29: Chapter 29 Escape from Death

Ye Wuhun slowly emerged from the sandstorm, his black robe flapping in the fierce wind. His face was hidden beneath his hood, revealing only a pair of cold eyes, staring at Lin Wu like a venomous snake.

"Lin Wu, we finally meet again." Ye Wuhun's voice was hoarse and sinister, as if coming from the depths of Hell. "You've ruined the Dark Night Organization's plans multiple times. Today is the day you die."

Lin Wu struggled to stand up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He could feel that Ye Wuhun's strength far surpassed his own; he was at least a high-tier Legendary Realm expert. With his early-tier True Essence Condensation Realm cultivation, he was no match at all.

"Ye Wuhun, how dare you make a move in the forbidden zone? Aren't you afraid of provoking the Alliance of Nations?" Lin Wu said coldly.

"Hahaha!" Ye Wuhun burst into laughter. "In this Sand Sea, who can save you? Li Changfeng is entangled with the Lord of the Sand Sea, and everyone else is busy fending for themselves. Today, no one can save you!"

With that, Ye Wuhun's figure flickered, pouncing towards Lin Wu. His speed was extreme, like a black lightning bolt, instantly appearing before Lin Wu.

"Shadow Devour!"

A black light surged from Ye Wuhun's palm, enveloping Lin Wu. That light contained terrifying devouring power, as if it could turn everything into nothingness.

"Martial Dao True Intent—Guard!"

Lin Wu roared, condensing all his True Essence on his body surface, forming a thick shield.

"Boom!"

The black light slammed into the shield, emitting a harsh screech. Lin Wu's shield trembled violently, countless cracks appearing, but it ultimately did not break.

"Oh? You actually blocked it?" A hint of surprise flashed in Ye Wuhun's eyes. "It seems your strength has indeed increased a lot after breaking through to the True Essence Condensation Realm. But this is still not enough!"

"Shadow Domain!"

Black light spread outwards from Ye Wuhun, forming a dark Domain with a diameter of a hundred meters. Within this Domain, light was completely swallowed, as if one were in endless darkness.

"In my Shadow Domain, all your senses will be weakened, and I am the Dominator here!" Ye Wuhun's voice came from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint his location.

Lin Wu closed his eyes, no longer relying on sight. He immersed his entire mind in the Martial Dao, sensing the fluctuations of the surrounding air currents.

"Left!"

Lin Wu suddenly opened his eyes and punched towards his left side.

"Boom!"

The fist force collided with a black shadow, emitting a dull sound. Ye Wuhun's figure appeared from the darkness, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"You can actually perceive my location?" Ye Wuhun said. "Your Martial Dao perception indeed has some tricks to it."

"Martial Dao is not just a competition of strength, but also a contest of mind," Lin Wu said. "Although your Shadow Domain can obscure light, it cannot obscure the flow of Qi."

"Well said." Ye Wuhun sneered. "But so what? In the face of an absolute disparity in strength, these petty tricks are useless!"

"Shadow Strangulation!"

Countless black lights surged from all directions, strangling towards Lin Wu. Those lights were sharp as blades, and carried a strong corrosive power that could devour all life force.

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Combined Form—True Interpretation of Martial Arts!"

Lin Wu roared, golden fist energy surging from his fists, blasting in all directions.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The fist energy collided with the black lights, erupting in deafening roars. Lin Wu was shaken back repeatedly, blood continuously spilling from his mouth. Although his fist energy was powerful, it was difficult to sustain under Ye Wuhun's continuous attacks.

"Damn it, the strength gap is too big..." Lin Wu thought to himself.

Ye Wuhun was a high-tier Legendary Realm expert, while he was only in the early-tier True Essence Condensation Realm, a difference of two major Realms. This gap could not be bridged by skill and will.

"Lin Wu, die!" Ye Wuhun roared, a huge black light pillar shooting from his palm, blasting towards Lin Wu.

"It's over..." Lin Wu's heart sank.

The power of this strike far surpassed any previous attack. If he were hit, he would surely die.

Just at this critical moment, a purple-gold lightning bolt suddenly descended from the sky, shattering the black light pillar.

"Chu Tianjiao!" Lin Wu cried out in surprise.

Chu Tianjiao descended from the sky, surrounded by purple-gold lightning, but his face was pale and blood stained the corner of his mouth. Beside him, Li Changfeng's figure also appeared; it was Li Changfeng who had teleported him there.

"Lin Wu, you owe me a life." Chu Tianjiao said, forcing himself, but as soon as he spoke, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Clearly, he had been severely wounded by Ye Wuhun.

"Chu Tianjiao, you..." Lin Wu's heart trembled.

"Hmph, another one coming to die." Ye Wuhun sneered. "A Peak Grandmaster? You're not even worthy of carrying my shoes."

It turned out that when Chu Tianjiao discovered Ye Wuhun attacking Lin Wu, he immediately rushed over, but he was no match for Ye Wuhun at all and was severely wounded in one move. If Li Changfeng hadn't arrived in time, he would have already died.

"Ye Wuhun, your opponent is me." Li Changfeng shielded Chu Tianjiao and Lin Wu behind him, spatial fluctuations intensely around him. "Bullying the younger generation, what kind of skill is that?"

"Li Changfeng?" Ye Wuhun's expression changed slightly, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes. "It's you again..."

Li Changfeng formed hand seals, and a huge Space Rift appeared in front of Ye Wuhun, attempting to swallow him.

"Shadow Escape!"

Ye Wuhun's figure flickered, dodging the Space Rift's attack. The two instantly clashed, their Legendary Realm powers colliding fiercely in the air, stirring up countless energy storms.

"Lin Wu, hurry and go!" Chu Tianjiao said with difficulty. "Staying here will only drag Dean Li down..."

"No, I can't abandon you!" Lin Wu gritted his teeth.

"Listen to me!" Chu Tianjiao grabbed Lin Wu's arm, his eyes filled with anxiety. "Ye Wuhun's target is you! If you leave, Dean Li can fight with all his strength!"

Lin Wu's heart tightened. Chu Tianjiao was right; Ye Wuhun was coming for him. If he stayed here, Li Changfeng would have to divide his attention to protect them, which would hinder him.

"Alright!" Lin Wu gritted his teeth, helping Chu Tianjiao up. "Let's go!"

Lin Wu supported Chu Tianjiao, and the two desperately fled into the distance. Behind them, the roar of Li Changfeng and Ye Wuhun's intense battle echoed, and terrifying energy fluctuations continuously spread.

Chu Tianjiao's injuries were severe; every step brought intense pain, and blood continuously gushed from his mouth. But he gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to collapse.

"Trying to leave? Not so easy!" Ye Wuhun's voice came from behind, clearly indicating he wanted to shake off Li Changfeng and pursue Lin Wu.

"Your opponent is me!" Li Changfeng's voice followed closely. "Space Imprisonment!"

A spatial fluctuation trapped Ye Wuhun in place, and Li Changfeng's figure blocked Ye Wuhun's path.

"Li Changfeng, you're courting death!" Ye Wuhun roared furiously.

"Who lives and who dies is not yet certain!" Li Changfeng said coldly.

The two clashed again, terrifying energy storms sweeping all around.

Lin Wu dared not look back, supporting Chu Tianjiao and running desperately. Chu Tianjiao's steps became increasingly unsteady, most of his weight pressing on Lin Wu, and blood continuously gushed from his mouth, staining Lin Wu's clothes.

"Chu Tianjiao, hold on!" Lin Wu gritted his teeth. "We will definitely escape!"

"I... I'm fine..." Chu Tianjiao said weakly. "You... run by yourself... don't mind me..."

"Shut up!" Lin Wu roared. "If we go, we go together!"

But Ye Wuhun's strength was too great; even Li Changfeng could only barely hold him off. Lin Wu knew they had to find a safe place quickly, otherwise, once Li Changfeng couldn't hold on, they would be finished.

Just then, a gigantic figure suddenly appeared ahead.

"Lord of the Sand Sea!" Lin Wu's face changed drastically.

That S-rank Mutated Beast had actually broken free from Li Changfeng's control and blocked their path!

"It's over..." Lin Wu's heart sank.

With the Lord of the Sand Sea in front and Ye Wuhun behind, they had nowhere to run.

"Lin Wu... put me down..." Chu Tianjiao leaned on the sand, speaking weakly. "I... can't run anymore... you go by yourself..."

"Shut up!" Lin Wu roared. "If we go, we go together; if we die, we die together!"

He shielded Chu Tianjiao behind him, his fists clenched, golden True Essence erupting from his body.

"Come on!" Lin Wu roared. "Let me see how strong an S-rank Mutated Beast really is!"

"Heavenly Collapse Fist, Combined Form—True Interpretation of Martial Arts!"

Golden fist energy blasted out, colliding head-on with the Lord of the Sand Sea's giant maw.

"Boom!!!"

Lin Wu was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood. But he still stood up, an unyielding flame burning in his eyes.

"Again!"

Just as Lin Wu was about to strike again, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

"Dean Li!" Lin Wu cried out in surprise.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

Li Changfeng was covered in blood, clearly having been heavily injured in the fierce battle with Ye Wuhun. Yet his gaze remained resolute, and terrifying spatial fluctuations rippled around his body.

"Ye Wuhun... that bastard..." Li Changfeng gritted his teeth. "He's burning his life force to boost his strength again..."

"Dean, are you alright?" Lin Wu asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." Li Changfeng shook his head. "But Ye Wuhun will be here soon. We must leave this place immediately."

He looked toward the Lord of the Sand Sea and formed hand seals.

"Spatial Banishment!"

A massive Space Rift appeared before the Lord of the Sand Sea, swallowing it whole.

"Go!" Li Changfeng grabbed Lin Wu with one hand and supported Chu Tianjiao with the other. With a flicker of his figure, he flew off into the distance.

But just then, a dark shadow suddenly appeared before them.

"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!" Ye Wuhun's body emitted a terrifying aura. Having clearly burned his life force, his strength had reached the Peak of the Legendary Realm.

"Li Changfeng!" Ye Wuhun's face was grim. "Did you think you could escape?"

"Ye Wuhun, you're insane!" Li Changfeng shielded Lin Wu and Chu Tianjiao behind him, his expression grave. "By burning your life force, even if you kill us, you won't live much longer!"

"As long as I can kill Lin Wu, it's all worth it!" Ye Wuhun grinned savagely, the killing intent in his eyes surging. "Today, you will all die here!"

"Shadow Devour, Ultimate Form!"

Ye Wuhun's body began to swell as black light erupted frantically from within him.

"Not good, he's going all out!" Li Changfeng's expression changed drastically. "Back away, quickly!"

"Die, all of you!" Ye Wuhun roared, and a massive pillar of black light shot from his body, blasting toward the group.

"Spatial Shield!"

Li Changfeng formed hand seals, and a Spatial Barrier appeared before them, blocking the attack of the black light pillar.

"Boom!!!"

The Spatial Barrier shook violently, covered in countless cracks. Li Changfeng's face was pale, having clearly exhausted himself.

"Dean!" Lin Wu and Chu Tianjiao cried out simultaneously.

"I'm fine." Li Changfeng gritted his teeth. "Go, quickly! I'll hold him back!"

"No, we can't leave you behind!" Lin Wu said.

"That's an order!" Li Changfeng barked. "You're still young and have infinite potential. I'm old; even if I die here, it's worth it!"

"But..."

"Go!"

Li Changfeng roared, and terrifying spatial fluctuations erupted around him. He burned his own life force, pushing his spatial power to the limit.

"Spatial Collapse!"

With Li Changfeng at the center, the surrounding space began to collapse, forming a massive black hole. Ye Wuhun was pulled by the black hole's suction, unable to escape.

"Damn it, you actually burned your life force!" Ye Wuhun's expression changed drastically. "You're crazy!"

"For my students, it's worth it!" Li Changfeng laughed loudly. "Lin Wu, Chu Tianjiao, remember, the path of the Martial Dao is endless. Do not fail my expectations!"

"Dean!" Tears welled in Lin Wu's and Chu Tianjiao's eyes, but they knew now was not the time for sorrow. They had to leave alive to honor Li Changfeng's sacrifice.

"Go!"

The two turned and ran toward the edge of the sand sea, the roar of the fierce battle between Li Changfeng and Ye Wuhun echoing behind them.

...

In the sandstorm, Lin Wu ran desperately with Chu Tianjiao on his back.

Both were heavily injured, but neither dared to stop. They had to cherish the time Li Changfeng had bought for them with his life.

"Chu Tianjiao, how are you?" Lin Wu asked as he ran.

"I'm not dead yet." Chu Tianjiao gritted his teeth on Lin Wu's back. "What about you? You're pretty badly hurt, aren't you?"

"I'm okay, I can hold on," Lin Wu said.

In this life-or-death moment, the hostility between them seemed to have vanished, replaced only by the camaraderie of fighting side by side.

"Lin Wu, after this mission, I'm going to have a proper rematch with you," Chu Tianjiao suddenly said.

"What time is it, and you're still thinking about fighting?" Lin Wu chuckled bitterly.

"It's a promise," Chu Tianjiao said seriously. "I, Chu Tianjiao, never owe anyone anything. What you did for me today, I'll pay back on the arena."

"Alright, I promise you," Lin Wu said. "As long as we get out of here alive."

"We definitely will," Chu Tianjiao said. "I, Chu Tianjiao, won't die here."

Lin Wu continued to run, and gradually, the sandstorm ahead began to weaken. He knew the exit wasn't far.

"Just a little more effort, we're almost there!" Lin Wu shouted.

Just then, a dark shadow suddenly burst out of the sandstorm, blocking their path.

"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!"

Lin Wu's expression changed as he stopped and looked closely. Ye Wuhun stood before them, covered in blood, yet his aura remained powerful.

"Where's the Dean?" Lin Wu asked with a trembling voice.

"That old geezer..." Ye Wuhun's face was grim, his body covered in wounds. "He tried to trap me by burning his life force... but he's finished now. Now it's your turn!"

Lin Wu's heart sank. Even burning his life force, Li Changfeng couldn't stop Ye Wuhun. How could he and the heavily injured Chu Tianjiao possibly escape?

"Lin Wu... put me down..." Chu Tianjiao said weakly from his back.

"What?" Lin Wu was stunned.

"I said... put me down..." Chu Tianjiao struggled to slide off Lin Wu's back, stumbling as he stood firm. "You go... I'll hold him back..."

"Are you crazy?!" Lin Wu said urgently. "You're so badly injured, how can you hold him back?"

"I... still have one last move..." Chu Tianjiao gave a tragic smile, a flash of determination in his eyes.

He suddenly threw his head back and roared. Purple-gold lightning surged wildly around him, and his aura exploded in an instant!

"Burning your life force?!" Ye Wuhun's pupils constricted. "You're insane!"

"That's right, I'm insane!" Chu Tianjiao laughed loudly, the lightning around him solidifying. "Lin Wu, go! I can't hold on for long!"

"Chu Tianjiao, you..." Lin Wu's eyes reddened.

"Go!" Chu Tianjiao roared as purple-gold lightning blasted toward Ye Wuhun. "Don't let my sacrifice be in vain!"

Lin Wu gritted his teeth, knowing now was not the time for hesitation. He turned and sprinted toward the exit.

"Trying to leave? It won't be that easy!" Ye Wuhun tried to pursue.

"Your opponent is me!" Chu Tianjiao blocked Ye Wuhun, purple-gold lightning erupting frantically. "Nine Heavens of Heavenly Punishment, Ninth Heaven — Eye of Heavenly Punishment!"

"This move again?" Ye Wuhun snorted coldly. "So what if you burn your life force? You're still no match for me!"

"Whether it works or not, you'll find out after trying!" Chu Tianjiao roared. "Heavenly Punishment Descends!"

A pillar of purple-gold light shot from the Eye of Heavenly Punishment, blasting toward Ye Wuhun.

"Shadow Devour!"

Ye Wuhun released black light, clashing head-on with the lightning pillar.

"Boom!!!"

The two forces locked in a stalemate in mid-air. Although Chu Tianjiao had burned his life force, Ye Wuhun was at the Peak of the Legendary Realm; the gap in their strength remained immense.

"Lin Wu, go!" Chu Tianjiao shouted, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

"Your opponent is me!" Chu Tianjiao roared. "Today, even if I die, I will hold you back!"

"You're courting death!" Killing intent surged in Ye Wuhun's eyes as black light poured out like a tide. "Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Lin Wu ran desperately, the sound of intense fighting echoing behind him. He didn't dare look back, only gritting his teeth and charging forward.

"Chu Tianjiao... you must survive..." Lin Wu prayed silently in his heart.

Finally, he burst out of the sandstorm's range and saw the Outpost in the distance.

"Help!" Lin Wu shouted, running toward the Outpost. "Dean Li and Chu Tianjiao are still inside!"

Inside the Outpost, Fatty Chen, Arthur, Legolas, and others were waiting anxiously. Seeing the blood-covered Lin Wu, they rushed out.

"Lin Wu! What happened?" Fatty Chen supported the swaying Lin Wu. "Where are Dean Li and Chu Tianjiao?"

"Ye Wuhun... is at the Peak of the Legendary Realm..." Lin Wu grabbed Fatty Chen's arm and said with difficulty, "Dean Li... Chu Tianjiao... they both burned their life force... to hold him back..."

"What?!" Fatty Chen's expression changed drastically. "Quickly, Uncle Zhou, inform all Legendary Realm experts to head to the Heart of the Sand Sea for support!"

"Already contacting them!" Old Zhou shouted. "Medical Team, over here! Others, prepare for rescue!"

Lin Wu was carried into the Medical Center, but his gaze remained fixed on the direction of the sandstorm.

"Chu Tianjiao, Dean Li... you must survive..."

After saying those words, Lin Wu finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed into unconsciousness.