Rewinding time—
"…"
Controlling 21 combat bodies to search the forest, Tian Cheng stands perfectly still with Long Hua and Yao Ying by her side.
"…?"
Narrowing her eyes, Tian Cheng frowns, to which, Long Hua asks—
"Found it?"
"Something attacked one of the combat bodies."
"Lead us to it then."
"Un."
Nodding her head, Tian Cheng breaks into a run, while Long Hua and Yao Ying follow.
At the same time, Tian Cheng also has the other combat bodies gather in the coordinates that they're headed for.
Moving through the forest, the group of three eventually found what it is that they're looking for—a combat body, which had a large hole in its chest.
"Oh? I didn't expect you three."
Turning their bodies in the direction—where this remark had originated from, the three see Hui Sang, who is standing a few meters away.
Raising his hand, and pointing his thumb in the direction of the ongoing battle, Long Hua asks—
"…Shouldn't you be out there?"
"…"
Folding her arms beneath her chest, Hui Sang answers—
"I could ask you three the same."
"…"
"…"
Momentarily, the remaining 20 combat bodies gather to surround Hui Sang from all fronts.
In the same instance, the damaged combat body repairs itself, and rises to a stand.
"…"
"…Ai."
As tension fills the air, Long Hua heaves a sigh, and asks—
"Where's the entrance that led underground?"
"I wouldn't be the guardian of the catacombs if I were to answer you. You're an Immortal, aren't you? That little girl… I assume she's the same?"
"…"
Being stared at by Hui Sang's dark eyes, Yao Ying takes a step back, but her grip on the kitchen knife doesn't loosen.
"Hmm."
Taking out Shui Yue, killing intent flashes from Long Hua's eyes.
Explanations at this point are utterly meaningless.
"…"
Similarly, Tian Cheng prepares for combat by taking out the Dawn Buster.
"Gǔ Jūn."
Muttering this, Hui Sang's body erupts into pale blue flames, as pieces of bone white armor manifest around her.
And as these pieces of armor pressed themselves onto Hui Sang's body, the figure of a skeletal knight—with a pair of horns that measures at two feet in length, stands in front of the three.
Held in the skeletal knight's right hand is a curved greatsword—crafted from what seems to be a single piece of beast bone.
"Little girl, rotate that incantation, and focus on staying alive."
"…Un."
Controlling the other combat bodies, which are all equipped with firearm Spirit Armaments, Tian Cheng has them unleash a barrage of bullets centered around Hui Sang, and—
*Tatatatata!!!* in the span of a single second, more than a thousand bullets are fired—kicking up a giant cloud of dust.
"Un, how odd those weapons are…"
Swinging the curved greatsword, Hui Sang parts the dust clouds around her, and charges forth!
"…"
As Hui Sang emerges from the smoke, Long Hua confronts her with Shui Yue in hand.
*Klang!!!* the impact of this exchange causes Hui Sang to frown beneath her skull helmet, as she feels her arm turn numb.
And just as Hui Sang intended to take hold of her weapon with both hands—
*Bang!!!* a blast of red energy is shot out of the Dawn Buster—throwing Hui Sang's left arm back!
Exploiting Hui Sang's momentarily loss of balance—
"…"
*Klang…!!!* Long Hua swings Shui Yue—severing the opponent's right arm.
"Tch."
Clicking her tongue, Hui Sang leaps backwards; however—
*Grrrooo!* the White Serpent King appears behind her, and—
*…!!! …!!! …!!! …!!! Siiiii!!!* lunges its four scythe-like limbs forward, the White Serpent King impales Hui Sang, prior to ripping her apart!
Even before the thought, that this battle had concluded can appear on Long Hua's mind—
*Poooh!!!* phasing through the White Serpent King, Hui Sang—in the form of pale blue flames, waves her left hand, causing the scattered pieces of her armor to expand in volume.
And within the blink of an eye, the scattered pieces of armor turned themselves into skeletal soldiers.
Lashing their blade-like arms wildly, the skeletal soldiers charged at the combat bodies to prevent them from launching suppressive fire.
"…"
Straightening his back, Long Hua frowns, and remarks—
"Compared to those that I've fought in the past, you seem much more resilient… Also, quite a troublesome ability you've got."
"Do you have any rights to say that when you're the one who outnumbered me first?"
Teleporting her weapon and right arm to her side, and merging the latter object to her body in a nonchalant manner, Hui Sang directs a fierce glare at Long Hua.
Maintaining his frown, Long Hua thought—
(A body of that nature—using plain sword Qi alone, it's basically impossible to cut it well.)
Rotating the Yin and Yang Cloud Ink Incantation, Yin and Yang energy emanates from Long Hua's body.
"…?"
Having cultivated one half of the Cloud Ink Incantation, Yao Ying couldn't help but blink her eyes in astonishment, while thinking—
(H-He can use both Yin and Yang energy? Not even grandfather was able to do that, and said that it was impossible…)
"…"
Kicking off the ground, Long Hua approaches Hui Sang, and slashes with Shui Yue.
Evading the attack, Hui Sang holds her weapon with both hands, and swings back at Long Hua.
*Klang!!! Klang!!! Klang!!!* exchanging more than 30 hits in the span of a second, Long Hua takes out a physical strength boosting talisman, along with a speed boosting talisman.
Activating both talismans, the strength and speed of Long Hua's attacks increased by a noticeable amount—forcing Hui Sang back.
Amidst each swing of Long Hua's sword, black and white flowers—which are giving off an ominous crimson glow, would appear in the air.
And sensing danger from these flowers, Hui Sang would attempt to draw their confrontation away from them; however—