Chapter 298: Epic Battle

Chapter 298: Epic Battle

A white gash ripped open in the sky, as if an invisible beast roared amidst the oppressive darkness. The swirling black clouds resembled clusters of malevolent spirits whipped by the fierce winds.

The ground began to tremble, and cracks spread across the earth. Wen Ying directed his gaze towards the location Yun Lao had mentioned for the vessel – that homestay.

The Church probably believed that the most perilous place was also the safest. After Yun Lao's previous assault, they hadn't relocated the vessel but left it right where it was.

With a thunderous rumble, the homestay crumbled and plummeted into the chasm, debris raining down and kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

A beam of light descended from the white rift in the sky, plunging into the depths of the crevasse where the homestay once stood.

Contemplating the possibility of intercepting it mid-process, Wen Ying raised his hand, attempting to seize the intangible soul carrying fragments of the law directly.

However, the net he cast was effortlessly penetrated, just like a soul passing through a wall.

There was no shortcut to be taken.

Wen Ying didn't dare damage the container while seeking Wu Mixiu's power. Instead, he closely monitored its condition. The moment Wu Mixiu's soul entered the vessel, Wen Ying struck without hesitation.

A furious tempest of white lightning descended like a dense web of electrical fury, its relentless assault lasting for several tens of seconds, its majestic power so immense that it transformed the originally gloomy sky into an anomalously radiant spectacle. Streaks of blinding white light danced across the heavens, rendering the vision of onlookers momentarily obscured as their eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden, overwhelming shift in luminosity. For those few disorienting seconds, their sight was engulfed in a stark and all-consuming whiteness.

Wen Ying wielded his magic as if it cost him nothing, showers of lightning imbued with the essence of law relentlessly pounded the underground location where the vessel resided, causing the ground to sink even further.

Pebbles scattered, a haze of yellow and white dust rose, obscuring people's vision. Wen Ying narrowed his eyes, not relying on sight but locking onto Wu Mixiu with his sense of presence. A massive branch surged from the shadows beneath his feet, its tip dividing endlessly into the sky. Those hundreds of tentacle-like limbs turned downward, piercing through the air like arrows, striking directly downwards with unstoppable momentum.

The bloodied branches finally pierced against a transparent barrier, being entirely intercepted. Something suddenly burst forth from the ground. Wu Mixiu had just entered the receptacle and wasn't yet accustomed to it. Though he sensed it mentally, his body reacted a moment too late. As a result, his lower leg was pierced by the bloodied branches that shot up from beneath.

It didn't pierce through because the container was too hard. The receptacle, now storing Wu Mixiu's immense magical power, had become exceptionally resilient, rendering ordinary objects incapable of causing it harm. The Bloodthorn Branch could penetrate only due to the extraordinary nature of the Blood Tree.

Wu Mixiu never expected that Wen Ying would possess a long-range weapon capable of harming him, the vessel. His expression darkened like roiling black fog, his eyes glowing red. Behind him, three pairs of white wings unfurled, instantly amplifying his imposing presence.

As the saying goes, "clothes make the man, and gold adorns the Buddha." When Wu Mixiu emerged from the ground with his enormous wings spread wide, even Wen Ying couldn't help but acknowledge his dazzling appearance. Despite his malevolent heart, he resembled a radiant seraph, meting out justice with severity yet retaining an air of holiness.

This seraph, however, lacked arms, akin to the armless Venus de Milo.

Wen Ying couldn't suppress a chuckle.

Wu Mixiu's face darkened further, his eyes seemingly aflame with fury.

On one side, the excited church group that Wen Ying had brought were held back by the demons, unable to interfere with him at all.

Amidst the fierce cries and clashes, the surrounding vegetation suffered collateral damage, their roots exposed, creating a scene of chaos.

Wen Ying never thought that a few powerful moves would be enough to dispose of the angel, Wu Mixiu. Seeing him fly out from the dust of battle, he ignored his nonsense and attacked once more.

Wu Mixiu, who wanted to spout some harsh words: "..." He was so angry that he was suffocating.

When two angels wielding the power of laws fought, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that the heavens and earth darkened. The church members and demons who were still fighting around them instinctively retreated thousands of meters away from the two angels, as if a natural disaster was occurring.

Muershi taunted in a provoking tone, "Why aren't you trying to rush past us like before?"

The person he addressed was so furious that they felt like vomiting blood, glaring fiercely at the evil bird.

A violent gust of wind approached, and one person hastily created a magic shield, only for it to be shredded apart within seconds.

The shadow of a three-headed dog enveloped the black-haired demon, making him appear like a ruthless Asura, exuding an extremely oppressive aura that put considerable pressure on the church members present.

Purple snowflakes fell, and someone's expression changed drastically as they shouted, "Don't let these purple snowflakes touch you! Retreat from its range!"

Several meters behind Beros, Koroy held his usual wand, which he typically used for riding, aloft. His elfin face split into a wide grin as he exclaimed, "It's too late!"

Each of the purple snowflakes detonated like bombs, one after another, in an endless barrage. The cries of pain and screams of humans echoed throughout the area.

A dark silhouette emerged from the smoke and dust. A demonic soldier raised both hands in defense but was sent flying backward, unable to withstand the impact.

The Extremity Bird's innate magic, the Malevolent Thunderstorm, descended, and someone within the church countered with a large-scale wood-elemental spell.

Amidst the chaos, a fierce battle raged on.

In the battle between Wen Ying and Wu Mixiu, it was soon evident that Wen Ying had the upper hand.

Initiating the assault, he first cast a barrage to weaken Wu Mixiu, who, lacking arms, was already at a disadvantage. Throughout the fight, Wu Mixiu's movements revealed numerous vulnerabilities, resembling a laggy video game where the enemy exploited every frozen frame for relentless attacks.

Wu Mixiu was on the verge of desperation. His composure began to crumble, exposing even more flaws.

The bloodied branches below behaved like tentacles, constantly tracking his movements. Without physical arms, the "hands" he conjured with magic were highly draining on his magical energy.

While the rapid depletion of magic was not fatal in itself, the inability to wield his immense power effectively was. Wen Ying could evade his attacks, but Wu Mixiu often found himself unable to dodge Wen Ying's strikes.

Wen Ying didn't give Wu Mixiu any chance to recover, taking advantage of his weakened state to deal the fatal blow.

Feeling the killing intent from the newly appointed angel, Wu Mixiu's enraged mind was cooled by the icy chill of that intent, bringing him back to his senses somewhat.

This guy wanted to kill him!

Not only that, but he also coveted his power! Realizing this, Wu Mixiu looked at Wen Ying's overly excited gaze with a tinge of fear – it was the look of a predator eyeing its prey.

Trembling emerged from the vessel as Wu Mixiu unleashed a barrage of high-powered spells formed from his immense magical energy, suddenly gaining the upper hand against Wen Ying. He then closed his wings, those seemingly soft feathers turning rigid like shields, blocking Wu Mixiu's magic. After the massive spell had been cast, those vast wings spread open again, revealing a magic card floating in the hands of the figure within. Just as Wu Mixiu was perplexed, Wen Ying suddenly used the same high-risk, large-scale spell he had just cast!

Wu Mixiu's pupils constricted as the brilliant glow of the spell grew closer, his heart filled with both curses and terror.

It all came back to him – Wen Ying's innate magic allowed him to replicate any spell he saw! With the augmentation of law power, this innate ability was like cheating!

Wu Mixiu barely managed to block the high-risk spell, but before he could catch his breath and conjure a new one, another heart-shaped magic card appeared in Wen Ying's hands, freshly made. Wu Mixiu couldn't help but exclaim, "Do you have any shame?!"

Even angels could swear, though none of the onlookers from the Church heard him due to the deafening roar of the magic.

Wen Ying laughed wickedly, "My innate magic has nothing to do with shame."

Wu Mixiu's magic construct clenched tightly, so much so that if it were real, veins would likely be bulging on the back of his hand.

His advantage in magic was nullified by Wen Ying's innate ability. After another ten minutes of intense exchange, which left the land barren, Wu Mixiu began to entertain the thought of retreat.

If this continued, the outcome would be predictable – he would lose.

Only angels had the power to capture a significant amount of Law Shards. Not only would Wen Ying kill him as a vessel, but he would also seize the Law Shards within his soul! Those shards were the essence of an angel, and without them, an immortal angel would quickly fade away like a heartless being.

Though Wu Mixiu found staying in the sky utterly boring, it didn't mean he would willingly embrace death!

Perceiving that Wu Mixiu's attacks were becoming distractingly chaotic like fireworks, Wen Ying keenly sensed his intention to flee. He snorted coldly and the bloodthorn branches sealed off Wu Mixiu's escape route.

Wu Mixiu raged, "Don't push your luck! Do you think the Law will permit you to kill me?"

The two angels fought fiercely, causing the heavens to darken and the half-asleep Law to stir. However, it remained silent and uninvolved. Upon hearing Wu Mixiu's words, Wen Ying scoffed, "Before you speak, perhaps you should consider how many lives have been lost in the human world because of you. Disregarding other atrocities, just the casualties caused by the extremist faction alone could be counted in the tens of thousands. And let's not forget the ants you created."

Undeterred, Wen Ying continued his assault while keeping a watchful eye on the Law's movements. The Law, however, remained silent.

The silence of the Law only emboldened Wen Ying further. Each of his attacks were ruthless and showed no mercy.

Wu Mixiu noticed the Law's silence and felt panic in his heart. The situation had deviated entirely from his plan. He had spent thousands of years cultivating, not to push himself towards death!

Faced with life and death, Wu Mixiu also struck lethally, but he secretly kept an eye out for any chance to escape.

Now was the time to escape. Once he adapted to the container and there would be no more delays or glitches, he could come back and settle scores with Wen Ying. He was just a second-generation, one whose power hadn't fully matured yet. Once he adapted to the container, he wouldn't be a threat.

Of course, Wen Ying had also considered what Wu Mixiu was thinking, which was why he was determined to crush Wu Mixiu today and not let this threat go.

The angelic battle lasted nearly a day. The power of the Law fragments filled the surroundings with a pressure that ordinary people couldn't withstand. It was like the oppressive feeling of standing beneath towering mountains, weighing down on every creature that approached.

Amidst the smoke and dust.

Muershi watched the battlefield from afar, his injuries severe but still in the mood to tease, "Rarely do I see you with such a worried expression." After saying that, he coughed up blood, wiping away the blood at the corner of his mouth as if nothing had happened.

Boros glanced sideways, stepping on the corpse of a Church exorcist, "I am really worried. How about you go over and take a look for me?"

Muershi replied, "Your relationship with Wen Ying is closer. You should be the one to go."

That realm was filled with the power of law, causing demons to feel an intense sense of rejection. It was definitely not a good time to approach. Muershi touched his abdominal wound and took out the healing magic card he had purchased from Wen Ying to treat himself.

The Church's exorcists were all dead or had fled. They didn't pursue, as their goal was to secure this area.

Wen Ying's healing magic cards were very popular in the Demon Realm; many demons present took out the ones they had bought to heal themselves.

Suddenly, the commotion in the distance fell silent. The demons turned their gazes towards the battlefield.

The two angels who had been fighting in the sky were nowhere to be seen.

Beros stood up. Koroy watched him take a couple of steps towards that region before saying, "It won't do you any favors to go over there now."

If he was uninjured, it might have been fine. But with his current injuries, which were severe, and under the suppression of the laws, the demons' natural healing abilities were already weakened. To deliberately walk towards a place with power a thousand times stronger would be self-torture.

Beros halted in his tracks. "I have no intention of going over there."

He could sense that the power of law in that region was slowly contracting, converging towards a single point.

"Muershi's ambition is immense," his eyes flickered. "I originally thought he just wanted to get rid of that first-generation angel. I didn't expect Wen Ying to have plans to devour him."

The depth and contemplation in his eyes faded, replaced swiftly by the familiar mischievous glint of the malevolent bird. He sized up Berlos with interest, "I suspect that even after your maturity, you might not be able to defeat Wen Ying. Did you ever consider the possibility that you might not be able to subdue your chosen partner?"

Back then, with Berlos's arrogant and cold demeanor, he probably never entertained such a thought.

Koroy chuckled silently before adding, "I recall there was a wager between you two, stating that if Wen Ying could survive your attempts to kill him after you matured, he would become your partner."

Muershi chimed in, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Fortunately, you confirmed your relationship beforehand, otherwise..."

Otherwise, the tables would have turned, and Wen Ying would be the one overpowering Berlos, rendering the wager a laughingstock.

Berlos's face darkened. Fresh from battle and slaughter, his crimson eyes seemed to hold flowing blood, his entire being steeped in unspent aggression and savagery. It was not just ferocity, but also awe-inspiring.

Muershi, under the gaze of those crimson eyes, suppressed a shudder and continued to jest recklessly, "Even though you two are now partners, you should still be wary of those humans."

"Shut up." A deep, growling command accompanied by a surge of violent magic headed straight for him. Muershi knew when to back off, adopting an innocent expression and making a zipping motion across his lips.

Just moments ago, a human had self-destructed, and although the impact of that magic clearly affected Berlos, his injuries appeared minor.

Observing Berlos's condition for a moment, Muershi inwardly scoffed. A stubborn, prideful fellow, wanting Wen Ying to see that among all the demons, he alone was relatively unscathed.

Standing straight as if nothing had happened, the bloodstains on his clothes and body seemed to belong to someone else.

On the battlefield, Wen Ying had exhausted Wu Mixiu to death. Relying on his innate magic, he had drained Wu Mixiu's magic power before delivering the final blow.

Without waiting for the vessel's life signs to fade, Wu Mixiu's soul hurriedly tried to escape. However, Wen Ying, who had been attentively watching, caught him and immediately began extracting the fragments of law from the soul.

Wu Mixiu called out to the law in a voice that no one else could hear, but it remained eerily silent, as if dead.

Wen Ying found this amusing and proceeded to devour Wu Mixiu's law fragments with even greater joy and focus.

Unlike when Su Yuan had willingly passed his law fragments to him, this time Wen Ying was taking them forcefully. Although the initiative was different, the process was similar, and Wen Ying quickly became proficient. Wu Mixiu's resentful voice cursed at Wen Ying, cursing him while desperately trying to call upon the law to punish him.

But until the last trace of law fragments was devoured from Wu Mixiu's soul, the law did not intervene.

The first-generation angel died with unfulfilled wishes, while the second-generation angel reveled in triumph.

The commotion was so great that many nations took notice. In the country of Asapha, the government was largely controlled by the church, and they were all anxious about the outcome of the battle.

With such immense power clashing within their borders, they could only hope that the damage would be contained, not spreading further. Otherwise, ordinary people might perish just from being brushed by those spells.

After an endless wait, they finally witnessed the calm after the battle. The terrifying energy surges no longer appeared; instead, they seemed to be receding. Something felt off about the situation.

They also received news that the Church's forces had failed! A few managed to escape, but most of the Church members on site were killed by the demons.

Upon hearing this, the upper echelons of Azef immediately convened a meeting to discuss their next steps with solemn expressions.

The demons guarding the battlefield's edge noticed the curious onlookers from afar. They ignored those who stayed in bounds but launched spells the moment anyone crossed the line, forcing those nearly hit to reluctantly retreat.

"One of the Church's leaders is probably still here. Will the Church even exist after this?"

"I think the sensible ones within the Church will claim that Wen Ying is the angel they serve."

The foreign spies chuckled silently. It was wise to adapt to the changing times.

"It feels like the world's power dynamics are about to shift."

"The demon armies on various countries' lands are becoming restless. I've heard that the demons have been quietly taking control of many regions' finances."

"Why have I heard that some demons have entered the entertainment industry's talent shows?"

"Haven't they gone to establish a company?"

Spies from various nations exchanged puzzled glances as multiple pieces of information converged, their faces reflecting both confusion and a heavy sense of foreboding. The confusion stemmed from their lack of knowledge, while the gravity originated from an intuition that something was amiss.

"Angels are present; the demons can't possibly directly invade the human world," ventured a plain-looking middle-aged man, his voice uncertain as he gazed at the still-smoky horizon.

The battle between the two angels had concluded, leaving the man shaken. Only one angel's aura remained in the distance, implying that the other... had perished.

This realization sent a chill down everyone's spine. Angels, as legendary beings akin to demigods in their understanding, were thought to be invincible. Yet, one had just been slain upon arrival.

There was no tragic heroism here, only a sudden and inexplicable demise, evoking a mix of sympathy and fear. The ambient magical energy was still rampant, and the wind carried the scent of blood, heightening their senses of impending danger.

At the heart of the battlefield—

A figure was enshrouded by four sets of silver-white wings. As the expansive wings unfolded, the person within opened their eyes.

The moment Wen Ying opened his eyes, the dark clouds overhead dissipated, replaced by a faint golden glow that enveloped him. Cross-legged and sitting, his fair face took on an awe-inspiring sacredness under the golden light, appearing almost too delicate to be human. His silver-white eyes seemed devoid of emotion, and his entire form resembled an angelic statue standing resolutely in place.

Hair was indeed a vessel for magic. Wen Ying's hair, which had previously reached his hips, now extended all the way to his knee creases, falling smoothly without any disorder. The additional pairs of wings had grown larger as well, each feather exquisitely beautiful, like works of art, shimmering with a soft, ethereal radiance that layered upon itself, creating a mesmerizing spectacle.

Among them were slightly larger demonic bat wings, though not as vast as the angelic ones. The overall appearance was somewhat incongruous.

After devouring another angel's law fragment, Wen Ying felt his power multiplied by several times. He now had the capability to challenge the Devil King in the Human Realm. With the suppression of the Law Barrier, if the Devil King were to descend into the Human Realm, Wen Ying was confident that he could defeat him.