Yue Guan gripped his shoulder armor and tore it outward. Half the plate fell to the ground. The fabric around the needle hole had already changed color, and black vapor crept up the back of his hand.
"Hand over the antidote. I can swear an oath to let you leave."
Tang San's lips moved, but the arm supporting him gave way first. Xiao Wu dropped to her knees beside him, bracing his back with them.
"Brother, forget about him for now. Swallow the medicine."
"Water..."
"I have some with me. Drink slowly."
The mouth of the waterskin touched Tang San's lips. Most of the water spilled onto his collar, while the rest went down with the pill. An uncontrollable fit of coughing immediately rattled in his throat.
Ji Yuan supplied him with nothing.
Yama's Invitation had already entered Yue Guan's body, and the connection to his martial soul had been destroyed. In the little time left, there was no need to waste any more energy on Tang San.
Ninety-fifth-level soul power was flowing through the root network.
The power was too concentrated for the fine roots to withstand. Cracks appeared across their surfaces in quick succession. Ji Yuan immediately withdrew the useless peripheral roots and shifted the focus of his devouring to the main root underground.
Above, Yue Guan took a step forward.
"Did you hear me? I said I can swear an oath!"
"Yama's Invitation... has no antidote."
Tang San's words broke off amid his labored breaths, but his hand remained pressed against Xiao Wu's wrist, stopping her from leaning forward.
"Don't go over. He can still attack."
"I know. Stop talking."
"And don't touch his blood. If it gets on your clothes, throw them away."
Yue Guan raised his right arm. A ball of golden light shone in