ebookland Chapter 70: Unresolved Oppression from All Sides
Chapter 70: Unresolved Oppression from All Sides
The roars of the demonic soldiers were deafening. Amidst the flashing blades, I felt as if I were surrounded by a sea of blood. The Asura King's hideous face loomed large before me, his demonic blade slashing down with chilling killing intent. I barely managed to dodge, my inherited power surging forth like a tidal wave, just enough to block the fatal blow. However, the powerful impact still sent me staggering back several steps, a mouthful of blood welling up in my throat. I bit my lower lip hard, swallowing the metallic taste.
"Wen Chen!" I exclaimed in surprise. Wen Chen was pale and staggered a few steps, clutching his chest. He had already been seriously injured when he blocked the King of the Underworld's attack for me, and now he had forced himself to use his internal energy, which only made his injuries worse.
"Don't worry about me," Wen Chen forced a smile, "I can still hold on." The light of his immortal sword shimmered, and his figure moved like a ghost among the demonic soldiers. Wherever his sword energy reached, the demonic soldiers fell one after another. I knew he was forcing himself to hold on; his breath was getting weaker and weaker, and his movements were getting slower and slower.
My heart felt as if it had been ripped open by a sharp blade, the pain almost suffocating me. I couldn't let him risk his life for me again! I took a deep breath, unleashing the power of my inheritance to its fullest extent. A golden light erupted from my body, blasting away the surrounding demonic soldiers.
"Asura King, your opponent is me!" I roared, and with a flash, I took the initiative to meet Asura King.
The Asura King sneered, "Overestimating yourself!" His demonic blade slashed down again, this time even more fiercely than before. I felt as if I were being crushed by a mountain, and I could hardly breathe.
I gritted my teeth and tried my best to resist, but in the end, I was no match for the Asura King's immense power. My body was blasted away and crashed heavily to the ground, my internal organs feeling as if they had shifted out of place.
"Xiao Yao!" Wen Chen exclaimed, ignoring his own injuries, and rushed towards me.
"Don't come any closer!" I shouted hoarsely. "You're already badly injured, don't..."
Before I could finish speaking, the Asura King attacked again, his demonic blade radiating a fierce killing intent, aimed directly at Wen Chen's throat.
At the critical moment, a golden light flashed and blocked Wen Chen's path. It was Guanyin Bodhisattva! Holding a jade vase, she looked solemnly at the Asura King.
"Asura King, don't go too far!" Guanyin Bodhisattva said in a deep voice.
"Guanyin Bodhisattva, are you also going to get involved in this matter?" A hint of fear flashed in the eyes of the Asura King, but his tone remained firm.
"Xiao Yao is about to ascend to heaven. Aren't you afraid of being punished by the Heavenly Court for obstructing her like this?" Guanyin Bodhisattva said sternly.
The Asura King sneered, "The Heavenly Court? They're too busy dealing with their own chaos to care about the affairs of our Demon Realm!" He raised his demonic blade once more, declaring, "Today, I will kill Xiao Yao!"
Guanyin Bodhisattva's expression changed, and the jade bottle in her hand emitted a golden light, enveloping Wen Chen and me.
"You all leave quickly!" Guanyin Bodhisattva said urgently, "I'll hold him off!"
I gazed at Guanyin Bodhisattva, my heart filled with gratitude, but also with worry. Although she possessed great magical power, the Asura King was no easy opponent, and besides, the King of the Underworld was also watching us intently from the sidelines…
I helped Wen Chen up, enduring the excruciating pain in my body, and walked step by step into the distance.
"It seems we can't count on the Heavenly Court..." I said in a low voice.
Wen Chen gripped my hand tightly, his eyes filled with determination: "Even without the Heavenly Court's help, we must survive!"
We staggered away from the battlefield, the sounds of Guanyin Bodhisattva and the Asura King's fierce battle echoing behind us. Wen Chen's injuries worsened; every step felt like walking on a knife's edge, large beads of sweat rolling down his pale forehead. I fought back tears, supporting him, my heart filled with despair and helplessness.
“Let’s go to the Kunlun Mountains,” I whispered, where there might still be a glimmer of hope.
Wen Chen nodded weakly. Kunlun Mountain, the most mysterious place in the cultivation world, is also our last hope.
We evaded our pursuers, enduring wind and rain, and were utterly exhausted. I tried to contact the Heavenly Court to beg for the Jade Emperor's protection, but only received a cold reply: "The Heavenly Court cannot interfere in this matter. We hope you two will take care of yourselves."
At that moment, my heart sank completely. The indifference of Heaven was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, almost suffocating me. I looked up at the sky; it was gray and gloomy, without a single ray of light, just like my mood at that moment.
"Don't lose heart," Wen Chen seemed to see my despair, and he gently took my hand. "We still have each other."
His words were like a ray of warm sunshine, illuminating my cold heart. Yes, we still have each other, we haven't given up, and we must continue to fight!
Just then, a soft golden light enveloped us—it was Guanyin Bodhisattva! Her compassionate face appeared before me, her eyes filled with concern.
“Child, you have suffered,” Guanyin Bodhisattva said softly. “I know your heart is filled with grievances and resentment, but you must remember, when Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, starve their body, and leave them destitute…”
Her voice was like heavenly music, soothing my wounded heart. I looked up at her kind face, and a glimmer of hope rose in my heart.
"Bodhisattva, why is the Heavenly Court..." I asked, my voice choked with emotion.
Guanyin Bodhisattva sighed and said, "The Heavenly Court has its own difficulties, so don't blame them. Just stay firm in your beliefs and uphold your principles, and one day you will receive everything you deserve."
Her words gave me tremendous encouragement. I wiped away my tears and nodded solemnly.
"Thank you for your guidance, Bodhisattva." I took a deep breath and suppressed the grief and despair in my heart.
Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled slightly, a flash of golden light, and disappeared.
I supported Wen Chen as we continued towards Kunlun Mountain. I knew the road ahead was still fraught with thorns, but I was no longer afraid, no longer in despair. Because I knew I still had Wen Chen, the spiritual support of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the unwavering faith in my heart!
Suddenly, a troop of heavenly soldiers appeared ahead, led by none other than Erlang Shen. He wore silver armor, wielded a three-pointed, double-edged sword, and possessed piercing eyes and an imposing presence. He blocked our path and coldly declared, "By order of the Jade Emperor, you are forbidden from proceeding to Kunlun Mountain."
My heart sank. Could it be...?
"Erlang Shen, are you going to stop me too?" I suppressed my anger, my voice trembling. Wen Chen leaned against me, his face as pale as paper, his breath weak. My heart was burning with anxiety; Kunlun Mountain was so close, yet it seemed so far away.
Erlang Shen remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over Wen Chen and me with a complex expression. "By order of the Jade Emperor, neither of you are permitted to enter Kunlun." He repeated his words coldly, then slightly turned aside, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. This subtle movement did not escape my notice. Perhaps he sympathized with our plight, but ultimately dared not disobey the Heavenly Emperor's decree.
"Hmph, Xiao Yao, you've finally met your match!" A sharp, piercing voice rang out. The White Bone Demon had appeared behind the heavenly soldiers at some point. Dressed in a white dress, she wore a gloating smile and waved a white bone fan, exuding an indescribable sinister and terrifying aura. "You think you can ascend to immortality? Dream on! You're destined to be a piece of trash, a pathetic worm forever unable to escape your fate!"
I bit my lower lip, ignoring the White Bone Demon's mockery. At this moment, Wen Chen's safety was more important than anything else. I supported him, and we walked step by step towards the gap that Erlang Shen had cleared for us.
"Xiao Yao, do you think you can escape?" The White Bone Demon sneered, her figure flashing as she blocked our path. "Today, I'll show you what I'm capable of!"
"Get out of my way!" I roared, shielding Wen Chen behind me. The spiritual energy within me surged like a volcano about to erupt. I knew that in my current state, I was no match for the White Bone Demon, not to mention the Heavenly Soldiers led by Erlang Shen lurking nearby.
"Oh, quite the big talker!" The White Bone Demon laughed contemptuously, and with a sudden wave of her white bone fan, a chilling demonic wind swept towards us.
I quickly channeled the last of my spiritual energy to create a protective barrier in front of me. The demonic wind crashed against the barrier, emitting a piercing shriek. The barrier trembled violently, as if it would shatter at any moment.
“Wen Chen, you…” I looked at him with concern, only to find that he was trying hard to stand up.
"Yao'er, don't worry about me," he smiled weakly, "I can still hold on." He struggled to stand up straight, and a long sword gleaming with cold light appeared in his hand.
Seeing Wen Chen's actions, Erlang Shen's eyes sharpened, and he slightly raised the three-pointed double-edged sword in his hand, only to slowly lower it again. The heavenly soldiers behind him were also eager to move, but they never received his order.
"Overestimating yourself!" The White Bone Demon sneered, waving her white bone fan once more. This time, the demonic wind was even more violent, and the barrier cracked under the strain.
I felt my spiritual energy rapidly depleting, and my vision began to blur. Just as I was about to give up, I suddenly noticed a slight pause in the White Bone Demon's attack, an almost imperceptible opening… "Wen Chen, cover me!" I growled, my mind made up. This opening was fleeting, like a firefly flashing in the night; without intense concentration, it would have been almost impossible to spot. The White Bone Demon's attacks were cunning and ruthless; this opening appeared in the gap of her demonic power's circulation, extremely brief, yet fatal. However, to seize it, I needed to concentrate all my spiritual energy into a single point, meaning my defense would be rendered useless; if I failed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Wen Chen seemed to sense my intention; his hand gripping the longsword trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with worry: "Yao'er, don't..."
I had no time to explain, no time to hesitate. Wen Chen's injuries, Erlang Shen's menacing gaze, and the White Bone Demon's aggressive advances—all of these weighed on me like a mountain, making it hard to breathe. I had to fight back!
"Trust me!" I nodded vigorously at Wen Chen, my eyes flashing with determination.
The next moment, I removed the protective barrier in front of me, concentrated all my spiritual power in my right hand, and struck hard at the slightest flaw in the White Bone Demon's move.
My actions startled everyone present. A hint of surprise flashed in Erlang Shen's eyes, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on his three-pointed, double-edged sword. The smile on Bai Gu Jing's face also froze; she seemed not to have expected me to take such a desperate gamble.
Even Wen Chen wore an expression of disbelief. He wanted to stop me, but it was too late.
I felt like a moth drawn to a raging fire. My spiritual power surged forth like a burst dam, colliding fiercely with the White Bone Demon's demonic power.
The violent impact sent me flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained my clothes. I felt as if my internal organs were being torn apart, the pain unbearable.
"Yao'er!" Wen Chen exclaimed in surprise, disregarding his own injuries, and flew over to catch me.
I leaned weakly against him, my vision blurring and my ears ringing. I felt my life force rapidly draining away, and my consciousness gradually fading.
However, at that moment, I heard the White Bone Demon's scream. I struggled to open my eyes and, through my blurry vision, saw the White Bone Demon stagger backward, her white bone fan falling to the ground.
I made it!
I actually hit her weak point!
A flicker of joy welled up within me, but it was only a flicker. I knew it was only temporary. My spiritual energy was exhausted, and although the White Bone Demon was injured, her strength was still far superior to mine.
More importantly, Erlang Shen and his heavenly soldiers were also watching them intently from the sidelines.
I forced myself to lift my head and look at Wen Chen, weakly saying, "Take me... to Kunlun..."
Wen Chen held me tightly, his eyes filled with pain and determination.
Just then, a powerful demonic aura swept in from the horizon, accompanied by deafening battle cries.
"The Asura King is here!" someone shouted, their voice filled with fear.
My heart sank; I knew an even greater crisis was about to unfold…
"Wen Chen..." I gripped his sleeve tightly, using my last bit of strength to say, "Go quickly..."