Translator: CinderTL
"Fellow Daoist Xue Mei, since you are so well-informed about the Three-Corpse Dog, you must already have a plan to escape, right?"
Compared to Xue Cangqiong's anger, Gui Ni appeared much calmer.
He did not flee into the cavern hall with the other three but instead stopped at the edge of the corridor, standing alone to block the Three-Corpse Dog.
As a ghost cultivator, Gui Ni's techniques were countered by the Three-Corpse Dog's Thunder Magic. Yet, he dared to face the beast alone, naturally because he had something to rely on.
Suddenly, the aura around him surged dramatically.
Ghost Qi surged forth like a raging torrent, rushing toward the Three-Corpse Dog.
The Three-Corpse Dog repeatedly unleashed Thunder Magic, but against the endless flow of Ghost Qi, it struggled to break through Gui Ni's blockade.
"Peak Nascent Soul!"
Song Wen and Xue Mei, who were behind him, were instantly struck with shock.
Ever since Song Wen encountered Gui Ni outside the Divine Blood Hall, Gui Ni had always appeared mediocre, forming a stark contrast with Xue Cangqiong, who was close to him.
The latter was sharp and aggressive, always showing his dominant side.
Of course, the most shocked among the three was Xue Cangqiong.
He had known Gui Ni for many years. Although they were not bosom friends who trusted each other with their lives, they had fought side by side, faced dangers together, and even saved each other's lives.
He had thought he knew Gui Ni well, but in reality, he didn't even know the man's true cultivation level.
"He's actually at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage," Xue Cangqiong muttered to himself.
A sense of dread arose in Xue Cangqiong's heart. If it weren't for the Three-Corpse Dog, which possessed the strength of a peak Nascent Soul, Gui Ni might never have revealed his true cultivation.
If one day, he and Gui Ni were to have a falling out, he might not even know how he died.
As for Gui Ni's revealed strength, Xue Mei seemed rather pleased. She spoke rapidly,
"The Three-Corpse Dog's three heads can respectively use Thunder Magic, Azure Nether Profound Fire, and Yellow Zenith Heavy Water—three types of Taoist Arts."
"Fellow Daoist Gui Ni, although you are a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, you must not be careless. Hold off the Three-Corpse Dog for a moment while I create Illusion Clones. Then, Fellow Daoist Xue Cangqiong can use Blood Path Spells to infuse these clones with blood energy. With the clones' vigorous blood energy, they should be able to attract the Three-Corpse Dog's attention. We can then seize the opportunity to escape."
Gui Ni agreed without hesitation, "Let's proceed as Fellow Daoist Xue Mei suggests."
With Gui Ni's approval, Song Wen and Xue Cangqiong naturally had no objections.
Moments later, nine Illusion Clones, identical in appearance to Xue Mei but exuding a dense blood energy, appeared in the cavern hall.
Seeing this, Gui Ni retreated into the cavern hall.
The Three-Corpse Dog followed closely, charging into the hall as well.
In an instant, an Illusion Clone that had been lying in ambush near the corridor exit rushed forward.
The left head of the Three-Corpse Dog, closest to the Illusion Clone, opened its mouth and spat out a yellow water spear reeking of foul stench, which shot directly at the clone.
The Illusion Clone was pierced through by the water spear and instantly disintegrated.
The yellow water spear then struck the ground of the cavern hall, creating a bottomless hole.
At that moment, another Illusion Clone flashed nearby.
The Three-Corpse Dog's attention was immediately drawn, and the Yellow Zenith Heavy Water, which had already penetrated deep into the ground, flew out, tracing an arc in the air before shooting toward this new Illusion Clone.
Another Illusion Clone was destroyed!
However, dozens of feet away, another Illusion Clone appeared.
The Three-Corpse Dog seemed somewhat enraged. Its four limbs suddenly exerted force, and its body leaped high into the air, pouncing toward the Illusion Clone.
Seeing that the Three-Corpse Dog was distracted by the Illusion Clone and had moved away from the corridor entrance, Xue Mei immediately urged her other illusionary clones to pounce on the Three-Corpse Dog, continuing to divert its attention.
Meanwhile, the four of them took the opportunity to conceal their auras and fled into the corridor.
"Roar!"
As soon as the four moved, they once again attracted the attention of the Three-Corpse Dog. The head on its right opened its mouth and spewed out a pillar of blue flame.
The flame pillar shot into the corridor, instantly filling the entire passage with raging fire.
The flames, like a ferocious fire dragon, swept toward the four of them.
Deep within the corridor.
Since Song Wen and Xue Mei had entered the corridor a step ahead, they were now in the lead.
However, Xue Cangqiong and Gui Ni were rapidly closing in on Song Wen and Xue Mei from behind.
Xue Cangqiong glanced at Xue Mei, who was not far ahead, and his crimson flying sword suddenly slashed out, aiming straight for Xue Mei's back.
Having just escaped the cavern hall and gained a sliver of hope for survival, Xue Cangqiong once again harbored murderous intent toward Xue Mei.
Xue Mei activated a bronze bell, which expanded with the wind, instantly sealing off the entire corridor.
"Clang!"
The flying sword struck the bronze bell, which couldn't withstand the immense force of the sword and was sent flying, crashing into Xue Mei's back.
"Pfft!"
Xue Mei spat out a mouthful of blood, her body staggering and nearly falling.
It was only because Xue Cangqiong had deliberately intended to spare Xue Mei's life, using her to delay the Three-Corpse Dog, that she had a chance to survive. Otherwise, the power of that sword strike would have been several times stronger.
Song Wen, who was just a step ahead of Xue Mei, suddenly activated a green talisman.
A surge of green energy surrounded Song Wen, and his speed increased dramatically.
Originally, Song Wen's speed was far inferior to Xue Cangqiong's.
But in that instant, his speed surpassed Xue Cangqiong's.
At the same time, he didn't forget to use his Spiritual Power to envelop Xue Mei, intending to take her with him as they fled.
Xue Cangqiong's expression turned cold, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
"Hmph! Overestimating yourself. A mere early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator dares to try and save someone in front of me."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crimson flying sword shot out again.
This time, the sword was aimed at Song Wen.
A flash of light appeared between Song Wen's eyebrows, and nine transparent blades materialized, shooting straight toward Xue Cangqiong behind him.
"Spiritual Sense Attack!"
Xue Cangqiong's expression changed slightly.
He felt a sense of dread from the nine Spiritual Sense Blades.
If he were struck by them, his soul would be damaged, and he would ultimately die at the hands of the pursuing Three-Corpse Dog.
In a narrow encounter, the brave prevail!
Xue Cangqiong didn't bother to defend against the nine Spiritual Sense Blades. Instead, he focused all his energy on the flying sword. As long as he killed Song Wen, the nine Focused Spirit Stabs would naturally dissipate.
The crimson flying sword's power surged, emitting a dazzling red light.
Suddenly, a thick mist of blood emerged from Song Wen's body, forming a dense blood wall that blocked the entire corridor.
The flying sword struck the blood wall, which immediately disintegrated, turning into a torrent of blood that surged through the corridor.
However, the flying sword was also hindered by the blood wall, its speed and power greatly reduced.
Before the flying sword could strike Song Wen, the nine Spiritual Sense Blades pierced Xue Cangqiong's head.
"Ah..."
A piercing scream escaped Xue Cangqiong's mouth.
The excruciating pain, originating from the depths of his soul, caused him to lose control of his body. Combined with his high-speed flight, he crashed heavily to the ground.
"Thud, thud, thud..."
Dull thumping sounds echoed continuously.
Xue Cangqiong tumbled like a rolling gourd, crashing back and forth in the corridor.
Seeing the green flames behind him drawing closer, if nothing was done, Xue Cangqiong would likely perish in the inferno.
Gui Ni suddenly released a surge of Spiritual Power, wrapping it around Xue Cangqiong and fleeing with him.
(End of the Chapter)
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