The instant the heavy staff Playful Cloud came crashing down with tremendous force, Qingxiao raised his arm to block, and Xiqu collided with the staff.
Immense force surged along his arm bones and slammed into his organs. His fingers went numb, and his body inevitably stiffened for a split second.
That fleeting opening was all it took.
Without a word from Toji, the Inventory Curse Worm lying dormant on his shoulder abruptly opened its eyes. The Soul Liberation Blade, which should have been stored inside the cursed spirit, shot out without warning, wrapped in a soul-piercing chill.
A cold smile curled his lips. He reached out and caught the hilt precisely, twisting his wrist hard as he thrust the blade through the gap in Qingxiao's guard, straight at his heart.
Thoughts raced through Qingxiao's mind as he suddenly realized something:
I fucking fell for it again! He doesn't need to get hurt to switch cursed tools. It was all an act for me!
The Soul Liberation Blade pierced straight through his chest, its icy tip emerging from his back, impaling his soul along with his body.
Toji's expression remained impassive as he raised his leg and drove a vicious kick into Qingxiao's lower abdomen.
Under that tremendous force, the boy flew backward like a kite with its string cut, his back slamming into a damaged stone support pillar.
Already riddled with cracks, the pillar burst open in several places under the impact. Broken stones rained down, burying half his body.
The jolt tore the piercing wound wider. Blood gushed out, soaking half his uniform.
Qingxiao gave a muffled groan. A bloody haze clouded his vision, and the sounds around him grew distant and indistinct.
Without giving him a moment to breathe, Toji was already upon him.
Dropping to one knee,