The Scholar seized Cao De by the throat and tightened his fingers. "You can die now."
Cao De's face went deathly pale, but a smile spread across it. "Finally caught you."
The Thousand-Blade Demon Sword in his hand had already pierced the Scholar's body.
"Ha! That's it? That's all you've got?!" The Scholar looked at the thin trickles of blood seeping from his skin and burst into laughter, his eyes full of mockery.
The next moment, the Scholar saw the blood qi inside him spraying madly from the wound, completely beyond his control. His soul power also began running wild, and he could no longer unleash any soul skills!
Agonizing pain tore through his body, and the Scholar let out a roar. "Aah!!"
At this rate, I'll die! I'll die!
Enduring the excruciating pain, the Scholar gathered flashing lightning around his right fist and slammed it toward Cao De, trying to break free of the Demon Blade.
Cao De had finally caught the Scholar. How could he possibly let go so easily?
Cao De locked the Scholar in a death grip, driving the Demon Blade embedded in his body a little deeper.
Even fiercer pain swept through the Scholar's entire body. As his blood qi dwindled, he grew weaker and weaker.
Even with his body steadily weakening, a Soul Douluo's attacks were still terrifying.
The Scholar hammered Cao De with punch after punch, determined to break free of his grip.
Cao De's vision darkened, and blood kept pouring from the corners of his mouth. But he simply would not let go!
The two remained locked together in midair until the Scholar could no longer maintain his Martial Soul Avatar. Both fell to the ground with a muffled thud.
The Scholar tried to raise his hands and push Cao De away, but he had no strength left. With so much blood qi drained from his body, he was now utterly feeble.
"Cough, cough, cough!" The Scholar coughed violently, spewing a great deal of blood!
His hair disheveled, Cao De slowly pushed himself up, his hand still pressing firmly on the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Cao De coughed up a mouthful of blood, but a smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.
"Scholar, what's the Nuomi Church? I'm dying to know!" Cao De coughed up another mouthful of blood as he spoke.
"The Nuomi Church... ha, the Nuomi Church." The Scholar's eyes filled with reverence and worship.
With that look still in his eyes, the Scholar ended his own life, sinking into eternal sleep with his eyes open.
"Fuck!" Cao De cursed in exasperation. His body could bear no more, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Cao De's battle with the Scholar had lasted only a few breaths. It had caused quite a commotion, but no one had arrived yet.
Huo Wu stumbled toward Cao De, her eyes already brimming with tears.
"Master! Master!" Huo Wu cried, her voice choked with sobs, completely at a loss.
"I'm not dead yet. Help me up first. Get us away from here." Cao De slowly forced the words out through his hoarse throat.
"Okay, okay." Huo Wu carefully helped Cao De up and headed away in another direction.
"Cough, cough. Huo Wu, wake Shui Bing'er up." Cao De pointed at Shui Bing'er, who was still lying unconscious on the ground.
Huo Wu gently lowered Cao De to the ground, then hurried over and woke Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er was still a little dazed when she opened her eyes.
"What are you staring at? Help me support Master!" Huo Wu said coldly.
Cao De was gravely injured, so naturally, Huo Wu had no patience to be polite.
Shui Bing'er froze for a moment, but still came forward to help Huo Wu support Cao De. Together, they quickly left the site of the battle.
Before leaving, Shui Bing'er glanced back at Shui Yiyi's corpse on the ground.
Not long after the two girls helped Cao De leave, many people arrived at the battlefield. They were all shocked to see Shui Yiyi's corpse lying on the ground.
Shui Yiyi, the dean of Skywater Academy, had been the strongest Soul Master in their Longxing City. Yet she had died here!
None of them knew what had happened. All they could do was quickly notify Skywater Academy.
At the moment the Scholar breathed his last, a Jade Token inlaid with a Red Bead shattered inside a secret chamber somewhere on the continent.
"The Jade-Faced Scholar is dead!" the person guarding it exclaimed.
The guard hurriedly told the person behind them, "Go notify the Church Master!"
Before long, a young man in white robes suddenly appeared in the chamber. He had sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, an upright bearing, and an icy expression, and was extraordinarily handsome. Three men dressed as scholars followed behind him.
The white-robed man at the front reached into empty air, and the Jade-Faced Scholar's Jade Token appeared in his hand from the table. He carefully examined it with his senses.
The white-robed man's brows knitted tightly.
"Church Master, who killed Jade-Faced?" one of the scholars asked, his gaze icy.
The white-robed man did not answer. He said calmly, "Pass down the order. Everyone in the Nuomi Church is to cease all operations. Stop searching for the Blood Pearl as well. All of you are to return to the shadows."
The scholar who had just spoken wanted to ask more, but the moment he met the white-robed man's eyes, he fell silent.
The three bowed, accepted the order, and left. With a flicker, the white-robed man returned to his own quarters.
Frowning at the Jade Token in his hand, he murmured, "Go find out what happened to Jade-Faced. Investigate only. Do not take action."
The space behind the white-robed man twisted, and a figure appeared, kneeling on one knee. "As you command."
Space twisted again, and the figure vanished.
As the white-robed man held the Jade Token, the Red Bead embedded in it instantly shattered, and wisps of blood qi slipped into his palm.
When Cao De opened his eyes again, his surroundings were dim, without a trace of light.
His arm tingled with numbness. Turning his head, Cao De saw that Huo Wu had fallen asleep leaning on it.
Cao De gently moved his arm, trying to pull his numb hand free.
"Mm... huh?" Huo Wu abruptly lifted her head and stared blankly around her. When she saw Cao De's eyes were open, her gaze instantly brightened.
"Master, you're awake!" Huo Wu said excitedly.
Cao De smiled and nodded, raising his numb hand. Huo Wu readily leaned her head toward him.
Cao De stroked Huo Wu's head and asked, "How long was I asleep?"
"Almost two days. I called a doctor, and he said your injuries were very serious, Master. He said you might be unconscious for several days. I didn't expect you to wake up today."
A smile spread across Huo Wu's face. Then she asked, "Master, does anything feel uncomfortable? What would you like to eat?"
"My body doesn't hurt anymore. I'll go downstairs for some porridge and walk around a little while I'm at it," Cao De said, slowly sitting up.
Huo Wu hurried forward to support him.
Seeing how nervous Huo Wu looked, Cao De smiled and said, "I'm fine."
As Cao De drank his porridge, he listened to Huo Wu tell him what had happened over the past two days.
During the two days Cao De had been unconscious, Skywater Academy had descended into chaos. Many students were searching for whoever had killed their dean. Since Shui Bing'er had gone out with Shui Yiyi that day, she had been taken back to Skywater Academy for questioning, but she knew nothing.
However, Skywater Academy's senior staff did not believe her. They thought Shui Bing'er had conspired with outsiders to kill the dean and had already imprisoned her.
After listening to Huo Wu's account, Cao De frowned and asked, "Who's the dean of Skywater Academy now?"
Huo Wu thought for a moment, then said, "Yang Pang, the former deputy dean of Skywater Academy."
Cao De nodded.
After Cao De finished his porridge, Huo Wu urged him upstairs to rest.
That evening, a faint sound came from inside Cao De's room.
Cao De, who had been sleeping with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them. The Thousand-Blade Demon Sword was already in his hand, and his eyes fixed on the window.
The window creaked open, and a soft, tiny voice called out, "Brother Cao De."
Recognizing the voice, Cao De withdrew the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword into his body. He smiled at Shui Yue'er, who was clinging to the window, and asked, "Why are you coming in through the window?"
Shui Yue'er clambered through the window with difficulty. She looked anxiously at Cao De, her eyes brimming with tears. "Brother Cao De, save... please save my sister."
She even stammered a little as she spoke.
Before you continue