Chapter 39: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada
Only when the vibrations of the bronze bell ceased did Song Changsheng quietly exhale in relief. With a thought, the Mystic Yang Skysteel Array slowly began to open.
It wasn’t as though he hadn’t considered claiming the cave for himself, but Song Changsheng had his bottom line. Unless others betrayed him first, he would not act unjustly.
“It’s opening! They did it!” Li Hu was the first to notice the array was dissipating and immediately let out a cheer.
Joy broke across everyone’s faces, they had succeeded!
As the array faded, the figures of Song Changsheng and Xu Yun reappeared. At that moment, Xu Yun’s face was full of shame. She had gotten lost inside the array not long after entering.
This entire breakthrough had been thanks to Song Changsheng alone.
She had initially been displeased that Zhu Yiqun had invited another formation master alongside her. But now, it was clear that without Song Changsheng, they’d likely have returned empty-handed once again.
“Fellow Daoist Song’s attainments in formations are truly extraordinary. I concede defeat,” Xu Yun said, bowing to Song Changsheng in front of everyone.
“You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Xu. It was mostly luck,” Song Changsheng hurried to reply, moving forward to help her up.
But as soon as he stretched out his hand, a warning surged through his heart. He looked up and saw a streak of black-red light streaking rapidly toward them from the distance.
“Careful!” Song Changsheng shouted.
Xu Yun didn’t understand what he meant. Turning her head in confusion, her eyes widened in terror.
The next moment-
Splurt!
Her head burst like a watermelon, blood and brain matter spraying in all directions. The scene was violently shocking.
Everyone was stunned by the sudden carnage. Fortunately, sword cultivator Xu Yunhe reacted the quickest. Drawing the long sword from his back, he shouted, “Ambush! Watch out!”
Only then did the others snap out of their daze, summoning their magical tools and warily facing the direction the attack had come from.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh-
More black-red beams of light swept down from the sky like a flood. But this time, Song Changsheng and the others were ready. Most of the attacks were blocked, though two seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivators were lightly injured.
“This is a Blood Demon Cult technique. It’s a trap!” Zhuang Yuechan said calmly, cradling a classical-style zither in her arms, her voice ethereal.
Song Changsheng glanced at her, anyone who could recognize Blood Demon methods at a glance clearly had an extraordinary background.
“They’re coming!”
Li Hu roared, his muscles swelling and taking on a metallic sheen, a hallmark of body cultivators. Their physical bodies rivaled magical tools in durability.
With his shout, more than thirty Blood Demon cultivators wielding demonic weapons swarmed in from all directions.
In an instant, both sides clashed, and spells of all kinds burst into radiant brilliance. The battlefield turned into a chaotic swirl of color and violence.
Overhead, Song Changsheng’s treasure gourd floated, while the Water Element Shield hovered beside him. Thick water dragons roared across the battlefield, devouring two mid-stage Qi Refinement Blood Demon disciples.
At the front lines, Li Hu had become an unstoppable iron juggernaut. Wielding his Vajra Claws, he charged through enemies like a god of war.
Zhu Yiqun, now displaying the strength of great perfection Qi Refinement, wielded a massive black wok like a mace. Every swing sent bones shattering.
But the most dazzling of all was Xu Yunhe. Sword in hand, he strolled through the battlefield like a phantom, sharp sword energy dancing around him. Within ten zhang, no enemy dared approach.
In stark contrast, Zhuang Yuechan sat serenely at the battlefield’s edge, legs folded, her zither across her knees. Her slender fingers plucked the strings gently.
At first, the melody rang like bubbling springs and babbling brooks, soothing and intoxicating. But soon, it turned, becoming a thundering symphony of warhorses and clashing steel, brimming with power.
The tune stirred the blood of Song Changsheng and the others, filling them with fighting spirit and boosting their strength like a surge of energy.
But to the Blood Demon cultivators, the music became a deadly blade, slashing invisibly from all sides, impossible to guard against.
Both sides were locked in a fierce stalemate, neither able to overwhelm the other.
“Hmph. Useless trash.”
Floating above the battlefield, the Black Steward stood atop his flying sword, watching the chaos below with visible annoyance.
Descending into the fray, he waved his sleeve. Two seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivators exploded into bloody mist.
“Foundation Establishment demon cultivator!” Zhu Yiqun gasped, his heart dropping into his stomach.
Li Hu, drenched in blood, had been charging forward but at the sight of the Black Steward, his pupils shrank and he quickly retreated.
“You think you can run now?” the Black Steward sneered. With a flick of his finger, a blood-colored beam pierced straight through Li Hu’s proud, steel-hardened body.
Li Hu’s face twisted with unwillingness- then he exploded, leaving not even bones behind.
“Fellow Daoist Li!” Xu Yunhe cried, eyes red with fury. He twisted his sword and unleashed a blindingly brilliant slash.
“You dare strike me? Courting death.” The Black Steward waved his hand, releasing a meter-long blood blade that devoured the sword strike and lunged toward Xu Yunhe.
Xu Yunhe tried to dodge, only to find himself paralyzed, frozen in place. Just before impact, he managed to shift slightly.
The blade struck. Blood spurted.
His right arm was severed at the shoulder.
The Black Steward was just about to finish him off when a black wok came crashing down.
With a frown, he flicked his finger again, sending the wok flying back. Zhu Yiqun spat a mouthful of blood and staggered.
At that moment, Zhuang Yuechan’s deadly music enveloped the Black Steward.
“Noisy,” the Black Steward growled. He released a crimson blast from his sleeve.
Zhuang Yuechan’s jade pendant flared with light, activating a glowing shield like an eggshell around her.
The blood light was held off for a breath. Seizing the moment, Zhuang Yuechan leapt up and danced backward, toes barely touching the ground.
“Trying to run?” the Black Steward scoffed, extending his right hand.
A massive crimson palm materialized, reaching toward her.
At that crucial moment, a thick water dragon wrapped around Zhuang Yuechan and yanked her sideways, causing the crimson palm to grasp at empty air.
Zhuang Yuechan looked back at the terrifying hand, then at Song Changsheng, who had saved her. Her gaze turned complicated.
But Song Changsheng had no time to decipher her expression. He summoned two magical tools to his front and shouted, “Everyone retreat into the ruins! I can hold him off!”
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
But this wasn’t the time to hesitate. Zhu Yiqun made a snap decision. “Follow Changsheng’s lead, I’ll cover the rear!”
He pulled out a white jade pendant and crushed it.
A brilliant sword light instantly swept toward the Black Steward.
“A full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator?” The Black Steward’s eyes narrowed. Finally, he was taking things seriously...
(Chapter End)