Chapter 1149: I'll Make You Stop Smiling
The Communication Power that had previously appeared suddenly, only to be shattered by successive bolts of lightning, had originated from the lanky man. The two surges of Communication Power that had just materialized likewise stemmed from him.
Raw Communication Power, naturally, lacked the destructive force of a Spiritual Art. Expending the same amount of Communication Power on a Spiritual Art would unleash an entirely different level of might, a fact the lanky man was keenly aware of. But in this dire situation, he simply had no time to form hand seals and cast a Spiritual Art. In his desperation, he had no choice but to strike with unrefined Communication Power. He held no illusions that the Communication Power he unleashed could inflict significant harm upon Yang Haoran; he merely hoped to buy a precious moment.
Yang Haoran's expression remained impassive in the face of the incoming Communication Power. With the swiftness of thought, he recalled Remnant Moon. The blade materialized as a black gleam before him, and as a low hum resonated, Remnant Moon instantly expanded in size, intercepting the incoming surge of Communication Power.
Regarding the other surge of Communication Power, aimed at the Soul-Gathering Bead, Yang Haoran maintained his approach, opting once more to forcibly shatter it with the lightning unleashed by Black Lightning. Amidst a flurry of explosive crackles, the two surges of Communication Power unleashed by the lanky man not only failed to harm a single hair on Yang Haoran, but also left the Soul-Gathering Bead utterly untouched, effortlessly dispelled by Yang Haoran.
With the Soul-Gathering Bead unscathed, its potent suction naturally persisted without halt. Just as a cloud of Yin Qi, the nearest to the Soul-Gathering Bead, teetered on the brink of being absorbed, at that very instant, a voice abruptly echoed through the area.
"Spiritual Art: Teleportation!"
The instant the voice resonated, a dense, violently churning mass of Yin Qi abruptly materialized where the Soul-Gathering Bead hovered. As the Yin Qi dispersed, a figure revealed itself. It was not the lanky man, but the Eyepatch Woman, who had set off after him.
The instant the Eyepatch Woman’s form solidified, she hesitated not a whit, striking the suspended Soul-Gathering Bead with a decisive palm.
Boom! ! !
With the Soul-Gathering Bead fractured, the soul-crushing suction that had nearly driven the Ghost King to despair finally dissipated. Deprived of the Soul-Gathering Bead's overwhelming pull, the Yin Qi comprising the Ghost King’s form instantly regained its liberty. The still-reeling Ghost King seized this fleeting chance, swiftly coalescing all the scattered Yin Qi that composed his form.
Because the Yin Qi had already been drawn quite close by the Soul-Gathering Bead’s potent suction, thus, upon the Soul-Gathering Bead’s destruction, the Ghost King managed to reassemble the Yin Qi in an incredibly short span.
Naturally, this feat was also attributable to the Ghost King’s own reflexes; had he reacted too slowly, he would never have successfully seized this opportunity. Once this chance was squandered, it would be difficult to say if such an opening would present itself again in the ensuing battle.
For the successful re-coalescence of the Yin Qi that comprised his physical form, the Ghost King owed the most gratitude to the Eyepatch Woman. Had the Eyepatch Woman not arrived precisely when she did, employing her Spiritual Art, he might not have seen all the Yin Qi of his physical body absorbed into the Soul-Gathering Bead, but a significant portion certainly would have been trapped within it.
To reform his physical body, not even a single wisp of the Yin Qi comprising it could be absent, let alone a portion being drawn into the Soul-Gathering Bead. Thus, without the Eyepatch Woman's timely intervention, his fate at that moment would indeed have been dire.
The Eyepatch Woman’s ability to reach the Soul-Gathering Bead before the lanky man and successfully shatter it was entirely due to the Spiritual Art of Teleportation she employed.
Spiritual Art Teleportation diverges significantly from typical "flashes. " When one’s power reaches a certain threshold, a momentary burst of extreme speed can achieve a "flash. " Some, of course, might even label such a flash as "instantaneous movement. " Regardless of whether it's termed a "flash" or "instantaneous movement," it refers to essentially the same technique, one almost exclusively confined to short distances. To achieve this over greater distances, a significantly larger expenditure of power is necessary.
The Spiritual Art Teleportation just employed by the Eyepatch Woman not only allowed for instantaneous movement far exceeding ordinary flashes, but also incurred minimal Communication Power expenditure. Its sole imperfection lay in the brief moment required for her to form hand seals before successfully activating the Spiritual Art, a step entirely unnecessary for a simple "flash."
The Eyepatch Woman had the leisure to form hand seals, owing, of course, to the lanky man’s two prior attacks, which had bought her precious time. Otherwise, how could she, who had initiated her move after the lanky man, have so effortlessly overtaken him?
After the Eyepatch Woman shattered the Soul-Gathering Bead, the lanky man likewise arrived in the vicinity of Yang Haoran and Cold Yue. However, he materialized not beside the Eyepatch Woman, but at Cold Yue’s side, immediately expending a substantial amount of Communication Power to erect a protective barrier, enclosing both himself and Cold Yue.
Lightning relentlessly descended from above, each bolt precisely controlled by Yang Haoran. Failing to deploy a protective barrier in time, he feared Yang Haoran would seize the opportunity to end Cold Yue’s life.
As the barrier solidified, a pale-faced Cold Yue spurted a mouthful of blood, her body teetering precariously. Witnessing this, the lanky man promptly steadied Cold Yue.
At this moment, Cold Yue was suspended high in the air. Were she to fall from such a height due to unconsciousness, in her current state, she would undoubtedly be smashed to pieces. To perish not by Yang Haoran’s hand, but instead to plunge from the sky and shatter into oblivion, would undeniably become a cruel jest amongst others.
Naturally, the lanky man had no desire to witness such a spectacle. He had come to rescue Cold Yue, not to observe her plummet to her demise. Thus, upon discerning signs of Cold Yue’s impending collapse, he swiftly moved to support her.
No sooner had the lanky man stabilized Cold Yue than a barrage of explosive crackles erupted overhead. Streaks of black lightning incessantly hammered against the barrier he had condensed with Communication Power, each strike converging on a single point.
Confronted by the lightning’s ferocious assault, the barrier immediately convulsed violently; in places, fissures even spiderwebbed across its surface, giving it the appearance of imminent collapse.
This barrier, a product of haste and conventional condensation, possessed inherently limited defensive capabilities.
Conversely, the descending black lightning originated from Yang Haoran’s Soul Armament, Black Lightning. Each bolt possessed considerable power, and their uncanny precision in striking a single point caused fissures to instantly scar the barrier.
Confronted with this predicament, the lanky man’s expression instantly turned grim, and a chilling killing intent erupted in his eyes. However, mindful of Cold Yue’s physical state, he refrained from reckless action, instead suppressing his inner fury and immediately injecting more Communication Power into the barrier to bolster its defenses.
Fortified by a copious infusion of Communication Power, the violently trembling barrier gradually stabilized, and the nascent fissures rapidly mended.
Elsewhere, the Eyepatch Woman remained active after demolishing the Soul-Gathering Bead. She immediately channeled the Communication Power within her to intercept all descending lightning for the Ghost King, for it was solely with her assistance that the Ghost King managed to successfully re-coalesce his physical form.
However, the newly re-embodied Ghost King wore a pale, haggard expression, his breath faint and ragged, utterly lacking the powerful aura he had previously exuded. Gone too was the contempt he had once shown towards Yang Haoran.
In the past, Cold Yue had harbored no interest in sparing Yang Haoran even a fleeting glance, for Yang Haoran had then been a mere low-ranked Undertaker, and she, naturally, would not squander her precious time on such a person. This was precisely why she held no impression of Yang Haoran whatsoever.
Yet this time, she had very nearly met her end by Yang Haoran’s hand. Before their confrontation, Yang Haoran had promised her he would endeavor to leave a lasting impression, and judging by the present outcome, Yang Haoran had indeed succeeded, leaving her with an undeniably profound impression.
However, for her, this profound impression was nothing short of a deep, abiding humiliation!
And her Ghost King Guardian Spirit, initially overflowing with disdain for Yang Haoran—confident as he was in his own strength and equally so in his master—had just been nearly shattered into Soul Transformation by lightning from this very Yang Haoran, almost even collected into the Soul-Gathering Bead.
The master and servant, facing Yang Haoran together this time, had been beaten into utter submission before the eyes of all, while Yang Haoran himself remained utterly composed, displaying an air of effortless mastery. This was, quite simply, a blatant slap to their faces.
At this moment, both master and servant were not only grievously wounded, but their dignity had been utterly shredded in this battle. This left them both furious and wary of Yang Haoran, this newly appointed Guardian.
The mood among the two factions observing the spectacle below was, at this moment, a veritable rollercoaster. When Yang Haoran exerted his dominance over Cold Yue and her Ghost King Guardian Spirit, the Spirit Medium faction’s morale plummeted, and their hearts filled with apprehension, for in their estimation, should Cold Yue and her Guardian Spirit fall, it would signify their faction's defeat, and they were acutely aware of the repercussions.
Conversely, the Underworld Office faction, witnessing Yang Haoran’s display of divine might, became exceptionally excited, even agitated, for they knew victory was within their grasp.
They had clearly plunged into utter despair, yet Yang Haoran’s arrival had entirely reversed their fortunes. How could they not be ecstatic?
However, to their utter astonishment, just as victory in this great battle seemed assured, two formidable enemies abruptly materialized at the most critical juncture. Judging by the powerful energy fluctuations radiating from them, anyone could discern their might, and in all likelihood, like Cold Yue, they were both Grand Spirit Masters.
The morale of the Underworld Office faction was significantly dampened by the sudden appearance of these two. They all worried that Yang Haoran would be no match for the pair. After all, Yang Haoran had already expended a considerable amount of Spirit Power in his earlier confrontation with Cold Yue and her Ghost King Guardian Spirit. Now, with two powerful Spirit Mediums suddenly emerging, could Yang Haoran truly overcome them?
Such anxieties burgeoned in the hearts of many, hence the considerable blow to their morale.
Conversely, the Spirit Medium faction found their emotions completely inverted, for the arrival of these two powerful figures reignited their hope. If these two powerhouses could subdue Yang Haoran, then the ultimate victory in this struggle would still be theirs.
Among the myriad Spirit Mediums present, a considerable number even recognized the lanky man and the Eyepatch Woman. Knowing their identities, they felt utterly confident in the pair.
This surge of confidence propelled many Spirit Mediums who had ceased their attacks to once again launch assaults upon their adversaries. And while the Underworld Office faction’s morale had indeed been somewhat impacted, they did not passively await their demise in the face of the Spirit Mediums’ renewed onslaught; instead, they moved in unison to resist, and even to counterattack.
The grand battle between Yang Haoran and Cold Yue had momentarily halted the myriad skirmishes throughout Tongyou City. However, the arrival of the Eyepatch Woman and the lanky man ignited a fresh, even more ferocious outburst of the suspended fighting!
In an instant, the entirety of Tongyou City once more erupted into a chaotic frenzy. Shouts of battle, the clang of colliding arts, furious roars, and agonizing screams—a cacophony of sounds reverberated through every corner of Tongyou City.
The various battles raging across Tongyou City’s districts were, at this moment, completely disregarded by Yang Haoran and the others above, for their entire focus was now fixed on their respective adversaries.
“Heh heh, you two waited so long to make your move. Your patience is quite commendable. Had I gone for the kill from the very beginning, would you not have shown yourselves? ”
Yang Haoran’s gaze swept over the lanky man, who relentlessly channeled Communication Power into the barrier, and the Eyepatch Woman, who unleashed Communication Power to fend off the black lightning. Then, with a faint smile, he inquired.
As he spoke, Yang Haoran was far from idle. He manipulated Black Lightning to relentlessly unleash bolts of black lightning, unleashing a furious bombardment upon their vicinity, granting his opponents no respite whatsoever.
Under his mental command, Remnant Moon reverted to its standard size. He did not employ Remnant Moon defensively, but instead directed it in a relentless assault upon the barrier condensed by the lanky man. Only through such an offensive could he breach the lanky man's shield in the shortest possible time.
The barrier, continuously bolstered by Communication Power, had gradually regained its stability, and its fissures were rapidly mending and repairing, but with Remnant Moon’s intervention, it once again began to shudder violently, and the newly healed cracks reappeared, now in even greater number than before.
The faint smile on Yang Haoran’s face, combined with his taunting words, made both the lanky man and the Eyepatch Woman feel thoroughly provoked. This inevitably caused killing intent to surge from their hearts like a tidal wave, and their eyes, both, gleamed with an icy cold light.
“Hmph! Yang Haoran, if I were you, I wouldn’t dare display such arrogance. Cold Yue was already grievously wounded when you arrived, while you were at your peak. What is there to be proud of, even if you did defeat Cold Yue under such circumstances? Moreover, it’s far too soon for you to celebrate; you’re about to have a very bad time! ”
It was the lanky man who spoke. He offered no answer to Yang Haoran’s question, but instead, while continuing to infuse Communication Power into the barrier, he uttered in a deep voice, his words laced with profound disdain and undisguised menace.
Cold Yue, whom he had been supporting, now struggled free of his grasp. Though Cold Yue’s physical state remained dire, and the dizzying sensation in her mind persisted, the protection of the barrier he had conjured meant her body suffered no further harm, allowing her to barely maintain her standing in the air.
Cold Yue’s action caused the lanky man a pang of worry, and a flicker of irritation. He averted his gaze from Yang Haoran, then turned to look at Cold Yue, observing her retrieve and swallow a Dānyào. He was about to speak, but before the words could leave his lips, Yang Haoran’s voice resonated once more.
“Heh heh, you know me, yet I cannot recall your name. How truly regrettable. ”
Yang Haoran met the lanky man’s gaze and spoke with a faint smile, his expression betraying not the slightest alteration. He seemed to have utterly dismissed the lanky man’s disdain and threats.
However, his words merely added fuel to the lanky man’s internal blaze of fury. The lanky man, already thoroughly displeased, now felt an even greater surge of vexation, which manifested clearly upon his countenance.
The lanky man’s expression at this moment was exceptionally grim. He swallowed the words poised on his tongue, his gaze withdrawing from Cold Yue to once more fix on Yang Haoran.
“Laugh all you want. In a moment, I will wipe that smile from your face! ”
No sooner had these words left his lips than a dense, visible surge of Yin Qi abruptly billowed from the lanky man’s body, accompanied by a terrifying surge of power emanating from within him. Judging by the intensity of this power fluctuation, the lanky man was indeed a Grand Spirit Master, and had even reached the peak of the early Grand Spirit Master stage, merely a single step from entering the mid-stage of the Grand Spirit Master realm!
As the lanky man unleashed the entirety of his power, his Guardian Spirit, too, materialized at his summons.
The Guardian Spirit hovered suspended behind the lanky man, its eyes a malevolent crimson, its form solidified. Just like its master, the lanky man, thick Yin Qi also billowed from its form. Unlike the lanky man, however, while the power fluctuations emanating from its body were indeed potent, they did not reach the same formidable level as the lanky man himself.
Furthermore, its body was not a true physical form like the lanky man’s; it was a Spirit Body. It was simply that its immense power and solid Spirit Body made it appear as substantial as genuine flesh.
The lanky man’s Guardian Spirit indeed lacked a physical body, for its strength had not yet ascended to the Ghost King realm. However, its power had already reached the pinnacle of the Evil Spirit stage, just a single step from the Ghost King realm.
“Heh heh, I originally held rather high expectations for your strength. However, the power fluctuations you currently unleash are, I must admit, somewhat disappointing. If this indeed represents the entirety of your might, I fear you will find it quite difficult to wipe this smile from my face. ”
Yang Haoran, while maintaining a faint smile directed at the lanky man, simultaneously commanded his two Soul Armaments with his thoughts, launching relentless attacks.
As if to substantiate his claims, no sooner had the words left his mouth than a thunderous crash resounded, and the barrier condensed by the lanky man was instantly pulverized by Remnant Moon.
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