E book 5: Chapter 45: Cracked, however Unbroken

Crushing, heavy, darkish.

Bi De lay on his again, respiration out in ragged gasping pants. A defend of moonlight flicked so near Bi De’s face his beak touched it, holding again large boulders. His Qi strained, urgent up towards the rocks unsettled earth.

Trapped, trapped, trapped.

At nighttime, by no means to see the sky once more.

His biggest worry realized.

He may hear his beating coronary heart thundering. He pushed and strained towards the earth. The rocks started to crumble beneath his energy, however as an alternative of reduction, the burden immediately intensified, the boulders round him groaning. The sunshine of the defend started to dim, he was dropping management. The crushing earth closed in. He couldn’t breathe.

No.

No, he wouldn’t die right here.

He wouldn’t die alone, and he wouldn’t give into the worry.

Bi De sucked in a breath and held it. The thundering of his coronary heart began to sluggish, the lunar defend matched with the beating of his coronary heart and held.

No, this might not be the tip of Fa Bi De. Not when he had a lot to do. Not when his comrades nonetheless wanted his assist.

He let loose the breath he was holding. Sluggish and regular. He closed his eyes and sucked in one other purposeful breath. It hitched when the rocks above groaned and shifted. His coronary heart began to beat quicker once more, to his frustration.

His Qi would return along with his breath, however he couldn’t focus. He wanted that cool calm. Worry was his enemy as a lot as crushing rock.

He wanted to calm himself. He wanted management. He solid round for one thing, something that will assist him. The defend dimmed much more. His meridians burned.

He had simply sufficient Qi. Simply sufficient Qi for one final plan.

Bi De gathered a fraction of his fading Qi and despatched it into the earth.

The defend dimmed so low it was nearly invisible, and Bi De closed his eyes. He solid his thoughts again to his days on Fa Ram. He remembered his dwelling, realizing peace, and realizing the heartbeat of the land beneath his dwelling.

He solid his thoughts to absolutely the peace he felt as his Qi touched the earth.

The strain of the rocks pale as Bi De despatched his spirit into the bottom. The Dragon Veins had been shut right here; he touched the deep wellspring of power and felt the heartbeat of the world. The power right here was not like the ability of Tianlan, comforting and type. It was an historic and huge factor that felt chilly and flowed sluggishly, encompassing an space that boggled the thoughts. Some could have been unnerved by its enormity, but it was comforting to Bi De. Although it might be callous and merciless at occasions, the earth supported each residing factor. The world was alive, with its personal heartbeat.

The heart beat of the world’s heartbeat soothed Bi De’s fears. He gave it the little thanks he may, the light move of its winter Qi a balm to his soul.

He would get out of this. He would get dwelling quickly. It was a disgrace that that they had missed the Solstice Pageant this 12 months, and the giving of the presents. Tigu most likely wouldn’t let him hear the tip of it—as she rightly ought to. House earlier than the solstice? How silly of him to assume that, to vow that.

He would fulfill the intent although. Even when their return wouldn’t be in time, they might. All of them would return dwelling.

The beat of the world’s coronary heart targeted his ideas and his reminiscence of dwelling saved the worry at bay. It saved his Qi transferring.

He breathed, sluggish and regular.

They might be enjoying the drums in Hong Yaowu proper now. The drums that had first despatched him on his journey. He may nearly hear them, the Dan, Dan, da-Dan. He imagined the dance, the way in which Xian’s soul surged, the way in which the Qi gathered within the air. His personal Qi bounced and hopped with the reminiscence. The sound rang in his ears.

… dan, da-dan.

Bi De paused.

Dan, Dan, da-Dan.

He…he was listening to the drums…?

Bi De opened his eyes. He may hear them. The drums of Hong Yaowu thundering, thundering, thundering, louder and louder—

One thing moved. One thing titanic. One thing that dwarfed even Tianlan totally. The ocean of Qi that flowed by means of the Dragon Veins moved, rolling in just like the tide. It shaped into an infinite wave inching nearer and nearer till it crested above Bi De. A formless mass with two glowing eyes took form, peering down at Bi De.

He regarded up in awe because the sound of the drums pulsed in his ears and the huge Qi pulsed in time to the dance of Hong Yaowu that Bi De’s personal Qi replicated unconsciously .

Was… was this an Earth Spirit?!

Bi De regarded upon it because it loomed over him, earlier than remembering his manners and bowing.

…curiosity. Like thump thump, thump thump good.

The response was easy but infinitely complicated. It was not a phrase, however a sense. The Earth Spirit regarded down at Bi De, its gaze seeing, however unseeing.

Extra intuition than thought. A tendril of its frozen Qi reached out and touched Bi De.

The facility was overwhelming. The transient contact almost snuffed Bi De out. Solely his expertise with Tianlan spared him.

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The thump thump woke it up.

Thump thump sounded neat. The sound pulsed and beat type of like an earthquake however completely different. Attention-grabbing. It preferred thump thump.

Thump thump made it shake. Its waves reached deep into its physique. It felt humorous.

It wished to know extra, however thump thump was far-off. By way of the minimize veins—to a spot that ought to have been lifeless.

It thought-about this. It couldn’t attain the thump thump.

Disappointing.

It turned to put down, drained once more, however one other sound made it paused.

The one constructive was that Elder Shenhe was starting to stir. They had been within the final stretch now. Ri Zu simply wanted somewhat bit extra—

That was when Ri Zu gasped. The air within the room went from stifling and filled with blood to sharp and chilly. The ground partially froze over. Her flagging Qi stumbled and sparked as one thing titanic brushed towards her, some half deep in her core thundering to the beat of an unheard drum.

The Qi surged and Ri Zu bent it to her will. She targeted it into her arms and pressed it to Elder Shenhe’s dantian. The shock of Ri Zu’s Qi made the girl jerk, after which her eyes snapped open.

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Zang Shenhe had been conscious, however not conscious. Numb.

She may really feel her physique. She may really feel blades chopping her open once more. She may really feel the poison fading.

A sudden freezing chilly rammed into her guts.

Shenhe’s Qi roared in response, coursing by means of her physique and punching by means of the final of the suppressors. She was on her ft right away, her eyes locking onto the unfamiliar type her sudden motion had thrown backwards. Large, darkish eyes regarded upon her with a touch of wariness as Shenhe’s intent pinned her, earlier than a grim smile broke out on her face. The lady sat beside spikes of black chitin—damaged black chitin. Faraway from her restraints, Shenhe felt… good, higher than good. There have been sounds of fight coming from outdoors the room.

“Elder Shenhe!”

The acquainted voice of Zhou Yingwen’s voice yelled out. The disciple was on one knee. His physique bore many bandaged wounds.

Her thoughts raced piecing collectively the chances. An ally? A rescue? Very seemingly. Her eyes refocused on Disciple Yingwen. By the books. No nonsense. He was the type of man to clarify shortly and overlook blunt instructions.

“Disciple Zhou Yingwen, report,” Shenhe commanded, her voice tough.

“We’ve got mounted a rescue try with highly effective allies, Elder Shenhe! Nevertheless, the state of affairs is dire!” the person responded.

Her deduction confirmed, Shenhe instantly began transferring in direction of the sound of fight. She would have extra questions later however these may wait. They’d clearly spent many sources on getting her again into the struggle, delay was unacceptable.

Shenhe swept into the corridor away from her jail. A chubby disciple that regarded like a member of the Che Clan was on the far finish. He was caught between two demons. One had pierced his shoulder, and the opposite was bearing down upon him. The person was not retreating, nonetheless, as a result of he was utilizing his physique as a defend for the disciples who had been nonetheless unconscious.

He was not certainly one of hers, which meant he was a part of the rescue occasion. A commendable disciple; he should have been the delight of his household. It was a disgrace Shenhe had such little contact with one of many Sect’s longest-serving households—however because the Patriarch stated, they didn’t want to see her for her tainted blood.

As at all times, her Aunt, the scum, brought about her hassle.

Shenhe took a step ahead and killed each demons earlier than persevering with on. She slew 4 extra demons that had been attacking her forces from the purge mission and entered the primary hallway. Demonic corpses stuffed the ground, however much more of the beasts pressed ahead, roaring and screeching, overrunning the disciples.

A Spirit Beast of all issues, a Thunderhoof, was slumped towards the wall. Fenxian was pinned to the bottom with an arm by means of his chest, nonetheless scuffling with blood pouring from his mouth. Outrider Shao Heng, a disciple she recognised—and one other member of the rescue occasion—was earlier than the Spirit Beast and within the strategy of getting pulled down as nicely, a spear of chitin by means of his leg. A girl utilizing a heavy sword roared, her eyes manic and determined. One arm was limp at her facet, she had twelve spines piercing her again, but her swordsmanship was impressed.

Shenhe immediately preferred the woman.

The ultimate member was a person who had a streak of blonde hair and disturbingly vulpine eyes. His sword was shiny white, and regarded acquainted.

Shenhe took all of this in inside moments. She raised her hand.

[Fulmination Arts: Gold Wire.]

The room burned. The demons died, and all that was left had been the stupefied disciples staring again at her. Hope blossomed of their eyes.

Yingwen and the Non secular Physician dashed into the room behind her, their eyes huge.

“Disciples, you may have this Zang Shenhe’s reward for persevering. Actually, you’re a credit score to the Shouded Mountain Sect, to your energy is above all,” Shenhe stated, silently expressing her seriousness together with her Qi. “Nevertheless, there shall be time for gratitude later. I require data of our foes. Report.”

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“Sleep now,” Jingsheng whispered, his eyes closed, clearly savouring his victory. “Sleep. Dream of nice issues,” his Qi pressed into Shen Yu’s personal. He tried to drive slumber onto Shen Yu.

A imaginative and prescient began to swim into existence, a pleasing dream conjured by this bastard’s insidious Qi. He noticed his spouse and his son, each alive, and beckoning him. Inviting him to relaxation, and let go of the ache.

Shen Yu felt his rage spike. Such a ploy wouldn’t have labored even when Shen Yu’s cultivation had been damaged. That chapter of his life was inscribed onto his blade. It was not one thing even the strongest cultivator of the subsequent realm may hope to avoid, or use towards him. He started to pressure towards his bonds.

Agony was an previous buddy to Shen Yu. He knew it nicely. He had acquired 100 thousand blows that had damaged lesser males—but out of all of the harm he had suffered in his life, the one factor that harm greater than the spines of darkness piercing him was the day he needed to kill his personal son.

His opponent’s talent with [Internal Impurity Tremor] was with out query. Its use was so chic it had tricked Shen Yu’s personal defences.

The assault was so excellent and so sudden that it might have defeated Shen Yu. It ought to have defeated Shen Yu. If he had any extra Demonic Qi in his system than he had had at that second…

Shen Yu would have been unable to maneuver. Unable to assume. This battle can be over.

However the Qi that had been eliminated was sufficient.

Aided by his grandson’s meals, which helped to grind away on the demonic Qi, and thru Meiling and Ri Zu’s ministrations… it tipped the scales.

Good meals and a formation crafted by a mortal tipped the scales in a battle between these within the Imperial Realm.

Shen Yu had no phrases.

He had no phrases for the gratitude and delight that was filling his coronary heart.

Jingsheng’s smile froze as he felt the strike. He opened his eyes, and met Shen Yu’s personal.

A defensive talisman screamed and broke. Jingsheng was impaled by Shen Yu’s blade. The large black spines in Shen Yu’s physique ripped and tore, however he fought by means of the ache.

A foot smashed into Shen Yu’s personal chest, and he went skidding backwards.

“How—?” the person demanded, his face twisting as Shen Yu rose to his ft. A shadow that Ri Zu had given him, hidden beneath his garments, positioned tiny paws to his pores and skin. Inexperienced gentle soothed the ache… however he didn’t want it. His foe had had his likelihood.

“I believe you simply received a bit unfortunate,” Shen Yu retorted as he rose to his ft.

Cracked, however not damaged.