"You have no idea what a huge celebration I threw for the Beihai Disaster Countermeasures Bureau! Guess who wasn't invited!"
" The Beihai is so exciting! Qingluan!"
"I'm not feeling well, Qingluan."
Something seems off about Beihai.
"The fog is so thick, I can't transform anymore, help..."
Taking a deep breath, Qingluan glanced at the last message Iris sent on her phone, then at the Beihai shrouded in white mist.
In the afternoon, Iris sent a message and then became unreachable. She checked the message immediately and found that the entire Beihai was shrouded in white fog.
Neither the headquarters nor the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau in surrounding cities received any warning messages.
The situation in Beihai was immediately reported to the Jiangming City branch, but the Jiangming City branch currently has no personnel to send over.
She couldn't even stay here for long. The Witch Association's offensive in Jiangming City had become increasingly outrageous in recent years. As Full Blossom Magical Girl from the same generation as Iris, she had come to Jiangming City to provide support about a year ago.
This still couldn't stop the Witch Association's actions in Jiangming City, although she did manage to clear out many of the Calamity Beast and stabilize the Jiangming City.
However, the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau is finding it increasingly difficult to control Jiangming City. Even the mayor, in order to win votes, has begun to compromise with the Witch Association, demanding cooperation with the Witch Association to ensure the peaceful development of Jiangming City.
If it weren't for Iris's plea for help, Qingluan would never have wanted to leave Jiangming City.
Sending the message to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau of Jiangming City only asked them to help contact the headquarters and send reinforcements.
However, by the time reinforcements from the General Headquarters arrive, who knows when...
Looking at the mist that lingered around the Beihai, neither spreading nor disappearing, Qingluan gritted her teeth and tried to venture further in.
Although Iris always claims to be the strongest magical girl in the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, in reality, there are several magical girls of her generation that she can't beat in actual combat.
However, the magical girls who excel in actual combat don't have as good theoretical scores as her, while those with better theoretical scores are utterly defeated by her in actual combat.
Therefore, Iris is the strongest magical girl in the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
However, in the Mental Image Domain, Iris is indeed one of the most talented. Although Qingluan has never lost to Iris, her exam scores are always a few points lower than Iris's. In addition, she failed to learn the Mental Image Domain later on, and was completely regarded as the loser by Iris.
Although Iris later opened the Mental Image Domain, she still couldn't beat her.
Therefore, Qingluan was still very worried that her friend might get into trouble due to carelessness.
Even though she is now Full Blossom magical girl who can suppress A-level Calamity Beast in North China, Qingluan still thinks that Iris is just a silly girl with a carefree personality.
I'm always worried that she'll get hurt or something bad will happen to her.
Given the current situation in Beihai, it is absolutely impossible for her to quietly wait for support from the General Administration.
As she stepped into the cold white mist, she sensed a blockage in the flow of magic.
I was slightly surprised.
Even after transforming into a magical girl, she can still be affected.
No wonder Iris sent a message saying she can't transform anymore.
If I don't transform beforehand, this white mist will probably completely lock up my magic.
Moreover, visibility is extremely low; you can't see anything beyond about four or five meters.
The sun, which had been hanging in the sky, could no longer penetrate, leaving only a hazy expanse in the sky.
"Be careful, Qingluan!"
Suddenly, a white flying kitten jumped out from her shoulder and sat on Qingluan's shoulder.
Most magical girls who reach the Full Blossom will part ways with their Incubators, because Full Blossom magical girls do not need the help and guidance of Incubators. These Incubators will return to headquarters or enter seed slumber.
Of course, there are also a few who are unwilling, such as Qingluan, who has been living with her Little White since she first transformed into a magical girl, and it has been almost several years now.
Qingluan couldn't bear to part with her Incubators, so she always kept the Incubators by her side.
Even if it wastes some magic, it doesn't matter; the bond with Little White will give her even more power.
"This white mist not only suppresses our magic, but we can also sense that the mist itself is dangerous, like unignited gunpowder."
Qingluan was startled. "Then the Beihai must be in danger, with white fog everywhere!"
Little White flicked its tail. "Don't worry, it's not that easy to ignite this white mist. However, whoever spread it might have other ways to use it, so be careful. It's probably the Witch Association's doing again; it's definitely not that simple!"
"Um."
"Furthermore, I can sense the aura of an A-level Calamity Beast in the Beihai."
"I felt it too, I don't know why the General Administration didn't notice."
As she spoke, Qingluan took out her own magic wand.
Qingluan's magic wand is different from others. As a magical girl from South China, her way of using magic is also completely different from that of the magical girls in this region.
A card is pulled out of the card box, and an eyeball with wings appears on the card.
He casually inserted the card into the black box in the center of the magic wand, and then it made a crisp click sound.
Then came the clear, melodious chirping of stars.
" Star Pattern Descent: Echo of the Clear Radiance of the Stars."
The wand emitted a mechanical, female voice, chanting a spell.
At the tip of the wand, a magnificent teardrop-shaped crystal lit up, with three rings of light unfolding around it, and wave after wave of light spreading outwards.
The surrounding images quickly flashed back into my mind.
I originally intended to go directly to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, but I spotted a somewhat familiar figure.
After a moment of hesitation, Qingluan followed the wand's guidance and walked to the vicinity of the station.
From outside the station to near the waiting hall, the ground was littered with the corpses of Calamity Beast.
Seeing the still writhing vine- Calamity Beast, Qingluan sat on her magic wand and flew up.
Soon, amidst the white mist, they found the familiar-looking girl.
A frail girl dressed in white held a magic wand stained with blood.
The wand was blunted and sharpened at the front, like a sword. The girl was coughing and looked unwell; she must be sick. She leaned against the glass wall, using the wand as a support.
He even coughed up blood from the corner of his mouth.
Beneath their feet lay countless corpses of vine- Calamity Beast.
Behind the girl, in the waiting hall, were countless unconscious people.
" Bai Mei?"
Somewhat surprised, he called out the other person's name.
In Jiangming City, besides the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau and the Witch Association, there is also a neutral Free Magical Girl Organization that does not take sides: the Azure Cloud Sect.
Qingluan arrived in Jiangming City relatively late, and actually didn't know much about the Azure Cloud Sect.
All she knew was that the Witch Association besieged the four magical girls of the Azure Cloud Sect, but in the end, the four magical girls managed to escape unscathed. At the time, she was worried that the Witch Association would cause trouble, so she went to provide support.
I had met Bai Mei once.
The leader of the Azure Cloud Sect in Jiangming City, the four magical girls respected and obeyed her greatly. Under her leadership, they broke through the encirclement of the Witch Association and withdrew from Jiangming City. She never saw the magical girls of the Azure Cloud Sect again.
However, Bai Mei did not make a move at that time. Instead, the remaining four magical girls worked together to break through the encirclement.
So it wasn't until today, when they met, that Qingluan realized it.
The other party is just a magical girl in her Bud Stage.
Two of the four magical girls from the Azure Cloud Sect in Jiangming City are New Sprout.
The wand was simple, the magic attire was simple, and even the magic power was quite simple, neither more nor less, and had no special properties.
In every respect, she is a rather mediocre magical girl.
Bai Mei seemed somewhat surprised as well, tilting her head slightly. Even with her eyes closed, she recognized her. "Magical Girl Qingluan? It's been a twelve-year since we last met, hasn't it? Why aren't you guarding Jiangming City? What are you doing here?"
One-twelfth of a year? That's just one month!
Qingluan felt that her way of speaking was strange, but she honestly replied, " The Beihai has become like this, so of course I have to come and help. Besides, my good friend Iris is also in the Beihai."
Little White, hiding behind her, shouted, " Qingluan, be careful! She's not a normal magical girl. I can sense that she's using her Incubators as batteries to drain their magic!"
This is also why the magical girls from the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau are not very accepting of the magical girls from the Azure Cloud Sect.
In contrast to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, which treats its Incubators as friends, none of the magical girls from the Azure Cloud Sect form any bonds with their Incubators.
All Azure Cloud Sect disciples would suppress the Incubators inside the seeds to prevent them from waking up and to deprive them of the magic power Incubators generated.
Treating Incubators as mere tools is utterly outrageous.
Initially feeling uneasy in the perilous white fog, I saw a familiar face and noticed they were guarding the station's waiting hall, which stirred a sense of warmth and goodwill, but this feeling was quickly suppressed.
After all, Qingluan really cannot accept that someone would use the Incubators as a tool.
Even if you don't want it, you can just give it to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau. That's what Iris did, because she felt she was the strongest and most perfect magical girl and didn't need a flying kitten chirping in her ear...
However, she was no longer a young magical girl; she was already sixteen years old. Naturally, she knew that even if the other Incubators as a tool, they had still protected everyone in BH City.
Although she didn't want to get close, she still said politely, "Regardless, thank you for your efforts, Miss Bai Mei. Beihai is very dangerous right now, you should leave as soon as possible."
"Leave?"
Bai Mei's weak body trembled from coughing, then she wiped the bright red blood from the corner of her mouth. "You're wrong, Beihai is safe now. With my master here, there will be no danger."
Qingluan frowned as she looked at the weak girl who was still putting on a brave face. "There are A-level Calamity Beast in the Beihai now. It's not as simple as you think."
Bai Mei simply shook her head, straightened her body, and her sudden sharpness, like a sword drawn from its sheath, made Qingluan's heart tremble.
"You've underestimated my master, Miss Qingluan."
Just as Qingluan was about to retort, she saw Bai Mei point into the distance, her eyes still closed, yet she looked as if she had seen something.
"Look, my master is about to make his move."
"With such thick fog, how could we possibly see anything..."
Qingluan turned her head in disbelief, but the thick fog obscured everything. Just as she was about to deny it, the sky was suddenly bathed in a magnificent purple light!
A blazing purple sun rises over the Beihai!
The thick fog in Beihai began to boil, and the blazing purple flames pierced through the fog, illuminating all the surrounding high-rise buildings clearly. The elongated shadows covered the two girls in front of the station, constantly leaping with the flames!
The dazzling magic pierced through the white mist, and the terrifying pressure made Qingluan grip the magic wand tightly. The teardrop-shaped crystal at the tip of the wand began to spin wildly, as if it were about to explode!
Little White Bai clung tightly to her neck, hiding behind her, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.
" Little Qing! Little Qing! Run!"
The burning white clouds transformed into fingers, slowly pressing down from the sky!
It was like the fall of a great purple sun!
Qingluan did indeed want to run away.
The station where they were was on the edge of the city, while the burning purple fingers were in the city center, perhaps hundreds of kilometers away.
However, Qingluan cannot be certain by visual estimation; it may actually be only a few tens of kilometers away.
But when the purple finger pressed down, her body sank slightly.
There was a feeling of being unable to move due to the aftershocks!
The shrill screams and deafening roars of the collapsing building, like an explosion, came clearly from afar, the shockwaves spreading out in layers, churning up white mist that blew right in front of us.
Amidst the echoing stars, one could sense a faint, almost imperceptible magical force guiding the violent shockwave, causing it to evade all buildings.
Little White almost flew out, only managing to grab onto the back of her collar. Qingluan, sitting on the magic wand, flew steadily in mid-air.
As the explosions and shattering sounds gradually subsided, the billowing white mist returned to its previous state, becoming so thick that nothing could be seen.
It was as if everything that had just happened was a fleeting illusion.
Qingluan licked her dry lips, turned her head and glanced at the girl in front of the station gate, whose simple white magic outfit was fluttering in the wind. She looked so weak that she seemed like she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
"That's... your master?"
"Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect."
Bai Mei turned her head away. Although her eyes were closed, Qingluan somehow felt she could see the calm yet proud look in her eyes. " Bai Mei never lies. With her here, there will be no danger in Beihai."
For a fleeting moment, Qingluan did indeed consider turning back to Jiangming City.
Seeing the distant skyscraper reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye, and despite the terrifying shockwave spreading all the way here, there was almost no damage to the surrounding area except for that building.
Her Echo of the Stars was still working, so you could see that there was no damage around the building that had been wiped out by the giant finger, not even a single pane of glass was broken!
For a magical girl of the Full Blossom Rank, destroying a building is not a difficult task.
But in the city center, destroying just one building without causing any damage to the surrounding area is virtually impossible.
How could such a massive force be controlled with such precision!
Moreover, the suppression of magic power here makes it extremely difficult to control.
What kind of monster...?
Such thoughts welled up in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a little scared. Fortunately, she also knew that Azure Cloud Sect was not the Witch Association. Although she was a little scared, she didn't run away immediately.
"The Sect Master will be going to Jiangming City in a couple of days."
Bai Mei suddenly said, "I hope Miss Qingluan will not make the people from the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau rude."
Qingluan stared blankly at the disappearing skyscrapers in the distance. Before she could reply, Little White, who was already paralyzed with fear on her shoulder, nodded repeatedly like a pestle, "Definitely! Definitely!"
Qingluan asked instinctively, "What is she going to Jiangming City for?"
Bai Mei didn't answer her; instead, her aura suddenly became sharp and fierce.
A slight chill ran through her, Qingluan felt a pang of regret.
Did I ask something I shouldn't have?
Just as he was about to apologize, Bai Mei suddenly drew her sword!
Before she could even get angry, Qingluan simply retreated abruptly. Just as she raised her wand to manipulate her magic to block, the sword energy had already slashed down along the tip of her nose!
A few strands of hair drifted down in the mist. Qingluan gasped and subconsciously touched her face and body.
This sword strike made her feel as if she had been cleaved in two!
However, there was nothing on his body; there were no wounds whatsoever, only a vine that fell from his waist, and he convulsed and eventually died.
So they were slaying the Calamity Beast...
Qingluan was slightly startled; her Echo of the Stars hadn't even noticed that the vines had already entangled her.
Even with their eyes closed, the other person could see it more clearly than their own Echo of the Stars.
The speed at which the sword was drawn was almost too fast for me to keep up with.
She's clearly a magical girl in her Bud Stage!
It's probably even stronger than the Iris.
"Cough cough..." Bai Mei coughed, covering her mouth, looking weak, with a trace of blood even spilling from the corner of her mouth. "In this way, the favor you did for supporting the Azure Cloud Sect back then can be considered settled."
Thank you.
The other person's kindness made Qingluan lower her guard, and she began to worry about their health. "Are you alright? Do you need me to help you...?"
Just as I was about to go over and help her up, I suddenly felt a weight on my shoulder.
Suddenly, eerie vines appeared on her shoulder!
"But the rest is none of my business."
The magic within the vines exploded rapidly on her body. Qingluan's face fell, and she glanced at Bai Mei, who had taken a few steps back.
You should have said so sooner!
He quickly pulled out the card and was about to put it into the wand's black box when he discovered that the black box was also covered with vines.
He had no choice but to abandon the card and chant to himself, " Star Pattern Descent..."
"Too slow!"
With a furious roar, the vines suddenly coalesced, transforming into a human form, snatched Qingluan's magic wand, and kicked her away!
Qingluan casually pulled Bai Mei along, using her magic to protect the sickly girl!
He only let go of her hand when he crashed into the glass wall behind him and was about to fall.
He immediately got up, and after confirming that Bai Mei was not in danger, he looked down and found that both he and Little White were covered in vines.
These tendrils kept dismantling the magical armor, seeping in, trying to enter his body!
Qingluan gritted her teeth, using her magic to expel the vines from her body while protecting Little White and Bai Mei.
"A-level Calamity Beast..."
Although its aura was much weaker, there was no doubt that the opponent was an A-level Calamity Beast.
Only A-rank Calamity Beast have a chance of avoiding the Echo of the Stars.
And incidentally, he also stole his own magic power.
I was careless.
Over-reliance on the Echo of the Stars leads to a decreased perception of danger.
Qingluan glanced at her stolen wand. Without it, she couldn't use her Star Patterns cards, and her current magic power couldn't sustain her for many more spellcasting sessions...
"Hahaha, that's more like it! That's more like it! This is the level that Full Blossom Magical Girl should be at! I knew it! Full Blossom Magical Girl couldn't possibly be that strong!"
Hearing the shrill laughter and roars from the other end, Qingluan frowned, wondering what was wrong with the other party.
Even without the wand, I might not necessarily lose.
Taking a deep breath and gathering her magic power, she saw Bai Mei suddenly take a step forward and step out of her magic protection range.
They were blocking the entrance to the waiting hall!
Qingluan was shocked, "Don't go! He's an A-level Calamity Beast! You can't handle him right now!"
Bai Mei slowly shook her head, "Sword cultivators should forge ahead without hesitation."
"You're too slow, cough cough, hiss..."
Looking at the sickly girl's frail figure, one could sense a sharp yet unwavering spirit.
Qingluan, who had originally intended to stop them, was suddenly rendered speechless by the infection.
Despite her numerous ailments, she remained as sharp as a drawn blade.
Charge forward relentlessly, cutting through all the obstacles in our path!
She coughed up some more blood, and a tear even rolled down Bai Mei's tightly closed eyes. Her face flushed, and she wiped away the blood she had coughed up.
Even though his hands were trembling slightly, he still gripped the sword tightly.
She took a deep breath.
Why is it turkey noodle sauce?!
She clearly bought ketchup!
Those packets were definitely ketchup, but how did the ones after that suddenly turn into turkey noodle sauce?!
My master said that as a sword cultivator, one must always maintain a state of weakness.
Ideally, one should spit out a mouthful of blood with each strike, so that others can sense the unfathomable depth of one's strength.
On the other hand, enemies may also lower their guard because of your show of weakness, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
So she would always buy ketchup and hide it in her sleeve. Every time she finished drawing her sword, she would cough and cover her mouth, then take a sip of ketchup.
She remembered that she had bought ketchup, but after taking a sip, she realized it was actually turkey noodle sauce.
Whose turkey noodle sauce and ketchup come in the same package?!
I carefully checked the manufacturer information on the packaging to avoid any potential problems.
Oh, it belongs to Bingtang Tang's family.
It seems I was too careless and took the wrong one.
I need to drink water, I need to drink water, I need to drink water...
There was absolutely no time to waste for Qingluan!
"He's nothing but a stray dog. Watch me, watch me cut him down with one sword stroke, hiss..."
The vines coalesced into an androgynous figure, coldly gazing at the two girls ahead.
All the vines on the ground converged upon him, and he even began to absorb the white mist.
The captain took a deep breath.
Powerful! Beautiful! Immortal! That's why she chose the Vine Calamity Beast!
As long as there is a wisp of white mist, as long as there is a single vine, she can be resurrected!
With a sinister grin, the captain looked at the arrogant girl and said in a sinister tone, "A Bud talent, and at that, only at the Peak of the Early Bud Stage, not even reaching the mid-stage. You're courting death."
Bai Mei was slightly surprised. After taking a breath, she nodded, "Not bad, it's rare to see an outsider who knows about the cultivation levels of my Azure Cloud Sect."
The captain's pupils contracted. " Azure Cloud Sect?"
"What you've described only covers the four minor realms and four minor ultimate realms, but you probably don't know about the further divisions. Below the minor realms, each is further divided into nine stages, up to the tenth ultimate stage. Only after improving or learning new abilities can one advance to the next minor realm..."
As she spoke, the Bai Mei glow on Bai Mei's face faded slightly, and her tone softened.
"But Bai Mei is dull-witted. In her pursuit of the ultimate swordsmanship, she has only mastered one move so far, thus remaining stuck at the Peak of the Early Bud Stage and unable to advance."
After confirming that the other party was indeed Bud, the captain smiled again, "Don't worry, as long as it's not Shion, Full Blossom is just an ant in front of me!"
It suddenly unleashed a barrage of vines, attempting to engulf it.
Qingluan immediately controlled her magic, and the starlight transformed into a barrier to protect Bai Mei.
However, Bai Mei only sighed and gripped the sword in her hand tightly.
A sharp sword aura suddenly erupted around him!
Whether it was the vines or the magical water flow of the Qingluan, they were all severed by the sword energy as soon as they got close!
"No, wait, this magic of yours!"
The captain was horrified and retreated frantically!
You are not Bud!
"No."
A pure white magical girl, her magical armor possessing almost no magical power and offering no defensive capabilities, adorned only with a simple hairpin, her figure gracefully independent:
"I am Bai Mei, the chief disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and a magical Bai Mei."
The young girl drew her sword, her figure graceful and her beauty unparalleled!
" Early Bud Stage."
Like the glow of a sunset, it suddenly bursts forth!
The magnificent magical sword energy surged forward relentlessly, cleaving through and annihilating everything in its path!
In the blink of an eye, it annihilated all the Calamity Beast in front of it!
"Ninety-three thousand reposts."
Once the intense sword energy dissipated and everything returned to calm, the raging wind slowly lowered the Bai Mei dress from which the sword had been unleashed.
A deep ravine, like an abyss, stretched out in front of the station, disappearing into the unseen distance.
The Qingluan stared dumbfounded at the marks before it, while the Incubators on its shoulder gaped in disbelief.
A gentle breeze swept by, white mist billowed, and the distant sound of a train whistle rang out, leaving the station utterly silent.
"Cough cough."
Bai Mei was over there, bent over and coughed, breaking the silence. Qingluan stared blankly at her and saw that blood was flowing from the corner of her mouth again. Tears fell from her tightly closed eyes on her flushed cheeks, as if she was mourning the death of the Calamity Beast.
"Are you... are you alright?"
"Water..."