"Very well."
The Yin Soul, Red Gloves, slowly nodded, surveying the darkness around him as if it were tailor-made for his presence. After pondering for a moment, he spoke, "I need a weapon."
"What kind?"
Huai Shi took a shotgun off his back. "Will this do?"
Red Gloves shook his head. "My essence is insufficient; I can only cover you and attract attention. A shotgun won't be of much use to me... just give me that Short Knife."
"Short Knife?"
Huai Shi paused, confused. He pulled out the Sacrificial Knife and tentatively handed it over. But when Red Gloves took it, there was no backlash or resistance. Once it left Huai Shi's palm, in a Source Substance identical to Huai Shi's, even the blade's edge did not diminish.
He wielded it with ease.
Red Gloves sniffed the dark red bloodstain on the blade and nodded with satisfaction. "I'll wait for your signal."
He then stepped back and sank into the darkness, his figure becoming indistinct, yet Huai Shi could feel him standing right beside him.
Only now was he more certain than ever that this truly was Red Gloves.
But it was not the Red Gloves who had once died, but rather a personality record reanimated from fragmented entries in the Book of Fate, given form by Source Substance, a Yin Soul akin to an artificial human.
Inheriting the Yin Soul's loyalty to the Legion commander, along with all the combat experience conveyed by Huai Shi and the killing techniques once taught by Rome.
Apart from lacking a Soul and Stigmata, he was essentially a reborn Red Gloves.
With just a tap from the Book of Fate, he underwent a qualitative transformation!
Was it coincidence? Or is this... how the true Yin Soul Legion operates?
Derived from the Ring of Nibelungen to the subordinate Stigmata, forming the Legion, then the Book of Fate distributes the records, turning the rigid Yin Souls into flexible killing machines.
It was only now that Huai Shi suddenly remembered—the Heavenly Kingdom once harbored all the records of value from the mortal world.
Doesn't that imply... The Utopia which has fallen, what terrifying miracle had it created?
Lost in thought about this question, Huai Shi stroked his chin and suddenly laughed.
No matter how terrifying that miracle might have been, it was now gone without a trace, but even the smallest remnants still should not be underestimated as a Disaster.
Now, let them experience the prowess of the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy.
He lifted the shotgun and took a step forward. Like a Yin Soul, he melted into the darkness of the dense forest and silently moved towards the source of the footsteps, grinning to himself.
Soon, Xi Jiang heard the sound of something ripping apart behind him.
By the time he spun around, he felt warm blood splash on his face; a head was rolling through the dead leaves, which, along with the body's collapse, ceased movement and quietly dissipated, leaving behind nothing but a filthy Golden Coin amidst the twigs and fallen leaves.
Xi Jiang, far from angry, rejoiced. Blazing light burst from his visage, the mane electrified.
—Rage of Yi and Zi!
Anger materialized and spread in every direction like ripples, tinging everything in its path blood red.
This 'Face of Yi and Zi' was a rare bound relic found long ago in a lost Border, together with a gift from Mu En, the Xie Zhi.
It was as if hastily evacuated, that submerged city, similar to the Dragon Palace, was strewn with dragons' secret treasures, hinting at immeasurable wealth.
Unfortunately, very few made it out alive.
The purpose of this Face of Yi and Zi mask is simple: as soon as a teammate dies, it triggers the Rage of Yi and Zi's curse, pinpointing the opponent's location and inflicting a curse targeting the Soul.
Under the lingering anger of Yi and Zi, the Souls of all Sublimators are like candles in the wind, even possibly expiring on the spot without a hunt.
In an instant, red light shot forth like arrows, Rage of Yi and Zi locked onto its target, curses rained down from the sky, and a vague shadow tumbled out from a corner of darkness, nearly dissipating.
Found it?
In that moment, Xi Jiang, elated, heard the sound of a trigger being pulled from behind him. Instinctively, he crouched low.
Then, he felt a genuine sense of relief for his decision, because a hidden Sublimator in front of him was suddenly exposed, riddled with holes upon hitting the ground, turning into another Golden Coin.
Meanwhile, Huai Shi, having instantly secured his target, reached out and the decoy Yin Soul along with the Sacrificial Knife returned to his hands; he stepped back, hiding in the darkness, and once more melted away.
Immediately after, as Xi Jiang turned around and roared, a tangible blast of sonic waves emitted from the Snarling Face of Yi and Zi, piercing the forest and carving large holes in the ancient trees before vanishing beyond sight.
Countless trees swayed and fell, and dust rose amidst the tumult. But not a ghost of a shadow was seen from within.
Huai Shi had disappeared again.
Gone?
The Sublimators around remained in high alert, with eyes ablaze scanning in every direction. The darkness revealed nothing to their gaze, yet that fleeting shadow was nowhere to be seen.
Some rushed to lift Xi Jiang, but he brushed them off irately, "Do I look like an old lady who falls for scams and needs help getting up?"
Then he realized… something seemed off about this person?
SMACK! With a slap from Xi Jiang's hand, the figure suddenly blurred, and the face that should have disappeared flickered, revealing Huai Shi's face.
Somehow, he had already infiltrated their ranks.
Xi Jiang's expression changed drastically, and before he could react, he saw the dark muzzle of a gun aimed at his face, the trigger pulled, and sparks bursting forth.
BANG!
Half of the mask was torn away, and though it was just a mask, blood still spurted out.