Chapter 2222 - 2211: Artifact Spirit Injured

"Buzz..."

Lin Zifeng, whose whole body had been bound by the violet light around the first氏女, suddenly burst forth with golden light like the blazing sun of the Nine Heavens from every inch of his skin. In an instant, on this level of the Human Sacrifice Tower, the air seemed to solidify...

"Pu!"

The sword light of the Red Sword, like blood congealed into a blade, pierced through the body of the first氏女. On her originally resentful, pretty face, an expression of unbearable pain instantly rose.

"Ah..."

That incomparably miserable scream made the remaining seventeen氏女 involuntarily tremble. Watching the slowly fading first氏女, a trace of pity flashed in all their eyes, but it only flickered for a moment before being replaced by boundless hatred and fury!

From the very founding of the Human Sacrifice Tower, the first氏女 had been controlled by the Red Sword, and now, just to kill Lin Zifeng, it actually did not hesitate to sacrifice the first氏女!

In the air, the soul of the first氏女 turned into countless motes of dust, slowly dispersing. In the blink of an eye, only her pretty face still lingered in midair. Curled up on the other side, Lin Zifeng actually seemed to see a faintly apologetic smile rise on her face...

"At last... I no longer have to be enslaved. Young master, please let bygones be bygones, and help them be freed from this endless bondage..."

Her voice drifted away with the dust she had become, scattering through the Human Sacrifice Tower and falling into Lin Zifeng’s ears, making his hands, which had just relaxed, once again clench so tight that the veins bulged.

"Destroy the Red Sword and we’ll be free. There’s no time to lose. Even if we perish together today, we will never again let you bring calamity to our tribe!"

In that delicate shout was mixed limitless rage. As the words fell, the seventeen氏女 surged their own Elemental Power and pounced toward the Red Sword to slay it.

"Humph, just a bunch of slaves. I don’t care how many of you die! Since you’re seeking death, don’t blame this old man for striking ruthlessly!"

Before the voice faded, the Red Sword traced out an arc, slicing the first氏女’s violet robe into powder. Facing seventeen Saint Realm experts, it showed not the slightest timidity; on the contrary, its speed was a few degrees faster than before!

Off to the side, Lin Zifeng wanted to step forward to help, but with the state his body was in, being able not to drag them down was already sheer luck!

His once sharply chiseled face was now deathly pale, without a trace of blood. Even his breathing had grown extremely weak. Thin strands of blood were slowly seeping from his skin, making his long robe, already stained dark red, look even more hideous.

"Ruoyun, just now... you saved me, didn’t you? Thanks. But why is my body suffering such a huge backlash?" Lin Zifeng was so weak now that even the words in his heart sounded faint and powerless.

Yet contrary to his expectations, Mu Ruoyun’s melodious voice carried an undisguisable weariness and frailty as she slowly said, "Humph, just now this young lady risked herself to use Divine Power for you. Fortunately it was only the most basic Instant movement, and only a dozen meters or so. Otherwise, with your current strength, all the meridians in your body would already have snapped!"

"Hoo... Just now, to suppress Divine Power down to a level your body could withstand, took quite some effort. This young lady can’t help you anymore now. You’ll have to fend for yourself. Let’s hope these seventeen氏女 can destroy that Red Sword."

As her voice fell, no matter how Lin Zifeng roared in his heart, he could no longer get any response from Mu Ruoyun. Watching the seventeen氏女 battle the Red Sword, Lin Zifeng tried to struggle to his feet, but simply could not manage it.

"Damn it! Why is my strength always so weak when facing an enemy! This time, just to help me escape danger, Ruoyun even suffered backlash... Why!?"

Curled up on the stone slab, blood slowly seeped from between Lin Zifeng’s tightly clenched fingers. His originally dim eyes seemed to be stirred by that streak of bright red, regaining their luster once more!

Suddenly, Lin Zifeng, not knowing where the strength came from, slowly crawled upright, leaning against the Stone Wall and gasping harshly. After his blood had coagulated, his skin and long robe were already stuck together as one.

"No, I can’t die. Even without Ruoyun’s help, I, Lin Zifeng, will never lose to a mere broken sword! There has to be a way to defeat it!"

Leaning against the Stone Wall, Lin Zifeng stared at the Red Sword locked in fierce combat with the seventeen氏女, calming himself and pondering a countermeasure.

He used his senses to scan his physical condition once, and only then did Lin Zifeng relax slightly. Just now, Mu Ruoyun had used Divine Power to Instant-transfer him a dozen meters away, but fortunately it had only brushed the surface. Lin Zifeng was at this moment simply unable to bear such a fierce speed after Instant breaking through the rules of Time Order.

Luckily, although extremely weak, his injuries were not too serious—still within what he could endure. Furthermore, Lin Zifeng was surprised to discover that before Mu Ruoyun fell asleep, she had actually helped him replenish his Elemental Power to full!

All along, Lin Zifeng had relied on the inexhaustible Elemental Power of the Magic Bracelet, so he had never paid much attention to his own reserves. But now, the Elemental Power left in his body was only at about the Saint Middle Stage, leaving him no choice but to spare not even half a bit.

"Looks like I’ve been relying on Ruoyun far too much before. When it comes down to it, facing an enemy, I actually feel a trace of fear."

He murmured softly to himself. Lin Zifeng faintly remembered that the reason he could trample those stronger than his own Realm underfoot and survive crisis after crisis was primarily thanks to Mu Ruoyun’s contributions!

Precisely because of this, Lin Zifeng’s originally razor-sharp combat instincts had been slowly blunted under Mu Ruoyun’s repeated assistance. Now, only by surviving a true life-and-death battle could he once more become the Lin Zifeng whose edge pierced the heavens!

The path of Cultivation is by nature an act against the heavens. If one relies on others in everything, it brings no benefit at all to oneself. Only by grasping a sliver of insight between life and death can one break through.

Thinking this, the corners of Lin Zifeng’s mouth lifted in a faint smile. "From now on, unless it’s a matter of life and death, I will never again borrow Ruoyun’s strength. Otherwise, the beast hidden in the depths of my soul will have its razor-sharp fangs worn away!"

In Lin Zifeng’s roar was boundless confidence and dominance. As his words fell, he actually slowly stood up. Though heavily wounded, he clenched his teeth, forcing his body to stop trembling.

With both feet planted on the stone slab, the lofty battle intent that had been extinguished within Lin Zifeng flared up once more. His somewhat thin frame was now as steady as Tai Mountain!

Narrowing his eyes slightly, pure golden light flashed in Lin Zifeng’s hand. At that moment, the seventeen氏女 simultaneously unleashed the Elemental Power in their hands. Even the Red Sword did not dare receive it head-on and could only dodge about in all directions, completely ignoring Lin Zifeng, the outsider!

"Now! Gray Dragon Palm!"

"Whoosh..."

Before the words finished, Lin Zifeng’s figure turned into a residual shadow. The dazzling golden light in his hand sought to smash the Red Sword in midair to pieces!