After leaving the valley, Blanche, Aveline, and the others didn’t dare to stop to rest. Instead, they flew west at full speed. Drawing on her wealth of experience, Aveline chose mostly remote paths where the complex terrain and chaotic spiritual energy made it easy to hide their tracks.
“Blanche, how is your injury?” she asked, her eyes darting behind them for any sign of pursuit. “It’s under control after taking the pill,” Blanche replied. The color hadn’t returned to her face, but her eyes stayed sharp.
“It’s just that my spiritual energy is recovering slowly. Narcissa’s Violebolt energy is proving stubborn to clear, and the frost poison still flares up occasionally. Aveline nodded, her expression solemn.
“She must have sent a message to her husband, Alarion, before she died. I’ve heard of him. He’s a standout among the younger generation of the Jornells of Amethysius.
“His cultivation has reached the early-stage Core-Forged Arcanist level, and he dotes on Narcissa. If he comes after us, we don’t stand a chance.”
One of the younger Frost family disciples couldn’t help but ask, “Aunt Aveline, if the five of us form the Lesser Five Elements Sword Formation, can’t we stop an early-stage Core-Forged Arcanist?”
Aveline shook her head. “There is a world of difference between Adept and Core-Forged Arcanist. Their spiritual energy is so condensed that it is practically tangible, and they can even tap into the world’s raw essence.
“That is not a gap you can bridge with numbers or sword formations alone. We might hold him for a moment, but we will inevitably lose in a prolonged battle. We must also protect the injured Blanche.”
After a short pause, she added, “Our only option is to shake off pursuit as quickly as possible and find somewhere absolutely hidden where Blanche can heal. After she recovers, her talent and lineage might give her a fighting chance. At the very least, we will have a better chance of escaping.”
Another female cultivator said worriedly, ”
But if Alarion catches up this quickly, he must have a way to track us. After all, we left in such a hurry. Even though we tried to erase our tracks, we probably left traces of our energy waves behind.”
Aveline paused in thought. Then she said, “Let’s keep moving I remember there’s a place called Blackwind Marsh about 90 miles ahead. It’s filled with poisonous miasma, chaotic spiritual energy, and natural magnetic interference.
“It disrupts divine senses and tracking spells. If we can get deep into the marsh, we might be able to use the terrain to lose him.”
Everyone’s spirits lifted at her words, and they sped forward. But they had underestimated Alarion’s determination and speed in pursuit, as well as the potential a Core-Forged Arcanist could unleash when fueled by the grief of losing his wife.
About an hour after they left the valley, a heart-stopping pressure and a wave of violent killing intent erupted from the horizon behind them.
“Damn it! Alarion’s caught up already. He’s too fast,” Aveline said, her face draining of color.
She looked back and saw a streak of cyan light tearing through the sky like a meteor, closing the distance at a terrifying speed. The overwhelming killing intent was almost tangible, sending chills through everyone’s spines.
“Everyone, split up!” Aveline made a split-second decision. “Blanche, take Snowy deep into the marsh and find somewhere to hide. The four of us will scatter and draw him away ”
“No!” Blanche immediately objected. ” He’s coming for me. If you split up, he’ll just hunt you down one by one.”
“Listen to me,” Aveline said sharply, though her eyes held both resolve and tenderness. “You are our only hope, and we cannot afford to lose you. We will hold him off as long as we can. Now go ”
Before Blanche could say anything, Aveline gave her a light shove. The gentle force sent Blanche and Snowy toward the dense forest below. At the same time, Aveline barked a command, “Take formation! Engage the enemy!”
A look of grim resolve crossed the faces of the other four disciples, but not one of them retreated. They quickly joined Aveline. Sword light flared once more as the Lesser Five Elements Formation solidified in an instant, forming a barrier between their group and the approaching Alarion.
Blanche steadied herself midair and looked back. Aveline and the other four stood suspended in the sky, their sword formation’s light seeming so fragile yet so resolute against the rapidly approaching cyan streak.
Tears glistened in her eyes as she bit her lip hard. She knew this wasn’t the time to hesitate. Turning around, she transformed into a white arc and dove toward Blackwind Marsh below with Snowy without looking back.
“Remnants of the Frost family, go to hell!”
Alarion’s roar thundered like lightning. The cyan streak closed in instantly, revealing his twisted, savage face. When he spotted Blanche fleeing below, his fury erupted. He raised his hand and sent a massive cyan lightning spear, tearing through the air to strike at Blanche’s back.
“Don’t even think about it!” Aveline shouted. Five sword lights merged into a massive barrier of sword-screen, blocking the lightning spear.
The spear slammed into the sword-screen, erupting in a blinding flash and a deafening explosion. The barrier trembled violently as its light began to dim.
Aveline and the others groaned in unison. Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, but they had managed to block the strike.
“Know your place! You are a grain of sand trying to stop a landslide.”
Alarion’s rage intensified when his attack was blocked. Without slowing down, he charged straight for the sword formation. His hands moved in a blur, raining down bolts of cyan lightning that were even more powerful than before.
Aveline and the other four struggled to hold the formation. Driven onto the defensive, their situation grew increasingly dire. Each collision sent their life essence churning, battering their internal organs. Yet, their eyes remained resolute as they held the line.
They were determined to buy Blanche every precious second they could.
