Bai Yunfei initially thought Dongfang Ming was trying to escape from the seal, but a precursory scan of the Core World told him that this wasnāt the case. Eyebrows furrowed, he waved his right hand and gave it a wave.
Everyone watched in curiosity at Bai Yunfeiās actions, curious what he was doing. There was a bright flash light before a figure appeared out of nowhere.
āDongfang Ming!!ā
Huangfu Nan snarled in anger at the sight of the man. He stepped forward as if to inflict harm onto the man, but then he paused when he saw the state of Dongfang Ming.
He wasnāt the only one to give pause. Several others looked on in shock as well.
Everyone could tell that Dongfang Ming was in a very terrible state!
Rather than stand straight, Dongfang Ming was stooped over like a hunchback. His skin was unblemished and without injury, though the newly-healed parts looked as pale as bone that made him seem more like a shell than an actual person. There was a dark-red light that circled around his person like a chain, though it flickered weakly as if ready to disappear at any second.
The biggest eye-catcher was his chest, specifically the part where his heart was. The way his chest heaved in and out made it seem like his heart was trying its very best to burst out from his chest. In fact, with the light that was glowing from that area, and how forceful it was in its thumping, the outline of his heart could be seen and heard by everyone in the hall.
No one could tell how he was since the Soul Sealing Mandate had sealed his soulforce, meaning it was impossible to tell. But no one needed to use their soulforce to tell that Dongfang Ming was in a very dangerous state right now.
āSealer, whatās going on?ā Bai Yunfei asked.
The white ball of light several inches over Dongfang Mingās head emitted a bright flash of light before a small tiger flew out from it.
For many of the people in the halls, this was their very first time seeing the spirit of a Regalia. Even Shen Pojun found himself staring at the apparition with wide-opened eyes.
āIāve nothing to do with it,ā The tiger shrugged its paws, āheās doing this himself. I thinkā¦this is the backlash of a demon armament.ā
āA backlash!?ā Bai Yunfei repeated, āClarify that, if you can. Did he do anything before he was sealed?ā
āWell, his body hasnāt really stopped āmovingā since he was sealed. Isnāt that why his body is healed now? But thatās just on the physical level. His soulforce is pretty much empty. Heās been struggling for a long time now, and heās even tried summoning his two demon armaments, without success of course. I could tell he used some kind of technique since his core started to act differently when I called for you. His spirit got a lot stronger because of that and he definitely tried to break the sealā¦
āBut heās underestimating me if he thought that last-ditch effort could break my sealā¦ā The tiger mewled with pride, āI wouldnāt be a Regalia if I could be overpowered by something like thatā¦his soulforce weakened after some time and thatās why heās like this nowāif Iām not wrong, then the demon armament is now causing a backlash after being used like that.ā
āThe backlash of a demon armamentā¦what kind of effect will that have?ā Bai Yunfei asked.
āIt wonāt be pretty, and it wonāt be weak. But itās hard to imagine what the price will be in this caseāhis demonic body is pretty close to collapsing right now. I canāt even say his physical body compares to even the regular soul cultivator. His core is eating away at his own soul. Heās fighting against it, but if you ask meā¦itās a losing battle.ā
The tiger looked up to Bai Yunfei. āAnd his death means the death of the spirit of his core.ā It added.
āWhat?ā
Huangfu Nan realized the implications immediately, āThat canāt be! He canāt be allowed to die! If he does, thenā¦ā
āIs there a way to save him, Sealer?āĀ
āWhat for? If he dies, he diesā¦ā Sealer shook its head, āI canāt do a thing to save him. The self-destruction of a demon armament isnāt something anyone can stop Butā¦prolonging his life isnāt impossible.ā
āOh? How do we do that then?ā
āNothing. A sliver of his soul will be safe as long as heās under my seal. Heāll die the moment I undo the seal.ā
āThatās it?ā Bai Yunfei asked. He was admittedly surprised by the solution, but then he took note of another change taking place in Dongfang Ming.
Turning his head, he watched as the core in Dongfang Mingās chest slowly came to a stop. The red light around his body receded back into his chest and faded out from sight. His head drooped down, as if exhausted, but he no longer looked like he was in pain like before.
Believing that Dongfang Ming had been saved somehow, he turned back to Sealer to say something, but the Regalia beat him to it.
āIf Iām not wrong, then his soul is already close to death, and by extension, his core. His death is certain the moment I undo my powerāpah, thatās all these demon armaments amount to anyways.ā
A sliver of light shined as Dongfang Ming raised his head. Sweeping his eyes around the hall, Dongfang Ming looked shocked at where he was. A sneer appeared on his lips when his eyes fell upon Bai Yunfei. āYouāre still unharmed? Was that Mo Ni too afraid to use his last resort and fled?ā
āLast resort? Are you talking about Gu Lianhun? He appeared, but he ended up running off. He was only the avatar of a Saint long past his prime. Do you really think thatād be enough to stop our school?ā Bai Yunfei retorted.
āWhat?!ā Dongfang Mingās eyes widened in disbelief. He looked around the hall, scanning the faces of everyone in hopes that Bai Yunfei was lying, but he couldnāt find any evidence of it.
āHeal my master and little Rui, and Iāll let you live!ā Bai Yunfei demanded.
Multiple people were surprised by his statement. Some even found themselves opening their mouths to say something, but when they thought about the situation both Zi Jin and Huangfu Rui were in, no one could find it in themselves to speak up.
āLet me live?ā Dongfang Ming looked confused for a moment, but he mustāve realized Bai Yunfei knew about his situation, as his eyes frosted over a moment later. āDo you think you can threaten me? How naiveā¦ā
He looked over to Zi Jin and Huangfu Rui next. It was evident how joyful he was, as the sneer he had on his lips grew even more mirthful at the sight of the two.
āDongfang Ming!!ā
The furious voice of Huangfu Nan boomed across the halls. Stalking toward the man, Huangfu Nan gave Dongfang Ming a death glare. āI know you hate me! Take my life if you must, but release my daughter!ā
But Dongfang Ming was unmoved. If anything, he looked even happier to see the state of his most hated enemy. With how pleased he was at the misfortune of others, Dongfang Ming didnāt even feel like a prisoner on the verge of death.
āDongfang Mingā¦ā Bai Yunfei spoke his name slowly, āWhat do you want?!ā
āWhat do I want?ā Dongfang Ming barked with laughter, āWhat can I do? Do you really take me to be cowed by your demands? I know my situation, I know I will die the moment the Soul Sealing Mandate releases me, howeverā¦ā
He paused for a brief moment. Eyes staring deep into Bai Yunfeiās own, Dongfang Ming looked as though there was a joke only he knew about, āI advise you to avoid that, least you regret itā¦ā
Bai Yunfei felt his heart sink at Dongfang Mingās words, āWhat do you mean?ā