Before the Spirit Force Giant formed by the Ice Leech pack could attack, Bai Xiaowen struck first with a Heart-Confounding Talisman.
The talisman's target was not the Spirit Force Giant. Bai Xiaowen knew better than to wrest control of a Spirit Force Manifestation from a Command-type expert whose strength he did not know. Controlling a single Ice Leech was the better bet.
Spirit Force Manifestation was an exquisitely precise Command-type technique. Like the screws in a space rocket, every part had to fit. The Command-type Evolver had to oversee the whole formation, and every individual within it had to cooperate.
If even one refused—or deliberately caused trouble—the manifestation would collapse in moments.
That was why Bai Xiaowen sent the Heart-Confounding Talisman at one of the Ice Leeches.
The Heart-Confounding Talisman hit its target.
But the mysterious controller was not about to let Bai Xiaowen wreck his Spirit Force Manifestation. He had already split off a thread of mental power and infused it into the Ice Leech, helping it resist Bai Xiaowen's invading Spirit Sense.
The Heart-Confounding Talisman failed its check.
Bai Xiaowen had achieved his aim nonetheless. When their mental powers clashed, the mysterious controller could no longer hide his location. Bai Xiaowen traced the connection back to its source and found him.
"So that's where you were hiding..."
Bai Xiaowen's eyes turned cold as Origin Lightning began to gather.
The contact had clearly told his opponent that his position was exposed. He immediately mobilized the immense Spirit Force Manifestation and fired a straightforward blast of energy.
The blast was several times stronger than anything Bai Xiaowen had seen from even Yatelilansuo, the strongest Divine-Blooded Creature he had encountered. It was, after all, the combined power of hundreds of Lord Tier Ice Leeches.
"True Essence Force: Intimidation!"
A visible wave