Chapter 52: Danger Imminent, Divine Weapon Appears

The Child Talisman burned out as it flew into the depths of the mountain forest, drifting down until only ashes remained. Seeing this, Liu Xia looked around, only to find a scene of utter devastation; broken vines and shattered creepers were everywhere, and the tree trunks were deeply scarred by blades and claws, as if the entire area had been ransacked. Gazing at such a sight, he could not help but feel exceptionally alarmed—what on earth had happened here?

Just as he was looking around, Banxia tugged at the corner of his robe from behind. He turned his head and saw her crouching down to pick up a black wooden plaque.

Wasn't that the ebony plaque issued by the sect to Outer Disciples? It even had silver cloud patterns carved on it! Turning the plaque over, he saw the two characters "Miaozhi" engraved on it.

"Miaozhi..." Banxia mused, "Isn't that the female disciple from Mei Courtyard?"

Just as Liu Xia was struggling to recall if there was such a person in his classes, Banxia tugged at his hem again and pointed at the broken vines on the ground.

"Look at these broken vines, they are somewhat unusual."

Just as Banxia was about to pick one up to examine it, a vine snatched the broken piece away with lightning speed and lashed out at her feet, scaring her into jumping up with a shriek and hiding behind Liu Xia.

Seeing this, Liu Xia immediately drew his long sword, intending to counterattack, but was stopped by Banxia.

He was confused and looked at Banxia, only to see her pointing at the vine from before—the vine was covered in wounds and appeared listless, and the cracks on it, just like the broken vine on the ground, were actually emitting black energy.

And this vine seemed to have no intention of harming the two of them; it merely lifted itself with great effort and pointed toward their heads.

The two looked up and saw many Jiqiu-like objects wrapped in branches and vines hanging above, with some gray clothing exposed at the ends.

"That... isn't that an Outer Disciple's Outer Robe!?" Banxia exclaimed in a low voice!

However, the vine seemed to have no intention of lowering the Jilong, merely pointing past the two of them into the forest.

Seeing this, Liu Xia pondered for a moment, immediately understood its meaning, hurriedly cupped his hands in a salute, and ran toward the forest. Seeing this, Banxia hurriedly followed. The vine, however, seemed to have exhausted all its strength and fell with a boom.

"Why didn't you save those fellow students, but ran away instead?" Banxia asked while running.

"If I am not mistaken, there must be something ominous here, and those spirits were likely protecting them, which is why they hung those people up there. And since it pointed toward the depths, I fear someone is being chased by those monsters right now; it must be extremely dangerous," Liu Xia said, quickening his pace.

Hearing him say this, Banxia muttered to herself: Is it not dangerous for us to go?

Zhao Wuyang was already injured, and the miasma was eroding his wounds, causing him great pain. But the Demon Race were numerous, and his cultivation technique was not refined, making it truly difficult to resist. If not for Xinyi protecting him at his side, he would have likely already lost his life to the Yellow Springs.

As for Xinyi, he had to fight the Demon Race while also protecting Zhao Wuyang. After several rounds, he was also covered in wounds. He looked at the broken sword in his hand; if this weapon had not been unsharpened, he would certainly not have ended up in this state.

Yet those of the Demon Race seemed unable to feel any pain; even after their limbs were severed, they still struggled and roared, wanting to take the lives of the two.

Xinyi finally exhausted his strength and knelt on one knee beside Zhao Wuyang, supporting himself with his sword sheath.

If it weren't for his own lack of skill, he would not have become a burden to Xinyi Dage.

Thinking this, Zhao Wuyang said, "Xinyi Dage, you should go on your own, do not worry about me. With your ability, you will surely be able to shake off these Demon Race. I have no strength left; if you stay to protect me, we will both surely die here."

Xinyi looked at Zhao Wuyang's anxious expression, smiled with great effort, and reached out to pat his head.

"Rest assured, since you call me Dage, then Dage will certainly keep you safe." As he spoke, a cold glint appeared in his eyes, and he muttered incantations. In an instant, wind rose on the flat ground, blowing so hard that Zhao Wuyang could not open his eyes.

At this moment, Xinyi suddenly gathered his Qi and charged at the Demon Race. His movements were so fast that the Demon Race were decapitated before they even realized it.

But he was injured after all, and suffering from the pain of the miasma. After only a moment, his strength failed him, and he knelt down again, unable to rise no matter what.

Seeing him like this, the Demon Race opened their bloody maws one by one and swarmed over, intending to take his life.

"With my great vengeance unavenged, am I to lose my life here today? But..." Xinyi looked at the swarming Demon Race and muttered, but it was as if he had exhausted all his strength, and he slowly closed his eyes before finishing his sentence.

Seeing Xinyi in danger not far away, Zhao Wuyang roared and wanted to get up to protect him, but he was too severely injured and could not move despite trying his best.

Just as the Demon Race were baring their fangs and claws, about to pounce on Xinyi, two Yellow Talismans flew over, and a burst of airflow shook the Demon Race surrounding him and Zhao Wuyang away.

Zhao Wuyang was wondering who it was, when he saw Long Qi and Chengkai leap down, guarding the area around the two.

Long Qi looked at the strange-looking monsters around him, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he had read the first volume of "Talisman Theory" and still remembered that Exorcism Talisman, and also fortunate that Lingxiang was so prescient to have anticipated this situation.

However, he was ultimately borrowing her mental power, and the power of this Exorcism Talisman was likely less than half of its potential, only managing to shake these monsters away.

Chengkai leaned over to check Xinyi's injuries; they were indeed very serious, and he had already lost consciousness. He nodded at Long Qi, signaling that Xinyi was still alive.

Seeing this, Long Qi breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly gathered all his focus; now was not the time to be distracted.

The Demon Race, perhaps affected by the Exorcism Talisman, were circling the four of them, not daring to attack.

Just as Long Qi was hesitating about how to escape, Xinyi slowly regained consciousness and took three Yellow Talismans from his bosom. But when Long Qi took them and looked, these three were all Mother Talismans of the Child-Mother Talisman.

In that case, Lingxiang had intended for them to gather together, but now Liu Xia was nowhere to be found. Could he have been attacked by this group of monsters?

Just as he was thinking this, he saw a flash of sword light outside the monster circle; it was Liu Xia fighting outside the circle, but behind him...

"If I had known there were so... so many monsters here, I wouldn't have come... over with you even if I died!" Banxia shouted at Liu Xia while dodging.

Long Qi looked at the two figures trying to break through the encirclement and for a moment forgot his current predicament—who... was that noisy woman...

As soon as the Demon Race appeared in the Dust-Peering Mirror, Shangqing Zhenren immediately ordered Elder Fuyin to keep a close watch on Lingxiang, and then ordered Elder Zhaoming to investigate the Mountain Guarding Array, before calling Qianyuan, Chengxin, and Donghui, the three True Persons, to rush to Yinyu Peak together.

"Heh~ by the time they get there, I imagine these Outer Disciples will have long been torn to shreds by the Demon Race," Lingxiang said leisurely, tapping her feet and fiddling with the Yellow Talisman in her hand.

Fuyin Zhenren had been paying attention to the Dust-Peering Mirror—those Sword Techniques of Long Qi looked very familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before. He didn't pay attention to Lingxiang for a moment, merely replying perfunctorily, "The fellow seniors have it under control."

But then a thought occurred to him: her own disciple was on Yinyu Peak; there was no reason for her to have the leisure to make such jokes.

Fuyin Zhenren looked at Lingxiang, only to see that she was holding two Substitute Talismans in her hand!

"Would Sixth Senior Brother like to accompany me on a trip?" Lingxiang raised the Talisman in her hand and raised an eyebrow.