Ying Ping was just about to lead Elaina and Kokkoro across the bridge when a sudden, piercing sound broke through the air!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
From above the city walls, countless arrows shot through the air, and a dense rain of arrows instantly enveloped the three of them!
"Kokkoro!"
Ying Ping shouted.
"Holy Light Barrier!"
Kokkoro reacted extremely quickly, plunging her staff-spear into the ground. A dazzling golden light shield instantly expanded, protecting the three of them within it.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang!"
The arrows struck the barrier and bounced off, but the arrow rain did not stop. Clearly, the Ashina Castle defenders intended to suppress them with long-range firepower.
"Hmph, seeking death."
Ying Ping sneered, then turned to Elaina and said, "You two hold steady. I'll go deal with them."
"Master, be careful!"
Kokkoro said worriedly.
Ying Ping didn't hesitate. He charged directly out of the barrier, stomping his foot hard. His entire body leaped like a cannonball, instantly jumping onto the ten-meter-high city wall!
"Inherent Time Control — Double Speed!"
His body suddenly accelerated, and time seemed to slow around him, while his movements were as fast as lightning!
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Hestia's Sword transformed into a ghostly blue arc of light. The archers on the city wall didn't even have time to react before Ying Ping beheaded them all!
"Pfft!"
Blood splattered, and heads rolled.
Ying Ping was like a god of slaughter possessed. Wherever he went, the Ashina soldiers fell one after another, not even having time to scream.
In just a few seconds, all the archers on the city wall were annihilated!
"Hoo…"
Ying Ping disengaged the acceleration and exhaled a mouthful of stale air.
After using Double Speed, he felt a slight sense of fatigue in his body, but it quickly recovered.
At this moment, Elaina, riding her magic broom, also flew up with Kokkoro.
"Master, are you alright?"
Kokkoro asked with concern.
"I'm fine, I'm very good."
Ying Ping shook the blood off his sword, his gaze sweeping towards the inside of the castle.
Elaina put away her broom and said thoughtfully, "Master, actually I could just fly you two directly to the main keep to find the enemy leader, saving us the trouble of fighting our way through."
Ying Ping pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "No, in the air, we'd be too obvious a target and easily focused down. Besides…"
A fighting glint appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Fighting our way in is the only way to truly intimidate them and, incidentally, gain experience points to level up!"
Elaina shrugged, "Alright, you're the Master anyway, I'll listen to you."
Kokkoro gripped her staff-spear, stating firmly, "No matter what Master chooses to do, I will follow to the end!"
Ying Ping nodded, "Then let's go, continue forward!"
The three advanced along the city wall. However, they hadn't gone far when a squad of elite samurai stood ready on the path ahead.
At their head was a burly samurai general, clad in heavy armor, wielding a massive naginata, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
[Samurai General • Yamauchi Kagemasa]
[Level: LV5]
[Trait: Ashina-style master, skilled in thrust and sweeping attacks]
"Intruders, halt!"
Yamauchi Kagemasa's deep voice rang out, "This path is closed!"
Ying Ping narrowed his eyes, "Oh? LV5? Is the difficulty increasing so quickly?"
Yamauchi Kagemasa snorted coldly, "Arrogant fool, prepare to die!"
Before his words finished, he stomped forward, his naginata drawing a fierce arc of light, slashing directly at Ying Ping's neck!
"Clang!"
Ying Ping casually parried with a horizontal sword strike, sparks flying. Yamauchi Kagemasa was repelled by the force, staggering back a large step!
"Got some strength."
Ying Ping grinned, "A few days ago, you might have been a formidable opponent, but unfortunately, not anymore!"
"Elaina, Kokkoro, I'll handle this one. The others are yours!"
"Understood!"
Elaina waved her staff, and several wind blades shot out, instantly striking down several samurai.
Kokkoro, meanwhile, cast support magic, ensuring Ying Ping and Elaina remained at peak condition.
Yamauchi Kagemasa barely stabilized himself, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes, "You… and your strength, how can it be so powerful?!"
"Enough talk, take this!"
Ying Ping sneered, his figure flashing as he instantly closed in!
"Killing Intent Lock!"
[Target: Yamauchi Kagemasa, all ability values reduced by 50%!]
Yamauchi Kagemasa suddenly felt his body sink, his movements becoming sluggish, while Ying Ping's speed became even faster!
"Clang!"
With a flash of sword light, Yamauchi Kagemasa's naginata was severed.
His pupils constricted, and he hastily retreated, but Ying Ping's second sword strike was already coming!
"Pfft!"
Hestia's Sword pierced through his chest!
"Cough…!"
Yamauchi Kagemasa coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with unwillingness, "Ashina… will not… fall…"
"Die."
Ying Ping coldly pulled out his sword. Yamauchi Kagemasa struggled a few times, then fell to the ground, lifeless.
[Killed Samurai General • Yamauchi Kagemasa, Experience +1000]
Seeing their general dead, the surrounding samurai's morale collapsed, and they were quickly all killed by Elaina's magic.
"A gatekeeper suddenly has LV5 strength. I suspect the enemies further on will only get stronger."
Ying Ping shook the blood off his sword, his gaze sweeping towards the towering main keep deep within the castle… In fact, his guess was perfectly correct.
As Ying Ping and his two companions delved deeper into Ashina Castle, they quickly discovered that the enemies' strength was rapidly increasing.
What were previously ordinary foot soldiers now all possessed LV3 strength, and quite a few elite samurai had even reached LV4.
"It seems the closer we get to the main keep, the higher the enemies' levels will be."
"I wonder how strong Isshin Ashina and Genichiro are."
Ying Ping gripped Hestia's Sword, his eyes cold.
"Master, there's movement ahead!"
Kokkoro suddenly stopped, alerted.
On the path ahead, a squad of Ashina soldiers was pushing a massive prison cart. A beast-like growl emanated from within the cart.
"Quick, let it out!"
The leading soldier sneered, then violently pulled open the prison cart's iron bars.
"Roar!!!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a massive crimson figure suddenly burst out!
[Red Ogre • Berserk Form]
[Level: LV7+]
[Trait: Berserk, extremely powerful]
It was a crimson giant, over five meters tall.
Its hair was disheveled, its eyes blood-red, and its muscles were bulging, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
"Roar!"
The Red Ogre slammed a fist into the ground, instantly cracking the stone slabs. The shockwave made the surrounding soldiers lose their footing.
"Heh, a Red Ogre? We're old acquaintances."
Ying Ping sneered, completely unafraid.
"Elaina, Kokkoro, you two deal with those soldiers first. I'll handle this guy!"
"Understood!"
The two quickly spread out, engaging the enemies surging from all sides.
The Red Ogre roared, then charged fiercely at Ying Ping, its massive fist slamming down like a meteor!
"Boom!"
A deep crater was smashed into the ground, but Ying Ping had already flashed aside.
"Killing Intent Lock!"
"Target: Red Oni, all abilities reduced by 50%!"
Red Oni's movements suddenly slowed, and Ying Ping seized the opportunity, leaping up instantly, his sword light like lightning!
"Puff puff puff!!!"
The Sword of Hestia instantly slashed through Red Oni's limbs, blood gushing out!
"Aow—!"
Red Oni let out a painful howl, and its massive body crashed down.
"It's over."
Ying Ping coldly swung his sword, activating Lightning Enchantment!
"Pfft!"
With just one strike, Red Oni's body was cut in half at the waist, its upper body sliding to the ground, completely losing all signs of life.
"Killed Red Oni, EXP +3000."
However, the battle was not over.
"Rumble!"
The ground suddenly shook, and heavy hoofbeats came from a distance.
"Master, be careful, something is coming!"
Kokkoro exclaimed.
Ying Ping turned his head sharply, only to see a giant fire ox, covered in flames, charging towards them!
"Ashina Fire Ox"
"Level: LV8"
"Traits: Fire Resistance, Defense Specialization, Charge Attack"
The fire ox's eyes were blood-red, hot flames spewed from its nostrils, and with every step of its four hooves, the ground trembled.
"Moo!!!"
It charged furiously at Ying Ping, a long trail of fire dragging behind it!
"Tsk, I didn't expect even you to be brought out."
"Shadow Step!"
Ying Ping snorted coldly, advancing instead of retreating, charging towards the fire ox!
"Inherent Time Control – Triple Speed!"
"Crippling Strike!"
His speed suddenly increased, and just as the fire ox was about to hit him, he sharply dodged to the side, simultaneously slashing his sword at the fire ox's hind leg!
"Pfft!"
The Sword of Hestia cut through the fire ox's tendon, and the fire ox let out a wail, stumbling and falling to the ground.
"Ilena, quick, freeze it!"
Ying Ping shouted.
"Understood!"
Ilena waved her staff and softly chanted, "Ring of Frost!"
"Whoosh!"
Extreme cold frost instantly covered the fire ox's body, its flames suppressed, and the fire ox instantly became incredibly weak.
"Charged Strike!"
Ying Ping leaped onto the fire ox's back, his blade stabbing directly into its head!
"Puff!"
The fire ox let out a mournful roar, finally collapsing lifelessly.
"Killed Ashina Fire Ox, EXP +3500."
From the surrounding shadows, dozens of masked ninjas quietly appeared, holding short blades, their eyes cold.
"Ashina Elite Ninja"
"Level: LV7"
"Traits: High-Speed Movement, Assassination Techniques, Poison Techniques"
"It seems Ashina Isshin is determined to stop us from advancing."
Ying Ping sneered.
"Master, should we take them all out at once?"
Ilena asked with a serious expression.
"Of course, kill them all!"
Ying Ping gripped his sword hilt, battle intent burning in his eyes.
"Kill!"
The battle erupted once more!
The Ashina ninjas were incredibly fast, but under Ying Ping's "Killing Intent Lock" and Ilena's magical suppression, their advantage was completely gone.
"Wind Blade – Dance of Chaos!"
Ilena waved her staff, and countless wind blades swept across the battlefield, instantly slicing several ninjas into pieces.
Kokkoro, meanwhile, continuously cast healing and support magic, ensuring everyone's condition remained at its peak.
"It's a complete crush situation."
Wherever Ying Ping's sword light passed, ninjas fell, bleeding profusely.
In just a few minutes, all the Ashina ninjas were annihilated!
"Killed Ashina Ninjas x 20, EXP +6500."
"Almost leveled up again."
Ying Ping glanced at his experience bar, realizing that with one more wave of combat, he should be able to grow stronger again.
Ilena put away her staff, her expression somewhat serious: "Master, the enemies in this trial seem much stronger than we imagined."
Kokkoro also took the opportunity to catch her breath and said, "Thankfully, Miss Ilena is here this time."
"Yes, you two have really helped me a lot."
"Let's go, let's fight our way to the Ashina Castle in one go!"
A slight smile played on Ying Ping's lips.
The three continued to advance towards the next area.