"You know, you two can leave." Siduo offered.
The mysterious Stonefish Soul Master looked toward the Police Chief. "Lanyue, who are they? What's happening?"
Tan Lanyue, still in the Bloody Armoured Dragon form, coughed. She could barely move. No. She couldn't move. The Sound of whatever hit her completely immobilised her. But she could speak, at least.
"Shi Zan. They're the ones that killed our son!"
Siduo's eyes sharpened. Karni wanted to curse, if not for having to focus fully on stabilising himself.
"Oh." The man said. There wasn't much emotion in his voice. "Lanyue, we should run. That attack at the end… Their power is more than I alone can handle."
The Police Chief's eyes turned hollow. "You motherfucker. Do you have no sympathy?!"
The man just looked at her, while being wary of Siduo's movements.
"Fine." The police chief said, her voice deep and brimming with madness. "If you do not help, I will not help you save your son- … Actually, no. I will kill your bastard son myself."
The man grabbed a needle from his back, glowing bright cyan blue, forced it alight, made it bigger. His eyes glowed of that deathly blue light of the deadliest toxins. He was looking at the Police Chief.
And then the needle was absorbed back into his very skin. The man sighed, turned to Siduo and sighed again. "Fine."
"You know," Siduo offered again. "If you act as a witness that she works with Evil Soul Masters, we might be able to help getting this son of yours."
The man stared at her, unmoved. It was only now that his stony appearance truly made an uncanny effect on everyone. It was like a statue moving, except the stone was also skin.
"I would take your offer, child, if not for the fact she holds my son hostage, and if not for me also being one of the many Evil Soul Master she works with."
"Shame." Siduo shrugged. "I really hoped I could save you both the pain."
The man's eyes sharpened. His Battle Armour immediately appeared; his seventh ring shone. His face turned into that of the Stonefish, his clothes and appearance changed as a whole. His legs, arms; everything turned into a Stonefish with blue needles growing over his whole body.
Siduo went through no such transformation. Her actions were simple. She brought out her Sun Moon Whip Blades. One lit up full in White, five Soul Rings around it. The other turned pitch Black. Another five Soul Rings around it.
There was one thing that gave her immediate confidence. The man's Battle Armour was still at the One-Word level.
Light Strips appeared and attached themselves on the Whip Blades, making them sharper. There was a time when it was impossible to apply her Light Stripes in a finesse manner, nor were the stripes flexible enough to imitate whips, let alone whip blades.
Now she could do it. Attaching the Sun Stripes on individual blade parts of the Whip-Blades required next to no effort from her Soul Power.
Then, out of her mind, her Spiritual Sea, appeared a feather. A feather fully black, with crystalline white-blue shading at its ends.
She grabbed it with her left arm, her Hell Cat arm and infused its energy into the feather. The Sun Stripes changed into the Moon Stripes, the Flames of Sun White on her right arm changed to match the Blue on her left.
Siduo flashed, her legs and arms turning Black and White. Since she was also transferring her Martial Souls into the Sun Moon Whip-Blades, it was the most she could do right now. She could not truly apply her Martial Soul on the body, nor could she apply the Flames of Yin and Yang to her whole body. There was only so many things she could do at the same time with her current Spiritual Power.
But Spiritual Power did not truly impact intent of a weapon. And she was about to prove it to Karni.
She snapped her Whip-Blades at Shi Zan, the Stonefish. They were two metres in length when unleashed.
The Stonefish Martial Soul showed its horror. Hundreds of needles appeared through the Stone skin and immediately erupted at Siduo. Each of them carrying that terrifying toxin. The toxin itself was not a Soul Skill. It was a completely passive attribute of the Martial Soul, and that is what made the Stonefish Martial Soul so terrifying.
Siduo flipped her body in a spin, and the Whip-Blades followed suit. They spun as if a power above them controlled them. A whole new presence was confronting those needles.
It was like the needles were attracted to the Whip-Blades, but it wasn't so. The Whip-Blades twisted and circled, forming a perfect shape for intercepting every single one of the needles fired.
"The Weapon Soul?" Shi Zan's face turned ugly. She was getting nearer while she fought off his attacks.
His arm was suddenly encircled by one of the blades, cutting through the stone-like skin. The blade extended from some two metres to three and a half! Siduo hid the length intentionally.
The man quickly sensed danger. His arm was about to be cut off!
His fifth Soul Ring shone together with the second one. The stone skin hardened, while a light blue liquid seeped from its pores, forming a thin toxic layer.
But the man was horrified to find that the blade kept on cracking his skin. The Whip-Blade turned darker, sharper, as if hundreds of little shadows attacked that single spot. Siduo pulled. "Weapon Consciousness, actually."
With one Whip-Blade, it would have been at the rank of the Weapon Soul, but together, it was like a different weapon. She could at most muster the Whip-Blade Consciousness, though it was very close in power to a Weapon's Soul.
Her second, third and fifth Soul Skill were all attacking Shi Zan's skin. No! They were going to break through in mere seconds!
The fact a Stonefish's defence was able to last so long against Siduo's powers was actually praiseworthy. While Siduo's attacks usually functioned in sudden explosiveness, with the Whip-Blades, she could have constant fluidity while not really sacrificing a lot of power.
The man grunted. His third Soul Ring shone and more needles few toward Siduo from an almost point-blank range. His first skill shone as well.
Siduo activated her Purple Demon Eyes and intercepted everything with her second Whip-Blade. The Whip-Blade twisted like a snake, bouncing the needles away, then it turned back to its natural colour, burning bright like the sun. And it was lighting on fire. The Sun Tiger Meteor activated.
Siduo was efficient. She used the Hell Cat's abilities and speed to weave around the first attack, but now she needed power of the White Tiger, and she adapted instantly.
Then she saw a big, piercing needle in between the barrage. Venomous and dangerous. The first Soul Skill of the Stonefish. Only Yellow, but still terrifyingly deadly.
Her first and third Soul Ring were added to the White Tiger to face the needle, both strengthening abilities of the White Tiger were now active on her Whip-Blade. However, while she defended, Shi Zan activated his sixth Soul Ring.
Siduo knocked away the toxic spike and noticed that it corroded the diamond layer over the Whip-Blade and even got through it. It damaged the base metal of the Whip Blade as well. This was Spirit Refined Metal!
Siduo frowned, then sensed the change of the man's aura. Before, it was deadly and toxic, but it was that of a normal Soul Master's as well. Now, she felt the evil. The corruption.
Stonefish, on its own, was not an Evil Martial Soul. But this corrupted energy she now sensed, definitely made this Shi Zan an Evil Soul Master. It was the sixth skill, simply called Corruption.
It Corrupted his already toxic poison. It was his only true strengthening ability. The toxic liquid was no longer just dangerous to the body, but to the Soul as well. It did not just attack, it corroded the Soul as well, made it incapable of leaving this world. That was what made Shi Zan an Evil Soul Master.
And Siduo sensed it instantly. The increased danger, and also the ineffectiveness of her shadow skills of the Hell Cat that were keeping Shi Zan in place.
Unfortunately, Karni had yet to make Whip-Blades that could switch between Martial Souls. One was solely focused on the Hell Cat, while the other solely focused on the White Tiger. The most that could happen was Siduo adapting them through the power of the Scorched Moon Phoenix Feather.
That was when she sensed another change in the surroundings. To be more exact, she sensed another's movement. The Bloody Armoured Dragon regained some strength.
And what was it that she did at the first possible moment? Her scales shined, became bigger, sharper, then suddenly shot… toward Karni.
"Hmph!" Karni quickly swung his Guardian and placed it in front of himself. Unfortunately, however, even his Greatsword was not wide enough to shield all of him. Only the important parts.
The momentary distraction and worry Siduo felt gave Shi Zan another small opening. It was unfortunate she was fighting veterans, experienced battlers. The Stonefish immediately took the chance.
His first Soul Ring shone, and a toxic, dangerous needle filled with the corruptive energy was sent at Karni.
Siduo gathered her mind, didn't panic, and exploded in speed. Her body turned to shadow and arrived before Karni faster than the spike. But only her Sun Whip-Blade now had her Martial Soul in it. To use Shadow Fall, she had to connect the Hell Cat with her body. Luckily, Shadow Fall's speed was extreme of extremes. It wasn't a continuous boost, and that's why it was so effective.
She intercepted the scales and the spikes with the Whip-Blade, but she felt the damage and the danger. The corruption was more effective than before. It did not hit the same spot, but it dealt more damage. That part of the Whip-Blade was now quite brittle. She would have to be careful that it would not be hit again. At least she had more than three metres to work with.
Or so she hoped, because the two Soul Sages immediately took advantage of her weakened location. She now had to watch out for Karni as well! He might have gotten one of his sides covered with the Guardian, but they made sure to target everywhere but there.
Her Hell Cat was inserted back into the left Whip-Blade, and her focus exploded.
Needles and scales were being fired at them. The Stonefish was not a close combat guy anyway, while the Bloody Armoured Dragon still couldn't properly move. They tried to overwhelm her with quantity over quality.
But another problem was exactly the fact that the quantity hid quality within. Every now and then came an especially sharp nigh invisible scale while from the other side, there were powerful spikes hidden within the needles.
Siduo thrashed around. She moved like the wind; Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track being used at full power so she could cover both sides.
At the same time, her Whip-Blades twisted. And she held firm. Every interception of every scale and needle was calculated. The two sides collided only in places they hadn't hit the Whip-Blades yet.
Her control was being consolidated. More and more intricate.
Her Purple Demon Eyes were in full power, her hands moved with full power. She had to hold. She could use her new motorbike when there was a good chance. That needed to be a timed perfectly.
And then Shi Zan started feeling odd, before he started getting worried. Were those black and white flames on her body growing?
The Yin Yang Flames now covered all of her arms, her whole legs, and even started creeping toward her torso.
Then, oddly, Siduo started to slow down. Less and less movement was needed for her to intercept the opponent.
Stonefish turned to look at Tan Lnayue. Those scales were not infinite. They weren't a soul skill; she was throwing her actual scales with the Silent Scale skill applied on them.
Then Shi Zan looked horrified. Siduo stopped moving and stepped toward him.
Her field of vision was growing. Clearer, wider.
She took another step. Her Whip-Blades turned aggressive. She was gaining ground. Her movement was efficient. Too efficient.
Her body lit aflame. All of it. Yin and Yang Flames covered all of her.
And then her body turned clear, the flames slowly growing on her Whip-Blades instead. She smiled.
Shi Zan felt goosebumps. This was dangerous. They couldn't win this, not with Tan Lanyue in this state.
He made a split-second decision. He grabbed the Bloody Armoured Dragon and whistled.
A mecha flew in to protect them. It was a high-quality police mecha. Black grade.
Siduo shouted. "No!" She was about to pull out her motorbike, but heard a "Wait!"
She stopped and watched as the Mecha closed the cockpit, the Stonefish and the Bloody Armoured Dragon in it.
But just before the cockpit was closed, she sensed small movement in the air. Tiny movement in the elements, in space. She turned back to Karni.
Karni breathed and stood up with some difficulty.
She ran to support him. "You okay?"
Karni nodded. "I stabilised it, but I'll need some health examiners to fully get the toxin out. Also, Sisi, congratulations."
She blinked. "What did you stop me for? And what's with the congratu- … Oh." She sat down and quickly examined herself.
"How's it feel? Quite exciting, right? Being in the Spirit Abyss Realm." Karni smiled.
Siduo opened her eyes and smiled back. "I didn't notice it immediately. It's not like it's my first time reaching this realm, Kiki. I'm not as sensitive to it anymore."
"Right. But you also missed the change in colours. You're even more black and white now." He chuckled.
Siduo looked at her Whip-Blades, who still had her Martial Souls connected to them.
"Oh! I didn't notice that either."
"Also felt samey?" Karni asked. For him, the feeling of suddenly sensing so many elements and intricacies was so special at the Spirit Abyss Realm. The increase in power of Soul Rings was also special. He only had normal human senses in his previous life after all.
"They feel more powerful. I couldn't afford to suppress my Spirit Souls at that moment anymore. The residual energy they had from the Spirit Ascension Platform's previous visit seeped through when I broke through. Not that I mind. However…"
Siduo's eyes opened wide and she looked around. "It is my first time experiencing this new domain of the Purple Demon Eyes." Siduo blinked.
"You reached the Detailed realm as well?" Karni clapped.
Siduo nodded. "I think this happened before the Spirit Abyss and the Spirit Souls. It's why I could regain control over the flow of my Whip-Blades. Then came the Spirit Abyss Realm, and my control over Yin and Yang Flames increased by leaps and bounds. That's also a new feeling. I can start experimenting more with the flames now."
Karni put up his finger. "Just a sec, they're talking."
"Who?" Siduo was confused, before she figured it out. She felt Karni Shifting before. "You Shifted a recording device into the police mecha? So that's why you stopped me."
"Yes. Now listen." Karni increased the Sound on his wristwatch that the recording device was connected to.
…
"You bastard! You ran! We could've-"
"Shut up. We were lucky you made me drag your mecha out here. We would have died otherwise." Shi Zan spat toward Tan Lanyue.
"You… You… I will tell them to hunt you down after this!"
"Your other Evil Soul Master friends? Lanyue, you know better than that. I might not be in an organisation, but I have my ties. They'll listen to me before they listen to you."
The police chief seethed. "Then I won't let you see your son ever again!"
"You blasted woman! We retreated, I didn't say I won't help you! You are too injured and I am not powerful enough to face that girl! She also penetrates my defences! I felt like she was about to explode at me!"
…
Siduo chuckled. She was. If they hadn't tried retreating, she was going to form her Hell White Tiger immediately after. Something told her that with her new realm of Spiritual Power, she could use Yin Yang Flames in that form now as well. In their true form.
…
"You're not powerful enough?! You have the deadliest poison known to men!"
The man screamed. "Well, it can't do shit if it cannot hit anything!"
The police chief fell silent, genuine surprise in her eyes. "You… why are you giving up so easily… you of all people?"
"Shut the fuck up."
Tan Lanyue blinked, but for some reason did not get angry. No, she got worried. "They're more dangerous than I thought."
"Hm." The man grunted, nodding.
"We caused too big of a commotion. Shi Zan, even I don't have enough influence currently to keep this a secret. The Tang Sect only needs to find your needles to deduce that you're an Evil Soul Master. I've had too much pressure from the government recently. Any proof and they will remove me."
The man stayed silent. "I'll call in my friends. They can take you in. And something tells me I'll have to join the Holy Spirit Cult as well now. Damn you. You made this all too public and complicated!"
"I? They killed our-"
"Yes, yes, I know."
"And you want to run? You heartless bastard."
"What do you want from me woman? What can we do?! The best way is to wait and look for another chance in the future. Didn't you have dealings with the cult? You know of their powers."
The police chief wanted to slap him but held back. She took a big breath. The bastard was correct. "Fine. I'll stall the official proceedings as much as I can. How long will your friends need?"
"Three days at most. But Lanyue, my son-"
"Yes, yes! Your blasted son can join. Our son treated him like a brother, I might as well honour his intentions."
"You, Longyue? You and honour? I'll be damned."
"Do you want your son or not you cheating bastard."
The man fell silent. "Thank you."
… … …
Karni stretched with some struggle. The comms on the other side were now silent. The two did not speak the rest of the way. "Well then, I would call this a complete success."
Siduo smiled and stood up. "It's more than enough for the Tang Sect. Now how about we get you to the doctor?"
"I would really, really like that."
Siduo touched the Storage Bracelet she had specifically for the motorbike. Her new and improved battle motorbike appeared. The two sat in it—Siduo in the front and Karni holding tight to her back—then drove off toward the city.