Ran Hongxia, after all, was the future Sword Saint, further strengthened by an Insect Crystal. Although her mental power was far inferior to Li Jiayu's, it was extremely tenacious. The moment before the demonic vines coiled towards her, she had already broken free from the effects of the psychic storm and regained her senses.
"This is... Ah, damn it!"
Seeing five or six demonic vines attacking her, Ran Hongxia's face turned pale with fright. She reflexively raised the Nepalese kukri in her hand and slashed twice at the incoming vines, "Swish! Swish!" This time, she performed exceptionally well, actually managing to burst out half-meter long "sword qi" from the blade's tip. Its power was substantial, knocking the demonic vines back and spraying out copious amounts of sap!
After doing this, Ran Hongxia initially wanted to turn and run immediately, but she saw a nearby axe-wielding teammate whose thigh had been pierced by five or six demonic vines, which were voraciously sucking blood. She quickly used her kukri to inflict several gashes on those vines, forcing them back. Moreover, hearing Lan Xiaoyue's cry for help, her eyes flickered, seemingly trying to figure out a way to save her.
(I knew it! This woman, always obsessed with playing the righteous hero, putting on a false front of universal love, justice, and integrity, would definitely act like this! Idiot! Big breasts, no brain! Lan Xiaoyue is beyond saving! With your current clumsy skills, anything you do is futile! If you really anger the Female Parasitic Vine, none of us will have a good end!)
This sarcastic train of thought flashed through Li Jiayu's mind, but he kept it to himself, mindful of his image in Xiao Wanqing's eyes. Just then, the Female Parasitic Vine's second wave of attacks instantly reached Ran Hongxia again!
"Li Jiayu, hurry up and help!"
It was unknown what kind of strange tonic Ran Hongxia had taken. Her bright black eyes and the kukri in her hand were highly coordinated. Her hand speed and eye speed were incredibly fast. She actually managed to fight and retreat under the attack of several demonic vines without being immediately taken down. However, her situation was perilous; she likely wouldn't last more than three seconds. If Li Jiayu didn't help, she could only resign herself to capture.
"Ugh..."
Urged by Ran Hongxia, Li Jiayu's ankle twitched, almost reflexively wanting to step in. But he instantly realized—Help my ass! Deep down, I actually wish Ran Hongxia would die sooner!
Every time he saw her, he got annoyed. Every time he saw her, unpleasant past memories resurfaced. Most crucially, she was Li Jiayu's goddess of misfortune; whenever she was around, nothing good ever happened. Perhaps this encounter with the Female Parasitic Vine was precisely because of the bad luck Ran Hongxia brought!
Right, who cares if she lives or dies... Let her die, let her die!
But... why am I hesitating?
Right now, the best thing to do is quickly ditch her and run for my life without looking back!
Is it because of the last shred of conscience I have left acting up?
Impossible! I might have a conscience towards anyone else, but definitely not towards Ran Hongxia! This damn woman forced me to kneel and beg for mercy several times, and she even kicked one of my balls till it burst! The deep hatred between us is uncountable!
Hmm... Is it because I'm afraid her end will be too tragic? Because I've always been relatively gentle towards women, I'm unwilling to see her die from having her Yin essence drained?
Perhaps.
The Female Parasitic Vine was one of the more brutal creatures in the Abyss. It specifically sought out female mammals with high intelligence. Hmm, after arriving on Earth, human females naturally became their top choice, especially high-quality ones. They would gather the captured females, and then the flower bud on their head would spray pollen, entering the females' bodies to condense all their primal Yin energy, finally extracting and absorbing it. The result, naturally, was the female's life force being severed, becoming skin-and-bones female dried corpses!
Even more wickedly, the Female Parasitic Vine's giant eyeball could confuse minds. It would imprison the females' souls, keeping them forever within the dried corpses, controlling them, turning them into its toys!
When the Female Parasitic Vine absorbed enough Yin essence, they would evolve, and a new life would be born from the flower bud on their head...
As for what that life was, Li Jiayu didn't know either; after all, it was just speculation. Besides, Female Parasitic Vines appeared extremely rarely, and even fewer people had seen one. Usually, perverts like the Female Parasitic Vine, which specialized in absorbing female Yin essence and male blood, would be besieged by large groups of people and killed thoroughly.
Perhaps Li Jiayu had long considered Ran Hongxia an important part of his life, a fated rival. He truly didn't want to see Ran Hongxia have her Yin essence drained, becoming a puppet dried corpse... Mm, the only one who can abuse Ran Hongxia is me, Li Jiayu! It's not your turn, you mere Female Parasitic Vine!
Thinking this, Li Jiayu acted impulsively, taking two steps forward, his blade flashing out suddenly, helping Ran Hongxia fend off three demonic vines, pulling her back from the brink of danger!
"I... what on earth am I doing? I actually saved her a second time? Heavens!"
After striking, Li Jiayu was dumbfounded. He couldn't understand if his brain had malfunctioned just now, acting so recklessly to help Ran Hongxia. The current situation was completely different from the classroom back then; that Female Parasitic Vine was hundreds of times more formidable than an Acid Bug!
"Jiayu, what do we do now? We must find a way to save Xiaoyue..." Ran Hongxia panted.
"Save my ass! If you don't want to die too, run now! As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no lack of firewood! If we run, at least we can avenge Lan Xiaoyue later!" Li Jiayu roared in frustration and anger.
"How can we do that..."
"Then you can just wait to die! I'm not bothering with you anymore!"
Just as Li Jiayu finished speaking, several thick demonic vines shot over, two circles thicker than the previous ones. Clearly, the Female Parasitic Vine had lost patience and was using its true strength!
These vines were darker in color than the previous ones, their bark thicker, with faint rings of bark bumps visible, and they emitted a strange, fishy stench. Most importantly, they were much more agile, twisting and winding like water snakes, incredibly fast!
The first thick vine clashed with Ran Hongxia. Under the cut of her sword qi, it only left a shallow mark on the bark, not even drawing sap. Its movement wasn't hindered at all. It swiftly wrapped around Ran Hongxia's wrist. The following vines were just as relentless, binding her limbs and waist respectively, completely controlling her!
"Holy crap! I knew she'd be instantly killed if the Female Parasitic Vine got serious... This is bad, retreat!"
No longer bothering about what Xiao Wanqing might think of him, Li Jiayu turned and ran. But how could his speed possibly match the demonic vines?
Another five thick demonic vines pursued Li Jiayu, catching up instantly. Li Jiayu had no choice but to turn and fight. But holding Xiao Wanqing in one arm and Hyorinmaru in the other, how much combat power could he possibly exert? Furthermore, Hyorinmaru's ice attribute had no suppression effect against demonic vines like these; freezing their sap was completely useless!
Less than two seconds into the fight, Li Jiayu was whipped on the shoulder by a vine. The intense pain made him falter, and the vines seized the opportunity, snatching Xiao Wanqing from his arms!
Snatching anyone else didn't matter, but absolutely not Xiao Wanqing!
"Damn it! Give her back to me!"
Li Jiayu panicked, his pupils contracting to pinpoints, like a bull seeing a waving red cloth. A terrifyingly ferocious aura erupted from his body. Roaring like a wounded beast, he charged towards Xiao Wanqing.
"Bang!"
Another vine whipped over. Gritting his teeth, Li Jiayu used all his strength, uniting spirit, essence, and energy. He actually managed to generate faint slivers of sword light. Combined with Hyorinmaru's sharpness, he completely severed this vine! Thick sap burst out, spraying onto Li Jiayu, but he seemed oblivious!
"Absolutely cannot watch her slip away from me again!"
Li Jiayu's eyes filled with an unprecedented crimson hue. His normally handsome face twisted, and faintly, an electric current seemed to flash through his mind, something spreading within his body. But before this feeling could fully spread, Li Jiayu was struck on the wrist by another vine!
"Clang!"
Hyorinmaru fell to the ground with a crisp sound!
Li Jiayu's wrist was fractured by the blow!
"Thump!"
Another dull thud. A vine whipped Li Jiayu's calf, making him lose his footing and fall wretchedly to one knee. Then another horizontal lash struck his chest, sending him flying three meters away, collapsing limply on the ground!
If it weren't for the fact that the Female Parasitic Vine's newest acquisitions, Ran Hongxia and Xiao Wanqing, were of such high quality that it was eager to inspect these two prime females, it probably would have strangled Li Jiayu to death long ago!
"Ugh..."
Li Jiayu lay dazed on the ground for two seconds before his consciousness returned with clarity. His expression savage, he opened his eyes and stared at the dim gray sky. Drizzling raindrops hit his cheeks, cold and painful.
"There are no choices left! Even if it costs my life, I will utterly destroy you!"
Li Jiayu reached out with a trembling hand and pulled a crystalline Insect Crystal from his pants pocket. Raindrops hitting the crystal made it appear even more sparklingly clear, refracting beautiful halos of light.
This was the Scythe Beetle King's Insect Crystal.
Although the Scythe Beetle King was only a low-grade high-Tier 1 creature.
A Royal Insect Crystal still contained incredible power.
Originally, Li Jiayu had planned to consume this Royal Insect Crystal second, after using the mental-type Insect Crystal. Once he consumed this Royal Crystal, Li Jiayu's body would receive excellent enhancement. Not only would his arm strength increase three or fourfold, but the strength and toughness of other body parts would also improve to varying degrees—a multi-beneficial outcome.
But... judging by the situation, this Royal Insect Crystal had to be used ahead of schedule!
Burn it!
Li Jiayu would also burn his own soul!
Even though it would entail an extremely terrifying price, Li Jiayu would not hesitate!
Even if that price was half of Li Jiayu's body, or even half his soul!
"Power! I want to exchange for power! Royal Insect Crystal, give me EXPLOSION! EXPLODE! EXPLODE!"