Chapter 568: Stomped
A golden band flickered in the light, spinning as it was launched through the air, hurled away by the force of the tortoises foot smashing into the water. A wall of steam rose into the air along with a huge wave splashing over the area of the swamp around them. A purely physical attack wouldnt do much to a spirit being like a Nascent Soul, but the Living Disasters attack was not purely physical. Like most Demonic Beasts, its body was covered by a layer of Qi, one that empowered its defenses and enhanced its attacks. It was the most rudimentary use of Qi, and usually the only technique that Beasts instinctively knew how to use other than the innate powers of their bodies. Having techniques passed down in an ancestral memory was quite rare and only the most famous and powerful species had many of those.
That layer of Qi meant the giant tortoises physical attack could affect his non-physical body, which meant that terrifying stomp was devastating. Just as Sage had often used the heightened physical characteristics of his powerful body to bully others at his same cultivation level, the Living Disaster was now doing the same to him. It made use of its huge body to attack with overwhelming force. Now that the tortoise had been allowed to close the distance, its foot was positively massive and with the help of another giant monster, he was caught by that terrible attack. Cracks formed over his spirit body and it shattered into particles the size of dust. Glowing specks of energy scattered apart like a handful of ash blown by the wind. From a distance, the tiny pinpricks of light spreading into the murky water looked somewhat like a reflection of a firework going off in the sky. There was no accompanying sound, the glowing lights under the water scattered and flickered, dimming and disappearing completely.
The giant tortoise lifted its head into the air and released a loud sound that was halfway between a roar and a honk. Then its head lowered into the water, starting to root around for its spoils. The giant spider across from it chittered at it, and the tortoise honked back to it. The spider stepped back, holding its position and glaring at the Living Disaster.
Upon the back of the tortoise there was chaos. The tortoises movements had sent their camp into confusion, destroying many tents and sending some of the people flying into ditches or smashing up against rocks. While the tortoise was trolling its nose in the water, the people on its back took a few minutes to recover. When they finally did, Whitestaff spun her staff around a few times and then thumped it against the turtles neck. The giant tortoise pulled its head out of the water and then let out a loud roar. Whitestaff kneeled atop the tortoises back, holding her staff and closing her eyes. The Living Disasters head swung around to its right and then scanned for back and forth, looking for something. Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.
Then it squawked like a goose and started to move towards the direction it was looking. The huge spider across from it held its ground, but the tortoises new direction would take it away from the center of the swamp where the spider had risen from. After the sounds the tortoise made, the spider backed away slightly. Could it understand the turtle, or was it simply defending its territory?
The Soul Fragments that enabled the Blacksilver Pawns were destroyed. The Soul Clone was gone, and he no longer had a body, so he had no poisons or the natural abilities from his body like the Hypnotic Eye and fast healing. How was he supposed to get away when not only was he at his weakest, but his enemies were stronger than ever. The camp on the Living Disasters back was massive, and they were working together with the giant monster. With the view through his insects eyes, hed already seen hundreds of the Fu Clan, Violet Light Sect, Artful Life Alliance, and Whitestaffs Disciples. They were already forming an inescapable net around the area.
If he stayed in the ring, and they didnt destroy it, there was no telling how long hed be trapped for. He could spend a few years nurturing a new body, but then what? Was he just going to sit in there and try to force understanding of a law? Even in the best case he was destined to become an eternal prisoner should he choose to hide.
There were so many people living on his Inner World. If he died, they would go with him, but could he handle a life of imprisonment? Hadnt he already chosen to escape the life of a pampered prisoner when he met Guan Zhenyan? Could he relegate himself to an even more restricted life?
Flipping through the air, the golden ring was shot out from beneath the giant tortoises foot just before it smashed into the ground again. It stopped in place, caught by a tendril of telekinetic force. A force that was wielded by a ghostly version of a man. Sages Nascent Soul form tilted its head back and he looked up at the face of the Living Disaster. He faced down those giant eyes, the rough cut diamonds containing a small lick of flame. The fire burned brighter with every second that passed.
Then Sage locked eyes with it.