Chapter 198: Death?

The sword light streaked through the air with incredible speed, so fast that even Gan Zhi could only catch a fleeting silver line.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even have time to feel shock before a sharp pain hit his chest.

The staff-sword, Chou Shen Zhang, had forcefully pierced through several of his passive skills' enhancements and embedded itself into his Zongshi body.

Clang—

The contact between flesh and blade produced a sound like weapons clashing, leaving the people around them momentarily stunned.

What kind of body is this?

Lei Shuixing's face was full of disbelief; he never imagined there could be something even his Chou Shen Zhang couldn't penetrate.

As Xu Xiaoshou had thought, this was one of the renowned swords of the continent, the twenty-one Mingjian!

The staff-sword, Chou Shen Zhang!

"So, it's the Zongshi body...?" Lei Shuixing felt it was absurd. Was this unreliable guy in front of him really the legendary Zongshi body?

But what else could withstand a strike from a Mingjian?

Especially since this strike wasn't even Chou Shen Zhang's true attack method!

In contrast, Xu Xiaoshou was astonished by the thin sword's speed, which far exceeded his expectations and even bypassed his Zongshi Min Jie.

"A Mingjian..."

He became even more convinced of the sword's extraordinary nature, as it was the first weapon he'd seen that his Fan Zhen couldn't fully repel.

Chou Shen Zhang was extremely slender, and even with his Zongshi body holding it back, it still sank in deeply. Xu Xiaoshou hadn't felt anything at first, but suddenly, a hiss came from behind him.

"Tong..."

"Received curse, passive value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Mu Zixi!

This little girl was far too unobtrusive; she'd transformed into a wooden snake and coiled around his back without any weight at all. She must have been stabbed awake.

Glancing down, he saw only the sword's hilt visible—it wasn't just a stab; she'd likely been pierced straight through!

Mu Zixi's face showed signs of struggle, her eyes still tightly shut, but the Sheng Ming Ling Yin in her mouth kept her from dying on the spot.

Instead, the pain jolted her out of her coma, and her eyes finally burst open as if breaking free from a nightmare.

"Huff—"

A wave of hot breath escaped as Mu Zixi blinked, her eyes full of innocent confusion.

With a sweep of her spiritual sense, she instantly grasped the situation, though it only left her more puzzled.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what happened?"

Xu Xiaoshou: "You were stabbed."

Mu Zixi: ???

"Don't believe me? Look down!"

Since she was on his back, she'd have to peer over his shoulder, but as soon as she moved, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

It hurt so much that she grimaced.

"Xu Xiaoshou! Aren't you going to pull it out?"

"Heh, I wish I could..."

Xu Xiaoshou realized this thing wasn't as simple as he'd thought. Managing to hold it with his Zongshi body was already impressive, but pulling out this enchanted sword...

Unless he killed the blind man in front of him!

As he pondered, he noticed Mu Zixi behind him had suddenly gone quiet. Using his Gan Zhi, he saw she'd been completely captivated by Ye Xiaotian.

More precisely, by his black-and-white pupils.

"Don't stare! Hold on tight and be careful!"

Gripping the staff-sword in front of him, Xu Xiaoshou struggled to keep it from going deeper, but Lei Shuixing wasn't about to back down. With a flick of his fingers, Chou Shen Zhang inched further in.

"I feel like I can undo it..." Mu Zixi suddenly spoke up, her attention still fixed on Ye Xiaotian's black-and-white pupils.

Xu Xiaoshou froze. Was she joking?

Even the dean's Wang Zuo power couldn't remove it on its own—how could she?

Lei Shuixing was equally stunned by her words. After a long pause, he sneered: "Heh, you two are so..."

But before he could finish, Mu Zixi's eyes widened, and the black-and-white mist in Ye Xiaotian's pupils began to dissipate bit by bit.

It lasted less than a second before blood tears streamed from Mu Zixi's eyes, shocking Xu Xiaoshou.

"Don't force it!"

Mu Zixi winced and shut her eyes tightly; she felt a throbbing pain in her head again, but this time, she clearly sensed the source...

Her eyes!

Lei Shuixing was utterly astonished. This was the exclusive Shen Mo Tong of the Lei family—how could this little girl undo it?

"Who are you?!"

His whole body trembled. Could she be from the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, another beneficiary of that event?

No, that didn't seem right!

Then, only one possibility remained...

Just then, Ye Xiaotian's body shuddered, interrupting Lei Shuixing's thoughts.

Clearly, this white-haired child had been struggling all along, needing only an external trigger—and Mu Zixi had provided it.

In an instant, as his eyes flew open, the world seemed to change color. The Wang Zuo's aura pressed down on the entire sky, cracking the ground beneath.

Ye Xiaotian's eyes burned with anger. With one move, he sealed the space across several li around them.

"Since you've come, stay here!"

Lei Shuixing quickly withdrew his hand, summoning back Chou Shen Zhang; he realized the situation was spiraling out of control.

He never expected the tide to turn because of a little girl—it was completely unforeseen.

Without the hostages to restrain him, who could stop the dean now?

He was like a beast unleashed!

"Dean!" Xu Xiaoshou exclaimed joyfully. With Ye Xiaotian awake, the rest could be left to him.

Could he finally escape unscathed?

A harsh cracking sound echoed through the void.

Without even turning his head, Xu Xiaoshou's Gan Zhi detected that the Jian Qi Yu Shi had shattered. From Lei Shuixing's fist, a magnificent and terrifying sword energy erupted once more.

Its speed was so horrifying that by the time Xu Xiaoshou noticed it, it was already inches from his forehead!

"Watch out!" Ye Xiaotian roared, flexing his ten fingers.

The advantage of space power—ignoring distance—was on full display. He instantly teleported Xu Xiaoshou and Mu Zixi to the rear of the sword energy!

Only then did a black gash appear in the void, its terrifying suction pulling at Xu Xiaoshou.

With a wave of his hand, Ye Xiaotian sealed the space, repairing it instantly.

"Holy crap!"

Xu Xiaoshou's clothes were soaked with cold sweat. Only now did he truly understand how recklessly suicidal his earlier actions had been.

This was no attack he could handle at his current level—he couldn't even react in time!

Ye Xiaotian let out a breath of relief; he hadn't dared to redirect the sword energy, as the risk was too great.

If breaking the space caused Xu Xiaoshou's immediate death, he'd face the wrath of Sang Lao!

And besides, Mu Zixi was on Xu Xiaoshou's back.

His two disciples...

As everyone else sighed in relief, Lei Shuixing smirked.

"I told you, this sword energy can lock onto its target."

Almost simultaneously, as if to prove his words, the tearing white sword energy doubled back, hurtling toward Xu Xiaoshou.

Instinctively, Xu Xiaoshou shuddered and flung Mu Zixi off his back.

The girl's face was filled with terror as vines shot out from her hand, trying to coil back around him.

But it was too late...

Ye Xiaotian hadn't anticipated this twist either; Lei Shuixing's earlier warning had been forgotten amid the chaos—who would guard against such a thing?

He reached out to teleport the lanky figure again, but...

It was already too late!

The white sword energy rapidly expanded in Xu Xiaoshou's pupils, just like his own sword energy, its speed impossible to evade.

All he could do was weakly raise his hand—a futile gesture?

The sword energy whistled through, and in that moment, all sound vanished!