104: Chapter 14 Desperate Situation

"Clang—!"

With a dull thud, the monster's sharp claws slammed hard against the ruler.

The immense force numbed Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's arms, her qi and blood surged, and she stumbled back several steps before barely regaining her balance.

The thunder patterns on the ruler flickered violently, electrocuting the monster's claws that touched the ruler, causing a wisp of smoke to rise and emitting a burnt smell.

The monster, in pain, let out a low growl and temporarily retreated.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao seized this moment to catch her breath, quickly forming hand seals with her left hand, her mind racing.

The opening of her storage bag at her waist flashed continuously, and several yellow talismans, inscribed with profound thunder patterns, shot out and hovered in front of her.

"Five Thunders Edict, Banish Evil!"

She let out a delicate shout.

Several Five Thunders Talismans simultaneously lit up with dazzling white light, transforming into several bowl-sized, blazing white bolts of lightning, like dancing silver serpents, roaring as they struck the monster that was almost upon her!

"Boom—!"

The lightning exploded, and the blinding light instantly illuminated the entire corridor. The huge sound shook dust from the eaves.

The monster was directly sent flying by this sudden, fierce lightning strike, crashing heavily against a distant wall, charred black all over, emitting thick plumes of smoke.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao dared not linger in battle. Taking advantage of the monster's retreat, she immediately turned and sprinted towards the direction of Chen Zilong's room, as she remembered it.

The cold stone floor pressed against the soles of her feet, but she didn't feel it, her mind consumed by a single thought.

Find Senior Brother!

"Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!"

She pounded on Chen Zilong's door, her voice tinged with a sob due to fear:

"Senior Brother! There's a monster! Senior Brother! Open the door quickly!"

However, the door remained tightly shut, and inside, there was only dead silence, no response whatsoever.

It was as if this door separated two worlds; her shouts and knocking were like stones sinking into the sea.

Just then, the chilling crawling sound behind her started again!

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao whipped her head around, only to see the monster, charred and smoking, struggling to get back on its feet.

It was badly wounded, and its movements seemed a bit slower, but the malice in its blood-red eyes burned even brighter.

It twisted its body and crawled towards her again, making a 'hoarse, hoarse' sound like a broken bellows from its throat.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's heart turned cold. She quickly reached into her storage bag, intending to retrieve a communication jade slip to call for help.

Just as she held the warm jade slip in her hand, before she could even probe it with her divine sense, the monster suddenly accelerated and pounced!

Its speed was beyond imagination!

A black arm with sharp, hooked claws swung out like lightning, accurately striking her wrist that held the jade slip.

"Clatter!"

The jade slip flew from her grasp, landing in the shadows not far away.

The sharp pain in her wrist made Tu Shan Xiaoxiao cry out, and the force of the blow sent her stumbling backward.

She ultimately fell to the ground in a disheveled heap, a dull ache radiating from her tailbone.

The monster clearly had no intention of giving her any respite, pouncing down from above again, its shadow completely enveloping her.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, once again raising the thunder tribulation ruler to block.

"Clang—!"

Another heavy impact!

This time, three clear white claw marks were left on the ruler!

The recoil caused intense pain in her arms, as if her bones were about to crack.

She endured the pain, frantically circulating the spiritual power within her body and channeling it into the thunder tribulation ruler.

The azure thunder patterns on the ruler suddenly lit up, crackling with electricity that coiled around it like a living entity, forming a dense electrical net.

"Sizzle!"

The monster's claws, gripping the ruler, were scorched by the strong current, emitting even more black smoke.

It let out a pained shriek and quickly retreated.

It stared fixedly at Tu Shan Xiaoxiao with its blood-red eyes, one of its front claws twitching unnaturally.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao seized the opportunity to roll away, creating distance. She knelt on the ground and swung the thunder tribulation ruler forward:

"Go!"

Lightning gathered at the tip of the ruler, instantly transforming into three fist-sized, flickering azure thunderballs that shot towards the monster in a triangular formation!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The thunderballs exploded one after another, electric snakes dancing wildly, blasting the monster away again. It tumbled several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

It was charred black all over, with many areas of torn flesh.

Dark red flesh was exposed underneath, and even stark white bones could be seen.

It lay there motionless, only twitching faintly.

Is it over?

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao panted slightly, her chest heaving, as she nervously watched the charred object.

However, the next second, the monster suddenly lifted its head and let out a roar even more violent and furious than before!

It furiously pounded its chest with its mangled claws, emitting dull 'thump, thump' sounds.

Its previously weak aura actually began to surge, and the light in its blood-red eyes intensified!

It was completely enraged!

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's heart sank, knowing she couldn't engage in a head-on fight anymore. She immediately turned and ran deeper into the corridor.

As she passed the spot where the jade slip had fallen, she quickly bent down to pick it up, simultaneously sending a wisp of divine sense into it to transmit an urgent plea for help to Chen Zilong.

"Senior Brother, there's a monster in Yingxian Pavilion, quick, save me!"

Having done all this, she put away the jade slip, gripped the thunder tribulation ruler tightly, and warily scanned her surroundings.

Strangely, the monster, which had just been so violent, had now disappeared from her sight again!

Only the charred marks and specks of blood it left behind remained in the corridor.

Silence, a deathly silence.

Only her own rapid heartbeat echoed in her ears.

She dared not be careless, fully extending her divine sense to carefully perceive any subtle fluctuations around her.

Above her head...

There was a faint, almost imperceptible scratching sound!

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao suddenly looked up!

She saw the monster, which had silently crawled onto the ceiling like a gecko at some unknown point!

Its twisted limbs clung firmly to the beams, its inverted head facing her.

Its blood-red eyes were full of mockery and cruelty.

It opened its gaping maw, and viscous saliva dripped down in strands.

"Roar—!"

Accompanied by another deafening roar, the monster descended from the ceiling!

With its entire weight and sharp claws, it pounced on her like a black meteor!

Its speed and strength far surpassed before!

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao had nowhere to evade. Gritting her teeth, she channeled all her spiritual power into the thunder tribulation ruler. The ruler glowed brightly with lightning, and she swung it upwards with all her might to meet the attack!

"Clang—!!!"

This collision was piercingly sharp, far exceeding any before!

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao felt an irresistible immense force transmit from the ruler. The web between her thumb and forefinger instantly split, bleeding profusely.

She could no longer hold onto the thunder tribulation ruler; it flew from her grasp and fell with a 'clank' in the distance.

As for herself, she was struck heavily, her chest tightening.

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, and her body flew backward several meters like a kite with a broken string before she crashed heavily to the ground.

All her bones felt dislocated, pain everywhere.

She struggled to get up but felt as if her internal organs had shifted.

Her spiritual power circulation was sluggish, making it incredibly difficult to even lift a single finger.

Her silver hair was stained with dust and blood, clinging messily to her sweaty cheeks and forehead, making her appear utterly disheveled.

She wasn't afraid of death.

Ever since she had those vague memories of the future, death was even a form of liberation for her.

But she was afraid...

Afraid of never seeing Senior Brother again, the one who haunted her thoughts, for whom she was willing to give everything, even her life, to atone and protect.

If she were to die here, in an unknown corner, she would not be reconciled!