Boom! Boom! Boom!
Flames flew all around, weapons were colliding.
The most fearful is naturally, the most powerful Abyss Demon! The Abyss Demon doesn't distinguish friends and foes. It raised its giant flaming sword and chopped down. A tall tower collapsed. Guards that were wielding bows and crossbows screamed as the tower fell.
Woosh! Woosh! Woosh!
A dense cloud of arrows flew towards the Abyss Demon from all direction.
The whole area was extremely chaotic.
One of the Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualists looked at Ye Zong and asked, "City Lord, what should we do?"
This Abyss Demon is an existence that was not beneath a Legend rank Demon Spiritualist. If it wasn't for the fact that the Abyss Demon is slow, he would have already leveled the City Lord's Mansion!
Ye Zong also merged with his demon spirit—Black Scaled Earth Dragon. He said, after being in silence for a moment, "Lead it towards the west! Ye Xiu would send all the guests to a secured place, we need to make sure we don't let this demon destroy the entire City Lord's Mansion!"
Meanwhile the City Lord's Mansion banquet hall was thrown into complete chaos. Weapons colliding.
Right now, Nie Li has already left the City Lord Mansion with Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er. As soon as he created some distance between himself and all the chasing assassins, Nie Li merged with Shadow Devil.
The night air was thick with smoke and blood, darkness has consumed the realm. This time was most perfect for the Shadow Devil.
A dark aura surged around him, swallowing his form in a veil of black mist. His figure transformed into completely pitch black color, turned leaner, more fluid, as if he had merged with the very shadows themselves.
As soon as the transformation was complete, with Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun in tow, and in the next instant—
BOOM!
His body vanished in a blur. The paved stone paths of the City Lord's mansion blurred beneath them.
In his merged form, Nie Li's speed defied logic—every step propelled them dozens of meters forward, his movements like a phantom flickering through the darkness.
Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun felt weightless, barely able to react before the scenery around them shifted at impossible speeds.
What is this speed!? What kind of demon spirit is this?
Unknown about the attributes of Shadow Devil and Nie Li's actual cultivation, they assumed his merged demon spirit to be a rare shadow speed-type.
Xiao Ning'er tightened her grip on his arm, feeling the overwhelming power surging through his body.
Ye Ziyun, equally stunned, could only hold on as they tore through the night, her heart pounding wildly.
In the process of running, Nie Li took a glance towards the south side of the City Lord's Mansion. The Abyss Demon that is wielding a giant flaming sword, wreaking havoc and furiously roaring, was getting closer to the west gate.
'Can the City Lord mansion take care of such a demon?'
Just as they streaked past the courtyard, Nie Li's sharp gaze also caught sight of Cao Wang—his loyal subordinate—locked in combat against three powerful assassins.
Nie Li's eyes narrowed, 'Little Tian wouldn't like it if his dad's dead.'
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed half a dozen inscription scrolls into the air. Each scroll flared brightly, revealing intricate ancient runes as they activated mid-flight.
BOOM! – One scroll erupted into a wave of freezing cold, turning the ground into a field of jagged ice spikes.
CRACKLE! – Another unleashed a storm of lightning arcs, zapping through the air in blinding streaks.
WHOOOSH! – A third scroll summoned raging fire serpents, their flaming tails hissing as they coiled toward the enemies.
SLASH! – One scroll exploded into thousands of wind blades, forming a deadly tempest that cut through the air like razors.
RUMBLE! – The fifth scroll summoned earthen spears, shooting upward from the ground like a forest of deadly spikes.
SHATTER! – The final scroll created a violent gravitational force, pulling everything toward the center like a collapsing star.
'A.I.Chip connect the structure-rune mark of each inscription scroll and unleash the hexa combination attack.'
[Beep! Task Established! Hexa Element Combination Spell established and detonated!]
As the enemies tried to evade the individual attacks, something terrifying happened—the energies from all six elements merged together!
BOOOOOM!
The combined force ripped through the battlefield, sending shockwaves in all directions. The assassins barely had time to scream before they were obliterated, their bodies torn apart by the overwhelming energy surge, even a Black Gold Rank assassin was killed!
Cao Wang, catching his breath, looked up in shock and awe. Nie Li, still streaking past in his Shadow Devil form, gave a brief glance. His dark eyes flashed as he muttered,
"No time to waste."
Then, in an instant, he vanished again, his speed like a phantom darting through the night, heading straight for the Nie family estate.
"A.I Chip! How many Black Gold Rank experts are still following us?" Nie Li thought. From the banquet hall, Nie Li had paid an attention to all Black Gold Rank experts exclusively, as for weaker ones they weren't a concern.
[Beep! Two Black Gold rank expert detected]
Just at that moment, the A.I Chip's mechanical voice sounded out, and a map appeared in front of Nie Li's eyes.
Nie Li's facial expression did not change, on the virtual map that was projected in front of his eyes, there were two red dots closing towards them. The dots were slowly encircling and surrounding them.
'Two? There were a total of seven. The City Lord Demon Spiritualist and family heads under the lead of Ye Xiu have withheld four of them. I killed one just now, so these two and the Abyss Demon are the only significant threat.' Nie Li was a bit surprised that three experts of such level would actually concentrate on just three kids.
Unfortunately the Dark Guild has chosen a very bad day for their mission, today the Glory City most powerful people are all gathered together, and in just a few minutes Alchemist Association experts would also arrive then all assassins would be solved.
'Well I guess their target from the start wasn't to weaken Glory City, it was rather to kidnap nobel heirs. And for now we should be the most important target and easiest since we left the group.' Nie Li glanced at Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun, one of them was Glory City most glorious genius and other City Lord's daughter.
'But unfortunately for you...'
The Dark Guild plan was impeccable, the Abyss Demon created a threat that needs the attention of strongest experts meanwhile seven Black Gold experts are more than enough to overwhelm the remaining ones until the reinforcement arrives but their flawless plan couldn't include a variation like Nie Li.
Nie Li not only thwarted their kidnapping plan but also made arrangements to crush them and now he has arrived at their soon to be gravesite.
Nie Li deactivated his demon spirit form, letting his body return to normal. His ocean-blue eyes flickered with a cold glint, although he was still five kilometers away from Nie estate but it's enough.
His soul force was emitting out from his body and both of his hands quickly formed a handsign.
[Beep! Ten thousand Beast Array connection established! Security parameters initiated! Killing Array activated! ]
The entire Ten Thousand Beast Array shone brightly, especially it's offensive Killing Array that suddenly shook violently, followed by lights that shined on the inscription pattern on the underground pillar.
Rumble Rumble!
The earth trembled. The incomplete yet effective Ten Thousand Beasts Array lay before Nie Li, its massive inscription patterns gleaming faintly under the moonlight. The half-completed array had terrifying power was already enough to decimate Legend Rank experts if they stepped into its range.
Everyone's face changed slightly feeling a tyrannical aura blowing over. The demon spirits around the stone pillar became violent, all of them are Black Gold rank demon spirits!
Boom Boom Boom!
Soul force was constantly being dispersed, turning into frightening shock waves, causing explosions to the surrounding grounds.
Suddenly, Nie Li looked at the two Black Gold Rank assassins who were rushing toward him and he smiled.
The Dark guild assassins felt a deadly threat and their spirit energies surged, their bodies illuminated with the glow of their respective demon spirit merges.
"He stopped running! Kill him before he does anything!" one of them roared.
But it was already too late, the Wrath of the Ten Thousand Beasts Array insued. Nie Li activated the formation with a flick of his hand, and the entire ground beneath him trembled.
The array came to life, beastly roars echoing across the area. Faint phantasmal figures of thousands of demon beasts began to manifest within the massive inscription circle, their eyes glowing with primal rage.
ROOOAARRR!
A gigantic Golden Horned Lion materialized in the air, its fangs gleaming with deadly energy.
A Colossal Ape swung its massive fists, shaking the air itself.
A Two-Headed Viper slithered around the perimeter, its venomous fangs dripping with toxic mist.
Before the assassins could even react, the beasts pounced.
"What the—?!" One of the Black Gold Rank experts barely had time to scream before the Golden Horned Lion clamped its jaws around him, biting him clean in half.
The second assassin tried to retreat, but the Colossal Ape's massive fist smashed down, throwing him away unable to escape.
After being hit, he was in sheer terror, activated his strongest defense—but before he regain his bearings, the Two-Headed Viper lashed forward, sinking its fangs into his neck. His body convulsed, turning black in seconds before he collapsed lifelessly.
In an instant, both assassins were dead.
Nie Li stood at the center of the formation, his gaze unwavering, Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun were shocked beyond believe.
Nie Li's mind synchronized with his A.I. Chip, his most trusted tool.
"Activate lockdown." A ripple spread throughout the array, the entire five-kilometer radius surrounding the formation became an absolute kill zone.
"Scan for any spirit signatures that do not match our pre-approved database."
The A.I. Chip responded instantly, highlighting several hidden enemies trying to escape the battlefield.
"Eliminate them."
The array flared once again, and within moments, agonized screams filled the air. Anyone not authorized by Nie Li was instantly hunted down by the manifested beast spirits, torn apart with ruthless efficiency.
Nie Li flew up in the air, then turned his attention towards the West gate of City Lord, his eyes turned fiendish yellow improving his eyesight allowing him to witness the tragic scene.
Though the array was powerful, capable of killing any expert at Legend rank but the Abyss Demon was far beyond its range. Nie Li mind raced watching the massive beast of destruction rampaging in the distance.
'I am sure the Snow Wind family has some trump card to deal with the Abyss Demon but it would be better if I eliminated it, then not even the City Lord wouldn't dare step into my area and my interests. And since I am the hero they would be forced to acknowledge my contributions. That way I can start to cultivate my own followers without needing to hide, it would be more effective to pull the resources in the broad daylight and it would all be accomplished without revealing my own strength.' His mind raced, although Nie Li currently at the peak of Gold rank and capable of fighting even Black Gold Rank Demon Spiritualist but he still had some reservation against Glory City, if he has so many Trump card how many would they possess? The ancient relics, heirloom, ancestral protection.
Even if the standards of Glory City has dropped to an embarrassing level, they still stand tall as the beacon of hope for humanity. One can't underestimate a cornered establishment like theirs, which stood the test of time.
If possible he doesn't want to become their enemy, because it doesn't give him any benefits rather it harms him. Nie Li wants to cultivate his own force which is only possible if he draws from the pool of talent of Glory City. But he needs to make sure, his standing in the city is firm and without unnecessary challenges. It was this goal that motivated him to work with Yang Xin and cultivate partnership with City Lord mansion but now, a clear path lays before him.
'A. I. Chip, have you found any way?'
Nie Li felt his spirit energy pulsed, linking with the vast inscription network of the array. At the same time, his A.I. Chip's extensive database began analyzing thousands of ancient inscription patterns, seeking a way to modify the array to counter a creature of such magnitude.
[Beep! Searching… Matching Patterns… Beep!Optimal Solution Found—Spirit Bomb Formation, A High-Density Energy Compression Technique derived from a failed attemp to create an artificial star. Source— Dragon King Sect lost archives, Star Spirit technique.]
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