Chapter 265: The Clear-Headed One
No one could have imagined that the sinister and venomous sword strike came from their own side. The one who launched the sneak attack was Liang Xiaoxiao.
Zhe Xiu possessed an incredibly rich wealth of combat experience and was by nature cold and aloof, rarely trusting anyone. Due to his upbringing and experiences, Chen Changsheng was also extremely cautious and careful in his dealings. Thus, no matter how seductive or pitiful those two demon women acted, they couldn't deceive them. However, even they hadn't anticipated that Liang Xiaoxiao would suddenly strike.
From the Heavenly Book Mausoleum to the Zhou Garden, Chen Changsheng had always sensed a faint hostility from Liang Xiaoxiao towards him. But among the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom he had encountered, Gou Hanshi was an honest and steady gentleman, Guan Feibai was a fierce swordsman. They might be opponents, even enemies, but he had never considered these disciples of the Li Mountain Sword Sect to be sinister villains, let alone imagine that Liang Xiaoxiao would collude with the demon race!
The war between humans and demons had lasted nearly a thousand years. Whether it was the northern Zhou Dynasty or the southern Eternal Spring Sect and other sects, how many seniors and fellow disciples had gone forward one after another to their deaths? As cultivators, they should understand even more clearly that this was a war of extermination. Why then was Liang Xiaoxiao willing to be used by the demons?
The most shocked person was, of course, Qi Jian. His abdomen was pierced through by Liang Xiaoxiao's sword tip, suffering a severe wound, but his heart was even more wounded. He looked at Liang Xiaoxiao, his face pale, his expression bewildered. Even at this moment, he still couldn't understand why his third senior brother, who had grown up with him and always looked after him, would strike with such vicious intent!
Liang Xiaoxiao said nothing. His face was equally pale, with a faint struggle deep in his eyes, but even deeper there was a near-mad sense of exhilaration.
It was pain, but also pleasure.
Chen Changsheng and the others thought of many things, considered many possibilities, but in reality, only a very brief moment had passed.
The demons were always cold and ruthless. Seeing that their scheme had finally succeeded and Liang Xiaoxiao's sneak attack had hit its mark, why would they give them any chance to catch their breath or time to reason?
Teng Xiaoming, expressionless, carrying his carrying pole, once again flashed before the three of them. His hands gripped the pole, one in front of the other, and without any mercy, he brought it down on their heads again!
The wind by the lake suddenly shattered into countless fine threads. All the nearby trees were snapped and toppled. That terrifying carrying pole came down like a mountain.
Even if Chen Changsheng and the others hadn't been injured, it would have been extremely difficult for them to withstand a full-force strike from the infamous twenty-fourth demon general head-on, let alone in their current terrible state.
Zhe Xiu's shoulders were a bloody mess. Amidst the messy, unretracted wolf fur, the stark white of bone could faintly be seen. Even more terrifying was that the injuries were caused by the peacock feathers hidden in the demon woman's fingers—deep in the wolf youth's eyes, a faint hint of green could already be seen.
The legendary peacock feathers contained toxins capable of killing powerful demonic beasts. Now, those toxins were beginning to ravage his body.
Qi Jian was even more pitiful. Blood gushed from his abdomen. Even if he forced out his last bit of strength, he could barely manage to hold onto his Li Mountain Dharma Sword. Unable to even stand, how could he fight?
Chen Changsheng looked slightly better. Having rushed out from the bottom of the pit with his sword, he was covered in dust and utterly disheveled. There were no obvious wounds on the surface of his body, and no bloodstains on his clothes.
In truth, he only *looked* better.
Earlier, at the bottom of the pit, he had taken Teng Xiaoming's first blow from the carrying pole head-on. Even though his body had been bathed in dragon blood, he couldn't fully withstand it. The bones in his left arm had cracked, and several ribs were already broken. More troublesome was that his Sea of Consciousness had suffered a tremendous shock, leaving him feeling nauseous and miserable, his chest extremely tight, on the verge of spitting blood at any moment.
How could three severely wounded youths face this mountain-like carrying pole?
After his successful sneak attack, Liang Xiaoxiao drifted backward, standing dozens of zhang away, watching this scene in silence.
That demon beauty had a smile like a flower.
That dignified young lady had a calm expression.
Liu Xiaowan felt sympathy, and then waited.
Waited for Chen Changsheng and the other two to die, without any surprise.
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Chen Changsheng certainly didn't want to die.
It could be said without a doubt that since he was ten years old, he was the person in this world who least wanted to die.
To avoid dying, he had made many efforts, and naturally, he had made many preparations.
When everyone thought they were doomed, including Qi Jian, and even Zhe Xiu, who had walked the line between life and death countless times, silently thought to himself, "So be it," Chen Changsheng once again began to struggle, taking out something he had prepared.
It was a metal ball, its surface etched with scale-like lines.
Chen Changsheng poured his true essence into the metal ball. A flash of light ran across its surface, and it began to vibrate rapidly. The scales continuously split apart.
The fine sounds of springs and metal grinding rang out densely.
The split metal ball instantly transformed, producing several thin, fan-like surfaces, followed by the ribs of an umbrella, and then the handle.
These changes took a very short time. The carrying pole, carrying the demon general's immense power, had not yet fallen.
A somewhat old oilpaper umbrella appeared in Chen Changsheng's hand.
This umbrella seemed ordinary and unremarkable, just like him.
With a thunderous roar!
On the lakeshore beach, instead of another giant pit appearing, dozens of cracks several feet deep emerged!
Airs of force splashed everywhere, striking the hard cobblestones, leaving clear marks on them.
The terrifying impact sent out bursts of energy. Some swept into the depths of the forest, leaving mottled marks on the tree bark. Countless birds that hadn't managed to flee were pitifully knocked to the ground.
The dust and smoke gradually settled. The echoes from the cliff behind the lake also faded away.
Chen Changsheng was not dead.
Because that carrying pole strike had been blocked by the ordinary-looking umbrella in his hand.
From the edge of the umbrella, a faint yellow light hung down like a curtain, enveloping Chen Changsheng inside.
He stood in front of Zhe Xiu and Qi Jian.
Seeing this scene, the demon beauty covered her mouth with her hand, speechless with shock.
Liang Xiaoxiao slightly raised his eyebrows, his expression turning serious.
Liu Xiaowan frowned slightly, a thoughtful look appearing on her face, as if she remembered something.
Only Teng Xiaoming remained expressionless. He took another step forward with his right foot, raised the carrying pole with both hands, and struck down again!
The wind and clouds over the lake were brought by that carrying pole!
Another thunderous roar!
The yellow paper umbrella blocked it again.
But Chen Changsheng's face became even paler.
In Wenshui City, the old master of the Tang family had gifted him this legendary Dharma artifact. Zhe Xiu had once said that this umbrella could withstand a full-force strike from a Star Gathering realm expert.
Zhe Xiu had also said that since the demons had used some method to forcibly suppress the cultivation of two Star Gathering realm demon generals and send them into the Zhou Garden, Teng Xiaoming and Liu Xiaowan were at most at the peak of the Penetrating Obscurity realm now.
Logically speaking, the umbrella in his hand could certainly withstand their attacks.
The problem was, how many full-force strikes from this demon general could it block?
Using a Dharma artifact also required true essence support. His true essence reserves were already much smaller than those of cultivators at the same level. How long could he hold out?
The most critical issue was that this yellow paper umbrella wasn't very large. If these demon strongmen attacked together, how could he protect Zhe Xiu and Qi Jian?
There was no way.
He had no way to protect his companions. If he held out any longer, the predicament would remain unsolvable. So, he could only send his companions away.
Just as the yellow paper umbrella defended against that carrying pole strike, his right hand shot out like lightning, stuffing several pills into Zhe Xiu's mouth behind him, and at the same time, pressing a small object into his hand.
Those pills were antidotes refined by the priests of the Li Palace according to his prescription. His medical skills were inherited from the Daoist Ji, who was the strongest medical practitioner on the entire continent. From this, one could imagine the efficacy of these pills. They might not be able to neutralize the poison of the peacock feathers, but at least they could help Zhe Xiu suppress it for a while.
As for that small, cool object, it was a button.
When he left the capital, he had only brought one button, thinking that if he encountered any danger in the Zhou Garden, it could help him save his own life.
But now, it seemed he would have to use it for someone else.
Back at the National Academy, when Luoluo gave him the button, she had made it very clear: this button could only take two people away at most.
Chen Changsheng held up the umbrella, watching the several demon strongmen rapidly closing in. Without turning around, he calmly said to Zhe Xiu behind him, "Take him and go."
The demons' scheme in the Zhou Garden certainly didn't end here, but the series of events by the lake was enough to help them confirm that among the three of them, the demons' primary target was Qi Jian. Otherwise, the demons could have focused all their strength on killing him and Zhe Xiu first, instead of waiting until Qi Jian was caught in a death trap, Liu Xiaowan spoke those three words, and Liang Xiaoxiao finally struck with his sword.
Zhe Xiu understood this, even though he didn't understand why Qi Jian, even as the closed-door disciple of the Li Mountain Sect Leader, warranted such attention from the demons.
He also understood that Chen Changsheng giving him that button was equivalent to giving him the hope of survival. Chen Changsheng staying behind meant facing death head-on.
He also understood that Chen Changsheng wouldn't take Qi Jian and leave himself, nor would he abandon Qi Jian. So, in the permutations, only one possibility remained.
He also understood that he was currently severely poisoned and unable to fight. Staying wouldn't help Chen Changsheng. It was better to take Qi Jian and leave.
What he understood most clearly was that since Chen Changsheng had already made up his mind, no matter what he did, it would be meaningless, only wasting time.
Zhe Xiu didn't hesitate. He picked up Qi Jian and at the same time activated the button in his palm.
In his arms, Qi Jian's small face was exceptionally pale. He frowned, his eyes closed, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. He looked very pitiful, but had no idea what was happening.
A wisp of green smoke arose from beneath the yellow umbrella.
At the final moment, Zhe Xiu looked at Chen Changsheng's back, thinking expressionlessly, who exactly is whose bodyguard? If I survive today, it seems I really will owe someone my life.
Almost simultaneously, the demon general's third carrying pole strike landed.
The ground shook violently. Countless dust and smoke billowed up, obscuring that wisp of green smoke.
Countless cracks appeared. Fresh soil churned up, like a field being plowed in spring.
The dust and smoke settled.
Chen Changsheng stood alone in place.
His left hand held the umbrella.
His right hand gripped the short sword.
His expression was extremely serious, preparing for the final battle.
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(This chapter title is cooler than "Heartbreaking Sword Strike," so I changed it. Next chapter, I'll try to get it out before eleven.) r1148
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