Su Qian's body trembled as he staggered backward. Suddenly—pfft!—a mouthful of dark red blood spurted from his lips. The moment it left his mouth, the blood turned black, freezing into tiny shards of ice that shattered as they hit the ground.
A faint hint of color finally returned to his pale face. Lifting his eyes, he looked toward the Earth Demon Old Ghost, who still stood tall in midair, his expression relaxed and disdainful.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Su Qian's lips. The difference between them was clear as day—one he could not possibly bridge.
Suppressing the turmoil in his chest, Su Qian formed a rapid sequence of hand seals. Vast Dou Qi surged outward, forming roaring gusts of wind that howled through the air. His robe fluttered violently, echoing like a raging storm.
"Hurricane Sword Gale!"
Whirling wind gathered into countless blade-like projections. Each blade was wrapped in spinning wind currents, emanating a sharp and deadly aura.
With cold eyes locked on the old ghost, Su Qian thrust his palms forward. "Kill!"
A storm of sword blades screamed through the air, all converging toward the Earth Demon Old Ghost. The power was enough to shred a Dou Huang to pieces—but the old ghost didn't so much as blink.
"Thousand-Frost Ice Spikes!"
With a flick of his wrist, five bone-white fingers moved lazily, and jet-black ice spikes burst forth, each one wreathed in chilling deathly mist. In mere heartbeats, a field of countless ice spikes filled the sky, their numbers rivaling the storm of sword blades.
When the gale-forged swords drew within ten meters, the old ghost waved his sleeve. The sea of ice spikes shot forward, meeting the swords head-on.
Crack, crack, crack!
Ice shattered, blades exploded, and waves of destructive force erupted. Blinding flashes lit the sky one after another, distorting the air itself as violent shockwaves spread in all directions.
"Ice Condensation Sword Technique!"
The Earth Demon Old Ghost's raspy voice rang out. His hands formed another seal as black frost burst from his body. Within moments, a massive black ice sword took shape before him, radiating a murderous chill that froze the very air.
With a flick of his fingers, the enormous sword tore through space, ripping past the storm of blades and spikes as it shot straight for Su Qian's chest.
Su Qian's pupils shrank sharply. The killing frost pierced his skin like needles—he knew that if he failed to stop it, he would die.
"Wind Shattering Clouds!"
He pushed his Dou Qi to the limit. Thin threads of air twisted together, growing into howling whirlwinds that merged into a massive tornado several dozen meters wide.
The tornado spun violently before him, dragging in everything around it. The colossal ice sword was pulled in, its trajectory twisting off course.
The old ghost only smiled darkly. "Explode."
Boom!
The black sword quivered—and detonated. The shockwave tore through the tornado, shattering the cyclone into chaotic gusts that blasted across the sky.
Fragments of the exploded ice sword didn't vanish. Instead, they turned into countless razor-sharp shards that curved midair and rained down toward Su Qian.
His eyes widened. He had no time to recover; his body was still drained from his last technique. He twisted desperately aside, avoiding the vital points—but several shards slashed across his body.
Dozens of deep wounds opened instantly. Blood splattered across the air as his white robe turned crimson.
From afar, the Inner Academy elders clenched their fists, rage burning in their eyes—but none dared move. Against a 7-Star Dou Zong, they were powerless.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost looked down coldly. "I'm teaching you respect for your elders. For Mang Tianchi's sake, I'll let you live. Now bring me that brat, Xiao Yan."
Su Qian stood upright despite the blood flowing freely down his body. His expression remained calm—unnervingly so. "You're afraid, aren't you? Afraid the Headmaster will return and settle the score. As long as I live as the Grand Elder of the Inner Academy, I'll protect every student under its roof… even if it costs me my life."
The old ghost's eyes glinted with fury. His aura swelled—vast and oppressive—crashing down like a tidal wave.
"Do you think you're Mang Tianchi?" he roared. "Even if you sacrifice your life, you can't save Xiao Yan!"
Su Qian's Dou Qi was crushed under the pressure. His body trembled, his aura collapsing inward. Yet his voice, though hoarse, remained firm.
"I don't dare compare myself to the Headmaster… but Su Qian dies with honor."
"Foolish old man!"
With a snarl, the Earth Demon Old Ghost stepped forward—and vanished. In an instant, he reappeared before Su Qian. His hand, wreathed in black frost, clawed toward Su Qian's neck like a ghostly talon.
Su Qian's instincts screamed. He threw up his arm, striking out in defiance.
Boom!
The collision sent a thunderous shockwave rippling through the sky. Both men trembled—but a faint crack echoed from Su Qian's arm. His bone had fractured.
The old ghost only shuddered slightly, then blurred forward again, striking relentlessly.
The two shadows clashed at blinding speed, their movements so fast that even Dou Huang experts couldn't follow. Only muffled impacts and sharp cracking sounds echoed through the air—no screams, only raw violence.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted from the direction of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, halting the duel. Both figures appeared once more, hanging in the air.
The Earth Demon Old Ghost's red hair was slightly disheveled, his skeletal robe rumpled—but little else.
Su Qian, however, was pale as ash. His robe was soaked in blood, one arm bent at an unnatural angle, his body trembling with pain.
Suddenly, a shadow burst from the tower—carrying an overwhelming aura. It didn't stop, instead shooting across the sky toward the distant forest.
Moments later, a severely wounded elder staggered from the tower entrance, shouting with all his might.
"Grand Elder! Xiao Yan suddenly erupted with power equal to a Dou Huang! The Heavenly Flame has been taken—Elder Shi and Elder Liu are gravely injured… their fates unknown!"
In the sky, Su Qian's eyes widened in shock. His wounds burst open, blood spilling down his chin.
"Xiao Yan…" he gasped, before collapsing from the air.
(End of Chapter)
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