Beibei threw out the last few remaining Golden Bells still remaining in her storage space. She had a plan, but since she couldn't possibly absorb all the remaining miasma, she needed to take down as many creatures of the dark as she could before activating her suction powers. The best way was to buy herself some time by hindering the path of these creatures.
As the bells started spinning and activated their barriers, many of the creatures started tussling with light barriers entrapping them. Beibei focused on the two remaining formless creatures encircling her, trying to injure her randomly. But before she could strike, a large golden whip lashed out on the incoming long and demonic talons. The talons dispersed into black dust, sprinkling all around them.
"I told you to stay within the boundaries and search for the exit point!"
"You are not the leader during battles, I am. So you have no authority to order me around. Kunwa and the two hogs can handle the looking around part. Focus in front of you."
Beibei threw out a few lightning balls, activating them using her fire power. The fire raged within the crackling lightning, as it thrust itself into the dense circle of miasma at the core of the formless creature.
The lightning and fire merged, forming a strange golden lightning, which erupted outwards, destroying the core of the creature. A large part of the miasma burnt to dust, and the rest dispersed off from the area, slowly coagulating in another area.
Nanate whipped the other formless creature till all the miasma circling within the form scattered, turning to dust or dispersing to regroup in other areas. Beibei frowned. This was much harder. The miasma was not burning to dust completely, but regrouping with other forms. Though this meant that the number of creatures would go down, but the strength of the remaining creatures might be higher.
She paused for a while, her mind turning quickly. Then pulled out a large handful of white runic stones, stuffing half of them in Nanate's hands.
"Run around the area as fast as you can. The other forms are still locked inside their barriers, so we have a bit of time. Drop the stones all around the edges of the area, at a distance of three meters from each."
Nanate nodded slightly, then took off with Wind Rush steps, disappearing into the surrounding black miasma instantly. Beibei paused, adjusting her Spirit Tracker to keep Nanate's tracker in her senses, then made off in the other direction.
The two of them ran without stopping, and made it back to their initial spots almost at the same time. Beibei was panting hard. Nanate stuffed some rejuvenating pills into her mouth. Being the strongest was a good thing. He seemed to be the least out of breath of all three.
After stabilizing her breath, Beibei threw a large handful of something which looked like blue coral dust into the air all around, pushing them outwards using her wind energy. She kept throwing out more and more of this dust, similarly pushing them to every corner of the area with wind.
When the entire miasma in the air was sparkling with the blue dust clinging onto it, she finally released her fire energy.
The blue dust immediately caught on fire. The fire spread outwards, and all around like a wild forest fire, till the entire space was awash in a sea of floating fire. The bright white stones started activating under the energy of fire in the air, and bright white light shot out from every stone, breaking through the thick layers of miasma covering the space all around.
The white light was very bright and hot. Even though the stones were at the edges and they were at the center of the space, the heat from the light made them feel as if they were melting into puddles. Sweat streamed down their backs, necks, face. The clothes were soon drenched and stuck to their bodies. The heat dried out the clothes in an instant, while the sweat drenched it again. And the circle kept continuing.
"We can't go on like this! All the water in our body will turn into sweat and evaporate at this rate. We'll die from dehydration."
Beibei too had the same thought, and was just scrambling through her storage space when Kunwa reached before their faces, dangling a few bottles in both hands.
"Here. Replenishing potions. This can keep you hydrated. But how long will this fire last? I have only this many bottles of potion left!"
Beibei glanced at the bottle thrust into her hands, then looked at the still raging fire. The light of the fire and light together was too bright, and she had to shield her eyes with her hands to protect her sight.
The light was shooting out random streams all over the space. Everywhere the bright burning light touched, the miasma would burn, quickly turning to dust. The air was filled with burning heat, bright light, and flecks of ashes floating about.
Initially, the miasma was caught unaware, and thus many of the formless creatures still entrapped within the barriers, as well the loose flowing miasma around were burned to ashes instantly.
However, why did it seem that the miasma had a consciousness and intelligence of its on? Beibei blinked, frowning deeply. Though it was quite possible, but that meant the miasma would not just stay and wait to be burnt to a crisp.
As she was thinking, the miasma around started reacting to the bright light. It could sense that the heat of the light was not a joke, and that it would be burnt to ashes if it kept waiting around. So the remaining miasma slithered down from the surrounding air, floating low, just above the ground, and dispersed to different areas.
They seemed to know that this fire and light would only last for a while, and they were willing to wait it out!
Her frown deepened. No...she couldn't allow the miasma time to re-plan. The heat surrounding them was indeed to much to handle. But if she let go of this opportunity, then the miasma would return back with even more gusto. And they might not be able to tackle it.
"Can you handle those few formless creatures still locked in the golden bell barriers?"
Nanate turned to face her, trying to read her intentions from her face.
"I think so. As long as they do not break out of the barriers, I can handle all of them on my own.....But what are you planning?"
"I am going to head to the area where most of the miasma has gathered and start with my suction powers."
Beibei looked at the worry and tension slowly etching all over Nanate's face and sighed inwardly. She didn't know when it started, but she could sense the changes in his emotions. She knew that he no longer saw her the way he used to before.
But.....there was always a but. For reasons unknown, a face flashed before her mind's eyes. Cold and expressionless. An aura which could chill even the warmest of hearts. Standing in the air, looking down at all others.
Yet, whenever she saw the face, she didn't feel the cold. Nor did she feel the freezing aura which could scare the bravest of cultivators. All she felt was a strange sense of familiarity and warmth. She did not know how she sensed the warmth...but she knew for certain....that it was right there inside him.
Beibei closed and opened her eyes, trying to dispel the face from her mind. But unknown to her, the slight movements were seen by Nanate. He opened his mouth, then closed his lips again. Invisible to all, his eyes lost a bit of its brightness.
He knew that she knew. And he also knew....that she would probably never respond.
Nanate sighed softly, swallowing back the sense of loss which always gripped him at such moments. It was good that they were friends. Even if it meant that he would forever remain only a friend, he was unwilling to let this go. He knew it would probably become more and more painful in the future....but as long as he could still take the pain, he wanted to remain by her side. Just as her good friend.
"Fine. But do not remove the slimy membranous layer around you. Try to remain within it as long as possible. This will also act as a barrier and give you some time."
Beibei nodded solemnly, accepting this advice from one of her dearest friends. They had gone through a lot together in the past few years. And she did not want to change the way they were. They were people she could trust with her life, a team whom she saw more as family.