The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened

CHAPTER 39: Leave or Die

　　Si Yao went over this part of the story carefully again, trying to see if there was any way she could help Jiang Shuo and make sure nothing went wrong at a critical moment.

　　Since that day, Jiang Shuo hadn’t come rushing over like he used to. He still wanted to see her, but at the same time, he was afraid of seeing her.

　　The elders had told him about a secret technique in the sect that only the Sect Leader could practice. It could greatly enhance a cultivator’s power. Jiang Shuo decided to pour all his energy into improving his strength, trying not to think about Si Yao.

　　The secret technique was truly impressive. After just a few days of practice, his power leapt forward. The mid-stage of the Mahayana realm he had recently broken through was now showing signs of another breakthrough.

　　Even though Jiang Shuo kept himself busy to avoid thinking about her, he couldn’t resist coming to see Si Yao. At that moment, she was using points from the system to exchange for a few spirit treasures, carefully inspecting each one with full concentration.

　　When Si Yao turned, she saw Jiang Shuo standing tall at the doorway. She froze for a moment. Since Mu Yuanbai had left, this was the first time Jiang Shuo had come to see her in several days.

　　Si Yao kept her expression calm, pretending she didn’t know he had eavesdropped that day, focusing entirely on the spirit treasures before her. She had spent 100 points to get these, so she had to choose the best one.

　　Jiang Shuo noticed she was completely ignoring him, but he didn’t mind. He stepped closer, looking down at the treasures on the table, appearing to examine them, but then spoke words that had nothing to do with them: “Pack your things. I’m taking you away from here.”

　　Si Yao raised her head in suspicion. Didn’t she already make it clear she wasn’t going anywhere?

　　She completely ignored his words and said in a low voice, “I’m not leaving.”

　　Jiang Shuo’s brows knitted, his face cold and unyielding. “You have to leave here. Now. Immediately.”

　　That command finally provoked Si Yao’s anger. Did Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai both think she should just run as far as possible?

　　Si Yao stood up sharply, eyes wide and unwavering as she glared at Jiang Shuo. “I said I’m not leaving. Do you not understand?”

　　Seeing her so firm and angry, Jiang Shuo didn’t argue further. He reached for her hand to take her with him.

　　But Si Yao jerked her hand free, glaring at him with her big eyes full of indignation. “I said I’m not leaving. Who gave you the right to decide whether I stay or go?”

　　She glared at him, ignoring his anxious expression. Only when she saw his cold look soften slightly did she lower her gaze and return to the spirit treasures on the table. After thinking for a moment, she chose a long, thin sword, delicate as a cicada wing. She was skilled with the sword, and it would give her an advantage in defending herself.

　　Her ruthless words stabbed at Jiang Shuo’s heart. He really had no right to decide her fate; he was only worried about her.

　　But now was not the time to brood. Even if Si Yao refused, Jiang Shuo could not let her stay in danger. Just as he prepared to forcefully take her away, a tremendous power suddenly swept over the entire Xuanming Sect.

　　At the same time, dark clouds blocked out the sky, and a fierce wind howled. In an instant, the whole world seemed to darken.

　　Jiang Shuo’s dark eyes flickered. He sensed two incredibly powerful forces rapidly approaching.

　　He looked at Si Yao with a complicated gaze, then reached out. His long, pale fingers pressed gently to her forehead, and a silver-white light sank into the space between her brows.

　　He looked at her seriously and said, “This is half of my divine consciousness. In a critical moment, it can protect you. Remember to be careful and take care of yourself.”

　　With that, Jiang Shuo turned decisively and walked away. Si Yao stood where she was, watching his figure disappear, resolute and cold, without glancing back once.

　　The day had finally come.

　　Ever since Si Yao had crossed into this world, she had always observed people and events from the sidelines. Somehow, without realizing it, she had become part of this world, and everything that happened here tugged at her heart.

　　Si Yao gripped the long sword she had just chosen. Her eyes were cold as she followed in Jiang Shuo’s departing footsteps.

　　Even though it was midday, the sky was dark with rolling clouds, sunlight blocked out, and heavy shadows pressed down on everyone’s hearts. Every Xuanming Sect disciple held a spirit weapon, standing guard at every corner of the sect.

　　Disciples from other factions also stood alongside the sect’s members. They all knew this was the strongest barrier separating the human realm from the demon and beast realms. If the Xuanming Sect fell, Canglan Continent would only face the fate of being trampled under the demon and beast realm’s iron cavalry.

　　The two realms had prepared thoroughly for this battle. The Xuanming disciples’ hearts were heavy as they stood on alert. At the same time, tens of thousands of demon soldiers and beast warriors poured out from the Demon Abyss, charging toward the sect.

　　Some of the beasts took human form, while others retained their animal bodies. The demon clan’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust. They attacked recklessly, leaving anyone who watched in terror.

　　The beasts’ claws glinted coldly, sharpened through cultivation until they were harder than some spirit weapons. Any cultivator caught by them would be left with gaping, bloody holes. The demons were even more merciless. Wielding weapons, they would inflict injuries that ranged from vomiting blood to decapitation.

　　Still, the Xuanming disciples were not pushovers. The moment the enemy struck, weapons shimmering with radiant light shot through the air, their sharp energy sending waves of demon and beast soldiers flying.

　　The darkness and the constant onslaught weighed heavily on every cultivator’s heart, but they gritted their teeth and held their ground.

　　Si Yao joined them in the ranks. She gripped her long sword, letting her spiritual energy surge, cutting down enemy after enemy. The once-pristine blade was stained red with blood. With each swing, she drew her sword from a demon’s body, splattering crimson across her robes.

　　Her cultivation had reached the mid-stage Nascent Soul, and the enemies at the front were only minor soldiers. Most were at the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stage, and very few had reached Nascent Soul or higher, so she handled them with relative ease.

　　The vanguard’s strength was average, but they came in large numbers and struck swiftly, causing some sect disciples to suffer serious injuries.

　　Si Yao fought fiercely alongside the sect disciples. Weaker demon and beast soldiers gradually retreated, replaced by stronger opponents.

　　Many from the two realms at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages joined the battle, accelerating the assault. Sweat formed on Si Yao’s forehead as she felt the pressure mounting.

　　Si Yao’s snow-white robes were stained red with blood. She panted heavily, gripping her sword as she fought against the swarm of demons and beasts. She regretted not boosting Jiang Shuo’s favor more earlier on. If her cultivation had been higher, she wouldn’t be so passive and cornered like this.

　　At the same time, atop the sect altar, Elder Hongfang clasped his hands into an array. His aura was immense as he chanted an unfamiliar incantation. In an instant, the altar erupted with blinding light.

　　The radiance spread outward from the Xuanming Sect, instantly enveloping the surrounding ten thousand miles, pushing back the encroaching darkness.

　　This was the sect’s protective array. It had not been activated in a thousand years. Now, in the sect’s direst hour, it was unleashed once more.

　　The moment the light enveloped the sect, the demons and beasts who had broken through were instantly reduced to dust, their resistance snuffed out in an instant.

　　The protective array radiated boundless energy, dispelling the darkness and invigorating the disciples’ spirits. Even the power with which they struck at the evils seemed stronger.

　　This ancient protective array, passed down since the sect’s founding, displayed supreme might. It made the demon and beast realms hesitate, weakening their reckless assaults and relieving a great deal of the disciples’ pressure.

　　The enemy forces were pushed back step by step. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, believing the attack was temporarily repelled, two figures appeared above the Xuanming Sect, completely unaffected by the protective array.

　　Si Yao looked up. One was a man in red, his smile seductive and wicked. The other was a cold, black-clad man with crimson eyes. They stood side by side in midair, hands behind their backs, looking down at the sect with utter disdain.

　　The Beast King and Demon Lord.

　　Si Yao’s mind silently named them. They were the strongest bosses in the story, ambitious and ruthless, aiming to annihilate the human race and dominate Canglan Continent. This battle was under their command.

　　The Demon Lord’s eyes were cold and disdainful. He raised his hand, releasing a blood-red burst of spiritual energy, aiming to shatter Elder Hongfang’s control over the protective array.

　　The crimson light carried an overwhelming aura of destruction. A single strike seemed capable of obliterating everything, filling all who saw it with dread.

　　Just as despair gripped everyone, the world-ending attack was suddenly blocked by a flash of swordlight.

　　Si Yao was overjoyed. It was Jiang Shuo.

　　His handsome face was unreadable. Dressed in flowing white, he looked like a celestial being from the Nine Heavens, giving off an aura of imposing authority.

　　With a lift of his feet, he soared into the air. His jet-black long sword pointed straight at the Demon Lord’s throat from several meters away, his voice cold as ancient ice: “Leave, or die.”

　　Such unprecedented arrogance.

　　No wonder it was Jiang Shuo, everyone thought. The Beast King and Demon Lord were the strongest beings in this world, yet here he was, facing both alone without a trace of fear.

　　“Looking for death!”

　　The Demon Lord glared at Jiang Shuo, his eyes icy. In a thousand years, no one had ever dared speak to him like that.

　　Jiang Shuo let out a cold snort. His long sword slashed forward, cutting straight at the Demon Lord. The strike carried an overwhelming pressure, and for the first time, the Demon Lord felt a real threat.

　　He raised his hand to block Jiang Shuo’s attack, their blades clashing violently.

　　The Beast King stood to the side, hands behind his back. He had been the Demon Lord’s rival for ages and knew his strength well. To him, it was only a matter of time before the Demon Lord dealt with Jiang Shuo.

　　He watched the fight with amusement, expecting an easy outcome. But reality didn’t follow his expectations. The Demon Lord struggled, unable to take down Jiang Shuo, while Jiang Shuo gradually gained the upper hand.

　　Sword energy cut through the air like a rainbow, forcing the Demon Lord back. His blood-red eyes glared at the Beast King standing nearby, and he bellowed, “Aren’t you going to help?”    

        

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter