Chapter 552 - 354: Lending

The combined power of the three was overwhelming. Even a joint Barrier comparable to the Innate Level could not withstand it and shattered with a deafening boom. As the Barrier collapsed, the four black-robed men suffered a terrifying backlash. A mist of blood erupted from their bodies as their auras rapidly faded. While they didn’t die instantly, they were now grievously wounded and on the verge of death.

Seeing his chance, Zhao Xuanqi was about to strike when Spirit, who was behind him, moved first. With a shift in her Seal Technique, the deep green light that had weakened the Barrier manifested as vines. They seamlessly pierced into the bodies of the four black-robed men, then abruptly retracted.

As the deep green vines withdrew from their bodies, they were suddenly covered in a bizarre and beautiful bloom of various flowers. The instant these flowers detached from the four black-robed men, their bodies were completely drained of all Vitality, and they died without a sound.

Spirit’s Technique had drained their Vitality in a single instant, killing them.

’Kill-stealing, are we?’

Zhao Xuanqi froze, glancing over at Spirit. He had been a step too slow, however, so there was nothing to be said.

After the vines withdrew, orbs of crimson light were drawn out from the bodies of the four black-robed men by Spirit’s power, converging behind her.

Zhao Xuanqi stopped paying attention to the four black-robed men and fixed his gaze on the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation across from him.

At this moment, the effects of the four talismans on his body had not yet faded. His muscles bulged, his Qi and Blood surged, and a bloody mist billowed from him with furious intensity. The currents of air and mist swirled around him as the abyssal Killing Fire blazed, coalescing into the form of a gigantic, monstrous bird with its wings spread for flight.

Meanwhile, the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation was wreathed in the light of a blazing sun. A Golden Armor Illusion manifested around him, its power Firm and scorching—a stark contrast to the nature of the Killing Fire. Its characteristics were more akin to the Golden Fire of the Red Heart Sect.

He could sense that this man was incredibly powerful. The four black-robed men combined had been unable to touch him. Furthermore, this man’s attack had been the critical factor that allowed them to so easily shatter the Barrier in the end.

Without him, things would not have gone so smoothly. His and Spirit’s inherent Physical Ability was still too weak. Had the two of them faced those four alone, they would have been in for a grueling battle.

Zhao Xuanqi couldn’t guess the intentions of an expert like the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation, so he had to remain wary of his every move.

"To use the Wuxiang Sect’s Formless Array Map to such a degree at this level is nothing short of a miracle. And as for the other one... to be able to forcibly erase someone’s Vitality?" the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation remarked, looking at Zhao Xuanqi and Spirit, unconcerned by Zhao Xuanqi’s guardedness.

"Now that you’re free, our respective goals have been met. Farewell, then," Zhao Xuanqi said, watching the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation as Spirit moved to stand beside him.

"It’s too early for farewells," the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation said. "The city is in chaos, a time when top-tier fighting strength is sorely needed. You are both very capable, and there’s no fundamental conflict between our objectives. Perhaps we can cooperate further."

"I’m afraid we have no such plans," Spirit was the first to reply. For them, cooperating with the court of Great Wei offered no clear benefit. While they could leverage the court’s resources to hunt for more Blood Food Power, the risks were equally immense. This man wouldn’t want their cooperation just to clean up some outer-ring Believers; he would surely expect them to help deal with truly terrifying individuals.

Zhao Xuanqi remained silent, but gave a slight nod in agreement with Spirit. ’Cooperating with the court of Great Wei isn’t worth the risk,’ he thought. ’Once the situation stabilizes, they’d likely turn on us first. Escaping then would be difficult.’

With that said, the two exchanged a glance. They remained wary of the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation as they turned to depart.

"Your true realms are higher than this, aren’t they? It’s just that these bodies are still too weak. With your current power, even working together, you would struggle against an expert at the peak of the Sensing realm. But if you work with me, you might just gain the power to hunt Innate Martial Artists."

"And if we’re talking about an Innate Martial Artist from the Yin Tower Organization... the Blood Food Power from a single one of them would likely dwarf everything you’ve gathered on this entire operation. How does that sound?"

Just then, the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation spoke again. Hearing his words, both Zhao Xuanqi and Spirit stopped in their tracks, turning to face him once more.

’He can give us the power to hunt Innate Martial Artists?’

They exchanged a look. Spirit spoke first. "Vitality?"

"Precisely. Vitality," the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation said. "You may not be aware, so allow me to introduce myself. I am merely an incarnation. My true self is Marquis Wei Lie of the Great Wei court. By imperial decree, I am stationed in Heqing Dao to suppress the turmoil caused by the Yin Tower Organization. Within the South Mansion, there are twelve such incarnations as myself."

’Marquis Wei Lie?’

’Isn’t he... one of the so-called Six Pillars of the Court, one of the strongest powers in Great Wei? True self? Incarnation?’

At these words, Zhao Xuanqi’s expression flickered. He sized up the man before him. From every angle he could perceive, this was a complete, living person.

’Is this the legendary Body Out Incarnation Technique?’

Furthermore, Zhao Xuanqi had only partially understood the exchange between the Ten Thousand Laws Incarnation and Spirit. Despite also being one of the descended, he was completely ignorant of the Upper Realm and other common knowledge.