"…"
As the sea of flames approaches him, Long Hua raises a subtle smile of amusement, as he merges with the imperial figure, and—
*Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!!* taking five Martial Emperor's Steps, while rotating the Yin and Yang Cloud Ink Incantation—the Yin and Yang energy that emanates from the imperial figure rises by an explosive amount!
*…!!!!!* reinforced by five Martial Emperor's Steps, the imperial figure throws out a heavy-handed punch, and—
*Boom!!!!!!!!* upon clashing with the sea of flames, the Yin and Yang energy detonates!
"Aaaaahh!!!"
"Uh!!!"
Following the eruptively spread of the devastating shockwave—that was produced by the two forces' collision, the practitioners closest to Xia Lie Yang raised miserable shrieks in union, as the majority of them were turned into a haze of blood, while the rest were heavily wounded.
Towards this situation, Xia Lie Yang shouts—
"The hell are you idiots doing?! Drop to the ground this instance!"
Originally, the Ling Yuan family had brought over 5,000 practitioners into the Leng Bing Realm, but as a result of this exchange, their numbers have dropped to around 4,500—causing Xia Lie Yang to sigh on the inside.
Just as Qing Wufeng had stated, these individuals of the future generation are all in need of greater tempering—to allow them to gain more combat experience.
"U-Understood!"
Almost immediately, the practitioners around Xia Lie Yang begin to lower themselves to the ground.
...…
"So, this is the power of a deity?"
"That Immortal as well…"
"Level seven? Or is it level eight?"
Towards Long Hua and Xia Lie Yang's strength, the weapon spirits can't help but direct a mixed expression of dread and awe towards them.
"Steer clear of those two's battle; deal with the Immortals that have descended! Now move!"
Shouting these orders aloud, Zhou Chen was the first to charge into the forest.
And rather quickly, he is followed by Yang Ning, along with the other military personnel and dolls.
...…
"It's time."
"…Un."
In the same instance, Zhu Xu and the other villagers rise off the ground, while entering their Weapon Spirit True Body states.
"Butcher the Immortals!"
"Victory shall be ours!"
...…
On the Moon Guards' side—
"Right, let's move as well."
"…"
Leading the charge into the forest is Hong Xuan and beside her is Xun Yu.
...…
"…"
Seeing the Moon Guards charging into the forest, Duanmu Chen mutters—
"I'm not in a rush to die."
"Understandable, but…"
Pushing Duanmu Chen forward, Qiu Lin continues to say—
"Too bad you don't have a choice in the matter. Now move it."
As her Relic is a two-meter bow—crafted from what seems to be a solid piece of polished golden wood, Qiu Lin isn't suited to be taking on the role of a vanguard.
"…"
Heaving a sigh, Duanmu Chen dashes off into the forest, and soon after, the rest of those who are associated with Dainsfield followed.
...…
Deep within the forest—
"Fire."
*Tatatatatata!!!*
"…!"
"…!"
Commanding the combat bodies, Tian Cheng has them turn all the practitioners that they come across into beehives—prior to collecting their bloodstained storage pouches.
"…"
Drawing the Dawn Buster from its holster, Tian Cheng opens her eyes; and turning to her right—
"Die!"
A practitioner leaps out from behind a tree, and slashes a blade at her, to which—
*Klang!* blocking the blade off with the Dawn Buster, Tian Cheng lunges her left hand forward—taking hold of the practitioner by their neck.
"…"
*Klack!* applying strength into her grip, Tian Cheng effortlessly crushes the practitioner's throat—prior to tossing them onto the ground.
"It's been far too long…"
Muttering this, Tian Cheng raises her right foot, and stomps it down—crushing the corpse's head like a watermelon.
"Too much time had passed—since I've had the opportunity to claim some lives. …Maybe I should treat this as an exercise—to adjust myself to this body?"
Taking over the combat body fully, the Tai Xuan Emperor smiles through her vessel, as she leads the other combat bodies forward to hunt.
"Hmm."
Pausing in her footsteps, the Tai Xuan Emperor enters a state of contemplation, and eventually mutters something beneath her breath.
"…Ai."
Raising a subtle sigh, the expression on the Tai Xuan Emperor's face turns into one of bitterness and self-mockery, as she shakes her head.
...…
Far from where the Tai Xuan Emperor is—
"…"
Chased after by a Foundation Establishment realm practitioner, Yao Ying grits her teeth, as she flees with Xu Zuo in hand.
"Little weapon spirit, there's nowhere to run! Simply give up!"
"…"
Taking out a kitchen knife, Yao Ying draws in a deep breath of air, while rotating the Tranquil Heart Incantation.
"…"
As her eyes emanate with a soft blue glow, Yao Ying turns around, and tosses the knife towards the practitioner.
"Hmph!"
Swinging their axe at the incoming knife, the practitioner shatters it with ease, and as fragments of the knife fly pass their face—
"…"
"…!"
Exploiting the brief instance—where the practitioner's vision is obscured, Yao Ying charges forth with Xu Zuo, and impales them through the abdomen, allowing their blood to stain her jacket into a darker shade of red.
"Ack!"
Spewing out a mouthful of blood, the practitioner glares at Yao Ying with bloodshot eyes of hatred.
And just as the practitioner shrouds their right hand in spirit Qi with the intent to pulverize Yao Ying's head before they can draw their last breath—
"…"
"Guh!"
Yao Ying twists the lodged sword with both hands—causing the individual to grimace in pain, as they fall onto the ground.
"…"
Taking her hands off Xu Zuo's handle, Yao Ying clenches a fist, and strikes at the practitioner's face.
"Kuh!"
Maintaining the rotation of the Tranquil Heart Incantation, Yao Ying smashes her left fist onto the practitioner's face.
And in a vicious manner, Yao Ying continues to beat the practitioner's face—even after the individual has finally drawn their last breath.
It isn't clear as to how much time had passed since she had killed this practitioner, but Yao Ying would continue to smash her fists onto the practitioner's face until the corpse's skin begins to peel, and reveal the cracked skull that is beneath the torn flesh.
Eventually—
"Haa… Haa…"
Gasping for air, Yao Ying abruptly halts the rotation of the Tranquil Heart Incantation, and upon glancing at the practitioner's face—which can only be described as a bloodied mess at this point, she can't help but flinch, as she gets off the corpse, and retrieves her weapon with trembling hands.
"…"
Ripping her bloodstained gloves off, Yao Ying puts on an expression of discomfort.
However—
"Hand over your life!"
"…!"
There is no time for Yao Ying to process her cruel deed, as another practitioner closes in on her from the side.
"…"
Resuming her rotation of the Tranquil Heart Incantation, Yao Ying snaps herself around, and slashes with Xu Zuo, to which—
"…!"
The sharpness of the weapon—it readily divides the incoming practitioner in half at the abdomen.
*Thud…!Thud…!* following the disturbing sound of two heavy masses of flesh hitting the ground—moistening the earth with blood, the pungent scent of iron fills the air.
Breathing in and out lightly, Yao Ying continues to rotate the Tranquil Heart Incantation—in an attempt to regain her composure.
Gradually—
"…"
She turns in the direction of Long Hua and Xia Lie Yang's confrontation.