Shadow Devouring.
As the darkness receded and moonlight shone once more over the sand and stones, Gu Gan's chest tightened. His movement as he rose also faltered.
Daoist Heavenly Lightning wasn't some ordinary Nine Schools Technique. It was a Daoist Heavenly Secrets Technique. One hit was enough to make him suffer, let alone Xiang Feifei.
The Nine Schools Techniques Mei Chengyu knew were beyond anything he'd imagined.
Yu Sui felt the same way. Mei Chengyu seemed to know the Nine Schools Techniques of every school—not only those, but even Heavenly Secrets Techniques.
If he wasn't copying them, it was hard to imagine how.
But if he was copying them, why hadn't he copied Xiang Feifei's Shadow Devouring just now?
Yu Sui felt a little regretful. She'd been so focused on confirming Gu Gan's Mystic Technique that she'd forgotten to check Mei Chengyu. Still, it wasn't over yet. The Demon Sealing Barrier over there hadn't been used, and Gu Gan's group probably still had tricks up their sleeves.
Gu Gan lowered his eyes. Seeing Xiang Feifei drenched in sweat and unconscious from coughing up blood, her face pitifully pale, he couldn't help but burn with anger.
Xiang Feifei was usually strong-willed and lively. Seeing her injured and vulnerable now only made her more heartbreaking.
From the corner of his eye, Gu Gan suddenly caught sight of a Red Scorpion hiding in the grass. His heart gave a jolt.
An Agricultural School Sound Transmission Beast?
Who?
Cang Shu?
Had the Listening Wind Ruler's unexpected failure just now been caused by Cang Shu, the Agricultural School Disciple hiding behind the scenes?
Yu Sui sat in the carriage, propping her chin up with one hand as she looked outside. She smiled with narrowed eyes, thinking that Gu Gan had finally noticed the Sound Transmission Beast she'd left over there.
The Agricultural School Sound Transmission Beast could indeed interfere with the Listening Wind Ruler's transmissions. Yu Sui had learned that when she first studied the Listening Wind Ruler.
When Gu Gan insisted on acting on the fifteenth, Yu Sui had thought of the Listening Wind Ruler's transmissions, but she couldn't be sure. She'd simply asked Wei Ren to give him the Red Scorpion as a precaution. She couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't use her power to control the Listening Wind Ruler while watching the battle.
Using her power to control the Listening Wind Ruler had revealed part of her abilities to Gu Gan's side. If anything unusual happened with the Listening Wind Ruler, Gu Gan would surely suspect her first.
Yu Sui had to find herself some cover if she wanted to avoid trouble.
"To train Shadow Devouring to this level is no small feat." Mei Chengyu walked toward Gu Gan and Xiang Feifei. "There aren't many people like that in the Yin-Yang School, and they wouldn't be hard to find."
Mei Chengyu wasn't in much better shape. When the Frost White Python had struck him, his left shoulder had already been soaked in blood. When the ice shattered, it had also cut his neck and face.
When he'd bound Xiang Feifei with the Thunder Serpent and refused to let go, he'd gone head-to-head with Gu Gan's Judgment Technique: Lingchi. Now both his hands were bloody, blood dripping constantly from them, the torn flesh exposing Ghastly White Bone.
When Yu Sui's gaze passed over Mei Chengyu's hands, she thought with a sigh, That looks painful.
Even though Mei Chengyu was a Ghost Dao Disciple and killing him required attacks that shattered his Three Souls and Six Po, the pain from injuries to his physical body was still real.
Yet Mei Chengyu's expression didn't change, as though he couldn't feel pain at all. Only his dark eyes swept over the people present with a hint of cold menace.
Gu Gan turned his gaze away from the Red Scorpion and used Pseudo-Voice. His voice was impossible to tell apart as male or female. "You won't get the chance to find them."
That was what he said, but the Red Scorpion had still sent a chill of sweat down his back.
Was someone else nearby watching?
Behind him, Huo Xiao staggered to his feet and Formed Seals. The Demon Sealing Barrier activated, spreading into a white circle across the ground that trapped only Mei Chengyu.
After activating the barrier, Huo Xiao clutched his shoulder again, his brows knitting tightly.
The golden lightning had caught him completely off guard, and his injuries weren't much better than Xiang Feifei's.
They'd clearly had an overwhelming advantage inside Shadow Devouring, but the other side had turned the tables in an instant.
"Demon Sealing Barrier. Mechanism Artist." Mei Chengyu stopped and glanced at the Profound Wood posts fixed at either end, his smile playful. "Looks like you still don't know."
"Go to hell!" Wei Kun struggled to his feet, bracing himself against the Mountain Wall. Blood covered half his face, some his own and some Mei Chengyu's. The Frost White Python now coiled around the Demon Sealing Barrier, its head held high as it looked down at Mei Chengyu below.
Wei Kun was murderous and furious. They were running out of time, and he had no desire to waste words with Mei Chengyu. The strength Mei Chengyu had displayed terrified him. It seemed there was no way to keep him under control, and no matter what desperate situation he fell into, he could turn things around.
Like being trapped inside Shadow Devouring. Like being trapped inside the Demon Sealing Barrier now.
That sense of oppression instead filled Wei Kun with utter despair, and his fighting spirit crumbled in an instant.
Wei Kun couldn't accept it. Driven by fear and murderous rage, he wanted Mei Chengyu dead!
At its master's command, the Frost White Python opened its jaws and hissed. It shot forward in a blur, aiming to bite off Mei Chengyu's head, while Gu Gan remained on guard and once again unleashed Judgment Technique: Lingchi.
Mei Chengyu couldn't possibly use a Heavenly Secrets Technique inside the Demon Sealing Barrier!
He couldn't stop it!
Everyone thought so.
But Yu Sui saw Mei Chengyu standing there without moving, his expression calm. The composure of her Senior Martial Brother—and the contempt in his gaze toward the Frost White Python—made her feel he wouldn't simply let himself die here.
A flash of battle lust stirred in Mei Chengyu's eyes, lending him a momentary air of wickedness.
Medical School Pupil Technique: Heart in Sight.
The Frost White Python's body and gaping jaws plunged toward him at full speed, but the instant it met Mei Chengyu's eyes, it turned back. Before Wei Kun could react, while his face was still twisted with murderous intent, the python suddenly wheeled around and bit him without hesitation.
What!?
Gu Gan and Huo Xiao looked up in disbelief. A flicker of confusion had just crossed Wei Kun's face when the Frost White Python raised its head and swallowed him whole.
Blood sprayed across the sandy ground, soaking into it.
How was that possible? How could he use the Medical School Pupil Technique too?
Gu Gan's eyes trembled as he looked at Mei Chengyu.
Mei Chengyu raised a hand to shield his neck, keeping the Wind Blades from slicing his throat. The Frost White Python soon thrashed its tail in fury, crushing one of the Profound Wood posts and breaking the Demon Sealing Barrier.
The moment the Demon Sealing Barrier broke, Gu Gan acted decisively. He immediately carried Xiang Feifei and covered Huo Xiao's retreat. Tonight had taught him a lesson: he'd underestimated Mei Chengyu.
Sage Chang Gen's time was up too. Even if they pushed Mei Chengyu into another desperate situation, Sage Chang Gen might still interfere.
Gu Gan wanted to run, and Mei Chengyu wanted to chase.
Three black figures moved farther and farther away through the woods, all of them moving incredibly fast, as if every last bit of their strength was going into Wind Riding Technique.
Gu Gan had been covering Huo Xiao, and after handing Xiang Feifei over to him, he fell to the rear. Mei Chengyu had only just caught up when Judgment Technique forced him back. The Wind Blades of Lingchi continued to pursue him.
Black Beard personally escorted Yu Sui back to the academy. The carriage left the bustling outer city, passed beneath the stone-and-jade archway, and hurried toward Taiyi Academy along the woods lining the road.
Yu Sui lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside, her expression thoughtful. If they took this route, they seemed likely to run into Gu Gan and the others as they retreated.
Gu Gan and the others had already left the Shallow Sea area, crossed the woods, and reached the dense forest near the main road.
Mei Chengyu, who was chasing them, suddenly stopped. His pace slowed.
His brows drew together as he clicked his tongue softly.
He'd used the Nine Schools Techniques of other schools too often, and they'd all been high-level Nine Schools Techniques or Heavenly Secrets Techniques. His Five Elements Qi was in chaos now; even breathing tugged at his nerves, making them twitch with pain.
He hadn't managed to kill Wei Kun before because the kid was too good at running. He might not be much of a fighter, but when it came to escaping, he had a knack for it.
Besides, Wei Kun had known from the start that he couldn't beat Mei Chengyu alone, so he'd never tried. Whenever he was spotted in the outer city, he'd turn tail and run, sprinting toward the academy for dear life.
This time, Wei Kun had tried to team up with Gu Gan instead of running, and Mei Chengyu had caught him completely off guard.
The goal today had been to kill Wei Kun anyway. The others could wait.
Mei Chengyu stopped using Wind Riding Technique and began walking forward at an unhurried pace.
Gu Gan suddenly noticed that the person chasing them had slowed down. Suspecting a trap, he looked back for a moment, then abruptly realized: Mei Chengyu's Five Elements Qi was in chaos.
Even as a Ghost Dao Disciple who cultivated the Three Souls and Six Po, Mei Chengyu couldn't escape the pain caused by his Five Elements Qi going haywire.
There was a chance!
Gu Gan pivoted and immediately turned back to fight.
Mei Chengyu had already left the dense forest and stepped into the moonlight. A fine carriage approached from far down the road, moving almost as fast as Wind Riding Technique. It drew near in no time.
Yu Sui leaned against the carriage window. When she saw Mei Chengyu standing in the moonlight, she sat up and called to him in surprise, "Senior Martial Brother!"
Her call brought Gu Gan to a halt. Hidden in the darkness, he stared toward the roadside in shock.
Black Beard, driving the carriage, heard Yu Sui's shout and saw Mei Chengyu in the woods beside the road. He immediately stopped the carriage.
Mei Chengyu blinked slowly. His heart gave a painful throb, then another. He watched Yu Sui hurry down from the carriage. When she saw him, she raised a hand to cover her mouth in surprise, her watery almond-shaped eyes glistening as though she'd been frightened.
"Senior Martial Brother? How did you get so badly hurt?" Yu Sui asked, flustered and bewildered, hurrying over with quick, breathless steps. "Who did you get into a fight with?"
A thin sheen of sweat covered Mei Chengyu's forehead, but he still kept a calm expression, as though he'd become a bloody mess without feeling a thing. He casually asked Yu Sui, "What are you holding?"
Yu Sui looked down and only then noticed she'd brought the Jewelry Box she'd bought that day. She said softly, "I came to the outer city tonight to buy the new jewelry and clothes. This is what I just bought."
Mei Chengyu thought, How nice. Some people are fighting for their lives in the outer city, while others are throwing money around like rain.
Gu Gan watched the two standing together, a breath stuck in his chest, unable to get out no matter what.
"Senior Martial Brother, hurry and get in the carriage. I'll take you to the Medical School. I'm so afraid you'll die," Yu Sui said, looking at Mei Chengyu with worry in her eyes.
Mei Chengyu lowered his gaze to her glistening eyes and suddenly felt that seeing this Junior Martial Sister wasn't so bad after all.
Hidden in the darkness, Gu Gan could only watch as Yu Sui helped Mei Chengyu into the carriage. Black Beard even sped up so as not to delay treatment for Mei Chengyu's injuries.
The fury in Gu Gan's eyes nearly set the entire forest beside the road ablaze. Why?
Why did he have to use Wind Riding Technique to hurry back while that brat Mei Chengyu got to ride back with Suisui in the same carriage?
That devious man had even dared to bewitch Suisui!
Before you continue