Chapter 370: This is No Mistake

Chapter 370: This is No Mistake

I should have known.

They were waiting for it the whole time.

The firing of my cannon was the signal that it was safe for the sniper to attack. Leading to the person sized hole in my chest and my defenses shattered. After all, that same cannon was what allowed me to completely disable a Core Formation expert.

I fall from the sky, my throughs race towards what could have gone wrong. Leading to a simple answer.

Higher realm cultivators.

Each the equivalent to a human super computer. With multiple of them working together and my scan already being stretched thin to handle the direct combat side, of course I wouldn’t be able to track the changes to their plans.

That’s all it would take for an average Core Formation, like them, to take advantage.

The air rushes past me, while I feel my healing aura work on repairs, right after the wound appeared. Almost instantly recovering from the wound, I feel the slightest satisfaction from seeing the look of shock and fear on the core formation expert's face with my scan. His well-timed, strong, and accurate shot was going to waste.

But before I strike the ground, I know what I need to do.

Pulling the qi from inside me, I wind it through my meridians, around all three of my dantians, to lead it back out of my body. This cycle is what allows me to form it into my qi shield and mage skin. All in the matter of seconds.

Just enough time to impact the ground.

...

The dust rises all around as I shift into another combat stance.

Even in this small span of time, all the groups are closing in, like predators on injured prey. Except for the newly terrified core formation expert, who is moving even farther away from the battlefield.

A moment that seems like it draws out forever.

...

A whisper thought by many and said by one emerges amidst the silence.

“Is he dead?”

A crack of the ground answers them, as I leap into the air, right as they are about to get within 20 meters of the dust cloud.

This time, I’m ready for the other shots that have come at me.

But they come in a far higher amount and variety than I expected.

20 core formation level shots. As well as hundreds of Foundation establishment ones soar over the horizon. All made up of different varieties of techniques, like giant fireballs, spears of light, orbs of darkness, and many other types.

Thank God.

Enormous crowds, led by trains of spiders, come closer to the perimeter of the combat area. A far enough distance that they won’t be involved or taken hostage, but close enough for me to use my healing ability.

And it seems that even if anyone wants to do something about it during the process, no one would be bold enough to attack the crowds. After all, Gong has already invited some injured city guards to join, as well. Making it their problem if they get attacked.

Which means I need to ready myself.

Like I had done with mage skin and qi shield, I manipulate the qi within my body. Unlike the other two actions, this one is using the well-worn pathways that have been optimized for healing. Allowing my Fingers of Healing technique to invisibly rise from my body to rush toward the crowds. Of course, my healing aura is already able to reach them, from the proximity of the spiders to the people needing treatment.

I can sense a pause, as the Core Formation cultivators use their spirit sense to see my actions.

Almost instantly, the incoming attacks cease, from a command of one of the leaders

... why are they stopping?

But I soon realize the obvious answer.

Only the Sect Patriarch, the Head Librarian, and my allies know I cultivate by healing.

It’s one of the few things that I haven’t really revealed yet, though there might have been clues.

So, they likely think that I’m just going to be wasting qi. Even in this world, people follow the idea of, ‘Don’t stop your enemy when they are making a mistake’. At least from their perspective.

And considering my previous actions, there are any number of reasons that I could be healing groups right now, going from last wishes to help others before I die to leveraging it for better surrender terms.

Either way, since they don’t know that, I now have a tremendous opportunity.

Stretching across the vast area, I use more of my qi to push it farther than ever before, while still protecting myself. To finally reach the first batches. But I don’t start healing until I have each and every finger attach to a person needing help.

Which is when I activate the technique and aura. Forming a swirling tornado of qi around me in a flash.

The grin on my face can’t help but grow, as the panicked realization of what this means dawns on everyone watching.

Yeah. I’m a self-sustaining healer.

And as another wave of attacks falls upon my position, that’s when I activate the Tortoise Swallows Dragon qi shield technique I’ve been holding in.

Attack absorption.

The tornado doubles in size with every attack, as I absorb the qi within.