Chapter 192: Chapter 151: Killer Move Blood Phantom

"The Blood Steward is here!"

"Is he going to deal with the Heavy Rain Messenger? That’s someone as strong as Prajna!"

"She’s just a Second-Turn Messenger, without even a Demonic Path Token, how could she compare to Prajna? Not even a tenth of Prajna’s strength! With the Blood Steward here, they’re doomed!" The speaker was clearly one of the Blood Steward’s men, and he shouted sternly, "Aren’t you going to quickly follow the plan and block the mountain trail? If anyone lets them escape..."

Actually, the Demonic Messengers already had a faint thought of retreat; the recent shouting was just mutual signaling, waiting for someone to make the first move, and then the others would naturally follow immediately.

After all, winning wouldn’t bring them much benefit, but facing the Heavy Rain Messenger had a risk of death; even the notorious Four War Generals under the Blood Phase Sect couldn’t defeat them, let alone these messengers? Just a few hundred Spiritual Jade for this task, why risk their lives?

However, Zhong Ji’s arrival broke their tacit understanding.

Shu Dao Mountain, the Shu Dao Mountain of the Three Great Guardians, was under the Blood Phase’s authority, and as Blood Phase’s younger brother and deputy, Third-Turn Messenger Zhong Ji was also a major figure they dared not offend. Haven’t they seen that the Four War Generals who just went insane had their heads twisted off by him, no more difficult than killing a chicken?

Under Zhong Ji’s cold gaze, everyone returned to their tactical positions, blocking the mountain trail and sealing off the retreat path. But from the flickering in their eyes, it was clear they’d already prepared for escaping.

Zhong Ji didn’t intend to rely on them either; Demonic Messengers have always succeeded only by taking advantage of favorable conditions, unlike the Righteous Army Town Messengers who have camaraderie and family responsibility, and when encountering adverse situations, they scatter without hesitation. The Four War Generals were Zhong Ji’s truly entrusted subordinates; with them leading the charge, this unruly crowd could naturally fully bring out their innate ruthlessness.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Zhong Ji glanced at the headless corpse at his feet, a part of the neck vertebra exposed, pale and filthy.

He felt no regret killing his loyal subordinate; though the blood frenzy could be cured, a sole surviving member of the Four War Generals held no value. Better to use him as a warning sacrifice to intimidate others, and besides...

He took a deep breath, the mountain wind tinged with blood refreshed him completely; the Hundred Refinement Demon Claw, thirsting for fresh blood, was already in the zone.

Just then, a cute little head peeked over the cliff: "It’s because of you that I had to spend seventy thousand Spiritual Jade more to buy the Sword and Saber Secret Manual. If you kneel and kowtow now, I, the Female Knight, might mercifully forgive you."

Zhong Ji almost laughed in anger, "If you hand over the token now, I’ll let you go down the mountain."

"I’ve already given you the chance; it’s you who didn’t appreciate it," the young girl said leisurely. "But why should I fight with you? I’ll be ambushing near Changle City. If your people dare come down, I’ll kill one if I see one, kill two if I see a pair. What can you do to me?"

After so many battles, and frequent mentions of Heavy Rain Messenger in the Demonic Messenger discussions filled with dread, Yan Qing finally realized that the Rabbit Heroine in this Second-Turn profession has enormous advantage in combat.

As long as it’s matched with any token that increases damage with normal attacks, the Heavy Rain Messenger can burst far beyond Second-Turn combat power every thirty seconds. Without exceptionally good defensive tokens, death is nearly certain.

This was Yan Qing without opting for the Blood-colored Asura route; if possessed with the Asura Token that ignores defenses, even Third-Turn Messengers could be wiped out by the Rabbit Heroine instantly.

In game, the Heavy Rain Messenger seemed mediocre. Initially, Yan Qing didn’t mind it much, as the rain time activating every thirty seconds felt trivial, triggering only once per average battle. In the Secret Realm, at least four or five demons appear per wave; during rain time, players might only eliminate one or two, and during cooldown, this profession turns into a blank slate. Efficiency-focused players wouldn’t consider this choice.

Especially in PVP, it’s even truer; you trigger the rain time and eliminate the enemy, but then it’s your turn to die.

But in reality, it’s a distinctly different concept: every thirty seconds, one can consistently eliminate a demon, explosively confront other messengers... this thirty seconds becomes time given for the enemy to ponder their last rites.

Yan Qing wasn’t bluffing; he genuinely planned a change in battle strategy.

Given that he could detect hostile players from afar and had means to instantly eliminate them, why engage in direct combat? Although direct city assault is filled with thrill, stealth ambush to gradually clear entire strongholds is also a legitimate RPG playstyle worthy of exploration.

"Do you think Shu Dao Mountain lacks messengers skilled at tracking?" Zhong Ji spoke coldly, "Do you think you can escape?"

Despite his words, Zhong Ji’s gaze betrayed an urgent concern.

If he had known earlier that his opponent was the Heavy Rain Messenger... then even knowing wouldn’t matter; after confirming her token exhibited Legendary glow and Rare glow, there was no way he’d let these outsiders get away.

The Rare token could be dismissed, but a Legendary Token could fundamentally transform a messenger’s power. Hence, when Zhong Ji went back to summon reinforcements, he kept the news sealed, only mentioning the two outsiders possessed rare treasures, not divulging the existence of Legendary Gloves.

Once acquiring the Legendary Gloves, his power would surely match that of his elder brother; then Shu Dao Mountain’s Three Great Guardians would become Four, and Zhong Ji might become the new ruler of Shu Dao Mountain!

But if they decided on fleeing, given the Heavy Rain Messenger’s combat power, who among this ragtag group dares block the way? The longer the delay, the higher the chance of the Legendary Gloves getting exposed; if other Guardians noticed the situation here... This could be Zhong Ji’s singular life opportunity, one he cannot let slip!

"No need to worry about those cowards; they’re scared stiff. Before determining a winner, they dare not make a move." Zhong Ji taunted, "Or are you also cowards? Not daring even when it’s two against one?"

The young girl glanced at the other Demonic Messengers, then at Zhong Ji, and chuckled, "Taunting doesn’t work on me. When I leave here and hunt you down until you dare not come out, then everyone will know who should be embarrassed."

"However, my revenge from dawn to dusk is important, and since you’re so eager to die, this Female Knight will oblige. Stand still and don’t run."

She left behind a baffling statement, and then shrank back into the cliff.

Just as the people on the mountain path were confused, they suddenly heard a loud roar from the cliff, followed by a gigantic stone large enough to block the path being hurled out!

Zhong Ji timely dodged forward, avoiding the boulder that came crashing down; he intended to taunt, but then he saw the young girl leap straight down from the cliff, her body flashing with protection.

Down she came?

This move was completely unexpected for Zhong Ji and the other Demonic Messengers. Altogether, there were more than ten Demonic Messengers, and it equated to voluntarily jumping into a circle of enemies. Even though Zhong Ji provoked first, he hadn’t expected his opponent would be so earnest.

Thinking of this, not just Zhong Ji, but the other Demonic Messengers began to flex their muscles, like a group of butchers attending a feast.

Zhong Ji had a keen eye for people, as long as there’s an opportunity, the Demonic Messengers could turn from cowardly to bloodthirsty beasts... or perhaps this was the dual nature of the Demonic Messengers.

Bang!

Unlike the girl’s feather-like descent, Pharmacist’s Wish landed as if a colossus descended, her total armor weighing dozens of pounds, leaving deep footprints on the mountain path upon landing. Beneath her burlap cloak was armor flashing silver lights, and the Soul-Breaking Spear’s rare treasure radiance was fully exposed, the Third-Turn aura scorching everyone like flames!

Though Second-Turn Demonic Dao had the strength to counter a Third-Turn Messenger, there was a difference between the ordinary Third-Turn and the Military Town Third-Turn; the difference was the strength of the Token, only the Military Town Third-Turns qualified for the best Tokens... and Pharmacist’s Wish was clearly a Military Town Third-Turn!

A mob attack might kill her, but given the fighting strength of a Military Town Third-Turn, it was expected she’d take several of them with her before dying!

"Very well," the young girl ignored the commotion behind, holding the Seven-Star Sword pointing at Zhong Ji: "This way, you can’t escape."

Me, escape?

Zhong Ji suddenly realized that the stone earlier wasn’t solely targeting him, it was also to block the path leading upward.

"No need to worry about two against one, you’re not worthy of us breaking the Jianghu code, this fight this Female Knight alone will solve you," Rabbit Heroine said slowly, "Any last words?"

No two against one?

Or rather, can’t two against one.

Zhong Ji glanced at Pharmacist’s Wish confronting the other Demonic Messengers behind; he never intended to uphold any Jianghu code, since the opponent jumped willingly into a trap, he was happy to bully with numbers, but now with Pharmacist’s Wish blocking the back, the retreat-thwarting Demonic Messengers naturally hesitated. Even though his subordinates taunted willingly, others weren’t eager to become the frontbird.

Indeed unreliable, it must be me to resolve this little brat!

Simultaneously, Zhong Ji felt an inexplicable fire within, how dare the opponent not flee, even believing he would flee, truly underestimated... indeed worthy of being the Heavy Rain Messenger, arrogant like that Prajna fellow.

Then let your blood dye the Zhong Family’s banner overseeing Shu Dao Mountain!

Rapid! Zhong Ji’s speed was unimaginably fast, drawing a continuous shadow across the ground, almost instantly approaching the young girl, with the Hundred Refinement Demon Claw on his fingers threatening like thunder, covering the young girl’s head, throat, eyes, forehead... all critical areas within reach!

The Demonic Messenger watching widened their eyes, bypassing probing entirely; Blood Steward’s sudden move was his famous mobile killing technique · Blood Phantom!

Countless messengers couldn’t react, consecutively killed by Blood Steward’s Blood Phantom approach, the last sound they heard was wind blowing, the sound of their blood splattering.

’Upon seeing the Blood Steward, your life hangs on his whim.’ Shu Dao Mountain has a phrase like this.

But the young girl was also a monster, she forcibly dodged the Blood Phantom’s surprise attack and countered mid-air!

Heavy Rain time!

All held their breath, most Demonic Messengers seeing Heavy Rain Messenger’s move for the first time. Legend said of unmatched strength as top of the Demonic Dao; could Heavy Rain Messenger with Second-Turn power instant kill Third-Turn Demonic Dao?

Yet just before the young girl’s strike, Zhong Ji’s advancing figure suddenly stalled mid-air, barriers broke down several layers, as if time stopped suddenly, then he retreated even faster with Blood Phantom, escaping the young girl’s attack range!

"Thirty breaths before the next Heavy Rain strike, right?" Zhong Ji sneered, "That’s your last breathing time, cherish it well."