Without giving the five elders more time to ponder, Tang Sui's lips curved deeper. A thick, viscous blood-red halo rippled outwards, like a crescent moon being struck, and the ninth, most powerful spirit ring, blazed with light amidst the shocked expressions of the crowd.
"Ninth Spirit Skill—"
Within the dark gold mask, as thin as a blade, the black and gold slit pupils seemed to go mad as if stimulated by something, writhing like a cicada pupa before metamorphosis. Something was about to break through the thin veneer, sending an inexplicable chill down everyone's spines.
*Not good, Sui Sui has killing intent!*
Tang San's face changed drastically as he sensed that the spirit skill Tang Sui was unleashing far surpassed the power of a normal ninth spirit skill, but it was too late to stop the escalating Tang Sui from completing her ninth spirit skill.
"Seven Faces Return to Truth."
"CRACK!!!"
Accompanied by four cold words, the crisp sound of shattering glass echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
—That was the sound of the mask breaking.
"Hee hee hee—"
A sharp, eerie giggle and materialized killing intent, along with terrifying power, erupted like a wolf.
Jade face, red pattern. Black face, gold pattern.
Two vastly different colors and styles, the same seven faces, paired up like reflections in a mirror. Only now, seven masks of varying appearances, one black and one white, surged out from the cracked dark gold fragments.
The mask shaped like a jade fox grinned wickedly, the one resembling an ape glared furiously, the one like a fierce ghost was terrifying, the one resembling a Maitreya was false and hypocritical, the one like an old woman was vacant and harmless, the one resembling a Prajna looked compassionate, and the one like twins slept peacefully.
One by one, viscous gazes filled with malice fell upon the five elders.
In that instant, their souls seemed to emit a mournful cry of restraint. Time paused as the fourteen masks, exuding immense power, manifested.
As if the entire world had plastered a wanted poster on them, the sticky malice and surging killing intent transformed into an invisible attack, striking their souls again and again, making their minds hum and their blood churn.
The feeling of being targeted by a powerful natural predator sent shivers down everyone within the demon domain.
The disciples of the Clear Sky School with lower spirit power, even protected by Tang San's Sea God's Light, fell into mental chaos. Their eyes lost focus, and their bodies twitched slightly.
*So terrifying, so terrifying, so terrifying, so terrifying!!!*
Fear, infinitely amplified, seized their minds. Disciples who lacked willpower and mental strength quickly covered their heads, letting out meaningless roars of pain.
It was their movements that broke the suspended time. Tang Hao and the others, snapping back to reality, changed their expressions as they noticed the Clear Sky School disciples being helped by their companions or knocked unconscious with a chop to the head.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Tang Xiao could no longer afford to care about the elders' faces. He channeled spirit power into his voice and shouted, "Five elders! Surrender quickly! The power of this blow is already—!"
Before he could finish, Tang Sui, her five fingers still raised in the air, pressed downwards. The fourteen terrifying masks erupted, crashing down like miniature falling stars.
Each of these masks now possessed enough power to kill a Spirit Sage-level spirit master, let alone the combined force of multiple masks descending.
At this, Tang San, Tang Xiao, Ah Yin, and Xiao Wu, including Tang Hao, simultaneously flashed forward, unleashing their strongest defensive spirit skills or solidifying their spirit power into a protective barrier, standing before the Clear Sky Formation.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
Roars that shook heaven and earth erupted. The Clear Sky Formation, imbued with the power of five Title Douluo and appearing strong and sturdy, was actually at its last gasp. It shattered under the impact of the fourteen falling star-like attacks.
The earth cracked, pavilions were annihilated, and the dense fog dispersed. The entire demon domain trembled under the impact of this immense power.
Billowing smoke obscured everyone's vision, making it impossible to see the situation of the five elders.
The second and third-generation disciples, who had exerted all their strength to solidify their spirit power into a protective shield, looked up in horror at Tang Sui, who stood in the distance in the sky, only a wisp of blood at the corner of her lips. Their gazes regarded her as a being more terrifying than a demon.
Her initial attack had failed, and she had even suffered backlash from the shock. After coughing up a mouthful of blood, the blackness in Tang Sui's pupils faded slightly, but the black-red demonic energy still flowed calmly within her irises, casting a faint crimson glow. The killing intent, almost strong enough to freeze the air, spread out once more.
"Is everyone alright?"
Tang San, his face slightly pale, raised the Sea God's Trident and looked with concern at Tang Hao and the others, who were coughing slightly.
Xiao Wu had the Invincible Golden Body, which, though brief, provided enough power to withstand the initial burst of terror during the collision of immense energy.
Tang Xiao's expression didn't change much, only a few muffled coughs.
Ah Yin was also similar, but Tang Hao, already missing an arm and a leg, was in a much worse state, spitting out a large mouthful of blood.
Fortunately, there was a worse comparison group.
"Cough—!"
The Second Elder, having expended considerable spirit power and suffered a severe shock, coughed out a large mouthful of blood first. His beard, grown long in front of his chin, was stained red.
The Seventh Elder, his face pale and bloodstains around his lips, was hunched over, half-kneeling on the ground. If not for him leaning on his Clear Sky Hammer, he wouldn't have been able to stand.
The other three elders also struggled to prop themselves up with their Clear Sky Hammers. Their faces were ashen, their breathing weak, like candles flickering in the wind, on the verge of death.
"Tang... Sui... you actually intended to kill us?"
The Seventh Elder, still able to speak, raised his head with difficulty and looked incredulously at Tang Sui, the source of the killing intent, whose expression was indifferent, and the killing intent in the air was only growing denser.
"No, Seventh Elder," *we only wanted to beat you up severely.*
Tang San, instinctively defending his sister, almost spoke the truth, but his reason prevailed. The words turned to his lips, and he looked at the cold-faced Tang Sui with a bitter expression: "Sui Sui was just... out of control."
*Just?!*
Hearing Tang San's words, the Second Elder's anger flared, and he wanted to speak, but opening his mouth, he coughed out another mouthful of blood.
Tang Xiao looked at the disheveled elders and Tang Sui, who showed no signs of stopping in the air. He couldn't help but say, "Sui Sui, that's enough! If you keep fighting, it will be a true unforgivable sin equivalent to betraying the sect!"
This statement caused Tang San's brows to furrow. He looked at Tang Xiao and thought subconsciously: *But the five elders haven't admitted defeat yet.*
Tang Sui looked down expressionlessly at the people on the ground, her eyelashes drooping as if she were hesitating.
However, in the next second, a cold aura silently approached Tang Sui's back, and a contemptuous voice suddenly rang out:
"Who do you think you are?"
—Author's Notes—
My calculations were off. I thought I could end the fight here, but my hands had a mind of their own.
To be honest, for Tang Xiao's portrayal in the original work, I specifically looked it up.
Oh, Tang Xiao's image is more akin to "sect blind loyalty." He says he understands, but when it comes to the sect, his face turns cold or he even acts, so... it's a bit annoying.