Chapter 66: The Oath
Chapter 66: The Oath
Clusters of deep crimson blood mist collapsed, condensed, and caved in, transforming into blood-red spheres, revealing terrifying figures.
Beneath their feet, the scattered fruits withered and shriveled in an instant, as if drained of all vitality.
“Blood-chattering Imps?” Li Yi’s eyebrows rose slightly, revealing vigilance and coldness.
Blood-chattering Imps were Purgatory creatures, belonging to the imp category, and were not a particularly outstanding type.
In terms of toxicity, they were inferior to Plague Imps; in combat power, inferior to Poison-flame Imps; in speed and stealth, inferior to Shadow-stalker Imps; but these imps were best at group hunting, possessing the trait of “Blood Resonance,” which made their combat power stronger the greater their numbers!
You Wucheng had actually summoned a full nine of them in one go. The intermittent, restless Blood Resonance was like heavy drumbeats, causing flickers of furious blood light to rise in their eyes, sharply boosting their combat power by another level!
The nine deep crimson ghostly figures, each as large as an adult human, scattered in groups of three or five, forming an encirclement like a pack of wolves, drool dripping from their mouths.
“Not done yet!”
You Wucheng wore a ferocious grin, his hands waving continuously. A blood-red light, a gray mist, and a black light—three consecutive spells fell like rain, one right after another.
The three spells were “Blood Domain,” “Death’s Malice,” and “Darkness’s Sacrifice,” all of them enhancement spells.
In just a few breaths, the nine Blood-chattering Imps first erupted with surging blood energy all over their bodies, then their pupils turned pitch-black, and finally, their frames thickened by a full circle! Their fangs were sharp, their claws were keen, and their hunched forms now carried some of the savagery of brutal Ghouls!
Li Yi felt a headache coming on. His only area-of-effect spell was Snap.
And otherworldly creatures mostly had robust spirits, plus they were enhanced by the boosting spells, granting strong resistance that Snap could no longer overcome.
“First, I’ll collect some interest—I’ll take one of your arms!” A cruel smile appeared at the corner of You Wucheng’s mouth. He made an attacking motion with his hand, and the nine Blood-chattering Imps roared in unison, about to charge forward.
“If you have the skill, come and take it!”
Li Yi was surprisingly calm, his tone not panicked at all. His movements were grand as he performed over a dozen complex and difficult Magic Gestures in a row, as if attempting to summon something beyond his current level.
With a forceful stomp, scorched ground spread beneath his feet. Amidst a violent roar, a massive Inferno with flowing hellfire seemed to climb up from the deepest abyss, radiating astonishing power!
The charging Blood-chattering Imps halted, their eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.
“Merely showing off to the expert—a minor illusion trying to fool me?” You Wucheng was slightly stunned, then understood something, a mocking look on his face. “Playing with an Inferno in front of me? How naive!”
He flicked his finger, forcefully controlling one Blood-chattering Imp. Like a mad hunting dog, it took two or three steps and pounced, its claws tearing through the air, ripping apart the illusion.
Before its body could land, a brilliant, startling rainbow flashed by mid-air, beheading it!
From within the Inferno’s phantom, a majestic Steel Puppet emerged holding a sword, like an armored knight in gleaming robes.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m also a Puppeteer.”
Li Yi returned You Wucheng’s words in full, which naturally felt no different from a slap in the face.
By now, You Wucheng finally understood; the Inferno illusion was merely a cover for the puppet. Feeling tricked, his face turned red then purple.
“Who are you trying to impress? Got beaten, didn’t you?” Zhang Mingshi led a group of noble youths in unrestrained mockery.
“How many times can you use this little trick?” You Wucheng waved his hand violently, commanding his forces like a general. One by one, the Blood-chattering Imps charged forward like wolves and tigers.
Rip!
Rip!
Two consecutive flashes of cyan light, and two more Blood-chattering Imps were beheaded!
“Oh, I also forgot to mention, I have an Empty Clarity Bracelet…”
This sentence nearly made You Wucheng grind his molars to dust.
“Air Servants?”
Only then did he realize that what had emerged under the cover of the illusion wasn’t just that Steel Puppet, but also two Air Servants.
Air Servants were not the strongest among Elemental Life, but they were the most agile and had the most spell slots. These two Air Servants first used “Gale Steps” to hide, then unleashed a perfectly timed “Gale Blade” to slice through the fragile necks of the two Blood-chattering Imps.
In a direct frontal fight, Blood-chattering Imps might not guarantee a win, but they definitely wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
Six remained!
Li Yi retreated several steps in succession, performing a series of precise, ruler-measured Magic Gestures. Before him, green flames boiled and coalesced with a wailing soul, transforming into a Blazing Wraith!
Though not the mightiest and most terrifying Starlight Wraith, after some growth, this Twisted Wraith’s strength was far from what it used to be.
The Blazing Wraith now stood nearly two and a half meters tall. Its entire body was covered in flames of a ghastly green color, emitting no wave of heat but rather a bone-chilling cold. The fire covering it resembled ghostly Yin-fire, burning souls and devouring vitality.
Once materialized, it suddenly turned around, roaring like a troll, showing signs of turning against him.
“Feeling itchy again? Want to be locked back in a bottle?” Li Yi was prepared. The mark on his forehead glowed. “Look back. Those Purgatory creatures are potent nourishment for you! If you want to break free from me, you need to eat your fill first…”
The Blazing Wraith turned around, its sinister gaze sweeping the area. On its distorted face, an expression of delight actually appeared.
It raised its head to the sky. A Necrotic Wail, like a ring of sickly green, spread outward like petals along with the boiling flames!
At the same time, Li Yi raised his right foot, as if a dragon-elephant shaking the earth, resembling the combat skill “War Stampede.”
This move was derived from Mammoth Shakes the Mountain. It used no Battle Aura, but generated resonance.
Under the combined effect of these two actions, several Blood-chattering Imps shuddered, their movements stiffening, slowing down by several beats.
Li Yi seized the chance to retreat. The two Air Servants guarded the front, while Reverse Halberd summoned a wave of wind, charging out like a tiger or rhinoceros breaking from its pen, swinging its sword sideways.
The Blazing Wraith crouched low, then pounced like a beast onto one Blood-chattering Imp. The sickly green fire ignited it with a single touch, turning it into a bizarre bonfire!
The great sword whirled. Relying on its thick skin and toughness, Reverse Halberd forcefully held off three Blood-chattering Imps and chopped off another head.
Within a few breaths, over half of the nine Blood-chattering Imps were lost. Even a blind person could see You Wucheng’s declining momentum.
“Looks like You Wucheng is going to lose…”
“Losing to a Half-Step Mage really brings honor to your You Clan, huh?”
“Kid, go on, finish off You Wucheng!”
Enjoying the spectacle and not afraid of trouble, the voices of mockery and sarcasm chattered incessantly.
“All of you shut up! How could I, You Wucheng, lose to a Half-Step Mage?”
Provoked by the taunts, the anger on You Wucheng’s face intensified.
He raised his hand. The colorful rings on his five fingers all emitted a ghostly light, full of eerie aura.
A purplish-black mist, like a collapsing vortex, continuously swirled in the Void, devouring light, deep and unfathomable.
“Prison Arrow Technique!”
Someone knowledgeable exclaimed loudly.
With the pressure easing slightly, Li Yi found a moment of leisure. Hearing this, his eyebrows shot up.
This was genuine Infernal Magic, and a level 2 spell at that!
It must be those rings granting him the ability to cast spells beyond his level.
Most Infernal Magic had the characteristic of “Spell Corrosion,” similar to “Spell Penetration,” but its erosion of Mana was even more powerful!
“Die!”
Amidst crazy laughter, the purplish-black mist transformed into a dark, cold arrow. A black streak shot through the air, faster than lightning, utterly silent and extremely bizarre!
“Hah!”
Dragon-Turtle Qi swirled at his fingertips. Li Yi didn’t even have time to use Magic Gestures, let alone Bearing the Stele!
Three consecutive finger movements: two Ink Earth Walls and one Air Shield Technique were cast in quick succession. Black Tortoise patterns drifted over them, exuding impregnable solidity.
Yet, in just an instant, a huge hole appeared in the Ink Earth Walls, and the Air Shield Technique shattered with a crack.
Level 2 spells were simply too strong!
Thud!
Before he could even be shocked, a violent tremor struck his heart. Li Yi clutched his chest, stumbling back several steps.
Am I dead?
He looked down, felt his chest again, and his expression relaxed slightly, cold sweat pouring down.
That “Snake-Hair Hunter Type II” draft really had some mystery to it; it actually blocked this spell attack!
This hide was at least from a magical beast of level 5 or above.
After the lingering fear, a wave of anger rushed to his head, making him feel almost mad!
This was the first time he felt death was so close!
“How is this possible? You’re not even a Spell Apprentice; how could you block my ‘Prison Arrow Technique’?” Casting a spell beyond his level also took its toll on You Wucheng. Weakened and shocked, his face was deathly pale.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
“Ask your mother!” Taking a step forward, Li Yi showed no courtesy, delivering three consecutive slaps that turned his face into a swollen mess.
Killing intent boiled within him. He took several breaths before suppressing the impulse to kill the boy before him.
No matter how angry he was, the other was still a member of the You Clan.
Raising the fingers of his right hand, a dark, icy water orb condensed at his fingertip.
“Now, repeat after me—’I, You Wucheng, swear to the ‘Spell Sage’ Confucius, that from this day forward, I will never again appear in the Land of Light and Shadow.'” Li Yi looked into his eyes, enunciating each word slowly and clearly.