"A good strategy. Unfortunately, domains are also divided into strong and weak!"
The final syllable, tinged with bloodlust, faded as Shang Yang’s figure distorted into an afterimage in Tang Sui's vision, vanishing into a wisp of black smoke beyond the scope of the twin domains. Tang Sui’s lunge missed entirely.
What terrified Tang Sui even more was that she could no longer sense Shang Yang's aura. It was as if he had completely merged with the domain.
"To the right!"
The cold shout from the black-faced entity overlapped with another crisp clang. With senses and alertness equivalent to having eight individuals, even before Tang Sui could react, two dark gold masks materialized before her, blocking an attack that emerged from a rift that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Boom—!"
Rings of dark red, turbid ripples spread through the air, and violent energy fluctuations surged and churned. The fine black scales, like jagged reefs rooted on the coast, were hard and sharp. The force they carried made even Tang Sui, who had activated her attack form to meet the blow, feel somewhat strained.
The dark gold masks trembled incessantly. The dark red storm they whipped up swept towards Tang Sui like flying blades, brutally thinning the layer of black and red demonic energy clinging to her. Due to the extreme proximity, under Tang Sui’s gaze, the sharp wind blades that were simultaneously rolling back towards Shang Yang acted like docile lambs, brushing against Shang Yang's clothes and cheeks with soft, white wool. Only sparks from friction were visible, but not a single trace was left on him.
So hard!
Tang Sui’s pupils contracted. Although her demonic energy defense had not been breached, the contrast made the disparity evident. Both were struck by wind blades, but their capacity to withstand them made Tang Sui understand what a true gap felt like.
—I can't keep trading blows in close combat anymore. I need to create distance.
The moment this thought surfaced, a viscous, blood-red light flickered in Tang Sui's dark black eyes, forming a circle that locked onto Shang Yang's appearance. Shang Yang, who had been locked onto by Tang Sui's consciousness, did not employ his previous tactic of evading her sight. Instead, he returned the gaze with the same intensity, meeting Tang Sui head-on.
"Buzz—"
The instant two cold, hostile gazes met in mid-air, invisible mental fluctuations spread out. One was of extreme cold, the other of distorted high temperature. They collided like fire and water, shaking the masters of these two mental forces. Even though her cultivation was far from Shang Yang's, Tang Sui would not be passively beaten. She pushed the three energies within her body to their limits. Although her twin domains were suppressed by Shang Yang's demonic energy domain and could not be fully utilized, the energy from her spirit souls was not restricted. The two spirit souls, bound to her soul, were like the two most critical turbines of an airplane, churning the airflow at high speed to maintain balanced flight, preventing constant instability from fierce air currents and pressure. Coupled with the infusion of dao intent, she could actually contend with Shang Yang's aggressively attacking mental energy impact.
A flicker of approval flashed across Shang Yang's eyes, but his attack did not cease.
"Clang, clang, clang—!"
The sound of hard metal clashing was incessant. The dragon claws, covered in fine black scales, repeatedly batted away the troublesome dark gold masks, relentlessly advancing towards Tang Sui, who was protected behind them. The thick smell of rust, mixed with fierce gusts of wind, hit her face. Tang Sui’s expression turned serious. She dodged the blow with a sideways turn, her tensed leg sweeping forward, only to be blocked by the back of Shang Yang's dragon claw. Seizing the moment when Shang Yang shifted his weight forward, Tang Sui, who was locked in a stalemate with him in the air, leaned back, evading the claw strike. A black vortex rippled behind her, and her form distorted into a wisp of thin smoke, retreating into her own domain.
Shang Yang, having temporarily lost his target, curved his lips. His voice, tinged with fighting spirit, echoed in the suddenly vast interior of the domain.
"Hiding in your own domain is certainly an option. But little one, have you forgotten what I just said?"
"It's natural for a weaker domain to be suppressed. While your domain isn't completely useless, its movable jump points are fixed."
"Which means—"
Shang Yang swung his claw towards the empty space ahead. A tearing sound erupted, like a ripped packaging bag. His sharp dragon claw tore through the superficial disguise, revealing a dark corner within her dual domains.
"Your movement range is also restricted."
The dim red light, entering the torn corner of the domain, reflected in Tang Sui's eyes. The blood-red sixth ring circling her shimmered, and the fully charged soul skill was unleashed without hesitation the moment Shang Yang entered her line of sight.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Forbidden Mask!"
Even though her mental lock had failed, Shang Yang had stepped into Tang Sui's attack path and was locked by the soul skill. The dark gold masks exuded immense power. Under the effect of the sixth soul skill, each mask's inherent amplification attribute was maxed out, and its attack power rose to another level. They shot towards Shang Yang like meteors, repeatedly striking the dragon claws he held up to block, leaving him no room to evade!
Tang Sui, clad in a light blue combat outfit, rushed out of the domain. Using the billowing smoke as cover, she dove into the thick fog after a brief hesitation, intending to use the confusion to her advantage, abandoning the idea of creating distance.
In the world obscured by smoke, Tang Sui saw as clearly as if there were no obstruction. Her demonic energy condensed into slender twin blades, thrusting towards the deepening silhouette within the fog. Clanging collisions echoed in the mist intermittently. Only when the dust and smoke faded did the two figures, locked in high-speed close combat once more, reveal themselves.
Just as the battle was about to revert to its previous rhythm, it was Shang Yang who created distance this time. He looked at the slightly panting Tang Sui with a slight frown, expressing his dissatisfaction.
"I can tell you rarely engage opponents like me who can manifest their domains into reality. But you can't be blamed entirely. There are very few beings in this world who can utilize their domains to the utmost, reaching the realm of materialization. Hence, your combat experience isn't extensive."
"But you must understand, your potential and what you can achieve go far beyond this."
Shang Yang's voice turned slightly serious. Tang Sui pursed her lips. "Please guide me, Uncle Snake!"
Shang Yang nodded. "Your current Dark Stab Movement technique, it's all trained by Old Bat, isn't it?"
Tang Sui nodded. Shang Yang wore an expression of "I knew it" and shook his head. "Although your close combat abilities are very strong, this approach will cause you to lose the advantages of your original race and other abilities. It might even become your new constraint."
Tang Sui blinked. "What... do you mean?"
Shang Yang looked at Tang Sui, a hint of recollection flashing in his eyes. "Face Spirits are rare demons, especially those that evolve to seven masks. The Face Spirits I know don't seem to be skilled in close combat. Perhaps, due to racial differences, it's a different matter."
"But it's alright. Many skills, I will teach you during our battles. For instance, when your own domain is suppressed by a stronger one, and the area has already been compressed, why not try using your domain on yourself?"
"Also, you've been trained too much by Old Bat, haven't you? Only knowing close combat? Face Spirits, in the first place, shouldn't be approached by others, right?"
—Aside—
After finishing my work, my mind is blank. Every battle is so painful.