"BOOM!!!"
Within the consciousness space, killing intent flared everywhere. Wende dodged a casual kick from Phantylia and looked up, staring at the giant before him.
"Is this... the spiritual power of a Lord Ravager?"
Wende didn't dare to be careless for a second. Wielding the Sword of Yin and Yang, he dodged Phantylia's psychic attacks while simultaneously unleashing waves of sword energy at her.
"Hmph... little doctor, you truly are overestimating yourself~"
Phantylia casually blocked Wende's sword energy, crushing it back into its purest form of Yin and Yang with a flick of her wrist.
"Hah~"
Inhaling the Yin and Yang energy in her hand, a faint pink blush appeared on Phantylia's face.
"As I thought, you're still hiding many things. Little doctor, why be so attached to the Astral Express? Why don't the two of us join forces and ascend to paradise together? When that time comes, we will become the strongest beings aside from the Aeons themselves!"
Phantylia's voice, full of temptation, washed over Wende. But how could he possibly trust her after she had just threatened him so thoroughly?
This was just another one of her methods of attack!
Yin-Yang Transformation!
Wende's brow furrowed, and a surge of Yang energy, in no way inferior to Phantylia's own power, poured madly into his consciousness-form!
His psychic avatar expanded in response to the infusion of Yang energy, gradually growing until it was only half a head shorter than Phantylia's.
However, absorbing such a large amount of Yang energy meant Wende had broken his own internal Yin-Yang balance. He felt extremely uncomfortable. If his spiritual form used too much Yang energy, his physical body would then have to adapt to the lack of it...
Forget it. I'll clear out the immediate threat first and worry about the rest later.
"A Lord Ravager of Destruction, is that right? Then let me see if I am worthy of fighting one!"
Wende's gaze sharpened, and he charged toward Phantylia, sword in hand!
The blade, saturated with Yang energy, radiated a scorching heat. Wende's movements were erratic and unpredictable, but every step concealed deadly intent!
"Heh, now this is a little more interesting."
Seeing the ferocity of Wende's charge, Phantylia shed her previous underestimation of him. She gently waved the round fan in her hand, and a torrent of yellow-green flames, reeking of death, roared toward him.
"Disperse!"
Wende's longsword slashed out several waves of sword energy, assimilating and scattering Phantylia's flames. The pure white blade, radiating an astonishing amount of Yang energy, thrust viciously toward Phantylia's body!
SHING!
Wende stared at the blade that had sunk into Phantylia's chest, his brow furrowed tightly.
"Pfft Oh my, aren't you just adorable"
Seeing Wende's look of disbelief, Phantylia couldn't help but chuckle. She ignored the sword in her chest and gently lifted his chin.
"This is my consciousness space. Did you really think you could hurt me? I was just teasing you a little, and you've already shown so many of your trump cards. What a delightful surprise~"
"How could I ever bear to kill you? You are, after all..."
She leaned in close, her warm breath brushing against his earlobe.
"...my treasure~"
"Hehe..." Wende sneered.
"Hm? You can still laugh at a time like this? Have you already decided to compromise and come back with me obediently?" Phantylia raised a shapely eyebrow, looking at the still-smirking Wende with unwavering confidence.
"Are you sure... this is your consciousness space?" Wende asked, looking mockingly at the arrogant Phantylia.
"Don't forget... we are not the only two consciousnesses in this space. Isn't that right, Miss Tingyun?"
Wende turned his head slightly and spoke slowly to the space behind Phantylia.
"Oh my, you flatter me again, benefactor~ How could a humble girl like me possibly interfere in a battle between deities?"
A familiar figure slowly materialized within the consciousness space.
"Her? That's to be expected. I occupied her body, but I never harmed her soul. However... do you really think you can defeat me by relying on her frail spiritual power?" Phantylia licked her lips and crossed her arms, looking at Wende with a provocative expression.
"Is that so?" A slow smile spread across Wende's lips as well.
"All of this Yang energy... it wasn't just channeled into me. I also injected a considerable amount of Yin and Yang power into Miss Tingyun's physical body earlier. Otherwise, how do you think I got in here in the first place?"
Wende watched Phantylia's expression grow increasingly grim, finding it rather amusing.
"Miss Tingyun..." Wende looked up at the Tingyun behind Phantylia and gave her a slight nod.
"It's time to go home..."
"Mhm!" Tingyun nodded forcefully, glaring at Phantylia's massive form before gently closing her eyes.
Instantly! The world within the consciousness space transformed once again. Intricate patterns appeared on the once-empty ground, the stars appeared in the sky, and several starskiffs began to soar through the air. Xianzhou-style buildings rose from the earth, and one by one, the grotto-heavens of the Luofu manifested within the mental realm.
"This is..."
Phantylia stared in disbelief as the consciousness space slipped from her control. Then, she felt a sharp pain in her chest!
Looking down, she saw that Wende's longsword had, at some point, pierced her spiritual form. This space... had been reclaimed by Tingyun!
"Hehe... it seems I still underestimated you, my little doctor~" Phantylia said, her expression still as flippant as ever.
"In that case, it seems the plan for the Xianzhou must continue. I can't possibly return empty-handed, can I? What do you say, my little doctor~"
Phantylia chuckled, and her form dissolved into a ball of flame, departing from the consciousness space.
"..."
Wende silently withdrew his longsword. That last strike hadn't truly harmed the Lord Ravager much. It was only because Tingyun's consciousness had reawakened, aided by the massive amount of Yang energy he possessed, that they were able to expel the Lord Ravager from her mind...
"Benefactor, you have worked hard these past days," Tingyun said, walking gently to Wende's side, her voice soft and graceful.
"Miss Tingyun, compared to the suffering you've endured, my actions are hardly worth mentioning," Wende replied, shaking his head as he looked at the Foxian girl before him.
He could sense that Miss Tingyun's spiritual power was extremely weak. Although she had reclaimed her body, she would likely remain unconscious for half a month... but thankfully, her life was saved.
"This... is the Starskiff Sea Central Haven..." Wende leaned against a railing, gazing at the starskiffs coming and going below the bridge with a sense of wonder.
"Yes. After all..." Tingyun said with a light laugh, joining him in watching the skiffs below, "...this is my home."