The First Summoner - Chapter 41
Elder Yu dodged the blazing fist and drove his sword toward Shen Yan.
Crushing pressure descended.
Her chest tightened, and breath became difficult.
Shen Yan slipped past the blade with crisp footwork.
She did not notice the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine creeping silently behind her until it coiled around her ankle and tried to drag her away.
Her right hand clenched.
Flames engulfed her fist.
She punched down.
Boom!
The strike fell like a flaming meteor and blasted the tendril apart.
Both Elder Yu and the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine had fixed their attention on her.
They were grievously wounded, their strength nearly exhausted.
Even so, either remained a terrifying opponent for someone who possessed no spiritual power.
Shen Yan would never surrender the Blood-Devouring Pearl.
Then there was only one choice.
Fight.
Her eyes turned glacial.
Flames surged across her entire body, as though she had stepped from a sea of fire.
Elder Yu’s expression grew darker.
He had sacrificed far too much to fail now.
He would take the Blood-Devouring Pearl back.
“Whoever you are, you will leave your life here today!”
Shen Yan slowly raised her eyes.
“Come and try.”
She condensed another fire-shrouded fist and drove it toward him.
Elder Yu slashed.
The sword-light tore through the air, wrapped in a vicious cutting gale, and collided with the incoming fire.
Boom!
The blade shattered the flames.
As the remaining sword-light fell toward Shen Yan, a small black pagoda appeared in her hand.
Clang!
She raised it and blocked.
The impact forced her several steps back.
Ninefold, still inhabiting the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, nearly went mad.
The pagoda was not a shield!
It was a weapon of control and attack!
Elder Yu narrowed his eyes at the black pagoda.
Instinct told him it was no ordinary artifact.
Who was this masked girl?
Flames covered Shen Yan from head to foot.
The badly wounded Soul-Severing Spirit Vine did not dare approach her.
Cunningly, it also stopped attacking.
It wanted Shen Yan and Elder Yu to wear each other down so it could profit from the aftermath.
Before Elder Yu could react, Shen Yan hurled the pagoda at him.
Alarm exploded through his heart.
He swung his sword.
Clang!
The pagoda was knocked to the ground.
At the same instant, it released a piercing shriek that drew Elder Yu’s full attention.
Shen Yan used the opening.
She rushed directly in front of him, drew the Crimson Flame Dagger, and drove it toward his throat.
Elder Yu recovered and raised his sword to block.
What happened next stunned him.
Even with his weapon in place, Shen Yan did not slow her assault.
One weapon attacked. The other defended.
Elder Yu was almost forced backward.
The flames rolling from Shen Yan scorched him until breathing became difficult.
His eyes turned vicious.
“This old man is an outer elder of the Qiutian Sect! Have you considered the consequences of stealing the Blood-Devouring Pearl from me?”
“The consequence is—”
Killing intent surged in Shen Yan’s eyes.
“I keep the Blood-Devouring Pearl.”
Her leg flashed out and slammed into the same leg the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine had pierced earlier.
Bang!
Pain twisted Elder Yu’s aged face.
His sword weakened for a fraction of a second.
The black pagoda had already appeared soundlessly behind his head.
At Shen Yan’s command, it smashed forward.
Elder Yu sensed the danger.
His expression changed.
An enormous pressure erupted from him like a violent gale and hurled Shen Yan to the ground.
Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
Pain tore through her entire body.
The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda was not knocked away.
It accelerated.
Elder Yu spun and swung his sword, trying to repel it.
Boom!
The pagoda dodged in midair.
He attacked several times in succession, but every strike missed.
When he finally turned his attention back to Shen Yan, he discovered—
She was gone.
In the next instant, the black pagoda vanished too.
Elder Yu’s expression changed drastically.
Where was she?
Where was his Blood-Devouring Pearl?
Nearly crazed, he searched the forest.
His gaze finally landed on the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine lurking nearby.
“Was it you?”
His reason collapsed with the pearl’s disappearance.
Face contorted, Elder Yu raised his sword and attacked the vine.
The Soul-Severing Spirit Vine was dumbfounded.
It had been watching Shen Yan the entire time.
When she vanished into thin air, even the vine had been stunned.
Now Elder Yu unleashed attack after attack against it.
Its own fury erupted.
*You old bastard came here to steal my Blood-Devouring Pearl. Now that the pearl is gone, you dare take your anger out on me? Do you think I am so easily bullied?*
*If I don’t kill you, then my name isn’t Soul-Severing!*
They fought with renewed savagery, each venting every trace of rage upon the other.
Dozens of exchanges passed without a victor.
The injured contestants and Qiutian Sect disciples slowly regained the ability to move.
Terror filled their eyes.
Elder Yu had never intended to save them.
He had used them.
Run!
They had to escape at any cost.
The survivors staggered toward safety.
While fighting the Soul-Severing Spirit Vine, Elder Yu noticed their flight.
His frenzied mind cleared slightly.
He had to silence every witness.
If word of what he had done escaped, he would never retain his position as an outer elder of the Qiutian Sect.
He forced the vine back and shot after the survivors.
His sword swept out without hesitation.
Several people fell.
“No! Stay away from us!” the rest screamed.
Elder Yu’s face was bloodless. He was nearing his limit.
His stare remained cold.
“Only the dead keep secrets. This old man can rest easy only after all of you become corpses.”
The survivors’ pupils suddenly contracted.
Elder Yu thought they were terrified of him.
Rip!
A sharp dagger punched through his throat.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
When he opened his mouth, blood poured out.
“Who…”
Clatter.
His sword slipped from his hand.
Behind him stood a masked girl in purple.
The Crimson Flame Dagger was buried in his throat, her gaze sharp and cold.
She ripped the weapon free.
Blood sprayed through the air.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
