In the Xisiya Empire's Competition Arena, Sigaochin received a call from Yelanka.
"Valeri and his n have made their move. Sigaochin, go and seize the Security Bureau headquarters imdiately according to the plan, and take control of all the agents left behind."
Sigaochin responded solemnly, "Understood! But Administrator, are you sure you don't need
to support you?"
"Don't worry about
here. The teacher has invited reliable helpers who are enough to deal with the enemies. Stay in touch at all tis."
"Understood!"
Upon receiving the order, Sigaochin acted imdiately, leaving a small number of personnel at the Competition Arena to maintain order while she personally led the main force to the Security Bureau.
Valeri had previously planted agents on-site to monitor Sigaochin's movents. As soon as she moved, the agents imdiately notified Valeri.
"Sigaochin has left suddenly?"
Valeri, in the car, received the call and his face darkened.
"It seems she's heading for the Security Bureau."
The Adjutant beside him hurriedly asked, "Director, should we respond? The agents left behind can't hold off Sigaochin!"
"No need! As long as we control Yelanka, won't it be easy to crush Sigaochin later under the charge of treason? Drive faster!"
"Yes!"
The driver accelerated wildly.
anwhile, Lucifer, who had set off earlier, relying on the high-speed mobility provided by his pair of Fallen Angel Wings, had already flown to the sky above Konia Manor.
His cold gaze swept over the area below, wanting to find his target as quickly as possible.
In the attic at the highest point of the manor, Yelanka and the others stood by the window, observing the streets outside the manor from the vantage point.
The Shadow surveillance Guan Tong had deployed outside had already discovered several large disguised vehicles approaching, filled with fully ard agents.
But what surprised him was the figure flying in from the sky.
"Lucifer..."
Guan Tong looked at the man hovering over the manor with a pair of black wings, feeling a flicker of pleasant surprise.
The debt he wanted to collect was only missing this one from Lucifer.
He hadn't gone to collect it, partly because other matters had delayed him, and partly because he wasn't sure of Lucifer's location.
He knew Lucifer had beco a minor warlord leader in the Tulip Alliance region before, but later disappeared without a trace.
From this guy's previous attempt to help Jiang Lanying leave Beixing, it was clear he had transford from a warlord leader into an Ascendant rcenary taking on commissions.
Finding a powerful Ascendant rcenary with no fixed abode and a preference for solo action wasn't that easy.
Unexpectedly, this guy had now delivered himself right to the doorstep.
"Lucifer? That Suroan Ascendant who has killed countless people?"
Yelanka didn't know Lucifer personally, but she undoubtedly knew the na. Hearing Guan Tong identify him, her expression turned grave.
"It seems Valeri used the final paynt he was supposed to give you, Teacher, to hire this murderous maniac."
"He ca at just the right ti," Guan Tong said. "I was just thinking of looking for him."
"Do you need my help?" Shi Jingyi asked from the side.
"No, I want to deal with him personally." Guan Tong looked at Shi Jingyi. "I suspect Valeri brought Lucifer here precisely to keep
occupied so he could bring his n to deal with Yelanka... Her personal safety will be up to you and Uenoshi to protect."
Shi Jingyi nodded. "Alright. Don't worry about this side, just focus on dealing with Lucifer."
Uenoshi also said, "Leave it to us."
Guan Tong pushed open the window, and the Shadow coalesced beneath his feet.
"Teacher, you... be careful."
Guan Tong turned his head. Yelanka's eyes held a trace of concern. Guan Tong gave a slight nod, and the Shadow beneath his feet lifted him up and carried him out through the window.
With Uenoshi and Shi Jingyi providing protection, plus Yelanka's own formidable combat prowess, he truly didn't need to worry anymore. He could focus all his attention on Lucifer.
The mont he was carried out of the attic by the Shadow, Lucifer, hovering in the air, imdiately spotted him.
"Found you!"
Lucifer's wings vibrated, and his body cut a swift arc through the air, closing in on Guan Tong.
Guan Tong didn't want to fight him near the attic, fearing it would affect Yelanka and the others. So, he manipulated the Shadow to carry his body further away.
Lucifer chased fiercely while shouting, "What's wrong? So scared of
you have to run away? Shadow!"
"......"
Guan Tong stopped only after retreating to the spacious farmland area at the far rear of the manor.
Lucifer caught up in just two or three seconds, his body coming to an instant, abrupt halt from high speed, hovering three or four ters above Guan Tong, his gaze looking down.
"What? Not running anymore?"
"You seem to have it wrong," Guan Tong said, looking up at him. "Judging by the results of our previous two encounters, the one who should be running is you."
These words hit Lucifer's sore spot. What he couldn't accept the most was losing to Guan Tong in both previous encounters, once on Holy Grail Island and once at the Beixing border.
This had been eating at him all along, which was why he imdiately accepted the high-priced bounty posted on the underground black market to deal with "Shadow." His goal was revenge, to remove this thorn in his side.
"You beat
twice. But don't forget, the first ti was by relying on the Holy Grail's power! The second ti, before fighting you, I had already fought soone else first, draining a lot of Mind Power and getting injured!"
What Lucifer said wasn't entirely wrong.
Especially the second ti, he had indeed fought Dragon Soul before engaging Guan Tong.
Dragon Soul, as one of the captains of the official teams, was quite formidable. Even though he lost to Lucifer, it wasn't a crushing defeat, and Lucifer had one of his wings broken at the ti.
"However, losing is losing. I won't make excuses for myself," Lucifer said coldly.
"If you're not making excuses, then why say all that just now?"
"...Shadow, I just want to tell you, I won't lose to you a third ti! This ti I will kill you, and plunder all your pitiful points, making them stepping stones for
to claim the ranking rewards!"
Hearing this, Guan Tong glanced at the number above Lucifer's head.
The number 4107 was particularly glaring.
"You know, Lucifer, I'm grateful to you," Guan Tong said. "I had already given up on competing in this rule, but now I realize, there's no need to give up... As long as I kill you and take your points, won't I get a ranking?"
"Then co and try!"
Before his words even faded, Lucifer launched his attack.
He flapped his wings, his body maneuvering swiftly, circling around Guan Tong.
Guan Tong stood still, but where his eyes couldn't see, the Shadow provided vision, allowing him to monitor his flanks and rear.
"Why isn't your Shadow attacking? Can't it keep up with my speed?"
Lucifer's taunting words ca from different directions with each syllable, a testant to his incredible movent speed.
Guan Tong paid no attention.
He was very familiar with Lucifer's combat style: relying on super-high-speed maneuvering to dazzle the enemy and create an opening for a one-hit kill.
He himself was different. Although he couldn't move as fast as Lucifer or fly all over the sky, relying on the Shadow for solid positional warfare was his forte.
If Lucifer was a high-speed assassin, then Guan Tong was more like a positional mage. One excelled at lightning-fast assassination, the other at area control. Neither completely countered the other; victory still depended on strength.
Right now, Lucifer kept circling, and Guan Tong didn't pursue, rely wrapping himself in thick Shadow Armor and manipulating the Shadow to erect shadow walls around his body, blocking Lucifer's line of sight and preventing him from directly seeing his position.
Seeing Guan Tong raise multiple shadow walls, Lucifer sneered, "Still the sa old boring tricks. No improvent after all this ti, just locking yourself in an airtight turtle shell. Utterly weak!"
Guan Tong still ignored him.
This was a fight to the death, not a sparring match on a ring. If a move works, use it; who cares if it's old-fashioned?
Guan Tong thought to himself: Lucifer should be launching his attack soon. Flying at such high speed consus a lot of Mind Power; he can't sustain it for long.
Against this kind of high-burst, low-endurance fighter, the best strategy is a war of attrition—this was the conclusion Guan Tong drew after his last encounter with Lucifer.
In that fight, he kept launching attacks, but the efficiency was diocre, and he wasted a lot of Mind Power. Having learned his lesson this ti, he chose defense over offense.
"Boring... Watch
destroy your shadow turtle shell!"
Seeing that Guan Tong simply wouldn't co out, Lucifer, knowing that prolonging the situation was disadvantageous for him, took the initiative to attack.
He spun his entire body, feathers continuously falling from his wings, rapidly forming a storm accompanied by powerful swirling air currents.
"Storm Feather Blade!"
A new move?
Guan Tong hadn't seen Lucifer use this move before. He watched as the horizontal "tornado" ford by feathers slamd into his shadow walls.
The outermost shadow wall was pierced in an instant, followed by the second, third, fourth...
Had the feathers beco much sharper than before, or was the energy delivery enhanced by the tornado form? Possibly both.
Guan Tong didn't create more shadow walls to block; there wasn't ti. He used the Shadow to pull his body back, out of the tornado's attack range, while simultaneously activating the Shadow Domain.
Lucifer, seeing a massive amount of shadow rising from the ground to envelop the entire area, a look of triumph flashed across his face. "I suffered from this Shadow World of yours last ti. Did you think I ca unprepared this ti?"
He took out an item, a white pearl, and tossed it into the air. Instantly, thousands of dazzling rays of light burst forth from the pearl!
...
The sudden eruption of blindingly intense light from the farm area could also be witnessed from the manor attic.
Yelanka frowned tightly.
She knew Guan Tong had deliberately lured Lucifer away to fight at a distance to avoid affecting this area. But this ant the others couldn't know how the battle was progressing and couldn't help him even if they wanted to.
"Don't worry too much," Shi Jingyi said, noticing Yelanka's concern, offering comfort. "Guan Tong isn't rigid. Even if he truly can't win, he won't stubbornly persist just to save face. He will also run away or co to us for help. With his abilities, if he wants to leave, Lucifer can't stop him."
Hearing this, Yelanka looked at Shi Jingyi with so surprise.
This side of Guan Tong that the latter spoke of was sothing she had never seen.
It stirred a strange feeling in her heart. Clearly, compared to her, Shi Jingyi knew much more about Guan Tong.
But now wasn't the ti to dwell on such thoughts. Valeri had already led his team of agents to the manor gates.
The gates were already sealed. Valeri ordered his n to force them open while also using a loudspeaker to shout inside.
"I am Valeri, Director of the Xisiya Security Bureau! The Security Bureau has received an important report that an international felon has infiltrated Konia Manor. To ensure the Administrator's personal safety, all personnel within the manor are requested to submit to a Security Bureau inspection. Any resistance will be considered aiding and abetting the felon and will be executed on the spot!"
Uenoshi, hearing the shout, was sowhat puzzled. "He's already leading a direct assault. Why bother shouting all that?"
Yelanka beside her had a face as cold as frost. "Valeri wants to kill everyone in the manor except
as 'accomplices of the felon.'"
"So that's it..."
"The manor's people have already taken shelter," Yelanka said, finishing her sentence as two ice swords coalesced in her hands.
Her eyes turned cold and rciless, devoid of any pity. "I will personally eliminate these traitors."
Shi Jingyi and Uenoshi exchanged a glance.
Shi Jingyi said, "So those at the gate are the enemies. Leave them to . Fifteen minutes is enough."
"Lecturer Jingyi, I'm going with you. As the Administrator of this country, I absolutely cannot retreat now."
Seeing Yelanka's resolute attitude, Shi Jingyi and Uenoshi said nothing more.
The three of them descended from the attic together. On the way to the main gate, Shi Jingyi took out the [Passerby Transformation Device], used it, and transford into an unremarkable-looking woman in her thirties.
Just as Guan Tong had said earlier, it was fine for her to help out of personal willingness, but since she also held the identity of an academy lecturer, appearing here and getting involved in Xisiya's internal political turmoil was sowhat inappropriate. It was necessary to conceal her identity a bit.
When the three arrived at the wide driveway in front of the manor's main gate, the gate had already been breached by the agents.
Valeri led over a hundred agents pouring in. Seeing Yelanka not far ahead, accompanied by only two unremarkable-looking won, he was overjoyed and laughed out loud.
"Hahaha! Administrator, it seems your famously formidable friend is too busy to help you now!"
"Valeri, you should be prepared to bear the consequences of treason."
Valeri's expression stiffened, slowly darkening. "Konia, I wouldn't have minded playing along with you for a few more days. But you had to let Shadow tamper with my data, forcing
to drop all pretense. As for the death penalty... heh, I don't think I'm the one who's going to die now. Rather, Administrator, are you prepared to beco a re figurehead?"
Yelanka no longer paid attention to Valeri. Her gaze went past him, landing on the over a hundred elite agents behind him.
"Valeri's death penalty is unavoidable. If you turn back now, I will not pursue charges of treason against you."
The agents remained silent upon hearing this. Valeri's Adjutant sneered, "Damn bitch, still trying to turn people when you're about to die? Do you really think your face is that—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the woman in her thirties beside Yelanka disappear, appearing right in front of him the next second.
"Foul-mouthed. Needs discipline."
"You—!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The Adjutant had no ti to react before Shi Jingyi kicked him square in the chest. Accompanied by a series of bone-cracking sounds, his body flew back twenty or thirty ters, crashing to the ground, dead or alive unknown.
Valeri and the agents he brought were shocked. No one saw how Shi Jingyi suddenly appeared, how she could have such terrifying speed!
"Kill! Kill her!"
At Valeri's order, the hundred agents sprang into action. They were all professionally trained in combat and were themselves Ascendants of considerable strength. Yet, facing Shi Jingyi now, they were like pieces of wood, easily kicked flying or knocked down, unable to even touch the hem of her clothes.
The most exaggerated scene was a dozen or so agents standing in a row, all sent flying by a single punch from Shi Jingyi, vomiting blood and collapsing!
Vessel-Bursting Tremor... The first practical combat effect of Mind Power Martial Arts was indeed good.
Although Shi Jingyi's strikes were heavy, those hit were mostly severely injured, not imdiately killed. Uenoshi and Yelanka were different; their moves were ant to take lives.
Especially Yelanka's two sharp ice swords. Wherever an agent was slashed, that part imdiately separated from the body. Even if they were lucky enough not to be hit directly, the cold air emanating from the sword blades would rapidly freeze them into ice sculptures!
Uenoshi was even more of a given. Her fighting style was more bizarre. Agents who made eye contact with her either went ntally deranged or had their bodies twisted into snake-n monsters, scaring the other agents half to death.
He didn't know the origins of those two won beside Yelanka or why they were so strong, but he knew he was no match for them!
"Damn it... Just you wait!"
Valeri took out a teleportation item to escape, but before he could use it, Shi Jingyi from afar tapped her foot, using the Mind Power Martial Art, Repelling Pole Step, and was in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Thud!
Shi Jingyi kicked and broke Valeri's right hand holding the item. The latter, in excruciating pain, imdiately dropped the item. The next mont, Yelanka, holding her ice swords, was right in front of him.
"Wait, wait!" Valeri raised his left hand to block, pleading for rcy. "Don't kill ! I'll give up the others—"
Thwack!!
Yelanka didn't listen to Valeri's words. Her twin swords thrust forward directly, one piercing his chest, the other stabbing his throat.
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