Chapter 198: Death?

The sword light flashed past, moving so swiftly that even "Perception" could only register a fleeting silver line. Xu Xiaoshou didn't even have time to register shock before a sharp pain shot through his chest. The sword from the staff had actually broken through the protective effects of his various passive abilities, piercing directly into his Grandmaster Body.

*Clang!*

The contact between his flesh and the sword produced a sound like clashing weapons, startling the onlookers.

"What kind of body is that?"

Lei Shuangxing's face was etched with disbelief. He hadn't expected anything that even his "Divine Extraction Staff" couldn't pierce. Just as Xu Xiaoshou had suspected, this was one of the continent's twenty-one famous swords! The staff-sword: Divine Extraction Staff!

"So it's the Grandmaster Body... is that it?" Lei Shuangxing found it somewhat absurd. Was this unreliable character before him truly the legendary Grandmaster Body? But aside from this explanation, what else could withstand a thrust from a renowned sword? Even though this particular thrust wasn't the "Divine Extraction Staff's" true attacking method!

Xu Xiaoshou, on the other hand, was astonished by the slender sword's speed, which far exceeded his expectations. Even his Grandmaster-level "Agility" couldn't react in time.

"A famous sword..." He grew even more convinced that this sword was extraordinary. After all, this was the first time he had encountered a weapon that even "Rebound" couldn't fully dislodge.

The "Divine Extraction Staff" was exceptionally slender. Even though it was lodged in his Grandmaster Body, most of it had still penetrated. Xu Xiaoshou initially felt nothing, but then a soft groan suddenly came from behind him.

"Pain..."

"Cursed, Passive Value, 1."

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. Mu Zixi! This little girl had truly been too inconspicuous. Wrapped around his back as a wooden snake, completely weightless, she must have been stabbed to wake up like this.

Looking down, he could only see the hilt of the staff-sword. It wasn't just a stab; she had been directly impaled! Mu Zixi's face showed a struggle, her eyes still tightly shut. The "Life Spirit Seal" she held in her mouth ensured that even though she was impaled, she wouldn't die on the spot. Instead, the piercing pain brought her out of unconsciousness, and her eyes finally burst open as if breaking free from a nightmare.

*Whoosh!* A warm breath escaped her lips. Mu Zixi blinked, her eyes filled with innocent confusion. With a quick sweep of her spiritual sense, she instantly grasped the situation, yet it only deepened her confusion.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what happened?"

Xu Xiaoshou replied, "You were stabbed."

Mu Zixi's eyes widened in bewilderment.

"Don't believe me? Look down!"

The little girl was on his back. To look down, she would have to peer over Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, but the moment she shifted, a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. The pain made her grimace.

"Xu Xiaoshou! Can't you pull it out?"

"Haha, I'd like to..."

Xu Xiaoshou realized this thing was far from as simple as he'd imagined. It was already remarkable that his Grandmaster Body could halt its penetration; to pull out this sentient sword... he'd have to kill the blind man in front of him!

As he pondered, he noticed Mu Zixi behind him had suddenly fallen silent. Xu Xiaoshou used his "Perception" and saw that the girl was clearly captivated by Ye Xiaotian. More precisely, she was astonished by his black and white eyes.

"Stop staring! Hold onto me, and be careful!"

Grabbing the staff-sword in front of him with both hands, Xu Xiaoshou struggled to prevent it from penetrating further. However, Lei Shuangxing was clearly no pushover; with a flick of his finger, the Divine Extraction Staff continued to slide deeper.

"I feel like I can undo it..." Mu Zixi suddenly spoke, her focus clearly still on Ye Xiaotian's black and white eyes.

Xu Xiaoshou froze. *What kind of joke was that?* The Dean's Throne Power couldn't even undo itself, and *you* can?

Even Lei Shuangxing was startled by her words. After a long pause, he sneered, "Heh heh, two imbeci..."

Before he could finish, Mu Zixi's beautiful eyes widened, and the black and white mist in Ye Xiaotian's eyes actually began to dissipate. However, it lasted less than a second before bloody tears streamed from Mu Zixi's eyes, startling Xu Xiaoshou.

"Don't force it!"

Mu Zixi closed her eyes in pain. Her head began throbbing intensely again, but this time, she clearly discerned the source of the agony... Her eyes!

Lei Shuangxing was utterly astonished. This was the "God-Demon Eyes" unique to the Lei family; how could this little girl undo it?

"Who are you?!" He suddenly trembled all over. Could it be that this girl was also from the Holy Divine Palace, a beneficiary of that past incident? No, not at all! Then only one possibility remained...

Just then, Ye Xiaotian's body suddenly trembled, interrupting Lei Shuangxing's thoughts. Clearly, the white-haired Daoist child had been struggling fiercely, needing only an opportunity for external intervention. And that opportunity, Mu Zixi had just provided.

The moment his eyes burst open, the world seemed to change color. The might of the Throne instantly pressed down on the entire sky, causing the ground to crack. Ye Xiaotian's eyes blazed with anger. With a single move, the space within a radius of several miles was completely sealed!

"Since you've come, then stay!"

Lei Shuangxing pulled back his hand, summoning back the Divine Extraction Staff. He had already realized the situation was spiraling out of control. He never expected that the situation's collapse would ultimately stem from a little girl – something utterly unforeseen. Without the restraint of a hostage, who could possibly stop the Dean? He was simply a beast unleashed!

"Dean!" Xu Xiaoshou exclaimed with joy. With Ye Xiaotian awake, the rest could be left to him. Could he finally retreat unharmed?

A discordant sound of stone cracking suddenly rang out, echoing through the void. Without turning his head, Xu Xiaoshou "perceived" that the sword energy jade had shattered. Under Lei Shuangxing's fist, a magnificent and terrifying wave of sword energy reappeared. Its terrifying speed meant that almost the moment Xu Xiaoshou detected it, it was already pressing against his forehead!

"Watch out!" Ye Xiaotian roared, his fingers curling. The advantage of spatial power, which ignored distance, was perfectly demonstrated at this moment. He instantly transferred Xu Xiaoshou, along with Mu Zixi, to a position behind the sword energy!

Only then did a black streak appear in the void, and the terrifying suction of a black hole immediately threatened to pull Xu Xiaoshou in. Ye Xiaotian sealed it with a gesture, and the space instantly mended itself.

"Holy moly!" Xu Xiaoshou's clothes were immediately soaked with cold sweat. Only then did he truly understand how suicidal his previous actions had been. This was an attack that his current cultivation level simply couldn't block; he hadn't even had time to react!

Ye Xiaotian exhaled in relief. He hadn't dared to displace the sword energy because he couldn't afford to take that risk. If Xu Xiaoshou had died instantly due to space being torn apart, he would surely face the wrath of an enraged Elder Sang! Not to mention, Mu Zixi was still on Xu Xiaoshou's back. Two of his great disciples...

As everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Lei Shuangxing's mouth curved into a sneer.

"I told you," he said, "this sword energy can lock onto its target."

Almost simultaneously, as if to prove his words, the sky-rending white sword energy reversed its course, swiftly slashing back towards Xu Xiaoshou. Xu Xiaoshou instinctively shuddered, causing Mu Zixi to be flung off his back. The little girl's face was horrified. She instinctively shot out vines, attempting to re-wrap herself around Xu Xiaoshou. But it was too late...

Ye Xiaotian also hadn't anticipated this turn of events. Lei Shuangxing's earlier warning had been completely forgotten amidst the chaotic confrontations. Who would have guarded against such a move? He reached out, attempting to transfer the tall, slender figure again, but likewise... It was too late!

The white sword energy rapidly expanded in Xu Xiaoshou's pupils. Like the sword energy he himself produced, its speed was utterly irresistible. The only thing he could do was merely extend his hand slightly – like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?

The sword energy whistled directly past. In that instant, all sounds ceased.