E book 5: Chapter 37: Darkish Tide Rising
The demons roared as they charged ahead, their our bodies filling the corridor with a tide of chitin and muscled flesh.
A crescent of silver met them. Three have been bisected, falling in halves. The fourth raised its arms and misplaced each of them, however the darkish chitin blunted the blow sufficient that the silver blade solely went midway by its chest. It didn’t pause or sluggish because it continued its mad sprint, stepping between its fallen comrades—two of whom saved scrabbling forwards, utilizing their arms, now that their legs have been lacking, and solely transferring barely slower.
Black blades burst out of the stumps of the creature’s arms because it reached for its opponent, intent on his finish.
Its eyes failed to trace the shadow it had been reaching for as Bi De appeared behind it. Its head was separated from its shoulders. Bi De didn’t land, as a substitute snapping his wings, his spurs glowing with gentle.
Those nonetheless clawing their method ahead stilled because the Moon’s Fangs descended. The following rank equally fell because the rooster moved by them, slicing all of them down. They reached for him. Tentacles burst out of their backs that aimed to grab and snag. Assaults that ought to have been deadly have been shrugged off, because the beasts did their finest to tug him down even in demise.
Their abilities have been missing. Their would possibly was missing. However his respiration was nonetheless off. Utilizing that method took a lot from his reserves, however there was no actual selection within the matter. His foe had been two Phases above him and had wanted to die—quick. Nevertheless, whereas he didn’t want lengthy to get well himself, he nonetheless wanted a while.
His newest enemies had appeared simply as Bi De was making an attempt to verify his foe was lifeless for good, and such was the ferocity of the preliminary assault that Bi De had been pressured to retreat briefly, giving floor to not be overrun.
The beast had a gap by him and hadn’t been clearly regenerating, however that was no certainty with these items.
Bi De hadn’t had a second’s respite since.
However… as a substitute of retreating and dragging the assaults in direction of his comrades, Bi De had purposely slowed his tempo. By Bi De’s personal design, the battle had taken him fairly removed from the jail. It could hold this part of synthetic demons right here, and hopefully draw extra away from the jail. The little shadow rat with him had not tried to warn him of something but both.
So Bi De saved preventing. He flared his Qi, to let the enemy know he was close to. He opened his mouth and roared his problem.
The demons would come, and they might break upon him.
Certainly, his prayers have been answered, because the hallway was as soon as extra crammed with black chitin and snarling beasts.
Standing alone towards the darkness, the moon shone on.
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The thunder of chitin-clad toes. The wheezing, rasping breaths. The snarls. The odor of blood. The creeping terror that crawled up his backbone that he pressured down with each breath.
Fenxian had been in a state of affairs far too just like this barely a month in the past. He remembered the halls of the opposite demonic cultivator base after the explosion had gone off.
They’d misplaced then. They’d been hunted like animals by the snow. Yingwen had misplaced his legs and Fenxian had almost died too, his scalp and face burned right down to the bone.
Had he been saved by the desire of Heavens, or had he defied his destined demise? Yingwen all the time favored to consider that form of factor, and Fenxian was lengthy used to Yingwen’s musings. Earlier than the Azure Hills, the 2 of them hadn’t precisely been buddies. They have been too totally different to really get alongside, introduced collectively by probability as a result of the Elders needed to control Zang Li.
A really shameful factor that they’d missed the imposter, and worse, almost introduced the Shrouded Mountain Sect into battle with the Cloudy Sword Sect. They’d been defeated, at Grasp Rou’s mercy… and Yingwen had provided to shoulder the blame. He had volunteered himself as the only sacrifice, to protect all their lives. Fenxian truthfully hadn’t anticipated that of the caught up, stuffy bastard. He appeared like extra the kind to try to save his personal pores and skin—however he hadn’t.
Even when the Professional had denied Yingwen’s provide, Fenxian’s fellow disciple had managed to avoid wasting their lives with fast speaking, efficiently shifting the blame to the precise demonic imposter.
Yingwen obtained himself a sworn brother that day—even when they hadn’t truly stated it to one another but. They’d been too busy. First the inquiry from the Elders, then the punishments—Fenxian thought they have been going to die once more when Elder Zang Zeng known as for his or her deaths for his or her “gross incompetence”. It was solely by Elder Shenhe’s grace that they have been spared worse punishments for such a lack of face for the Sect, and that instantly transitioned into preventing demons.
Which had led him right here, preventing stated demons once more with the assistance of Grasp Rou’s disciples. Two of which have been foxes. That had been a mind-bend. Foxes serving to to avoid wasting the Shrouded Mountain Sect.
Fenxian took a deep breath and pushed each different thought away, refocusing himself. Those within the again simply wanted a while. He wasn’t completely trying ahead to spherical two. The demons have been sturdy, and it will solely be a matter of time till they have been overwhelmed. Every of them might definitely tackle at the very least one of many beasts… however there was by no means only one.
Perhaps if they’d Bi De, it will be a sure factor, however judging from the sound of fight additional off… the person returning wasn’t assured.
No less than this time there was no ambush. This time, they have been ready.
The sound of pounding toes obtained nearer, slowing barely because the demons took within the hallway and the phantasm of the door. The others have been all it, tense. Yusahang was standing to the aspect, her Heavy Sword raised above her head and able to deliver it down on the very first thing by. Spooks the Spirit Beast stood shoulder to shoulder with Fenxian, forming the core, whereas Outrider Shao Heng and Yun Ren would supply assist.
He didn’t make the error of considering it was a killing blow. He twisted his sword and compelled it up, cleaving into the backbone close to the chest, after which up and out, throwing his foe again. A backbone nonetheless pierced his shoulder in its demise throes and Fenxian grimaced because the Demonic Qi entered his physique, however he saved transferring ahead. By lightning and blade, by hoof and chilly, did they advance into an enemy disorientated and reeling.
Fenxian felt hope as their counter took all of them the way in which to the door, trampling the demons below their toes. A fierce grin stole over his options as he and Yun Ren impaled one of many beasts collectively, driving it into the wall because it screeched and thrashed, however collectively, they slew it.
The jail was clear. Their injury was largely superficial. Spooks was panting barely, his flanks lined in cuts. Yushang seemed a bit uncomfortable as Shao Heng pulled a backbone out of her thigh.
But nonetheless the pounding of toes echoed. Their job wasn’t executed. Yun Ren raised his arms to forged his phantasm over the door once more. His arms have been lined with small cuts.
But it surely was too late. Extra demons poured into the corridor and noticed the open door.
After which extra.
After which extra.
Fenxian braced himself. Their howls and wheezes echoed off the wall.
A river of black smashed into them.
Then Fenxian was preventing for his life.
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Yulong held up his hand and his retinue instantly stopped. His eyes narrowed as he glared on the mist that was coiling nearly unnoticeably towards the bottom.
His nostril scented the air, discovering fur and mist—a scent he knew, having beforehand met a fox from the Howling Fang Mountains that had smelled comparable. Earth Realm. He couldn’t afford to be reckless right here. If his subordinates went into this mist, they might be certainly befuddled and spend all the time strolling round in circles whereas Yulong chased the beast down.
Fools would do it anyway, making an attempt to expend a number of the Spirit Beast’s energy, however Yulong wanted his subordinates to perform their mission. He put his hand behind his again, signaling his subordinates to go round. He was obeyed immediately, because the others rotated to seek out one other path.
There was an irritated click on of a tongue that echoed by the mist.
“Fairly impolite to disregard my invitation,” the voice purred.
Yulong stepped ahead. There was nothing right here that would hurt him, not but. He knew his foe was making an attempt to cover. So he would advance, reveal it, kill it, after which get a wonderful reagent within the course of.
Additionally… two might play on the sport the fox was making an attempt.
“A fox, serving to the Shrouded Mountain Sect?” he requested as he entered the mist. They’d tried to recruit a number of the foxes earlier than, however the foxes of the Howling Fang Mountains have been both too weak… or hated demons an excessive amount of to be helpful. Actually, for being the Blood of Da Ji, they have been annoyingly righteous about sure issues.
“Oh? So you possibly can odor me, can’t you?” the voice requested again, ignoring the barb, and Yulong frowned. That was affirmation. Two relations “That may be a little bit of a pity.”
“Oh? A pity? A pity none of your strategies will work?” Yulong replied, gathering his personal Qi and weaving his personal method.
A small flare of Qi got here from the mist, signifying an phantasm approaching. Yulong walked towards it, intent on merely strolling by regardless of the fox would strive.
Besides what he beheld brought about him to pause.
A girl walked out of the mist. A precise copy of the lady within the south. Her eyes have been sharp purple, and a band of freckles dotted her nostril.
“I do know a household with the identical capability, you see. One is milk sibling to my nephew and chosen inheritor,” the lady earlier than him stated. Yulong felt his cheek spasm barely on the all too acquainted timbre of her voice. She sounded precisely like… “To see her household right here… properly, it is a pity we’re on reverse sides. You’re fairly proper, aiding the Shrouded Mountain Sect will not be one thing I want, however aiding my kin… “
The lady smiled at him. It was a motherly smile, filled with care and heat.
“Properly, that is likely to be organized, no?”