Warrior of Spring collided with the Bone Devouring Dragon once more.
Striking the behemoth on the head, his axe tore into the pale scales.
Immediately as it roared in pain, the sickly man was upon Warrior of Spring.
Twisting around, he waved his hand and defended himself from the former's attack.
A terrifying, bony hand grabbed onto the axe's head.
"Your resistance is futile!"
A heavy pressure was felt as the sickly man yelled.
Dao Art -- Three Layer Corpse Burial!
Falling to the ground, Warrior of Spring in the crimson soil.
Above him, three objects fell from the sky, manifested by the sickly man's Dao Art.
"First! A daughter's rot! Verdent fruits are killed with poison."
A mushy substance of purple and red spilt from his hands, reducing the land to a swamp of rot.
"Second! A mother's remorse! Weeping over her loss for three days straight!"
Fifty sticks of incense are stuck into the swampy ground where Warrior of Spring is buried.
The sick smell of rot mixes with the smell of burning wood.
"Third! A father's regret! Depart from this world and scatter with the wind!"
Fire surged. A great flame descends and scorches the swamp, incinerating the sticks of incense, and chars the forest.
"Burn to ash and bone, let your dust fertilise the world, befitting your pathetic title..."
Heat assaults the surrounding life.
The Bone Devouring Dragon hovers in the air, beginning to fly to Corpse Mountain.
Earth ruptures, cracking with thunderous booms.
A tendril-like root shoots from the ground.
"What!"
The sickly man watches as the root binds the dragon.
More begin to rise, further binding the dragon, but also targeting the sickly man himself.
A powerful, verdant breeze sweeps through the area, quelling the flames.
"You scoundrel! How dare you burn the forest!"
Rising, Warrior of Spring bursts through the charred ground.
Uplifting the terrain, he reveals the darker crimson soil beneath.
Roots spring forth and stab towards the sickly man.
"You will atone with your flesh and blood! You and that dragon!"
"Just stay dead!"
Bone spikes manifested within the air, cast down to meet with the countless roots that rose.
Warrior of Spring's Mystical Weapon collided with a few, smashing the spikes into dust.
A powerful roar calls from the side, a breath of ash plumes in the air.
With his vision obscured, Warrior of Spring relies solely on Immersion to fight.
The Bone Devouring Dragon continued to struggle in the roots' tight embrace.
Spikes continued to fall like rain, the sickly man still high above the air.
...
Far in the distance, ashen fog floods the air.
Tendril-like roots reach above and bind the pale dragon.
The pale starlight captures the scene of a ferocious battle.
Within Corpse Mountain Settlement, the retaliatory army has retreated.
Shade of Autumn and the Settlement Lord are discussing worriedly.
"The arrival of this great enemy was truly unexpected!"
"Lord, please do not worry. It was our complacency that caused us to overlook this possibility."
"Still... I am at fault for not considering this ordeal..."
With the tides of beasts and Spirits, the implicated Mortal Settlements were focused only on their preparations.
Naturally, suffering the countless attacks of the tides and exhausting one's manpower and resources, the implicated Settlements were at their most vulnerable.
This vulnerability was taken advantage of by demonic Cultivators.
Lone individuals or parties which act against justice, order, and morality, solely driven by personal interests at the world's cost.
It wasn't that they were not expecting a Demonic Faction to ambush them, but the tide's overwhelming assault stole most of their attention.
Shade of Autumn and the Settlement Lord were discussing their current situation.
"We do not know if this individual is alone or part of a Demonic Faction."
"Yes... I do not recognise this dragon or this individual. I must station my warriors around the perimeter to look out for other suspicious individuals."
"I'll lend you the support of our Cultivators; they will aid in defensive measures. I need to keep an eye out for our friends still on the battlefield."
Shade of Autumn was referring to the other two Third Foundation Cultivators.
Golden Eagle was one of them. She was not too worried about this senior; he was powerful and should be very capable of fleeing.
The other, Axe Wielding Fiend, was also powerful enough to sustain himself in a long, arduous battle.
However, with the presence of three First State battle strengths, they would be reduced to mere collateral.
"Despite the ordeal above them, I trust that they are fine. I wish them a safe return, but if they haven't retreated in the next twenty minutes, then..."
"You!"
Whipping around at the enraged call, Shade of Autumn looks at the approaching blonde with bared teeth and seething eyes.
"You wish for our seniors' safety, their health, yet you deny my aid to them!?"
His voice was fierce and hoarse as he berated, but Shade of Autumn was not backing down at all.
"Sun...? Do you not understand our situation?"
"Of course I do! You have left our seniors out there to handle the tides on their own! What makes you so sure that they'll return alive!?"
"I trust their strength; they are very capable men! I did not leave them, but the situation forbade them from coming back."
"Circumstance then... then what forbade me from helping them! Nothing is guaranteeing their safe return!"
"And your presence will!? Don't be ridiculous! Your battle strength may be tremendous, but it is not outstanding! Compared to your friend, Dawn, you can't hold a candle to a higher Foundation!"
"You-!"
Sun stepped forward in anger. He respected his beloved friend, but that comment poked at his pride.
"That doesn't matter! If I'm out there, their chances of survival will rise!"
"And if the situation changes and causes your death, then you spent your life meaninglessly!"
"How dare you!"
"Don't you understand!? You have a purpose to serve here!"
Halting in his steps, shock was subtle on his expression, though he was still gritting his teeth with a tightly knit brow.
"So focused on hatred and revenge, have you forgotten your purpose? You are here to defend the Settlement!"
"The people here need your help, your strength and aid! Will you throw away your life for your selfish gains?"
"Do you let your personal emotions cloud your Way?!"