This Battle Is Only Just Beginning / The Cheat User's Battle (1)

"The matter of exorcists cannot be told to ordinary people, right? That's why you've never explained it."

At the time, everyone thought that Amamiya Xingqiu was bewitched by a woman named Shimizu Muxia, which led him to disregard the Tengu Family's wishes. Amamiya Shinro also thought so, but later he realized that there was probably some misunderstanding.

But misunderstanding is misunderstanding, and facts are facts. They didn't know the truth, but the truth is that the Tengu Family wanted to win back Amamiya Xingqiu, but Amamiya Xingqiu abandoned the Tengu Family because of his own affairs.

Even knowing about Amamiya Xingqiu's past, Amamiya Shinro's attitude towards him wouldn't change much. But for now, they need to cooperate.

"Father needs some urgent medical treatment and a safe place. There's a basement here. We need to go there first. As for Sanae..."

He paused,

"I'll go take care of Father. If you're willing, then go and die. Take that gun; that way, you can keep Father and me out of the spotlight."

Unlike Amamiya Tengo, he didn't consider himself to have fallen for young girls to that extent.

Amamiya Xingqiu didn't speak, but simply nodded silently.

Their movement went remarkably smoothly; even the thug who had been knocked unconscious by Amamiya Shinro was still lying on the stairs, and the basement had not yet been searched.

Using bandages from the basement, Amamiya Shinro roughly stopped the bleeding for his father and older brother, and then used a rope to tie up the thug.

After safely setting Amamiya Tengo down, he took off his thug's coat and black cloth belt, along with his mask, and handed them to Amamiya Xingqiu without paying attention to what he was doing next.

After receiving these items, Amamiya Xingqiu only stood there for a short while before walking out of the basement.

He planned to rescue his daughter, even if he was alone.

Amamiya Shinro was not surprised by Xingqiu's actions. He knew his older brother too well; even after more than ten years, his older brother had not changed.

Impulsive and naive, he could be easily swayed by any person with lofty reasons, which is why he became an exorcist more than a decade ago, abandoning his natural talent for calligraphy.

"With that kind of mentality... you really don't think you can succeed, do you?"

Amamiya Shinro sighed deeply, checked the thugs' situation again, and raised his baton.

His first priority was to ensure the safety of Amamiya Tengo.

Then there is,

Rescue people.

Chapter 152 This battle has only just begun

Just as the team stationed outside the stadium was making tense personnel changes, the special operations team was finally about to arrive at the scene. However, before that, a phone call was delivered to the commander first. This call was from Amamiya Shinro, reporting on the situation inside the stadium.

"Tongsheng Yuanhe, a former member of the Ashes who used the alias Yamanaka Saigawa, was killed by Amamiya Shinro..."

The commander remained silent, somewhat surprised by the outcome.

Under the pressure of both the terrorist attack and the Gate of the Underworld, the investigation into Kawamori Divine Gate gradually comes to light. First, there's Higashino Teru, a former spy working for Yamanaka Saigawa, a member of the Shepherds codenamed "Sleuth Hound." During the search, his body was found in a highway tunnel, having died with the same symptoms as other Shepherds members. Then there are the exposed spies, planted in recent years by Yamanaka Saigawa.

This spy revealed most of the Shepherd's intelligence, and this intelligence was not false. With this intelligence, it would be no problem to uproot the Shepherd completely. Currently, with the assistance of the army, almost all of the Shepherd's high-ranking officials have been subdued, leaving only the leader— Tongsheng Yuanhe.

Under the alias of Yamanaka Saigawa Tongsheng Yuanhe had long been hiding within Kawamori Divine Gate, plotting his own schemes. He further concealed himself through these unsuspecting Kawamori Divine Gate. In short, Kawamori Divine Gate was kept completely in the dark by him.

And now, the one who launched the terrorist attack and the Gate of the Underworld Tongsheng Yuanhe, has actually died in this way... It's truly ironic.

However, even though he himself is dead, the disaster he started is not over yet.

"But now that he's dead, those terrorists should have returned to normal."

The intelligence they received also revealed the origins of these terrorists. Through extensive investigations into Tong Sheng Yuanhe, they were certain that he possessed a method to manipulate the will of ordinary people, and that these terrorists were controlled by Yamanaka Saigawa in this way. Otherwise, they would not have been able to launch such a terrorist attack.

Regardless of success or failure, such a terrorist attack meant they had no chance of escaping alive; death was the only outcome. It was precisely because they were under control that the attack was carried out so smoothly, contrary to everyone's expectations. Furthermore, Tong Sheng Yuanhe provided substantial assistance to their operation; for example, planting the bomb in the stadium was his doing.

According to their original plan, they were to deal with a group of controlled and emotionally deranged thugs. But now... things are not so easy. If those thugs become agitated and kill again or do something else, their operation will be in an even more difficult situation.

However, Amamiya Shinro did nothing wrong, and if it weren't for him, killing Tong Sheng Yuanhe wouldn't have been so easy; it can only be said that there are gains and losses.

After some thought, the original special forces team also began their operation, with the best-case scenario being to completely control the thugs.

In this way, they can focus their energy on more important matters, namely the other two Gate of the Underworld that are not yet completely closed.

Currently, Kawamori's existing exorcists, along with the assisting team, are heading towards the Gate of the Underworld where Shimizu Tenpu are located. They are still unsure how effective their current weapons are against this type of physical monster, or if they are completely ineffective; everything remains to be seen.

As for the other Gate of the Underworld...

The commander paused. As an ordinary person, he couldn't see what kind of monster had appeared at the Gate of the Underworld. The fact that the exorcists who had fallen into a coma or even turned into vegetative states just by watching the surveillance footage indicated that Kawamori's current exorcists were completely incapable of dealing with that monster. It wasn't a monster that could be killed simply by numbers; it required sending out higher-level exorcists, exorcists capable of dealing with Dragon-class spirits.

However, even within the country, there are only three such exorcists... and they are impossible to mobilize, as they are currently guarding the Gate of the Underworld. Mobilizing them would involve even more troublesome matters. Moreover, even the one among them that can be contacted indicated that even if all three were to act simultaneously, they would likely not be able to escape the monster.

These words alone are enough to demonstrate the monster's power. Fortunately, the one currently in the game is still able to handle it.

All they can do now is pray that the one can suppress the monster, even if they can't defeat it.

If it's truly impossible to defeat, it's not that there's no way, it just requires...

The commander shook his head and didn't think about it any further.

On the other side, Yotsuya Miko, who was thought to be able to handle the Xuanming Python, had just stood up from the asphalt road, dusted off the debris, and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

It was a terrible feeling, being hit by such a dull, heavy blow.

However, she is no longer as fragile as she was when dealing with the Mountain God. Having cultivated the Heavenly Devil False Body True Understanding, she unleashed a transformation the moment she was hit, followed by the defensive enhancement of the Prison Spirit Remnant Soul Clothes on her body.

While not completely unharmed, at least they weren't knocked down.

He shook his head, spitting out another mouthful of blood, but his gaze remained calm as he faced the enormous creature before him.

"You've indeed been weakened to a certain extent."

She couldn't dodge the Xuanming Python's attack and was seriously injured as a result. But through this experience of enduring the damage, she realized that the Xuanming Python's strength did not match its current level. A true Xuanming Python Core Formation was close to reaching the Golden Core stage could have completely shattered her with just this one attack.

And now, she is still alive and well.

"Although you are still very strong, are you really ready? Ready to enter this world?"

Yotsuya Miko gathered spiritual energy in her hands and, in addition to her main technique, began to practice other techniques that required no special skills to cast. Although these techniques were much less powerful, they enriched her methods of dealing with enemies.

Moreover, she already knew how to deal with the Xuanming Python in front of her. With the knowledge of the Myriad Transformation Devil Venerable Zhang Qiudao, she became even more familiar with this ferocious beast.

Therefore, she didn't experience much fear or other emotions. Even regarding death, she had already overcome the fear brought about by the death of the Mountain God.

But in the Xuanming Python's view, this could probably be considered a provocation. A weakling standing in front of you, constantly threatening you and saying he'd teach you a lesson, would probably make most people feel angry.

It swung its tail again, trying to smash the ant deep into the ground once more to wake her up.

However, this time the outcome was completely different.

Yotsuya Miko leaped into the air, and a dark purple mist reappeared around her, but faster than before. Her hands suddenly transformed into Heavenly Devil Claw, and these sharp claws stabbed straight at the tail tip of the Xuanming Python on the ground.

This battle has only just begun.

Chapter 153 The Battle of the Cheaters (Part 1)

Despite the Xuanming Python's peculiar constitution, the phantom poison attached to the Heavenly Devil Claw was ineffective against it, but the sharp claws were still enough to cause it harm.

Just as Yotsuya Miko had thought, although the Xuanming Python before them was in the late stage of Core Formation, its strength had been greatly reduced after being weakened by the Gate of the Underworld. And as time went on, it would be further weakened as it lost its spiritual energy.

Now that we can break through its defenses, we might be able to kill it afterward.

But...

Yotsuya Miko leaped into the air, dodging the whip that was about to strike again.

Although it was an intangible thing, when the Xuanming Python's tail swept across a nearby telephone pole, its powerful force still cleaved the pole in two with overwhelming force, sparking a burst of lightning.

Unlike Ghosts —no, unlike low-level Ghosts —any high-level, intangible entity can easily interfere with matter. They not only interfere with matter, but can even corrode or harm it, including humans, simply by using their aura.

The Xuanming Python before them was no exception, but it had concealed its aura, thus avoiding much disturbance. After all, in a world devoid of spiritual energy, emitting an aura and exacerbating its consumption was not a good thing. In Zhang Qiudao's definition, aura was a marker of identity, a material marker transmitted through a medium, usually spiritual energy. According to Miko's understanding, it was roughly the use of spiritual energy creating a special effect, such as the dark purple mist she exuded when using the Heavenly Devil False Body True Understanding. If she could completely transform into the Greedy Devil, she could similarly maintain that dark purple mist as her aura for a long time.

After dodging the attack, Yotsuya Miko looked towards the Gate of the Underworld behind Xuanming Python. Xuanming Python couldn't afford to waste time, and neither could she. Although she had sensed from her Spiritual Sense perception along the way that the people of this country had begun to react and take action, she didn't have much expectation for these actions.

Just like the Xuanming Python before her, modern weapons could hardly harm its body, and ordinary people couldn't even detect its form. Even exorcists, with their spiritual constitution, would experience far more intense pressure when observing the Xuanming Python. Leaving aside whether they could cause any damage, it's hard to say how many people could actually come into contact with the Xuanming Python and withstand its pressure.

The fact that the two Gate of the Underworld are still open means that a second powerful monster like this could very well emerge. She must quickly resolve the battle here and head to the other Gate of the Underworld to completely close both Gate of the Underworld.

Thinking this, the warning spells she had cast on her body began to take effect, Yotsuya Miko shifted her body again, avoiding the attack of the Xuanming Python.

The situation is still dire; she is in the same predicament as when dealing with the Mountain God, or even worse.

So far, the Xuanming Python has not used any special techniques, only its physical body in combat. However, as a ferocious beast, it possesses at least one skill derived from its abilities. And now, on the verge of transforming into a dragon, it possesses no fewer skills than an ordinary Xuanming Python.

In other words, Yotsuya Miko has not yet threatened its life, but once these skills are used, its situation will become even more troublesome.

Don't you want to waste your spiritual energy?

The reason for not using these skills was obvious. Taking advantage of the gap in her dodge, Yotsuya Miko once again opened a gash in the snake's tail. The mutated Heavenly Devil Claws' illusory poison would be immune to the Xuanming Python's constitution, but these twins, apart from their strange poison, were essentially the torsos of Heavenly Demons. Despite being called Heavenly Demons, they might not be very sharp, but their damage could strike intangible objects.

It should be understood that many celestial demons are formless, or even without substance.

After encountering the Xuanming Python and testing its true strength, an idea formed in Yotsuya Miko's mind, and what she needed to do was to force the Xuanming Python to use its skills.

A dark purple mist once again enveloped her, quickly transforming her feet back into their original limbs, while her hands returned to their original form. She could no longer alter two organs simultaneously, but she could switch between them very quickly.

The instant the switch was complete, Miko legs slightly and launched herself into the air like a cannonball, reaching the giant python's body before it could react. Her three-clawed toes pressed Yotsuya Miko firmly against the Xuanming Python's smooth skin through the gaps in its scales, allowing her to continue running towards the python's head.

At this moment, its original advantage in size turned into a disadvantage. The Xuanming Python, which had no hands or feet, was unable to drive away the Miko on its body. It thrashed its body violently, and its invisible form smashed huge pits of varying depths into the ground, but to no avail.

The structure of the three claws was firmly embedded in the gaps between the scales, and Yotsuya Miko, who relied on her Spiritual Sense to perceive, would not lose herself in the confusion of her senses. She avoided the suffering of being pressed to the ground by the snake's body and made her way towards the huge snake head little by little, once again feeling the heartache of not having the means to fly.

If she were to successfully cultivate the Falcon Spirit Wind Control Incantation now, she wouldn't need to walk on land like an ordinary person. Instead, she could directly seize control of the air and force the Xuanming Python to use its skills on her. If the python didn't want to waste its spiritual energy, it would become a sitting duck.

In the face of the Xuanming Python's futile resistance, Yotsuya Miko leaped again, jumping from its body into the air. The purplish-blue mist transformed into sharp claws on her hands, while the transformation of her feet disappeared, revealing her bare, white calves and feet. Her shoes and socks had been torn and discarded earlier because of the transformation of her feet.

The Heavenly Devil Claw descended smoothly, revealing the dark, serpentine eyes of the Xuanming Python beneath its sharp claws. Its enormous size made its eyes a striking feature, and they were clearly more vulnerable than the rest of its body.

Realizing what Yotsuya Miko was about to do, the Xuanming Python tried to dodge, but the short distance wasn't enough for it to avoid the pain in its eyes. Unable to dodge, it didn't show much anger, but instead fixed its vertical pupils on Yotsuya Miko, seemingly trying to memorize her appearance.

Pythons' eyes are not their weakness, but the Xuanming Python will not tolerate having its eyes gouged out.

Yotsuya Miko, maintaining the mutation of the Heavenly Devil Claw, began to activate another technique.

She was betting on a skill, a skill that almost all Xuanming Python could use. She was also betting on whether the Xuanming Python would unleash this skill because of its eye condition.

For such ferocious beasts, regenerating flesh and blood, or even their bodies, is not difficult, as long as they are willing to consume a large amount of spiritual energy and food.

Just as the Heavenly Devil Claw was about to pierce the Xuanming Python's eyeball, Miko began to waver; it seemed she hadn't won her gamble. This Xuanming Python didn't seem to have much of a reaction to losing its eye, and simply let it...

Wait... this is a precursor to another skill!

Spiritual Sense sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from the Xuanming Python, Yotsuya Miko quickly realized another possibility. Without hesitation, she drove the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail she had prepared into one of the Xuanming Python's eyes, and used the recoil from another spell to quickly increase the distance between herself and the Xuanming Python.

In mid-air, it quickly transformed its body again, reverting its legs back to normal and landing on the ground.

This series of manipulations was completed in a few breaths, and afterwards she couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Spiritual Sense detected the unusual changes occurring on the Xuanming Python; accompanied by fluctuations in spiritual energy, the Xuanming Python was engaging in self-harm.

Just as the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail pierced the snake's eye, azure flames emerged from the Xuanming Python's entire body. These were flames capable of burning both the intangible and the tangible, and for her in her current state, being touched by such flames would undoubtedly result in being crippled, and neither the Heavenly Devil False Body True Understanding nor the Prison Spirit Remnant Soul Clothes could save her.

That was the true power of a late-stage Core Formation, far surpassing the physical strength of a weakened Xuanming Python.

"Another form of the Mystic Underworld Flame..."

The reason why the Xuanming Python is called "Mysterious Darkness" is largely due to its ability to manipulate Mystic Underworld Flame. This flame can burn both tangible and intangible objects and is extremely attached to them. Ordinary Xuanming Python only spew Mystic Underworld Flame from their mouths, but this guy directly manipulates spiritual energy to ignite the Mystic Underworld Flame.

"Unfortunately, it burned him."

A normal cultivator would probably be directly tricked, since only cultivators at the Golden Core stage or above possess the ability to see through things with their Spiritual Sense.

Without thinking, Yotsuya Miko wanted to thank her cheap master once again; only Zhang Qiudao could create such an overpowered technique.

Chapter 154 The Battle of the Cheaters (Part Two)

Does the Mystic Underworld Flame pose any threat to the Xuanming Python? Before being weakened, it poses no threat to this late-stage Core Formation beast; otherwise, it wouldn't have developed a skill that allows it to cover its entire body with Mystic Underworld Flame. Even if such a skill could prevent it from suffering melee attacks like those from Yotsuya Miko, given the intelligence of beasts, they would prioritize self-harm over such benefits. Therefore, it would definitely not have developed this skill before eliminating the harm caused by the Mystic Underworld Flame.

But now, the Xuanming Python, weakened by the Gate of the Underworld... is clearly unable to escape its own flames.

Hissing sounds emanated from the behemoth's mouth. Its right eye, having been attacked by the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail, was festering, constantly emitting gray mist. Its entire body was covered in azure flames, scorching its originally black shell. It had indeed prepared to exchange an eye and self-mutilation for Yotsuya Miko's life, but it hadn't anticipated that Yotsuya Miko had other ideas and possessed keen perception.

It's impossible to get this guy to open his mouth again.

Yotsuya Miko stood at a distance, with no intention of continuing the attack. The Mystic Underworld Flame now attached to the Xuanming Python prevented her from attacking it. Such flames only caused the Xuanming Python intense pain, but if they landed on her, it would be an instant death.

Her previous actions were merely feints against the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail, exposing herself to the Xuanming Python's mouth and tongue, attempting to trick it into spewing Mystic Underworld Flame at the cost of injuring its eyes. This way, the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail could directly penetrate its weakened body, causing severe internal damage. Beside the Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail were her other cultivation techniques, providing her with the recoil to quickly retreat while in mid-air.

The plan did not succeed, but at least she was not injured as a result.

Soul Splitting Flesh Crushing Nail... The Heavenly Devil False Body True Understanding...