CHAPTER 469
Mission Failed
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By the time Ye Qinghan fought his way to the center of the secret realm, he was already running on fumes…
The deadly terrain grew increasingly treacherous. These Apostles were becoming larger and more powerful!
Just moments ago, her Breaking Army Sword Formation had been blocked by the Faceless One's sturdy shield!
In the past, such an occurrence would have been unthinkable. Now, she had to resort to her master's jade slip to overcome it…
Time was running out. Ye Qinghan had no choice but to quietly place the artifact Crane Light had given her. It resembled a construction lamp—a slender pole supporting a square, umbrella-like soft canopy. From a distance, it looked like a square mushroom?
"Hope I can make it in time…"
Truthfully, Ye Qinghan never imagined things would turn out this way. Just shaking off those Apostles had cost her so much time!
Now, the path back was already swarming with Apostles. Ye Qinghan had no choice—this time, she was alone.
Without Shiyao clearing the path or Juer providing cover, her only reliance was the sword in her hand.
At least the two Valkyries weren't causing trouble on the way back—that was a huge help!
Ye Qinghan no longer had to guard against attacks from above and below, nor did she need to worry about being caught in the Valkyries' crossfire.
But soon, Ye Qinghan realized she was surrounded!
Enemies surged toward her like a tidal wave from all directions!
Stranded in the heart of this deadly trap, Ye Qinghan spotted two identical magical artifacts—clearly evidence that He Guang and Yu Meng had already passed this way, though via different routes.
This predicament likely arose because without He Guang and Yu Meng distracting the Apostles elsewhere, they had all converged on her!
Or perhaps those artifacts possessed the power to draw the Apostles.
Regardless, the situation now was utterly dire…
Her pupils tinged gold, even this black mist was laid bare under the dual scrutiny of her divine senses.
Yet even so, what met her eyes was nothing but despair.
Front, back, left, right—A sea of Apostles surged toward her at breakneck speed.
"Frostblade Formation!"
"Breaking Army Style, Parting Clouds!"
Her legs, like springs, merely gathered a moment's tension before propelling her forward like a bullet!
Ye Qinghan had no choice. She knew those two Valkyries were undoubtedly watching her right now, wondering where the cat was!
They were just waiting for her to falter so they could gloat!
"Don't even think about it…"
Maintaining the constancy of the space required stabilizing the surrounding energy…
Define the strike zone…
"Fall!"
Spiritual energy surged, and a black barrier instantly descended, just as Lord Gu Ai had once used.
"Fall! Fall! Fall…"
Sure enough, mastering new skills in dire straits is something only found in novels.
Though the barrier did descend, it shattered in an instant…
By the time Ye Qinghan reached the designated spot, he was beaten beyond recognition…
Truthfully, returning alive was already the result of giving it his all.
"First Lady?"
Behind the Valkyries named Zhanlong and Yu Meng stood Ye Qinghan's lackey, the Northern Domain's proxy, Xu Zhanfeng.
Behind Xu Zhanfeng stood an army of cultivators from the Four Domains, dispatched to handle this deadly wasteland.
But they were blocked by He Guang, who stood before them. A massive sword scar gouged the ground in front of Xu Zhanfeng—a warning.
Beyond that lay the domain of the Executioner's Blade's mission—a mission that was crystal clear: purge all hostile forces.
Shangguan Rou, Cheng Liang, and Qi Huan were all within this army of cultivators. Upon seeing Ye Qinghan in such a disheveled state, they exchanged bewildered glances.
"Ye Qinghan, you're late. The mission is a failure."
Ye Qinghan sighed inwardly. To make a round trip in this death zone within twenty minutes…
Surviving this ordeal would be a miracle!
But she had no grounds for protest. The two mechanisms at the heart of the death zone had already proven everything to her. The two Valkyries before her could accomplish it.
This wasn't meant to be difficult for her. For He Guang, it was no different than going out for a stroll.
An Apostle of such power was utterly no match for this group of Valkyries.
Ye Qinghan could only blame her own lack of strength; she had no one else to blame.
"I'm sorry…"
Ye Qinghan couldn't see the expression beneath the mask, but she didn't receive any scorn from Hakkou.
"No need to apologize. Remember this defeat. Not every time will someone be here to clean up your mess."
With that, Hakou waved her hand, gesturing for Ye Qinghan to come closer…
"You're not going to beat me up, are you…"
Showing no emotion, the silver-armored Valkyrie slowly approached Ye Qinghan.
Yu Meng, who had remained silent, also rose slowly, drawing the Godslayer blade from its holster at her waist.
Heguang gently seized Ye Qinghan's wrist, lifting his arm upward.
"Space is more sensitive than your body. Control it carefully."
He felt spiritual energy surge into his wrist as He Guang's battle armor began to emit a low, growling hum—the sound of energy being drawn out!
"It's not as difficult as you imagine. You just need time to get accustomed to it."
Beside them, Yu Meng kicked a bucket-like mechanism, triggering it!
In an instant, connecting with the mechanisms the two had placed at the other two positions, three beams of light shot toward the center of the death zone.
"Can you feel it? This is the texture of space."
Gripping Ye Qinghan's wrist, she slowly unfolded her jade-like hand. A small, black, translucent cube coalesced in her palm.
"Soft, thin, yet not fragile."
"Sister Zhanlong, this…"
"Don't speak. Try to understand it. Make it serve you."
The hand gripping her wrist remained unrelenting, yet Crane Light's voice had never sounded so gentle. Ye Qinghan sensed something more—another side of Crane Light.
She wasn't as volatile as she appeared; instead, she was unusually gentle and serene. The Valkyrie codenamed Dragon Slayer might also be a girl capable of revealing a tender smile.
She too would place her hand on a sparrow's head, gently stroking its crest and smoothing its feathers.
As she opened her palm, Hakkou's immense power gathered within it, yet she seemed to be waiting for something.
"45 degrees, high-speed maneuver. Seventy-two heavy armor units, twenty-seven aerial units."
Ignoring Hui's words, Hakko simply followed her instructions, holding Ye Qinghan's hand and aiming it toward that direction.
"Is this your first time? I'll try to be gentle. Don't cry out."
The words fell, as if the preceding moments had merely been foreplay. Then, a surging, overwhelming power crashed down upon her!
A power far beyond Ye Qinghan's comprehension gathered in her palm, sending waves of tearing sensations through her hand!
She could feel He Guang's grip on her wrist tighten slightly: "If your spiritual power is insufficient, there's no need to strive to suppress all enemies. Often, just a barrier before your eyes can resolve many problems."
Though he spoke thus, what descended was indeed a colossal, curtain-like black cage.
"Qinghan, it's not over yet. You must maintain this cage until Yu Meng eliminates all the enemies."
Yu Meng moved swiftly, however, already rising slowly before everyone's eyes to hover high in the heavens.
Her ink-black battle armor activated, releasing a pale purple mist that swirled around her, illuminated by the glow of her breath, making her resemble the most terrifying apostle emerging from the black fog…
Yet the deity she served was none other than Lord Gu Ai.
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