Soon, their movements suddenly became slow, their eyes vacant. A chill ran down Tang Chen's spine as he watched them.
Suddenly, they turned their gaze towards him, their appearance changed to that of some kind of 'Monster' and without warning, they rushed at him.
Swoosh~
"Is this an illusion?" Tang Chen thought, his mind racing. He summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, prepare to also attack the 'Monster'.
"3th Spirit Ring: Hammer Gigantification!!"
He felt his mind was in a mess, but he had no choice and swung his gigantic hammer.
However...
"4th Spirit Ring: Angelic Free Will!!"
Shing~~
However, just as he was about to strike them, a blinding light cut through the fog, enveloping him. Tang Chen blinked, disoriented, as the scene around him shifted.
"Hmm?"
The fog around them dissipated, and Tang Chen found himself standing in the same spot, his hammer raised, and almost smite the entire group member.
However, to his surprise, his entire group was more or less in the same situation as him.
Chen Jianjin's sword encircled everyone, Dai An and Yu Tianwu activated their Martial Spirit Transformation ready to attack, while Xu Xan and Xie Rin activated their Martial Spirits to defend themselves.
"Have all of You finally woke up?" Qian Douliu said, his voice steady but laced with calmness. He lowered his hand, from which the Angelic light had emanated. "I'm sorry, I had to use my Martial Spirit to break the illusion."
Everyone's eyes widened as they realized what had happened. They retracted their Martial Spirit.
Chen Jianjin breathed a sigh of relief and said. "Good job, Brother Douliu. As expected of the Angel Martial Spirit, being able to counter the Dark Soul Master's abilities is very beneficial."
"That fog is more dangerous than we thought, It almost got all of us." Dai An said, her voice tense. Xu Xan nodded in agreement.
The group took a moment to regroup, their expressions somber. Chen Jianjin glanced around, noticing that the fog was growing thicker again. The air seemed to vibrate with a dark energy.
"Tch... What a hassle," Yu Tianwu said, clearly displeased by the fog.
"We need to be careful," Chen Jianjin said. "Stay close and keep your senses sharp."
The group moved cautiously, their senses heightened and their Martial Spirits ready for combat.
"There's something... or someone nearby," Xie Rin said, her eyes narrowing as her Martial Spirit, detect life forces. "I can sense faint life signs coming from several houses."
"Children?" Tang Chen asked, his brow furrowing. "What would children be doing here?"
"Let's find out, we can't leave them if they're in danger." Dai An replied. Xu Xan also nodded in agreement.
They approached the first house cautiously. The door creaked as they pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit interior. The air was stale, and the scent of decay lingered. Inside, they found several injured children huddled together, their faces pale and their eyes wide with fear.
"It's okay," Xie Rin said softly, her voice soothing. "We're here to help you."
The children looked at her with a mix of hope and mistrust. Xie Rin knelt down beside one of them, a young boy with a gash on his leg. "We're not going to hurt you," she said gently. "We're here to get you to safety."
"1st Spirit Ring: Body Recovery"
Xie Rin activated her Nine-Hearted Flowering Apple, and a soft, golden glow emanated from her hands. She placed them over the boy's wound, and the healing energy flowed into him, mending the injury with remarkable speed.
"Thank you sister, can you also help my sister?" the boy whispered while pointing at his decaying sister's body, tears filling his eyes.
"I'm sorry, you're safe now," Xie Rin assured him while holding back her sadness. "We're going to gather everyone together and leave this place. Let's go..."
"No, my sister is just sleeping, sister please help her... please don't leave her!" The boy begged with tears in his eyes.
These children were the victims of the Dark Spirit Master, they were kidnapped from nearby villages just to be sacrificed by the Dark Spirit Master as a resource for their cultivation. That was why the Dark Spirit Master was so hated throughout the continent.
They continued to search the other houses, finding more children in similar states. Each time, Xie Rin used her abilities to heal their injuries, while the rest of the group reassured and comforted them. The children, although scared and traumatized, began to trust their rescuers.
"How many more?" Chen Jianjin asked Xie Rin as they left another house.
"Just a few more," she replied. "I can still sense a few life forces nearby."
They pressed on, moving from house to house, until they had gathered all the children. The children huddled together, their fear slowly giving way to a sense of safety as they were surrounded by their protectors.
"We must leave immediately and continue the mission once the children are safe," Dai An said, her gaze sweeping over the group. "We can't fight while leaving them unguarded."
"Agreed," Chen Jianjin said. "We need to retreat. We can't afford to be caught off guard."
Just as they were settling in, a chilling presence swept over the village. The air grew cold, and the fog seemed to thicken. Tang Chen felt a prickling at the back of his neck and turned to Qian Douliu, who was already on high alert.
"Something's not right," Qian Douliu said, his voice tense.
Fwoosh~~
Before they could react, a vile voice echoed through the entire village, sending chills down their spines. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Fools! You think you can come and go as you please?!"
The voice gave way to a sinister laugh that echoed throughout the village.
Swosh~
Suddenly, shadows shifted within the fog as hundreds of Dark Spirit Masters appeared, their eyes alight with an eerie glow.
They greatly outnumbered the group, their average cultivation was from the Spirit Ancestor Realm to the Spirit King Realm.
Though they were slightly weaker than Tang Chen and the others, who were at the Spirit Emperor Realm, it was not easy to defeat a group of Dark Spirit Masters who had strength stronger than the average Spirit Master in the same Realm.
"Get the children to the nearby house!" Chen Jianjin shouted, summoning his Martial Spirit, Seven Kill Sword. The others sprang into action, and activated their Martial Spirits.
"1th Spirit Ring: Dragon Claw!!"
"Go and babysit them yourself, I'll go first!" Yu Tianwu was the first to move, lightning surging through his body as he launched himself at the nearest Dark Spirit Master.
Boom~~
His speed was incredible, and his attack was devastating, but the Dark Spirit Masters kept coming, their numbers overwhelming.
"What a stubborn person!!"Chen Jianjin's Seven Kill Sword Martial Spirit emerged swiftly, gliding through the air with deadly accuracy. He engaged in combat with serene intensity, delivering each blow with calculated lethality.
"White Tiger Transformation!"
"I'll join you." The White Tiger roared, Dai An's aura expanded to instill fear into the enemy. She stood like an unbreakable wall, her presence a beacon of strength amidst the chaos.
"This is bad," Tang Chen muttered as he also joined the fray. "They use the fog to their advantage."
The Dark Spirit Masters charged, their roars filling the air. Their numbers weren't that big of a deal but their ability to move freely in the fog made it difficult for the vanguard members to deal with them.
Despite their efforts, the sheer number of Dark Spirit Masters began to take its toll. The vanguard members could feel the strain of the continuous fighting, their muscles burning and their breath coming in ragged gasps.
"We need to find and eliminate them quickly," Chen Jianjin said, his voice carrying an edge of urgency.
Xu Xan nodded and stepped forward. She raised her hands, activating her first spirit ability.
"1st Spirit Ring: Starguiding Technique!"
A glowing star appeared over her head, radiating soft light. Threads of light extended from the star, weaving through the fog and spreading out in all directions. These threads were not offensive but served a crucial purpose: locating the hidden Dark Spirit Masters. As the threads made contact with their targets, they pulsed, revealing the positions of their enemies.
"There!" Yu Tianwu shouted, lightning crackling around him as he charged toward the nearest pulsing thread. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Spirit granted him incredible speed and power, allowing him to strike down the Dark Spirit Master with a single, devastating blow.
Chen Jianjin's Seven Kill Sword Martial Spirit sprang to life, his ethereal swords following the glowing threads to their targets. Each sword moved with precision, cutting down Dark Spirit Masters who thought they were safely hidden in the fog.
Tang Chen wielded his Clear Sky Hammer with deadly efficiency, smashing through enemies with brute force. The glowing threads guided his strikes, ensuring that none of his attacks were wasted.
As the battle raged on, Xu Xan activated her third spirit ability. "3rd Spirit Ring: Starglory Spell!"
A blanket of golden light spread from her, merging with the soul power of her allies. This dull-golden light enhanced their abilities, boosting the power of their soul skills without causing any clashes. The vanguard felt an immediate surge in strength, their attacks becoming even more potent.
"Nice timing, Xu Xan!" Dai An exclaimed as her abilities were bolstered by the Starglory Spell. She charged into the fray, her will unyielding and her claws tearing through enemies with ease.
Yu Tianwu unleashed a torrent of lightning, his attacks striking multiple targets at once with enhanced ferocity. "Let's finish this!" he roared, his dragon-like features glowing with power.
Chen Jianjin's swords danced through the air, each strike more precise and powerful than the last. "Stay focused!" he called out, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around them.
Despite their enhanced abilities, the prolonged battle began to take its toll. Injuries accumulated, and the vanguard members started to falter. Sensing this, Xie Rin stepped forward, her Nine-Hearted Flowering Apple Martial Spirit glowing brightly.
"4th Spirit Ring: Flower Pillar!"
A radiant Flower Pillar emerged from the ground, spreading a healing area of effect. The group members within its range felt their injuries mending, their stamina rejuvenating. Xie Rin's healing power was a balm to their battered bodies, allowing them to fight on with renewed strength.
"Thank you, Xie Rin!" Dai An shouted, feeling the healing energy coursing through him. She slashed his claw with renewed vigor, slashing through another wave of Dark Spirit Masters.
"Their numbers have decreased!!" Chen Jianjin encouraged, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "Keep pushing!"
The Dark Spirit Masters, realizing their advantage was slipping away, launched a desperate final assault. They surged forward in a frenzy, hoping to overwhelm the group with sheer numbers. But the combined might of the group of prodigies was too much to overcome.
"Die! You Trash!" Yu Tianwu called out, his lightning attacks crackled through the fog, illuminating the battlefield with flashes of blue light.
Chen Jianjin's swords sliced through the air, each strike finding its mark with deadly precision. Dai An roared, her offensive capabilities bolstered by the Starglory Spell, making her an unstoppable force.
Soon, the last of the Dark Spirit Masters finally fell. Tang Chen and the others stood amidst the battlefield, their breaths heavy but their spirits high.
"W-we did it," Xie Rin said, her voice filled with relief. "They're all gone."
Tang Chen looked around in anticipation, he felt like he still missed something. "Wait, everyone. The fog hasn't cleared yet."
Humm~
As they thought it was all over, the group suddenly fell to the ground due to a heavy Dark Energy pressure.
Soon, amidst the fog, a man in strange black bishop clothes appeared with a dense Dark Energy around his body, and shockingly, on him were Nine Spirit Rings surrounding his body.
"T-titled Doulu?" Everyone was shocked by the appearance of a Titled Douluo.