"Not good."
I saw Lan Yin suddenly grow anxious. In an instant, black and red wings unfurled from his back, and he flew toward us with a look of urgency. It seemed he was heading straight for where Mu Yun had fallen.
As he passed by me, Lan Yin glanced at me, his eyes filled with hostility—or so I felt. Then, at the moment Mu Yun landed, Lan Yin caught her steadily and touched down. I looked over.
Mu Yun's face was pale, though her body showed no visible marks. Only at the corner of her mouth, blood dripped steadily. Vivian Maple, brandishing her sword, waved it, and then, with a flash of green light, the blade vanished from her hand. She gazed quietly downward.
Lan Yin extended a hand, pressing it to Mu Yun's forehead. I saw streams of yellow energy continuously pouring into Mu Yun's body.
"Why were you so ruthless with your strike? You severed the connection between her body and soul directly."
Lan Yin roared in anger, but Vivian Maple merely glanced at him.
"The battlefield changes in an instant. Today, it's either you die, or I live. My boss only taught me one thing: if you lose your fighting spirit on the field, you'll die immediately. This girl is no exception."
Vivian Maple replied coldly. I was utterly surprised, and all of this left me deeply shocked. Even among the Guides, whom not even Yuna Ji or Yin Chou could easily defeat, one of them had already been bested by Vivian Maple.
I never imagined Vivian Maple could be so formidable. The only time she ever acted was in Exile Town, where she killed the boy created by Yuna Ji's ghostly aura—the one Yuna Ji later named Quinn Ji.
"Your boss is Lord Malice, that red-haired guy, right?"
Lan Yin asked, and Vivian Maple nodded.
"Are you joining in too?"
Lan Yin shook his head.
"A loss is a loss."
Then, carrying Mu Yun, Lan Yin flew toward the platform at incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, he reached it.
"Felix Fu, how is she?"
As soon as they landed, the child named Felix Fu began examining Mu Yun.
"Her condition is dire. Luckily, this clever girl dodged the third fatal blow; otherwise, her soul would have been annihilated by now."
As Felix Fu spoke, he reached out a hand, and I saw Mu Yun's skin begin to scab over. Brownish-yellow crusts formed, enveloping her completely.
"It looks like it will take months before recovery is possible."
Lan Yin continued to sit in his seat. At that moment, a scream from Yuna Ji came from the left. I looked over and saw Yuna Ji crash to the ground with a thud, while Wendy Hsieh floated silently in the air. The color of her body had turned a deep purple-red. The spectral web I had cast in their direction was instantly incinerated to ash.
"Finish her off."
Jason Su spoke, putting away his golden veil and stepping aside. I looked at Wendy Hsieh and nodded. Meanwhile, on the other side, the purple lightning faded, and Zane Zhao fell to the ground. He smiled, but no longer with the ease he had shown before—he was completely suppressed.
Purple Maple came to my side. Now, I was ready to act. Even if I couldn't find Rachel Lan, both Purple Maple and I were still able to fight.
"Purple Maple, go help Yuna Ji. I'll head over to Zane Zhao."
As I spoke, I prepared to fly over, but Purple Maple grabbed me.
"Don't go, Qingyuan. Keep searching for Rachel Lan."
I stared at Purple Maple in surprise. She seemed unwilling to act as well.
Suddenly, I saw Wendy Hsieh move, her wings beating as she charged toward Yuna Ji on the ground. In an instant, a mass of purple-red flame crashed down upon Yuna Ji.
"Don't panic, Qingyuan. Keep searching. Only you can find Rachel Lan."
My heart was in my throat. At that moment, I saw a giant glyph for '解' shimmer with blue light, appearing before Yuna Ji.
With a snap, Wendy Hsieh appeared, dumbfounded, above Yuna Ji. The Vermilion Mantle she wore had completely dissipated. Off balance, she fell toward the ground, but a golden veil immediately wrapped around her, pulling her back.
"Wordcraft—never thought it still existed in this world."
Jason Su spoke—it was the old eccentric. Instantly, I felt a wave of relief.
"Let the subtle and wondrous Brahma sound resound, proclaiming the highest Dharma. Hearing it brings joy, attaining the pure wondrous path... Thirty-two Marks, Brahma Sound... Amitabha..."
A surge of intense, uplifting Buddhist chanting. I am Tunjiu; he stood upon the Celestial Monk’s Vestment, his whole body aglow with golden light. As Zane Zhao charged toward him, he flew over, extending his palm. A giant golden swastika appeared, and with a bang, it knocked Zane Zhao aside. Then Tunjiu tore off his black prayer beads.
"Stars scattered across the board... Supreme Dharma..."
A rustling sound arose. In an instant, golden Buddhist beads clustered irregularly around Tunjiu, glowing with golden light. Tunjiu descended beside Zane Zhao, quietly sitting atop the floating Celestial Monk’s Vestment.
"How did the Renegade Monks get involved?"
Mo Jue asked, bewildered. At that moment, the ongoing battle came to a halt. All the Hades Circle's Guides were puzzled by the sudden appearance of the old eccentric and Tunjiu.
"I didn't expect anyone would still recognize this."
The old eccentric slowly walked up to Yuna Ji, extending a hand. Yuna Ji took it, crying out in pain.
"You old bastard, what took you so long? They really wanted to take my life!"
The old eccentric just chuckled and shook his head.
"If you can avoid fighting, then don’t fight. I really dislike these situations."
Wendy Hsieh donned the Vermilion Mantle again, preparing to attack, but Jason Su stopped her.
"Wait. This Wordcraft is not as simple as you think. Don’t act rashly."
Zane Zhao stood up, wearing a half-smile as he looked at the three figures in the sky, patting dust from his robes.
"Monk, let me witness your Thirty-two Marks. This technique is formidable. I've seen it once before."
Tunjiu uncorked his wine gourd and took a gulp, then tossed it to Zane Zhao, who drank twice from it.
"A bit of movement, a sip of wine—it feels good."
Tunjiu slowly rose to his feet.
"Mr. Zane Zhao, if they truly wish to continue, I will let you witness the Thirty-two Marks."
"Hmph, monk, are you just bluffing?"
Mo Jue spoke, signaling Tianyou Duan with his eyes. Suddenly, Tianyou Duan raised his saber, the Azure Dragon Armor shrinking around him, then he was enveloped by a dragon and charged at Zane Zhao.
Instantly, the golden Buddhist beads floating in the air shot at Tianyou Duan as he charged forward.
I stared wide-eyed as the Azure Dragon Armor was punched full of holes. Tianyou Duan stopped, raising his saber to deflect the beads.
"Let me help you."
As he spoke, Mo Jue flew over, yellow glowing orbs forming in his hands and shooting toward us.
"Increase marks, decrease marks..."
Tunjiu intoned deeply. Instantly, the Buddhist beads flew back, forming a string that began to spin. As they spun, rings of light spread out, and Tianyou Duan and Mo Jue retreated—the rings multiplied rapidly.
"Shatter earth, unite, raise the rock..."
I am Zhaoyan. He pressed his palms together, and instantly, a rumble sounded beneath Tunjiu and Zane Zhao's feet.
"Great... Celestial Monk’s Vestment..."
The Celestial Monk’s Vestment beneath Tunjiu’s feet instantly unfurled like a carpet. Zane Zhao leaped lightly onto it. I noticed something bulging beneath the vestment, but it soon subsided.
At that moment, I saw the corner of Zane Zhao's mouth curl into a strange smile. Then I realized—the person before me wasn't Zane Zhao. I didn't know why, but my instincts screamed it.
I started wondering where Zane Zhao had gone, because the one before me gave off an indescribable strangeness—like a hollow shell.
From start to finish, this fake Zane Zhao standing beside Tunjiu kept smiling.
"Isn't this a bit over the top?"
Zane Zhao's voice rang out. Suddenly, with a burst of blood-red particles, I saw Zane Zhao appear behind a Hades official. The mustached official's eyes widened, and with a slash, Zane Zhao's hand pierced his body.
A dark red substance slowly emerged from the official’s body. Then, with a snap, the mustached official turned to ash. Zane Zhao flicked his hand and sat down beside Lan Yin.
"Obstacle cleared. Shouldn't we all sit down and have a proper talk?"
Zane Zhao's voice was loud, still carrying an air of disdain. He rested his chin on his hand, sitting in the seat that once belonged to the Sixth Hall’s pale scholar, Lu Junchi.
"No way."
Tianyou Duan and the others had just recovered. He immediately turned, raising his saber and pointing it at Zane Zhao.
While I was still confused, I saw Wang Su return to his seat, grinning at Zane Zhao.
"The formation has been broken, the passage opened. Now, I think we should all talk things over. Sit down."
But just then, I saw Wendy Hsieh recklessly charge toward us, accompanied by a deafening Vermilion Bird cry. Her target was Zane Zhao, and a wave of scorching flames swept over us.