Chapter 68 — Azure Dragon
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 6 of 7
Daoist Cangyan's face darkened and he gave a snort, but in the end could not say anything before the disciples; he could only turn his head, about to speak to the others of the several factions, Fachéng and Li Xun and the rest, when suddenly, from behind the crowd, came a miserable scream.
The crowd stirred in confusion, and several young righteous disciples who had stood at the rear came staggering out of the darkness, grievously wounded, drenched in blood, crying out hoarsely: "There are demon cult people behind us!"
In the darkness, in the ancient forest, countless shrill laughter seemed to ring out, and Tian Buhui and the others turned pale. Ever since the Nether King and his party appeared, everyone's attention had been drawn to those old monsters; they had not expected the demon cult to be so full of schemes as to send men secretly to outflank them from the rear and strike without warning.
In that single instant, light flashed throughout the forest—countless magic treasures came flying in to kill. The righteous cultivators hurriedly summoned their own treasures to strike back, but first because it was unexpected, and second because the demon cult's numbers were far greater than they had imagined, they were at once at a disadvantage.
Daoist Cangyan's face was grim; with a great shout he leaped into the air, but before he could make any move, Baiduzi and Duanmu Laozu ahead both rushed at him together.
Baiduzi laughed aloud, his expression savage, crying: "You dog of a Daoist, give up your life!"
Daoist Cangyan steadied himself in midair, not daring to make light of these old monsters, and could only turn to meet the fight; at the same time, red light blazed beneath him—it was Tian Buhui striking out, taking on Duanmu Laozu.
Su Wan stood on the ground, her brows tightly knit, a trace of worry upon her beautiful face. At present the righteous side was clearly at a disadvantage; on the demon cult's side two unfathomable figures, the Nether King and the Azure Dragon, had not yet made their move, and how many more demon-cult followers lurked in the dark none could say. The situation was grave.
By now the field was in utter chaos; it seemed that in the deep night, in the shadows, demon-cult people were everywhere, and at any time and place the fierce light of life-taking magic treasures might come flying out. The righteous cultivators were plunged into bitter fighting, and muffled groans and screams of agony rang out without end.
Zhang Qingyue held the Black Iron Staff but did not strike, because Song Dayi, Tian Lingsu and the others of Dazhu Peak, mindful that he had been wounded just now, had closed him in their midst, so that for the moment he had not been hurt; yet the peril was urgent, and he was just as tense.
Before their eyes the demon-cult light grew ever brighter, and the righteous cultivators were slowly compressed together—chiefly because in the darkness of night they could not see the demon-cult followers hidden in the shadows at all, and so had truly suffered a great loss.
Zhang Qingyue stood where he was. Seeing the pressure mounting on the senior brothers around him and on Tian Lingsu as well, he grew anxious. He judged that though his body was somewhat fatigued, he was otherwise sound enough, and made to step forward and join the fight.
At that very moment a faint cry rang out, like a phoenix calling across the nine heavens, clear and pleasing to the ear, echoing far and wide. A brilliant blue light blazed up, and Lu Xueling rose with her sword as the Tianya Divine Sword poured forth its radiance, lighting the whole circle around her.
Darkness itself seemed unable to draw near her face or her figure!
Yet she flung herself into that darkness, and with a whoosh a piercing cry shook the heavens. The beautiful woman became a bolt of blue light and shot into the darkness of the ancient forest.