"Oh? You think you, of all people, can stand against me now? Am I supposed to take that as a joke?"
Phantylia laughed with contempt, paying no mind to Tingyun's words.
"Hmph. Your greatest crutch right now is merely the energy you siphoned from my benefactor. A common thief who steals the power of others dares to bark so wildly!"
Tingyun's small face was cold as she looked up and shot back at Phantylia.
"Tingyun… what is this?"
Jing Yuan, who was about to ask a question, suddenly sensed something. Seeing snowflakes drift down onto his shoulders, a flicker of reminiscence crossed his eyes. He looked at the figure slowly walking to the front, closed his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile.
"You came after all…" Jing Yuan said to the person before him.
"…"
"You've done well during this time."
Leaving behind that one cold sentence, Jingliu walked forward, sword in hand.
"Heh heh, the madwoman isn't mad anymore. Looks like you can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Blade's sarcastic voice came from behind Jing Yuan. He then brushed past Jing Yuan's left shoulder and walked towards Jingliu.
"…"
Looking at that figure, Dan Heng shook his head, processing the memories that had just flooded his mind. He glanced back at his friends from the Astral Express, then walked past Jing Yuan's side and moved to the front.
"Heh… this is quite unexpected."
Jing Yuan shrugged, feigning a relaxed demeanor. He then picked up his guandao and walked toward the three figures ahead of him.
"Oh? Called for reinforcements? But what good will that do? Do you really think this is enough to change the Luofu's fate of ruin?"
Phantylia looked at the four people facing her with utter disdain.
Ignoring Phantylia's trash talk, Blade was the first to break the silence among the four.
"Dan Heng, we'll call it even for now. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
The killing intent radiating from Blade, who stood beside Dan Heng, was so thick it was almost tangible. But Dan Heng could sense that this killing intent was not directed at him.
"I'll be ready."
Tossing out those three cold words, Dan Heng turned his head, no longer looking at him.
"Hmph. Don't forget what you owe me."
"I am always ready."
"I wasn't talking to you."
"…"
"To think that when we gathered again, it would be to fight side-by-side after so long."
"Jingliu… you've changed."
"Jing Yuan, you've changed too."
"Remember, don't go back on your debt."
"…"
Watching the four confront Phantylia, Tingyun gently closed her eyes. Then, a massive surge of Yin-Yang power erupted from her body!
"Although I have only glimpsed this power in a dream and do not possess even a fraction of Benefactor Wende's skill, if I wager my own life, I can still reclaim the power that does not belong to you!"
Tingyun spoke coldly to the god-like Phantylia in the sky.
As her words fell, a Yin-Yang diagram appeared beneath her feet. The powers of Yin and Yang converged and rotated!
Before Phantylia could even react, the pure Yang energy on her body seemed to be drawn by something, surging madly towards Tingyun!
"No… this is impossible! My Yang energy! That's mine!"
Feeling the gradual loss of the Yang energy within her, Phantylia was instantly thrown into a panic. She raised her hand and unleashed the pure fire, blasting it towards Tingyun!
"Protect Miss Tingyun!"
Welt reacted in an instant. The key to turning the tide of this battle was Tingyun; her technique absolutely could not be interrupted!
"I'll protect her!"
Stelle planted her lance directly in front of Tingyun. March also covered them both in a thick Six-Phased Ice shield. Welt watched on, but it seemed his help was no longer needed.
"Hmph… a mere abomination. It needs only to be slain!"
Jingliu was the first to attack Phantylia. Dozens of icy sword slashes, laced with Yin energy, intercepted Phantylia's attack and then charged swiftly towards her physical body!
"You cannot stop me!"
Phantylia took Jingliu's slashes head-on with her body. Ignoring the parts of her that were now frozen, she flicked her fingertips, sending out phantasmal flowers filled with fire. The blossoms of [Abundance] and [Destruction] radiated a scorching killing intent towards the group.
"Is that all you have?"
Blade's deadened face was unperturbed. Wielding his already shattered longsword, an aura of deathly sword intent instantly destroyed Phantylia's phantasmal flowers!
"No… if it weren't for that vessel… how would you dare act so presumptuously before me?"
Phantylia's eyes were practically splitting with rage as she glared at Tingyun, who was siphoning her Yang energy like a water pump. She couldn't help but grit her teeth.
Everything she had accumulated during her time on the Xianzhou was being sucked away by this vessel!
On her colossal body, the pure white flames gradually dimmed and disappeared, revealing a massive, unclothed form.
"Hmph. Shameless."
Jingliu snorted coldly, and a boundless wave of sword qi once again poured into Phantylia's body with full force!
"If that's how it's going to be, then everything shall be [Destroyed]!"
Enduring all the incoming slashes, Phantylia's body began to glow red once more. Crimson karmic flames formed into a magnificent robe around her, and her furious eyes stared deadly at Tingyun.
"Heh heh… with this, my mission is complete…"
Feeling the immense Yang energy now inside her, Tingyun smiled tragically as her body limply began to fall…
"Miss Tingyun!"
Stelle caught Tingyun just as she lost her strength and was about to hit the ground, then frowned deeply.
"So… so hot!"
Tingyun's body was now scalding hot, like a boiled shrimp. Overwhelmed by the massive amount of Yang energy she couldn't dispel, she had lost consciousness.
"What… what do we do!"
March looked at the unconscious Tingyun with worry, feeling completely helpless.
Wende wasn't here. There was no way to cool Miss Tingyun down!
"It seems… we must finish Phantylia quickly, then get Tingyun back for treatment," Welt said, his expression grave as he looked ahead.
"Nirvana… Annihilation!"
Blade's deathly sword edge shattered the phantasmal flowers Phantylia used for defense.
"It seems you've made some progress."
Jingliu commented tonelessly as she observed Blade's every move.
"Hmph."
Dan Heng stirred up monstrous waves, pinning Phantylia in place. He then condensed water dragons from the tides, striking her body and knocking her off balance!
"Phantylia, it's time to end this!"
The figure of the Lightning-Lord materialized behind Jing Yuan.
Without the Yang energy siphoned from Wende, Phantylia's body, relying solely on the power of the Ambrosial Arbor's revival, was no match for the four of them! Even with the blessing of [Destruction], she was outmatched!
[O brilliant spirit, heed my decree! Smite without pardon!]