Chapter 0288: Fighting for Time

"F*ck, that was too close!"

Li Luo's hands were still clammy from how close that had been. He could hear his heart thumping loudly.

He had just swaggered out from right under the spirit beast's nose.

It had been a middle finger to death's face. If the three-tailed beast had just been a little less afraid, or even sent a casual attack to cover its retreat, he would likely be dead.

Luckily, it was too afraid of the seal.

Before it confirmed the seal's power, the beast chose caution.

And therefore, Li Luo had hope.

He looked down at the ancient seal. Indeed, it had some strength behind it, but to think that it was enough to kill the three-tailed beast was foolishness.

The principal had said as much. It could be used if the three-tailed beast was injured, but not if it was in peak condition.

Of course, the three-tailed beast didn't know that.

All it knew was that the extremely powerful principal was a force to be feared. Even when only a representation of him was being wielded by someone else.

Borrowed power.

Li Luo glanced back and saw that the path was clear. Still, he was pretty sure his plan was still on track. The beast possessed the right mix of intellect and greed. It would chase on. If Li Luo's seal was strong enough to defeat it, he wouldn't be on the run.

Once it figured that out, it would come.

In the meantime, Li Luo would run.

He calmed his beating heart and sorted out his thoughts. These tricks had been thought of beforehand. Only by staying calm and doing what he could was there a chance for him to pull this off.

There would be no guaranteed safety in this mad situation. He could only choose the path that risked his life the least, with the best odds.

He pounded on, zipping across the river's surface like a streak of silvery-blue light.

Soon enough, he heard movement behind him again, and he could see a dust trail in the distance.

The three-tailed beast was coming again.

Even at this distance, its rage preceded him, a new frenzy to the way it shook the earth.

“Whew.”

Li Luo felt simultaneously nervous and relieved. At least it was coming. If it ran away, the plan would be over.

Also, oh sh*t, it was coming. The chase began again.

This time the three-tailed beast was not as hesitant. It was watching Li Luo's hand while it chased, assessing, calculating.

Li Luo kept his hand firmly shut, not exposing the seal at all. The three-tailed beast grew impatient and began to close the distance.

Just as it prepared to pounce on him, Li Luo suddenly stopped.

"Foul beast, let's die together!" he screamed like a beast himself, turning around to aim the seal's light at the three-tailed beast again.

He looked fully ready to die together.

The utter conviction in his eyes swayed the beast, and again it leaped away in fright.

Did Li Luo really mean to die together with it? It didn't know, but it was afraid to find out.

Which meant that again Li Luo slipped away ahead of it.

Soon enough, the dreadful, thundering chase began again, this time resuming much quicker than before. One could only cry wolf so many times.

The three-tailed beast was no fool. Each time Li Luo pulled off the same stunt, it grew a little bolder, a little surer of the seal's limits.

The seal was not strong enough to kill it.

Still, it chose prudence, biding its time for a good opportunity. It would leave no chance for Li Luo to hurt it in his death throes.

Li Luo gladly welcomed this prudence. If he kept this up, he would reach the purified spot soon.

It was just there, ahead of him.

Hope surged in his chest.

...

"Something's not right."

Duze Honglian was looking at the purification barrier, which was incredibly thin at this point, a pitiful collection of dim gossamer where it had once been a dense and comforting layer.

They had estimated that the barrier would last three days, but now it seemed like it would break before that.

The students looked up in helplessness and fear.

"The grinning demon has increased the corrosive power," Jiang Qing'e said in a voice still soft from her injuries.

She looked towards the back of the purified spot.

"Still holding out hope for him?" Duze Honglian snorted. "Only you would believe his harebrained scheme would succeed. Does he think a General Stage spirit beast can be commanded like a house puppy?

"How's he going to run from it?"

At this point, Duze Honglian stopped talking. Soon enough, she would be back on the topic of Li Luo having run away.

The plan was just an excuse.

"I wish he had run away," Jiang Qing'e said in response to her unspoken thoughts. "It’s a pity that Li Luo is not like that."

Duze Honglian snorted again.

"The purification barrier will be down soon. We have no choice but to try and fight it as best we can. Can you fight?"

Jiang Qing'e did not reply, but curled her fingers around her sword hilt.

That would be the end. It was likely that the entire purified spot would fall to the grinning demon. They had no other choice but to fight for every additional second.

She hoped that when it came to that, Li Luo would stay away. Perhaps he could live.

It was a futile hope. Li Luo would not come back alive unless he had made his plan succeed.

Time ticked on.

The atmosphere grew more and more tense, building up like gas. Stifling. Choking. And ready to explode into full-blown panic with just a spark.

Drip.

A drop of sticky, black sludge landed on the stone wall in front of Jiang Qing'e, eating away at it with relish.

The purification barrier was broken.