Chapter Forty-Two: Breaking Through the Encirclement

The group fled in a panic, running blindly as the leeches pursued relentlessly. Demon Night glanced back at his companions, realizing that outrunning these creatures alone would be nearly impossible.

“You all go ahead—I’ll be right behind you!” he shouted, gripping the Celestial Scar and charging straight toward the leeches. Liu Xin looked at him, worry filling her eyes, while Da Sheng called out, “Demon Night, you must be careful!” Seeing Demon Night resolutely buying them time, everyone felt a surge of gratitude and admiration.

“Quick, everyone—escape! Don’t let our junior brother’s efforts be wasted,” Peng Lei urged, casting a heartfelt glance at Demon Night before turning to lead the others away.

“Devour the waves—consume all things!” Demon Night leaped high, his massive sword slashing down at the leeches. Yet as the blade touched their slick skin, it simply slid aside without leaving a mark.

“How can this be?” Demon Night gasped, stunned to see the leeches unharmed. In that brief moment of shock, the leeches had surrounded him completely.

He hastily summoned a spiritual armor and conjured a pair of ethereal wings, trying to soar skyward. But after merely two meters, the miasma in the air grew denser, corroding his wings at a speed visible to the naked eye. His energy flow faltered, his armor was eaten away in tatters, and he was forced to drop back to the ground.

Seeing Demon Night encircled, Peng Lei’s face was tight with concern as he instructed Zhao Mu and Li Qin, “Brother Li, look after my junior sisters for me. I’m going to help Demon Night! Zhao Mu, protect Liu Xin and Xiao Xiao well. Flee ahead—we’ll catch up soon!”

Once Li Qin nodded, Peng Lei dashed toward Demon Night, praying silently, Hold on, little brother—don’t let anything happen to you!

Peng Lei drew his treasured sword. “Feathers in the wind!” he cried, attacking the leeches besieging Demon Night. “Are you alright?” he shouted anxiously, plunging into the fray.

“Don’t come in, senior brother!” Demon Night replied as soon as he heard Peng Lei’s call, but it was too late. Watching his senior brother step in front of him, Demon Night felt both moved and helpless.

“Senior brother, their skin is too slick—physical attacks are useless!” he exclaimed.

“I know. Even my ‘Feathers in the Wind’ only gave a few of them minor wounds. We need to find a way out,” Peng Lei replied as they defended themselves side by side, fending off leech attacks with their weapons.

Again and again, Demon Night’s strikes simply slid off. Growing desperate, he was soon panting with exhaustion. Back to back with Peng Lei, Demon Night said, “This isn’t working. I’ll try to break open a gap—when I do, you escape!”

“No! I came here to get you out. How could I abandon you now? Say no more—I’m not leaving. If I go, the pressure on you will only increase, and you won’t last,” Peng Lei rejected the suggestion outright, launching another attack at the leeches.

Suddenly, Demon Night remembered the jade pendant his master, Liu Qing, had given him before they set out. He quickly retrieved it from the Creation Cauldron and smacked his own forehead. “Ah! How foolish I am! Senior brother, we’re saved! When the time comes, let’s escape together!”

Peng Lei glanced at him, puzzled. “Demon Night, what did you think of? What should we do?”

“Senior brother, before we left, Master gave me this jade pendant. It contains seventy percent of his power in a single attack—but it can only be used once. When the moment comes, we’ll break through together!”

Hearing this, Peng Lei turned to him. “Then what are you waiting for? Use it now! The more leeches gather, the more dangerous it gets!”

“Alright! Be ready—there’s only one chance!” Demon Night wrapped the pendant in spiritual energy and sent it into the air, then smashed it with the Celestial Scar.

A thunderous boom resounded as an overwhelming pressure exploded from the pendant. All the leeches, except for Demon Night and Peng Lei standing beneath it, were instantly forced to the ground. Seeing the attacks cease, Peng Lei grabbed Demon Night and bolted.

As they ran, Demon Night looked back. Above the shattered pendant, a spectral figure appeared, slowly extending a finger that pressed down upon the leeches. Where it pointed, a massive crater formed.

Demon Night gazed at the pit, full of envy and awe. When will I possess such power? he wondered. As his pace slowed, Peng Lei urged, “Do you have a death wish? Run! If the leeches surround us again, we’re finished!”

Jolted back to his senses, Demon Night hurried to catch up with Peng Lei, racing toward the group.