Lin Qingyang stared speechlessly at where Jin Buhuan had vanished and at the unconscious Mo Yan, then cursed through gritted teeth, "Can't you design some reliable characters!"
The Windflower Sword in his hand trembled guiltily and said nothing.
He was just about to complain some more when he saw Feng Yi sent flying and crashing to the ground nearby. Feng Shu stood in front of Feng Yi with a sword, clearly injured as well. The monster stared fixedly at the two of them, then suddenly charged.
Seeing that it was about to bite his disciples, Lin Qingyang hurriedly took off the Seven-Star Shield and threw it over, blocking an attack for them.
The monster noticed Lin Qingyang as a result and turned toward him, its tail sweeping over violently. The rock he was using for cover shattered instantly. Lei Guang fixed his crimson eyes on him and let out an angry hiss.
Lin Qingyang looked at the monster, then thought of the unconscious person behind him. Gritting his teeth, he ran in another direction.
The snake's tail followed close behind. Using what little spiritual power he had left, Lin Qingyang ducked into a patch of grass and held his breath as he hid.
The monster searched among the trees, its thick snake tail snapping several of them in succession and sending sand and stones flying. A sudden pain flared in Lin Qingyang's chest again. He could not help drawing in a breath, and the monster immediately looked over, then lunged at him.
Lin Qingyang barely managed to use his spiritual power to move quickly and dodge the attack, but that tiny amount could not sustain him, and he fell straight to the ground. The snake's tail lashed furiously at him. Lin Qingyang rolled across the ground, but the tip of the tail caught his chest, sending him flying through a tree before he crashed to the ground. Pain instantly wracked his whole body as though he were falling apart. He lay facedown, unable to move for the moment.
Lei Guang lunged down at him again. It looked as though he could not dodge this time. Am I really destined to die at this snake's hands? Lin Qingyang cried inwardly. He closed his eyes, but the attack never came. Instead, he heard the monster roar in pain.
Lin Qingyang opened his eyes and looked over. Qi Mo had pounced on Lei Guang, both hands gripping his shoulders tightly as they grappled. The powerful snake tail thrashed wildly, trying to knock Qi Mo away. Lei Guang's piercing roars left Lin Qingyang's ears ringing.
Then Qi Mo was violently flung off and slammed into the ground.
When Lin Qingyang looked up again, Lei Guang's eyes had become two bloody holes, with the curved blade still embedded in one of them. Blood streamed down his face, making him look even more terrifying.
Lin Qingyang hurriedly crawled over to check on Qi Mo, only to find his shoulder covered in blood, with black blood bubbling from two bite holes. Remembering the disciple who had died instantly from the poison earlier, Lin Qingyang's mind went blank, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
"How are you?" Lin Qingyang shouted in some panic.
Qi Mo seemed barely conscious. He glanced at Lin Qingyang and struggled to say something, but passed out before he could get the words out. Startled, Lin Qingyang reached for Qi Mo's carotid artery with a trembling hand.
"He's fine! He's only passed out," Lin Yao suddenly said.
Only after Lin Qingyang touched his pulse and felt it still beating did he feel his own heart start beating again.
"He has the demon king bloodline. This kind of demon poison has no effect on him," Lin Yao explained.
Only then did Lin Qingyang notice that although Qi Mo's shoulder was still bleeding, the black blood had drained away and the blood was now red. He finally breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear an angry roar behind him.
The attack had made Lei Guang even more furious, but with both eyes blinded, he could only sweep his tail wildly, snapping an entire row of trees. Lin Qingyang rolled with Qi Mo in his arms, barely avoiding being crushed.
Just then, a golden light flashed, and Jin Buhuan finally appeared.
With a sweep of his hand, Jin Buhuan threw the Fire Luan Bells at the monster. A firebird rushed out and fought with it. Then he took out the Phoenix-Cry Fan and gave it a wave. The flames instantly swelled, burning all over the monster's body.
The monster roared wildly amid the blaze. By the time the flames subsided, its entire body was charred black. Then Jin Buhuan took out a crossbow and fired several shots at it. Ice instantly began forming wherever the bolts struck, then spread rapidly until its entire lower body was frozen. Jin Buhuan kept switching equipment, taking out a drum and striking it several times with a drumstick. Bolts of lightning struck the monster, which screamed as its frozen tail broke into several pieces.
Lin Qingyang simply watched him switch through several magical artifacts in succession. Wind, fire, thunder, lightning, and ice took turns unleashing their special effects on the monster, until all that remained was the charred corpse of its upper body.
Having lots of equipment really makes a difference, Lin Qingyang marveled inwardly. It's good to be rich! Seeing that the snake demon had been dealt with, he lost the last bit of strength he had been forcing himself to hold on to, and his vision began to darken in waves.
"Elder Lin, are you all right?" Jin Buhuan came forward and asked.
Of course he wasn't all right! He still had to run away, but his head kept spinning. No, no, I can't pass out! The sect leader will wake up any moment. If I pass out now, I'm finished!
Lin Qingyang searched everywhere for his bundle and spotted it lying in the clearing ahead. He struggled to his feet and staggered toward it, only to fall to the ground after two steps.
Jin Buhuan stepped forward to help him up. "Elder Lin, don't push yourself. Elder Xue should be finished over there. We'll have her take a look at you in a moment."
But those words frightened Lin Qingyang into hurriedly crawling toward his bundle. Feng Shu and Feng Yi appeared from somewhere and grabbed him, one on either side.
"Master, are you all right?"
Lin Qingyang shook them both off and continued crawling on his hands and knees. If I don't leave now, it'll be too late. Just then, a cool voice came from beside them.
"What's going on with you all? What happened?"
Everyone turned to see Xue Lanyuan approaching with a frown. Lin Qingyang turned his head stiffly and saw her. Only one thought remained in his mind: I'm finished!
Sure enough, he heard Xue Lanyuan say next, "The sect leader has woken up."
At that, Lin Qingyang's vision finally went black, and he passed out completely. If he could, he hoped he would never have to wake up again.
Before you continue