142: Chapter 142 Follow me closely

“Heeheeheehee…”

Palace Madam forced a smile, the scars on her face wriggling like centipedes, making her look even more ferocious. “Die, all of you!”

She knew that in this Saint Child Competition, she had no hope left. Her trump card was destroyed, she was severely injured, her subordinates suffered heavy losses, and her personal strength was not strong. How could she turn the tables?

Since that was the case, then no one should live!

Since I am going to Hell, I will drag all of you down to Hell with me!

Palace Madam reached out and touched her disfigured face, Dream Butterfly's face flashed through her mind, and endless hatred rose in her heart. Her only regret was not being able to drag her into Hell together.

“Dream Butterfly! Even if I become a ghost, I won't let you go!”

“Squeak, squeak~~”

Suddenly, sharp, piercing screeches came from the air, initially very faint, appearing and disappearing, but as more and more Bloodthirsty Magic Bats awoke from their slumber, the cries merged into a continuous sound, like a chorus of cicadas.

Although these Bloodthirsty Magic Bats looked very much like bats, they were completely different species.

Endless fear rose in Xiang Tan's heart as she mechanically looked up at the stone pillar's cave entrance. One Bloodthirsty Magic Bat after another poked their heads out, clinging to the opening, making one's scalp tingle.

“Run!!”

Someone roared, frantically running deeper into the dense forest. This shout seemed to be the command for the bats to attack. A sky-darkening swarm of bats rose into the air, their dark red membranes forming a massive net of flesh and blood, dimming the world.

“Hahahahaha…”

Palace Madam looked at the sky full of bats and laughed maniacally, her piercing laughter even momentarily overpowering their screeches.

The sound of flapping wings was incredibly noisy. Chu's hand trembled, unsure whether to continue saving Xu Sanyan or abandon him and quickly escape. Her gaze subconsciously fell on Xiang Tan, wanting her to make a decision.

Xiang Tan's decisive performance in these last few instances had established a bit of prestige in Chu's heart.

Xiang Tan gritted her silver teeth, squeezing out a sentence, “Save Senior Brother Xu!”

If Xu Sanyan died, they would ultimately be unable to escape death. They could only risk their lives.

“Mm!”

Chu nodded heavily, clearly having realized the same thing, and quickly manipulated the restraints, racing against time.

Under the threat of the sky full of Bloodthirsty Magic Bats, few people could make a quick judgment. Survival is human nature, and even if they became Cultivators, they were still human.

While everyone else was scrambling to escape, only a few remained motionless. Among them, Palace Madam, due to severe injuries, was unable to flee and had already given up hope, only wishing to die together.

Xu Sanyan, Chi Yu, and the Jin Family Brothers were deeply entangled in the flames of desire and unable to extricate themselves. Chu was fully focused on manipulating the restraints and could not be distracted. Only Xiang Tan was moving freely, guarding Chu to protect her.

“Screech——”

A clear screech came. Xiang Tan looked up and saw a bat several times larger than an ordinary Bloodthirsty Magic Bat flying in mid-air. Its long-degenerated eyes were only empty sockets, yet it still stared intently at the pool of blood.

“Bat King…”

Xiang Tan swallowed, her hand gripping the sword hilt trembling slightly. Just then, Chu finally pulled Xu Sanyan out of the Phantom Fire's coverage and quickly embraced him. Without looking back, she said, “Senior Sister, hurry!”

At this moment, the bats in the sky seemed to have received some command, swooping down like pouring rain. The exposed fangs in their proboscises emitted a chilling aura, rushing directly towards everyone.

Although Bloodthirsty Magic Bats were second-tier Demonic Beasts, corresponding only to Inner Qi Realm Cultivators, their numbers were simply too great. Ten thousand was the most conservative estimate; the actual number was probably far more.

Palace Madam's piercing laughter also seemed to displease the Bat King, so the most bats rushed towards her.

The Bloodthirsty Magic Bats rushed into the Blue Realm, and countless Phantom Fire attached themselves to the bats, then vanished. The Bloodthirsty Magic Bats that were attached instantly lost all their strength and fell straight down.

Countless bats followed one after another, and although the range of the Phantom Fire was wide, its quantity was ultimately limited. Under the siege of countless Bloodthirsty Magic Bats, it was finally cleared, leaving only a thick layer of corpses on the ground.

Palace Madam was also quickly submerged in the swarm of bats, along with the still unconscious Chi Yu and the Jin Family Brothers, and several corpses around the high platform.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Xiang Tan's forehead. She wielded her longsword, fending off the bat swarm's attacks without regard for consumption. Chu, holding Xu Sanyan's body, was inconvenient to move, so most of the pressure fell on her.

Chu also had unspeakable difficulties. She didn't understand why Xu Sanyan was so heavy, even though they were both human.

His seemingly not robust body probably weighed several hundred jin. Although this weight was nothing in the eyes of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it still had some impact.

“Ah!”

A sudden scream came from afar, followed by silence. Xiang Tan knew that someone had exhausted their spiritual power and been devoured by the Bloodthirsty Magic Bats.

She was also close.

She was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, with limited spiritual power in her body. After the previous round of fighting, there was only a thin layer of spiritual power left in her Qi Sea. She could last at most another quarter of an hour.

But when she looked up, the countless Bloodthirsty Magic Bats all around formed a continuous mass, stretching as far as the eye could see, giving no hope.

“Senior Sister, quickly think of a way, I can't hold on much longer!” As Xiang Tan felt anxious, she heard Chu behind her speak first.

Chu had expended a large amount of spiritual power when manipulating the restraints to rescue Xu Sanyan, and had fought all the way to this point. At this moment, she was already at the end of her rope.

“Alas…”

Xiang Tan sighed deeply in her heart, her face filled with despair. She only hoped that her death would not be too painful.

She was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. In the Tongxin Demon Sect, she was only the lowest-ranking member, only slightly stronger than miscellaneous workers and Outer Sect Disciples, but the difference was limited.

She could only sell her body for some pitiful benefits, barely protecting herself from humiliation.

As for the Saint position, she had never even dared to dream of it. She only hoped to make some contributions in exchange for a supporter's quota, and if she could leave Wanmo Mountain alive, she would be content.

But in this current situation, it was already a desperate situation for her.

She even believed that even if Xu Sanyan woke up now, it would be useless. Those were countless Bloodthirsty Magic Bats, and the Bat King was eyeing them from the side. How strong could Xu Sanyan be?

Could he truly protect them and save their lives?

Or rather… would he really save their lives?

Xiang Tan's beautiful eyes were filled with despair, and she murmured, “If there is a next life, I do not wish to step into cultivation again. I only seek a lifetime of peace and kind parents.”

The path of cultivation… was truly too difficult.

She did not wish to walk it again.

Xiang Tan recalled the grievances she had suffered in her decades of seeking immortality and the Dao, and couldn't help but feel dispirited. What exactly was cultivation for?

When she was in the Inner Qi Realm, she was bullied by those in the Heavenly Human Realm. After much difficulty, she cultivated to the Heavenly Human Realm, only to be bullied by those in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

She used every means to finally Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment and become a Cultivator. She originally thought that from then on, immortals and mortals would be separated, and she would no longer be humiliated, but she tragically discovered that she was still at the bottom.

What was the meaning of such a life, even if she lived forever?

Xiang Tan gave a bitter smile. Her spiritual power was already exhausted. She calmly watched the approaching bats, slowly closed her eyes, released her fingers, and her longsword floated down.

She had completely given up. Let her die if she must.

Suddenly, she felt a large hand on her head, and a low voice came to her ear,

“Stay close to me.”