Liao Xinyan glanced at Feng Yu before he smirked, not saying anything. His figure then became wrapped by a bundle of strings from his sleeves. In seconds, his body burst forward like a stream of light that headed towards Melcraze.
Melcraze had already gathered enough power; his dark cape fell to the ground, revealing his robust frame wrapped by mummy's cloth. The cloth covering his skin fluttered as if each strand had a life of its own as his rising battle qi shrouded his body, causing his spiky hair to rise upward slowly.
"Let's see why you're so famous! Crypt Sorcery - Bounded Souls Curse!"
Melcraze held both of his arms forward as he said those words, causing what seemed like an endless amount of threads to unfurl as they hurled towards Liao Xinyan.
These cloths glowed in an evil battle qi as if one listened closely; they would hear the pitiful cries of spirits that lingered within their folds.
"Tsk! You're as strong as rumoured, but it's not enough..."
Liao Xinyan said with a sly smirk; his arms also raised as the golden rings on both of his arms flew around his figure.
"Arts of Weaving - Blood Thread Tempest!"
The golden rings started to spin with his command before releasing what seemed like an endless amount of ultra-thin threads, which glowed in a blood-colored light as they spiralled towards Melcraze’s attack.
Both attacks had collided together in less than a second, as they clashed repeatedly, they sent out mini shockwaves about the room. Still, as this collision continued, little by little, Liao Xinyan's threads were losing ground to Melcraze’s technique.
He looked at Liao Xinyan with a smirk on his face as he mocked, "Huhu... you're quite strong to have lasted this long against this technique of mine, but it's not enough to resist me, boy. Prepare to..."
Melcraze was about to say something, but Liao Xinyan merely looked at him mockingly as he spoke, "It seems that you're as blind as you are stupid."
"What?" Melcraze said in confusion, but his eyes narrowed as only now did he sense that two powers were approaching from both of his sides.
"Yin Yang Palm..." A calm voice said as Master Duan, who appeared from one side, struck out his palm towards Melcraze.
Looking closely, though one didn't see any sources of energies, they could sense that an invisible ripple had forced its way across the void at a rapid speed, such that even the concrete floor left trails of a wide mark in its wake.
"Dan Fighting Arts - Bursting Flame Dan..."
Pill Queen Wan Yu said as she did a flip into the air, her arms danced around in front of her as if she was concocting pills from thin air. Soon, a bright light formed at the center of her palms, creating a red flaming pill. She then grabbed it and made a graceful swing with her arm, causing the pill to transform into a ray of red light that fired towards Melcraze.
‘Damn! It's that darn Shaolin and the meddlesome woman. What the hell are Su Jian and Mu Leng doing?'
Melcraze cursed inwardly, but he didn't dare to dally; fighting one Liao Xinyan was already enough hassle. With the famed personnel from such factions, he couldn't take them lightly.
"Su Jian and Mu Leng, what are you both doing? Hurry and perform your roles!" Melcraze shouted in an angry tone.
"Hehe! So you finally asked, you're lucky we are in this together!" Su Jian said as she soon after appeared from one direction, charging towards Wan Ru.
"Blazing Totem Palm!" Su Jian said as the totem marks on her body glowed in an amber hue, she pressed her hand forward as it formed a giant palm from an unusual scaly creature.
The red pill that moved like a ray of light crashed into this palm in seconds. Instantly, an explosion formed with a loud bang. The shockwave which would have leveled all things in a vast range spread out rapidly, but as if the formation sensed something, a ripple spread out, which constrained its effects to only a little over a dozen meters.
Both Wan Ru and Su Jian gracefully flipped in the air before flickering and landing a few meters away; they looked at each other with varying expressions. Wan Ru's being one of indifference while Su Jian had eyes filled with scorn.
"You chose the wrong side, sweety." Su Jian said as the totems on her body lit up once more, causing a few plumes of flames to appear around her, even her hair rose upwards, transforming into a blazing flame.
"We'll find out soon enough," Wan Ru said as her aura began to rise; she held both of her palms out to the side as her fingers danced as if kneading something. Soon, two glowing semi-transparent blue pills condensed out of the air, each giving off a watery feeling.
'Tsk! She isn't the Pill Queen for nothing. I really hate these Dan Fighters,' Su Jian cursed slightly. She could sense that those pills had watery ice attributes.
Dan Fighters, this is one of the most exclusively rare combat professions found in the True Yuan World and even the endless realms that exist beyond the endless dark. These are rare, gifted masters in the Alchemy Dao but chose to focus on a variant path in its boundless branches, the path of a warrior who can craft pills(dans) from nothingness, each of a peculiar attribute for the crafter's affinity.
These pills crafted can then be used to unleash those very powers onto one's enemies, very much like the skills used by Charmists through talismans or elemental artifacts. Hence, no matter which world, both combat professions are regarded with great esteem.
Legends say that both practitioners originated from the same source, but it remains only a rumor even to this day.
Seeing the dangerous attack of Wan Ru, Su Jian wasted no time in acting, she dashed towards her like a ball of flame, the fireballs surrounding her firing ahead of her as if they had a mind of their own.
"Great Totemic Blaze!" Su Jian shouted as each of the fireballs merged to form what seemed a fiery storm over a dozen meters in size. A totem of strange creature like a lizard in lotus posture appeared within it, pushing the storm forward with its claws.
Wan Ru didn't falter as she too attacked head-on; with a graceful twirl of her slender figure, she tossed her blue pills ahead of her; she then shouted with her glowing palms held in a peculiar hand sign before her, "Dan Fighting Arts - Tidal Burst Dan!"
Following her invocation, the blue pills spiralled around each other like rays of light other before exploding, transforming into a giant wave that rushed towards the flame. In seconds, both wave and firestorm crashed into each other, causing a dense amount of steam to rise within the immediate surroundings, shrouding their chaotic battle from all sight.
While both Wan Ru and Su Jian clashed, the battle between Mu Leng and Master Duan had started, Mu Leng, had stood in front of the invisible ripple fired by Master Duan with a serious look on his face.
"Heh, you Crypt Sorcerers have no respect, but fine, I'll help out." Mu Leng said; he unsheathed the curved shaped blade on his back and chopped it ahead of him, sending out a brilliant arc of baleful blade light.
Bang! An explosion formed, as the invisible ripple was destroyed by the blade beams, showing only a ten-meter-wide crater before both.
"Heh, old man, your monk style techniques are enough to stump the Way of Banditry." Mu Leng mocked as he firmly held his blades handle.
"One who walks that Path of Depravity has no says to our ways of shaolin."
Master Duan said as he stood with his arms clasped together, the beads around his neck glowing as they revolved around his body as if it was the center of the world.
"Hmph! Those are some pretty bold words, but the easiest way to break this belief of yours is to show you the universal truth. Power is always supreme!" Mu Leng said as his battle qi erupted in full. His arm, which held the blade, left after images as it moved the blade to an upraised stance before halting, its edge emitting a dense ray of battle qi.
"Arcane Bandit Arts - Life Stealing Blades!"
When Mu Leng shouted, he rapidly chopped his sword, causing a bright blade ray to bolt from the sword towards Master Duan. It was many times faster than the one used prior as the blade beam separated into multi
ple rays of blade-shaped lights that threatened to envelop all directions.
Master Duan didn't seem overly phased, his closed eyes open with a bright flicker as his clasped palms glowed in a golden hue.
"Fall into the abyss of your sins, Ying Yang Sin Counter..."
With those words, an illusory being had appeared behind Master Duan, both of its palms crossed much like his own with one eye glowing in black lights and the other shining in white rays.
Instantly, a Ying Yang symbol formed in front of him, which bolted towards the blade-shaped rays. A formless ripple swallowed each of the blade lights as the symbols expanded continuing towards Mu Leng, who charged towards it like a blade himself with his weapon held ahead of him.
Ka-bang! Another explosive sound erupted in the entire meeting ground as Mu Leng clashed with Master Duan's attack. One side pushed against the counter technique as the other continued to reinforce it with his battle qi, their clash sending ripples about the ten-meter areas as they entered a stalemate.
Liao Xinyan looked at this with a calm expression; he then locked his eyes onto Melcraze as his body flickered and appeared in front of him. His arm now glowed in bright red lights as he pointed forward and invoked.
"Blood Thread Rays!"
With his cold words, a chilly air spread out across the room as the dozens of golden rings that hovered behind him spun even faster, his battle qi pushing them to spiral around Melcraze’s body at speeds unviewable to the naked eyes.
Instantly, each began to fire off a highly condense thread of blood-red energies, making them seem no different from laser beams, aiming at each of his vital points.
"Brat, your derived skills aren't a match for the arts of the Authentic Branch, Crypt Sorcery - Binding Soul Guard!"
With his shout, the cloth that attacked widely rapidly receded, forming a thick ball around his figure, black energy flowed around it, which wriggled, showing a few indistinct faces that cried out in agony.
Seconds after, all of the blood-red rays of lights from each side had crashed into Melcraze, causing a shocking explosion from that distant corner. The power seemed as if it was about to encompass all of the surroundings. But the formation acted once again, suppressing it to a scale of a dozen meters at best.
The battle here continued to devastate the area as it marked the true start of a conflict that would shake the entire Redlands.
Chapter 309
Toram and Tira Strikes!
While the battle had heated up in the distance, Feng Yu looked at this with interest as he thought, 'Such an incredible formation. It's capable of easily suppressing the destructive power of three Half Step True Soul experts; I suppose we can attack without worry of even harming those that choose not to partake in today's affairs.'
With such thoughts in mind, Feng Yu's eyes couldn't help but inadvertently glance at the direction that the onlookers were standing, noticing a bright semi-transparent shield around their forms.
"Young master, we've got company!" Dai Lin said from the side as his body started to emanate a vague amount of mutli-colored electricity. It seemed related to his Qilin Mask effect.
Feng Yu chuckled as he glanced at Dai Lin. He couldn't help but tease, "Dai Lin, you should be the one command Supreme Divine Lightning."
Dai Lin laughed at this, but as he recalled the current situation, his face turned serious again, narrowing as he saw the dozens of individuals rushing towards them.
"Hehe, look at this, to think those fellows were so impatient…" Lang Kuang added with a blood-red flicker in his eyes, his stance slightly changing as he slightly lowered himself with arms spread out like a wolf.
Toram and the others also readied themselves for battle with their weapons held firmly while Leon and Myria stood nearby with their arms crossed.
At this moment, those warriors clad in dark cloaks with cloth wrapped over their skin had flanked one side of their group, while those of the Burning Totem Palace rushed in from another side. The Desert Hunters and other forces naturally charged from a different angle and were only seconds away from the impact.
Feng Yu shifted his eyes between the targets, his eyes scanning the enemy's in more detail, locking onto two grim reaper-like individuals that moved a bit stealthy, giving him a tinge of danger.
He was about to say something, but Hai Jinren that stood nearby glanced at him and spoke, "Everyone, I'll be taking care of that Zan Jin. Pan Mang, Pan Shin, Tao Shen, do your best to help Sir Crimson Mask and his allies protect Little Xiu."
"Leave it to us." Pan Mang replied as Pan Shin and Tao Shen showed fierce looks in their eyes.
Hai Jinren felt a bit relieved as he turned his attention to Feng Yu, who spoke. "Go, we only need to hold them down for a while, right? We'll be fine."
Hearing the confidence in Feng Yu's voice, Hai Jinren felt more at ease; he then hurried ahead, moving like a ray of light as he aimed to cut off Zan Jin.
At this time, Zan Jin snorted as he saw Hai Jinren headed his way, his eyes shone in a brutal light when he spoke to the group that charged by his side.
"Old Witch, I'll take care of that troublesome brat, the rest are for you and the others to have your way with," Zan Jin said as he didn't even bother to hear their replies, transforming into a ray of flight that blasted towards Hai Jinren.
"Tsk, that bastard, getting all cheeky with me," Dune Witch Elma thought as she looked in the direction Zan Jin went.
'Kikiki, that Zan Jin is, as rumors say, truly an arrogant fellow." Lex said with a sinister laugh as his grim figure appeared from a cloud of dust.
"Kukuku! Perhaps we should find a contract for his head next time..." Gram creepily said as he suddenly appeared behind Lex; he licked his lips, taking out two curved daggers.
"You took the words straight from my mind," Lex said as his eyes glared at Zan Jin for a short while, but soon, his attention once more turned in front of them.
"Let's do this; you know the drill." Dune Witch Elma said with her energies rising steadily; Lex and Gram chuckled in reply showing their acceptance.
They soon separated, dashing towards Feng Yu's party's location from three different directions, each utilizing unique methods to obscure their presence through the crowd.
Not too far away from behind them were those bounty hunters of the Black Sand Commerce, they hurried along with full force making rowdy noises.
"Leader, we won't get there in time; they might not survive the onslaught of those monsters." A lackey from the Crimson Axe Bounty Hunter's said.
"Hmph! So what? We only need to show that we made a move. After performing our role, we'll get paid regardless of if whether we kill him directly or through another's hands." Krell said with a sly smirk on his face.
"Ah, the leader is smart as always!" A lackey praised.
"What's all this chatting? Hurry and capture that Crimson Mask!" Jin Teng shouted from behind them, urging them to move faster.
Krell frowned as he glared at him but didn't bother to pay more attention than necessary as they continued their charge.
"Darn savages." Jin Teng said under his throat with the agreement of Rui Wen.
Their large group then continued along in silence, utilizing a profound set of movement techniques to accelerate. Yet, unaware to most persons, there was another who had similarly made a move, the sly and sinister-looking Yin Ran, who walked in between a collection of indicating looking slaves, each that carried a powerful kind of aura.
At this time, Feng Yu looked at the others and spoke, "I'll be taking down those two Grim Dust brothers, Dai Lin, you know who to take care of, Leon, Myria, handle that witch, everyone else, you know what to do."
"As the young master wishes!" Dai Lin and the others replied in unison.
"Huh? Did I hear incorrectly? You're all thinking of taking them down, not holding them off?" Pan Shin asked in a surprised tone of voice.
"Haha, that's right, you wanted us to pressure them into revealing their card in hand, but what better to do so tha
n to annihilate their forces completely?" Lang Kuang said as his eyes flashed with a bloody flavor; he licked his lips, showing a menacing glare as he stared at the approaching enemies.
"You guys... truly are something else." Pan Shin said with a look of bewilderment in her eyes.
"Heh, sister, this isn't the time to ponder their actions; let's get ready." Pan Ming said.
"Mm," Pan Shin replied with a low sound. The two of them stood close together nearby He Xiu, who had already put away her token, she clasped her arms tightly as she readied herself for combat.
'Hmph! They won't catch me so easily,' He Xiu said as her hair slowly started to flutter due to her rising aura.
Seconds passed quickly, and in merely a flash of time all forces had finally collided; the Crypt Sorcerers and the bandits from the Desert Hunters charged ahead towards Feng Yu with the company of a Burning Totem Palace warrior.
"Kill them all!" A fierce-looking man shouted as his body exploded with a rich aura. The others held nothing back as they similar erupted with their full power.
"Corrosive Crypt Spell!"
The Crypt Sorcerers said as they held their hand forward and used strange arcane methods. Quickly, their bodies glowed with their dense peak Aura Disciple and Early-Stage True Foundation energies, causing the clothes on their bodies to move towards Feng Yu and the others as a corrosive kind of power saturated it.
"Blazing Totem Arts – Raging Fire Lizards!"
The Burning Totem Palace warriors said as a fireball similar to Su Jian's floated around their bodies, the markings on their bodies glowed as the fireballs flew upwards before exploding into flaming snake-like entities that charged towards the party.
Much like the previous two, the Desert Hunters shuffled between these parties with adept skill, the curved shaped blades in their arms cutting towards Feng Yu's group as they sent strands of blade energies from a distance. However, those from the Dark Witch School also cast spells while they rode their staffs, each forming black magic diagrams that rained down dark clouds of insects.
Dual Sword God: Book 7: The Crimson Devil of the Redlands Page 18