Translator: CinderTL
"Playing tricks!" Yuan Anping's eyes darted around, sensing something gathering above him. The young man before him was undergoing another transformation, while a group of people behind him glared menacingly.
The situation was growing increasingly dire.
"Ah..." Huan Xi'er slowly exhaled, his expression filled with melancholy as he murmured, "Too early..."
Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes, a flicker of realization in his dark pupils. This might explain why Huan Xi'er had suddenly become lucid.
"Who are you?" Mo Xianxian asked softly.
Huan Xi'er ignored her, his gaze fixed on Yuan Anping, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
Instantly, Yuan Anping felt an immense pressure, as if this person truly possessed the power to annihilate him.
How could this be possible?
No matter how he looked at it, Huan Xi'er's cultivation level was only at the Dao Seeking Realm. His aura had changed, but his actual strength hadn't increased. How could he possibly kill Yuan Anping?
Just then, Mo Xianxian completed the Burial Word Art. Xu Sanyan's vertical pupil clearly saw a coffin-shaped phantom materialize in the void, hovering above Yuan Anping's head.
It was exactly the same situation he had encountered before.
"Burial!"
The moment Mo Xianxian spoke, the coffin lid floated upward as if drawn by an invisible force, pulling Yuan Anping toward it.
Panic flashed across Yuan Anping's face as he felt the ghost energy within him surge violently, threatening to burst from his body.
"Aaaah!"
Yuan Anping's features twisted in agony as he desperately suppressed the ghost energy. Yet thick black mist still erupted from every pore, rising like steam into the air before vanishing without a trace.
Xu Sanyan watched intently. The ghost energy wasn't dissipating; it was being absorbed by the coffin.
Huan Xi'er tilted his head back, his gaze fixed on the coffin.
Logically, Huan Xi'er shouldn't be able to see the coffin. Xu Sanyan could see it because of the mystical third eye on his forehead, and Mo Xianxian, as the caster of the spell, naturally could as well.
But why could Huan Xi'er see it...?
"Aaaah!"
Yuan Anping suddenly roared, his eyes locked on Mo Xianxian.
If he couldn't break the spell, he'd eliminate the caster!
"Die!"
Yuan Anping released all restraint on his ghost energy. A torrent of black smoke erupted from him, vanishing into the coffin.
Ignoring everything else, Yuan Anping focused solely on Mo Xianxian.
Without hesitation, Xu Sanyan flew toward Mo Xianxian. If they could protect her, Yuan Anping would inevitably fall!
Jingyi and the others clearly understood this as well, and they silently surged forward at full speed.
The group was scattered, with Mo Xianxian positioned on one side. Huan Xi'er was closest to her, followed by Yuan Anping, and finally Xu Sanyan and his group.
"Huan Xi'er, stop him!" Fang Qingge shouted from afar, seeing clearly that protecting Mo Xianxian until Xu Sanyan and the others arrived would guarantee Yuan Anping's death.
But...
Huan Xi'er remained motionless, simply watching Yuan Anping approach.
Mo Xianxian gazed at the onrushing black mist, an unreadable expression in her eyes. She knew she couldn't stop him. Not even for a moment.
She had never been skilled in close combat, and her raw strength was even inferior to Luo Qingwei's. If Yuan Anping got close, her death was certain.
Yet she felt no fear.
"Life is so boring..." Mo Xianxian murmured with a smile, shaking her head. Her delicate features radiated a sense of release as she calmly regarded Huan Xi'er, who stood nearby yet remained indifferent, and then glanced at the rapidly approaching Yuan Anping before slowly closing her eyes.
A struggle flickered in Huan Xi'er's eyes, impatience and serenity warring for dominance, as if vying for control.
Bang!
A figure was sent flying backward with a heavy thud.
Mo Xianxian blinked open her eyes in confusion, staring at Yuan Anping, who was now engaged in battle with Xu Sanyan and the others. She glanced down at herself, her voice filled with astonishment.
"I'm not dead?"
But she had clearly heard...
The realization struck her like a thunderbolt. She whipped her head around, but Huan Xi'er, who had been standing nearby moments ago, had vanished. Her gaze shifted to the ground, where Huan Xi'er lay vomiting blood, and everything clicked into place.
Huan Xi'er must have shielded her from Yuan Anping's fatal blow at the last moment, giving Xu Sanyan and the others time to arrive.
Before she could process the thought, her body moved on instinct, lunging forward to cradle Huan Xi'er in her arms. She frantically examined him.
Both his arms were severed, crimson bone fragments jutting from his shoulders, tearing through flesh and muscle. Blood gurgled from his mouth in an endless stream, painting a gruesome scene.
Yet he wasn't dead. Though critically wounded, as long as the injuries weren't fatal, he could be saved.
Huan Xi'er forced a weak smile, trying to speak, but blood welled up in his mouth. He coughed weakly.
Mo Xianxian lowered her head silently, gently wiping the blood from his lips. "You're back. Why did you help me?"
She could see it in his eyes—this was Huan Xi'er, not that other person.
"I... we... cough cough..."
With great effort, Huan Xi'er raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eye. "We're family..." he rasped.
Mo Xianxian pressed her lips together, saying nothing more. She simply pulled a medicinal pill from her robes and placed it in his mouth.
"Cough... cough..."
The pill was forced back out by the rising blood. Huan Xi'er no longer had the strength to swallow.
Sensing his struggle, Mo Xianxian unhesitatingly put the pill in her own mouth, leaned down, and kissed him. She used her tongue to push the pill down his throat.
Huan Xi'er's eyes widened in profound disbelief.
She actually...
Mo Xianxian seemed oblivious, casually wiping her lips.
Fang Qingge watched the scene, sighing regretfully. This woman is destined to be beyond my reach...
Meanwhile,
Yuan Anping's swollen body continued to shrink as torrents of ghost energy poured into the coffin. Xu Sanyan clearly felt the pressure easing, a sign that Yuan Anping was weakening.
This was the power of the Burial Word Art, which continuously drained an opponent's life essence, causing them to bleed out and die.
Since Yuan Anping was a ghost without vital essence, the technique was modified to absorb ghost energy instead, achieving the same effect.
"Take this!"
Lu Wang, wreathed in blazing flames, thrust his spear straight at Yuan Anping's forehead with unmatched ferocity.
Xu Sanyan's gaze shifted to Lu Wang. The Lu Clan was renowned throughout the realm as a noble clan specializing in Soul Refinement, their mystical arts legendary.
Yet Lu Wang, heir to the Lu Clan, showed no sign of using their Divine Soul Secret Technique. Instead, he favored close-quarters combat, his strikes bold and powerful, each movement brimming with raw strength.
Xu Sanyan shook his head in bewilderment. How could anyone forsake such potent Soul Refinement arts? They're practically foolproof, perfect for ambushing enemies. Why wouldn't Lu Wang use them?
"Hah!"
Lu Wang's spear strikes were relentless. He and Xu Sanyan flanked Yuan Anping, while Jingyi and the others provided support. Their strategy wasn't to kill him quickly, but to keep him pinned down.
As long as Yuan Anping couldn't interfere with Mo Xianxian, his death was inevitable.
Yuan Anping understood this perfectly, yet felt utterly helpless. The constant drain of ghost energy left him increasingly weakened.
His expression twisted into a vicious snarl. If death is unavoidable, I might as well fight to the bitter end! Even if I die, I'll drag a few of these bastards down with me!
(End of the Chapter)
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