Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 356 - 348: A Desperate Gamble

The tiny Earth Bomb naturally couldn’t do much to the Ouyang Ancestor. Before it even reached him, it exploded in the air in the blink of an eye.

A loud boom resounded.

Shards flew in all directions, scattering multicolored medicinal powders, drifting down like snow.

The Ouyang Ancestor waved his long sleeve, and a strong airflow gathered and swept away the powders, making them disappear without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Fixing his eyes, the scattered powders reappeared in the hand of the Ouyang Ancestor.

He opened his palm and turned it, letting the powder slip away, sneering disdainfully, "A trivial trick."

Cheng Xiaoxiao helped Zhou Yanlan stand up; their hair was disheveled, clothes torn, bloodstained, with severe internal and external injuries.

Zhou Yanlan looked at the Soldier’s Shovel in his hand; this time, the Qi Force had caused significantly less damage to his internal organs. There was only a shallow palm imprint left on the shovel, and it remained mostly intact.

Truly a Divine weapon for carving mountains and stones; taking a hard blow head-on, yet unlike his Purple Sun Treasure Sword which was rendered useless, it dissipated much of the Qi.

Cheng Xiaoxiao whispered in Zhou Yanlan’s ear, "I still have a move to deal with the old monster. Can you delay three to five seconds so I can get a bit closer?"

"No, it’s too dangerous."

"There’s no other way now; we can only go all out."

Zhou Yanlan turned his head, gazing intently into those eyes sparkling like stars, unable to utter any words of refusal.

He didn’t want a young girl to take risks, especially such a smart and unique one.

Since the day they met, since she saved him, he hadn’t thought that with his ability, he couldn’t protect his savior for a lifetime of peace. Yet the harsh reality hit so quickly; the person he wanted to protect repeatedly faced danger, even under his watchful eyes, unable to keep them safe. That deep sense of powerlessness surged in his heart, just like his weak self in the past.

If fate plays tricks, then let’s gamble it all!

"Take a rest."

Saying this, he took out a reddish-brown bottle from his bosom with his long, slender fingers and poured out a pill.

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s eyebrows twitched violently; could this be the... forbidden drug to enhance Inner Strength?

She grabbed his warm, blood-stained hand, "Absolutely not."

"There’s no time."

"No, it’s not time to fight to the death yet."

Cheng Xiaoxiao was extremely serious as she stared at the other’s handsome face. Zhou Yanlan was a good partner, with a huge organization behind him, indispensable. If he exhausted his cultivation or died for her, she would bear a great sin.

"Do as I say, trust me, I can do it."

Faced with such a large gap in cultivation level, he had to consider the young girl’s suggestion.

She had many remarkable treasures in her hands; perhaps there was indeed a way to defeat the enemy. He would give it a try, and if it didn’t work, he would step in.

Looking again at her unwavering and determined eyes.

He awkwardly said, "Be careful."

Then he took out another pill for treating internal injuries and swallowed it.

This time, Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t stop him. She’d seen this pill before; it indeed was for treating internal injuries.

"Mm, don’t worry!"

In a flash, Zhou Yanlan, wielding the Soldier’s Shovel, walked forward with resolute steps.

Somehow, it was comical.

The scene, supposed to be beautiful yet heart-wrenching, was ruined by the incongruous weapon, destroying the aesthetic delight.

Indescribably awkward.

Her thoughts paused... At such a critical moment, how could she be daydreaming?

Holding the Crystal Pendant, Xiao Li, this is all up to you.

The crystal twinkled, as if responding to its owner.

Towards Zhou Yanlan’s renewed attack, the Ouyang Ancestor sneered, handling it with ease, even controlling the range of airflow coverage, causing no damage to the other items in the hall apart from a few insignificant fixtures.

Cheng Xiaoxiao squinted her eyes slightly; had she forgotten something?

Scanning the surroundings.

Yes, her initial goal was sabotage.

After entering, she had been battling enemies, forgetting that the key wasn’t dealing with Ouyang Ancestor but disrupting the sacrifice.

Taking advantage of Zhou Yanlan’s diversion.

Quietly shifting her position, she used the system’s ability to teleport objects, throwing her last remaining Earth Bomb into the furnace.

Doing so would surely anger the opponent, so at the moment Zhou Yanlan was repelled, she sprang up into the air.

"Xiao Li!"

As her unscrupulous master threw him out in an arc.

He activated his skill.

Squeak, squeak!

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak!

Not sure what it was chanting.

Its fur stood on end, and its little tail trembled, stiffened, then whipped forcefully.

A small whirlwind, seemingly light, drifted towards the Ouyang Ancestor.

At that moment, the Ouyang Ancestor also noticed the little girl throwing something under the Pill Furnace, the thing that exploded earlier, and instantly flew into a rage.

"You’re courting death."

He casually waved up a stream of Qi to resist the harmless whirlwind.

Who would have thought the whirlwind was unaffected by his Qi, heading straight for his face?

Before he figured out what it was, it had reached him, and he swung a punch to meet the whirlwind head-on.

With a ripping sound, the whirlwind dissipated.

And the fist that struck the whirlwind couldn’t be retracted, the entire fist began to stiffen.

Slowly, the stiffness spread from the fist upwards until the whole arm felt foreign, his body, as robust as iron, couldn’t fend off this invasion. Just when he felt astonished and panicked.

Bang, a resounding explosion!

Flames danced in the air, sparks flew, the furnace was thrown high into the air, then crashed down heavily.

After Xiao Li unleashed his Killing Skill, Cheng Xiaoxiao used the system’s Shunyi Technique, instantly returning Xiao Li to her arms.

Xiao Li let out two weak squeaks, affectionately licking her palm.

"Well done, little one, now go rest!"

Squeak, squeak!

Cheng Xiaoxiao returned Xiao Li to the Crystal Pendant.

The incredulous Ouyang Ancestor had no choice but to sever his left arm to ensure his survival.

The opponent even destroyed his Pill Furnace.

His fury reached its peak, a crushing force rolled forward.

Covering the entire hall.

Even the flickering fire sparks were extinguished with a breath.

Already seriously injured, the duo suffered even more injuries.

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s eyes turned red as she stared ahead; she hadn’t expected Xiao Li’s Killing Skill couldn’t kill the old monster.

This now thoroughly enraged the opponent, and the two of them were likely doomed.

Meanwhile, outside, Gu Ming and Han Yi, seizing the moment when the enemy was distracted, instructed several underlings to quickly evacuate the children; they stayed behind to cover the retreat.

Han Yi wasn’t planning a full retreat; he had no idea how his master was faring inside.

He couldn’t just leave.

After ensuring the children were safely sent off with Gu Ming and the others, he planned on returning.

At this crucial moment, the Great Elder yelled sternly, "I implore the two clan elders to act, eliminate the intruders."

In the silent night, there was no response.

Han Yi felt uneasy; were there still formidable masters here?

"Though I’m not the Family Head, and have no authority to request the two clan elders to act, these children are offerings desired by the Ancestor, a matter of great importance. If they’re lost, the two clan elders might not be able to remain unscathed."