Chapter 549 - 352: Deterioration 2

However, just as he was about to make a move himself, a surge of Qi locked onto him.

He whipped his head around. On the eaves of a building outside the Garrison Command, a stooped figure in a black robe was watching him. The figure leaned on a gnarled staff that looked like it was made of twisted flesh and blood. The staff began to rapidly contort, and crimson vines shot out from it, spreading wildly toward Yang Zhongyuan.

’Another expert at the Innate Level?’

Yang Zhongyuan’s gaze hardened.

Within South Mansion, one of the Twelve Bishops of the Yin Tower Organization.

The so-called Twelve Bishops were twelve masters from the Yin Tower who could contend with Innate Experts. And now, one had officially made their move.

...

...

「Elsewhere in the city.」

One of the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnations had been keeping an eye on Zhao Xuanqi and Zhuang Li.

"An incarnation of Marquis Wei Lie? We’re very curious. Even if it’s just an incarnation, what kind of power does one of the Six Pillars of the Court possess?"

A strange voice suddenly echoed from all around as four figures materialized from the shadows like phantoms.

The four individuals had identical voices, heights, and builds. Though they were positioned in four different directions, they moved as if they were a single person.

The moment the four appeared...

BUZZ!!

...a distorted, bloody light rose from all four of them simultaneously, converging in the sky to form a tall, spectral figure.

It wore a white robe, its hair hung loose, and it looked like an Asura gazing down upon the mortal world. Twisted talismans coalesced around it, forming a domain akin to a Barrier that trapped the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation inside.

The four joined forces. A potent corrupting power surged within the Barrier, rushing toward the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation.

’A Combined Attack Technique?’

The Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation came to a sudden halt. The light of a blazing sun erupted around it, surging upward to vaguely form the illusion of a fiery sun, not even six feet tall.

This illusionary figure wore Divine Armor and wielded a warhammer. It was clearly a miniature version of the True Body Dharma Aspect that Marquis Wei Lie used.

However, its terrifying might, the solidity of the Dharma Aspect, and its effect on the surroundings were all fundamentally different from a real True Body Dharma Aspect.

What the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation was currently using could only be called an "Illusionary Aspect."

SIZZLE!

Blazing Primordial Qi surged within the Barrier. The attacking talismans of corruption were evaporated by the terrifying Vitality. Yet, while it could resist the corruption, it couldn’t break through the combined attack Barrier set up by the four.

The figure, like an Asura of death, remained suspended high in the air, looking down, unmoving.

Even for the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation, an avatar had its limits. At this moment, the incarnation’s own strength was about the mid-tier of the Sensing Realm. With its techniques and experience, its combat power could even rival someone at the peak of the Sensing Realm.

But the four people targeting it now all seemed to be at the high-tier of the Sensing Realm and were proficient in some kind of Combined Attack Technique. The power they unleashed together faintly reached the peak of the Sensing Realm.

Because of this, its gaze grew solemn.

’It seems I’m being specifically targeted. Their operation against South Mansion City is in full swing, and some of the more powerful high-level Believers from the Yin Tower Organization are starting to show themselves.’

’I wonder what’s happening with my main body. If this drags on, the situation in the city will become dire.’

’Regardless, I have to deal with the situation at hand first.’

’If necessary, sacrificing this body to take these four down is an acceptable choice.’

At this thought, a vicious light gleamed in the eyes of the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation.

As a mere incarnation, its power was indeed limited. But as the incarnation of a Divine Techniques master, how could it not have a trump card?

However, if it used that trump card, this incarnation would surely turn to ash.

’I can only take this one step at a time.’

「Meanwhile.」

Just as the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation was ambushed.

「Elsewhere.」

BOOM!!

Following a deafening explosion, dust filled a ravaged courtyard. Several mangled, bloody figures lay on the ground. Guided by Spirit, the Blood Food Power contained within their bodies began to seep out.

During this, Spirit glanced at the composed Zhao Xuanqi with some surprise. ’To unleash such powerful bursts consecutively without showing any significant drain on his Physical Ability... As expected, people from the Infinite Dao are monsters with unfathomable Physical Ability and Primordial Qi. With this guy on board, our hunting efficiency has improved quite a bit.’

"I helped out this time. How about a fifty-fifty split?"

Zhuang Li said to Zhao Xuanqi, looking at the cloud of Blood Food Power that was even larger than before.

"Alright."

Zhao Xuanqi nodded in agreement. This group had been a notch stronger than the last. If Spirit hadn’t used a Secret Technique to briefly break through their corruption and create a binding effect, they wouldn’t have finished so quickly. A fifty-percent demand was perfectly reasonable.

The two quickly divided the Blood Food Power, then leaped onto a roof to search for their next target. Just then, Spirit’s expression shifted slightly as he looked in another direction.

"The person who was tailing us is now being targeted by someone else," Spirit said to Zhao Xuanqi, who was beside him.

Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze flickered. He turned his head to look. Several kilometers away, the brilliant light of a blazing sun flared. Four black-robed figures stood amidst a bloody glow, while an Asura-like phantom looked down from above, locked in a struggle with a figure wreathed in the illusion of a sun-like Divine General.

This was the very same Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation that had been tailing them, now under siege by four Yin Tower masters proficient in a Combined Attack Technique.

Spirit had sensed this person’s presence a while ago. It was impossible not to; the Vitality was too intense, and it had been following their movements. For Spirit, who could sense Vitality, it was hard to miss. But since the person hadn’t come too close or interfered with their actions, they hadn’t paid it much mind.

With all the commotion they were causing, it wasn’t surprising that someone would be watching them, even with the chaos currently engulfing the city.

"The ones attacking him have a very dense aura of Blood Food Power. They should all be at the Sensing Realm. The power they have is much greater than that of the people we encountered before," Spirit said.

"Is that so?"

Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes glinted upon hearing this. He looked at Zhuang Li and said, "Should we make a move? By your description, they’re good prey."

"Those four are strong; they seem to be proficient in some Combined Attack Technique. But that’s not the main point. The point is the one they’re attacking. His Vitality feels strange to me—incomplete, as if it were partitioned off. It doesn’t feel like a whole life form. It’s highly likely an incarnation created by some kind of Technique. To be able to do this, the main body’s strength must be formidable," Spirit said, pondering for a moment.

"Will it expose our identities?" Zhao Xuanqi continued to ask.

"Most likely not. With my Vitality Transformation, it’s hard for even a Divine Techniques master to see through it unless they specialize in this path. Although the Vitality radiating from that person is intense, it seems to be an effect of his extremely strong Primordial Spirit. As long as his main body isn’t here, it won’t be easy for him to see through our disguises," Spirit said.

"Then it seems we can give it a try," Zhao Xuanqi said.

"Then let’s try. Before, the two of us would have had a hard time dealing with four experts of this level simultaneously. But now, with this person drawing their fire, it’s the perfect opportunity. If we can hunt these four, the amount of Blood Food Power we get will likely be three times what we’ve gathered so far."

"Besides, I can faintly sense the chaos in the city escalating. That terrifying power beneath the ground is gradually spinning out of control. Events are likely to develop beyond our expectations. We don’t have much time left to hunt in peace."

At this point, Spirit seemed to have made up his mind. He nodded in agreement, deciding to intervene.