The battle lasted a full hour. When the last shadowfolk council expert fell, Lu Xingchen was nearly spent. His light spirit power was all but exhausted from continuous use. His legs gave way and he nearly collapsed to his knees. A hand caught his shoulder. "Can you still move?" Shen Ye's voice came from beside his ear—hoarse and low. Lu Xingchen looked up. Shen Ye's face was whiter than paper. The backlash from forbidden shadow arts had left obvious marks—black lines crawling up half his nec...