Volume 2 Chapter 25

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Volume 2 Chapter 25: Desperate Situation

Upon hearing Lv Ziqing’s question, Xu Qingfan’s mood, which had slightly improved, began to deteriorate again.

Perhaps, even though these people were demonized, they might still recover their minds afterward. In that case, are my actions right or wrong?

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s expression darken after hearing his words, Lv Ziqing sighed softly, unsure of what to say. Although he mourned the loss of his fellow disciples and initially held some resentment towards Xu Qingfan, he understood Xu Qingfan’s predicament.

To kill or be killed, what would I choose if I were in the same position?

Finally, Lv Ziqing said hoarsely, "Senior Brother Xu, don’t blame yourself, you had no choice."

Shang Nianyao, standing nearby, also looked somber, but he nodded in agreement with Lv Ziqing’s words, indicating that Xu Qingfan wasn’t to blame for this.

They knew that if Xu Qingfan hadn’t acted decisively, it would have been them who died. Their fellow disciples had already lost their minds and turned into mindless puppets under Naxiu, only knowing how to kill. From the moment they were controlled by the demon orbs, they were as good as dead, merely living corpses, a fate worse than death. In this sense, it’s indeed not Xu Qingfan’s fault.

Hearing Lv Ziqing’s words, Xu Qingfan’s mood slightly improved. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed, and Lv Ziqing and Shang Nianyao’s already pale faces turned even paler because all three of them clearly sensed a sudden, intense fluctuation of Spirit Qi outside the mist.

The five surviving Demon Generals, though they ultimately managed to escape Chomper’s grasp with their formidable strength, were not unscathed. The pain coursing through their bodies continuously provoked their nerves, driving them to rage. Though they had lost their minds, they deduced that the injuries were the result of the three people in the mist, and so, without further delay, they unleashed all their Spirit Qi, preparing to use their most powerful magic to obliterate the people in the mist, leaving no trace.

Suddenly, the five Demon Generals, whose faces had been expressionless, took on a fierce and intimidating look after breaking away from Chomper. Their bodies emitted dazzling lights representing the five elements of Spirit Qi, blinding anyone who looked at them. Their fingers moved rapidly, leaving shadows as they went. Under their control, the lights merged into shape, creating enormous meteors, roaring water dragons, blazing Firebirds, and swarms of golden arrows. Each powerful spell stormed through the mist, causing continuous tremors despite the mystical haze from the Liuling Flower.

"Run quickly!" Sensing the intense Spirit Qi at the edge of the mist, Xu Qingfan urgently shouted.

Without hesitating, he handed Lv Ziqing and Shang Nianyao each a leaf to dispel the Liuling Flower’s mist and, with Lv Ziqing pulling Shang Nianyao along, they dashed towards the direction where the Spirit Qi waves were weakest. They knew that breaking through there was their only chance of survival.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

The group managed only a few steps before an overwhelming barrage of spells tore through the thick mist, targeting them. Xu Qingfan and Lv Ziqing, having exhausted much of their Spirit Qi earlier, couldn’t move as swiftly. Now, dragging Shang Nianyao along further slowed them down, making it impossible to dodge. As the fearsome spells closed in, they despairingly realized they couldn’t even muster enough energy to use their weapons for defense, plunging into a state of utter hopelessness.

"Is this where I’m going to die? Maybe it’s fitting; born in the Southern Wasteland, die in the Southern Wasteland, surrounded by family and the Second Elder. It’s just unfortunate that I have yet to avenge my family’s grievances."

With those devastating spells descending upon him, Xu Qingfan felt surprisingly calm inside, without a trace of fear, only serenity.

Reflecting on his past, from the destruction of his home by the Blue-eyed Cloud-foot Beast to encounters with the Mountain Spirit Wood Monster, and the many Qi deviations while practicing "The Formula of Wither and Flourish," Xu Qingfan realized he had gained much experience teetering on the edge of life and death.

Perhaps, when a person becomes accustomed to facing life and death, they face it with a calm heart.

"I hope Junior Brother Jin remembers to pay respects at the graves for me. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to return the ‘Three Meters Green Silk’ to Master." Facing the oncoming torrent of water, fire, and metal, Xu Qingfan slowly closed his eyes, thinking regretfully.

Lv Ziqing and Shang Nianyao, however, didn’t remain as calm as Xu Qingfan. Seeing the powerful spells coming towards them, it seemed as if the colors of the world changed continuously with the brilliance of the spells, filling their eyes with despair.

On the other side, the battle between Naxiu and Bao Wei Xuan Xiu was drawing to a close.

Facing the overwhelming black demonic energy launched by Naxiu, Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei found their Taoist spells were barely effective, and even their Spirit Qi was being consumed by the endless black mist. Though they had only been fighting Naxiu for a short while, they realized they were already surrounded by an endless black fog, with nothing but darkness in sight. Naxiu was already hidden within the black mist, leaving no trace. The two could only passively resist the relentless attacks from the surrounding black fog, unable to pose any threat to Naxiu.

Finally, Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei gave up on using spells to fight and instead each used their magical artifacts.

Xuan Xiu’s artifact was a pair of giant golden hammers, enormously large, with hammerheads three times the size of Xuan Xiu’s head. Rough estimates suggested both hammers together weighed nearly a thousand pounds. Despite the odd pairing with Xuan Xiu’s small physique, he wielded them effortlessly, clearly using a secret technique to control the hammers. Their power commanded respect. Every time Xuan Xiu attacked with the golden hammers, dazzling golden light erupted, shredding the surrounding black mist, and when the two hammers collided, it created powerful thunder and lightning, not a bit weaker than the lightning spells Xuan Xiu had used earlier!

Bao Wei’s artifact, on the other hand, was a long banner painted with vivid fire clouds. The moment it appeared, the temperature around Bao Wei soared, and the previously dark surroundings turned a dim red. Each time Bao Wei waved the fire cloud banner, burning fire clouds floated from it, incinerating the surrounding black mist, with power not beneath Xuan Xiu’s golden hammers.

In the Cultivation World, there is a saying: battles between lower-level cultivators rely on spells, while those between higher-level cultivators rely on artifacts. This means that lower-level cultivators have obvious gaps in power, making the effectiveness of spells vary greatly, and they cannot wield Earth-level artifacts, so they usually compete with each other using spells. Cultivators at the Condensed Core Stage and above have exceptional power and a deep understanding of spells. Unless the power difference is too great, trying to overpower an opponent with stronger cultivation not only consumes a lot of Spirit Qi but also takes a long time. Therefore, higher-level cultivators typically use advanced artifacts to engage in battle, using the various and ever-changing functions of their artifacts to defeat their opponents.

Judging by the artifacts in Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei’s hands, it was evident they were powerful Earth-level artifacts, not only blocking the endless assaults of the black mist but also swiftly dispelling large amounts of it. As a result, under their combined efforts, the surrounding black mist finally began to thin.

However, Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei showed no sign of happiness and remained vigilant, observing their surroundings cautiously. They knew that Naxiu, who had almost mastered the magic orb, would not be easily defeated.

As expected, when Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei used their magical tools and the black fog could no longer threaten them, Naxiu stopped using the black fog to attack them. Instead, he slowly withdrew the black fog back into his body. The black mist surrounding Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei surged upwards into the sky, gradually thinning until it vanished, revealing Naxiu’s figure once more.

Naxiu floated silently above them, a look of extreme satisfaction on his face as the black mist returned to his body.

Suddenly, Naxiu’s expression shifted slightly as he looked towards Xu Qingfan and the others, just in time to see his Twelve Demon Generals swallowed by Xu Qingfan’s Chomper. His face grew even darker, while Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu couldn’t help but show delight. But when the five strongest Demon Generals broke free from Chomper and fiercely attacked Xu Qingfan and the others in the mist, their expressions changed drastically again.

Seeing Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu prepare to rescue Xu Qingfan and the others, Naxiu’s powerful voice echoed through the heavens.

"Since those little shrimps are finished, you two little fish should also meet your end."

As his words fell, a thick black mist again emitted from Naxiu’s body. This time, however, it did not attack Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei directly but instead formed into various demonic creatures in the air—serpents, beasts, ghosts—appearing almost solid. After taking shape, these mist-formed demons emitted terrifying shrieks and launched an assault on Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei.

Faced with these demonic creatures made from the black mist, Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu found themselves unable to break free, unable to assist Xu Qingfan and the others, and could only watch as the Five Demon Generals’ powerful spells approached Xu Qingfan’s group.

As the two became increasingly anxious, Naxiu, seeming bored with the game, waved his hand, splitting the magic orb into two black beams, silently striking towards Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu. Distracted by the need to watch over Xu Qingfan and deal with the surrounding demons, Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu realized the orb’s attack only when it was upon them. Startled, they instinctively used their tools to block it. Though they managed to fend off the orb’s ambush, they were horrified to find their tools suddenly lost control and swiftly fell to the ground after clashing with the magic orb.

At this moment, both Xuan Xiu and Bao Wei were severely drained of Spirit Qi, making it impossible to control their magical items. Faced with endless attacks from the monsters around them, they were utterly overwhelmed and in chaos.

At this time, both Bao Wei and Xuan Xiu, as well as Xu Qingfan and Lv Ziqing Shang Nianyao, found themselves in a dire situation.