In that moment of disorientation, he instinctively turned mid-step, swinging the Axe Blade in his hand, and slashed towards the Sublimator who had just ambushed him.
Hit by bomb shrapnel, the Sublimator wielding the Nothingness Poison Sword couldn't help but scream. He instinctively covered his face, then immediately felt a chill in his lower body. He had been bisected at the waist.
Frantically drawing power from the life-force network in Ueno Park, Huai Shi wiped a dose of Silver Blood Potion on his back, forcibly maintaining his combat readiness, unconcerned that his internal organs were already starting to feel numb and stiff.
He looked up, gazing at the Sublimator on the distant high-rise who was nocking an arrow. Huai Shi suddenly raised his hand and stepped forward. The Brilliant Light materialized from his raised palm, and the Spear of Compassion, entwined with Lock Chains, followed his roar. As he stepped forward again and flung his hand, the spear shot through the air using Space Break, heading towards the high-rise hundreds of meters away.
Atop the high-rise, the bow-wielding Sublimator first froze, instinctively trying to dodge, then couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
Missed.
Totally off target.
Even if I did nothing, that menacing thrown spear would only land dozens of meters away.
Immediately after, he rapidly drew his bow, pulling out a pale, skeletal arrow, preparing to seize the opportunity to severely wound Huai Shi. But then he saw a Lock Chain suddenly fly out from the Long Spear soaring through the air and abruptly fasten around his own neck…
What the heck?
The Source Impact spread, and his mind paused for an instant. Then, as the Lock Chain tightened, the spear, which had been off-course, corrected its trajectory and, with a sound like it was tearing through space, stabbed into his forehead.
THWACK!
He fell backward, a Golden Coin clattering to the ground.
Meanwhile, Huai Shi had already flung his Axe Blade and Long Knife towards the silhouettes emerging around him, blocking a crossbow arrow from behind with the Sword of Virtue and finding a brief gap amidst the encirclement.
He raised his fist towards the iron stake in front of him and clenched it.
He gathered strength, then infused Source Substance. The flames of the Mountain Ghost compressed between his fingers. As his grip suddenly tightened, a roaring thunder burst forth.
This was a strike delivered with full concentration.
Drummer!
BOOM!
Amidst the deafening sound, Huai Shi's finger bones broke inch by inch, and his left forearm fractured cleanly. On the iron stake, cracks from the intense shock grew like living things, spreading across its entire body until, finally, it shattered with a thunderous collapse.
The light that bound them vanished.
Yuan Zhao, in his Sky Horse state, felt immediate relief. Ignoring Xi Jiang's attempts to entangle him, Yuan Zhao took a spear hit head-on, dashed over, and grabbed Huai Shi by the back of his collar. The thunderous sound of iron hooves echoed as they charged into the depths of the dense forest.
"They're trying to escape!"
Guo Nu's eyes widened. He wanted to pursue but heard a cold laugh beside him.
"Run?" Lin Yu fiddled with the small doll in her hand. "They can't escape."
SNAP!
With that crisp sound, the doll's leg suddenly broke. While galloping, Yuan Zhao stumbled; a deep, bone-visible wound had appeared on his leg.
Cracks spread across his bones. He tumbled and fell to the ground.
Huai Shi got up, glanced at Yuan Zhao on the ground, then turned back to look at Xi Jiang's group pursuing them. A dozen well-trained Sublimators.
Even a moment's thought made it clear it was impossible to match their strength.
He sighed, looked down at Yuan Zhao, and apologized, "Thanks for saving me just now, but… I'm sorry, you shouldn't have gotten involved in this."
He propped himself up using a tree trunk. Within a few breaths, he forcibly extracted life force, healing his wounds, though the fracture in his arm remained. Still, it was enough to make an escape.
Yuan Zhao rolled his eyes at him. He wanted to curse but said nothing, his heart growing cold.
Damn it, I'll just consider this repaying the favor to that White-named face. Serves me right for being so blind, this young master...
In his irritation, he closed his eyes to await death, but then felt a Lock Chain suddenly fasten around his waist. It tightened, pulling him up.
With a raspy NEIGH, he landed on horseback.
"I might not be upright, but this Little Brag is so over-the-top, he should meet the conditions, right?"
Huai Shi smiled at the White Horse summoned by the Sword of Virtue. The White Horse rolled its eyes at him, seemingly indifferent, but didn't throw Yuan Zhao off its back.
"Go!"
Huai Shi unceremoniously slapped the horse's rump. "Take this Little Brag anywhere. The farther, the better."
The White Horse let out a long whinny, not even deigning to look back at him. Amidst Yuan Zhao's furious denunciations, it galloped away.
Huai Shi turned around. Facing Lin Yu's malicious gaze from afar, he grinned and beckoned her with a hooked finger. His lips parted, calling out to her in a teasing, affectionate tone, "Auntie, come and play~"
Lin Yu's furious roar echoed.
He smiled, retreating step by step into the darkness of the dense forest.