Chapter 111: Going Out
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With the final layer of stone shattered, the entire second level was bathed in light. Jiang Lan retracted the shimmering fragments. Once gathered, the shards merged again, forming 365 brilliant specks that swirled around Jiang Lan like stars around the cosmos.
“Let’s get out of here.”
A roar from Yinglong shook the ground, causing all the stone pillars above to crumble and fall.
Outside, Rong Qi, who was reporting, nearly fell from the shock of the dragon’s roar. “Great-uncle, what was that sound?”
“Trouble!” the Elder of the Arcane Sect muttered anxiously. He handed over the control of the formation to Wen Ren. “Hold the line for now. The Patriarch will go and get your master out.”
“Understood, Patriarch,” Wen Ren replied, taking the formation flag.
Still bewildered, Wen Ren recalled how, after a dispute with fellow martial artists, his master had brought him to the Patriarch’s side to keep him from interfering. Actually, even if he were sent, Wen Ren felt he wouldn’t be able to act decisively.
The Elder of the Arcane Sect swiftly teleported several steps ahead and arrived at the dark chamber, which looked as though it had been blasted open, revealing a huge breach.
His beloved disciple was hanging by one claw of a colossal dragon.
“Wretched scoundrel! Release my disciple at once, or I shall flay you alive, tear you limb from limb, and sever your soul!”
“Hahaha! Thief! You covet my dragon’s blood. Now that I have escaped, I will make you pay your blood debt in full!”
Jiang Lan hurriedly intervened, “Don’t get caught in battle frenzy. If he cries for help, all the scattered disciples of the Overseer will return. They are reclusive powers, not something we can resist with our current strength.”
“You coward, what do you know? They conspired to kill my aunt. This blood feud can never be forgiven!”
“Last time, your impulsiveness led to your aunt’s tragic death. Do you want a repeat?”
“I…”
“He bears a mark of crimson and purple on his forehead, a sign of supreme destiny, not of doom. This matter requires careful planning. Even if you seek revenge, you must first settle your aunt’s affairs.”
“You make a good point.” Reluctantly, Li Yunhao threw Rong Mu, who was hanging from the dragon’s claw, out.
Though severely injured, Rong Mu managed to stabilize; attempting to ride a sword now would be difficult.
“Now’s the time.”
A dragon’s roar reverberated through the circle. Li Yunhao’s true form charged upward toward the top of the dome with Jiang Lan. Riding the tremendous momentum, Jiang Lan leapt and struck down with all her might.
The top of the luminous dome began to fracture.
Those who had followed Sanmu from behind cheered wildly upon seeing this, “Finally, we’re getting out!” “Wonderful!”
Yet Jiang Lan frowned, “Step back.”
Li Yunhao looked puzzled, about to ask why, when brilliant white light suddenly flashed above the dome. Thunder rumbled, illuminating the entire enclosure like daylight.
From the newly opened fissure emerged a gigantic foot resembling a dragon’s claw, immense beyond measure.
“What is that?” Yunhao asked Jiang Lan on his back. “Why does it look like a dragon?”
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“It’s a Kui.”
“A Kui? What’s that?”
“This Kui has only one foot, a pale body with no horns. Wherever it goes, storms and rain follow. Its light rivals the sun and moon, its roar mimics thunder. If it joins a group, it’s formidable.”
Yunhao looked up at the fully revealed creature in the sky, which resembled a blue ox, and sneered, “Not so impressive.”
Jiang Lan glanced at him.
“Only one dragon foot and already showing off? Let me teach it a lesson!”
Underneath the mask, Jiang Lan watched this young dragon with the recklessness of a fledgling.
She swung her sleeves in a sweeping motion, crossing her arms behind her back. “Go over there and deal with this beast.”
“That’s the spirit, you scoundrel. Watch me thrash it until it’s battered and humiliated!”
Yunhao was exhilarated. Possibly from being confined too long, encountering such a powerful creature with dragon blood stirred the fierce warrior instinct buried deep in his veins.
He unleashed massive fireballs that scorched the Kui’s skin. If not for the Elder of the Arcane Sect reinforcing the formation with his magic, the creature might have been destroyed.
With one side’s mana dwindling to less than a third and the other receiving continual replenishment, the tide soon began to turn in favor of the elder.
“That thief’s fate is truly exceptional. Hey, scoundrel, want to see mine?”
Jiang Lan glanced at him. “A mass of black clouds, pitch dark.”
“Pah, pah…”
Before finishing his taunt, Yunhao was kicked hard in the forehead by the Kui, sending him flying far away.
Jiang Lan looked again; finally, the black clouds dispersed, replaced by a brilliant red glow.
“Fly over.”
“What?”
“Fly over.”
“Isn’t that suicide? I just got kicked and my head still hurts.”
Yunhao darted through the circle, dodging the Kui’s attacks.
“Fly over. Leave the rest to me.”
“If anything goes wrong, stay away from my aunt!”
Seeing Jiang Lan silent, Yunhao had no choice but to agree. “Fine, fine, alright!”
Dodging thunderclouds hurled by the Kui, Yunhao flew toward it.
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From a distance, the controlling Elder of the Arcane Sect sneered, “Overestimating yourself!”
Yunhao had braced for another blow but, suddenly, the Kui became docile without warning, showing none of its previous savagery.
Turning to look back at Jiang Lan on his back, he hadn’t fully turned when a tremendous palm strike slammed him backward. The force was even stronger than the Kui’s kick earlier, nearly smashing his head apart.
“Why’d you hit me?”
“Not hitting you, hitting who else?”
Yunhao watched the Kui suddenly turn and fly toward the enemies, then asked Jiang Lan, “What’s up with that big guy?”
“It’s awake.”
“What?”
“Too talkative. Let’s go.”
Those behind, seeing Jiang Lan exit through the gap, followed suit.
Behind Jiang Lan trailed a group of demons who had refused to form contracts with humans and thus fled alongside her.
Once clear of the ambush, exhaustion and arm pain surged through Jiang Lan’s body.
Sitting atop the dragon’s back, she instructed Yunhao and Li Mo, “The Overseer is currently entangled by the Kui and cannot control your movements. Fly directly southeast for several dozen miles to a temple. Seek out the old monk there, Master Kong Kong, who is a gold-devouring beast. Tell him you’re looking for Chi Feng; he will arrange things for you.”
Jiang Lan gently patted Li Mo’s head. “Do you still remember Brother Chi Feng? When he used to steal your candy, and you told on him to me, I even beat him up behind Mother’s back to get even for you.”
Tears glistened at the corner of Li Mo’s eyes. “I remember, I remember.”
“Ahem—Go find him, but don’t reveal my identity.”
“Auntie, what’s wrong with you?” Li Mo asked, frightened by Jiang Lan’s pale face and incessant coughing. She was the only family she had found.
“Nothing. Now put me down quietly. Don’t alert anyone.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
“And don’t call me ‘Auntie’ anymore. I can’t risk exposing my whereabouts.”
“Yes… my lord.”
Jiang Lan looked at the obedient girl, then at the other demons on the dragon’s back.
They kept their distance, unwilling to eavesdrop.
First, out of gratitude—without this masked man, they could never have escaped that hellish place.