Chapter 253: The Injury Guqin
Chapter 253: The Injury Guqin
“Go!”
Seizing the moment the terrifying Blind Master’s attack faltered, Mu Feng’s spirit violently shook. He unleashed Soul Roar again, shattering the invisible confinement and surging downward.
One thousand meters, eight hundred meters, three hundred twenty meters…
His robust spirit transformed into a streak of blood-red light racing toward his physical body below. Merging his spirit with his body meant safety, or at least, he could rely on the Eighteen Blood Witch Commands to hold off the enemy for a while.
“Mu Feng, leave your spirit behind!”
Seeing Mu Feng about to re-enter his body, the Blind Master acted without hesitation. He sprayed another burst of his Innate Vital Energy onto the wick and suddenly roared, “Seven Stars Soul-Sealing! Seal… seal… seal…”
Whoosh…
The Blind Master’s voice echoed. As the last “seal” escaped his lips, the massive hand in the sky surged with black energy. It accelerated downward with a WHOOSHING, RUMBLING sound. Mu Feng’s spirit, mere meters from his body, abruptly halted, trapped once more by invisible force. Moments later, a Yin Wind howled, and the sky-obscuring hand closed over it.
“Literature… Martial Arts…!”
Watching the devilish flames surge, about to consume Mu Feng’s spirit, the students sitting cross-legged on the ground reacted with fear and fury. Their voices rose as one. Instantaneously, crisscrossing sword energy materialized, countless streaks shrieking toward the black energy-formed hand.
“Starry Sky Shift! Seal them all!”
The Blind Master roared abruptly, pouring his full power into activating the might of the Seven Stars Soul-Sealing Lamp, this demonic treasure.
Immediately, seven ghastly, menacing skulls materialized on the black energy hand. Flying sand and stones filled the air as the heavens darkened. A fierce, inexplicable gale blew, forcing eyes shut. Robes worn by more advanced students snapped loudly in the wind, their spirits trembling. Lesser students were blown about wildly, disoriented, reeling. Some even had their spiritual souls ripped right from their bodies, swept into the terrifying black energy.
Innumerable streaks of sword energy pierced the sky, shredding the sky-blocking hand into wispy black strands. Yet the demon leader was relentless. Instantly, the terrifying black energy coalesced once more into a massive hand, snatching away the spiritual souls of more and more students. Beside Mu Feng’s inert body, Jian Wushang’s face turned deathly pale; a thin line of blood welled at the corner of his mouth. Nearby, over a dozen Literary Sword Hall disciples collapsed limply to the ground, the spiritual souls within their minds completely ripped away.
Covered by tendrils of black energy, Mu Feng’s spirit instantly darkened. Black energy solidified into chains of dark Talismanic Script, binding his spirit fast. The more he struggled, the tighter the bindings became. Slowly, apart from a dwindling shard of consciousness, his spirit froze. Seeing more students imperiled because of him, rage mixed with terror gripped him, yet escape seemed impossible.
“Disaster! It’s the Yellow Springs Sect’s ultimate devil treasure – the Seven Stars Soul-Sealing Lamp!”
“Form the formation! The Literary-Martial Formation! Quickly!”
…
Gazing up at the near-sky-engulfing hand, the students reacted with panic and fury, voices raw and strained. Experienced masters quickly recognized the origin of the colossal black hand. In terror, they urgently commanded surrounding students to assume formation.
Viewed from above, the seated students were in disarray, cries of startled pain erupting continually as spiritual souls were ripped from minds. Fear pervaded, yet chaos did not reign. More students, alerted by the commotion, poured out from within the Scholastic Palace, joining the battle.
Gradually, as more students reinforced the Literary-Martial Formation, its power swelled. Though it couldn’t shatter the Blind Master’s devilish onslaught, the ceaseless crisscrossing sword energy held him fast, preventing him from retreating with Mu Feng and the captured souls.
Contending against tens of thousands of students single-handedly, this Blind Master, this Devil Leader, possessed terrifying might indeed.
Unknown to others, however, the Blind Master standing motionless at the forest’s edge inwardly groaned. The Seven Stars Soul-Sealing Lamp was immensely powerful, yet its drain on his Spiritual Power was staggering. After just moments overwhelming the students, a hint of exhaustion surfaced.
Discounting the students’ individual strengths, merely suppressing the Scholastic Palace’s restrictions was taxing enough. What caused deeper dread was that these were merely the peripheral restrictions. If the Palace’s ancient, far more potent core restrictions activated, the pressure would multiply tenfold!
“Ouyang! Move! Lead them to seize and destroy Mu Feng’s body! Kill their experts too!”
The Blind Master commanded grimly. Another burst of his Innate Vital Energy sprayed onto the lamp’s wick. Reaching back, he drew a Guqin from his shoulders and sat cross-legged. His fingers plucked the strings lightly, sending out a clear, haunting melody that echoed far and wide. Lamp in one hand, Guqin in the other, he prepared to reveal the former Yellow Springs Sect Leader’s true divine power.
The clear, melodious notes sounded pleasant and lingered in the ear. Ordinary students felt nothing, but the masters among the ranks paled in unison.
“The Injury Guqin! Disaster! That’s the sound of the Injury Guqin!”
“The Seven Stars Soul-Sealing Lamp… the Injury Guqin… It’s Bi Luotian! That supreme Devil Leader, Bi Luotian! Hurry! Alert the Chief Steward! Go!”
…
Unlike most academies, the ancient Xiangshan Academy didn’t measure solely by seniority nor cap study duration. Scholars could stay on, learning freely, even after achieving the ‘Five Books, Five Swords’ mastery requirement.
Among the students seated on the ground were young teens barely twelve and elders deep into their seventies or eighties. Most possessed modest power – perhaps just ‘One Book, One Sword’. But experienced masters numbered among them too. Hearing the haunting Guqin tones, these masters’ expressions changed drastically. They shouted orders, directing students to draw close together, defending the Academy’s mountain gate fiercely.
“Writing Chronicles, Weaving Martial Legends!”
“Literature…, Martial Arts…!”
…
Resonant, fervent chants shook the heavens.
Though scalp-prickling fear swept through them, none panicked. No one retreated. Channeling their Spiritual Power, they united in activating the Literary-Martial Formation, awakening more of the Academy’s restrictions.
Why had the ancient Xiangshan Academy endured countless wars and upheavals, standing proud and unbroken?
Because of generations of students. Students guided by ideals, principles, and high aspirations. Their resilience and unity were the bulwark!
The Scholastic Palace behind them was, truly, the sacred ground within the heart of every scholar, every learned mind. How could they allow this wicked Devil Leader to rampage here?
In this moment, thousands of scholars, united not merely to protect Mu Feng and their captured comrades, fought to defend the Academy’s sanctity and dignity. Although this Devil Leader radiated arrogance and possessed terrifying power, wresting Mu Feng’s spirit away would be impossible unless he slaughtered them all!
Whoosh…
Above the Green Shade Road outside the Scholastic Palace, frigid sword energy erupted violently, slicing the air. Its intensity nearly dispersed the black energy in the sky instantly. Even from afar, its keen edge blew fiercely; leaves detached from trees in unison, piling into thick layers within moments.
Observing the relentless, sharp sword energy converging above the students’ heads, Ouyang Shengnan and the other Black-clad Women, who had bowed in acknowledgment were readying to launch a swift assault, suddenly halted. Their faces paled in unison, stopping dead in their tracks!