Chapter 344: Play the Song, from the Guitar

Chapter 344: Play the Song, from the Guitar

The formation nearly breaks apart as the ground literally roils with the number of horrific creatures rising from underground. All of who are in Qi condensation realm.

With my steadily increasing level of power, diving it deep into the unseen nethers of the world have become near trivial to do. And creatures like these are always available for taking over.

Mindless, simple creatures of all kinds.

Some of whom, if they survive, will join my taming group. But I dont feel too bad about using them in this way, as most of them just work off instinct and dont have any level of true sentience. Perfect for morally using as cannon fodder, until they gain sentience.

Its a shame I cant use this in public spaces or where others could find out about it, as this would raise others apprehension against me by several levels.

With that in mind, the first minute into the second stage is pure chaos, as Sofia works to calm the group while firing the lasers in almost every direction. Jin Chin, on her side, is targeting the true culprit.

Me.

She has hopped on a sword and is striking the shield around me with devastating blows.

But I keep her busy in other ways, before she can break through my floating shield bubble.

With another wave of my hand, my second wave of beasts shoot out of the ground. Foundation Establishment hordes.

Her eyes widen, and she swishes her sword in their general direction. Countless underbeasts die, but more come to fill in the space.

In the moment of surprise this creates, I open the bubble.

The eyes on my disembodied head shoot open and I scream out a roar. Tides of the toxins and talismans shoot out from their hovering position around my head, covering the arena in darkness and poisonous fog.

Fiery explosions resound around, killing underbeasts, but also weakening the shield formation in the middle of their panic.

As Jin Chin realizes this, she rushes back toward me, but by that time, I close the bubble again. With even more fervor, she keeps striking at the bubble, desperate to stop me as more toxins and talismans emerge from my space bracelet.

I literally have the reserves to do this all day. Maybe even all week.

I dont plan on making it easier on them. As even this is easier and more predictable than what could happen in a real high-level battle.

So, I continue to repeat this over and over again.

But there is something that changes the situation.

The willpower of the group.

All the preparations and comradery interactions Ive been working to cultivate between them seem to have helped to make them band together. I can sense just a bit of that in those shouted conversations.

Dammit Jin, Im a medic! Ive only just learned this technique, so how the hell can I keep it going for 10 more minutes?!

Do you think we have a choice?! Do you want those things to get in here? If not, then hold on, you motherfucker!

It makes me so proud.

And since they are holding the line on the shield, it has given Sofia enough time to take the one window that Ive left open.

The time that I release the toxins and talismans to strike out at the shield and Jin Chin.

Like a light piercing through the clouds, a single concentrated ray, rather than the shotgun blast, glows through the creatures, through the poison clouds, and even through various explosions to strike me square in the chest. Right where my heart would be.

And also the rest of my chest.

Its just a big hole.

More importantly, it damaged my cultivation base from its intensity.

It weakens the shield I've surrounded myself with, revealing that the attack grazed the outskirts of Nascent Soul. Something that would be considered almost impossible when done by under 1000 cultivators of these realms.

My actions fall still and my body falls to the ground again. Another firework erupts from Sister Nuans position.

They did it.

The second stage is passed.

However, there was a price to pay. Their shield and attack formation goes down. Everyone is exhausted. Too much so to maintain the formation.

And they are unprepared for the next wave.

My hand twitches towards a talisman that triggers a series of monoliths that rise out of the ground, scattered around the arena.

Which also activates the sound of a haunting choir that causes despair in everyone here.

Having learned from the previous stage, Jin Chin charges toward me to strike me down early. However, the monoliths have a special, terrifying usage.

A creation from the darkest parts of my mind. The information gained from the demonic cultivator that tried to take over my body.

Light shoots out from each of the monoliths, enveloping my body in a nauseatingly magenta film.

Mind-wracking pain consumes me. Most importantly, though, it defends me from the strike that she was about to land. Creating a barrier around my body that is firmly within Nascent Soul.

And thats when I feel it.

Tearing.

Ripping.

Gnawing.

I only have a small bit of time to tell them of what is coming. Before I wont be able to speak at all.

Im not looking forward to this.

My head floats over to my body, before reattaching at the neck. I yell out words, using qi to amplify it over the still crumbling ground.

Thats when I move toward the group, using my quick steps.

I first arrive at my favorite peoples location.

Ai, Lin, Mei Lin, and Shi.

Each of whom is working together to break down a monolith.

Mei Lin is the first to notice me, as she freezes mid swing, before turning back toward me with a trembling motion.

N-n-n-no, please.

UGH.

I feel an internal impact, as if someone physically struck me with a deep blow.

Sorry, Mei Lin. This is necessary.

I wave the club, giving her a gentle tap, which causes her to be thrown a significant distance. Knocked out.

I can see the frowns and looks of horrified disgust on their faces at this and my appearance. It hurts a little.

Ah.

Crap.

The privacy tent thing may not happen now.

Well, this needed to be done to prepare the group for the future. Unfortunately, we WILL have to fight demonic forces. This is but a taste of what is coming.

I swing a few more times and they also go flying. I needed to strike Ai, Shi, and Lin harder, because they are resilient from the constant training and healing.

But not enough to handle a core formation.

So, when I finished them and turn to everyone else Everyones faces pale.

If I did this to the people I care about most, what will I do to them?

Anyway, I started swinging.

Peoples bodies fly like dandelions in the breeze. Of course, being healed so that they wont die.

As would make sense, Jin Chin rushes to stop me, but I keep using quick steps to avoid her, while still attacking the group.

But she does a competent enough job that I can't easily take them out.

All the while, Sofia and the rest attack and destroy the pillars, one-by-one. Gradually adjusting to my movements, with Jin Chin blocking my attempts to reach the heart of the group.

This is also where I experience the frustration of a raid boss.

Being led around, only able to attack in certain ways. Every time I get close, she uses some new technique to knock me back from the area. All the while, the weaker members of the group are firing off techniques at the tendrils trying to touch down. Beating them back, even if only to slow them down a little.

Even if they cant damage me, they have their own ways to hold me back.

A reminder for myself, for if I ever need to fight for real.

Its in this way, this deeply unsatisfying way, that the last monolith is destroyed.

The moment that happens, the magenta light surrounding me abruptly cuts off, and my body quickly reforms into its natural state. My chest pulls the swamp tree in, causing me to fall to the ground. Face first.

I then heal myself to close the soul realm and cultivation wounds this entire ordeal has caused.

Everyone is cautious. Glancing towards the sky at Sister Nuan, desperate to see if they succeeded.

To scare them, I jump up with my hand pointed to the group, but am instantly attacked by Jin Chin.

Waitwaitwait, I was just joking, stop swinging! Sister N Senior Song, fire the firework, please!

Sister Nuan fires it while shaking her head at my stupid actions.

Of course, I had asked her to delay it beforehand.

Everyone in the group is giving me disgruntled looks, if not glares. I heal them all to make up for it.

Even though it may seem like an asshole move, that had a purpose. To prove to them it is over, and that I'm still the same person before.

To portray that everything before was just training. A faade.

Even if those with more experience here can infer that not all of it was.

And just as vital to lighten the mood. I mean, they literally were fighting demonic/eldritch beings.

After this moment of pause and healing, the mood lightens. I get a little serious and speak out toward the group, before breaking into a huge smile.

Congratulations, everyone. You just beat the equivalent of a Core Formation demonic cultivator. This is the result of all of your hard work. Youve done well.

Another moment of silence ensues, followed by enthusiastic cheers as everyone realizes that it is finally over. However, I see some people notice the privacy screen is still up.

I continue to speak, to clear things up.

As promised, each of you will receive the pills I promised before the end of the day. For now, get some sleep and well talk later tonight. You all deserve it!

Thats when Sister Nuan dissipates the shield, causing the swords composing it to break away from each other and crumble into dust. Of course, I heal her as well, as she was the one sustaining it.

The group nearly tumbles over one another in their rush to leave the war-torn arena, yet there are still many individuals who remain.

People I will need to explain quite a few things to before they are satisfied.

This will not be a fun time.