Chapter Sixty-One: Life and Death

Su Xiaomu, her vital energy claws poised, was about to strike when Shi Qi stopped her.

“There are more helpers behind! Retreat quickly!”

Su Xiaomu nodded, grabbed Shi Qi, and channeled her vital energy at full speed. In a flash, they sped away, leaving Yuan Chenglu far behind.

But suddenly, a blood-red giant net appeared before them just as they thought they could break through the ambush.

Shi Qi frowned. “It’s a restriction!”

She hastily condensed ice into a sword and stabbed at the net. Yet, the net remained unscathed and swiftly contracted, enveloping the entire Egret Beach.

It was Hai Ri’s handiwork. He hadn’t joined the frontline battle, instead deploying his treasure—the Red Spider Web—to ensnare Egret Beach from the rear, trapping Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu.

Shi Qi thought grimly: This is bad. They came prepared. Are we fated to perish here today?

There was no time to ponder further. Another sharp arrow from Yuan Chenglu shot toward them. Shi Qi formed a seal, conjuring an ice wall before her to block the arrow.

“Xiaomu, attack Yuan Chenglu with all your strength. I’ll cover!” Shi Qi called out.

“Understood!” Su Xiaomu, recognizing the overwhelming odds, abandoned any playful thoughts and grew serious.

“Go!”

Su Xiaomu transformed into a ball of green light, charging at Yuan Chenglu, with Shi Qi close behind, gripping the Thousand-Tenacity Shield and wary of another shadow attack.

The previous shadow had cut through the Azure Cloud Parasol in one blow, and Shi Qi could only rely on the Thousand-Tenacity Shield now.

Su Xiaomu burst forth, heading straight for Yuan Chenglu, unleashing her signature move—Ninefold Instant Slaughter!

Shi Qi’s strategy was to eliminate Yuan Chenglu as quickly as possible, then face the shadow and the mysterious figure behind the restriction.

It was a sound plan, but Shi Qi overlooked the Sun and Moon brothers’ abilities.

Su Xiaomu flashed toward Yuan Chenglu, leaving a wound on him instantly.

Yuan Chenglu was alarmed; he’d seen similar wounds on Yuan Chengtian. This was the move that had gravely injured his elder brother.

But, thinking so, Yuan Chenglu could do nothing. If his brother couldn’t withstand the attack, how could he? He could only resist with all his vital energy.

Yet fate had other plans. As Su Xiaomu reached the “third flash,” Shi Qi saw a shadow dart forward, heading straight for Su Xiaomu.

“Damn!” The shadow’s speed caught even Shi Qi off guard.

Shi Qi summoned five water cyclones, directing them at the shadow, but she was a step too late.

The shadow struck Su Xiaomu.

Boom!

The shadow and Su Xiaomu collided in a storm of black and green light, sending both flying through the air.

Shi Qi hurried after the green light.

Bang.

The green light crashed to the ground. Shi Qi rushed to her side, helping Su Xiaomu up.

Su Xiaomu tasted blood, her body trembling as she spat a mouthful of crimson, staining her clothes and the jade pendant at her waist.

Shi Qi quickly took a pill from her spatial pouch and pressed it into Su Xiaomu’s mouth to aid her recovery.

On the other side, the shadow’s form also trembled; a trickle of blood slid from the corner of his mouth—it was Hai Yue.

Hai Yue stared at Shi Qi and Su Xiaomu in disbelief, murmuring: This girl’s attack is truly formidable!

Surprised though he was, seeing Su Xiaomu incapacitated, Hai Yue knew their strength was spent. The ambush could now be considered a success.

Hai Yue took a deep breath, adjusted his vital energy, and once again transformed into a shadow, wielding his long blade and charging at Shi Qi.

Shi Qi knew the blade’s power, dared not be reckless. After settling Su Xiaomu down, she threw the Thousand-Tenacity Shield in front of her.

Clang!

The blade struck the shield, which wavered and lost much of its luster, but held firm against the attack.

Hai Yue frowned, turned back, and began to gather his energy again.

Yuan Chenglu was not idle, summoning his “Ten Thousand Light Golden Soldiers” behind him.

“Next strike we join forces, Hai Yue. One blow to end it,” Yuan Chenglu said.

Hai Yue nodded slightly.

The two attacked together, Hai Yue’s blade and the Golden Soldiers crashing down on the Thousand-Tenacity Shield. This blow would surely drive the shield into dormancy!

“Stand like a thousand cliffs!” Shi Qi suddenly shouted. The shield before her expanded tenfold, towering like a small mountain.

At this brink of life and death, Shi Qi’s long cultivation bore fruit; the shield had reached its second realm—the unity of shield and soul!

Shi Qi unleashed the shield’s special skill: Stand Like a Thousand Cliffs!

This ability allowed the shield to instantly enlarge, greatly strengthening its defense.

The giant shield held firm against the blade and the Golden Soldiers, unmoving like a mountain!

Though the attack was repelled, it drained much of Shi Qi’s vital energy. She was unsure if the shield could withstand another round.

Su Xiaomu’s gaze grew dazed, on the verge of fainting. Shi Qi’s mind raced for a solution.

But no matter how she tried, Shi Qi couldn’t devise a way out; she felt her skills failing her.

She raised her right hand, gathering void power into a flashing thunderball.

“This thing…”

Shi Qi dismissed the thunderball, shaking her head. She hadn’t mastered its power yet.

Only one last option remained.

Shi Qi pooled her vital energy to her back, hoping to awaken her wings, as she had when she killed the old beggar, to escape with their help.

But despite several attempts to channel her energy into the wings, they remained unresponsive.

“Wake up! If you keep sleeping, there’ll be nothing left!” Shi Qi urged.

Still, her wings were lifeless, as if they didn’t exist.

“Damn it.”

At that moment, another wave of attacks from Yuan Chenglu and Hai Yue crashed onto the shield.

The Thousand-Tenacity Shield finally couldn’t withstand the impact, shrinking to normal size, its surface dull and teetering on the edge of dormancy.

“Is there no way out?!” Shi Qi murmured, turning to lift Su Xiaomu, making a last attempt to break through the giant net.

But as she turned, a shadow suddenly appeared before her.

It was Hai Ri, who had not acted before!

Hai Ri smiled faintly and waved his hand, releasing a burst of black light.

Shi Qi felt a sharp pain in her chest. Looking down, she saw a five-inch black spike embedded in her chest!

“Ah!” Shi Qi roared, grabbing the spike and trying to pull it out.

But the spike burrowed relentlessly deeper into her body.

Within moments, it vanished into her chest, leaving only a faint shadow on her skin.

As it disappeared, Shi Qi felt her vital energy disperse; even her demon core stopped spinning. Her legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground, staring at her hands.

Her vital energy had been sealed!

Hai Ri appeared, still wearing his carefree smile. “Even the Spirit-Sealing Spike forged from Shadowstone was used to deal with you. You should be proud. But Yuan Chenglu insisted on taking you alive!”

Shadowstone was a pill used by both righteous and evil sects, including Buddhist ones, to restrain vital energy for extended periods. It was not a natural substance, but crafted through alchemy, forcing prisoners to ingest it and rendering them unable to use their energy for a set time.

The duration depended on the user’s cultivation: for those at the peak of the Golden Core, three months; for Nascent Soul experts, one month.

The Spirit-Sealing Spike, however, was soaked in Shadowstone solution for forty-nine days, making it more effective. It didn’t need to be ingested; merely piercing the body would seal the victim’s energy.

Shi Qi had been struck by the Spirit-Sealing Spike, her energy blocked. Now, she was just an ordinary person with exceptional physique.

Suddenly deprived of her energy, Shi Qi grew dizzy, her body unable to adjust to its absence. Her limbs weakened, and she was about to faint.

Meanwhile, Yuan Chenglu and Hai Yue arrived, standing before Shi Qi. She lay on the ground, helpless as a lamb awaiting slaughter, clinging to consciousness by sheer willpower.

“Hahaha!” Yuan Chenglu laughed. “You two, the brothers of the sea, are truly resourceful. A few rounds and you’ve reduced this boy to such a state!”

Hai Yue spoke quietly. “Their cultivation isn’t high, but their techniques are many. Their combat power far exceeds their peers. Master Yuan, I think you’ll need to pay extra.”

Yuan Chenglu nodded. “That’s fine, that’s fine.”

Hai Ri said, “I wonder if these two have any powerful backers. I suggest we move them out of here quickly, before trouble comes.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Yuan Chenglu stepped forward, reaching to seize Shi Qi.

“You’re not allowed to touch my big brother!”

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out. Su Xiaomu, though previously unconscious, woke at the sound of Shi Qi’s agony. Seeing Yuan Chenglu reaching for Shi Qi, she transformed into a jade-green light and kicked Yuan Chenglu away, then knelt to embrace Shi Qi, glaring fiercely at the three.

“Xiaomu… quick… run…” Shi Qi, barely conscious, murmured her name.

Su Xiaomu looked down at Shi Qi, tears welling in her eyes. A single drop slid down her cheek, landing on Shi Qi’s pale face.

Hai Yue drew his blade, muttering, “Spent arrows, nothing to fear.”

Su Xiaomu suddenly looked up at them, then down at Shi Qi, as if making a decision.

“Big brother, I’ll send you away from here. You must survive. In this lifetime, I fear I’ll never again taste your roasted chicken…”

“Xiaomu…” Shi Qi continued to call her name faintly.

Su Xiaomu lifted her head and whispered, “Fox’s—Burning Core!”