CHAPTER 8 – ON THE VERGE OF CONFLICT
In this face-to-face encounter, the use of a spirit probe by the other group indicated clear hostility. Lily and Ayaka remained on high alert, their spirits powers already surging within them, ready for battle.
Hakure, realizing the tense situation, decided to take the first step and try to intimidate the two women. He transmitted to his subordinates, “Let me try to intimidate them first. If we can avoid a fight, that would be preferable. The woman is still a big dipper expert, albeit a weak one. We might be in danger if we engage in combat.”
With determination, Hakure and his group continued to approach, seemingly intending to pass by. Hakure, standing at a height of 180 centimeters, slightly taller than Lily, spoke up as he drew nearer to the two women. “You two young ladies are certainly not ordinary women. To have ventured this far, you must possess exceptional insight beyond that of common folk. In this world, there are few men who can match your caliber! I am Minamoto Jirou Hakure, the son of the great shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo. My talent and identity are at the pinnacle of this world. If my brothers and I were in Heian-kyo, we would be among the top-tier powerhouses. This is not meant to belittle you, but since our paths have crossed here, it must be fate. How about you two ladies accompany us, the brothers, for some amusement?”
Lily’s expression turned grim, confirming her earlier suspicions. In this world, if most ordinary people could be considered good, among adepts, there were hardly any truly benevolent individuals. Instead, there existed a world of conflicts driven by interests and benefits. In a realm where strength was the ultimate measure of justice, the powerful had little regard for morality.
It became apparent to Lily that this Hakure did not recognize her or Ayaka. In this world of adepts, such ignorance was common. While there were a few true honorable warriors among the ordinary samurai, like Ashikaga Makoto and Minamoto no Hiromasa, they were the exception rather than the norm among the top-tier warriors at or above the throne realm.
Lily did not hold any hatred towards the world or its inhabitants. To embark on the path of an adept, one must accept the harsh reality that strength reigns supreme. Lily understood this truth and had no intentions of showing mercy.
“We have no interest. Please step aside,” Lily responded politely, making her stance clear.
“Looks like you two ladies are quite confident in your own power?” Hakure’s gaze turned ferocious, and he took a step back while his group formed a circle, surrounding Lily and Ayaka within a ten-meter radius. It was evident that this battle could not be avoided.
The onmyoji chimed in, “Ladies, you should understand the consequences of offending the young master. Even if you manage to escape now, can you elude the grasp of the Heian Dynasty? Those who rise to the highest echelons of power are few, and those outside our clan will be relentlessly hunted. The young master has given you a chance. Hand over your weapons and treasures, and perhaps there is still time to beg for mercy.”
Lily retorted, “Ah, I have no fear of offending Minamoto no Yoritomo, let alone his lapdogs!”
“What!? How dare you say such words! Do you think your meager strength gives you the right to insult me1? You ignorant wretches who do not grasp the vastness of heaven and earth!” Hakure trembled with anger, his eyes bulging like orbs. “Attack!”
This group of mysterious experts displayed remarkable combat skills and coordination. Their intention to attack had been carefully planned from the moment they surrounded Lily and Ayaka.
Boom!
In a burst of power, their auras surged, leaving Lily and Ayaka astonished. To their surprise, there were five big dipper experts among them. Four colossal giants, each measuring three to four meters in height, were single-soul big dipper experts, while the red-robed onmyoji possessed the strength of a double-soul big dipper expert. The remaining members were all at the throned saint level. Their leader, Hakure, stood as the weakest among them, holding the rank of a throned monarch.
“Lily, be careful! They are incredibly powerful!” Ayaka warned, her voice filled with concern as she chanted an arcane arte.
“Haaah!” The four single-soul big dipper experts unleashed their overwhelming might, charging towards Ayaka from all directions, leaving hurricane-like trails in their wake.
The onmyoji uttered an incantation, conjuring a purple confinement spell beneath Ayaka’s feet. Simultaneously, the throned saint experts aimed their ninth-grade arrows, brandished powerful treasures, and cast spells, all directed at Ayaka.
Meanwhile, two throned saint samurais, one wielding a longbow and the other holding a dragonflame mystic gun, focused their attention on Lily.
In that instant, a barrage of formidable attacks and dazzling artes targeted Ayaka from every angle. However, Ayaka’s defenses held firm as a golden shield adorned with flowing inscriptions materialized around her.
Simultaneously, Lily ignited her purple lunar force, unleashing its potent power in response.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The onslaught of terrifying impacts and explosions crashed against Ayaka’s shield, while a potent arrow and scorching mystic flame passed harmlessly through empty air as Lily gracefully evaded. Her speed was so explosive that no one could react in time.
In the blink of an eye, Lily dashed towards one of the giant men who had been attacking Ayaka. The giant quickly reacted, lifting his formidable black deer-head mace and hurling it at Lily. However, Lily had no intention of engaging in direct combat with him. With a light tilt of her foot, she elegantly maneuvered around him, swiftly reaching Hakure.
“What…” Hakure managed to utter in shock, but it was too late. With her purple lunar force surging, Lily’s combat power matched that of a triple-soul big dipper expert. A mere throned monarch stood no chance of resistance.
Lily’s eyes flashed with determination as she gripped Yasutsuna, swiftly unsheathing the blade. A blinding crimson arc emanated from her as she struck.
Slash!
Minamoto Jirou Hakure, the group’s leader, was beheaded2!
“Young Master!” The red-robed onmyoji finally reacted, aghast at the turn of events. They had never anticipated that Lily, whom they had underestimated due to her throne realm level, possessed such astounding speed and devastating strength, striking with merciless resolve.
Even though she knew Hakure was Minamoto no Yoritomo’s son, Lily showed no hesitation in delivering a fatal blow. She acted with unwavering determination.
With Hakure’s demise, the group descended into chaos.
“Bitch!!! Kill that woman! Kill her!” The onmyoji howled, levitating into the air. Though flight using domain or spirit energy fluctuation was impossible in this location, ordinary arcane arte techniques still allowed for limited levitation.
After swiftly looting Hakure’s weapons and treasures with a single sweeping motion, Lily paid no further attention to them. Instead, she immediately turned her focus towards the onmyoji and charged at him.
The onmyoji was busy uttering a confinement spell while activating one talisman after another.
Ching! A green spirit chain locked around Lily’s legs, abruptly halting her mid-sprint. The intense recoil felt as if her legs were being torn apart, nearly causing her to lose her balance. Meanwhile, two throned saints and a massive single-soul big dipper charged towards her.
“Come!” Lily unleashed her domain, causing their speed to drastically decrease. The onmyoji also deployed his domain in response, but it was swiftly suppressed and rendered ineffective.
“What a formidable domain! Kill this woman first! The one in the red attire is stronger!” the onmyoji commanded.
Slash! Slash! Slash! Lily’s domain conjured waves of purple sakura blades, slashing down upon the two throned saints. While these sakura blades couldn’t deliver fatal blows, they inflicted multiple deep wounds.
Lily didn’t bother turning to face the burly charging single-soul big dipper. Instead, she sheathed Yasutsuna and focused her power. The moment the big dipper reached her and raised his weapon high…
Slash! Lily’s iai slash formed a luminous crescent moon. An immensely powerful blade beam instantly tore through the single-soul big dipper’s chest, leaving behind a gruesome scar that cut through flesh and bone.
“Agh!” The giant man let out a pained roar, blood gushing from his chest as he staggered back.
“Lily!” Ayaka silently recited an incantation. Despite being confined, she still had her shield and unleashed a radiant white spirit light to undo the confinement spell on Lily.
In an instant, Lily was released and she became like a wild horse unleashed. She rebounded off the ground, appearing in front of the stumbling big dipper. Raising her foot, she delivered a devastating kick to his head, crushing him with tremendous force.
Boom!
The powerful shockwave ripped apart the head wrapping, revealing the true form beneath. It was the head of a blue-gray demon emanating a sinister aura from the realm of Yomi!
Without hesitation, Lily unleashed a forceful downward slash.
Chop!
The demon’s head was nearly severed in half. In retaliation, the demon swung a massive mace at Lily, but she agilely rolled midair to evade the attack and landed behind the demon.
Slash! Slash! Two horrifying blade scars were left on the demon’s back.
Lily didn’t pause for a moment. She instantly appeared in front of the severely wounded demon. Her spirit probe detected the demon’s spiritual core, and she mercilessly thrust her weapon forward.
Pfft! A single-soul big dipper expert possessed a stellar soul in addition to their primary spirit. However, if their original spirit was extinguished, no matter how many souls they possessed, death was inevitable.
The first single-soul big dipper expert fell.
“Soul!” Lily raised her cursed blade, summoning the dissipating anima to converge on her weapon. This action sent shockwaves through the surrounding experts.
“Blade maiden! This woman is a blade maiden! Her power surpasses that of a double-soul big dipper!”
Blade maidens were already formidable beings, but a big dipper realm blade maiden was their ultimate nemesis! They were the nightmares of common powerhouses, and demons alike.
In a regular battle, even if one died, they could still be reincarnated. But if they fell to a blade maiden, they would disappear into the unfathomable depths of time, with no chance of reincarnation.
Seizing the opportunity, Ayaka summoned a spectral spirit battle maiden, possessing the combat prowess of a single-soul big dipper expert. If Ayaka still had her original treasures, she could even summon the four guardian gods. However, she only possessed a few spellbinding treasures provided by Lily, which paled in comparison to her usual arsenal.
The phantom battle maiden emitted an eerie blue glow as the translucent figure soared through the air, wielding a naginata and hunting down the throned saint-ranked samurais, dharma masters, and onmyojis.
The besieging crowd had no choice but to halt their attacks on Ayaka and retreat to avoid the battle maiden’s strikes.
Lily didn’t pause her relentless assault. Igniting her purple lunar power, she leaped into the air and engaged in a fierce battle with the most dangerous red-clothed double-soul big dipper onmyoji.
Yuki: Um… shouldn’t you be more concerned about her cursing your father? Yuki: Instant regret and instant karma
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