A broken cry pierced the ears beside him.
Mr. Nian had finally seen the retaliatory power, the backlash, for the very first time!
Summer Bearer had executed his saber too quickly and failed to retract it as he wished since his energy was drained. His offense landed on the white-dressed girl and not only did the girl forgo any attempt to avoid it, but she also dashed to him head-on, pus.h.i.+ng herself between Summer and Winter Bearer and brutally thrust her sword in Winter Bearer, stabbing a hole through his shoulder.
As for the girl herself, a beam of red light slowly but surely shone from her.
Summer Bearer"s attack was like snow that had met the sun. It was immediately extinguished and melted while his red-clad form clashed with the red beam. Crying aloud, the man was flung away. He was already spitting out shattered parts of his organs when he was high in the air.
Judging by what just happened, realization was clear within Mr. Nian that Summer Bearer was doomed!
Added with the earlier overstrain, Summer Bearer"s physical condition was already overloaded. The retaliation he suffered from now instantly triggered all the adverse states of his body. How could he be a lucky exception?
As expected, Summer Bearer"s rising body dismembered abruptly while it flew, turning into ashes and blending with the sky"s dust.
"Let"s go!" Mr. Nian growled. At the same time, his sword radiated in an unprecedented blinding white. A rapid twirl in the air later, he and his sword became a spiraling dragon that gleamed and glittered, heading straight towards Yun Yang.
Yun Yang first executed his saber truth with utmost strength and followed it up by killing a few men. He was already on his last legs now; after all, he was not forged from steel. Days of battle were not a dream. He did not have the magical red beam like Ji Lingxi who did not need to defend herself. Even with Emmie"s support, he was still consumed by fatigue.
Now that Mr. Nian came after him with such an aggressive strike, he could only evade it with his all. Facing the desperate blow of a pinnacle expert, Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou would have had to avoid it, even if they had to work hand in hand to do so, what more Yun Yang, who was at his weakest state.
Sword light and saber energy, wounds littered across their bodies, Mr. Nian and the other three men fought in unison to break through Ji Lingxi and Yun Yang"s defenses. Following an agonized howl, they charged out of the valley.
There was a visible quivering in the thick fog.
The three men who had been tossed out earlier had fled from that direction and now, these three moved fast to meet them.
The Four Seasons Tower was in a grievously grim state. If the six of them did not a.s.semble, they were bound to be killed by Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi separately! Even if the six survivors could gather now, it did not mean more sense of security to them. Their rivals were ghastly and potent after all.
Indeed they were. In contrast to Yun Yang and Ji Lingxi"s actual capabilities, their additional tricks were the key to this battle"s result. Be it Yun Yang"s amazing saber or the girl"s protective magical beam, or even their unreasonable recovery method, they were unknown stunts. How could the Four Seasons Tower not lose, facing such peculiarities?
Watching Mr. Nian and his men speed out of the bleeding valley like strikes of lightning, Yun Yang heaved a long sigh instead. He dropped himself on the ground, sweat pouring out of him like an underground spring, thoroughly drenching him.
His eyes were rolled back from how dreary he felt. It was like he could not even breathe in to wheeze. It was a frustrating feeling and itched to tear his throat apart so he could pant properly. His vision blackened and the world around him seemed to swim. Lowering his head, blood spluttered from his mouth.
Ji Lingxi was not any better. Her legs gave up and she landed beside Yun Yang. She gasped for air, her face pale.
Both of them had similarly reached their limits.
Yun Yang panted. "We… adjust and recover ourselves now. We have at least a day"s time…"
"A day?! You – aren"t you scared that they"ll flee?" asked Ji Lingxi.
Yun Yang smiled lightly and said, puffing, "They won"t! They"d never think to escape when their goal is yet to be achieved. Besides, even we"re so tired, they"ll only be even more tired than us, lower in spirits than us. They won"t be able to run even if they wanted to."
"Before we regain our energy, they don"t even have to think of getting themselves up!"
Yun Yang took in a deep breath, feeling his throat catch fire, so much so that even breathing hurt, and chuckled dryly. "Those who survived this round – all of them have damaged their princ.i.p.al essence… except the two of us."
"Damaging the underlying essence… has always been only a rumored saying unable to be perceived by the naked eye. How do you know this?" said Ji Lingxi.
Yun Yang"s eyes were closed as he scoffed and said tiredly, "What you"re saying is the normal circ.u.mstances. Proficient cultivators can hardly get hurt. Their fundamental essence is their core. Even if it"s damaged, they must cover it up the best they can. However, they"re now at the lowest of the lowest. Continuous heaving all that"s left in themselves to counter the attacks, their cores are severely damaged. Even the air they puffed is red and tinged with a strong coppery scent of blood…"
"That"s when the essence of life is expended to its limit and the capacity of vitality is also maximally drained. It can barely be faked or concealed."
"You saw how everyone was pumped and ferocious in the battle just now but once they stop now – let me tell you… even if they were lain here, right beside us, they won"t have the strength to roll over and hit us even once. It"s the same case as when the Four Seasons Tower laid here, collapsed and unable to move or parry us just now. The fundamentals of their air of vitality weren"t too damaged just now. Now, though, their life force, physical strength, mystical Qi and their mental power, as well as determination, are all fully depleted. It"s not something they can replenish in a day."
"So today will be the most carefree day in this battle. Sleep. Don"t worry and sleep."
He then pushed a few medicinal pills into Ji Lingxi"s mouth and delivered some air of vitality to her. He did not have to worry about himself. After all, the reservoir of energy within him was supporting him; as long as there was sufficient recovery time, he would be fine. Taking in a few big puffs of air, his breathing gradually smoothened out.
Feeling that his state was much better now, Yun Yang retrieved a bag of water only to realize that his arm was shaking. He could barely push the water over to Ji Lingxi"s mouth.
The maiden gulped down the water and before long, her eyes were shut and there were soft snores coming from her.
The corners of Yun Yang"s lips lifted silently.
How stupid of him not to realize that the girl was truly exhausted these days.
Bringing up the water to himself, he quaffed it. As he drank, the weight of his eyelids pushed at him. An indescribable sense of fatigue washed over him and he succ.u.mbed to it almost senselessly.
The water bag fell, spilling its content over the young man, but the latter could no longer feel anything.