"BOOM!!!"
The moment Phantylia's words fell, the heavens shook. The waters of the Scalegorge Waterscape surged, and catastrophic tidal waves radiated outwards from her position. At the center of the waves, Phantylia's colossal body slowly floated upwards. The garments formed from the Ambrosial Arbor were incinerated by the flames, and a sacred light wreathed her body, making her seem like a goddess…
"Not good! Dan Heng, now!"
Jing Yuan's brow furrowed, and he immediately shouted to Dan Heng beside him.
"Hn!"
Dan Heng's expression was grim. He leaped into the air once more, the power of the High Elder within him constantly guiding the scattering waves.
---o---
"Look! What is that!!"
The Cloud Knights stationed at the Alchemy Commission stared in horror at the waves rolling in from the ancient sea. A monstrous wave, an avatar of destruction, surged towards the Alchemy Commission!
"Quick! Report to the Master Diviner! Activate the Alchemy Commission's defensive formation immediately! We must hold it back!" the leading Cloud Knight captain commanded instantly, his gaze fixed solemnly on the approaching tide.
"May the Reigning Bow grant us shelter…" the captain murmured.
---o---
"Converge!!"
With a sharp cry from Dan Heng, three water dragons rose from the Ancient Sea of the Billowing Moon. After circling in the air for a moment, the three dragons instantly merged into three massive waves, redirecting them back towards Phantylia's position!
"Heh… The [Immortality] of the dragon race does have some substance, after all. If I hadn't obtained this power, this body might have already been destroyed by you, no?"
Phantylia glanced nonchalantly at her own flawless white wrist, then waved her hand casually.
Pure flames instantly erupted in all directions!
"Not good!"
Dan Heng's pupils constricted. He quickly drove the seawater on both sides to shield the lower levels of the Scalegorge Waterscape. He could not allow these fierce flames to affect the Vidyadhara eggs within!
"Stelle! March!"
Seeing the towering wave of fire about to hit, Welt immediately turned and shouted to the two of them.
"On it!"
March's Six-Phased Ice shield instantly stacked on top of Stelle's own!
"BOOM!!!"
"Tssssssss!!"
The seawater rushing towards Phantylia was instantly vaporized, and deadly steam enveloped the entire Scalegorge Waterscape.
Behind the two-layered shield, the group wasn't faring well either. Although the shields had blocked the attack, the searing heat of the flames still made them feel as if they were suffocating.
"What kind of monster is this! How is she so strong!" March used her Six-Phased Ice to insulate them from the scorching air outside as she yelled to the others.
"…"
Jing Yuan frowned. At this moment, even he could not think of a good way to break the stalemate. The variables were simply too great…
---o---
"Watch out!"
Tingyun, who had just arrived at the Scalegorge Waterscape, saw the wave of heat rushing towards her. Before she could react, she was swept up by a cold figure, and an icy aura emanated from the person holding her.
An ice wall abruptly appeared in front of them, blocking the dangerous heat.
"You are…"
Tingyun stared in surprise at the figure holding her in their arms…
"No need to be surprised. My purpose is the same as yours."
Jingliu gently placed Tingyun back on the ground and shook her head.
"That voice… you're that Cloud Knight sister?"
Looking at the elegant figure before her, Tingyun's jade-green eyes widened in disbelief.
"Rest assured. I am the same as you."
Jingliu placed her cool, fair hand against Tingyun's forehead. Feeling the Yin-Yang energy circulating within the person before her, much of the vigilance in Tingyun's eyes faded.
"In that case, could I trouble you, Miss…"
"You may call me Jingliu."
"Alright, Sister Jingliu. Could you escort me over there?" Tingyun requested, gazing at the ancient sea before them.
"There is no need for such formalities between us. Since your intention is to protect the Xianzhou, I will naturally help you."
Jingliu shook her head slightly, then used her sword qi to forge a path of ice through the billowing steam.
---o---
"Blade, go help them. And while you're at it, catch up with your old friends."
In another part of the Scalegorge Waterscape, shielded by the ancient waters and Vidyadhara architecture, the two Stellaron Hunters were completely unharmed by Phantylia's attack.
"Hmph… 'friends'…"
Blade shook his head with disdain, then headed towards the battle, braving the scorching steam.
The blistering vapor burned his skin, but the crimson wounds immediately began to heal themselves.
Gazing at Blade's departing back, Kafka gently tapped her chin with her index finger. Four members of the High-Cloud Quintet were now gathered. How exciting~ To see the four, who were once torn apart, now fighting side-by-side again…
---o---
"Turn to ash!"
The Phantylia in the game let out a contemptuous laugh, and then a towering wave of fire swept towards Sister Guoguo's party!
The moment the fire made contact, four massive damage numbers that made Sister Guoguo's eyes pop out of their sockets appeared above her four characters' heads.
"WTF! What the hell is this! My whole team got one-shotted!"
"Wait a second?"
Sister Guoguo's brow furrowed. She realized something wasn't quite right. She hadn't been forcibly kicked out of the battle system, which meant… this was a scripted wipe!
"Could it be… Could it be!"
The figure of that man flashed through Sister Guoguo's mind.
"Is my Yìfù coming to save the day!"
Sister Guoguo watched the ensuing battle cutscene with immense excitement!
"Benefactors! Allow me to lend you a hand!"
Tingyun's voice, as clear and crisp as a silver bell, came from the screen. Then, accompanied by a wisp of Yin-Yang energy, the four members of the party who had been defeated were instantly revived at full health!
"That voice is… that voice is… my waifu Tingyun! But these attack effects look like my Yìfù Wende's! Tingyun's voice with Yìfù's effects! Who the hell are you!"
As the Yin-Yang symbol manifested, Tingyun's figure quietly landed in front of the group.
"Miss Tingyun! What are you doing here!" March said anxiously, seeing her.
"Don't worry, little March. Benefactor Wende is being cared for by Doctor Bailu. He'll be fine," Tingyun said, turning her head to give March a sweet smile.
"That's not what I meant! You just recovered…"
"Little March, you don't need to worry about me. I am here to help you defeat this Emanator of Destruction!"
"Oh? Isn't this my most favored vessel? What's the matter, do you miss the days of being dominated by me?"
Phantylia looked down arrogantly at Tingyun's petite figure.
"Hmph. I may be untalented, but I was fortunate enough to receive power from my benefactor. I should be repaying him… but I am a citizen of the Luofu! How can I stand by and watch you wreak havoc upon the Xianzhou!"
Tingyun stared up at Phantylia in the sky, her eyes filled with nothing but resolve.