Bab 223: Cleanup - Surprise Attack.
The cleanup after the serpent fell was simple and fast, the remnants of the beast wave fell under the combined might of the remaining cultivators, including the likes of Yi Yijun, Shi Le and Ri Kong, within an hour everything was over, and everyone was regrouping and organising their gains.
There was a sombre undertone to many groups as the surprise attack from the serpent had taken the lives of tens of cultivators, with great struggle the serpent had been cut open on the spot, yet all that spilled out was a regurgitation of putrid black mulch with small bits resembling bones, it hadn't even been that long since they were swallowed whole, yet they were dead.
What was worse that they had been turned into a poisonous mulch that spread miasma when released, it had to be cleared away before they could approach the corpse once more, those that were unfortunate had to use Detox pills to remove it from their bodies, just a single breath made them terribly ill.
'If we gave it a chance, it would have finished creating a horrifying acidic poison and spread it everywhere…' Shu He was sat off to the side with Shu Xue leaning on him half asleep staring at the corpse in thought.
They could have killed the serpent with ease if time was on their side, but it wasn't. The longer they took the more the serpent would change the terrain to favour it, let along the fact that it could escape underground and straight out to sea if it really wanted.
"What a pity! It would've been worth a lot if it was in one piece…" They had finally reached where the spirit heart rested and extracted what remained, it was, of course, shattered into hundreds of pieces. He was currently on the receiving end of many stares.
Not because he was the one who broke it, or rather it was, but it was the way he broke it; There wasn't a single injury on the skin or scales, it was like he had somehow bypassed everything and touched the spirit stone directly.
And that is, in fact, what he did. But no one else believed it, that's why there was a hint of fear in the eyes that glanced at him, an unknown technique with such lethality was a big threat after all.
'Not that I'll ever explain it' He closed his eyes as he tried to rid himself of the remaining mental pain he was feeling, the manifestation ability of his <<Divine Territory>> was something he had worked hard on developing for use in combat, yet it still took focus and had a strong recoil, it was the evolution of his territory's ability's.
His normal territory acted as an extension to his five senses, six if you include Qi Sense, Manifestation was a step further and turned his territory into an extension of his physical body, it was like controlling extra limbs, except those limbs were the same as the ones he already had.
With that he could do something inconceivable – bypassing the physical world, because those limbs didn't have a physical form, they he could use his Qi with them like normal.
Of course, right now he could barely create a pair of hands, and he wouldn't be able to use it in active combat; But that was a path he would travel down in the future.
"I must say, I'm impressed, I'd heard about the strength of the other great sects but today I've truly seen the wonderous abilities they have" a man slowly walked over to Shu He, it was Yi Yijun whose thick brows were in a relaxed state.
"I would have to say that myself, I've only seen the strength of my own sect but that technique you used could put a lot of other disciples to shame" Shu He replied with a slight smile.
And he was telling the truth, those 17 spines sent chills down his spine when he saw them, he felt they contained more than a simple technique in its form.
Yi Yijun laughed "I've shamed myself, that's the signature technique of my Violet Spine sect and I couldn't even sustain it for 10 seconds at the second form".
"There's more forms?" Shu He's eyebrow rose.
"Of course! The power displayed when our sect master displays the full 30 spines its might would be incomparable!... but, I don't think I've ever heard of your technique, is it unique to the Titanic Steel Sect"
'So that's it, huh' Shu He's eyebrow lightly twitched, Yi Yijun just came here in an attempt to learn more about his technique.
"No, it's my personal technique" was all Shu He gave away, causing Yi Yijun to sigh lightly.
"Is that so? Then you must be a genius known in the sect, it's a pity I hadn't heard your name before." The meaning behind his words were simple –
He didn't wish to be an enemy, his actions before were rash. Of course this was about his attitude towards the Crystal Coral Sect, who he had relations with.
"Oh, right" Yi Yijun's eyes shone for a second "There is one thing I should warn you about, I would suggest leaving as soon as you can".
"Why's that?" Shu He frowned, yet just as he answered-
"What a surprise! It's been killed already!" A voice boomed from over the horizon causing Shu He to stand up in surprise, he had his territory extended yet he didn't see anyone, meaning it came from beyond his range!
"Ah, it's too late, good luck" Yi Yijun backed off with a drip of sweat falling from his forehead putting Shu He on guard, it wasn't long before two figures entered his territory's range.
They stood atop the water, or rather the water seemed to be lifting them and carrying them forward like it would royalty, the first one was a tall man with long white hair braided at the back and pale yellow eyes donned in what was barely some golden armour that exposed his well-toned chest and tanned skin, the most stand out feature however were the red coral like things that extended either side of his forehead! In his hand was a large golden trident with a crystal core embedded in the centre of the three prongs.
Just a few steps behind him were a woman wearing similar clothing but more reserved, like the man she carried a trident that was silver in colour same for her armour as her long black hair swayed in the wind, her pale gold pupils piercing ahead. Again, red coral like protrusions extended from her forehead.
"Who are they?" Shu He asked with haste, he noticed that the cloth underneath the armour pieces was white with deep blue trimmings, and a strip of cloth with the 'Water' symbol was present, meaning they had to be from the Everlasting Ocean Sect.
His only worry was the reactions from the others, and the level of Qi exhibited by the two, the woman was on the same level as Na Xue, maybe slightly above. The man on the other hand…
He was a level above – Core Compression! The level of pressure he felt from the man was close to Chao Shi!
"Those two are the called the 'Guardian Twins', Xiao Long and Xiao Mei" Yi Yijun whispered from afar, before he knew it, he and Shu Xue were isolated from the rest of the cultivators.
'What the hell is going on?'
The two 'twins' had reached the shallows as their eyes became fixated on Shu He's figure as they glided across the water with ease.
"So, we have a guest, you there, state your name" Xiao Long spoke in a commanding tone, almost like he was royalty, his posture gave off a sense of grace and power.
"…Shu He."
"I see, Shu He is it? Then, why are you here on these grounds?" his eyes narrowed as Shu He felt like he had been marked by a beast, a slight chill rose up his spine.
Shu He's qi circulated as a bad feeling arose in his chest, he didn't feel like cowering right now, so he answered without hesitation –
"It felt interesting, so I decided to stop by".
"…" Xiao Long's eyes widened slightly for a moment before he burst out laughing "Interesting you say? I see, I see! Well then-" His hand rose with trident in hand "Lets see if you have the qualifications!"
Before Shu He knew it, the golden trident was barrelling towards him at speeds rivalling a bullet! His body shook as his Qi cycled as fast as the adrenaline in his brain.
'Too fast! I can't dodge!' His eyes began to turn red as his mind spun trying to think of a way to survive!
'I can't get hit directly! I'll die!' he was sure of that, the air was bursting at the trident moved through his domain, he was observing every inch in an attempt to survive.
'I have to receive it!' It was his only choice! All of a sudden he had been dropped in to a pit of death!
'But with my strength, can I?!'
The answer was no, not as he was.
'I have to use it!'
He has to reinforce himself with the Golden QI despite the risks!
'But, not just that!'
He had no more time to think it, it had arrived, the golden sheen of the trident reflected off his golden eyes as his hands reached out, his Golden Qi flowed for the first time in a while and reinforced his entire body.
He hadn't realised it himself, yet the moment the Golden Qi flowed through his body, it glowed with golden lines as it bulked up a size, unleashing strength he had never felt before, yet he was too busy focusing on the trident to notice!
SHIIIIIIIIIIIING
His hands gripped on the side prongs, the sound of metal grinding against a hard material resounded, however that wasn't Shu He's only move, from his gauntlet's vines rushed out faster than ever and entangled the trident before stabbing towards the sand in an attempt to slow it down.
DRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
The sand kicked up as Shu He's legs attempted to find some traction, he skid long across the beach, even further than the serpent had slid before when attacking Na Xue.
""Shu He!"" The two that yelled were Shu Xue who had been pushed to the side at the last second, and Na Xue who was resting, the two hadn't even been able to react in time either as they watched him being sent flying.
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON
Eventually, a large dust explosion sounded as Shu He stopped, embedded in a dune of sand as the cultivators watching gasped in awe.
Inside the dune, Shu He laid buried in the sand, his body and eyes shook as the shock and awe was jumping about inside his body, a breath of hot air was released from his mouth as he steadily looked towards the trident in his hands.
Blood dripped from his hands where he had gripped the trident and remnants of torn vines were wrapped around the tridents shaft, yet…
'I'm… fine?' He was astonished, had he always been this strong? He should have taken a lot more damage than he had… yet he felt.. fine?
'My body?!' He quickly scanned himself, yet again he was surprised, he had felt some pain when the Golden Qi passed through his body, yet not as much as before.. and his bodies state reflected that, if before his body was like a clogged pipe after using it, now it was more like a dirty one, it would only take a few hours for him to get back to normal.
'What is this? What happened to me?' He wanted to test things out, yet he felt the Trident slip out of his grip as a thin vortex of water drew it out of the dune.
Unfortunately for Shu He, he still had something to deal with!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone