Chapter 48: Are You Alright?

To serve as a sect leader of a branch hall, one must be an ardent fanatic!

Moreover, The Evil Gods and Demon Lords could infiltrate the Xia Clan for countless ages and remain not fully eradicated because they possess many formidable techniques—such as Demon God oaths and Contract of Time and Space, among others. These methods completely control the Backbone Elite among their followers. In life, they obey absolutely; even in death, their souls travel to the Demon God’s domain, forever following their dark master.

“Something’s wrong,” Dongbo Xueying’s expression darkened as he turned toward Lu Huairu in the distance. Lu Huairu’s face twisted with hysteria and madness.

“Boom!!!”

The great hall’s floor suddenly surged upward and then exploded violently. One by one, the massive pillars collapsed and shattered under the force of the explosion.

Yi Jingqiu and Si Bairong, hiding in a corner of the hall, turned pale with shock.

“Solidify! Solidify! Solidify!”

Yi Jingqiu had no time to cast any powerful spells. She could only unleash weaker ones instantly. Her Frostplate Armor was already the strongest defense she could conjure, capable of withstanding attacks from a Silver Moon Knight for a short time. As she chanted her spell, sheets of ice emerged, forming slanted icy planes. Yi Jingqiu crouched behind one of these inclined ice barriers, hoping the slanted surface would help deflect the terrifying shockwave.

But the sheer force of the collapsing hall made Yi Jingqiu’s heart tremble. Would she survive?

“No, I can’t die, I can’t die!” Si Bairong’s eyes were wide with terror. In an instant, he crouched down and hid behind the same icy barrier. Seeing Yi Jingqiu fully encased in her Frostplate Armor, his eyes flashed with cold intent. He grabbed her arm and dragged her in front of himself, using her as a shield.

The defense of a Silver Moon-level mage could absorb a great deal of force.

“Si Bairong!” Yi Jingqiu’s eyes burned with fury.

“Jingqiu, you must sacrifice yourself for me this time. I will take care of your family,” Si Bairong completely hid behind Yi Jingqiu, using her as a shield. The Frostplate Armor had an automatic force-dampening effect. Otherwise, a single strike from a knight could have shattered the ice and killed the mage instantly. Because of this effect, Si Bairong used Yi Jingqiu as his best shield.

With Yi Jingqiu in front, his chances of survival increased dramatically. As for whether she lived or died? He didn’t care in the slightest.

Although he had always pursued Yi Jingqiu, it was only for her power and beauty. But in the face of death, he valued his own life far more. He hadn’t lived long enough yet.

“Cursed! Cursed! Si Bairong!!!” Yi Jingqiu was both shocked and furious. Originally, she had been crouched at the very bottom of the icy barrier, her arm shielding her face. Now, with her arm grabbed, she could no longer protect herself effectively. Her chances of death had skyrocketed.

She was enraged.

But as a mere mage, she had no strength to break free. The power of a Silver Moon Knight was simply too great.

She hadn’t died at the hands of that terrifying Divine Emissary, only to perish because of Si Bairong—that would be the greatest injustice.

…

“Something’s wrong.”

Dongbo Xueying instantly sensed the tremors beneath the earth as the explosion began. Immediately, he focused his mind, and a black square shield appeared in his left hand. It had come from one of the Divine Emissary’s two storage rings.

With his long spear in his right hand and shield in his left, he shot forward like lightning.

Swoosh!

Dongbo Xueying moved with incredible speed, activating his power-infused bloodline. Faint streams of blood-red energy swirled around his body, boosting his speed to terrifying levels. As he dashed forward, the hall’s floor exploded. Rocks of all sizes flew through the air at tremendous speed, each carrying immense impact.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

His left shield blocked several incoming stones, while his Frostfang Spear lashed out at massive boulders, collapsing walls, and giant stone pillars, trying to avoid as much as possible.

In the midst of the explosion…

Dongbo Xueying reached the spot where Yi Jingqiu and Si Bairong were hiding behind the icy barrier, over a hundred meters away, in an instant. Though he carried a shield in one hand and his spear in the other, his body still took hits from the surrounding debris. The explosion’s force was everywhere, dense and unrelenting. To reach them quickly, he had no choice but to endure the impacts.

However, as a peak-level Champion with his bloodline power unleashed and protected by battle aura, even enduring the explosion’s force would only leave him severely injured. A few rocks struck him, breaking through his protective aura and tearing small holes in his durable clothing. But Dongbo Xueying’s body was his greatest strength.

His body easily withstood the impact.

“This Si Bairong!” As Dongbo Xueying arrived, he saw Si Bairong using Yi Jingqiu as a shield, and his eyes flashed with cold fury. “Despicable!”

“Get lost!”

With one hand, Dongbo Xueying grabbed Yi Jingqiu, and with a single kick, he sent Si Bairong flying backward. Si Bairong’s expression was still one of shock.

Boom!

With the force of Dongbo Xueying’s kick, Si Bairong’s body curled as he flew backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood! Although he had been gripping Yi Jingqiu’s arm, the Frostplate Armor automatically absorbed the pulling force, causing no harm to her.

Yi Jingqiu stared wide-eyed at Dongbo Xueying.

Without hesitation, Dongbo Xueying immediately sheathed his Frostfang Spear and cradled Yi Jingqiu protectively in front of him, placing the large square shield behind them to block the explosion’s shockwave.

…

Yi Jingqiu had been used as a shield by Si Bairong, and the explosion was already upon her. She had already accepted her fate.

Suddenly, from the distance, a figure in black clothes tore through the explosion at terrifying speed. His velocity left a trail of afterimages, and in Yi Jingqiu’s eyes, countless Dongbo Xueying clones seemed to appear. With a shield in one hand and his Frostfang Spear in the other, his gaze remained calm and sharp, showing no panic.

The flying boulders, shattered pillars, and countless flying rocks could not stop him.

At this moment—

Yi Jingqiu felt as if Dongbo Xueying radiated light—as though he were a great hero.

At this moment, her heart was filled with emotion.

Boom.

With a single kick, he sent Si Bairong flying. In an instant, he grabbed her and pulled her close, shielding her with his entire chest. As she pressed against Dongbo Xueying’s chest—though still separated by the Frostplate Armor—Yi Jingqiu suddenly felt safe, as though she were a child once again in her father’s embrace.

Dongbo Xueying, however, had no time to dwell. He raised the shield behind them.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

Countless surging rocks blasted in all directions. Because the hall was completely enclosed, the explosion’s force kept reverberating inside. The stones from above collapsed, the walls crumbled, and countless rocks—big and small—rushed down like a storm. “No!” A piercing scream rang out as Si Bairong desperately tried to block with a shield, but he was instantly sent rolling. Then, he was struck by a barrage of rocks. His protective battle aura shattered, and his body was far more fragile. Wounds tore across him, and his head was struck over a dozen times in an instant. Darkness consumed him—he was dead.

Surviving such a contained explosion was nearly impossible. Only someone at the Champion level might have a chance.

“Hmph.” Dongbo Xueying half-crouched, shielding Yi Jingqiu completely. His left hand dug into the ground, while the shield in his right hand tilted to deflect the force.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!!!”

Wave after wave of impact crashed upon them. The icy barrier shattered instantly, and countless rocks slammed into the shield, with some even striking Dongbo Xueying’s feet.

“Hmph!” His left hand dug deep into the ground, anchoring himself firmly. With his right hand, he used the shield to block with all his might. With his power unleashed, he could withstand the force.

Yi Jingqiu, protected beneath him, felt no harm. She kept her head down, only able to see Dongbo Xueying’s powerful hand gripping the ground tightly.

Looking at that strong hand, Yi Jingqiu felt safe.

“Watch out!” Suddenly, a voice called out urgently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

The entire hall collapsed, and massive stones fell from above.

Dongbo Xueying immediately wrapped his body around Yi Jingqiu for full protection, raising the shield above them. Boom! Boom! Boom!!! Countless stones rained down. In an instant, the great hall was completely destroyed, and Dongbo Xueying and Yi Jingqiu were buried under several meters of rubble.

…

Gradually, the outside grew silent.

The shield was above them.

Dongbo Xueying and Yi Jingqiu were beneath it. The echoes of the explosion faded, and darkness surrounded them.

“Hmph.” Dongbo Xueying slightly furrowed his brow. His right leg was pinned, but his body was strong—this was just a minor injury.

“Are you alright?” Yi Jingqiu heard Dongbo Xueying’s voice and asked with concern.

“It’s fine now.” His voice remained calm as ever. His right arm held the shield, bearing the weight of the collapsing stones above—perhaps three or four tons. “Wait a moment. I’ll break through this rubble and get us out.”