Chapter Eight: Qinglan Takes Action
Meanwhile, the Azure Wolf was still locked in combat with Chen Ying and Zhu Yan. Seeing that Qinglan and the others were close to capturing the Firevine, the two defenders fought even harder to block them. The Azure Wolf grew increasingly agitated, its attacks becoming fiercer and more relentless. Each swipe of its claws tore through the air with tremendous force, seemingly weighing a thousand pounds, its speed so swift that it was almost impossible to keep up.
Although Zhu Yan was experienced in fighting beasts, he appeared flustered and disorganized at this moment.
Seizing the opportunity presented by Zhu Yan’s faltering defense, the Azure Wolf aimed for the gap in his guard. A claw flashed like lightning, precisely slashing his right arm and tearing open a gash that spilled bright red blood, soaking through his clothes.
“Ah!”
Zhu Yan’s cry of pain shattered the battlefield’s tense silence. His offense and defense collapsed, and his stance wavered.
The scent of blood and his agonized shout further fueled the Azure Wolf’s bloodthirsty and feral nature. It opened its jaws, ready to bite off Zhu Yan’s head!
At the critical moment, Chen Ying’s figure flickered. Two gleaming blades flashed past from behind, materializing in his hands, wings of light trailing behind them, greatly enhancing the sword energy. He met the Azure Wolf’s bite with a close counterattack.
“Zzzzzz...”
The grating sound was piercing and harsh—torment for the wolf with its keen hearing. Its hackles rose, and it immediately abandoned the attack, retreating. This retreat granted Zhu Yan a chance at survival.
Before the wolf could strike again, Ding Lin appeared with the Firevine, preparing to flee. The wolf roared and charged, plunging the battlefield into chaos.
The rampaging beast was terrifying beyond measure. Chen Ying, after holding it off briefly, gave up and decided to retreat with Zhu Yan.
Before leaving, his eyes fixed intently on Yuè Dōng in the distance, as if awaiting something.
At the same time, Yuè Dōng withdrew his formation without paying attention to the Mu family members and dashed toward the center of the cave.
Mu Qinglan was still there!
The Mu family stood watching for a moment before Mu Feng decided, “The Azure Wolf has gone mad. Let’s avoid confronting it directly and chase after that woman in blue.”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “We’ll take a detour.”
He turned and left, unaware that a small leaf had silently clung to his cloak.
...
Meanwhile, at the center of the cave where all this had just transpired,
The Firevine had vanished, and the surrounding sea of fiery vines was gradually dissipating.
Qinglan stood amidst the vines, somewhat speechless.
No one was coming to help her?
What a useless team.
Just then, Yuè Dōng rushed over. With a wave of his hands, he set up a Soul Capturing Array once more, instantly trapping the Azure Wolf.
However, this late-stage first realm formation could imprison six cultivators of the same level but struggled to suppress a second-rank wolf demon.
Under the wolf’s onslaught, the formation shook violently, crashing loudly. Yuè Dōng’s face grew paler by the second. He hurriedly said to Qinglan, “The Azure Wolf has surely marked you. We must leave quickly.”
Qinglan: Hm? How strange—it’s not like the Firevine is on me.
Before they could retreat, two sword blades suddenly struck from behind!
The cold gleam flashed. Sharp blades shimmered with metallic light, slicing through the air toward their legs.
Yuè Dōng reacted swiftly but barely in time. He barely managed to form a spiritual barrier to partially block the blow.
But the barrier only slightly disrupted the blades’ strike before shattering.
Seeing this, Yuè Dōng pushed Qinglan aside. Both blades struck him, drawing twin trails of blood.
The attacker was Chen Ying.
Now he harbored some regret—why hadn’t he severed Yuè Dōng’s legs?
Still, this was enough for him.
Chen Ying’s triumphant voice rang out nearby: “Yuè Dōng, you could never let go of Awan’s death, could you? Now you know how she died. Comrades no more—this is goodbye, hahaha!”
Qinglan coldly watched Chen Ying’s back—he thought he could just walk away?
“Swoosh!”
A leaf shimmering with blue light shot forward at high speed, like an arrow released from a bow, pursuing Chen Ying relentlessly!
Chen Ying had always underestimated Qinglan, the wood-element female cultivator, letting down his guard. Carelessly, the flying leaf sliced like a blade, severing one of his fingers!
“Ah!”
Chen Ying howled in pain, staring at his mutilated left hand, finally realizing how badly he had underestimated this woman’s skill.
He glared at Qinglan with murderous intent, roaring, “You’re asking for death!”
Qinglan’s expression was unreadable, as if to say—come on! If you have the guts, come back!
“Wuu!”
A howl from the Azure Wolf froze his steps. He suddenly realized he had nearly been blinded by fury and almost dragged back into the fray by Qinglan.
“Hmph, you might as well stay behind as souls under the Azure Wolf’s claws. I’m not sticking around!”
He turned and left.
...
Yuè Dōng, wounded and silent, watched as the Soul Capturing Array shook violently until the wolf’s final claw strike landed.
“Bang!”
Six spiritual seals shattered into countless fragments—the formation broke. Yuè Dōng coughed up blood and collapsed into unconsciousness.
The once bustling scene instantly turned grim and deadly.
The remaining survivors and the wolf drew ever closer.
The Azure Wolf slowly approached the two. Its massive body cast a shadow that enveloped them. Its eyes burned with killing intent, as if regarding two corpses.
Qinglan: Hm? What does it intend to do?
She glanced at Yuè Dōng, raising an eyebrow—looks like she had to act herself.
Spiritual energy swirling through her body, her hands moved swiftly to form seals. The Azure Wolf, puzzled by her intentions, hesitated for a moment.
In that instant, thick vines gathered around them, intertwining tightly, encasing the two in a semi-circular green cage.
As the vines wound tighter, the light inside dimmed.
Outside the cage, the wolf realized what was happening and drew nearer, slashing its claws fiercely against the vines, raising dull thuds.
Under Qinglan’s control, broken vines were quickly replaced by new ones, weaving tighter and stronger. In no time, this small protective barrier seemed impenetrable.
The wolf scratched wildly with its claws, and so the standoff between the human and beast froze.
Qinglan confirmed that the vines in this area would hold them for some time, and no longer paid attention to the wolf’s clawing.
She quietly looked at Yuè Dōng with a serious expression. After a moment, she extended her right hand. The green radiance that had twined around her fingers transformed into a mist that quickly spread, enveloping Yuè Dōng.
Within this ethereal fog, a powerful and pure healing spiritual energy quietly circulated. Though Chen Ying’s sword wounds had penetrated to the bone, they now healed visibly before their eyes!
Meanwhile, unseen, internal injuries caused by the formation’s backlash also mended rapidly. Yuè Dōng’s complexion visibly brightened.
Before long, Yuè Dōng awakened.
Qinglan withdrew her power and widened her eyes, asking, “Are you alright now?”
Yuè Dōng was momentarily speechless—the healing effect of Qinglan’s spiritual energy was astonishing!
Both external and internal injuries restored to their original state, even old wounds of many years had vanished. His spiritual energy flowed smoothly, without the slightest obstruction.