Chapter 158
Chapter 158
When Zhang Xiangyun realized someone was lurking in the shadows, Luo Fu was still immersed in shock at the hundreds of Spirit Puppets. The person in the shadows seized on this point and attacked the unprepared one first.
White eyes suddenly sprouted all over Luo Fu's body, densely covering his limbs and forehead. These white eyes seemed like projected light and shadow, yet also like lightweight paper pieces, but they stuck tightly to his body, making him unable to move.
He felt the Five Elements Energy within his body being absorbed by these white eyes, yet he was powerless to do anything about it.
Ghost Way School Heavenly Mechanism Art: Seven Consciousness Tower.
Damn it!
Zhang Xiangyun cursed inwardly. Just as he grasped his Divine Wood Signs, he felt a chill at his back and immediately ignited protective energy as he turned around.
Hu Gui, who had taken Li Jin Shuang's long sword, jumped down from above the stone wall to strike at Zhang Xiangyun. He raised an eyebrow at Zhang Xiangyun's reaction.
This person's response to crisis was quite sensitive and accurate.
He had been on guard before entering the door, immediately guessed someone was inside after discovering the Spirit Puppets, quick-thinking and quick-reacting.
This type of person should be killed first.
Hu Gui showed no mercy, aiming his sword at Zhang Xiangyun's head.
Zhang Xiangyun was horrified. His previous injuries hadn't healed, and he knew clearly he couldn't avoid the opponent's speed and strength.
But this sword strike went off target.
Hu Gui frowned.
Though Zhang Xiangyun dodged in a sorry state, he still avoided the fatal blow just now, using several quick movements to distance himself from Hu Gui.
Hu Gui saw the Divine Wood Signs in his hand and then understood why the killing blow had missed.
After Technical Arts School disciples gained recognition from Divine Wood Signs, they could sometimes turn danger into safety, protected by divine wood.
Whether they could receive divine wood protection depended on luck triggering it.
This was also Zhang Xiangyun's first time being protected by divine wood. He couldn't help looking down at the Divine Wood Signs in his hand.
"Your luck is good," Hu Gui said.
As soon as Hu Gui spoke, it immediately brought back Zhang Xiangyun's vigilance. When he looked up at him, sweat was already falling from his forehead.
"But his luck isn't," Hu Gui said, then threw his long sword toward the immobilized Luo Fu.
Zhang Xiangyun cursed inwardly. At the critical moment, he used Wind-Riding Techniques to rush forward and intercept. Luo Fu, swept by sword energy, bled at the edge of the deep pit. After having all his Five Elements Energy drained by Seven Consciousness Tower, he fell into the deep pit.
Ghost Way School Heavenly Mechanism Art: Seven Consciousness Tower had two phases.
The first phase was possession: targets possessed by white eyes would have all their Five Elements Energy drained. The second phase was sealing: making the target unable to obtain Five Elements Energy for a short time.
Yu Sui had seen Mei Liangyu use Seven Consciousness Tower to break the Military Formation: Dragon Fish.
Luo Fu fell into the deep pit, his head bleeding from the impact. As soon as he looked up, he bumped into a Spirit Puppet's leg. Two more sword energies pursued from above. His face twisted slightly, and he instinctively wanted to use Nine Schools Arts but couldn't mobilize them.
He looked down and saw the white eye mark on the back of his hand that hadn't disappeared yet. The white eye was about to open, and flickering black light could be vaguely seen. Seven Consciousness Tower had entered the second phase, sealing his ability to obtain Five Elements Energy.
Luo Fu could only dodge awkwardly on his own. Just as he stood up, he was struck by another sword on his back, sending him flying far away before being stopped by a Spirit Puppet fixed in place with silver threads.
This series of attacks was both fast and ruthless, giving Luo Fu no chance at all, making him angry. But because of his carelessness in having his Five Elements Energy drained, he had no power to fight back.
Luo Fu dodged awkwardly behind the Spirit Puppets, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth while cursing this despicable sneak attacker in his heart.
Everything happened too quickly. No matter how fast Zhang Xiangyun's mind worked, he couldn't immediately think of a solution. The dodging just now had reopened the wound on his shoulder, blood seeping through his clothes.
In the dark corner of the Spirit Puppet pit, Situ Jin and Li Jin Shuang, who had been immobilized by Hu Gui, were also watching the battle.
Seeing Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu, Situ Jin also widened his eyes. How did these two get here?
Li Jin Shuang's fastest moment in her life was when Hu Gui left the Spirit Bird with Situ Jin using Floating Light. She used Wind-Riding Techniques to catch up and grabbed Situ Jin's waistband. Though she tore his clothes, she also created an opportunity to come to Northern Kun City with Situ Jin using Floating Light.
She started fighting with Hu Gui as soon as she landed.
Hu Gui didn't want to waste even half a minute on Li Jin Shuang. He easily took back Situ Jin and began moving. Li Jin Shuang had great difficulty catching up with him.
During this time, Li Jin Shuang was surprised to discover that Hu Gui was very familiar with Northern Kun City. The Sound-Seeking Golden Bell initially exposed Hu Gui's position, but he quickly found ways to cover it up, causing Situ Ling Kui and others to lose their target. Throughout the entire process, they never even saw Hu Gui's face.
Hu Gui's goal was clear: to bring Situ Jin to the Spirit Puppet pit.
The restrictions on the stone door required Situ family bloodline to open, so when they were on the Spirit Bird, Hu Gui and Lin Chenghai had planned to kidnap Situ Jin.
They hadn't expected him to deliver himself to their door.
Li Jin Shuang was a step slower entering and froze at the door upon seeing the many Spirit Puppets in the deep pit, giving Hu Gui the opportunity to immobilize her with Stone Solidification as well.
The two immobilized people could only watch helplessly as Hu Gui walked around in the deep pit, selecting Spirit Puppets and cutting the silver threads binding them.
Just as this person was about to successfully steal Situ Jin's Puppet Arts Spirit Puppets, people arrived from outside.
Situ Jin moved his eyeballs, looking at Zhang Xiangyun and Luo Fu being crushed and hunted by Hu Gui. These two unlucky fellows seemed completely useless.
He needed to think of another solution.
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, Situ Jin saw Hu Gui, who was pursuing Zhang Xiangyun with his sword, pause. He looked down at the long sword in his hand. The sword emitted a terrifying trembling sound and was actually filled with malevolent energy.
Hu Gui decisively abandoned the sword in his hand.
The abandoned long sword traced an arc in the air. Before it hit the ground, it burst with golden light, cold air scattering everywhere. A super-large sword spirit materialized in the air, crushing many Spirit Puppets upon landing, making Situ Jin widen his eyes and cry out in his heart with distress.
Both Hu Gui and Zhang Xiangyun were forced back by the suddenly appearing giant white bone sword spirit. Luo Fu, who had just gotten up, was severely injured again by the sword spirit's indiscriminate sword energy, sent flying far away and spitting blood.
Zhang Xiangyun, who was spread out clinging to the stone wall, saw this scene and his pupils contracted. Li Jin Shuang's sword spirit?!
She was actually in Northern Kun City?!
The sword spirit's hollow eyes drifted with white mist full of cold intent. It backhanded sword energy toward Li Jin Shuang's position through the air, breaking her Stone Solidification.
Li Jin Shuang, who had regained her freedom, initially wanted to go to the sword spirit, but caught sight of Situ Jin frantically blinking at her with a somewhat pitiful look. She paused and first helped him break the Stone Solidification before immediately rushing forward.
Situ Jin was full of gratitude and quickly stripped clothes from a nearby Spirit Puppet to put on himself.
He had really had enough of this journey!
While putting on clothes, Situ Jin angrily shouted at the people fighting ahead: "You all have to pay compensation! Compensation!"
Li Jin Shuang, who was about to swing her sword, paused and looked back at him. Situ Jin immediately changed his words: "You don't have to pay for what you break."
Hu Gui surveyed the devastation in the deep pit and said indifferently: "She broke almost everything."
Though his strikes were ruthless, he still took care of the Situ family's Mechanism Puppet Arts and hadn't caused much destruction.
Hu Gui's gaze returned to Li Jin Shuang. Previously, he hadn't acted considering she was a descendant of the Nanjing Li family, but looking now, this girl's Military School talent was extremely high, and her sword spirit was also quite special. If they really fought, it wouldn't be easy.
Situ Jin's eye twitched as he directly changed the subject: "Who exactly are you, and what do you want to do by infiltrating Northern Kun City at this time?"
Hu Gui's gaze swept over Situ Jin without answering.
Zhang Xiangyun covered his mouth and coughed, his gaze coldly sweeping over his injured shoulder: "What's the point of talking nonsense with him?"
After Situ Jin finished putting on clothes, he looked at Zhang Xiangyun again and took a deep breath: "How did you and Luo Fu get here?"
Zhang Xiangyun looked at Li Jin Shuang: "However she got here, that's how I got here."
Situ Jin's expression froze upon hearing this, his gaze momentarily strange. Li Jin Shuang and Zhang Xiangyun were working together?
"Where is Nangong Sui?" Zhang Xiangyun asked Li Jin Shuang. "Since you're here, Nangong Sui must have come too, right?"
He pondered inwardly how these two had gotten to Northern Kun City. Was Li Jin Shuang there when Situ Jin was captured?
Then Nangong Sui might be with the other outsider?
Yu Sui heard these words and looked at Hu Gui through her light cores.
Hu Gui was attracted by these words, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"There's also Nangong Sui?" Situ Jin almost doubted his own ears. When did this group start playing together?
Situ Jin asked: "What exactly are you all here to do?"
Zhang Xiangyun was still waiting for Li Jin Shuang's response while watching Hu Gui's movements. Seeing him standing in place, it seemed he intentionally wanted to wait for them to finish talking, or perhaps... he also had information he wanted to gather?
Li Jin Shuang gripped her sword hilt again, standing in front of the giant sword spirit. She glanced at Zhang Xiangyun and said without much emotional fluctuation: "Nangong Sui and I came to find Mei Liangyu. Mei Liangyu disappeared in the Abyss Sea. As his Junior Sister, Nangong Sui risked being swallowed by Sea Whirlpools to come find him."
"Mei Liangyu?" Situ Jin felt his headache getting worse. How were there more and more people? He pinched his nose bridge and looked at Zhang Xiangyun with suspicion: "I can understand Li Jin Shuang and Nangong Sui coming to find Mei Liangyu. Nangong Sui is Mei Liangyu's Junior Sister, and she has a good relationship with Nangong Sui. But Zhang Xiangyun, why did you two come?"
"Your relationship with Mei Liangyu isn't good, is it?"
"Whether my relationship with Mei Liangyu is good or not has nothing to do with my coming to the Abyss Sea." Zhang Xiangyun sneered. "I came following Nian Qiuyan. If you want to know, go ask Nian Qiuyan yourself."
There's even Nian Qiuyan?!
Who else is there?!
Situ Jin's face twisted slightly. Yu Sui didn't want them to continue their discussion. That fleeting expression on Hu Gui's face showed he was very interested in "the whereabouts of Nangong Ming's daughter."
In Qingyang, when people mentioned Nangong Ming, they trembled with fear and respect. Outside of Qingyang, when people mentioned Nangong Ming, they either worshipped him or wanted to kill him immediately.
Over the years, Yu Sui had been hunted for two reasons: first, for Breath Soil, and second, because she was Nangong Ming's child.
Her brothers had similar experiences.
Yu Sui glanced at Lin Chenghai's position. He wasn't very far from the deep pit. He had already shaken off the pursuing Mechanism School practitioners and was cautiously walking alone in the underground passages, seemingly carefully searching for something.
Hu Gui made no move. If "Nangong Sui" hadn't been mentioned, he would have acted long ago.
Situ Jin was still asking who else was there, Zhang Xiangyun was being sarcastic, Li Jin Shuang couldn't say a word for a long time, and Hu Gui patiently waited for them to reveal more information. Yu Sui directly used Five Elements Light Cores to explode the door, making a loud bang while attracting everyone's attention.
Hu Gui, being closest to the stone door, frowned and turned to look. Zhang Xiangyun and Li Jin Shuang seized the opportunity and attacked simultaneously.
Li Jin Shuang's sword spirit took on its complete giant form, almost occupying the entire space above the deep pit. Its eight arms moved very flexibly and quickly, rapidly throwing handleless long swords in different directions.
With Li Jin Shuang leading the charge, Zhang Xiangyun also had time to set up a trigram formation.
He raised his hand to draw a divination diagram in the void, estimating Hu Gui's realm in his mind. Calculating for the highest Thirteenth Realm, with his current condition, he couldn't achieve instant formation manifestation, and the opponent's reactions and scheming were also noteworthy. This wasn't some academy student who only knew how to pull punches, but someone like himself who had seen blood.
Facing such a person required no courtesy and shouldn't leave him any room.
Killing intent appeared in Zhang Xiangyun's eyes. He formed hand seals, and the trigram formation spread from under his feet. Countless runic constellations were lit up in the formation.
Yu Sui was about to stop him when she saw white eye marks appear on the back of Zhang Xiangyun's hands. Zhang Xiangyun was also startled, his formation casting frozen. Under the obstruction of several slashing sword energies, Hu Gui's figure flashed, dodging them all and instantly appearing before Zhang Xiangyun.
Hu Gui's protective energy burned, enveloping his entire person. After closing in, the pressure he brought made people tremble.
Zhang Xiangyun looked up, sweat moistening his forehead. When Hu Gui stepped forward to advance further, he decisively destroyed the formation and distanced himself from Hu Gui.
Black talismans flew from Hu Gui's fingertips, emanating cold like winter morning mist. Zhang Xiangyun pressed his right hand on the back of his left hand, trying to erase the Seven Consciousness Tower mark.
The black talismans flying toward Zhang Xiangyun were shattered by incoming thunder threads. Hu Gui heard someone behind him say in a deep voice: "Thunder Punishment."
Legalist School Judgment Arts.
The young masters and misses of Taiyi Academy's Mechanism School families who could enter Taiyi Academy for cultivation all had other talents besides Mechanism Arts.
Five lightning bolts like rolling serpents coiled around Hu Gui, making crackling sounds. Their intertwining collisions created scattered lightning that carried the power to burn souls.
Hu Gui withdrew his techniques and retreated several meters, squinting at Situ Jin.
Situ Jin had been used as a hostage and had his clothes stripped along the way. The young master also had pent-up anger in his heart.
It wasn't just Situ Jin who had pent-up anger.
Luo Fu, who had been sent flying by sword energy and had fainted in a corner of the deep pit, woke up now. Pain screamed throughout his body. He tested and still couldn't use Five Elements Energy. Seven Consciousness Tower's seal remained.
Luo Fu appeared cold and indifferent, not caring about anything, with Zhang Xiangyun always making decisions. He rarely used his brain because he was naturally impulsive.
Now Luo Fu was enraged. Leaning against the wall, he looked up at the neatly arranged Spirit Puppets before him, blocking his view so he couldn't see the battle ahead clearly, only able to see Li Jin Shuang's sword spirit.
He had been bleeding from his head earlier, and now blood covered his face. The bulging veins at his temples twitched. Luo Fu gritted his teeth and reached into his clothes to take out a small white porcelain bottle.
The bottle was entirely jade white, warm to the touch, with its mouth sealed by a wooden cork.
Yu Sui was paying attention to everyone on the scene and naturally saw the awakened Luo Fu. Seeing what he brought out, she already had a guess in her heart.
Luo Fu had originally wanted to use Soul Return Incense, but since he couldn't use Five Elements Energy to light it, he could only settle for the next best thing and use Lotus Mist.
The wooden cork opened. Luo Fu brought the bottle mouth to his nose. The weightless bottle changed with Luo Fu's breathing. Light white mist swirled inside the bottle, and when it floated out of the bottle mouth, Luo Fu inhaled it.
After inhaling, he could smell a faint orchid fragrance.
That fragrance lingered in his soul, granting him new power that spread to his limbs and bones. The pain rampaging in his body was forcibly suppressed. Luo Fu felt no pain at all, only inexhaustible power that excited him.
Luo Fu stood up, shook his head, and looked toward Hu Gui's position ahead.