Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Barrier of Life

Seeing a powerful palm strike of internal energy flying toward them, the black-clad figures tumbled backward and soared upward, thus evading the attack. Behind them, the crisp sound of shattering ice rang out in succession, and rows of trees toppled with a crash. In no time at all, the area within the Valley of Frosted Spirits where one could move freely had greatly expanded!

Following closely behind, Ai Shuo heard the faint noises ahead, his brows furrowing as he quickened his pace.

A howling wind swept by. Yin Su beat her wings, launching razor-sharp feathers at Silver Yao, but they were blocked by an invisible barrier and fell harmlessly to the ground.

On the opposite side, Ji Xuanyu’s internal energy fluctuated strangely. Yin Su tried several more times, but all to no avail! She glanced at Ji Xuanyu, comprehension dawning in her heart.

“A life barrier, is it? While the person lives, the barrier stands; when the person dies, the barrier falls! Ji Xuanyu, you’re quite daring!” Her voice turned cold and menacing.

Yin Su’s wings shifted their aim toward Ji Xuanyu, and the black-clad figures, seeing this, moved to encircle him. Several silver needles shot toward Ji Xuanyu, each aimed for a vital spot!

A blaze flickered in his right hand; within the flames, a sword took shape, radiating intense heat.

Clang, clang! All the silver needles were blocked. Upon touching the sword, they instantly melted, dripping onto the ice and leaving several holes, which then sealed over almost immediately.

“Blazing Flame! (The Illusory Flame Dragon Sword) You’re finally willing to use it!” Yin Su’s eyes were fixed on the flaming sword, clearly recognizing it.

“Of course!” Before he finished speaking, Ji Xuanyu charged at Yin Su, his expression icy.

Yin Su dodged nimbly, beating her wings as feathers rained down toward Ji Xuanyu.

Ji Xuanyu watched the oncoming feathers with cold detachment, slicing them apart with his sword as he muttered under his breath:

So you truly do hate me! You’ve sent one of your two most capable subordinates after me, along with the twelve fierce warriors ranked just below them! Don’t you have another formidable subordinate? Why not send them as well? I’ve heard their strength is quite remarkable!

Sword energy surged toward Yin Su, as Ji Xuanyu sought to break this laughable fate—he, the dragon, would personally slay the phoenix!

Yin Su laughed aloud at his attempt, finding it utterly ridiculous. “With just you?”

In an instant, the feathers grew denser, surging toward Ji Xuanyu like a flood. Yin Su stopped moving, folding and unfurling her wings, then grasped a long sword shaped like a feather—Feather Blade, the Phoenix’s Illusory Weapon. She dove at Ji Xuanyu, shifting from defense to offense, while the black-clad figures pressed their attack from above and below.

His arms were slashed by the sharp feathers, leaving bloody gashes that immediately scabbed over black. Ji Xuanyu glanced at his wounds, retrieved a pill from his sleeve, and swallowed it—this was the Hundred-Poison Antidote left by Muye.

He surged upward again—since things had come to this, it would be a decisive battle! One black-clad figure followed closely, right hand extended, several sleeve darts ready to launch.

Swish, swish—the darts shot out, vicious and precise. Another agile black-clad figure leapt up, appearing above Ji Xuanyu, sword raised to strike him from overhead.

Ji Xuanyu dodged the darts from below, but now had to contend with the sword from above—he was hard-pressed to defend against both. Yin Su seized the opportunity, feather blade poised, stabbing toward Ji Xuanyu with wings propelling her for greater speed.

Taken off guard!

Ji Xuanyu was stabbed in the abdomen, doubling over and clutching the wound with his left hand, unleashing a dragon’s roar! Behind him, the phantom of a dragon became clearer and more lifelike, its tail lashing out to keep the attackers at bay.

A strange, pleasant fragrance filled the air. The black-clad figures instinctively covered their noses and mouths, searching for the source of the scent.

In no time, a few of them could no longer stay aloft and plummeted from the sky. Yin Su recognized the fragrance; though not a deadly poison, it could sap a master’s strength within an hour—this was Softbone Powder!

But would it affect her?

No!

She was already immune to all poisons—a mere minor toxin was nothing worth mentioning!

Yin Su paused, piqued by curiosity. She hadn’t expected help to arrive so soon!

“The Poison Enchantress is here—how can I let you wield poison?” Ai Shuo strode calmly out from behind the black-clad figures, now clad in striking red, having already discarded her cumbersome dark robe.

The black-clad figures instinctively turned to look, seeing a woman approach at a leisurely pace, a faintly wicked smile ever present on her face—yet it chilled the heart.

The Poison Enchantress, Ai Shuo!

Then the Ghost Doctor, Muye, must also be here! Those two were always inseparable. This unexpected development had thrown their plan into chaos, making the task far more difficult!

Ignoring the shock of the crowd, Ai Shuo supported the wounded Ji Xuanyu and tried to leave.

“Kill!” Yin Su’s voice was icy as she issued the order.

The black-clad figures snapped out of their daze, exchanging glances before striking at Ai Shuo together.

Several silver needles shot forth from a right hand, faster, more ruthless, and far more accurate than those before! As Ai Shuo worked swiftly to staunch Ji Xuanyu’s bleeding and administer basic treatment, she caught sight of Silver Yao, still coiled at the center of the valley.

Ai Shuo actually had many questions: how had this once verdant valley, so lush just seven days ago, become a frozen wasteland? Judging by the signs, this had to be the legendary Valley of Frosted Spirits! Had she come to the wrong place? Who were these black-clad figures? Had Silver Yao, poisoned and given only three days to live, actually survived?

Ai Shuo pushed Ji Xuanyu into the barrier, then quickly followed herself. She took Ji Xuanyu’s pulse; something was off! She probed with her internal energy: Ji Xuanyu had suffered severe blood loss, apparently just a few days ago. Had Muye revealed the method for blood exchange?

Ji Xuanyu’s body had only just recovered, and his internal energy was suppressed by the cold of this place, preventing him from exerting his full strength. Now gravely wounded and poisoned, his situation was dire.

Ai Shuo sighed in helplessness, then checked the pulse of Silver Yao, who still lay unconscious—her poison was gone, but she had not awakened.

So, the blood exchange had taken place! Xuanyu truly loved her.

Seeing that everyone had taken shelter within the barrier, Yin Su redirected her attacks to the barrier itself: since it was formed by Ji Xuanyu’s life force, damaging it would surely affect him.

Under Yin Su’s ferocious assault, cracks appeared in the barrier; inside, Ji Xuanyu coughed up a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the white jade stone and was instantly absorbed.

Unnoticed by all, Silver Yao was already undergoing changes. Owing to the blood, the white jade stone was transmitting messages to her; her consciousness had returned, but she could not yet break through the invisible wall to awaken.

“Xuanyu! Ai Shuo!” Muye called out Ji Xuanyu’s name, growing more excited upon seeing Ai Shuo.

Gu Xinyu stood beside him; the two were at the highest point of the valley, having hurried back from the rear mountains in anxious haste, only to discover Xuanyu gravely injured and Ai Shuo returned.

Hearing the voices from above, everyone looked up—to the summit of the valley, where two men stood side by side:

On the left was the Ghost Doctor, Muye. Dressed in a dark green robe, his sleeves and hair fluttered in the wind, his face wearing the same wickedly charming smile as Ai Shuo’s. This only enhanced the perfection of his fine features, yet sent chills down the spines of those who saw him.

And on the right—

On the right!

The black-clad figures stared in disbelief! Was that not the very same Dark Envoy who had been stripped of rank by the Master only days ago—Ming Hu? Had he truly betrayed them? How could he be standing with the Master’s enemies?

———End of Chapter———