Chapter 1160: Yinfu Songzang
Yang Haoran muttered to himself, but the lanky man and the eyepatch woman, currently unable to hear his words, would surely have felt unwell if they had. The eyepatch woman, especially, who was already at odds with Cold Yue, would have reacted intensely, most likely cursing Cold Yue out.
Having found no trace of Cold Yue here, Yang Haoran decided not to waste any more time. After all, the great battle in Tongyou City had not fully concluded. Not all of the Spirit Masters had fled or were preparing to flee; quite a few were still engaged in combat, and some had no intention of escaping at all.
Though few in number, these individuals who refused to flee and were determined to fight the Underworld Office to the death certainly existed.
If these Spirit Masters who remained in the fight were not swiftly eliminated, they would undoubtedly inflict greater losses upon the Underworld Office. As the Guardian of the Ninth District of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office, Yang Haoran naturally did not wish to see more of his side brutally perish at the hands of the Spirit Masters.
To prevent further casualties on his side, Yang Haoran decided to personally intervene and resolve the remaining enemies, bringing an end to this exceedingly brutal battle as quickly as possible.
With his decision made, he rose into the air, then swiftly formed hand seals, seemingly preparing to unleash a Ghost Art.
As there was no interference, this act of forming hand seals did not take Yang Haoran much time. In just a short while, Yang Haoran's rapidly shifting fingers suddenly froze. This movement signified the completion of his hand seals.
"Ghost Art, Yinfu Songzang."
These creatures resembled bats, each the size of an ox's head, entirely black, with eyes glowing with a rich bloody light, and even a pair of sharp, pointed fangs. Not only were their appearances menacing and fierce, but they also exuded a thick, visible Yin Qi. One didn't need eyes to see; even a blind person, by touch alone, would know these bats were no benevolent creatures.
An endless stream of black bats continuously surged from the black hole, quickly spreading outwards, each seeking out a target. Though their individual size was considerable, their speed was remarkably swift. While not quite swift as lightning, they were certainly not comparable to ordinary birds and beasts.
In just a short moment, countless black bats filled the skies above Tongyou City, forming a dense, dark mass like a black cloud shrouding the city. The sheer force of their presence was astonishing, leaving the people below dumbfounded and simultaneously imposing immense psychological pressure upon them.
Under Yang Haoran's control, these bats plunged into the crowds below, immediately launching their attacks. However, these bats did not attack everyone indiscriminately; they only assaulted Spirit Masters who emitted Communication Power.
The Spirit Masters' side was not comprised solely of Spirit Masters; it also included individuals from other factions, and even some demons and monsters. But why did these bats only attack Spirit Masters emitting Communication Power, and not others on the Spirit Masters' side? There was, of course, a reason for this.
Yang Haoran's Yinfu Songzang technique possessed a wide range of attack and could simultaneously target many opponents. Under such conditions, it would seem logical for him to precisely control the bats to strike everyone on the Spirit Masters' side, but the reality was quite the opposite. It wasn't that he didn't want to accurately strike everyone on the Spirit Masters' side; it was that he simply couldn't do it.
Because at this moment, numerous battles, large and small, were raging across Tongyou City, and they were extremely scattered. He could not take in every battle at a glance, nor could he possibly determine who was an ally and who was an enemy simply by sight. What he could do was discern friend from foe by the power fluctuations emanating from each individual, and then command the bats to launch large-scale, mass attacks.
Anyone whose body released Communication Power was undoubtedly a Spirit Master, an enemy of their Underworld Office. Yang Haoran would not hesitate with such individuals; he would directly slay them. As for those emitting other power fluctuations, he could not determine if they were friend or foe, and thus naturally dared not launch attacks indiscriminately, lest he injure his own people. This was the reason why these bats would only attack Spirit Masters who emitted Communication Power.
When a large number of bats descended from the sky and joined the battle, not only were the Spirit Masters' forces startled, but even some of the Underworld Office's own people were considerably frightened.
It was understandable for the Spirit Masters' side to be startled; there was nothing more to say about that. The fact that some of the Underworld Office's people were frightened might seem amusing, but it was not entirely without reason.
Some of the Underworld Office's people were frightened, on one hand, because the sheer number of bats, coupled with their ferocious appearance and overwhelming approach, delivered an intense shock to their hearts.
On the other hand, it was because they couldn't be sure whether these bats would attack indiscriminately or specifically. If they attacked specifically, that would be fine. But if they attacked indiscriminately, it would be a tragedy, as they too would be injured, or even lose their lives.
The scenes that unfolded next immediately put the minds of those in the Underworld Office who had been worried at ease, for these bats did not attack them, but instead launched attacks against the Spirit Masters they were fighting.
Due to the bats' speed and exceptionally sharp fangs, many Spirit Masters suffered fatal blows because they couldn't dodge in time. Some had their necks severed, some had their chests torn open, and some even had their limbs forcibly ripped off.
Although these bats only attacked Spirit Masters, everyone else who was not attacked was stunned by the bats' ferocity and bloodlust. Even many people from the Underworld Office, witnessing the bats' brutality and power firsthand, were left rooted to the spot, unable to regain their composure.
With the unleashing of the Ghost Art, Yinfu Songzang, screams of agony echoed throughout Tongyou City, one after another, far more intense than any before. And the vast majority of these screams came from the Spirit Masters.
Yang Haoran's intervention caused those on the Spirit Masters' side who had still intended to resist to lose their will to fight, leading to an increasing number of escapees, while the Underworld Office's side grew braver with each fight.
It was precisely because of Yang Haoran's intervention that the speed of this battle's conclusion accelerated. The outcome was no surprise; this brutal war ultimately ended in victory for the Underworld Office.
During the final wrap-up phase, to prevent more Spirit Masters from escaping Tongyou City, Yang Haoran expended an astonishing amount of Spirit Power to lay down a massive restrictive barrier over Tongyou City, enveloping the entire city within it.
It is important to note that Tongyou City occupies a considerable area. Laying down a restrictive barrier to completely envelop the entire city was no easy feat; it would be impossible without a certain level of power. And for this restrictive barrier to possess sufficient defensive power, not easily broken, the difficulty naturally increased even further.
The defensive power of the restrictive barrier Yang Haoran laid over Tongyou City, while not astonishing, was definitely not weak. For instance, in terms of their Underworld Office's cultivation realms, it would be almost impossible for Underworld Officials below the Earth Soul realm to break through it without special means. This illustrates how incredible the defensive power of this restrictive barrier was.
Of course, the more astonishing the defensive power of this restrictive barrier, the greater the Spirit Power consumed by Yang Haoran; the two were directly proportional.
Yang Haoran's purpose in laying down a restrictive barrier over the entire Tongyou City was self-evident. As a Guardian of the Underworld Office, the more enemies he annihilated in this campaign, the greater the gains for their Underworld Office in this great battle, and the greater Yang Haoran's contribution would be. Compared to these immense gains, expending a large amount of Spirit Power was nothing to him.
Especially now that he had only recently become a Guardian, he needed a large number of merits to solidify his position. Therefore, the more enemies he slew this time, the better.
Although Yang Haoran laid down a restrictive barrier over the entire Tongyou City, some Spirit Masters still managed to escape by various means. Some found ways to pry open a small gap in the restrictive barrier just big enough for themselves to slip through, while others employed special techniques to escape without damaging the barrier itself. These individuals were not powerful enough to break the restrictive barrier, but their special techniques proved extremely useful.
Those possessing such special techniques were far fewer than the former; there were only a handful in total. However, there were slightly more individuals capable of directly breaking the restrictive barrier.
Of course, this so-called "slightly more" was merely relative. In truth, whether it was those who managed to break through the barrier themselves or those who escaped using special techniques, their combined number was small. This even included a very small portion who were carried away by their companions.
Yang Haoran did not care about these few who successfully escaped, as it was unavoidable. In such large-scale battles, it was perfectly normal for some individuals to escape using various methods. All he could do was minimize the number of escapees as much as possible, preventing a mass exodus. A very small number escaping was harmless to him.
The vast majority of the Spirit Masters were unable to escape the restrictive barrier laid down by Yang Haoran, and their fate was, without exception, death. Although it was somewhat cruel, war itself was inherently cruel. If one did not eliminate their opponents, then one day they might be eliminated by their opponents. Both sides were irreconcilable mortal enemies; neither the Underworld Office nor the Spirit Masters would show mercy to the other, and Yang Haoran was certainly no exception.
If Yang Haoran had shown mercy today, it would not only have been irresponsible to himself but also to his subordinates. After all, before he arrived in Tongyou City, their Tongyou City Underworld Office was almost wiped out by the Spirit Masters. Those Night Watchers who died at the hands of the Spirit Masters were all Yang Haoran's people. If he were to show mercy and allow the Spirit Masters to leave, then who would provide an explanation to his deceased Night Watchers?
The final phase of the battle did not last long. When the explosions and screams of agony ceased throughout Tongyou City, the battle was officially over.
Tongyou City's largest Death God Temple was located in the central area of Tongyou City. This area originally belonged to the Administrative Courtyard, but after Ding Tianhua became the Emissary of Death for the Tongyou City Underworld Office, due to his overbearing conduct, strong demeanor, and his own power, he successfully constructed a Death God Temple in the city's central area after years of accumulation.
This Death God Temple was not only the largest Death God Temple in Tongyou City, but also the largest temple in the entire city. Although there were many factions and quite a few temples in Tongyou City, no other faction's temple could compare to this largest Death God Temple in the city center. This demonstrated how high the status of the Tongyou City Underworld Office once was in Tongyou City.
However, now, this largest Death God Temple had become dilapidated. Its former grandeur and glory had long vanished, replaced by crumbling ruins and scattered corpses.
When the Spirit Masters, along with their allies, attacked the Tongyou City Underworld Office, this largest Death God Temple bore the brunt of their assault, becoming their primary target. It was precisely because of this that this once magnificent and imposing Death God Temple was destroyed in a short period, turning into its current state.
The Spirit Masters chose this largest Death God Temple as their primary target not only because of its unique significance, but also for another crucial reason: the residence and office of the Emissary of Death, Ding Tianhua, were also located in this area.
The Spirit Masters clearly understood that to destroy the Tongyou City Underworld Office, they had to eliminate Ding Tianhua, the Emissary of Death. After all, Ding Tianhua's own power was the main reason the Underworld Office could firmly hold its position as Tongyou City's foremost power. Eliminating Ding Tianhua, the strongest individual in the Tongyou City Underworld Office, would simplify the task of eradicating the entire office.
Therefore, the Spirit Masters attacking Tongyou City's largest Death God Temple, with the aim of slaying Ding Tianhua in the shortest possible time, was also one of their reasons.
However, the final outcome was that this largest Death God Temple of the Tongyou City Underworld Office was indeed completely destroyed by the Spirit Masters. Yet, Ding Tianhua, whom they most wished to eliminate, did not die at their hands. Instead, the Spirit Masters themselves, with the exception of a very few who successfully escaped, all lost their lives in Tongyou City, and their souls were no exception. They even lost two Great Spirit Callers and two Ghost King realm Guardian Spirits!
The former meeting room of this Death God Temple, of course, did not escape the ravages of this great battle. Like other buildings within the temple, it became a heap of rubble. Yang Haoran now stood amidst these ruins.
Upon the ruins, Yang Haoran stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile on his face. A chilling breeze ruffled his Death God robes, which, though damaged, still exuded an aura of dominance.
Below him stood a group of people, not many, perhaps only a few hundred.
For some groups or specific occasions, a few hundred people is quite a substantial number. However, for the scale of today's battle in Tongyou City, a few hundred was undeniably a small, even minuscule, figure.
The former Tongyou City Underworld Office had a considerable number of Night Watchers. In this battle in Tongyou City, besides the support Ding Tianhua managed to secure from other factions, other cities' Underworld Offices also sent some reinforcements. These combined reinforcements brought the Tongyou City Underworld Office's total numbers to several thousand. Yet, now only a few hundred remained. This illustrates the extent of the losses and also confirms that the remaining few hundred was indeed a small number.
All eyes below were, without exception, fixed upon Yang Haoran. These individuals fell into two main categories: one comprised of people from the Underworld Office, including those from the Tongyou City Underworld Office and other cities' Underworld Offices. The other category consisted of support from other factions; they did not belong to the Underworld Office.
The Underworld Office personnel now regarded Yang Haoran with profound respect. Although the non-Underworld Office personnel did not display the same level of deference, they still held deep awe for Yang Haoran, this Guardian, though their fear outweighed their respect.
Yang Haoran was not particularly tall, but at this moment, he stood ramrod straight. Standing amidst the ruins, he was like a sharp sword that cleaves through iron as if it were mud, plunged into the wreckage. Even though he was not tall, and his appearance was ordinary, he still awed everyone present.
It was difficult for those present not to feel a profound shock as they recalled the scenes of Yang Haoran's battle earlier.
Especially the Underworld Office personnel present, not only were they shocked, and not only did they feel heartfelt respect for Yang Haoran, but their hearts were also filled with immense excitement and pride, for today they had truly witnessed Yang Haoran's formidable strength.
The stronger Yang Haoran's power, the greater the benefits for them. Not only would enemies not dare to easily intrude, but in the future, when facing Underworld Officials from outside their Ninth District, they would also be able to hold their heads high and stand tall.
Conversely, if Yang Haoran, their Guardian, were too weak, he would not only be seen as an easy target for anyone to bully, but Underworld Officials from outside their Jingling Continent's Ninth District would also look down on them.
Yang Haoran's power displayed today was witnessed by all; his achievements were truly astonishing. As Yang Haoran's subordinates, how could they not be excited? How could they not be proud?
Furthermore, everyone present clearly understood that if not for Yang Haoran today, they might already have been brutally slain by the Spirit Masters. The number of lucky survivors would certainly not have been many. Therefore, gratitude still resided in their hearts for Yang Haoran, and this included those who were not from the Underworld Office.
Although Yang Haoran's timely arrival saved their lives and allowed them to eliminate many enemies, they had merely preserved their lives; they were not uninjured. Quite the opposite, every single one of them bore wounds, and some were even severely injured.
However, they did not feel that there was anything wrong with this. After all, no matter how severe the injuries, they were still just injuries; at least they were alive, which was far better than being dead.
It was precisely because of these mixed emotions that when they looked at Yang Haoran, they felt his not-so-tall figure was like a towering mountain, not only massive but also unshakeable!
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