Chapter 1184: Exactly What They Wanted
Chapter 1184: Exactly What They Wanted
The two Spiritual Infant cultivators were the first to seek each other out.
The moment they came into contact, neither showed any mercy. Each struck with the clear intent to kill. They had fought too many times before and already understood their opponent well.
Their cultivation levels were comparable, and neither possessed a supernatural ability capable of killing with a single blow. In a one-on-one battle, defeating the other in a short time was nearly impossible.
Unless something unexpected happened, continuing like this would only repeat the results of their previous clashes. Each side might win or lose a little, but neither could gain much advantage. After a fierce battle, both would end up withdrawing in frustration.
Still, the battle between the two Spiritual Infant cultivators was far from meaningless. Within their respective camps, they were the source of confidence for every low-level cultivator. On the battlefield, they were the center of attention, the true core of the fight.
Their performance, even a single move or gesture, affected their side’s morale and could even influence the course of the battle. For that reason, even knowing they could not kill the other, neither would hold back.
Old Devil Tan shook his arm. The fire chain wrapped around it loosened and slipped free with a hiss. One end remained in Old Devil Tan’s hand, while the other did not fall to the ground. Instead, it rose high like a fiery serpent, its tip aimed directly at Si Di.
It stretched and contracted unpredictably, astonishingly agile. Only now could its true form be seen clearly.
The fire chain was more than a zhang long, yet extremely thin. Though its body was made of interlocking links, it looked more like a strand of silk. Flames blazed across its surface, radiating searing heat.
The fire chain targeted Si Di and suddenly snapped upward. Flames surged forward with it, and with a sharp hiss, a massive fireball shot out from the chain and hurtled toward its target.
The fireball seemed somewhat illusory, but its power was utterly real. The falling snow instantly melted, and even the cold wind could not invade it. The entire stretch of sky was dyed crimson.
Si Di refused to yield. Forming a seal with his fingers, he caused the Aurric Mirror to suddenly halt in front of him before spinning rapidly.
Only then did it become clear that the golden lumps on the Aurric Mirror were not mere decoration.
Streams of golden light shot from those lumps like sword light unleashed by a sword cultivator, each ray incomparably sharp. They pierced into the fireball from every direction, covering the sky and leaving no gap.
The flames roared. Golden flowers bloomed one after another within the fireball, then transformed into arm-thick golden pythons. Vicious and ferocious, they opened their mouths wide and devoured the tongues of flame inside.
Bang! The fireball had already reached the end of its force and burst apart on the spot. The golden flowers and golden pythons vanished along with it.
This exchange appeared evenly matched.
Si Di gave a disdainful snort. "Tan, it seems you haven’t improved at all during this time!"
"The same to you!" Old Devil Tan sneered. "I’d like to see just how strong you are now!"
Before his words had even faded, Old Devil Tan suddenly threw out the fire chain. Crossing his hands before his chest, he sent a dazzling series of hand seals into it.
The fire chain twisted violently and, in the blink of an eye, formed the shape of a lotus. The flames burning upon it grew even fiercer. The entire astra now resembled a blazing fire lotus blooming in the void.
The fire lotus drifted toward Si Di, seemingly slow but in truth incredibly fast. At the same time, its color deepened from crimson to dark red. Faint traces of blue even appeared at the center of the flames. Its temperature and aura surged sharply upward, filling the heart with dread.
Si Di’s expression turned grave. Without hesitation, he tossed the Aurric Mirror high into the air.
The Aurric Mirror abruptly flipped over, its mirror surface facing the fire lotus. With a buzzing hum, a white pillar of light shot from the center of the mirror, faster than the fire lotus itself.
The white light was frigid and solid, almost metallic in substance. Wherever the pillar passed, every tongue of flame released by the fire lotus was swept away. Then the pillar plunged directly into the lotus.
There was no shattering scene. Instead, the white light transformed into a white ring of radiance that locked the fire lotus firmly inside. Even its fiery power was sealed away.
Whether it was an astra or a Dao Technique, once struck, it could be trapped by the Aurric Mirror. If the opponent was weaker and careless for even a moment, Si Di might even seize their astra outright.
Crack, crack... The ring contracted inward. Under the pressure, the fire lotus began to deform.
Yet Old Devil Tan already understood Si Di and the Aurric Mirror inside and out. Remaining completely calm, he pointed a finger. The power of the fire lotus shrank inward first, then erupted violently!
Boom! The fire lotus exploded. The violent power of its flames instantly shattered the white ring. The aftershock turned into countless fiery pythons that shot in all directions. Amid the chaos, the fire chain sprang upward and lashed viciously toward Si Di.
The fire chain was extremely thin. Hidden within the turbulent flames, it was a particularly vicious move.
Si Di’s face paled slightly, but as if he had expected this, he immediately reached out toward the Aurric Mirror. The Aurric Mirror flew backward and intercepted the fire chain. At the same time, golden light flowed across the golden lumps on its surface and condensed into a layer of golden membrane.
Smack! The instant the golden membrane formed, the fire chain arrived.
The Aurric Mirror trembled and sent ripples through the air. Both astras were knocked back into their masters’ hands. Neither of the two cultivators was injured.
But the others were not so fortunate. Although everyone tried their best to avoid the Spiritual Infant cultivators' battle, in such a crowded battlefield it was difficult to escape in a short time. Quite a few were still caught in the aftermath and lost their lives.
Si Di lowered his head for a glance, waved away the aftershock rushing toward his own camp, then swept his gaze around. His figure flickered repeatedly as he flew toward the edge of the battlefield.
The moment Old Devil Tan saw Si Di’s movement, he understood that Si Di intended to fight elsewhere to avoid needless casualties. Whenever they clashed, both sides suffered collateral damage.
Yet a strange look flashed through Old Devil Tan’s eyes. The direction Si Di had chosen happened to be where Chanling was hiding!
Their original plan had been to wear Si Di down for a while first. Once Old Devil Pei stabilized the field by controlling the Nether Crystal Towers, Old Devil Tan would lure Si Di toward Chanling so they could join forces and kill him. Unexpectedly, Si Di had rushed toward the trap of his own accord.
You're walking through the gates of hell yourself! Since you’re seeking death yourself, don’t blame me! Old Devil Tan sneered inwardly. Si Di’s choice was exactly what he had wanted.
Without the slightest hesitation, he secretly sent a signal and immediately gave chase.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Qin Sang and Jinglin had long been waiting in concealment. When they saw this, they knew the moment had come. Circling around to the rear, they quietly approached the Nether Crystal Towers.
"Get back here!" Old Devil Tan shouted as a show of force, swinging the fire chain in a relentless assault.
At the same time, he released another astra, a blue triangular banner. The banner was not large, and its surface was woven from cloud brocade, as though rippling with clear waves.
In the next moment, the triangular banner rose high into the air. Currents of water streamed from its surface, and in an instant the surrounding void transformed into a vast watery domain.
The two astras, one of water and one of fire, should have been opposing powers. Yet at this moment, they achieved the strange effect of fire and water complementing one another!
The giant flaming python rampaged across the misty waters. Wave after wave rose higher, each fiercer than the last, lending support to the fire chain. Its momentum climbed steadily, and its murderous blaze grew ever more terrifying.
Si Di turned to face the dreadful attack pursuing close behind him. His body drifted backward, his expression calm and composed, his lips moving silently as he recited an incantation.
Clink! The Aurric Mirror suddenly flew high into the sky and stopped there, blazing with light like a golden sun. Its radiance was as sharp as a sword. The naked eye could not look at it directly, feeling only stabbing pain.
Both the fire chain and the triangular banner were instantly enveloped within that golden light!