(The new book, Daoist of the Steam Age, had been out for more than ten days. Interested readers were welcome to support it by bookmarking and recommending it...)
Sea-Playing Lord watched at least hundreds of thousands of Asuras pour into the Netherworld and Spirit World. His defenses were collapsing, line by line.
He knew something was terribly wrong. There had to have been a major mishap, and he had to report it to the Heavenly Immortals at once.
"Send another signal! Request reinforcements, now!"
He had barely given the order when a serpent ten times—no, a hundred times—larger than any of the other Sea Serpents came gliding toward him.
It moved so fast it seemed to fly across the sea.
Before it even reached the river mouth, a warrior leaped from its back. The Ring Blade slung over his shoulder flew out, slashing straight at Sea-Playing Lord.
"Come on, then!"
Sea-Playing Lord showed no fear. With a roar, he thrust his spear forward. Though he had never seen such a strange weapon, his skill gave him courage, and his thrust seemed to carry the force of the entire river mouth's surging tide into the Ring Blade.
Bang!
The Ring Blade flew back.
But just then, Sea-Playing Lord caught a faint, elusive fragrance. It was barely there, yet almost intoxicating. He could hardly resist seeking its source.
In that brief moment of distraction, a graceful, full-figured young woman appeared in the empty air behind him. Her ribbons streamed overhead as she drove a dagger toward Sea-Playing Lord.
She had appeared so abruptly that Sea-Playing Lord had noticed nothing at all. The dagger, gleaming with a mysterious light, was about to plunge into him.
And if it struck, Sea-Playing Lord would surely come to a miserable end!
Suddenly, thunder cracked across the