Chapter 74: Devine Soldiers Descend from the Sky

Just as the battlefield was in chaos, Rom suddenly let out a loud shout, drawing everyone’s attention.

Just as everyone turned to look at Rom, Tao Lani, who was locked in battle with the black-robed man, sweetly smiled at him.

“Mr. Black Robe, you can’t get distracted on the battlefield.”

After saying that, Tao Lani sharply swung her holy staff.

Over a dozen shadows appeared, two of them wrapping around the black-robed man’s white shadows while the rest quickly pounced on him.

This was the blood magic Tao Lani had cast—Withered Shadows.

Since physical attacks were useless against the white shadows, she would use the equally non-physical Withered Shadows to deal with the black-robed man’s white shadows.

In the moment the black-robed man was stunned, the Withered Shadows reached him, clinging tightly and draining his mana and stamina.

Seeing the black-robed man entangled, Rom immediately unleashed a spell he had been charging for a long time.

“FIVE-STEP·HEAVENLY ICEFALL!”

As mana surged around Rom, nineteen crystalline ice cones materialized in the air above the black-robed man and the remaining bandits, glittering in the sunlight.

But these dazzling ice cones brought deadly damage.

The next second, the ice cones fell, piercing through every bandit attacking them.

Blood splattered across the ground, staining it dark red.

In the pool of blood lay the bandits, already dead, scattered in all directions.

This was the overwhelming power of a mage against ordinary people.

The bandits didn’t even have time to resist before they were all eliminated by magic, dying with eyes wide open.

Now, only that strange black-robed man stood before them.

The moment the ice cones crashed down, the black-robed man had activated a magic shield, blocking the attack.

Seeing that he was still standing, Tao Lani frowned slightly.

Her Withered Shadows had already hit him.

Logically, he should be extremely weak now.

Why could he still react so quickly?

Sensing the feedback from the Withered Shadows, Tao Lani was certain that the black-robed man was still under the effect of her blood magic, his mana being continuously drained.

But why wasn’t he reacting?

Tao Lani felt puzzled, then a hint of unease rose in her heart.

Noticing the gazes around him, the black-robed man looked around and then spoke.

“You must be wondering why I’m fine, right? Especially you—you must be curious why your blood magic didn’t work on me, right?”

Then, Tao Lani saw the black-robed man casually pat his body, brushing off all the Withered Shadows.

Seeing this, Tao Lani’s unease grew stronger.

She felt a dangerous aura from this black-robed man.

Moreover, he had recognized her blood magic and easily dispelled the binding of the Withered Shadows.

She found him increasingly unfathomable, certain that he was hiding something.

Just as the group was warily watching the black-robed man, he made a puzzling gesture.

He pressed his index finger and thumb together, brought them to his mouth, and whistled.

The group was visibly taken aback, not quite understanding what he was doing.

But soon, they understood.

With a whooshing sound, the black bird that had been in the cave earlier crawled out from the entrance.

As wind swept out from the cave, a pair of yellow eyes appeared in the darkness, moving rapidly from the depths toward the outside.

The black bird quickly emerged from the cave, exposed to sunlight, and stood before everyone.

“This…”

Rom felt nauseated when he saw the bird’s appearance.

In the cave, they couldn’t see clearly, but now in the sunlight, they got a real good look.

Before them stood a giant bird as tall as a three-story building.

Its entire body was pitch black, with a pair of crimson eyes in their sockets.

It was dirty, stained with blood and bone fragments.

Tao Lani, being a Blood Demon, was highly sensitive to life, yet with this giant bird standing before her, she felt no signs of life from it at all.

It was as if it were a dead thing.

Seeing their expressions, the black-robed man smiled in satisfaction and said, “Heh heh, this is my alchemical creation—the Yapian Divine Bird.”

Upon hearing that word, Jiu suddenly remembered something.

A line of text flashed through her mind.

The Yapian Divine Bird—the sacred bird of the legendary god of prophecy and omniscience, possessing the ability to foresee the future.

“Not bad.”

The black-robed man’s tone grew even more satisfied upon hearing this.

“It seems you recognize such a magnificent creation.”

“Hmph, magnificent?”

Rom had also heard Jiu’s words.

He sneered as he looked at the black bird.

“It’s just a puppet pieced together by dark alchemy, yet you dare to call it a divine bird?”

Hearing this, the black-robed man turned his gaze back, his tone turning icy.

“It seems some people still cannot comprehend my magnificent creation. But no matter—you will soon understand.”

“I have been waiting here for a long time. You have destroyed all my cultivation grounds everywhere. I have been quite angry these past few days.”

As he spoke, the black-robed man raised his magic wand.

Up until now, Tao Lani had no clear idea of the black-robed man’s motives or goals.

This black-robed man seemed shrouded in mist.

They knew nothing about him.

But there was no time to think too much now.

The black-robed man waved his wand, firing multiple black magical bolts, initiating his attack.

At the same time, the black bird flapped its wings and lunged forward.

Facing the black-robed man’s magic and the black bird’s assault, the four of them struggled to keep up.

Tao Lani cast defensive spells to protect her companions while carefully observing every moment of the black-robed man’s magic, hoping to find some clue.

Meanwhile, with Grey covering her, Jiu kept attacking the black bird, arrows raining down on it like a storm.

Gradually, the battle became deadlocked.

Neither side could gain the upper hand.

The black-robed man’s attacks were all blocked by Tao Lani, while Grey and Jiu managed to hold back the black bird.

Only Rom had his eyes tightly shut, muttering incantations, his magic wand nearly becoming a blur.

As Rom swung his wand, a massive fireball appeared in the air.

“SIX-STEP·BURNING SKY FIRE!”

Rom chanted, unleashing the most powerful spell he could cast.

Burning Sky Fire—the individual version of Heavenly Fire Judgment.

Its power and range were inferior to the group spell, but it was still something ordinary people could not withstand.

This was Rom’s trump card, his strongest blow.

If this spell hit the black-robed man fully, he would surely be reduced to ashes.

The black-robed man also sensed the abnormality.

He shifted his gaze, staring at the fireball in the sky.

But Tao Lani would not give him a chance to retaliate.

Seeing the black-robed man stop attacking, Tao Lani sharply swung her holy staff.

Several chains made of blood shot toward him, aiming to bind him.

But the black-robed man did not get bound as expected.

In front of everyone, he vanished from his spot.

As the group looked around in surprise, searching for the black-robed man, they spotted a dark shadow behind Rom.

“Rom! Dodge!”

Tao Lani shouted a warning.

But Rom couldn’t react in time.

The black-robed man appeared behind him, grinning maliciously as he slammed a palm into Rom’s body.

Instantly, Rom spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying.

With Rom’s spell interrupted, the fireball in the air lost control.

It twisted and deformed for a moment before exploding violently.

A massive amount of mana gushed out.

Tao Lani had to summon a shield again to block the terrifying heat.

But in that moment of distraction, Jiu and Grey, who were restraining the black bird, were forced to stop and dodge the out-of-control fireball, giving the black bird an opportunity.

The black-robed man waved his wand, and the black bird quickly flapped its wings, charging at them.

Just then, Tao Lani’s shield dissipated.

The black bird’s claws struck solidly against Grey and Jiu, sending them flying.

Seeing this, Tao Lani’s heart sank.

Could this be where they would fall?

Seeing that the other three of the adventurer party were no longer able to resist, the black-robed man ignored them and ordered the black bird to fly toward Tao Lani.

Tao Lani immediately released a shield, trying to avoid the black bird’s attack.

But the black bird’s claws somehow tore right through her shield.

Just as the black bird’s claws were about to land on Tao Lani, a sword woven with gold and silver flew in from afar, striking back the bird’s claws.

It spun in the air a few times before driving deep into the ground.

“Someone else?”

The black-robed man was visibly surprised for a moment.

As he hesitated, a familiar voice came from the distance.

“SEVENTH TIER·ANTI-MAGIC FIELD!”

Come on, thank you.

(If you spot any typos while reading, please point them out—the author is a typo addict TAT.)