Night of Despair

Chapter 383 - 383 Departure at 381 one

?Chapter 383: Departure at 381, one Chapter 383: Departure at 381, one “It really is an evil skill… seizing even the slightest opportunity for a crazy breakthrough… even more active than a cultivator like me…”

A breakthrough occurred almost inadvertently, this was the feeling Yu Hong had ever since he started practicing the Tai Ling Skill.

Although he had gained more power, all the Inner Strength within his body had turned into a purple-red porridge-like mixture, significantly increasing in density. Without a doubt, the intensity of energy had also greatly increased.

But this breakthrough had happened so suddenly and without his control, that it left him feeling unsettled.

After all, there were only nine layers, and now, he was already at the Fifth Layer…

“There must be a problem. If it were this simple to reach the Ninth Layer, the Taiyuan Orthodox Sect wouldn’t have perished back then.”

But no matter what, at times like these, an increase in strength was a good thing.

The Fifth Layer Sunset brought a change where his Inner Strength gained a new lethal effect.

The essence of the Tai Ling Skill was the practice of Inner Strength.

As one’s realm continued to advance, the effects of Inner Strength also changed constantly.

From initially just augmenting protection to bewildering minds to extracting the Essence Qi and vitality of other beings for one’s own use; these were the natural progressions of effects gained.

Now at the Fifth Layer Sunset, Inner Strength had acquired a new effect.

It was akin to a power that induced aging and withering.

As long as his Inner Strength touched something, all living things would rapidly enter their final stage of aging.

This was recorded in the Tai Ling Skill, but Yu Hong wasn’t certain about the specific effects.

However, he didn’t believe the Tai Ling Skill enhanced by the Black Mark would have any falsehoods.

Seated in the Quiet Room.

He extended his hand, a strand of purple-red light slowly emerging at his fingertips, pressing the light toward the ground.

The ground was easily pierced like tofu, leaving a small hole with its walls and edges showing faint grey-black color.

“There’s also Divinity,” Yu Hong thought, and instantly his fingertips were covered again with a hint of golden sparks, similar to the formidable sparks from Agrius that could weaken any attacks.

“The precise power still needs careful testing. There’s not much time now, I should see what else there is to strengthen next.”

Yu Hong pondered for a moment and quickly focused on strengthening the Guanwu Skill.

The Tai Ling Skill gave him an abnormal feeling. For the new enhancement, he decided to tackle the characteristics of Guanwu Skill first.

This time, he directly took the last remaining Heart Changing Pill.

This elixir, after waiting another two years, would have allowed him to forcibly achieve a second breakthrough.

But after taking it, Yu Hong felt the effects were not good. The shortcut to breakthrough the Guanwu Skill didn’t even fully summon the Fear Shadow.

The side effects were severe.

Therefore, he placed it on the table, extended his hand, and lightly pressed on the surface of the bottle.

“Maximized enhancement of the Heart Changing Pill, direction: increase Guanwu Skill without side effects.”

A black line from the Black Mark flashed and flowed into the bottle.

Feedback immediately sounded.

“Proceed with the enhancement?”

Yu Hong glanced at the displayed countdown: 14 days, 1 hour, 09 minutes.

Just two weeks.

He felt his body’s Essence Qi, vitality, and Inner Strength being sucked into the Black Mark.

Moments later, his body felt hollowed out, and he nearly passed out from the sensation.

Only because his physique was strong enough and recovered quickly, he replenished a large portion within seconds, and his spirit revived.

After ingesting the medicine, he stood up and placed the enhanced Heart Changing Pill on the Black Ship.

Then he walked out the door.

However, just a few steps out, he saw the old Taoist Yu Hen and Mayor Xu Jianfeng hurriedly passing by from not far away, escorted and protected by soldiers and magicians, their expressions solemn and tense, indicating that something serious had occurred.

Thinking of this, he accelerated, flashing forward to block the path ahead of the two men.

“Master, Mayor Xu.”

The guards who were intercepted were tense for a moment, nearly opening fire, but they quickly recognized Yu Hong and lowered their guns.

Both Yu Hen and Xu Jianfeng looked visibly relieved.

“You’re back just in time, Zheng Rou! Disaster has struck! Just now, all satellite signals were lost, all contact with the Capital has been severed, and all the roads around us have been cut off. Everyone is trying their best to reconnect with the outside world to figure out what happened.”

“All connections lost…?” Yu Hong’s heart sank slightly; the situation was eerily similar to the full outbreak of the Black Disaster that had happened in Hope City.

Fortunately, he had just tested it, and the Black Ship that could return to Hope City was still summonable.

“How is the situation now?” he quickly asked.

“Our situation is relatively stable for now, food and water aren’t concerns, and our defensive line is strong. With the assistance of the Spirit Light Mutual Aid Alliance, the Spirit Disaster outside can’t penetrate. But other places without Spirit Station defenses are not holding up,” Mayor Xu spoke with a grave voice. “We’ve sent people to take a look, and the footage shows that there are those Heavenly Soldiers-like undead everywhere. Ordinary people would die if they went out.”

“So, does that mean that only those within our Spirit Station are currently alive?” Yu Hong asked.

Faced with the situation, he seemed notably calm.

After all, in the previous Hope City World, he had already encountered too many similar incidents.

This calmness made the few people standing before him feel a vague chill in their hearts.

“No, there are still people about three kilometers away, at the Taizhou garrison station, which are the parts that haven’t been transferred over yet,” Xu Jianfeng replied, adjusting his emotions. “This Spirit Station can’t accommodate so many people; we’re currently expanding, but the number of magicians is limited, so it’s quite difficult.”

His brows were tightly furrowed, his face gaunt, and his hair had turned significantly whiter than before; it was clear that this period had really exhausted him greatly.

“How’s the situation with the nationwide dissemination of the Spirit Light Secret Skill?” Yu Hong suddenly asked.

“It’s already being arranged. Because many people have started cultivating Spirit Light, that’s why our defensive line can still hold up,” Yu Hen replied. “Zheng Rou, how’s the situation on the sanatorium side?”

“It’ll be soon; they will be here any moment now…” Yu Hong sighed with much relief at the mention of this.

With the presence of the big shot Quan He, he could also free himself up to complete the strengthening of his own powers.

There are still two quotas available at Heavenly River. Moreover, after the fortification with the Moon God Bloodline, the nourishing abilities of Heavenly River had also increased compared to before. Agrius seemed to grow in size a little within it, and his power has obviously been enhanced.

“While the situation outside is temporarily stable, the future situation doesn’t look good. There are more and more Spirit Disaster Monsters, and many Black Disaster Monsters have also appeared. The combination of the two is unpredictable and has caused many casualties. Now it depends on whether we can recruit more magic…” Xu Jianfeng didn’t finish his words when suddenly, from outside the Black Wall defense circle in the distance, a clear and melodious crane cry sounded.

The crane’s cry was continuous, suppressing almost all other noise, until between heaven and earth, only this one sound echoed.

Involuntarily, everyone raised their heads and looked towards the sky from where the crane’s cry originated.

Below the dark clouds, a huge immortal crane enveloped in a halo of silver-white light slowly flapped its wings, rushing towards them from the distant horizon.

Astride the back of the immortal crane was a beautiful woman with black hair flowing loose over her white Daoist robe, brandishing a horsetail whisk, standing tall and proud.

The crane itself, just in form, was at least a hundred meters in length. It looked fine from a distance, but as it drew closer, it seemed even bigger.

The woman formed a sword-finger gesture with one hand, and behind her unfolded a fan-shaped spread of dense, semi-transparent, silver-white runes, like a peacock’s tail.

“Proficiency in myriad transformations, roaming the heavens and earth.”

The clear and pleasant female voice rang out from midair.

In an instant, countless semi-transparent silver-white runes, like swimming fish, shot out, moving towards the ground.

Runes kept emerging from behind the woman in an endless stream, increasing in number, becoming denser and denser.

Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands!

Until later, the entire sky was filled with silver-white runes and talismans fluttering and moving about.

The Dragon-man monsters that were fighting with magicians were pierced one by one by the runes, as if stabbed by series of flying blades, their bodies trembling and stiffening.

Within just ten seconds.

At least hundreds of thousands of encircling monsters outside the Black Wall of the Spirit Station were consumed by this massive array of silver-white rune piercings, turning into ash and dispersing.

The only ones that could barely escape were very few Three-eyed Dragon Men.

But even as they escaped, they were riddled with wounds, with extremely heavy injuries.

Midair, the white-robed woman withdrew her sword-finger gesture, and immediately, countless silver-white talismans were recalled.

All runes and talismans converged like thousands of swords returning to their origin, rushing back into the fan-shaped rune array behind her.

Until the last rune returned, the woman let go of her sword-finger stance, and the fan-shaped runes behind her naturally dispersed.

She looked down, and soon a gentle smile appeared on her lips. She took a step forward, stepping out of midair.

The giant immortal crane behind her silently dissipated into white points of light.

She herself descended slowly like a falling leaf, light and graceful. As her Daoist robe fluttered, it was as if she was an ethereal immortal.

Below, tens of thousands of civilians and magicians saw this scene.

Unconsciously, a large number of civilians fell to their knees with devout faces, bowing to her.

Some cried with tears streaming down their faces, others loudly prayed and lamented.

Even many soldiers followed suit, kneeling down to pay their respects.

Perhaps many had simply regarded her as an Immortal God descending to earth.

Yu Hong also looked up at this scene, understanding the implications of Quan He’s actions.

In such a chaotic and dangerous situation, everyone needed a hope, a Stabilizer that could bring together everyone’s morale, everyone’s expectations.

Her high-profile intervention was intended to provide that hope.

And right now, in the Warlock World, she was the only one capable of doing this.

Before long, Quan He descended, and with a wave of her hand, a blur filled the onlookers’ vision, countless white feathers appearing out of nowhere. After they dissipated, three distinctively different elderly Taoists were revealed from within.

It was the Golden Light Taoist Lian Yunzi and Zhang Yaochen among the three.

The three were the predecessors of the Nine Sects’ Sect Masters, but under Quan He’s strange Teleportation Technique, they too felt extremely uncomfortable.

Looking at their pale faces and white foam at the corners of their mouths, one could tell that they had definitely been subjected to teleportation more than once along the way.

At this time, waves of cheering could also be heard from the distance.

Evidently, the monsters had been cleared in a large area, boosting the morale of everyone, and thus, they started cheering.

“It seems that this poor Taoist hasn’t arrived too late,” Quan He winked at Yu Hong.

“The senior has arrived at just the right time,” Yu Hong said, feeling immediately relieved upon seeing her.

Just standing by her side, one could sense wave after wave of exaggerated invisible Spiritual Suppression spreading out like the tide.

This time Quan He hadn’t restrained herself, only avoiding those around her while releasing the suppression, but the horrific sensation of Spiritual Suppression sweeping past still felt intensely hair-raising.