Chapter 198: Power of Five Elements
Chapter 198: Power of Five Elements
“Re… release… me…”
A pained groan escaped the evil spirit’s mouth as it desperately pleaded with the powerful young man standing across from it.
“Release you?” Shanyu sneered coldly. “You became a ghost, straying from the Cycle of Reincarnation to harm the living. It’s my duty to settle your account.”
“I… only… just… didn’t want… Ah…”
The evil spirit’s presence grew fainter, on the verge of vanishing like smoke. But at that moment, a chopstick suddenly flew in through the window, striking Shanyu squarely on the wrist. His grip loosened involuntarily, freeing the evil spirit. It let out a whoosh as it darted into the wall and disappeared.
“Who’s there!” Shanyu roared, furious. “Talisman Sect business! Who dares interfere!”
“Even a ghost has its life. Show mercy where you can.” The voice came from the window. A casually handsome, somewhat roguish young man in a suit appeared lazily on the balcony, a slight smile on his face. A girl with a neat, ear-length bob stood beside him.
“Who are you?”
“Green Clothes, overseas. Currently Deputy Director of the East China Region, Special Cases Division. My name isn’t for you, call me Zhang Yun.”
The girl beside him tilted her head up. “Aren’t you just an assistant?”
“When adults are talking, children don’t interrupt.” Green Clothes frowned at her. “Tianli, you’ve been rebellious lately.”
“Child? You look like a child to me! You were only this little when I first saw you. And I told you not to cut my hair, why did you chop it off?”
“Don’t you think short hair suits you? They said your braids made you look like a village girl.”
“What’s wrong with village girls? Honestly… you make me so mad.” The little girl huffed. “Next time you pull this, I won’t speak to you for three hours!”
“Enough from you two!” Shanyu narrowed his eyes at Green Clothes. “Releasing that evil spirit… what’s your game?”
Green Clothes sneered, tilting his head. “Kid, know whose turf you’re on? Want me to order hundreds of my brothers to cut you down?”
“If you want a fight, so be it!”
Shanyu wasted no time. A golden mist shimmered around him as his worn brush danced with his wrist movements. Runes and Incantation Art materialized in the air, forming characters that shot towards Green Clothes.
“Talismanic Art: Regression!”
Green Clothes froze, his mind suddenly blank. His limbs flailed uncontrollably, his movements becoming as clumsy as a newborn’s.
Tianli Wushuang, being a Magical Instrument, was unaffected. Her small frame swayed amidst the golden runes, her eyes fixed firmly on Shanyu.
“Tianli… Tianli… now!”
Struggling, Green Clothes yelled. Instantly, Tianli transformed. Her clothes and hair stirred without wind as a barrier sprang up between Green Clothes and Shanyu, blocking the Talismanic Art assault.
“So this is the famed Artificer Green Clothes? Your reputation holds!” Shanyu’s lips curled in a satisfied smile. “A worthy opponent indeed. Talismanic Art: Five Emperors!”
“Tianli!”
Recovering instantly, Green Clothes shouted. Tianli whirled around, leaping backward. With a flash of cyan light, she shot into his hand, metamorphosing into a long, awe-inspiring spear.
“Tan Wanyang, of Green Clothes’ school!” Green Clothes announced, energy surging through him as if reborn. “Null Void!”
The Talismanic Art: Five Emperors conjured an omnidirectional attack harnessing the Power of Five Elements. Null Void was Green Clothes’ signature move – turning himself ethereal, entering a brief state immune to both harm and his own attacks. Mastering the rhythm of this void could make it a lethal counter.
“Hmph! Child’s play!”
Shanyu, worthy heir to the Talisman Sect’s millennial lineage, didn’t flinch. He lifted off the ground, floating meters away, evading Green Clothes’ reach. His brush flashed inscribing runes mid-air, the speed a blur.
“Talismanic Art: Null Void!”
The same technique, identical effect. Yet wielded differently. Shanyu slipped directly into the same void space Green Clothes occupied and instantly reappeared behind him. A powerful palm strike hit Green Clothes squarely between the shoulder blades, brutally forcing him out of the void.
One strike decided it. Green Clothes crashed to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth, eyes crimson with internal injury. But he refused to yield. Pushing off the floor with both hands, he launched himself upward. Tianli Wushuang became a jagged bolt of electricity hurtling towards Shanyu.
Offense and defense in one, Tianli Wushuang possessed terrifying piercing power. Shanyu dared not absorb the blow directly. He dodged sideways repeatedly, but Tianli pursued relentlessly, already almost upon him.
“Tianli Wushuang!” Recognition dawned on Shanyu, bringing alarm. “Talismanic Art: Pene…”
His chant was cut short. Tianli Wushuang disintegrated mid-flight into dozens of fragments. Each piece flew like a bullet, covering every angle, sealing his escape. One pierced his arm, pinning him to the wall with sheer force.
“Forcing my hand!” Shanyu gritted his teeth through the pain, blood dripping. “Talismanic Art: Golden Vajra!”
In an instant, his flesh transformed to the deep yellow-brown hue of solid brass. The spear tip embedded in his arm was forcibly extruded. He landed abruptly with a resonating thud, like heavy bronze striking stone.
“Truly, the Talisman Sect lives up to its name. Retreat!”
Green Clothes gripped his chest and twisted, but as he attempted to phase into the void, Shanyu’s hand shot out, materializing him back into solidity. Shanyu hurled him against the wall.
“Ah…” A sickening snapping sound left no doubt. “You moth… motherfuc…
Tianli… get… away!”
“I won’t kill you. But you need a reminder.” The metallic Shanyu loomed over Green Clothes. “An Artificer named ‘Green Clothes’ belongs in his workshop. You… are just too weak.”
His brass foot stomped down onto Green Clothes’ thigh. Slight pressure, then…
“AAAGH!!!”
An agonized scream tore through the night sky. So piercing that even Officer Wei, waiting outside the building, felt chills claw up his spine.
“Take your master… and go!” Shanyu arrogantly flicked Tianli’s exquisitely tiny cheek after she reformed into her girl-shape, tears streaming down her face. “Cultivation is hard-won. Learn your place… master and tool.”
Tianli bit her lip, flung his hand away, scooped up the groaning Green Clothes, and vanished.
Shanyu, looking as if nothing happened, placed a hand on the wall. “Show yourself or face final oblivion!”
The evil spirit shakily drifted from the wall, kneeling before him, kowtowing frantically.
“This world has its Karma. Your time has ended!” Shanyu sneered, his hand clamping the ghost’s throat in an empty grasp… and tightened.
Meanwhile, Tianli had raced back to the East China Region Headquarters at maximum speed with Green Clothes. He was immediately rushed to the Logistics Team treatment room.
“What happened?” With Little Dragon Maiden absent, a temporary Logistics Officer from Special Affairs Division took charge. “What’s wrong?”
Tianli sucked in a sharp breath. “Brother… brother…” Looking at the sisterly face before her, her composure shattered. Tianli burst into loud, wrenching sobs.
“Shhh now Tianli,” the Medical Director held her close. “Tell sister what happened.”
As Tianli recounted the events tearfully, in broken sentences, rage exploded through the combined ranks of Special Cases Division and Special Affairs Division. Unthinkable! Not just interfering with an operation but seriously harming a senior Special Cases Division member? It was outright mutiny!
Immediately, dozens formed a rapid-response team to follow Tianli and hunt down the man who turned to solid brass. Simultaneously, the temporary commander alerted Special Affairs Division Headquarters.
“What? Special Cases Division personnel injured?” The Headquarters commander, a lieutenant general, felt his head throb dramatically at news of Wang Laoe’s subordinate being harmed. “Notify his superior! Immediately!”
So it was that Chen Ming, attending a high-level meeting in Hong Kong, received an urgent call from the Demon Capital Headquarters…
Chen Ming hung up, his face deathly pale. He looked up, back teeth clenched together so hard they creaked, meeting the confused stares around him. “Wanyang… severely crippled!”
Siyuan and Green Clothes had become friends through rivalry, understanding his skills well. Siyuan frowned. “Impossible… that guy’s more slippery than an eel. Couldn’t outrun whoever it is? How bad?”
“Every limb… shattered.” Chen Ming bit savagely into the word ‘shattered’. His breath rasped through his nose, a vein throbbing visibly on his forehead. “We all know Tan Wanyang’s skill level. Someone capable of doing this… I think…”
Little Dragon Maiden nodded gravely. “I’ll return, treat him first.”
Siyuan pondered quickly, glanced at Qianruo, and leaned close to her. “I’m going too. Look after Moran for me?”
“Of course. Be careful.”
Siyuan nodded. He scanned the room. “No need for everyone. Some stay here. Just me, Sister Xue, Ling Laoda, and Chen Ming will go.”
The others swiftly agreed. Without another word, the four exited and allowed Little Dragon Maiden to use a Formation Array to instantly transport them to the Demon Capital Headquarters.
The instant they emerged from the Formation Array, the nearby Special Affairs Division array wardens gaped, eyes bulging. They stared, utterly dumbfounded, as the four figures stormed out.
“Holy… shit…” One member breathed out on a shaky exhale, pure astonishment coloring his voice. “Darn… why are these specific bosses together…?”
“What? Senior Jin, who are they?”
“I told you to recognize key personnel! Memory like a sieve! We may be a new department, these are founders. Founders of the Special Cases Division! That’s four of their seven primary chiefs! Missing out on their legends entirely?”
“N… no idea.”
“Each and every one of them is a first-class master! More powerful than you can imagine!”
“Is our boss that powerful?”
“Our boss? Don’t be silly.” The slightly older team member leaned close to his ear and said, “Our boss used to only have to bow when he saw them!”
“Holy cow… That powerful?”
As Siyuan and the other three walked over, everyone who saw them silently made way for them. Although most faces here were new, few people didn’t know who these guys were. Seeing them approach with such killing intent, some people who knew more didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.
When they reached the medical area, Little Dragon Maiden put on a white coat and turned to the medical head of the Special Affairs Division: “Xiaoqin, how is it?”
The head of the medical support team of the Special Affairs Division was a woman around thirty years old. She originally worked as a doctor at Capital First People’s Hospital, but after an incident, she discovered she could see through and solve medical issues at a glance and was recruited by the Special Affairs Division. However, she knew who Little Dragon Maiden was, so being called Xiaoqin by her wasn’t unfair at all.
“All joints in his limbs are shattered, his pelvis is crushed, and his spleen, large intestine, and stomach have ruptured to varying degrees. Also, severe intracranial bleeding! If not for his special abilities, he’d be dead beyond saving.”
Little Dragon Maiden glanced back at Siyuan and saw his face was as still as water, but Chen Ming was already boiling with rage, looking like he was about to grab his tools and go take revenge.
“Heal him first!”
Siyuan’s voice was firm and decisive: “Sister Xue, let’s go!”
And it must be said, Siyuan’s skills in shamanic medicine were also quite impressive. Though not as masterful as Little Dragon Maiden’s, he was considered the second most talented in the entire Special Cases Division.
But just as they were treating Green Clothes, over a dozen to twenty people were carried in from outside, each injured to varying degrees. Though none had died directly, some would likely never be able to work in the Special Affairs Division again.
“Madness! Damn madness!!!” Chen Ming exploded. In his eyes now, there was no distinction between Special Cases Division and Special Affairs Division—all these fallen brothers were his people: “How many can still breathe? Grab your gear, follow me!”
At that moment, a man who looked like a leader walked in, hands behind his back, and looked at Chen Ming: “Team Leader Chen, this is the Special Affairs Division, not the Special Cases Division. Who are you calling to go with you?”
Chen Ming paused, sized him up from head to toe, and then…
“Screw you!”
He punched him squarely in the face. In his fury, Chen Ming’s punch sent the big leader tumbling to the ground, and then Chen Ming stepped on his belly: “I’m telling you, if you keep throwing your authority around, I’ll fucking end you!”
“Chen Ming!” The man suddenly turned into a wisp of smoke and reappeared in front of Chen Ming: “I’m telling you, the only reason I’m not fighting you is out of respect for Wang Laoe. Otherwise, what do you think you are? Now get out! This is the Special Affairs Division, and I’m the—”
Before he could finish, a person in a white coat appeared behind him, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him up alive: “One more word, and I’ll throw you into the septic tank.”
“Qi Siyuan… you!”
Siyuan looked at him coldly: “Shut up! I don’t have time to repeat myself.”
Having said that, Siyuan vanished instantly. The head of the Special Affairs Division turned green with rage, turned on his heel, and ordered his subordinates: “No one is allowed to go with them! Save lives first!!!”
However, after this commotion, the way the Special Affairs Division team members looked at Chen Ming and the others changed. That fierceness—truthfully, those who worked here all had some mettle. That punch, though not loud, was deafening in impact!
“What are you looking at? Got nothing to do? Hurry up and get the brothers inside!” Chen Ming couldn’t be bothered with the officials’ posturing and started shouting orders: “Quick! The seriously injured go in first!”
“Understood!”
A unified response echoed through the hall, and the place turned into a bustling battlefield, with everyone working without pause to carry people in.
And Siyuan and Sister Xue started saving lives one after another. This battle without gunpowder lasted until late at night before it finally ended—a full ten hours, during which no one even had a sip of water.
After the last person was saved, even Siyuan was so tired his hands and feet were shaking. When he came out, his clothes were drenched in sweat, and he just plopped down in a corner of the hall to rest.
“Team Leader Qi, have some water.”
A girl from nearby quickly walked over with a water cup. Siyuan looked up at her: “You’re from the Special Affairs Division, right?”
“Yes… Wait a moment, we’ll prepare some food for you.”
With that, a few people came in with meal boxes and handed the first one to Siyuan, then started distributing them around the room.
“It seems this opponent is not only highly skilled but also reckless.” Sister Xue was also worn out and sat down heavily beside Siyuan.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s too arrogant. Usually, those who are cunning and experienced don’t act like this—this crosses the line.” Sister Xue sighed: “Let’s start the arrest tomorrow.”
Siyuan paused, turned to look at Sister Xue: “I’ll go deal with him tomorrow.”
“No problem?”
“No problem.” Siyuan smiled confidently: “He’s not capable of breaking my bones.”
Siyuan wasn’t being overconfident; rather, from the injuries of those people, the attacker didn’t seem as domineering as the Great Heavenly Demon, as strange as that shadow monster, or as unpredictable as Zuo Mingxuan. After facing so many powerful enemies, Siyuan naturally had confidence he could handle this.
“Get some good rest.” Siyuan stood up: “I’ll take care of Wanyang tonight.”
“You should rest too. Tomorrow we’ll go with you to check it out.”
Green Clothes was severely injured but was actually out of serious danger now, though he still needed to stay in bed for a while to fully recover. Wushuang had been crying by his side the whole time, looking quite pitiful.
But Siyuan didn’t dare count on an Artifact Spirit to take good care of someone; Mengling was an example… So he decided to sleep in the ward tonight himself, letting Chen Ming, Sister Xue, and the others rest well.
“Water…”
Green Clothes slowly woke up. The first person he saw was Siyuan standing nearby smoking. He struggled to reach out but found his hands and feet were immobilized: “I… I want water…”
“You’re awake?” Siyuan turned his head and breathed a huge sigh of relief: “I’ll get you water!”
After giving Green Clothes some water and seeing him regain some energy, Siyuan pulled up a stool and sat beside him: “Who injured you?”
“The Talisman Sect… people from the Talisman Sect… a sect that’s been lost for many years!”
Talisman Sect! Siyuan froze…