With a sudden thought, as if sensing Li Qiu's intent, the mass of black vapor turned to flee, only to find its retreat blocked by a burst of blue Qi. Like a ferocious deity, the black vapor lunged forward, engaging the blue Qi in fierce combat on the spot.
By now, Li Qiu was certain that this affliction was identical to the one that had plagued Ya'er at the ancestral hall. Feeling somewhat relieved, he circulated his internal energy, causing the blue Qi to surge sharply. However, the black vapor ducked into Bao'er's Dantian and refused to come out, reaching a stalemate with the blue Qi. Since Li Qiu lacked sufficient cultivation, the blue Qi had already consumed all the spiritual energy within his Dantian, leaving him no choice but to withdraw his technique and have the blue Qi surround the black vapor instead.
Although Zheng Shude no longer felt the previous sense of constriction, he was young and his cultivation was shallow. Having forced his energy to circulate, his meridians had already suffered damage. Though he managed to persevere, his whole body was shaking like a sieve, yet he refused to retreat. The moment Li Qiu withdrew his technique, Zheng Shude felt a mighty force violently rush forward, driving his pitiful trace of true Qi out of his body. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of turbid blood.
Chapter 23