As someone who valued her life, Mu Anxiao watched her current self with a strange sense of nervousness.
Of course, she knew this self wasn't the real her.
But, for some reason, she just couldn't bring herself to strike?
"Master, you do it," she turned to look at Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan: "I'm only communicating with you through my consciousness; I can't cast spells. But if you don't act," he snapped his fingers, and the area above their heads suddenly brightened, "then it will affect your body. At that time, both you and this man will be finished." He looked up at the Mu Anxiao outside her body.
"..." Mu Anxiao followed Zhang Yan's gaze and looked up at herself outside the man's body. Her eyes darkened, and she turned back to look at Dian, who was smiling at her. "Master, if I use the electric shock spell, will it create another me?"
Seeing Mu Anxiao's hesitation, Zhang Yan said calmly, "No, it's like fighting poison with poison, understand? Act now."
"Oh." Mu Anxiao glanced at Zhang Yan again, took a deep breath, and got into position.
Dian, with a cold expression, watched Mu Anxiao, spread its hands, and conjured a ball of blue light, flinging it directly at her.
Mu Anxiao watched the gradually ball-shaped blue light expressionlessly. She crossed her hands in front of her, her eyes fixed on the blue light slowly flying towards her. Her eyes narrowed, and she swiftly moved forward, simultaneously extending her hands to draw the ball of blue light closer to her palms.
Dian was startled.
Immediately after, Mu Anxiao gently cupped the ball of blue light in her palm. She then raised her eyes to look at the stunned Dian opposite her. Without speaking, she tossed the ball of blue light back at Dian and then quickly strode towards it.
Seeing this, Dian hurriedly turned and ran into another patch of darkness.
Mu Anxiao chased after the ball of blue light. The moment she entered the darkness, the ball of blue light struck Dian's body.
The next second, the surroundings suddenly lit up.
Following this, a six-year-old Mu Anxiao suddenly appeared in Mu Anxiao's eyes.
In Mu Anxiao's memory, at that time, she was carefree, always toddling happily behind her mother every day.
However, now she couldn't see her own happiness. Instead, she saw worry on her face and an immature understanding.
Just like before, Dian remained silent, simply watching her.
However, unlike before, she no longer felt that oppressive feeling. Instead, she felt the urge and impulse to protect her past self.
But, thinking realistically, she withdrew her unnecessary pity for her childhood self. She raised her index finger, and with her thoughts, wisps of blue lightning gradually emerged from her fingertip.
Dian watched the lightning, shook its head slightly, and like Mu Anxiao, raised its index finger, then unleashed lightning from its fingertip.
"It's starting," Zhang Yan appeared behind Mu Anxiao.
This time, Mu Anxiao didn't look back. Instead, she stared tensely at Dian opposite her, who was using the same technique, and did not reply to Zhang Yan.
Outside the man's body.
Mu Anxiao closed her eyes, placed her hands gently on the man's chest, and muttered a countdown: "Three..."
Feng Qishi watched Mu Anxiao's focused spellcasting, not daring to make a sound.
Beside him, the Madam and the Elder remained silent.
A Long looked at Mu Anxiao's back, a hint of tears glistening in his eyes.
At the same time, Mu Anxiao paused for a long moment, then hurriedly counted out: "Two, one." Afterward, blue light emanated from her entire body once more.
Feng Qishi and the others quickly averted their faces, shielding themselves from the intense light.
Inside the man's body.
Mu Anxiao and Dian simultaneously extended their fingers. As the small lightning bolts on their fingertips curled and twisted towards each other, they collided.
"Use all your strength, apprentice," Zhang Yan reminded her.
Mu Anxiao had no time to reply. Her brow furrowed, and stimulated by the intense light, her body uncontrollably tilted forward.
To stabilize her center of gravity, she swiftly moved her right foot back, then used her other hand to grip the wrist of her casting hand, concentrating her focus, and enlarged the lightning.
In contrast, Dian made no other move, standing steadily in place. Then, the light within its body instantly dispersed to the side.
Immediately, Zhang Yan's eyes widened, and he shouted, "Not good."
Mu Anxiao: "..." She gritted her teeth and ignored Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan watched Mu Anxiao's back as she cast her spell with all her might. He shouted, "Apprentice, do not show pity even to yourself. Your past is not worth dwelling on; you must look forward."
Once Dian entered a mortal body, it would rapidly develop its own consciousness, thus taking on the appearance of the caster. Each level represented a different age.
Now, Mu Anxiao appearing as a six-year-old indicated that this Dian had regressed to a lower level, posing no threat to the man's life.
Furthermore, Dian's spellcasting would change based on Mu Anxiao's psychology.
In other words, the more Mu Anxiao felt for her past self at a certain age, the stronger Dian's spells would become. The stronger the spells, the greater the threat would be recreated, and gradually, Dian would evolve into a higher level.
At this moment, seeing the situation, Zhang Yan began to grow anxious.
Mu Anxiao: "..." She remained unmoved.
Zhang Yan watched Mu Anxiao's unmoving, spellcasting back with a tense expression. Then, thinking of his inability to do anything, he vexedly yelled, "Feng Qishi, hold Mu Anxiao's hand and tell her you are here for her, and she need not fear."
Outside the man's body.
Feng Qishi immediately heard Zhang Yan's shout, then scrambled to Mu Anxiao's side. Without a second thought, he took her hand and swallowed. "I..." He uttered one word and suddenly felt a bit foolish.
Hearing Feng Qishi's hesitant voice, Zhang Yan grew angry. "If you don't say it, she will die."
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi's eyes widened. He looked down at Mu Anxiao's pained profile and said desperately, "Mu idiot, I am here for you, don't be afraid."
As expected, the moment Feng Qishi spoke these words, Mu Anxiao's eyes snapped open. She turned to look at him. "What did you say?"
Feng Qishi hadn't expected Mu Anxiao to wake up so quickly. Startled, he repeated in a low voice, "I said, I am here for you, don't be afraid." As he spoke, he withdrew his hand.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened. She inadvertently recalled all the time she had spent with Feng Qishi.
Reflecting on that period, she suddenly felt that her childhood had been quite fulfilling. Although there was more hardship than joy, she had grown rapidly because of that hardship.
Thinking about it, it was also a form of gain.
So, she lowered her gaze, smiled, and looked at Feng Qishi. "Thank you." After speaking, she turned back and closed her eyes.
Feng Qishi had expected Mu Anxiao to scold him for being cheesy and disgusting. To his surprise, she had thanked him. He couldn't help but secretly smile.