Chapter 449 - 310: Eliminate
The Golden Fire blazed as his body transformed. In that moment, whether in aura, demeanor, or physical form, Zhao Xuanqi stood out from the others like a terrifying predator among a flock of prey.
’This physical transformation... It’s definitely not one of the sect’s Secret Techniques!!’
He Xijun’s pupils contracted slightly. The changes from Zhao Xuanqi’s Dragon Gate state let her immediately recognize that this was definitely not a Secret Transmission of the Spirit Official Dao.
However, the Golden Fire burning on his body was undeniably real. She was certain it was the Gold and Fire Technique of the Red Heart Sect.
’He can use the Gold and Fire Technique without the True Essence Skill as his foundation?!’
She was filled with confusion.
The others witnessed Zhao Xuanqi’s terrifying transformation, and while his powerful might left them shocked, it also invigorated them.
Among the Five Sects of Heqing, who didn’t know of the Red Heart Sect’s Golden Fire?
Fierce, mighty, and unstoppable. Utterly pure and yang, it shattered all Evil Spirits and Yin Spirits!
"I’m going in!"
Zhao Xuanqi said softly. As his body had transformed, his voice had changed as well, now rumbling like distant thunder.
Then, without waiting for a response, he took the lead, shooting forward like an arrow with a single, sudden step.
His terrifying speed made everyone’s eyelids twitch. Not daring to delay, they all began to move. However, their speed couldn’t match his pace. In an instant, they saw Zhao Xuanqi rush out from the protection of Zhuangli’s Purification Spell. He was alone, facing a swarm of at least twenty Shadow Puppets that had swelled to the size of normal humans.
’That guy is too reckless!!’
The group’s expressions shifted. There were a great many Shadow Puppets, and with the weakening effect of the opera music, facing them alone was not wise.
「The next moment.」
HRAH!!
The group heard Zhao Xuanqi let out a low shout. He stomped one foot on the ground, swinging a massive hand that was engorged with blood like a cattail fan. His fingers cupped as he thrust his palm forward.
There was a profound quality to the Force and Qi and Blood in this palm strike. Aided by his immense physical control, Zhao Xuanqi’s palm curved slightly inward as Qi and Blood gathered at its center, forming a bulge the size of an egg.
Hidden within the Force was the Profound Technique of the Palm Thunder from his past life, now combined with his Beast Form.
The moment his palm struck, his Qi and Blood and Force detonated. Through the Technique, they transformed into terrifying Golden Fire, which, guided by his Force and Intent, coalesced into the form of a ferocious tiger.
ROAR!!
The muffled boom of the Palm Thunder merged with the bestial roar of the Tiger Form’s Force, unleashing a tiger’s roar as loud as thunder. The tiger’s head, condensed from Golden Fire, spanned several meters. Its fearsome might was so intense that the ears of those following behind began to ring, and for a moment, even the piercing opera music was suppressed.
Golden Fire: Thunder Tiger Roar!!
The roaring Tiger Form met the onrushing tide of Shadow Puppets and exploded violently. Golden Fire whistled in every direction, like a sudden clap of thunder.
The three Shadow Puppets at the very front, struck directly by the Tiger Form, were blown to pieces. A dozen or so others nearby were sent flying by the impact. The Golden Fire Force pierced through their bodies and clung to them, fiercely burning away their Yin Qi. Nearly half of the puppets were annihilated on the spot.
At this utterly violent display, even He Xijun, a fellow Red Heart Sect master who had refined Crimson Fire, couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath as her thoughts momentarily froze.
’To manipulate Golden Fire to this extent without a special Technique, relying solely on control of his Qi and Blood and Force?!’
"No Merit?"
Zhao Xuanqi frowned slightly. He could clearly feel that the Shadow Puppets he destroyed hadn’t released any Merit Power.
’Is it because these damned things are extensions of the Shadow Puppet Stage? Are they just a part of it? Do I have to destroy the source to get any Merit Power?’
A guess formed in Zhao Xuanqi’s mind.
HUMMM!!
After Zhao Xuanqi’s attack sent a large number of Shadow Puppets flying or destroyed them outright, the Shadow Puppet Stage seemed to have been thoroughly provoked. The opera music grew even more piercing, now filled with a venomous resentment. The stage curtain ripped open, and like a torrent, a massive number of Shadow Puppets poured out. There were at least fifty of them, packed tightly together.
Furthermore, some of them were not ordinary Shadow Puppets, but Cultivators wearing the attire of various sect disciples. Their power far exceeded the regular puppets. As soon as they appeared, their bodies were wreathed in Yin Qi, which they used to perform the techniques they knew in life. They were even more difficult to handle than ordinary Sword Soldier Ghosts. There were only about fifteen of them, however.
"Go!!"
Seeing this, Zhuang Li and the others immediately moved up, forming a battle line to engage the Shadow Puppets and relieve the pressure on Zhao Xuanqi.
The two Red Heart Sect disciples, He Xijun and Chen Zhanyun, took the front. On the flanks were the two Yin Mountain Sect disciples, now under Beast Spirit Possession, and the disciple from Geng Metal Hall. Qi Ziliang, being weaker, used his Escape Technique to maneuver around the battlefield. Zhuang Li remained in the center, ready to chant spells and provide support wherever needed.
Only after facing the Shadow Puppets directly did the others understand just how troublesome these damned things were.
Even the ordinary Shadow Puppets, though not particularly strong—at most equivalent to mid-tier D Class—were extremely difficult to destroy because they were tied to the evil artifact. When injured, they would deflate like a leaking balloon and revert to their flat puppet forms, only to recover a few moments later.
The only ones capable of easily harming them were He Xijun, with her refined Crimson Fire, and Zhuang Li, who was shrouded in an azure light of pure Vitality.
Still, with the group’s combined strength, holding back these dozens of Shadow Puppets was not a problem.