After taking Shen Biqian’s powerful kick, the demonic beast’s massive body swayed before it regained its senses.
Completely enraged, it raised its claw and slammed it toward the collapsed Shen Biqian.
It seemed determined to crush her into a bloody pulp.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure descending from above, Shen Biqian rolled clumsily to the side, narrowly avoiding the gleaming claws.
The wound on her back scraped against the ground, sending waves of pain through her body and making her grit her teeth.
Damn it.
I refuse to believe I can’t kill a wounded beast!
Shen Biqian hardened her resolve.
She even drew away the spiritual energy that was maintaining the vortex within her body and concentrated it all into her fist.
Shakily, she struggled to her feet and punched the beast’s soft underbelly.
Her small fist plunged directly into its body.
Warm liquid instantly enveloped her hand.
She could even feel its blood flowing over her fist.
Shen Biqian was fortunate.
Normally, such a wound would be insignificant to a demonic beast.
However, her punch had landed directly on its core.
The core shattered into pieces.
And once the core was destroyed, the beast was truly dead.
The beast’s enormous body crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.
Shen Biqian let out a long sigh of relief.
Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.
At the same time, another heavy crash sounded nearby.
Turning her head, she saw that Su Jianmo had also finished off the two beasts he was facing.
His condition wasn’t much better than hers.
Bloodstains dotted his handsome face.
Shen Biqian grinned at him.
Against the blood splattered across her face, her white teeth looked rather comical.
“We finally got them all.”
Su Jianmo smiled bitterly.
“We did.”
“But if another one shows up, we’re both finished.”
Shen Biqian spat lightly.
“Don’t jinx us.”
The students who had watched the brutal battle from a distance were stunned.
Although Shen Biqian and Su Jianmo had only barely won, to those students they looked like gods.
Just as they began moving closer—
A thunderous roar echoed through the air.
The earth itself trembled beneath their feet.
Shen Biqian’s expression darkened.
“No way…”
“It really came.”
“My luck can’t be this bad.”
The students hesitated briefly before scattering in panic.
They lacked the strength to save anyone.
Su Jianmo’s expression turned serious.
Swaying slightly, he struggled to his feet and extended a hand toward Shen Biqian.
“Get up.”
Looking at his long, well-defined fingers, Shen Biqian grabbed his hand.
No matter why he treated her so well, she would remember that kindness forever.
“Let’s run!”
“Head south. The library is closest—we can hide there.”
“Okay.”
But both of them were injured.
How could they possibly outrun a demonic beast?
After only a short distance, the beast’s foul stench was already upon them.
Hearing the excited roars behind them, Su Jianmo suddenly wrapped his arms around Shen Biqian and threw himself to the ground.
A sharp claw swept through the air where they had just been.
The beast missed.
Roaring angrily, it raised its claws again and struck toward the two people on the ground.
Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, Su Jianmo rolled aside with Shen Biqian in his arms.
In the chaos, the wounds on his body scraped violently against stones on the ground.
Some of the sharp rocks embedded themselves directly into his injuries.
His brows furrowed tightly.
Yet he never loosened his grip on Shen Biqian.
Using his own flesh and blood, he shielded her from the danger about to descend.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Su Jianmo said softly.
Then his expression became grim.
“We can’t escape like this.”
Through the gap beside him, Shen Biqian saw the beast raising its claws high once more.
She made a desperate decision.
Her consciousness entered her dantian.
She prepared to detonate the leaf she had only recently cultivated.
Destroying the leaf would release an enormous amount of spiritual energy—enough for her to use Wood Binding one more time.
The price, however, would be severe.
It would damage the very foundation of her cultivation.
But she had no choice.
Just then—
Whoosh!
The sound of a sword slicing through the air rang out.
A golden sword streaked across the battlefield.
To Shen Biqian’s immense joy, it pierced straight through the beast’s heart.
The beast staggered twice.
Then—
Boom!
Its enormous body collapsed.
Shen Biqian quickly dragged Su Jianmo and rolled away.
It would be far too ridiculous to survive the beast only to be crushed by its corpse.
Dust exploded into the air and covered her face.
Yet she couldn’t stop smiling.
Their lives were saved.
And her leaf was saved as well.
Even Su Jianmo’s usually cold expression softened into a smile.
“Looks like our luck isn’t that bad after all.”
Their eyes met.
Then both burst into laughter.
“Su Jianmo, you’re the number one heartthrob at our school—the dream guy of countless girls.”
“If they saw you looking this miserable, the legend of their perfect idol would completely collapse.”
Su Jianmo snorted.
“You’re not much better.”
“Hey, have you two lost your minds?”
Su Jianmo released Shen Biqian and rolled aside.
Looking toward the newcomer, he said:
“Thanks for the help.”
Shen Biqian also sized up the young man.
He wore red clothing, red hair, and red shoes.
His smile was brilliant and carefree.
It was none other than Mu Ranzhu, the famous Guardian of the Apocalypse Campus from her previous life.
His strength was extraordinary.
At least, the current Shen Biqian couldn’t tell what level of cultivation he had reached.
Beside him stood two others.
One was a girl in flowing white robes—Bai Xue.
The other was an ordinary-looking young man whose calm, resolute bearing made him stand out—Li Nan.
When Bai Xue saw that the blood-covered, battered young man was actually Su Jianmo—the boy she had liked for two years—her watery eyes immediately misted over.
She completely ignored Shen Biqian.
“You’re injured.”
“Sit down quickly. I’ll heal you.”
Su Jianmo pointed at Shen Biqian beside him.
“Thank you.”
“But please heal her first.”
“She’s more seriously injured than I am.”
Only then did Bai Xue notice Shen Biqian.
Though she felt a trace of jealousy toward this girl who had suddenly become so close to Su Jianmo, she still smiled politely.
“Alright.”
Shen Biqian sat down cross-legged.
“A beast clawed my back. Thank you.”
Bai Xue glanced at Su Jianmo.
“I’m going to tear open her clothes on her back.”
“Turn around.”
Su Jianmo’s face seemed to redden slightly.
Obediently, he turned away.
Meanwhile, Mu Ranzhu and Li Nan also walked off into the distance.
Bai Xue crouched down.
Looking at the mangled wound, she carefully tore away the shredded fabric.
The sight was shocking.
The claw marks were deep, and because Shen Biqian had rolled across the ground afterward, dirt and dust had become embedded in the wounds.
The mixture of red blood and dark grime was horrifying to look at.
Bai Xue glanced at Shen Biqian.
Despite such terrible injuries, there was no sign of pain on her face.
She couldn’t help admiring her.
A girl this strong…
No wonder Su Jianmo likes her.
Bai Xue placed her hand above the wound and closed her eyes.
Suddenly, a soft white glow appeared above her fair hand.
Bathed in that white light, the wounds began healing rapidly.
Within moments, Shen Biqian’s fair back had completely recovered.
Shen Biqian only felt a warm, comfortable sensation spread across the wounds on her back.
As the gentle light bathed her injuries, the pain gradually faded away until there was no pain left at all.
Bai Xue stood up.
“It’s done. Wait here for a moment—I’ll find you something to wear over your shoulders.”
“Thank you.”
Feeling the cool breeze against her now-bare back, Shen Biqian shivered slightly.
When she remembered that Su Jianmo was standing nearby, her cheeks couldn’t help turning a little red.
Su Jianmo still had his back to her and hadn’t turned around.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Mm.”
“Bai Xue’s healing ability is amazing.”
After a brief pause, she asked,
“What about your injuries? Are they serious?”
“I’m fine.”
Bai Xue quickly returned carrying a red men’s jacket.
“It’s Mu Ranzhu’s. Use it for now.”
Shen Biqian accepted it and draped it over her shoulders.
“Thank you. Hurry and heal him.”
Su Jianmo also sat down cross-legged.
His injuries were actually worse than Shen Biqian’s.
There were claw marks all over his arms, legs, and back.
Looking at those wounds, Bai Xue’s heart ached.
She poured every bit of strength she could muster into healing him.
When she finally stood up, her body swayed slightly.
Shen Biqian immediately stepped forward to support her.
Seeing Bai Xue’s pale face, she asked,
“Are you alright?”
Bai Xue rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes for a moment before replying,
“I’m fine.”
“I just overused my spiritual energy.”
At that moment, Li Nan and Mu Ranzhu returned.
Mu Ranzhu handed Bai Xue a white crystal core.
“Find a quiet place later and absorb the spiritual energy inside.”
“Light-element beasts are rare. We’ve only encountered one so far.”
Bai Xue accepted it and softly thanked him.
Then Mu Ranzhu turned toward Shen Biqian and Su Jianmo.
Extending his hand, he introduced himself.
“My name is Mu Ranzhu.”
“A fire-element cultivator.”
Su Jianmo shook his hand lightly.
“Su Jianmo.”
“My element is probably wood.”
Shen Biqian also introduced herself.
“Shen Biqian.”
“Wood element and fire element.”
Mu Ranzhu looked surprised.
“Two elements?”
“That’s quite a good talent.”
Then he opened his hand.
Resting in his palm were five crystal cores—three red and two yellow.
“These are the cores from the beasts you killed.”
“I dug them out for you.”
“Judging by your condition, you’ve probably exhausted your spiritual energy as well.”
“Hurry and absorb them to recover.”
Shen Biqian accepted them without any ceremony.
“Thanks.”
It was her first time seeing these so-called crystal cores.
Curious, she lowered her head and examined the five smooth, round spheres in her hand.
The red ones felt slightly warm.
The yellow ones, however, felt completely ordinary.