âMana Reflux!â
An unexpected spell accurately struck Asudo, who was in the midst of gathering his mana.
He felt like someone had slammed a metal hammer into his temples, causing his vision to turn dark and his head to spin. Blood seeped from his eyes, noses, ears, and mouth.
Pu!
Unable to take it anymore, Asudo spurted blood.
At the same time, the red cloud he had conjured vanished into thin air.
Shu Yichao was obviously a hero-class warrior, whereas Miazova didnât look like a mage, with his heavy armor and weird getup. As for the ghost horsemen and skeleton soldiers, they emitted not the slightest mana pulsation.
Asudo was misled into thinking that the enemy had no mages, and he ended up letting his guard down. He was so angry earlier that he didnât even prepare a barrier before channeling a large-scale spell.
This created a perfect opening for Miazova to exploit.
It didnât help that Asudo was channeling a powerful spell, so the effects of the mana reflux were more pronounced. It was so painful that he felt like his organs were melting.
âWuu!â
Asudo wavered in midair, nearly plummeting to the ground.
Shit, I got careless! I underestimated the enemy!
Asudo was filled with regrets. Despite his spinning head, he hurriedly tried to take out his potions and activate his protection necklace, but it was too late.
âLight Weight!â
An inexplicable breeze blew, and Shu Yichao suddenly felt as light as a swallow.
He galloped forth and leaped straight toward Asudo. He raised his modao up high and swung it down on the enemy.
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Too distraught to put up any defense, Asudo fell from the sky like a bird with broken wings, spiraling down to the ground.
Bam!
He crashed into a house, breaking the roof tiles, before plummeting into what could have been a pond or a drain.
âGrandson, that fellow isnât dead yet!â Miazova shouted. âDeal the finishing blow!â
âI know, I know!â Shu Yichao galloped toward where Asudo fell. âIt pays to be thorough.â
âŠ
âArghâŠâ
Asudo lay helplessly in the turbid water, his eyes widened like a frog. He clutched his chest and let out a barfing sound. His body was aching so much that it felt like a dull knife was cutting into every inch of his flesh.
âD-damn it!â he howled.
How did things end up like that?
The deceased Tang army suddenly came back to life. Terrifying skeletons are flooding Shule. The rebel army almost barged their way into the City Lord ManorâŠ
These disasters challenged the limits of his imagination of âWhatâs the worst that can happen?â
The most depressing thing of all was that he, as an archmageâs disciple, hadnât even displayed the full extent of his capabilities yet!
âThose damned Tang bandits! I dare you to face me in a duel! What kind of man assaults others from the shadows?â he cursed.
If not for that eccentric mage dressed in heavy armor catching him by surprise, he could have fled even if he was outmatched here. He wouldnât be lying in a ditch, groaning like a wounded dog.
Pah!
Something heavy landed on the ground.
The groggy Asudo quickly shut his mouth.
Fear surged into his heart. He dared not make a sound, fearing that it would draw attention to him.
Tz!
He carefully tore away a card covered in runes, and his figure became obscure as if concealed behind a layer of fog. It had become hard to detect his presence.
Letâs hope it works, Asudo prayed in resignation.
He could only hope that the enemy would fail to find him and leave.
Once again, he was being too optimistic.
So what if you went into hiding? Thereâs an obvious red dot on the minimap; do you take me for a blind man?
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Clang!
The modao, reflecting the brilliance of the silver moon, sliced diagonally through the house.
Weng!
But before the modao could decapitate Asudo, a light surged out and enveloped him like a barrier, sparing him from the fate of being sliced apart. Still, the sheer force behind the blade slammed him into the ground, creating a huge pit.
Wu!
Turbid mud water and soil splattered everywhere.
Asudo wailed in agony. Knowing that his concealment had failed, he anxiously released a fireball to drive his assailant back, but the latter easily dealt with it.
Then, Shu Yichao raised his modao and sliced it down on Asudo once more.
âAHHH!â Asudo cried.
âWhatâs this?!â
Shu Yichao unleashed three consecutive slashes on Asudo, only to see the latter enveloped in a faint layer of light. A metallic clang could be heard when his modao clashed with it.
Asudo was still bearing the brunt of the impact from his modaoâs slashes, which was why he screamed as he was getting increasingly bruised, but nevertheless, the faint layer of light was indeed protecting him from being killed by Shu Yichao.
âIsnât this barrierâs defensive prowess too absurd?!â Shu Yicaho was rendered speechless.
To think that it could withstand his 180 damage, armor-break modao!
If a couple of slashes doesnât work, Iâll just have to try fifty or a hundred more.
So, Shu Yichao swung his modao like a furious storm. He struck every part of Asudoâs body, be it his face, forehead, neck, and chest. His onslaught induced Asudoâs protection artifacts to activate one after another, but they swiftly shattered under his modaoâs frightening sharpness.
Soon enough, Asudoâs clothes were tattered, and his body was covered in injuries. He looked like someone had just taken advantage of him.
Yet, the faint layer of a light persisted.
âThis really isâŠâ Shu Yichao clicked his tongue. To vent his frustration, he grabbed Asudo by his feet and smashed him onto the ground from left to right and back again. âIs this a divine artifact? But whereâs the artifact? I donât see it at all.â
Miazova arrived at the scene just then. It took only a glance to understand what was going on. âGrandson, I told you that there are many powerhouses in this world. Itâs only a matter of time before you bump into a wall if you charge blindly ahead. See what I mean? It would have been over for you if not for me!â
Miazova picked up a scroll Asudo dropped and pressed it against the latterâs head.
PshhhhhâŠ
Corrosive acid gushed out on Asudo, drenching him from head to toe.
âWUUUU!â Asudo cried with tearful eyes.
The faint layer of light protected him from the corrosion, but the terrible smell and pungent gas still choked him up.
âItâs a Divine Bone,â Miazova explained, âItâs a protection artifact forged out of infant bones. Tibetan mages fancy it because they can be fused with the casterâs bones, so their enemies canât steal it from them. This fellowâs Divine Bone is pretty high quality. Not only does it provide astounding defensive prowess, but it can also replenish his life force.â
âNo wonder heâs able to take so much beating.â Shu Yichao nodded. âBasically, youâre saying that he has absurdly high defense and regeneration, so it wonât be easy to kill him, right?â
âYou can say that again,â Miazova replied with a nod.
âThatâs right!!!â Hearing Shu Yichao and Miazova discuss his Divine Bone, Asudo suddenly howled as if he had found his straw of hope. âMy master is an unparalleled archmage of the Tibetan Empire! The world shakes at her word! Let me go right now, or elseâŠâ
His body wouldnât stop trembling out of fear, but he thought that he was at least saved now.
Archmages were known to be able to single-handedly take on a nation, and there were only three archmages in the entire Tibetan Empire. Anyone with a brain would know better than to offend an archmage.
Iâm saved! They should let me go nowâŠ
Even if the Tang army conquered Shule, it was still lacking compared to the Tibetan Empire. They were not in a position to provoke an archmage yet.
However, his little hope was doomed to be quelled.
âYou have a way to breach it?â Shi Yichao ignored Asudoâs outburst.
âOf course.â
Miazova pulled out several talismans and pasted them on Shu Yichaoâs modao. The modao began emitting a blue light.
âYou just have to enchant your weapon.â
Asudo, who had put on a brave front thus far, dropped to his knees and begged for mercy. âHeavenly soldiers, please spare me! I was foolish to have crossed you! I wonât dare to do it again, I swear! Please have mercy on me!â
Shoosh!
The modao was brought down, and the faint layer of light cracked like glass.
Shu Yichaoâs eyes lit up. âWoah, it worked this time.â
âAHHH!â Asudo let out a scream of despair.
His greatest trump card was his masterâs Divine Bone, but it looked like even the Divine Bone couldnât protect him now. Weakness gripped his body, as he watched in utter fear as Shu Yichao raised his modao shrouded in blue lightâŠ
âNO, SPARE ME! IâLL BE YOUR SLAVE! IâLL BE YOURâŠâ
Kak!
The faint layer of light shattered, and blood splattered. Asudoâs screams were silenced.