Chapter 72
Xue Mushi emerged from the water, flipped over to sit on the ground, braced himself with both hands and tilted his head back to breathe, looking extremely exhausted.
Yu Sui asked him: "How did you fall into the water?"
"Encountered some people, got knocked down." Xue Mushi sniffled, raising his hand to wipe his face.
Unluckily, he had run into his former roommates with whom he had feuded.
Yu Sui asked: "Weren't you traveling with your cousin?"
Xue Mushi said awkwardly: "We got separated and lost on the first night. I was looking for her but couldn't find her."
Yu Sui crouched on the ground, supporting her head with one hand as she examined him. This person seemed to have no desire for challenges, apparently just dragged along by Xue Jiayue to make up numbers.
Xue Mushi pointed at the river water: "This water has powerful Five Elements energy nearby. You can't use Eight Trigrams Life Arts in the water."
"Mm." Yu Sui nodded. "I know, I fell in last night too."
Xue Mushi turned to look at her in surprise, then made an "oh" sound and fell into a daze.
"It works now. Dry off your clothes, don't stay soaking wet." Yu Sui said.
Only then did Xue Mushi remember to use Eight Trigrams Life Arts to extract the moisture.
The two briefly exchanged their experiences over the past three days. Learning that Yu Sui had been struck by Taoist golden thunder and still had lightning marks on her body, Xue Mushi, who was organizing his clothing, looked at her in surprise again: "That's very painful."
Yu Sui covered her shoulder with one hand: "Ah, it really hurts."
Xue Mushi: "......"
At least try to make it look convincing!
Yu Sui blinked: "It really does hurt, I just can endure it. Look, I'm even sweating from the pain."
Xue Mushi saw the fine sweat on Yu Sui's forehead and paused, scratching his head, thinking maybe she really was in pain.
"Lightning marks from Taoist School Heavenly Gang Five Thunder can't be removed even by Taoist disciples themselves. Only Medical School's Heavenly Mechanism Art: Skillful Hands can eliminate them, otherwise you have to endure it for a month until it naturally dissipates." Xue Mushi said.
"A month is too long, I'd die from the pain, and Senior Sister Su can't last that long either."
Yu Sui said sadly.
Xue Mushi rubbed his eyes: "Then you can only eliminate yourself voluntarily, and have Medical School instructors help after getting out."
"No." Yu Sui refused. "I want to go to dragon head Ye Pool to compete for Heavenly Mechanism Arts."
Xue Mushi stared at her blankly.
For a moment, he actually thought Yu Sui could really do it.
When she said this, she was so determined yet composed, and very decisive.
Yu Sui raised her hand to press down her hair blown by the night wind. Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, illuminating the dark night sky.
She said softly and gently: "I just need to trouble you for help."
"Me?" Xue Mushi asked puzzledly. "What help can I provide?"
Yu Sui said: "I'll give you transmission point locations, you divine them, then tell Senior Sister Su and the others, have them act according to the transmission point locations I give you."
Xue Mushi said with difficulty: "But divining fortune and misfortune, I don't..."
Yu Sui said: "You can do it."
Xue Mushi: "I..."
Yu Sui smiled at him: "And you're very skilled at it."
Xue Mushi hung his head, struggling for two sentences before giving up: "Alright, I can do it."
"Then it's settled." Yu Sui stood up. "I'll avoid crowds and take the transmission arrays with the fewest people and safest routes. This way maybe we can reach Ye Pool first, and you can also obtain a Heavenly Mechanism Art."
She looked at Xue Mushi, saying softly: "If you had a Taoist School Heavenly Mechanism Art, it would be more convenient for you, right?"
Xue Mushi pressed his lips together, lowering his head to wring water from his clothes. He actually had little interest in Dragon Slaying Cave, but Yu Sui's words made him feel tempted.
If there really was a chance to enter dragon head Ye Pool and obtain a Heavenly Mechanism Art inheritance mark, that would naturally be good, not a wasted trip or waste of time.
Moreover, the person before him was "hiding her true abilities" and had more "unconventional methods" than he had imagined.
Xue Mushi took a deep breath, gathering his spirits with a serious expression: "Where are the transmission point locations you want me to divine?"
Yu Sui began explaining the nearby terrain to Xue Mushi, as well as the locations of several transmission arrays, and they discussed how to handle the divination results.
After resolving this issue, Yu Sui had Xue Mushi carry the firewood back.
Along the way, Xue Mushi didn't ask Yu Sui how she knew Dragon Slaying Cave's terrain and those transmission points, and Yu Sui didn't ask him about Seven Kill Trigram matters. The two tacitly maintained a relationship of not prying into each other's affairs while helping each other.
……
Tonight, thunder could be heard everywhere in Dragon Slaying Cave, with lightning flickering. Occasionally a thunderbolt would fall, splitting the night sky and illuminating the earth, making the tense atmosphere of the confrontation among the crowd on the shallow water beach below the cliff even more intense.
Sheng Hao and Mei Liangyu simultaneously switched to offense, their black and white chess pieces charging forward, targeting Gu Qian directly.
Qian Ying and Xun Zhiya acted to intercept simultaneously. Two streams of Five Elements energy collided, causing the black and white chess pieces to skip like stones on water, spinning several times yet still charging forward with unchanged targets.
In the split second, Mei Liangyu flicked his fingers lightly, making the black and white chess pieces under his control self-destruct. The explosive power from self-destruction made both Qian Ying and Xun Zhiya frown. That area's Five Elements energy was destroyed, and the two could no longer stop Sheng Hao's black and white chess pieces as they whooshed toward Gu Qian's chest.
Gu Qian reacted quickly too, raising his hand to point out three black pieces forming a barrier defense in front of Qian Ying, intercepting all of Sheng Hao's attacks.
Qian Ying frowned as she looked toward Sheng Hao, her expression clearly displeased.
This person was like a persistent ghost, opposing Brother Gu everywhere. Meeting at this transmission array today, if there was a chance she definitely had to eliminate him first.
The people present didn't waste words but acted directly. In just an instant, the situation had already changed dramatically.
Xun Zhiya's peripheral vision had just glimpsed the misty white fog at her feet when she suddenly felt cold behind her. When she turned back alertly, she was already facing the vertical golden pupils of the ice frost white python. The staring eyes made her unable to raise protective power.
The ice frost white python bit toward her but only bit Li Jin Shuang's silver-white sword blade.
Li Jin Shuang blocked and repelled the ice frost white python with one sword, but felt fierce wind attacking from behind. She pointed her sword tip downward, summoning her Sword Spirit. The massive white bone Sword Spirit materialized, repelling Zhongli Shan who had used instant movement to circle behind.
The white bone Sword Spirit enveloped Li Jin Shuang's group, four white bone skulls surveying around, rapidly rotating the eight sword blades held in their long arms. With high fighting spirit, it was the most dangerous presence on the scene.
Everyone present was seeing Li Jin Shuang's complete Sword Spirit form for the first time and couldn't help but stare.
The two Military School disciples Zhongli Shan and Pang Rong were most surprised and most on guard.
They had never seen anyone's Sword Spirit so large, and with four heads. This was simply like a collection of four Sword Spirits, with eight hands and four heads sharing the same body.
Li Jin Shuang's Sword Spirit had overwhelming presence, almost completely blocking the cave entrance.
After viewing the Sword Spirit, Xun Zhiya looked toward Li Jin Shuang who was protecting her in front, her gaze dazed.
Li Jin Shuang in flowing white robes, gripping her sword with both hands and concentrating on the enemy. When lightning flashed, illuminating the reflection in Xun Zhiya's eyes, she could see the woman's jade hairpin securing her hair, elegant yet aloof.
This was a presence Xun Zhiya had never seen in Li Jin Shuang before, and could never have imagined there would be such a day.
Looking at Li Jin Shuang blocking in front of her at this moment, Xun Zhiya only felt she was a stranger.
Xun Zhiya said softly: "Jin Shuang, is this your Sword Spirit? It seems different from before."
Li Jin Shuang pressed her lips lightly together without answering.
Gu Qian said indifferently: "Gripping only sword blades without hilts, appearing extremely sharp with powerful pressure. Your Sword Spirit's strength is definitely not just Fifth Realm, perhaps Tenth Realm or above."
Li Jin Shuang remained silent.
Mu Mengbai pressed his temples, saying quietly: "I've never seen such a large Sword Spirit. Even Pang Rong couldn't handle her?"
Pang Rong, who had retreated with his sword to the two's side, was full of questions.
He didn't understand why Sheng Hao and Mei Liangyu were fighting well when they suddenly changed tactics. Seeing Gu Qian, he understood somewhat, since everyone knew Sheng Hao and Gu Qian had a very poor relationship and fought to the death every time they faced each other in trials.
"Fighting now isn't good, it wastes time and energy. Better to retreat first, create distance and take a breather. I think they don't want to fight either." Just as Pang Rong finished speaking, he saw Zhongli Shan attack again, wielding his sword forward.
What's this kid doing?
Sheng Hao fighting Gu Qian was understandable, but why were Zhongli Shan and Xing Chun also suddenly actively attacking?
When did they also develop grudges with Gu Qian?
Is Gu Qian this annoying?
Pang Rong looked at the fighting people in bewilderment. Sheng Hao beside him also joined the battle. He shouted, and Mu Mengbai patted his shoulder saying: "It's one thing outside, but here they can fight within the rules. Can't stop them."
Under Li Jin Shuang's Sword Spirit protection, Gu Qian took the initiative to attack. While forming seals with both hands, he said quietly: "Four Direction Guardian Stars."
It was the name of a School of Names formation.
Theoretically, School of Names Word Command Nine Schools Arts could materialize anything as long as one mastered the "name."
Blue light screens rose from both sides of the shallow water beach, bringing earth-shaking tremors. In the deep night, the blue light screens completely enveloped the shallow water beach area. Above the space, countless stars floated, illuminating the ground.
School of Names formation "Four Direction Guardian Stars" specifically countered Yin-Yang School's Nine Schools star constellation arrays.
While isolating heaven and earth from the outside, the formation not only drew stellar power but prevented Xing Chun's Yin-Yang Arts from materializing.
The ice frost white python began becoming unstable, flickering in and out of visibility. It swayed its body as power was drawn from its snow-white scales, slowly rising to light stars in the sky above.
Returning the stellar power that had been seized and borrowed by Nine Schools practitioners.
Gu Qian used instant movement to assault, hiding his form close to the flickering ice frost white python. When it returned to Xing Chun's side, he suddenly appeared. Lightning flickered around him as his five fingers formed claws, striking directly at Xing Chun's heart.
Legalist School Judgment Heavenly Mechanism Art: Thunder Punishment.
"Four Direction Guardian Stars" drew stellar power rapidly and fiercely. Xing Chun's protection was shattered by Thunder Punishment. Gu Qian's five claws carrying lightning had already hooked Xing Chun's clothing when they were grasped by Mei Liangyu who had used instant movement to arrive.
Mei Liangyu's Taoist golden thunder flashed, colliding with Gu Qian's Thunder Punishment. Gu Qian clicked his tongue inwardly, reacting swiftly to break free and create distance.
Xing Chun beckoned, and the reformed Black Tortoise star array appeared beside him. Stars connected in lines flickered with blue light as he said slowly: "This isn't like when you four-on-one'd someone in Outer City."
Gu Qian felt his heart sink slightly upon hearing this.
Mei Liangyu looked up toward Li Jin Shuang.
Qian Ying turned to grab Li Jin Shuang: "Don't look!"
But it was too late.
Li Jin Shuang's gaze met Mei Liangyu's. The man's clear dark eyes reflected her image, plunging her into an endless abyss.
Medical School Heavenly Mechanism Art: Heart Through the Eyes.
Li Jin Shuang froze, her consciousness falling into the abyss. Countless memory fragments flashed by, whispered conversations beside her ears like thunder, heavily pounding on her heart, dragging her soul into perdition.
All positive emotions and persistence were instantly shattered, beginning to collapse. Her consciousness screamed hysterically, falling into despair, constantly falling in darkness. Everything she mastered lost control.
Because Mei Liangyu knew Li Jin Shuang couldn't completely control her Sword Spirit yet. Once Li Jin Shuang's consciousness collapsed and lost control, her Sword Spirit would also become uncontrolled, no longer distinguishing friend from foe.
Qian Ying was about to cast arts to awaken Li Jin Shuang when she was repelled by chess pieces Sheng Hao pointed out.
Though Sheng Hao wanted to beat up Gu Qian, he constantly watched Qian Ying's movements, having suffered too many losses from her before.
"Watch her, don't let her succeed with poison, or everyone will suffer Five Elements chaos." Mu Mengbai pointed at Qian Ying and told Pang Rong.
Pang Rong said with a dark expression: "I said we shouldn't fight."
Mu Mengbai was casting trigrams: "You can't leave alone either. Right now whoever tries to sneak away gets attacked by them."
Pang Rong cursed as he went to watch Qian Ying.
Qian Ying, repelled by the chess pieces, turned back to glare viciously at Sheng Hao. Just as she was about to act, she heard intimidating roars. Stones on the cliff trembled and fell, splashing into the shallow water with loud sounds and high sprays.
Li Jin Shuang's Sword Spirit roared angrily, eight sword blades spinning at high speed, slashing fierce sharp blades in different directions. Sword energy shocked and swept across, sparing no one on the shallow water beach.
Xun Zhiya led Qian Ying in retreat, avoiding the flying sword blades.
Sheng Hao broke Gu Qian's "Four Direction Guardian Stars" formation, most of the blue starlight dissipated, revealing the dark night sky again.
Zhongli Shan stepped on white bones. Being closest to the white bone skull heads, he saw the skull roaring with head raised and raised an eyebrow slightly, but backhanded his sword to repel Gu Qian who was lucky enough not to be swept out of the Sword Spirit's protection range by the sword blades.
Gu Qian was forced back by sword energy. Xing Chun reformed the ice frost white python. Under the ice frost white python's cover, Mei Liangyu passed through the Sword Spirit, carrying golden thunder to knock Gu Qian back into the pitch-black cave.
Qian Ying's eyes trembled as she watched: "Brother Gu!"
The transmission array in the cave was still closed.
Gu Qian was struck by golden thunder and knocked back several meters, leaning against the stone wall to stand up. In the crackling of golden thunder, he exhaled softly: "Law Breaking."
The flickering golden thunder in the cave instantly disappeared.
Mei Liangyu's steps halted. In the darkness where he couldn't see his own hand, several more portions of the sealed power in his consciousness were released. Sudden memories flashed like golden light:
Bustling long streets, nighttime lantern fires, ever-changing myriad stars, gorgeous brilliant Nine Schools Arts, the small stone path home, a woman in fine clothing holding his hand, smiling as she handed him a red paper pinwheel spinning in the night wind.