Chapter 51 — The Black Stone Cave
劍問蒼天 · Page 2 of 6
The fiery dragon roared in midair, and from its pair of enormous dragon eyes two jets of wrathful flame truly spurted forth. Its blazing maw gaped wide with a boom and clamped its teeth upon the descending fanged club.
A halo of mingled gold and crimson spread rapidly outward from the point where they met, accompanied by pealing thunder. In an instant Shi Tou felt the Demon-Breaking Staff in his hands grow so hot he could scarcely hold it. In his alarm he summoned all his divine strength and wrenched the staff free of the dragon's jaws.
The fiery dragon wheeled through the sky, roaring without cease, then suddenly opened its great mouth and belched a thick column of fire straight at Shi Tou.
Shi Tou gave a great shout, gripped the staff with both hands in a spell sign, and held the Demon-Breaking Staff across his body. Golden radiance flickered as a wall of light rose up and blocked the fire column—but his body was driven helplessly backward by the tremendous force.
Seeing Shi Tou at a disadvantage and in danger, Zhang Qingyue at once sprang into action. The Dark Iron Staff rose soundlessly and shot at the fiery dragon from the side. But the dragon seemed to possess a spirit of its own; without so much as a glance it turned its head, glared with its enormous eyes, opened its maw, and with a thunderous roar sent another thick column of fire rushing forth.
Caught off guard, Zhang Qingyue saw the flames come on like a mountain, like the overturning sea, impossible to avoid. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his magic power; the Dark Iron Staff glowed with a blue light as he met the assault head-on and held the fire column at bay.
Just then the three-tailed fox demon gave a long laugh, soared into the air, and with the Mystic Fire Mirror glittering in her hand, charged straight at the two of them. Zhang Qingyue and Shi Tou, locked in struggle with the fiery dragon, were both aghast at the sight; even Bili, standing behind the three-tailed fox demon, was greatly startled. In her urgency she gave a clear cry, leaped up, and with the jade-like fingers of her right hand flexing and extending, the Heartbreak Flower dissolved into countless petals that filled the sky and flew straight at the three-tailed fox demon's back.
And where no eye could see, Bili's left hand stole quietly to her waist and closed about the little golden bell.
The three-tailed fox demon seemed to know the power of the Heartbreak Flower and dared not meet it head-on; she twisted aside and dodged. Bili did not pursue, but darted to Zhang Qingyue's side and stood hovering in the air beside him.
Zhang Qingyue looked up at her. Bili's eyes shifted, and it happened that she was looking at him as well.
For some reason, Zhang Qingyue at once turned his head away again.
The fiery dragon still paraded its might in midair, but the three-tailed fox demon, the moment Bili rushed past, did not hesitate in the least. She stretched out a hand and beckoned; the Mystic Fire Mirror flew back into her grasp, and her whole body turned into a streak of white light that vanished into the darkness deep within the forest.
Zhang Qingyue and the other two were all taken aback for a moment.
In the distance, Zhou Yixuan let out a long breath and said, "Just as well, just as well. It seems this three-tailed fox demon's cultivation is not deep enough after all; she cannot unleash the Mystic Fire Mirror's full power and can only give these youngsters a fright. Otherwise, with the Mystic Fire Mirror's might, these few would be in real danger."
Xiaowan, at his side, said unconvinced, "How do you know her cultivation isn't deep enough? I saw her take on three alone and never once fall at a disadvantage."