Chapter 26

Ride the Clear Wind?! If she dies again, she'll truly ride the Clear Wind home!

Action beats hesitation! Shi Ran narrowed her eyes, snatched Xiao Muyu's Ride the Clear Wind, turned, and bolted for the door.

The night watchman Gu Yusheng suddenly drew his Chasing Moon Sword, continuing his mournful line: "Everyone… small hmm?"

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past before her eyes!

It was the enraged Shi Ran, who'd poured all her strength into her calves, leaving Gu Yusheng only a fleeting afterimage!

Isn't it said Emperor Jiang has no eyes or ears, like chaos without perception? Then let this Ride the Wind make it perceive! Shi Ran smirked coldly, hurling the Ride the Wind hard at Emperor Jiang—Go! Pikachu!

"Hold your breath!" Shi Ran led by covering her mouth and nose; the others instinctively followed suit.

As the Ride the Wind flew toward Emperor Jiang, its lid popped open, the drifting scent spreading on the wind, tightly enveloping Emperor Jiang.

"Run!" This time Shi Ran remembered sword-flight; she rare summoned Bingxi, standing atop it, the Bingxi sword crystal-clear like purest quartz, the most beautiful blade, inherently chilled, standing on it like standing on a glacier.

If Shi Ran weren't a fire spiritual root, she'd surely fly Bingxi every day—how beautiful! Alas, she is fire-rooted; now standing on Bingxi, to her it's ice and fire dual torment.

Several followed Shi Ran on sword-flight: "Shi Ran, Master isn't in seclusion to the north? Why do you keep heading south? Go further and you'll fly out of the sect!"

Shi Ran said nothing, instead gesturing everyone to look at the sky—no moon, no stars, dark as a vast curtain.

"I guess… this is probably a barrier!"

Gu Yusheng answered for Shi Ran: "As for why we've gone south all along, the exit might be on the south face!" He looked at Shi Ran: "Am I right, Junior Sister?"

Shi Ran nodded. Gu Yusheng truly lives up to being the original novel's male lead—his insight is terrifyingly sharp; a slight hint and he understands, unlike her, who died eight times, tested eight times, before grasping the secret! Shi Ran wanted to cry but had no tears!

But Luo Changfeng, unaware of the facts, spared no praise for Shi Ran: "Smart, Shi Ran, but how exactly did you figure it out?"

"Because…"

"Now isn't the time to explain! Among the six, Xiao Muyu's Binghan Fei is the slowest; each time he looks back, Emperor Jiang draws nearer—this time even more exaggerated, Emperor Jiang's Hong Fire nearly scorching his flying hair ribbon!

"Third Senior Brother! Move aside!" In desperation, Shi Ran transformed fire-qi into an arrow, flames tumbling and leaping between the fletching, as if struggling to break free yet forced to cling to life!

Shi Ran aimed at Emperor Jiang; wind brushed her hair but couldn't sway her steadfast heart—Hu! Now, Shi Ran loosed the fire-arrow; as it flew, it trailed a long, scorching tail-flame, like a meteor tearing the night sky. On impact, the arrow shape instantly collapsed, flames erupting violently, devouring!

This time she must escape this cycle! If Emperor Jiang shows no flaw! Then she'll shoot one into being!

Perhaps the prior eight battles gave Shi Ran experience; she successfully drove back Emperor Jiang, the fire-arrow embedded in its back, relentlessly widening his wound!

The mountain gate flashed beneath their feet—but the moment they landed, the gate ignited, flames spreading rapidly, trapping them together!

This was the rarest gathering of their martial siblings—even with a fire wall, what of it? Besides her, these are all water cultivators…

Snow suddenly drifted in the sky; Shi Ran's smile stretched across her face—was she doomed to be trapped here this night, this lifetime?

Mei Ruoxue pointed a finger: "You look, isn't that Master?"

All looked up; in the drifting snow night, Master stood distant and aloof, visage icy-cold, like a banished immortal!

"Master!" Luo Changfeng joyfully cried—then fell silent, gripping his Broken Cloud tightly.

Behind Master stood the Emperor Jiang he'd just pursued relentlessly; Master now gently stroked Emperor Jiang's wound; shortly, Shi Ran's fire-arrow vanished, Emperor Jiang's wound slowly healing!

Mei Ruoxue laid Yunge across her chest: "You aren't my Master! Who exactly are you?!"

Though her Master is icy-cold, he's also gentle, like warm jade wrapped in cold ice. Exterior: frost that repels a thousand miles; interior: warm, moist, enduring.

He would never, as now, indulge demon beasts to harm disciples—never!

Master still said nothing, instead smirking disdainfully, lightly patting Emperor Jiang with his hand: "Go!"

Emperor Jiang, excited like a great meatball, suddenly bounced down, six feet stomping ground—then began to dance, distant voices harmonizing.

"Soul adrift, dreaming, blazing fire chills bone… Scarlet flame as guide, blazing light on divergent paths~ Soul dwells night, millennia bear corpses returning…"

This song again! This… the Soul-Burying Song!

Shi Ran again transformed spirit into arrow—difference: this time she used her Bingxi.

Ice and fire, red and white, like night-blooming manjushage, beautiful yet lethally dangerous.

Gu Yusheng's Bright Moon Clear Radiance against Emperor Jiang was like tickling—he was frantic, seeing Shi Ran's maneuver, he couldn't help but stare stunned.

He'd never seen spiritual power and spiritual sword combined like this, this way, that way—sure this could work?

Shi Ran wasn't sure! But worst case, try again! So-called ten perfections, nine beauties—probably means just this!

Shi Ran drew the bow to full, then fiercely loosed Bingxi as if it were an arrow.

The target? Emperor Jiang's buttocks!

Mei Ruoxue's face showed reluctance—truly a pity for Bingxi, such a pure, jade-clean sword to stab that place… she almost heard Bingxi's cry!

No no no! Bingxi won't cry! Bingxi only:???? ︿???? cursing filthily!

Emperor Jiang likely never imagined a girl like Shi Ran fighting so unreasonably—one sword struck true, Emperor Jiang like a burst balloon, rapidly wilting!

Emperor Jiang not yet dead! Danger not yet passed—yet Master also descended the battlefield, one sword, one man, yet like ten thousand troops!

"Master! Forgive the offense!" Qian Chengshuang charged first, but his cultivation, his level—all taught by Master's single hand—how could he prevail?

"Hey! What are you all standing around for!" Shi Ran, while drawing out Bingxi, shouted: "All forward! Screw propriety!"

Speaking passionately, Shi Ran exerted force, pulling Bingxi free!

Emperor Jiang rapidly shrank, flapping four wings to seek Master!

Shi Ran had no time for it; she stroked Bingxi heartbroken: "Sorry, treasure! Left with no choice, I didn't mean to!"

Bingxi lay corpse-like: dead, do not miss!

Shi Ran was comforting Bingxi when Mei Ruoxue suddenly shouted: "Yusheng!"

She looked up—saw Master slowly drawing the Dragon Yin Sword from Gu Yusheng's body, blood pooling everywhere, like that dream-day she could not return to.

Also red flowers fallen everywhere, also dark night without light……

"Pfft!" Master lowered his head—Bingxi pierced his heart, blood dripping drop by drop; she, behind Master, felt utterly wronged: "Master, you killed him—I can never return!"