spread from his temple, the yin-cold death energy piercing his brain marrow like an ice awl. His wounds at the ribs and arms transmitted numbness as the poison rapidly spread through his blood. His neck, from the extreme evasion, sent tearing pain. His breath, from forcibly suppressing the reverse blood flow, was in chaos...
Multiple negative statesstacked, instantly placing Tang Xiaoqi in the most dangerous situation since the battle began. His figure staggered in the pouring rain, appearing somewhat disheveled, as if he might be completely swallowed by the following attacks in the next moment. Phantom Shadow merged into the shadows like the most patient venomous snake, waiting for the best opportunity to deal a fatal blow to his prey. The other five assassins didn't pause in the slightest; their coordination was seamless, knowing well the principle of striking while one is down!
Two shadows, like living tentacles, suddenly shot up from the ground, wrapping toward Tang Xiaoqi's feet with shadow energy carrying strong corrosive and restraining properties! Three "Soul-Destroying Nails" presenting a ghostly blue color, clearly quenched in even more potent soul-targeting poison, silently penetrated the rain curtain in a triangular formation, shooting toward his brow, heart, and dantian qi sea! Another assassin formed hand seals as a powerful "Shadow Binding" field descended, attempting to further restrict his already limited mobility! Five layers of attacks, like five webs of death, covered the injured Tang Xiaoqi from different dimensions, sealing off every visible escape route!
Phantom Shadow's cold killing intent also solidified, locking onto his soul, just waiting for him to reveal a greater opening. Nowhere to dodge! Nowhere to block? Just at this moment when life hung by a thread, Tang Xiaoqi didn't even have time to mobilize the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword or bring out the Creation Universe Wok.
However, a power deeply rooted in his bloodline, engraved in the depths of his soul, was thoroughly ignited and autonomously activated at the instant when his will was most concentrated and his protective heart most blazing! This wasn't any technique he had cultivated, nor was it the power of external artifacts. It was the purest "guardian" obsession branded into his bloodline by his father Xu Zhan in his final moment of clarity, at the cost of his soul! It was his own "guardian" dao heart, comprehended through hardships, witnessing sacrifice, experienced in the mortal world, and clarified through transmitting teachings!
These two guardian wills, though of the same source yet different in nature, resonated, merged, and erupted under the urging of his intense belief when facing desperation, his heart concerned for his sect and loved ones, his unwillingness to perish here! "Hmmmm—!!!" A sword cry that didn't come from the external world but from the depths of his soul suddenly rang out! Clear, resonant, carrying an unyielding, all-protecting determination! Centered on Tang Xiaoqi, the void around him seemed to transform into an invisible sword furnace!
Countless fine-as-hair, condensed-to-substance small sword gang energies presenting a pure platinum color, without warning, manifested from thin air! These sword gang energies weren't chaotic; they seemed to possess their own life and will, instantly interweaving and spiraling to form a constantly circulating miniature sword array enveloping Tang Xiaoqi within a three-chi radius! Within the array, every wisp of sword intent contained the true meaning of "guardian"—externally, the sharpness to sever all threats; internally, the resilience to protect oneself from dust. This was precisely the materialization of the guardian sword intent within him—[Guardian Sword Array]!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!" Those two shadow tentacles wrapping toward him, upon contacting the circulating platinum sword gang energy at the array's periphery, let out ear-piercing dissolution sounds like snow meeting the sun, instantly being shredded and purified into nothingness! Those three Soul-Destroying Nails quenched with soul-destroying poison, upon entering the sword array's range, suddenly slowed down. The ghostly blue poison light and soul-curse power attached to the nail bodies rapidly dimmed and dissipated under the scouring and purification of countless fine sword gang energies, finally falling to the ground like ordinary iron with "ding ding dang dang" sounds, washed away by the rain. That descending "Shadow Binding" field was even more directly repelled and torn apart by the sword intent that severed all shackles emanating from this self-operating Guardian Sword Array, unable to approach even a hair's breadth!
Even Phantom Shadow, hidden in the darkness and preparing to deliver a fatal strike, was momentarily hindered by this sudden eruption of pure guardian sword intent that made his soul feel stinging pain and rejection, his shadow-merged figure slightly pausing, forcing him to temporarily slow his attack rhythm! The five assassins' subsequent offensive was entirely blocked and dissolved by this autonomously activated Guardian Sword Array! Though the sword array's range was only three chi and incapable of counterattack, its absolute defense and powerful purification characteristics, in this moment, bought precious breathing room for the injured, breath-chaotic Tang Xiaoqi! He stood at the center of the array, platinum sword gang energies circulating endlessly around him like stars orbiting.
Rain falling upon the sword array was silently sliced and evaporated. His blood-stained green robes appeared somewhat tragic in the array's light, but those eyes' radiance, like cold iron tempered through fire, grew even colder, even more determined! He took this opportunity to run his Green Lotus origin and purification power at full speed, madly expelling the yin-cold death energy and poison invading his body, repairing his damaged meridians and flesh. The burning sensation of the Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword gathered in his palm, while the heavy presence of the Creation Universe Wok faintly materialized behind him.
The Guardian Sword Array's activation not only repelled the fatal follow-up attacks but also seemed like a declaration, announcing to all enemies hiding in the shadows— Want to kill me? Not that easy! The horn of counterattack was about to be sounded by this sword array constructed from guardian will! The life-and-death battle in the rainy night entered a new phase!