Chapter 38 — The Abyss of the Dead
劍問蒼天 · Page 5 of 8
Each time the Mountain-and-River Fan was waved, a great tempest rose, wind-driven stones sweeping toward the four of the Canglan Sect; but each time they drew near, Qi Hao and Zeng Shuyan blocked them. When the mountain had first sprung up, they had been caught off guard and all but helpless; now, though, the two men's extraordinary cultivation showed itself.
Qi Hao, needless to say, met gust after gust with the white flicker of his Cold Ice Immortal Sword, while Zeng Shuyan on the other flank now revealed his true skill. His Xuanyuan Immortal Sword, faintly violet, darted under Qi Hao's cover, violet gleams flashing, ever slipping in through the gaps between the gusts like a venomous serpent. Once Lin Feng was careless and was nearly struck by that violet gleam, and after that he had to keep a wary eye on it. For a time the three fought to a standstill, neither gaining the upper hand.
Zhang Qingyue stood at the rear, still supporting Lu Xueqi, his eyes fixed unblinking on the contest between Qi Hao and the rest. Qi Hao wielded his sword with perfect ease, bringing out its every marvel, and his command of Daoist magic was far beyond Zhang Qingyue's own, and he could not help feeling a measure of admiration. All this while he had practiced only the basic methods of the Taiji Profound Purity Way; not until just before he left the mountain had Su Wan hastily crammed into him a few practical techniques. Naturally he was no match for Qi Hao.
He was watching thus, wholly absorbed, when he suddenly felt his arm lighten: Lu Xueqi had rested a while, her spirits somewhat recovered, and now stood on her own, free of his support.
Seeing that her face, once white and smooth as jade, was now utterly wan, he could not keep from asking: "Are you all right, Senior Sister Lu?"
Lu Xueqi glanced at him, reached up to wipe the blood from her lips, and shook her head without a word.
Since first he had known this frosty beauty, Zhang Qingyue had long grown used to her ways, and so of course did not press her further. Besides, he had always stood somewhat in awe of this beautiful woman, and so he turned his face back to the field.
But no sooner had he turned than he suddenly heard Lu Xueqi give a cry of alarm. He looked in horror — and there, from the stone wall behind where he and Lu Xueqi now stood, a black cord had suddenly emerged, and with lightning speed bound Lu Xueqi's hands to her sides so that she could not move. A moment later a woman's figure emerged from the stone wall itself: it was none other than the beautiful young woman who had just been standing in the distance.
She gave a giggling laugh. "Little sister, you are so very beautiful — truly one cannot help but pity you at the sight. This 'Immortal-Binding Cord' is something your elder sister prepared especially for you righteous cultivators!"
Zhang Qingyue saw the look of pain rise on Lu Xueqi's face, and saw the Immortal-Binding Cord already biting deep into her flesh in a matter of moments; the torment of it was not hard to imagine. But before he could react, there came a whistle in the air, and Elder Nian swooped down from above, his hand stretching out to seize the divine sword Tianxuan upon Lu Xueqi's back.
How could Zhang Qingyue allow such outrage? His Black Iron Staff leapt into the air and flew straight at Elder Nian. Seeing again that uncanny black rod, Elder Nian felt a stir of dread; he twisted aside and came to a halt, landing upon the ground.
At the sound, Qi Hao and Zeng Shuyan up ahead turned and saw, and their faces went pale with shock. They were about to turn back to the rescue, but Lin Feng, seeing them stir, thought: If I let you come and go as you please, I shall lose all face before Elder Nian. At once the Mountain-and-River Fan howled up a wind, gust upon gust, ever fiercer, so that for the moment Qi Hao and Zeng Shuyan could not break free.