Crimson Blood Manipulation!

Invisible threads sealed off every route of escape, while muddy water flowed silently beneath his feet.

A dead end lay ahead, and a formidable enemy behind him.

Lu Ping pressed a hand against the ox-horn longbow, his fingertips lightly brushing its body as methods to break the deadlock flashed through his mind.

First, he could use his remaining [Nue's Feather] to force open a path ahead, or use the longbow to blast through the concrete overhead. Then, taking advantage of the Piercing Ox Bow's ability to slip into shadows, he could seize the instant of the explosion and "launch" his own body like an arrow to escape to the surface.

Second, he could smash through the ground beneath his feet and flee into the deeper pipelines to fight on the move.

The terrain down there was more complicated, and the sorcerer maintaining the Curtain was already dead. As long as he made enough noise, Jujutsu High would definitely detect the cursed energy fluctuations here.

Besides, the other side apparently did not know that he could still use shikigami normally. The "hiding dog tactic" was also an option.

Tap, tap.

Mitarai Shizuru carried his black iron glove as he approached at an unhurried pace.

Just as Lu Ping prepared to make his move, a cheerful melody suddenly rang through the silent pipeline.

"Listen to the sound of rain~ every drop so clear~"

Lu Ping's phone ringtone abruptly went off.

The Curtain that had maintained the signal blockade had shattered, and outside signals reconnected at that moment.

"Your breath seeps into my love like raindrops~ I only wish the rain would never stop~"

The melody of a classic pop song echoed through the empty pipeline, its bright cheerfulness utterly at odds with the grim atmosphere before them.

Lu Ping did not reach for the phone in his pocket.

At a life-or-death moment like this, even the slightest distraction could be fatal.

His face remained expressionless. His right hand gripped the bowstring tightly, while his gaze stayed locked on Mitarai Shizuru thirty meters away.

There was an enormous gulf between a Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer and a Grade 1 Sorcerer.

By the common sense of the jujutsu world, for a Grade 2 Sorcerer to face a Grade 1 Sorcerer was far more difficult than a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit challenging a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit.

If a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit defeated a Grade 1 Cursed Spirit, it was merely a matter of favorable compatibility.

But every grade separating human sorcerers was an insurmountable mountain.

First came the absolute disparity in cursed energy. A Grade 1's cursed energy was at least twice that of a Grade 2.

That meant total suppression in every aspect, whether speed, physical strength, or cursed energy reserves.

More importantly, there was the development of one's cursed technique.

This old man before him had perfectly combined his cursed technique with the environment, constructing an absolute territory of his own.

Under conventional rankings, Grade 1 Sorcerers capable of exorcising cursed spirits of the same grade alone usually possessed overwhelming performance superiority against lower-ranked enemies.

Every monster rated Grade 1 had tempered their cursed energy level and cursed technique performance through countless trials. With a particularly effective attribute, they could even kill enemies above their grade!

Though Lu Ping had swiftly killed three Grade 2 Sorcerers, he was still somewhat outclassed when facing this Grade 1 Sorcerer skilled in constructing territory.

The icy threads gave off a faint hum in the air.

Blood surged faster through his body.

The intense threat of death tensed every muscle.

Faced with the extreme pressure of genuine mortal danger, the Three Corpses within Lu Ping became completely excited.

Soaked in negative emotions, they roared madly, endlessly squeezing out torrents of cursed energy.

A sharp glint flashed through the depths of Lu Ping's eyes.

His aura rose wildly at that moment, faintly touching that elusive threshold of Grade 1.

If I use [Nue's Feather] one more time, I might still have a chance.

Lu Ping thought to himself, his fingers already touching the icy feather arrow.

Mitarai Shizuru caught the change in Lu Ping's gaze.

As an old hand, he knew perfectly well how terrifying a counterattack a ranged sorcerer could unleash when backed into a corner.

But he did not waste words, nor did he intend to leave this potentially gifted shikigami user any time to draw his bow and charge his attack.

The old man lowered his eyelids and slowly raised his left hand.

Ring, ring, ring—

The song "Rainy Love" still echoed through the pipeline.

Something strange happened.

At that exact same moment, the same melody suddenly sounded from the other end of the corridor.

"I only wish the rain would never stop~"

The sound was somewhat muffled, as if separated by thick concrete. Its melody and rhythm were perfectly synchronized with the ringtone in Lu Ping's pocket, yet it was unmistakably drawing closer.

Mitarai Shizuru's movement abruptly halted.

Lu Ping also glanced slightly to the side.

Someone had arrived.

And not only had that person entered this hidden underground pipe network, they were currently calling Lu Ping's phone.

Reinforcements from Jujutsu High.

It definitely would not be Satoru Gojo or Suguru Geto.

Those two monsters were busy with all sorts of field assignments right now. For sudden missions in the outskirts like this, Jujutsu High usually assigned Grade 1 or Grade 2 Sorcerers who were closer by.

Who could it be?

Mitarai Shizuru's expression darkened completely.

Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively chose to abandon this stronghold.

Now that the Curtain had broken and enemy reinforcements had arrived, remaining here to keep fighting would only mean a slow death.

Retreat!

The old man stepped back, his figure shooting rapidly to the rear.

Never lingering in battle at the first sign of trouble was the survival rule that had kept old-generation curse users alive until now.

But he had no intention of letting the danger before him go.

"Zenin Clan brat, count yourself lucky."

Mitarai Shizuru sneered, his voice exploding through the tunnel. "The next time we meet, this old man won't give you another chance!"

Before his words had faded, his right hand—wearing a cursed tool glove and held behind his back—clenched viciously toward Lu Ping.

Boom!

The countless invisible threads that had been lying in ambush all around abruptly converged.

Hundreds upon thousands of cursed energy threads wove into an airtight net of death. With shrill tearing sounds that sliced through the air, they descended upon Lu Ping's position in a crushing barrage!

Before the threads even arrived, the concrete beneath Lu Ping's feet had already been cut with countless dense fissures.

The air was carved with countless white streaks.

There was nowhere to retreat and nowhere to dodge.

The incomparably sharp threads infused with cursed energy had already touched the edge of Lu Ping's Jujutsu High uniform.

At that critical instant, an alluring crimson blood glow suddenly lit up from the dark pipe opening behind him, like a scarlet beacon in the night.

—Ssh!

—Screech!

—Ssh, ssh, ssh!!

Amid the piercing sounds of something tearing through the air, a crimson blood glow suddenly burst from the darkness, accelerating continuously as it approached.

It was a streamlined arrowhead of blood glow condensed from pure blood!

It even underwent a second acceleration during its high-speed flight. Like an enraged blood dragon, it crashed diagonally into the invisible net rushing toward them with a booming change in velocity.

Screech!

The once incomparably resilient cursed energy threads touched the scorching blood glow and instantly melted like ice and snow meeting blazing fire!

The net was split in two.

The violent gale shredded the invisible threads in the air inch by inch, and the shockwave plowed a deep trench across the water's surface.

The muddy water exploded violently.

Lu Ping stood where he was, watching the thick blood mist slowly disperse through the darkness before him. His gaze narrowed slightly.

As far as he knew, only one family specialized in using blood that was so violent and concentrated.

There was no doubt about that blood!!