The next second, the angelic fireworks reflecting in his eyes, symbolizing hope, became the last sight he ever saw.
A few years ago, when they launched a surprise attack on the two sects, he had also worn a black mask, his weapon glinting as he slit the throats of disciples who signaled with fireworks, sending them into eternal darkness.
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Blade of Light!"
The captain of the guards' long sword was covered in a layer of golden light, forcefully tearing through the void. The immense spirit energy distorted the air, crashing like waves upon waves towards Tang Sui, suppressing the rampant black mist and striking the impenetrable black barrier.
"Break for me!"
Veins bulging on his forehead, the captain poured even more spirit energy into his martial soul sword, his eyes fixed on the cracking barrier, his mind completely focused.
"Whoosh—ding!"
The jade-white mask weaved through the dense black mist, its aura concealed as it moved behind the captain. With lightning speed, it struck down, easily tearing through his protective aura and hitting his back with a crisp crack of breaking bones.
Intense pain shot through his back. The captain's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the black barrier visibly reform, becoming whole again.
The barrier he had shattered with his full power was now completely repaired.
The captain choked out a mouthful of blood, staggering. He watched as the black mist, as if playing with him, thinned on its own after his full-power attack, revealing the girl's slender figure and her cold, dark blue gaze.
"How... is that possible..."
So young, yet her strength surpassed his own...
Disbelief flickered in the captain's eyes. Tang Sui, exposed under his gaze, saw the captain standing stubbornly. She smirked, and the next moment, a mask resembling an ape-beast lunged into his view. His vision suddenly turned black, and he froze like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"Chua,"
Tang Sui conjured a sharp sword from the void with her demonic energy and, without hesitation, seized the moment the captain was trapped in a mental control to deliver a fatal blow.
A swarm of black tentacles eagerly dragged the new corpse into the inner world as nourishment.
Tang Sui flicked the blood from her blade, a look of disgust on her face.
"I haven't used a sword much, maybe I should change it into a hammer shape."
Used to the Haotian Hammer, Tang Sui looked at the sharp blade in her hand. With a thought, a pirated Haotian Hammer appeared in her grasp.
"Next, I need to speed things up."
Tang Sui pushed off the ground, and the massive black mist began to spread and expand with her movement, initiating the next race of speed and slaughter.
The reason she had only released the black mist to let them linger was because she wanted them to send out support signals.
Now that the fireworks had served their purpose, it was better to finish it quickly.
The members of the Blacksmith's Association, guarding the walls of Gengxin City with weapons aimed forward, were stunned.
At first, they had seen the black mist descending. They had felt a jolt of fear, assuming it was reinforcements from the Spirit Empire, and had prepared to fight to the death.
However, as the black mist spread, it began to harvest the lives of the Spirit Empire soldiers first.
Unfamiliar with such an attack method, they exchanged bewildered glances, unsure if the attacker was friend or foe, and could only nervously observe the battle.
The moment the golden fireworks rose from the black mist, their hearts tightened. They watched with bated breath as the fireworks, the hated symbol of the Spirit Empire's angelic emblem, exploded in the sky. Their hearts pounded in sync, and they couldn't help but worry about the unknown spirit master who might be an ally.
"What should we do? Should we open the city gates to help them?"
"What if it's just a show for us? We can't open this city gate under any circumstances!"
"You're right, it would be a trap if it is."
"Then let's send someone to inform the Guild Master first?"
"That makes sense. You're fast, hurry and tell the Guild Master that a stranger spirit master is attacking people from the Spirit Empire. Ask him, maybe it's someone he knows."
After a quick exchange, the fast-moving spirit master swapped places with his teammate.
His position was filled by another comrade, and he himself rushed towards Si Long's location.
The three spirit master legions in other directions of Gengxin City also saw the warning fireworks exploding in the sky, their hearts tightening.
"It's a distress signal from the First Legion. Could it be that the people of Gengxin City have given up on entering through other gates and plan to break through the main gate directly?"
Someone exclaimed in disbelief, surprised that the people of Gengxin City had abandoned their stubborn defense of the city gates and decided to take the initiative.
The seasoned captain of the Second Legion frowned deeply and said in a stern voice, "Don't rush. Send someone to scout first. It might be a trap."
Another trusted soldier responded, summoning a reconnaissance spirit master soldier with the cultivation of a Spirit Grandmaster to investigate the main gate.
"The hour is up."
Tang Sui, who had just taken several lives with a swing of her hammer, pulled out a firework bamboo tube from her soul tool, lit the fuse, and with a "whoosh," a second blue firework exploded in the sky.
Unlike the golden angelic fireworks, this was a mask-like firework, symbolizing the Tang Sect's emblem.
Instantly, the firework signal was seen within a twenty-mile radius.
Disciples of the Swift Hall, seven miles away from Gengxin City, descended immediately, reporting the news:
"Elder, we have confirmed the Vice Sect Master's firework signal!"
"Excellent!"
Titan, who had been waiting for this moment, slammed his fists together, his eyes burning with fiery rage. He roared, "Tang Sect disciples, attack with me! Strike down the Spirit Hall bastards!"
"Yes!"
Amidst the earth-shattering cheers, spirit rings floated up from the feet of disciples from various halls.
The imposing plate-armored giant rhinoceros spirit of the Control Hall appeared on the plains, shaking the ground as it charged forward.
Next came the disciples of the Medicine Hall, wielding Soul Breaking Spears, and the disciples of the Strength Hall, with their Mighty Ape spirits.
As for the Swift Hall disciples, they were led by Bai He to move ahead, intending to meet up with Si Long and help transfer the wounded.
Tang Sui, who had finished clearing the Spirit Empire soldiers stationed in front of Gengxin City, looked up at the people still on the city walls. She expanded her spiritual perception, locked onto them, and used the "Voice Transmission into Line" technique to send them a message:
"Leave the city gates to me. You should hurry and help Guild Master Si Long transfer the wounded and evacuate. Tang Sect disciples will be there to receive you at the back gate."
Despite the great distance, Tang Sui's voice clearly reached their ears.
They looked at each other in surprise. Seeing Tang Sui already reaping the lives of the second spirit master legion, they exchanged glances, put away their weapons, and headed to reunite with their Guild Master.
Tang Sui, with her excellent dynamic vision, clearly saw their departure.
The masks that should have been surrounding her were gone, replaced by the scythes of death, reaping other lives.
Tang Sui scanned the Spirit Empire soldiers, who had now dissolved into a scattered mess, and frowned.
The strong fighter with the cultivation of a Soul Douluo mentioned by her grand-uncle was not here.
Could it be... that he was stationed in the rear?
As she pondered, the system's voice suddenly sounded, drawing Tang Sui's attention back.
"Four kilometers ahead, a large number of life signatures are detected approaching."
"Estimated arrival time, ten minutes!"
—Author's Notes—
I've got COVID... High fever making my head buzz, feels like hell orz Luckily, I still have a little bit of stored manuscript.