More people were coming up the mountain!
This was undoubtedly dire news.
After all, the only ones still standing by Yan Shouyi's side were the trapped Jiang Qingxue and the four eccentrics, with Tiezi heavily wounded by Li Genmiao.
Yan Shouyi could still contend with the Xuan Shan Seventeen Freaks. After dealing with them, Tong Jingcheng would block his path, and only then would it be Li Genmiao's turn.
However, by the time it was Li Genmiao's turn, he would likely have reclaimed the Grand Tutor's body and greatly increased his strength…
And if, during this time, those people from halfway up the mountain arrived, it would inevitably be a death trap for Yan Shouyi!
"No, we must persuade Sister Immortal and the Young Master to escape Changbai Mountain!" Shan Pao’s thoughts were rational; it had determined that Yan Shouyi had no chance of winning this battle.
Tiezi, clutching its continuously bleeding stomach, said to the other eccentrics, "Shan Ji, you go inform the Young Master. Er Ya and Shan Pao, you go rescue Sister Immortal… then, you all go down the mountain!!"
Er Ya immediately hugged Tiezi's leg and burst into tears, "Brother Tiezi, what about you? Are you going to abandon us and run first?"
Tiezi was exasperated, "I won't run first… I'll stay to buy you time."
"What about your honey?"
"Scram!"
Tiezi, fuming, picked up Er Ya and tossed it onto Shan Pao’s back.
Given the circumstances, the situation was critical. There were no optimal solutions left.
There was only a fight to the death.
Though reluctant, Shan Pao and Shan Ji understood that life was often cruel. They took a deep look at Tiezi and then split up.
Tiezi, meanwhile, took a deep breath, let out a world-shattering roar, and charged towards Li Genmiao!
The blood leaking from its belly trailed all the way!
"Sister Immortal, we've come to save you!"
Shan Pao, carrying Er Ya on its back, reached Jiang Qingxue. Er Ya extended its hands, and its plump little arms transformed into two branches, surprisingly sharp.
Wielding its arms, Er Ya desperately tried to cut through the hair strands binding Jiang Qingxue. Shan Pao, not daring to delay, began to tear at them with its mouth.
Jiang Qingxue saw all this and secretly regretted her actions.
She had held onto a sliver of hope for the master who had raised her, never expecting that this ancient being, who had lived for a thousand years, would have such a black heart.
Jiang Qingxue now realized that killing Li Genmiao tonight was impossible. The best course of action was to try their best to escape Changbai Mountain and then disseminate the complete lower volume of the Lu Ban Book. This would at least thwart Li Genmiao’s plan to control the inheritors of the folk sects.
Shan Ji flew above Yan Shouyi's head, flapping its wings vigorously to prevent itself from falling.
It gasped and shouted, "Young Master, there are more bad guys coming up the mountain from below! We can't beat them! We should hurry and find a way to escape!"
"Escape?"
After cleaving a member of the Xuan Shan Seventeen Freaks, Yan Shouyi's eyes were filled with unwillingness. "Do we really have to let Li Genmiao go and continue his wickedness?"
"If the green hills remain, there will be wood to burn!" Shan Ji advised. "We are outnumbered this time, so escaping is the best option!"
Yan Shouyi gradually calmed down. After analyzing the situation, he finally chose to compromise.
With the lower volume of the Lu Ban Book, the folk sects could grow rapidly, and the conflict between the two factions could be resolved. If they truly wanted to kill Li Genmiao, uniting with the renowned sects to pursue him would be the best approach.
Therefore, after repelling the remaining members of the Xuan Shan Seventeen Freaks, Yan Shouyi turned resolutely and ran towards Jiang Qingxue:
"Let's go!"
At the same time, Tong Jingcheng controlled the evil spirits to bite through the chains of the suspended coffins and then delivered the coffins to the shore.
Li Genmiao, using his remaining arm, caressed the suspended coffin with a look of nostalgia.
"To achieve my grand ambition, I abandoned my power and entered the body of a sickly wretch. Now, I can finally return."
He struck the coffin with his palm, and it instantly exploded.
A body, aged and withered but perfectly preserved, lay motionless in the coffin with its fingers interlaced.
This was the Grand Tutor of Qing Jiang Kingdom.
An old monster who had lived for a thousand years.
Li Genmiao's eyes gleamed with excitement. He was eager to reclaim his power.
At that moment, everyone would die!!
"Old fool, you won't succeed!!"
Tiezi suddenly burst out from behind and struck Li Genmiao with its palm!
Li Genmiao snorted and didn't look back.
As Li Genmiao's foremost bodyguard, Tong Jingcheng immediately intervened. Hundreds of evil spirits lunged at Tiezi!
Tiezi killed dozens of evil spirits with a single palm strike, but it was overwhelmed by their sheer numbers and was engulfed by them in the blink of an eye!
"Overestimating yourself!" Li Genmiao laughed heartily. "At this point, who in the world can stop me?!"
He noticed Yan Shouyi and Jiang Qingxue, who were preparing to flee, and sneered, "Today, none of you will leave here alive. The lower volume of the Lu Ban Book belongs to me, and me alone!!"
No longer concerned about Tiezi behind him, Li Genmiao's expression contorted in pain. Soon, he coughed out a wisp of black energy.
As the black energy left Li Genmiao's body, he instantly collapsed onto the ground, devoid of life.
This shell, used by the Grand Tutor for many years, was discarded like trash, ending his tragic life.
The wisp of black energy, possessing only simple eyes and a mouth, targeted the Grand Tutor's body and intended to plunge into it!
But just then, a golden figure flashed past!
It was San Yuan!
San Yuan had been watching the wisp of black energy for a long time. At the moment it was about to enter the Grand Tutor's body, it descended from the sky and snatched it away!
"You scoundrel, let go of me!!" the black energy shrieked in rage. It had not expected such a snag at this critical juncture!
This sudden turn of events filled Yan Shouyi with immense joy.
It turned out the Grand Tutor's soul was fragile. By snatching his soul now, the Grand Tutor could not be resurrected!
"San Yuan, strike him with Palm Thunder!!" Yan Shouyi shouted excitedly.
"Chirp~~~"
San Yuan was also ecstatic. It could sense the black energy's state, so fragile that it couldn't withstand even a Palm Thunder!
Its body began to emit electrical sparks, and in the next second, it would fry the black energy inside and out.
The black energy, fearing this, began to shout and curse loudly.
But just as San Yuan was about to use Palm Thunder, a rope flew out from somewhere on the ground and precisely ensnared San Yuan's body!
Immediately, flames followed the rope and instantly enveloped San Yuan, yet they did not harm the black energy in the slightest!
Yan Shouyi's expression darkened. Following the rope with his gaze, he saw another group of people appear on the mountainside.
He recognized this group: Pan Shiyi, Zheng Youqian, Lan Qihuan, and others from Taoyuan Village.
The one who had acted was the illusionist Zheng Youqian!!