Chapter 118

Just as everyone was about to rush out of the palace, Luo Changfeng suddenly grabbed Gu Yusheng's wrist with a backhand, the corner of his mouth curling into a strange arc: "Junior brother, you're too hasty."

Gu Yusheng's pupils contracted sharply; he saw Luo Changfeng's face melt like wax, revealing Yi Tong's eerie visage—it was an illusion!

"Gu Yusheng!" Lingxiao bellowed, his body flashing like lightning as he shoved Gu Yusheng away. Yi Tong's fingertip demonic light surged; the deadly strike originally aimed at Gu Yusheng's heart instead pierced Lingxiao's chest!

"Master—!" Shi Ran's heart‑rending scream.

Blood spurted out; Lingxiao staggered back several steps before the Dragon Chant Sword plunged deep into the ground, barely allowing him to steady himself. His white robes instantly turned crimson, blood dripping from his lips onto the blade, emitting a "hiss‑hiss" scorching sound—Yi Tong's demonic qi was rapidly corroding his meridians.

"What deep master‑disciple affection." Yi Tong laughed lightly, shaking off the blood on her fingertips, her violet eyes full of mockery: "Wanshan Jun, how does this Heart‑Eroding Demon Finger taste?"

Gu Yusheng's eyes nearly burst as the Chasing Moon Sword flashed with blinding cold light: "I'll kill you!"

Mei Ruoxue grabbed his shoulder: "Don't act rashly! She's deliberately provoking you into an illusion!"

Tian Zimo blew his jade flute sideways; the Clear Mind Sound Wave spread, clearing everyone's minds instantly. Yan Zhizhou's lightning‑flashing spear thrust toward Yi Tong's throat: "Demoness, die!"

Yi Tong's form dissipated like smoke, reappearing ten zhang away. She clapped and laughed lightly: "It's useless—in this Gloom Shadow Hall, every corner you see……" She suddenly appeared behind Shi Ran, her icy fingers brushing her neck: "could be my illusion."

Shi Ran's hairs stood on end as the Ice Stream Sword instinctively swept backward, only cutting a wisp of black mist.

"Ranran… watch your back…" Lingxiao's weak voice came. Shi Ran turned to see him forming a seal with one hand; the Dragon Chant Sword flew up on its own, azure light like a waterfall slicing open the demonic claw silently gathering behind her!

Yi Tong grunted, her true form forced into view. She fixed her heterochromatic eyes on Lingxiao, pupils narrowing slightly: "Interesting—you can still mobilize spiritual power after being struck by the Heart‑Eroding Demon Finger? No, what you're using isn't spiritual power… who exactly are you?"

"It's your grandpa!" Shi Ran rudely cut off Yi Tong, urgently demanding: "Where's my senior brother? Where did you hide him?!"

Lingxiao showed no panic, wiping the blood from his lips as he swayed upright. Half his eyes had turned purple, his voice still steady: "Yusheng, Wind position; Ruoxue, Fire position; Zimo and Zhizhou guard the Thunder‑Lake position." With each word more blood welled at the corner of his mouth: "Shi Ran… come help me."

Shi Ran lunged to his side with red eyes, and the instant she touched his body her heart jolted—Lingxiao's spiritual meridians were shattering inch by inch! She hurriedly poured the vitality of the Crimson Pearl Wood within her into him, but Lingxiao grabbed her wrist: "Save your spiritual power… break the formation."

Yi Tong suddenly realized something, her face paling: "You're laying a Slay Demon Sword Formation?!" She waved her hand violently, and the palace walls began to writhe, transforming into countless distorted faces that emitted a piercing shriek.

The sound wave struck like a solid object, and Tian Zimo's jade flute cracked with a 'Crack'. Yan Zhizhou, bleeding from his seven orifices, still gripped his long spear tightly: "This demoness… is interfering with the formation!"

"Too late." Lingxiao's blood-stained finger suddenly pressed against Shi Ran's brow. A azure light drew out from his chest, flowing along his fingertip into her body—it was his natal sword essence!

Shi Ran felt vast sword intent surge like a tide into her limbs and bones; the Ice Stream Sword let out a clear, resonant cry, and its blade bore azure markings identical to those of the Dragon Chant Sword. Lingxiao's face turned ashen as paper, yet he showed the faintest smile: "Ranran… this sword, finish it for me."

Yi Tong finally panicked. She formed seals with both hands, and the vault collapsed with a roar, countless huge stones hurtling toward everyone: "All of you, die!"

"Now!" Gu Yusheng pointed his Chasing Moon Sword to the sky, Mei Ruoxue planted her Frost Blossom Sword on the ground; two sword auras merged into a cross-shaped light prison that held Yi Tong in place. Tian Zimo's shattered jade flute blew its final note, and Yan Zhizhou's thunder spear turned into chains that bound her feet.

Shi Ran leapt into the air, the Ice Stream Sword carrying Lingxiao's lifetime sword intent as she cleaved forth a shocking azure light. Where the sword light passed, illusions shattered like glass, and Yi Tong's scream cut short—the sword aura flung her whole body aloft, and unable to bear it she spat out a mouthful of purple blood-polish.

"You… bully demons too much…" Yi Tong gasped out, then glanced behind her, pulled out a scarlet bead and crushed it hard—thick blood mist instantly filled the entire space.

"Watch out for the poison mist!" Mei Ruoxue swept her sword to form a shield, but when the blood mist cleared, Yi Tong had vanished without a trace, only a lingering purple bloodstain on the ground proving she had been wounded.

The palace began to collapse, and the true Luo Changfeng appeared from behind the altar's stone pillar—he was tightly bound there, a demon nail pierced his chest, and blood dripped drop by drop along the nail, falling into a golden cup.

Everyone hurried to rescue him. Luo Changfeng's breath was like a gossamer thread: "Hurry… leave… don't worry about me… she she's going to detonate…"

Gu Yusheng hoisted Lingxiao onto his back, Shi Ran supported Luo Changfeng, and the crowd rushed toward the exit. Behind them came an earth-shaking explosion, and the scorching blast flung them outward.

……

At the edge of the Demon Forest, the survivors collapsed to the ground. Luo Changfeng took his pill and fell into a deep sleep, while Lingxiao had already sunk into a coma, demonic energy spreading from his brow like a spiderweb.

Shi Ran gripped his icy hand, her voice trembling: "Master gave me the sword essence… how is he supposed to suppress the demonic energy himself…"

He won't go demonic because of this, will he? What should we do? What should we do?

Mei Ruoxue was channeling spiritual power into Lingxiao when, hearing this, she suddenly jerked her hand back—her spiritual power was actually being backlashed by demonic energy! Gu Yusheng tore open the master's robe, and everyone sucked in a cold breath: the black finger marks on Lingxiao's chest had already spread into a spiderweb pattern, and purple-black vessels were extending toward his heart.

"This isn't just demonic backlash; it's more like poisoning by demon toxin…" Tian Zimo's face grim: "Unless a demon personally detoxifies it, otherwise…"

"Yi Tong! I'm going after her!" Shi Ran snatched up her Ice Stream Sword to rise, but Yan Zhizhou grabbed her: "You're crazy? That demoness is surely heading to find their Demon Lord! That's something even your master can't handle—what are you going to throw your life away for?"

Lingxiao suddenly began coughing violently, spewing out purple-black blood without cease. Shi Ran hurriedly wiped it with her sleeve, but the more she wiped, the more there was. She finally broke down crying: "You could have dodged it… why did you block that blow for Gu Yusheng… you promised me you wouldn't die…"

In his haze, Lingxiao barely opened his eyes. His blood-stained finger twitched, as if he wanted to wipe away her tears, but all he did was lightly hook her fingertip.

In the distance came a low rumble of thunder; a storm was approaching.