Enemy reinforcements

Chapter 6: Enemy reinforcements. The clan's cheers had yet to fade, but a fresh undercurrent of unease was already spreading through the air. Mu Chen keenly sensed an even stronger evil force rapidly approaching. His brows knitted tightly, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart. "Everyone, stay on your guard! The enemy may have more tricks up their sleeves!" Mu Chen shouted. His voice instantly snapped the clan's younger members out of their joy over the victory, putting them back on alert. Soon, a bank of black clouds appeared on the horizon, surging toward the clan at tremendous speed. Beneath the clouds came an even larger force of Black-Robed People, their presence far more imposing. The black mist surrounding these newcomers was thicker, as though they had emerged from the deepest darkness. Their spiritual energy fluctuations were also far stronger than those of the previous enemies, and every one of them radiated suffocating pressure. "Damn it, they actually have reinforcements," Tan Qingshan said, tightening his grip on his heavy axe, his eyes filled with anger and vigilance. "It looks like they came prepared this time. We'll have to handle this carefully," Mu Chen said gravely. He knew this battle would be even harder than the last. The Black-Robed People's reinforcements stopped a short distance from the clan and arranged themselves in orderly formations, like a well-trained army of darkness. At the front stood several Black-Robed People whose auras were exceptionally powerful. They were clearly the leaders of these reinforcements. One tall Black-Robed Person stepped forward, his voice low and hoarse. "Hmph, did you think you could drive us back so easily? Today is the day your clan meets its end." With that, he swept his hand, and the Black-Robed People's army began its attack. Instead of charging blindly as before, they unleashed a variety of spiritual techniques in an orderly fashion. Black spiritual energy flew toward the clan like raindrops, interspersed with enormous black spheres of spiritual energy and howling black wind blades. Together, these attacks formed a black curtain of death that blotted out the sky and swept down over the clan. "Defend!" Mu Chen shouted. The clan's younger members swiftly gathered and formed a defensive formation once more. The squads worked closely together, layering their Spiritual Energy Shields in an attempt to withstand the ferocious assault. Yet this time, the Black-Robed People's attacks were simply too powerful. When the black spiritual energy struck the shields, they trembled violently, their light flickering erratically. Cracks began to appear in some sections under the tremendous impact, forcing the clan's younger members to pour in more spiritual energy to keep the shields stable. This can't go on. We can't just defend passively. Anxiety gripped Mu Chen. He knew he had to find a way to break the deadlock. Turning to Tan Qingshan and Tang Qian'er, he said, "Qingshan, charge out with me and disrupt their formation. Qian'er, stay behind and keep everyone's shields steady. Keep an eye on our injuries, too." "All right!" Tan Qingshan and Tang Qian'er answered together. Mu Chen and Tan Qingshan exchanged a glance, then charged at the Black-Robed People at the same time. Mu Chen unleashed his new spiritual technique. Star power shone around his body, forming silver beams that shot toward the enemy. Tan Qingshan swung his heavy axe, each stroke whipping up a powerful wind blade of spiritual energy. Working in concert with Mu Chen's attacks, he tore an opening in the tide of attacks from the Black-Robed People. Their sudden assault caught the enemy off guard, but the Black-Robed People soon reacted and concentrated their attacks on Mu Chen and Tan Qingshan. Streams of black spiritual energy coiled toward them like venomous snakes, trying to trap them. Mu Chen darted about, using his agile footwork to weave through the black spiritual energy. At the same time, he repeatedly unleashed his new spiritual technique, shaping star power into different forms to attack his enemies or block their strikes. Relying on his tremendous strength and fearless courage, Tan Qingshan hacked a bloody path through the enemy's attacks. Every collision between his heavy axe and their spiritual energy produced a thunderous crash that shook heaven and earth. During the battle, Mu Chen noticed several unusual individuals among the Black-Robed People's reinforcements. Their spiritual energy seemed even more evil and powerful, and they could unleash unique spiritual techniques. One Black-Robed Person held a black bell. Whenever he shook it, the spiritual energy of the surrounding Black-Robed People grew stronger, while a force that disrupted souls swept toward the clan's younger members. "Take out the one with the bell first!" Mu Chen shouted to Tan Qingshan. Tan Qingshan nodded and charged at the bell-wielding man. But numerous guards surrounded the man, and they all attacked Tan Qingshan, trying to keep him from getting close. Tan Qingshan became embroiled in a bitter fight. Though he fought fiercely, the enemy's attacks were too dense, and wounds began to appear on his body. Seeing Tan Qingshan in trouble, Mu Chen hurried over to support him. He unleashed a powerful wave of stellar spiritual energy, driving back the Black-Robed People surrounding Tan Qingshan. Then the two attacked the bell-wielding man together. Seeing Mu Chen and Tan Qingshan coming at him, the man curled his lips into a cold sneer. He shook the bell faster, and the surrounding black spiritual energy grew even more violent. At the same time, he muttered an incantation, sending black soul arrows shooting from the bell toward Mu Chen and Tan Qingshan. Sensing the threat of the soul arrows, Mu Chen concentrated his soul power and formed a soul shield in front of himself. The arrows struck it with sizzling sounds, sending ripples across its surface. Tan Qingshan swung his heavy axe, cleaving apart the soul arrows that came near him. "Watch this!" Mu Chen roared. He gathered the spiritual energy and star power within his body to their utmost limit, unleashing the strongest form of his new spiritual technique. An illusion of a vast starry firmament appeared around him, star power surging through it like the Milky Way. He thrust a palm toward the bell-wielding man. The strike contained the power to destroy heaven and earth, and the might of the starry firmament swept toward the enemy like a raging tide. The bell-wielding man's expression changed drastically. He tried to dodge, but it was already too late. The power of the starry firmament struck him, instantly reducing his body to dust, and the bell in his hand fell to the ground. With the bell-wielding man destroyed, the Black-Robed People's attacks immediately weakened considerably. However, the danger to the clan had not passed. Seeing the bell-wielding man defeated, the other Black-Robed People leading the reinforcements took action themselves. These leaders were extraordinarily powerful, and the moment they struck, they placed Mu Chen and the others under tremendous pressure. One Black-Robed Person leading them swept both hands, seemingly warping the surrounding space. Black spatial rifts stretched toward Mu Chen and the others, radiating a powerful suction as though they would swallow everything. Another leader unleashed a spiritual technique that summoned dark creatures. Countless batlike creatures surged from beneath the ground and lunged at the clan's younger members. Under these powerful attacks, the clan's younger members were once again driven into desperate straits. Their Spiritual Energy Shields teetered under the assault of the spatial rifts and dark creatures. Many were wounded, their blood staining the clan's grounds red. Yet they continued to resist stubbornly, not one of them thinking of retreat. Looking at the crisis before him, Mu Chen knew he had to find another way to turn the battle around, or these enemy reinforcements would bring utter destruction upon the clan. He drew a deep breath, preparing to unleash his full strength once more and fight these powerful enemies to the death.