There's Someone Nearby

Zhang Hua and Cao Ye looked puzzled. Jiang Changkong actually knew them?

Could someone at Star Qi Peak really be called a top student?

And had he even blown apart a Late Nebula Level Star Demon?

Wasn't that nonsense?

Cao Ye could not help asking, "May I ask when you met Jiang Changkong? I remember Jiang Changkong was only at Star Qi Peak."

"Just a few days ago..."

"All right, everyone rest and hurry up recovering."

Ji Ziling cut in, interrupting Zhang Xiaoyu.

When she had first seen Zhang Hua, she had said Jiang Changkong had gone back.

If Zhang Xiaoyu and the others had seen Jiang Changkong a few days ago, that would be a problem.

Zhang Hua and Cao Ye would definitely connect it to a lot of things.

Tang Ruoxi's eyes flickered, but she did not say much. "Hurry up and recover. Then we'll fight our way out."

Only then did the group calm down and recover their cultivation.

Rumble, rumble.

The ground all around them shook. Star Demons roared, and more and more Star Demons were gathering.

Everyone's hearts were heavy, but they did not dare let themselves get distracted. They could only seize the time to recover.

Time slipped by bit by bit, and in the blink of an eye, two hours had passed.

"Ah..."

A cry of alarm rang out, startling everyone. "What happened?"

"Zhang Xiaoyu, why are you screaming like a ghost?"

Liu Ya said unhappily.

The others also glared at Zhang Xiaoyu. That cry had startled them too.

"No, it's not that. There are too many Star Demons."

Zhang Xiaoyu pointed outside, a slight tremor in her voice. "Look."

Everyone looked beyond the barrier. Swarms of Star Demons had already surrounded all four barriers completely!

The Star Demons kept attacking the barriers, all of them frantically pounding the energy shields.

When they raised their heads, all they could see were those bloody maws, sharp fangs, and claws.

Under the constant bombardment, ripples were spreading across the energy shields.

Tang Ruoxi's expression changed. "This is bad. There are too many Star Demons. These energy shields probably won't last much longer."

Everyone's expressions tightened. "How long, exactly?"

"Everyone, check them."

Tang Ruoxi stood up, took out an instrument, and examined the energy barrier. "Two hours at most. Maybe even less."

"It's the same on our side. If the Star Demons keep attacking, it's very likely to be breached in an hour and a half."

The Kexiang students in the other three barriers said.

"Then what do we do? Even if it's two hours, we won't be able to fully recover.

And even if we do fully recover, we still won't be able to fight our way out."

Cao Ye's expression was grave. The others also looked terrified, their faces anxious.

"Two hours won't work. There's no way it can hold for two hours, and we can't fight our way out either."

"This is all Zhang Hua's fault. If it weren't for his Star Power bomb, we wouldn't have ended up like this."

"Exactly. If not for Zhang Hua, we wouldn't be in this situation."

The students from the two schools lost their composure and glared angrily at Zhang Hua.

"Everyone, now is not the time to blame me."

Zhang Hua's face looked ugly, but he did not dare get angry. "Right now, everyone should unite all our strength and face the enemy together."

Cao Ye's eyes flickered as he added, "Zhang Hua is right. We should unite now and deal with the Star Demons together."

"Easy for you to say. You caused all this, and now you want us buried with you? If you're so capable, come up with a plan."

Everyone shouted angrily. The Kexiang School students gave him no face at all. "If you can't think of a way, you'll be the first one we throw out."

"Enough. Stop it."

Ji Ziling gave a cold snort, her expression slightly chilled. "If you have the energy to argue, you'd be better off saving it to kill Star Demons."

Everyone fell silent. Though they were still anxious and terrified, they forced themselves to calm down.

They could not fall into chaos now. Once they did, there would be no hope left.

Zhang Hua leaned against the shield, his lips moving. "How about... we try calling for help?"

"Calling for help? Who do you think would come support us at night? Would there be anyone nearby?"

Tang Ruoxi sneered. "When I came here, I'd already scouted the area. There's only us."

Zhang Hua opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"Is there really nothing we can do?"

The students from the two schools looked at the shield rippling around them, despair rising in their hearts.

The four shields fell into a deathly silence. Even the few super top students said nothing.

They were badly injured now, and even if they recovered, they still wouldn't be able to fight their way out against this horde of Star Demons.

"Senior, there's someone nearby."

Suddenly, a voice rang out, breaking the silence.

A Kexiang student was fiddling with an instrument, and an image was displayed on it.

A young man in ragged clothes was walking through the weeds outside, not far from them.

It was a starlight monitoring device. It was also thanks to this device that they had managed to find this place.

They had rushed to set up the shields earlier and hadn't retrieved it, so the device had been outside the whole time.

"Someone?"

The people from both schools all grew excited. "How many people? Find a way to contact them and have them come support us."

"One person."

Everyone: "..."

Damn it, just one person?

Tang Ruoxi suddenly said, "Could it be that Chen Sanyan who snatched the Star Stones just now?"

"Let me see."

Liu Jun squeezed over, looked at the figure on the screen, and said in astonishment, "Isn't this Jiang Changkong, Top Student Jiang?"

"Jiang Changkong? It's really him?"

Inside another shield, Liu Ya said excitedly, "Brother, look carefully. Is it him?"

"It really is him, it really is Jiang Changkong!" Liu Jun said, invigorated. "We're saved."

"Saved, my ass. It's only one person. What's he supposed to use to save us?"

Ji Ziling's expression changed slightly, and she snapped, "You still want to drag Changkong to his death now?"

Hadn't she told him to leave long ago? Why was he nearby at a time like this?

Liu Ya and the others trembled, sighed helplessly, and sat back down.

Lu Hong couldn't help saying, "But Top Student Changkong is very strong. If he makes a move, there really is some hope."

"That's right. Top Student Jiang could crawl his way over if he had to."

Liu Jun had seen his strength for himself. "As long as he doesn't run into a Late Nebula Level."

"Late Nebula Level?" Zhang Hua asked in confusion. "Didn't you say Jiang Changkong could blow up a Late Nebula Level?"

"Yes, but there are too many Star Demons here. Top Student Jiang's defense can ignore attacks below Late Nebula Level."

Liu Ya continued, "It's even stronger than our battle armor."

Tang Ruoxi's eyes lit up, and she said, "If that's the case, then combined with our strength, cutting a path out shouldn't be a problem. But a few people might die."

When everyone heard that, they grew excited again. "Then contact him and have him come rescue us."

A few dying was better than everyone dying. Besides, who didn't cling to the slim hope that they wouldn't be the one who died?

"Then I'll contact—"

"No!"

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue shouted angrily at the same time, startling everyone. "No contacting him."

"Ji Ziling, Ying Yanxue, what are you trying to do? Do you want us all to die here?" Cao Ye snapped.

Ji Ziling glared at everyone present. "If we say no, then no. Why should Changkong risk his life?"

"It may be risky, but there won't be a problem. We'll deal with the Late Nebula Level ones, and he'll be responsible for opening the path. Nothing will happen."

Tang Ruoxi pondered for a moment and said, "Don't worry. As long as Jiang Changkong comes to help, I'll compensate him."

"No!" Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue were firm.

"Ji Ziling, as a member of the school, if he has the ability, then he has the responsibility to come support us," Zhang Hua and Cao Ye said at the same time. "Contact Jiang Changkong and have him come immediately."

"Who told you Jiang Changkong was from the martial arts school?"

Ji Ziling looked at them coldly. "Right now, Jiang Changkong hasn't joined the school yet. He has no responsibility to save us!"

"He's not from the martial arts school?" Everyone froze.

Tang Ruoxi froze, then smiled. "If they're not from the martial arts school, then you two don't have any say over it, do you?"

"I'll contact Xiaoyu by phone."

"Tang Ruoxi, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Ji Ziling's and Ying Yanxue's expressions changed, and their longswords left their sheaths at the same time.

Inside the barrier, everyone else rose at once and blocked the way in front. "Even if the senior doesn't contact her, the people in the other barriers can. It's useless for you to target her."