Chapter 1190: No Airtime

In the brief moment that Zhuque furrowed his brows, he suddenly realized that everyone around him had sprung into action.

"Chuan Suo" Cui Shisi placed the ring in his hand on the ground and positioned another ring under Zhuque's feet, seemingly making some preparations.

At that instant, Qian Wu closed his eyes and charged forward quickly. From afar, Feng Shiqi activated "Bao Shan," causing Zhuque's eyes to sting intensely with pain.

The moment Zhuque lost his vision, "Jing Feng" Qiu Ershi hurled a flying knife from a distance. The knife was swept up by a fierce wind, hurtling rapidly toward Qian Wu and Zhuque.

Zhuque sensed the danger and tried to dodge on the spot by using "Yue Qian," but he discovered that his left hand was firmly bound to the ground. It seemed that performing "Yue Qian" would require dragging the entire earth along with it.

As his resolve wavered slightly, Di Zhu finally gained his freedom. His body slowly collapsed, and Zhou Liu quickly caught him.

Seizing the opportunity, Qian Wu grabbed Zhuque's wrist. Upon gripping it, he felt it was completely different from touching Xuanwu.

He clearly sensed that he had hold of something substantial, but there was no time to think about it. Qian Wu snatched the incoming knife from mid-air and, in the blink of an eye, thrust it toward his own carotid artery.

In the next second, cracks appeared simultaneously on Qian Wu and Zhuque's necks, and a spray of blood erupted from Qian Wu's carotid artery.

Qian Wu released his grip on Zhuque's hand and dropped to one knee.

"Chuan Suo" Cui Shisi immediately reached his hand into the ring in front of him, and another hand extended from the ring at Zhuque's feet.

Qian Wu was prepared. Seeing the hand emerge from the ground, he quickly stepped forward and grasped it.

The wound on his neck began to heal visibly, and his body transformed into that of a woman. Once able to move, Qian Wu swiftly retreated, putting distance between himself and Zhuque.

All the "Mao" nearby frowned at the sight of Zhuque—

Because Zhuque had started bleeding.

A thick, black fluid slowly oozed from the wound on his neck, as viscous as oil that had been sitting for ages.

The entire area fell silent, not even requiring "Jian Mo" to be activated—there was already no sound to be heard.

As everyone knew, Zhuque could not self-heal... which meant all wounds inflicted on him were permanent.

"What's going on...?" Bai Jiu stared at the massive gash on Zhuque's neck and swallowed hard. "Have we actually hurt Zhuque...?"

Zhuque turned his neck to one side and slowly raised his hand to cover his neck, his eyes opening wide with considerable anger.

"Such... naughty behavior..."

The hoarse voice emerged from Zhuque's mouth, and then he knelt down halfway, as if he had lost all his strength.

Zhou Liu, supporting Di Zhu, looked incredibly in Zhuque's direction.

Zhuque's neck had been slashed...?

Countless questions swirled in Zhou Liu's mind. Although she had long known that Zhuque's power was inferior to Xuanwu's, she hadn't expected the difference to be so vast.

Could a simple "Shuang Sheng Hua" take Zhuque's life?

"..."

Di Zhu murmured something slowly beside Zhou Liu's ear, but due to excessive blood loss, his voice was almost inaudible.

"Xiao Zhu?" Zhou Liu lowered her head. "Are you okay...?"

"No 'Zhi Kong'..."

"What?" Zhou Liu leaned down, bringing her ear closer to Di Zhu's mouth. "What did you say?"

"'Yue Qian'... 'Duo Xin Po'... 'Hun Qian'..." Di Zhu whispered in a very faint voice, "And one that's very distant... 'Hui Xiang'... I don't know..."

"Distant? What do you mean by distant?" Zhou Liu shook Di Zhu, realizing he was on the verge of passing out. She then slapped his face hard with her palm.

"Tsk! Xiao Zhu, don't you dare fall asleep! If you sleep, you're done for!"

With that, she looked up toward Qian Wu.

"Ge Wu! We're in trouble here!"

Qian Wu, taking advantage of Zhuque's immobility, glanced back at his companions to signal them, then hurried over to Zhou Liu's side.

The group behind Qian Wu immediately understood his intent. Wu Shisan, Yun Shijiu, Qiu Ershi, and Liu Ershiyi each drew their daggers and rushed forward, stabbing at Zhuque while he was still unable to move.

To everyone's disbelief, the knives plunged into Zhuque's body.

His heart, neck, and abdomen—all vital spots—were left with wounds. Even if he hadn't died from the first strike, he surely couldn't survive now.

Thick, black blood began to flow from Zhuque's pale body. Those standing closest felt something odd and sniffed the air, all frowning.

The blood smelled... utterly foul.

At that moment, Li Jingguan and Su Shan appeared behind the group. They hadn't expected to arrive just as the battle was ending.

"Ge Si!" Bai Jiu called from a distance. "Take his heart!"

"Ah! Got it!"

Li Jingguan hurried forward and, while the others were still attacking, reached into his pants pocket. Whether from his training or his "Hui Xiang" growing stronger, he could now almost reliably pull out an enemy's heart.

A black heart appeared in Li Jingguan's hand. Before they could celebrate, a putrid stench wafted from it.

The smell was so overpowering that Li Jingguan and Su Shan nearly vomited.

Qian Wu brought Luo Shiyi over to Di Zhu and, without a word, duplicated Luo Shiyi's body onto Di Zhu.

"Even though this means Di Zhu will lose 'Man Li'... it's still better than dying..." Qian Wu wiped the sweat from his forehead, then pinched Di Zhu's philtrum. Di Zhu slowly opened his eyes at that moment.

"Xiao Zhu!" Zhou Liu cupped Di Zhu's face in her hands, noticing that although his body had become that of an adult, his head was still that of a pig.

"That feisty woman..." Di Zhu opened his eyes and instantly recalled where he was. "Oh no... Watch out for Zhuque..."

"What's the problem exactly...?" Zhou Liu asked, puzzled. "No 'Zhi Kong', but there's 'Hun Qian'... Even so, Zhuque still can't heal his wounds."

Qian Wu furrowed his brows, about to speak, when he suddenly heard several dull thuds. He turned to look and saw Zhuque's body floating up at an eerily unnatural angle. Zhuque tore through the vines binding his hand and, spewing black blood everywhere, charged at the people in front of him.

The tremendous impact snapped "Jing Feng" Qiu Ershi's body in two, and the others were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground.

Qian Wu slowly stood up and gazed at Zhuque, who was swaying in the sky like a fluttering banner.

"No 'Zhi Kong'... yet he can fly..." Qian Wu pondered for a moment. "Could it be 'Kui Lei'?"

But what did "Hun Qian" mean?