The runes on Qing Feng blazed with a blinding light.
Dark red chains rose one by one, burrowing into her skin like living snakes. Qing Feng's face was so pale it seemed translucent, and she hung limply against the stone pillar as though her bones had been drawn out. With every degree the chains brightened, the rise and fall of her chest weakened.
"Mistress!"
White Snow screamed and tried to charge forward, but three black-robed cultivators lunged at her from the side. She swept a wing across them, sending all three flying with Star Phoenix Flame. But more black-robed cultivators poured out from around the altar, splitting up and surrounding the elite squad in moments.
"Form up!" The heavily bearded man swung the Giant Shield, knocking two black-robed cultivators away.
The rogue cultivators formed a circle, standing back to back. Tie Xiaoqi huddled in the center with her mechanism case open, swiftly assembling something with both hands. Her fingers trembled, but she never stopped.
The Star-Devouring Demon Emperor stood at the altar's highest point, his black-hole eyes gazing down at the melee below. He did not attack, merely holding up his arms and reciting an incantation she could not understand. With every phrase, a swath of divine soul lights on the vaulted ceiling went out, and the runes on Qing Feng shone a little brighter.
"We can't let him finish!" White Snow beat her wings, and golden flames became a streaming ribbon that shot straight at the Demon Emperor's face.
The Demon Emperor merely tilted his head. Black fog curled around the flames, extinguishing them. He did not even stop chanting.
White Snow clenched her teeth hard enough to shatter one. The gulf between them was too great. She did not even deserve his full attention.
"Teacher White! Catch!" Tie