Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 97 Escape from Pursuit

Crimson sand was swept up by the fierce energy waves and flew everywhere. The remaining star-patterned array light on the broken platform teetered on the verge of collapse under the pressure of the Void Warrior, making the desolation of this ancient ruin even more tragic.

Lu Ming was still fighting, and Ning Qingxue was still unconscious.

Lu Ming stood with his sword in front of Ning Qingxue, no longer the relaxed and domineering figure he had been at the beginning.

Even with spirit stones and pills to restore spiritual power and blood, the rate of consumption is far faster than the rate of recovery.

The relentless battle was draining Lu Ming's last bit of spiritual energy, and the healing of his flesh and blood was getting slower and slower.

Lu Ming's soul was also deeply exhausted from the constant battles.

The fragments of the immortal sword within his dantian began to subside, only able to protect him from being corrupted by the void, but powerless to provide him with even a fraction of his fighting strength.

Gradually, Qingping's sword intent dissipated like wisps of smoke, and the Xuanwu Sword Technique lost its former power. Every sword strike Lu Ming made seemed to be draining his last bit of life force.

Lu Ming's sword became slower and slower, and the force of his strikes also decreased.

However, he still kept his attention on protecting Ning Qingxue and transferring spiritual power to her.

At the same time, the rampant power of nothingness seemed inexhaustible, and the bizarre creatures it conjured could never be killed or eradicated.

The two Void Warriors simultaneously unleashed their dark fists and claws, slamming them down on Lu Ming's shoulders and back with overwhelming ferocity.

"Bang!"

The dull sound was swallowed by the sandstorm. Lu Ming felt a sweet taste in his throat, and a mouthful of scalding blood spurted out, splashing onto the red sand in front of him.

Lu Ming could no longer hold on, and his body staggered forward like an arrow from a broken bow.

But in the instant he fell, he forcefully twisted his body, using his back to firmly protect Ning Qingxue in the center of the broken platform, and slammed heavily onto the cold stone surface.

The snowflakes in the clouds slipped from his palm, the sword light dimmed to the extreme, and he leaned against his side, no longer uttering a sound of swords.

Lu Ming's consciousness sank into darkness, with only his fingertips still slightly curled, pointing towards Ning Qingxue.

His blue robe was soaked with blood and dust, and his once upright figure now appeared exceptionally frail.

The Void Warrior roared and pounced on the broken platform, his dark mist surging, his claws raised high, ready to tear the powerless boy to shreds.

At this critical moment, a faint bell rang out from the center of the broken platform.

Ning Qingxue slowly opened her eyes.

Her high fever had subsided considerably. Lu Ming used the Soul Warming Pill and his own true qi to heal her wounds, and the Star Pattern of the Ruins blocked some of the void's erosion, allowing her to break free from the nightmare.

The first thing she saw was Lu Ming, covered in blood, lying unconscious in front of her, while the Void Warrior in the dark mist was wielding its deadly claws and lunging at him.

In that instant, Ning Qingxue's heart was in turmoil.

Her cultivation had only recovered a trace, but at this moment she couldn't care less about the secret technique consuming her soul, nor could she care less about the disordered spiritual energy within her body.

Ning Qingxue formed hand seals, and the Heart-Shattering Bell rang loudly as she boldly activated the secret technique of the Heavenly Palace.

The demonic path is about defying fate and seeking life in the face of death, igniting demonic fire in the midst of annihilation, and naturally it is not lacking in related secret techniques and forbidden arts.

"bell!!"

The bell rang continuously, and slowly a sharp sound that shook the heavens erupted, with a wisp of Ning Qingxue's own soul as the trigger, and the Heart-Shattering Bell burst forth with dazzling silver light.

An invisible sound wave swept out like a tsunami, piercing straight into the origin of the Void Warrior.

These entities, formed from the overflowing power of nothingness, are essentially soul-like beings without physical form.

Startled by this soul-stirring sound, they immediately let out a silent, mournful howl, their movements stiffened, and they could no longer advance even an inch.

Ning Qingxue's face turned deathly pale instantly, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, and the excruciating pain from the depletion of her soul made her tremble all over.

But she still struggled to get up, staggered up from the star pattern, and stumbled to Lu Ming's side.

"Hey... wake up!"

She reached out and touched Lu Ming's shoulder, her fingertips brushing against something warm—his blood, tinged with a faint gold.

For the first time, panic flickered in her usually aloof eyes, and her voice trembled.

Lu Ming was unconscious and weak, only able to maintain his life thanks to the Dao Foundation.

The Void Warrior had recovered from the shock of the Soul Sound and roared as it charged forward again.

Ning Qingxue didn't dare to delay. With all her might, she put Lu Ming's arm on her shoulder and gritted her teeth to support his body.

Lu Ming had reached the Great Perfection of Body Tempering, and his figure was tall and strong. With her current weak body, it would be an immense weight to carry him, but she gritted her teeth and moved down the broken platform.

"I won't let you die here..."

She murmured softly, as if speaking to Lu Ming, but also to herself.

The Heart-Shattering Bell trembled slightly again, using its remaining spiritual power to unleash a faint sound wave, disrupting the Void Warrior's steps and buying itself a moment of life.

Ning Qingxue half-supported and half-dragged Lu Ming as they rushed off the broken platform and staggered away among the ruins.

At the same time, Ning Qingxue took out a formation plate and kept calculating auspicious positions, trying her best to find that glimmer of hope.

Ning Qingxue could not use much spiritual power, relying entirely on the secret technique she had previously used to overdraw her life potential.

Red sand washed over our ankles, the ruins cast heavy shadows, and the wind howled through the collapsed palaces.

The two figures, clinging to each other as they fled, appeared exceptionally small and desperate in this desolate landscape.

The Void Warrior relentlessly pursued them, the inky mist following them like a shadow, while the endless Shadow Soldiers surrounded them from all directions, sealing off all escape routes.

Ning Qingxue's strength was waning. The dual depletion of her soul and spiritual power caused her vision to blur, and every step she took felt like walking on cotton, as if she could collapse at any moment.

But when she looked at Lu Ming, who was unconscious on her shoulder, the obsession that had been etched into her bones since childhood suddenly erupted.

She had watched helplessly as her mother died protecting her, and struggled alone in the darkness.

This time, she didn't want the person protecting her to die again.

Just as she was about to collapse from exhaustion, a flash of light appeared on the array plate.

Following the light, Ning Qingxue's gaze suddenly swept to a small, dark room buried in sand behind a half-collapsed giant pillar beside her.

The stone door to the dark chamber was half-open, covered by dust and sand, and would have been completely undetectable without the guidance of spiritual light.

Ning Qingxue used her last bit of strength to lead Lu Mingchong to the front of the secret chamber.

She then activated the array plate again, continuously deducing and breaking the array within.

Blood continued to spill from Ning Qingxue's mouth as the backlash from the secret technique worsened, but she dared not stop at all.

As the Void Force materialized into deadly soldiers pursued them, the sound of the Heart-Shattering Bell began to gradually weaken, and its intimidating power slowly diminished.

Ning Qingxue lightly traced her brow with her finger, and two drops of essence blood flew out, one landing on the array plate and the other on the Heart-Shattering Bell.

Although she can barely hold off the Void Warrior, Ning Qingxue is already at her limit.

Stimulated by Ning Qingxue's essence and blood, the array plate operated at an even faster frequency, and finally, at the last moment, the stone gate was successfully opened.

Ning Qingxue pushed Lu Ming into the room, then stumbled and fell in herself, before closing the stone door behind her.

With a soft "bang," the stone door closed, shutting out all the pursuers from the outside world.

The secret chamber was pitch black, with only a faint ray of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the rocks, barely enough to make out each other's outlines.

The air inside the stone chamber was free from the corrosive power of nothingness, only carrying a faint scent of dust, making it the only safe haven in this desolate place.

Ning Qingxue could no longer hold on and collapsed next to Lu Ming.

She was panting heavily, her clothes soaked with cold sweat, and the excruciating pain in her soul made her tremble all over.

She turned to look at Lu Ming, who was unconscious beside her. Looking at his blood-stained blue robe and his arm still protecting him, she felt a mix of emotions.

In the darkness, she leaned gently against the cold stone wall, gazing at the unconscious Lu Ming.

Ning Qingxue's voice was as soft as a sigh, carrying a hint of relief:

"I never thought I'd end up dying alongside a fool like you, but it's better than dying alone."

Outside the secret chamber, the roar of the power of nothingness continued unabated, while inside, a deathly silence reigned.

Two figures, clinging to each other, appear as insignificant as dust in the face of despair.