Chapter 39: As The World Falls Apart

Chapter 39: As The World Falls Apart

Walls of force snapped up around Xue and Hui. Hui held onto Xue for one more second, and then the walls expelled him, throwing him backward. Hui plunged toward the earth below.

I said Id make you my furnace, and I will!

Youre ours, now!

Teehee.

Huis back slammed into Xues ice slide. He reached out blindly for it. Cold slammed into his hand. His fingers slipped down the ice. The ground rushed up at him as he spiraled uncontrollably down the slide.

His hand slammed into a rough part of the ice. Hui clenched ahold with all his might. Slowly, he drew himself to a halt.

Dangling from the slide by one hand, Hui glanced down. His feet dangled over the castle. From this high, it looked like a toy, too small to be real.

Ice melted under his hand. Numb fingers began to slide free, slowly, inexorably. He tore his eyes off the drop and tightened his grip on the ice.

Trapped in the prison, Xue struck at the walls with her fans, furious. The triplets jeered at her, each of them standing on a small magical shuttle.

Give in! Pledge to become our furnace, and well let you go! the first triplet announced.

Cmon, cmon, the second agreed.

The third stared at the void, jaw slack and eyes wide.

The world is collapsing! We dont have time for this! Xue snapped.Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

We? You dont have time for this, the first replied.

We can ground the formation and leave you here. Youre the one in trouble, not us!

Ahhh so pretty

Xue glanced at Hui. Hui returned the look, apology in his eyes. He dangled twenty feet below her, well out of reach. Even if I could climb up onto the slide, I have no idea if I could climb it without her full movement technique. She said I couldnt, and I believe her. The triplets couldnt either, and theyre a realm higher than me.

Xue sighed, turning her eyes away from him. She slashed at the walls again.

Theres no use!

You arent getting out!

So dark

The triplet looked up, sneering, and then the flake hit the outer wall of the yin-prison.

Gold sparked. The flint struggled against the yin-prison, trapped there by the wind.

The triplet shook his head. A mere second-stage cultivator

Hui reached out to the tiny scrap of his qi in the flint, the spark that powered the death qi. It leaped to life, stimulating the death qi. A black aura surrounded the flint. The black melted the gold, and the flint cut through the outer wall.

Yes! Just like I hoped, the death qi negated the qi in the yin prison! Hui pumped a fist.

The triplets eyes widened. He raised a hand against the flake, too slow. Propelled by the wind, flint slammed into the triplets gut and burrowed deep inside. Blood spurted. He keeled over, coughing blood.

His corner of the prison wobbled, golden light scintillating wildly. He raised his hands again, but too late. The yin prison collapsed.

No! the second triplet shouted. He ran to his fellows side and caught the first before he toppled to the ground.

The first triplet gripped his gut. Blood leaked out from between his fingers. His legs wobbled. He lost his balance, and the shuttle flew off into the distance.

Xue burst out of the prison, charging at the two triplets. Fans flashed into her hands. Time for you to die!

Far below, the castle shattered with an earth-shaking snap. Flint rained down in the void where the castle had been. With no foundation, the ice under Hui broke apart. He plunged.

Xue! Hui shouted, desperate.

Xue turned. At the sight of Hui falling, she clicked her tongue. She swept her fan at him. An icy wind caught Hui and threw him toward her. Arms flailing, Hui struggled to keep himself upright.

Reaching out, Xue caught him. She turned toward the triplets again.

They raced past, the second two carrying the first. You got lucky this time, the third triplet muttered, and then they vanished into the void.

The sky wobbled, collapsing in on the void. The ground churned, chewing up the flint spires and the undead far below.

Xue glared at the rapidly-escaping triplets. She raised her fans.

Hui tugged at Xues robes. Xue! We have to go!

On it! Xue shouted. She turned and ran for the void, spreading ice before her as she went. Shattered blocks of flint swirled around them, thrown into the air as the world collapsed. One block smashed down on them, huge enough to darken the sky. Xue threw herself at the void as the shadow fell over them. Hui stared up at a wall of flint, semi-gloss black reflecting him in smudges.

They plunged into black. The world twisted around them. Hui forced his eyes shut, hiding his face against Xue. I dont want to see that again! Everything twisted uncomfortably around them, and then the world solidified once more.

Hui opened his eyes. Green grass spread around him. Trees towered overhead, brown bark and deep green canopies. Stones poked through lush moss.

Were back! he cried. At last! Out of that dusty, nothing, gray realm!