Chapter 1143: Heavy Casualties (Part 2)
The reason the dazzling bronze mirror dimmed was that all its power had been drawn out, transforming into the golden light that shot towards Yang Haoran, though this golden light was not a one-time release, but a continuous emission.
Even though the bronze mirror had become dim and almost no power fluctuations could be sensed from it, the golden light rapidly streaking towards Yang Haoran still emitted incredibly terrifying power fluctuations.
Of course, this so-called "terrifying" was only in reference to the level of the few individuals present; in Yang Haoran's eyes, this incoming golden light had absolutely nothing to do with being terrifying.
The golden light was extremely fast, reaching Yang Haoran in the blink of an eye. This sight caused the two Night Watchers behind Yang Haoran to blanch, for they sensed a destructive aura from this golden light. Thus, a wave of worry washed over them, fearing that Yang Haoran would be unable to withstand this strike.
The two wanted to speak a warning, but it was already too late. The golden light was simply too swift, and before they could even utter a sound, it struck Yang Haoran.
Boom! ! !
With an explosive blast, Yang Haoran's body was directly engulfed by the golden light. The four, the Exorcist and the Spirit Mediums, rejoiced in their hearts at this sight. They all believed that Yang Haoran had been hit by the golden light because he simply had no time to react—let alone resist, he couldn't even dodge in time.
Since he couldn't even dodge, it would naturally be difficult for him to withstand the golden light's power. With Yang Haoran struck by the golden light, they believed he would either die or be crippled, hence the joy in their hearts.
Normally, the Night Watchers were not far from Yang Haoran. The powerful shockwave unleashed when the golden light hit Yang Haoran would undoubtedly affect the two Night Watchers behind him, and this impact would be lethal, as both of them were already like candles in the wind, unable to withstand any turmoil. Based on his understanding of his own attack, it was impossible for them to survive the shockwave it generated.
Yet, reality was completely contrary to his expectations. The two were behind Yang Haoran; although they hadn't yet managed to get up from the ground, they indeed remained unaffected by the shockwave. Instead, the buildings to Yang Haoran's left and right were impacted by the shockwave, collapsing directly under its immense force.
What did this signify?
In the Exorcist's view, Yang Haoran must have blocked the shockwave formed by the golden light for the two Night Watchers behind him, which was why they hadn't suffered the slightest injury.
Since Yang Haoran still had the strength to block the shockwave formed by the golden light under such circumstances, it was possible that Yang Haoran, who had been hit by the golden light, hadn't suffered much damage at all. Otherwise, how could he have had any energy left to care for the two Night Watchers behind him?
It was precisely because the Exorcist thought of this that his joy vanished and his expression became extremely solemn.
However, the moment his expression changed, a dense burst of Yin Qi suddenly surged from where Yang Haoran stood. The thick Yin Qi, like black snakes, drilled out from within the blinding golden light. As this Yin Qi emerged from inside the dazzling golden light, the golden light enveloping Yang Haoran's body was instantly dispelled, and Yang Haoran's figure was revealed.
Although the golden light that had enveloped Yang Haoran's body dissipated, the golden light emanating from the bronze mirror did not cease; it continued to barrage Yang Haoran. However, this golden pillar of light did not directly hit Yang Haoran's body, but was blocked by a black barrier a foot away from him.
The barrier was incredibly sturdy. Faced with the impact of the golden light pillar, it not only remained unbroken but showed no cracks whatsoever, demonstrating its immense resilience. It was simply not something the golden light pillar released by the bronze mirror could break through.
Of course, one couldn't say this golden light pillar was weak. Its primary target was Yang Haoran. If the two Night Watchers behind Yang Haoran had faced this golden light pillar, their bodies would have instantly been blasted to smithereens.
Though the barrier did not shatter, a sizable crater appeared in the ground beneath Yang Haoran, with the surrounding earth sunken and cracks spreading far and wide. From this, it was evident that the power of the golden light was indeed not weak.
The few individuals present were utterly shocked to see Yang Haoran not only undestroyed by the golden light but completely unharmed. They could not believe their eyes, a sentiment shared even by the two Night Watchers behind Yang Haoran.
As the barrier blocked the golden light, streaks of Yin Qi, like a swarm of snakes, crawled onto the golden light. In the blink of an eye, the Yin Qi completely devoured the entire golden light pillar. Then, with a flick of his finger, Yang Haoran sent a burst of Yin Qi at lightning speed, striking the floating bronze mirror directly through it, creating a hole.
Crack! Crackle! Crackle crackle!
With the appearance of the hole, a series of crisp sounds erupted. The bronze mirror instantly became riddled with cracks, then shattered into several pieces. A powerful magic artifact was thus destroyed in Yang Haoran's hands.
All of this happened too quickly. By the time the few people present reacted, the bronze mirror was already ruined.
Pfft! ! !
The Exorcist controlling the bronze mirror spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. In this situation, he had no time to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Yang Haoran in disbelief, his voice filled with intense shock as he asked Yang Haoran,
"You. . . *cough cough*. . . Who are you? Do you dare state your name?"
As he spoke, the Exorcist coughed up even more fresh blood. Because Yang Haoran's Underworld uniform had been altered by his power, his identity could not be determined from his attire. Although he could deduce that Yang Haoran was from the Yin Division based on the Spirit Power Yang Haoran unleashed, he couldn't ascertain any further information.
He was an experienced Exorcist in Tongyou City and was very familiar with the Tongyou City Yin Division. In all his known information, there was no Night Watcher like Yang Haoran in Tongyou City. If there were, he would have known long ago, for Yang Haoran was simply too strong; he could never have overlooked such a formidable Night Watcher.
Therefore, he guessed that Yang Haoran was not from the Tongyou City Yin Division at all, but rather reinforcements sent by the Yin Division to Tongyou City. As for why he asked Yang Haoran's name, one reason was to divert Yang Haoran's attention and buy their side a little time, allowing them a chance to launch a combined attack on Yang Haoran. The other reason was, naturally, to clarify Yang Haoran's identity, which would provide a clearer picture for himself and the others on his side.
However, the latter was secondary; the former was the primary reason.
As he spoke, aside from the Exorcist who was still reeling from severe injuries, the other two Spirit Mediums immediately formed hand seals, preparing to cast Spiritual Arts. As for their Guardian Spirits, they also prepared to cast illusions on Yang Haoran at their masters' behest, aiming to affect him.
"Heh heh, there's no need to state my name. You only need to know that our positions are adversarial."
Yang Haoran chuckled softly. As his words fell, without him making any discernible movement, dense black chains materialized out of thin air, not only assaulting the two Exorcists but also targeting the two Spirit Mediums.
The two Exorcists, gravely wounded and with their magic artifacts destroyed, had significantly reduced reaction capabilities and combat power. Faced with the chains that appeared from nowhere, they were bound tightly before they could even react.
However, the primary purpose of the chains Yang Haoran had conjured was not simply to trap his enemies; his objective was to eliminate them. So, when the two Exorcists were bound by the chains, the chains did not stop. Instead, with a clatter, they rapidly tightened. Amidst the two's painful and terrified screams, their bodies were crushed into heaps of bloody flesh.
The two Spirit Mediums witnessed the gruesome demise of the two Exorcists. There was no grief or sorrow in their hearts, for they had merely been in a cooperative relationship with the Exorcists, devoid of deep emotional bonds. Therefore, the deaths of the two Exorcists did not stir any sorrow within them.
However, they gained an even deeper appreciation of Yang Haoran's terrifying strength, and their apprehension towards him grew even more intense than before.
Although their apprehension towards Yang Haoran was now stronger than before, the two did not believe Yang Haoran to be invincible. In their view, their strength was far superior to that of the two Exorcists. Yang Haoran easily dispatching the Exorcists did not necessarily mean he could also kill them. As long as the two of them cooperated, it wasn't certain that they would be the ones to die.
Moreover, even if they had indeed misjudged Yang Haoran's strength, it still wouldn't be a major issue, for Tongyou City was currently filled with their allies. So, even if they truly couldn't defeat Yang Haoran, they could always call for reinforcements.
It was precisely because they considered these two points that the two Spirit Mediums not only did not flee but actually intended to confront Yang Haoran head-on!
"Quickly, trap him with an illusion!"
One of the Spirit Mediums rapidly formed hand seals while anxiously shouting. His words were not just urging his own Guardian Spirit, but also the other Spirit Medium's Guardian Spirit.
Before he shouted, both Guardian Spirits had already cast illusions on Yang Haoran. However, their illusions had no effect on Yang Haoran whatsoever, let alone trapping him in an illusionary realm.
Now, urged by his shout, the two Guardian Spirits, in their haste, immediately channeled all their power to cast illusions, attempting once more to trap Yang Haoran. Yet, their efforts not only failed to achieve the desired result but actually backfired.
Bang! Bang!
With two explosive sounds, the two Guardian Spirits not only failed to trap Yang Haoran in an illusion, but they also severely harmed themselves. The powerful force of the backlash caused their Spirit Bodies to instantly rupture.
At the same time, the two Spirit Mediums also successfully completed their hand seals. Before their two Guardian Spirits could even reform their Spirit Bodies, the two Spirit Mediums unleashed their Spiritual Arts, naturally targeting Yang Haoran, their opponent.
They hadn't planned it, but their cooperation was seamless. One cast a Spiritual Art cage, aiming to trap Yang Haoran and prevent him from dodging, while the other unleashed an offensive Spiritual Art: Wind Blades. From this, it was evident that the two had teamed up to fight many times before, otherwise their coordination wouldn't have been so flawless.
However, in the face of absolute strength, even perfect coordination was futile. The Spiritual Art cage was utterly destroyed by Yang Haoran's Spirit Power-infused chains before it could fully form. As for the incoming Wind Blades, Yang Haoran didn't even bother with them, as there was still a barrier in front of him.
Though the incoming Wind Blades appeared formidable, covering the sky and ground, they did not harm Yang Haoran in the slightest. Not only did they not harm Yang Haoran, but the two Night Watchers behind him also remained completely unscathed, because the barrier in front of Yang Haoran's body was not broken by the Wind Blades. Therefore, neither Yang Haoran nor the two Night Watchers behind him suffered any injury.
This scene utterly stunned the two Spirit Mediums. Just moments ago, both of them believed that even if Yang Haoran could kill the two Exorcists, it wasn't certain he could kill them. They thought that by joining forces and coordinating seamlessly, it might be possible to defeat Yang Haoran, or even counter-kill him.
However, from the current situation, they realized they were wrong. There was absolutely no way they could defeat Yang Haoran; he was far more formidable than they had imagined. They had already used their full power, yet couldn't harm a single hair on Yang Haoran's head. They clearly understood what this implied.
Knowing they were no match for Yang Haoran, the two weren't foolish enough to endure further, as that would be pure suicide. Their immediate thought was to call for help.
In their opinion, just because they couldn't defeat Yang Haoran didn't mean that no one on their side could. However, before they could send out a distress signal, several chains as thick as arms wrapped around their bodies. With two successive screams, they met the same fate as the two Exorcists before them, leaving no trace of their bodies.
At the moment of death, both felt regret. They regretted their blind confidence and their reliance on luck. They should have fled or called for help earlier; perhaps they could have saved their lives. But there is no medicine for regret in this world, and regret would not change the slightest outcome.
All of this happened too fast. As the two Spirit Mediums tragically died at Yang Haoran's hands, their two Guardian Spirits had only just begun to re-condense their scattered Spirit Bodies. This demonstrates just how swift Yang Haoran's movements were.
The two Guardian Spirits witnessed the tragic deaths of their masters. However, before these two Guardian Spirits could even escape or call for help, Yang Haoran forcibly collected them into his Soul-Gathering Bead. Yang Haoran gave them no opportunity whatsoever, nor would he possibly give them any.
Having casually dealt with the few individuals, Yang Haoran turned to face the two Night Watchers behind him. The two Night Watchers had long been utterly dumbfounded by the preceding events. Only a few short minutes had passed since Yang Haoran's appearance, yet in those brief moments, four powerful experts had tragically perished at his hands—at least in their eyes, the four slain individuals were absolutely genuine powerhouses.
Yang Haoran had effortlessly slain these four powerhouses, filling the two Night Watchers not only with shock but also with profound respect and gratitude. Respect for Yang Haoran's strength, and gratitude because he had saved their lives.
Seeing Yang Haoran's gaze fall upon them, the two quickly struggled to their feet from the ground and bowed to Yang Haoran.
"Many thanks, Emissary, for your rescue! We are endlessly grateful!"
The two offered their thanks, their attitudes filled with gratitude and admiration for Yang Haoran, but lacking the deference and awe a subordinate would show a superior. This indicated that they had not recognized Yang Haoran's true identity. As for why they addressed him as "Emissary," it was merely a customary honorific used within their Yin Division.
"Heh heh, we are all on the same side. Seeing you in distress, it was only right for me to help. Besides, it was merely a trivial matter; there's no need for you to dwell on it."
Yang Haoran said with a faint smile. Although he spoke thus, the two dared not truly believe it.
"Presumably, Emissary, you must be here to support our Tongyou City. Might I ask which city you hail from?"
The speaker had originally intended to ask Yang Haoran why he wasn't wearing his Underworld uniform, as according to their Yin Division's latest regulations, wearing the uniform was mandatory in such situations. However, he felt that asking directly would be presumptuous, so he suppressed the question for the time being.
"Heh heh, indeed, I am here to support your Tongyou City. As for which city I hail from, that is not important. The most crucial matter now is to help your Tongyou City Yin Division overcome its current difficulties. But before that, I need a more detailed understanding of the Tongyou City Yin Division's current situation, and what concerns me most is the extent of its current losses."
Yang Haoran already had a very detailed understanding of Tongyou City Yin Division's other circumstances from the information he had collected. However, the Yin Division's losses were constantly updating, and he truly didn't know the current extent of Tongyou City's casualties. But these two individuals were Night Watchers from the Tongyou City Yin Division, so they surely had a good grasp of the losses.
Upon hearing Yang Haoran mention the Tongyou City Yin Division's losses, the two immediately looked downcast, losing even their interest in questioning Yang Haoran's identity to satisfy their curiosity, for this matter had greatly impacted both of them and the entire Tongyou City Yin Division.
This was no secret; the extent of their Yin Division's losses was known throughout Tongyou City, so the two had no intention of concealing it from Yang Haoran.
"Alas, the losses are severe. In this great battle, at least two-thirds of our Night Watchers have tragically died, and nearly all of the remaining one-third are wounded. Even our Emissaries have sustained very heavy injuries. In all my time as a Night Watcher, I have never seen such heavy casualties for our Tongyou City Yin Division, not even before I became a Night Watcher, at least I haven't heard of any. If it weren't for reinforcements from other cities, our Tongyou City Yin Division would probably no longer exist."
After this Night Watcher finished speaking, the other sighed and also began to speak.
"Alas, even with reinforcements from other cities, we are still at a disadvantage. Our opponents are simply too strong. If this continues, defeat is only a matter of time. Our Tongyou City Yin Division is destined to be slaughtered by the enemy, unless we can receive more power reinforcements. Otherwise, we cannot change the final outcome."
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