"Bad, he's going berserk," Xiao Su yelled in terror, channeling his spiritual energy to rush forward. He shouted to Yan Ru Xue, "Execute the plan. I'll draw it away, you seize the chance to strike. Hurry!"
Pu Zhi and the other two were also extremely tense, continuing to gather their spiritual power into a shield to protect Xiao Su and Yan Ru Xue.
"You beast, come fight me!"
Xiao Su taunted the demonic beast, dodging its attacks while gradually drawing closer.
The demonic beast spewed flames, missing Xiao Su several times. Even when it landed a hit, it only struck the shield.
The beast grew increasingly enraged. Seeing Xiao Su leap onto the treetop and ascend, it roared and lunged with its claws.
"Now's the time, stab its throat!" Xiao Su shouted to Yan Ru Xue.
Yan Ru Xue's hand, holding the sword, trembled slightly. She forced herself to leap into the air.
However, the sharp sword flashed, its cold light glinting into the demonic beast's eyes. The beast couldn't help but glance at Yan Ru Xue. Its vertical, blood-red pupils exuded a sinister, bloodthirsty chill. Yan Ru Xue felt a chill run through her entire body, freezing her mid-air. How could she still have the courage to stab the beast's throat?
"Hurry!" Xiao Su yelled desperately. The beast's claws had already gripped him, and the shield had cracks, on the verge of shattering.
But Yan Ru Xue was utterly terrified. When she finally snapped out of it and tried to stab again, the sword slipped from her trembling hand!
*Crack!*
The shield shattered. Xiao Su closed his eyes in despair.
*Thwack!*
The anticipated pain didn't come. Xiao Su only heard a dull thud. Before he could open his eyes, a pungent, bloody stench assaulted his senses. The restraint on his body suddenly lessened, and he began to fall.
He frantically opened his eyes and regained his senses. He saw Yan Jiao Jiao's slender figure suspended in mid-air, her hair flowing and robes fluttering. She held a purple longsword, looking like a saintess, and the demonic beast's entire arm had been severed!
He was saved!
Xiao Su crashed heavily onto the ground. Beside him lay Pu Zhi and the other two, injured by the backlash from the shield's shattering. Yan Ru Xue, however, was in a panic, fumbling for her fallen sword, not daring to look at Xiao Su and the others.
The fleeing students were also stunned by the scene. Someone shouted, "The demonic beast is injured! That's Yan Jiao Jiao, she cut off its arm!"
Yan Jiao Jiao ignored the crowd below and stared at the beast, saying, "This is not a place for you."
A powerful aura emanated from Yan Jiao Jiao. The demonic beast, in unbearable pain, had lost all reason. It completely disregarded Yan Jiao Jiao's pressure, charging at her in desperation, spewing fire and swinging its other claw forcefully at her.
"Stubborn fool!"
Yan Jiao Jiao unleashed her aura onto the beast. Despite its fury, it couldn't withstand the immense impact and froze, unable to move.
In that instant, Yan Jiao Jiao lunged forward with her sword, directly piercing through the beast's flames. The purple sword and the green silhouette flickered in the fire, appearing particularly heroic and beautiful to the students watching.
As the demonic fire dissipated, Yan Jiao Jiao emerged from the blaze. Her sword sliced through the beast's throat as if it were paper. Foul blood gushed out, yet Yan Jiao Jiao elegantly dodged, landing on a nearby treetop.
Thus, black and red blood poured down like a waterfall. The monstrous beast slowly toppled over, crushing a patch of forest and startling hundreds of insects and birds into flight.
"The beast is dead."
Someone murmured.
Then, more and more people came back to their senses. They began to cheer, their gazes filled with gratitude and adoration towards Yan Jiao Jiao.
"Yan Jiao Jiao saved us!"
"She killed a demonic beast with one move!"
"We are saved!"
Yan Ru Xue had just retrieved her sword when she heard the students' cheers. She stiffened and looked up, indeed seeing Yan Jiao Jiao standing high above.
How could this be?
Yan Ru Xue couldn't believe it. How could a beast that even the five of them together couldn't defeat be killed by Yan Jiao Jiao in a single move?
Yan Ru Xue hastily turned, wanting to confirm with Chen Bing Bing. To her surprise, she met Xiao Su's cold, displeased gaze. The sword in her hand suddenly felt scorching hot, making Yan Ru Xue unsteady and fall to the ground. Compared to the elevated Yan Jiao Jiao, she appeared even more pathetic.
Yan Jiao Jiao then gracefully landed. In front of the fleeing students, after her ordeal, Yan Jiao Jiao appeared relatively clean and presentable.
Seeing Yan Jiao Jiao approaching him, Xiao Su forced himself to stand and said, "Thank you..."
Yan Jiao Jiao brushed past him, cutting him off with a perfunctory, "You're welcome."
Then, to Xiao Su's bewildered gaze, Yan Jiao Jiao stood before Pu Zhi and asked, "Are you alright?"
Pu Zhi smiled bitterly and shook his head, his face flushing. He couldn't even look directly at Yan Jiao Jiao. "When I fought the beast earlier, it swatted me away, damaging my internal organs. I'm afraid I can't travel with you anymore."
Chen Bing Bing stood up, pouting, "You insisted on saving us, so you can't blame me for getting injured!"
"Chen Bing Bing, why speak like that? If not for Pu Zhi, we two would be the ones severely injured!" Wen Jin Shu also stood up, reprimanding her.
It was clear that their injuries were not as severe as Pu Zhi's.
Yan Jiao Jiao's expression darkened. Seeing this, Pu Zhi quickly changed the subject, "Oh right, Luo Shao and the others have been subdued by us and eliminated themselves by tearing their protective amulets. Those two female students are alright too, aren't they?"
Bringing it up made Yan Jiao Jiao even angrier at Pu Zhi's innocent appearance. She turned to Yan Ru Xue, "What about those two demonic succubi? Perhaps you can ask her."
Yan Ru Xue gasped, looking at Yan Jiao Jiao in panic. "Don't speak nonsense. What do demons have to do with me?"
"If it has nothing to do with you, why are you flustered? I suspect you summoned them, and you brought this beast here too!"
Everyone knew that demonic presence in the vicinity of Ge Nan City was highly unusual. Recalling their near-death experience, Yan Jiao Jiao's words made everyone look at Yan Ru Xue with suspicion.
"You mean those two female students were actually disguised succubi?" Pu Zhi also realized. "No wonder they disappeared after you took them away."
"Yes, I barely escaped with my life from the succubi," Yan Jiao Jiao said, her eyes fixed on Yan Ru Xue. "And thanks to my good sister, I unexpectedly obtained this precious sword, which helped me kill the beast."
The spiritual sword in Yan Jiao Jiao's hand was indeed eye-catching. Its purple light pulsed, and it reached Yan Ru Xue, the sharp tip pointing directly at her forehead.