The Communication Iron Plate from the Academic Palace had already beco ineffective. She could not contact anyone else, but Sui Yi knew clearly that Li Ang and He Fanshuang had escaped beyond the boundaries of Xingzhou City.
With their speed, they would be able to reach Wei State—the nearest location with a Nearby Worm—in about an hour, and use the local State Mansion’s Nearby Worm to call for support.
And I need to buy as much ti as possible for them and the Xingzhou commoners, even if it’s just an extra fifteen minutes, one second...
The intense heat seared her consciousness. The surrounding scenery continued to contort, spin, and deform, with only Jianquan’s form remaining relatively intact in the center of her vision.
Sui Yi’s long hair was ablaze. She forcefully stomped the ground, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, leaving behind a long trail of flas.
The Longsword in her hand, swung with such speed, compressed the attached Yinghuo Sword Energy into a thin sliver. This sliver trailed behind the blade, emitting a magnificent azure hue.
Just as the blade was about to strike his neck, Jianquan moved.
His palms ca together, the tips of his index, middle, and ring fingers slightly parted, forming a blossom-like Lotus Platform with the Seal of the Partial Lotus.
The fingertips collided with the blade.
Golden Buddha Light and azure Sword Energy exploded, expanding rapidly from the point of impact.
Both figures were thrown backward. Jianquan’s fingertips were torn, leaking blood that nearly resembled amber, while Sui Yi remained unhard.
Seemingly unhard.
Her hair had shortened by another inch. Sui Yi could clearly feel certain things within her soul burning away with the Yinghuo Flas, gone forever.
mories, personality, and other elents that constituted my current self.
Each mont of burning distanced further from myself.
The Evil Skills of the Demon Sect, at least, involved sacrificing others in exchange for great power.
Yet, now, the sacrifice is myself. This is indeed more demonic than the Demon Sect.
Sui Yi silently grumbled to herself, flicked her sword into a flourish, and gripped the trembling hilt tightly.
More insane than Evil Skills also ans more powerful...
She stomped the ground again, moving so fast she was almost a blur, leaving only vague afterimages on the retinas of the startled Xingzhou commoners.
Jianquan clenched his fist, placing his thumb under his index finger, forming the Vajra Fist Seal, and hurled out a punch.
A faint chanting of Buddhist hymns sounded around him. Buddha Light beneath his feet faintly coalesced into the shape of a lotus pedestal, enveloping him as he braced for the impact.
BOOM!
The Buddha Light clashed with the Sword Energy for a second ti, then a third, and a fourth...
The silent and tranquil night sky was disrupted again and again by loud noises and strange lights. Sui Yi’s resolute expression faded as she continued to burn. The Yinghuo Sword in her hand was entirely covered in azure Sword Energy.
As Jianquan kept retreating, she relentlessly pursued.
The two of them, like streaks of lightning, flashed and flickered wildly throughout Xingzhou City.
Wherever they passed, pavilions, towers, and bridges collapsed thunderously. Streams were severed. Trees were broken and sent flying. The earth, marked by new cracks and ravines, seed to have been churned up by a land dragon.
From high above, their pursuit path looked like an eraser wiping clean all traces of human construction from the surface.
The once invincible Shadow Demon could not intervene in their battle. The shadows rely had to get close to be instantly incinerated by the fiercely burning Yinghuo Sword Energy, like snow eting the blazing sun, lting in an instant.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG—
The Haotian Bell within the city, though not completely destroyed, was still tolling due to its chanism, announcing the current ti.
Jianquan’s expression darkened slightly. A Vajra Fist Seal sent Sui Yi flying, crashing her deep into the ground.
Then, stomping on the ground, he shot straight into the clouds.
The Shadow Demons covering the entire city extended tendrils. These coiled around Jianquan’s feet, allowing him to stand high in the sky and survey the city.
One-tenth of the Xingzhou commoners had already been awakened by the aftermath of the recent battle. These panicked commoners, in their fleeing and shouting, awakened even more people.
Too much ti has passed. My injuries aren’t serious, Jianquan thought.
What’s truly severe are those two Academic Palace Disciples who escaped earlier—they’ll go to Wei State City to seek reinforcents.
If I delay any longer, not only will the construction of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion be affected, but I might also attract even more Cultivators from Yu Country stationed in Luoyang.
Jianquan took a deep breath, pressed his palms together in prayer, and recited scriptures. With the help of the Shadow Demons, he spread the Buddhist chants to every corner of Xingzhou City, once again regaining control over the awakened Xingzhou commoners.
He let them fall into a deep slumber. Their faces showed peaceful, joyous expressions, as if listening to sacred Buddhist chants, as they continued along the streets, obliviously converging towards the city center.
RUSTLE!
From beneath the earth, buried under soil and sand, Sui Yi’s pale hand extended.
She crawled out from underground. With a surge of Sword Energy, she brushed the dust from her body.
Her hair had burned down to shoulder length. The once tenacious sword, after countless collisions, was now full of notches and breaks, as if it could shatter completely at any mont.
Sui Yi released Yinghuo Flas, cauterizing the fine, bleeding cracks on her palm.
She gave a silent, bitter smile, mocking the enemy’s plight and her own overconfidence.
After all, I overestimated what I gained from Taihao Mountain Zhanquan.
If, after returning from Taihao Mountain Zhanquan, I had heeded my teacher’s advice and found a quiet mountain forest for secluded cultivation...
Perhaps in three to five years, I could have crossed that challenging threshold and entered the Candle Cloud Realm.
But who could bla my naturally lazy disposition? I loved this vibrant world, the lively bustle of the mortal realm, its noise and commotion.
I loved the cheap jewelry sold in street stalls, the dew-kissed fresh flowers in the flower girl’s basket, and the city fireworks lighting up the festival night sky.
Sui Yi looked around. She stood among the Xingzhou commoners; all around her were vivid, animated faces.
A woman holding an infant, children with their hair in topknots, an elderly man leaning on a cane—their eyes were closed, expressions peaceful and joyous, as they stepped forward in unison, parting around her like a school of fish avoiding a reef.
Perhaps in the illusion they perceived, they truly believed they were advancing towards the Pure Land, a place filled with flowers and fragrant incense, devoid of all conflict, sorrow, or worry.
I probably have enough strength for two more sword swings... no, only one.
Sui Yi silently assessed her condition, a bitter smile touching her lips once more.
I only have one chance left. After unleashing that final sword strike, I might forget everything, including why I wielded the sword.
Jianquan, in the sky, had probably long since calculated the limits of my Yinghuo Sword. That’s why he’s continuing his plan so fearlessly.
There’s no other way.
Sui Yi silently gripped her sword hilt. The hair at her shoulders continued to curl and burn, gathering strength.
Li Ang, Fanshuang... have they reached Wei State City?
Wait, who is Li Ang?
Just as her consciousness began to drift, a hand rested upon her shoulder.
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