Illusions and Close Combat

Once the paper bodies of the Yin soldiers were broken, their fighting strength dropped sharply, making them even less of a match for the Dark Warriors.

By then, the monsters on the battlefield had reacted and launched a coordinated assault on the enemies rampaging through their ranks.

"Crackle~"

A bolt of lightning suddenly tore across the sky, striking a paper figure rampaging through the monsters with pinpoint accuracy.

The paper figure went rigid at once, cracks spreading across its surface like a spiderweb as the current made its eerie blue flames flicker.

The surrounding monsters immediately let out earthshaking roars, raising their weapons and striking fiercely at the battered paper figure before them.

Knives and bone swords hacked into the paper figure. The remaining scraps of paper turned into charred fragments in the lightning and scattered on the wind.

A wisp of blue smoke rose and drifted toward the village, like a remnant soul returning to rest.

Even if a guardian spirit's soul was scattered, its ritual master could reshape it.

Lin Xu's gaze sharpened. The Evil Eye's sight pierced through space, fixing on the inconspicuous-looking Dark Lady among the monsters.

Her dark red hair stood on end like a burning flame, and a defiant light flickered in her purple eyes. A mocking smile curved her lips.

A black leather trench coat wrapped around a high collar patterned with dark gold, outlining a coldly beautiful and dangerous silhouette. The grappling claw strapped to her left arm and the long, slender barbed whip in her right hand gleamed with a chilling light, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue as it waited to strike.

Name: Dark Lady · Blue

Race: human

Level: 5

Strength: 12

Agility: 15

Constitution: 12

Spirit: 11

Intelligence: 10

Health: 120/120

Mana: 110/110

Skill: Lightning Arrow · Azure (advanced): condenses dark mana to fire a penetrating arrow, dealing magic damage to enemies in a straight line and reducing their movement speed

Dark Curtain · Blue (intermediate): releases a dark barrier that covers an area, granting allies concealment within it and reducing enemy vision and perception

Charm · Blue (advanced): uses dark mana to influence the target's mind, briefly controlling an enemy unit or even permanently altering the target's perception. The success rate depends on the strength of the target's spirit

Evaluation: a manipulator in the shadows, adept at dominating both minds and the battlefield

"Mid-tier professionals!" Lin Xu's pupils narrowed slightly as he glanced at the two Dark Ladies hiding in a corner of the battlefield.

These dungeon monsters were clearly far more intelligent than goblins and Evil Eyes. They knew how to use terrain and coordinate tactics to keep themselves in safe positions while waiting for a chance to land a fatal blow.

On the battlefield, the paper Yin soldiers had fallen into a disadvantage. The Dark Warriors cut into the fighting, immediately turning the tide.

One paper Yin soldier's body was torn apart, and it turned into blue smoke, about to return to the village. But a Dark Warrior raised a greatsword high, gathering dark battle Qi and preparing to bring it crashing down!

Boom~

A Soul Shock Blast erupted without warning. The Dark Warrior, just about to pursue the paper figure, shuddered and staggered back two steps, nearly collapsing. He had to brace himself on his greatsword to stay upright, while the bloody light in his eyes flared.

The soul shock wave spread, tearing apart several goblins closest to it.

The monsters, their morale buoyed by the Dark Warrior's valor, had a bucket of cold water dumped over them in an instant and froze on the spot.

Seizing the opportunity, the paper Yin soldiers turned into streaks of light and flew back, vanishing from the monsters' sight in the blink of an eye.

After one setback after another, the dungeon monsters' morale had suffered, and their movements grew hesitant and disordered.

Lin Xu stood atop the village's stone watchtower, using the Evil Eye's vision to look coldly down at the battlefield.

After the successive clashes, he had gauged the dungeon monsters' fighting strength. The Dark Warriors formed the core of the force, the Dark Ladies provided ranged and battlefield control support, and low-tier monsters filled out the battle line.

"We can fight this battle!"

Having learned the monsters' true strength, Lin Xu immediately adjusted his battle strategy.

The militia were deployed along the village walls, armed with bows and spears. Their task was to support the battle and clear out the lesser enemies.

The thirty Dao soldiers, the core fighting force, were assembled on the high ground at the village entrance, Soul-Slaying Halberds in hand as they waited for the enemy to attack again.

Wang Yue needed to operate the Mirage Dazzling Light Formation in the village, so he specially assigned six outer sect disciples to follow him, control the formation flags, and maintain the formation's stability.

The remaining disciples followed Lin Xu to the village watchtower, ready to support the fighting wherever needed.

The formation plates had already been placed at key points around the village. Spiritual power patterns lay hidden beneath the soil, and the Earth Vein resonated with the formation flags.

The Mirage Dazzling Light Formation silently went into operation. As illusion and reality intertwined, the village's outline gradually blurred, as though it were merging into an illusory landscape.

Looking toward the village from afar, one saw only lush farmland scattered among rolling hills. Where was there any sign of the village?

The dungeon monsters gradually approached the village, but they looked around in bewilderment, unable to detect where it was.

The Evil Eyes floating in midair widened their eyes, but saw only rolling hills and verdant fields. They did not notice that the village was hidden right under their noses.

"Prepare!" Lin Xu ordered in a low voice, slowly lowering his hand.

Wang Yue formed a hand seal to activate the formation. The Mirage Dazzling Light Formation shuddered violently, and the illusion began to twist and change-in the previously empty fields, the phantom of a magnificent city suddenly appeared, with carved beams, painted rafters, and banners snapping in the wind, as though thousands upon thousands of soldiers were stationed within.

The monsters advancing slowly felt their vision blur. To their horror, ranks of paper Yin soldiers charged out of the towering city. Memories of the earlier ambush surged to mind, and they fell into panic and confusion.

The Dark Warriors roared, trying to hold the ranks together, but fear spread like a plague.

The paper Yin soldiers poured out of the phantom city and pounced on the monsters.

The most timid goblins let out piercing shrieks and turned to flee, and large numbers of low-tier monsters broke and ran after them.

A Dark Lady screamed shrilly and raised a hand, sending a bolt of lightning at the oncoming Yin soldiers. The lightning tore through the apparitions, but only dispersed a patch of phantoms.

She froze for a moment, immediately realized something was wrong, and at once manipulated a spell in an attempt to dispel the illusion before her.

Several paper-figure phantoms that had rushed toward her dissolved like smoke as they drew near, but the phantoms farther away suddenly exploded, turning into a sky full of talisman fire that came crashing down.

It was the Daoist group!

Taking advantage of the monsters' minds being thrown into disarray by the illusion, Lin Xu led the outer sect disciples in launching dozens of spirit talismans from the watchtower at once.

Talisman fire poured down like rain, landing with precision among the monsters. The explosions roared piercingly, and several low-tier Devil Creatures were burned to charcoal on the spot.

More monsters were flung over by the blasts, and screams rang out all around.

"Ha!"

A streak of pitch-black Sword Qi sliced through the air and collided with the incoming fire talismans.

Bang, bang, bang~

Several bursts of fire exploded in succession. Dark Sword Qi slashed in every direction, tearing through several tongues of talisman fire, while the aftershock carved deep gouges in the ground.

A Dark Warrior stood with sword in hand, his eyes blazing through the black Qi curling around him as he coldly raised his head toward the watchtower.

Black Qi surged around him like a tide. The Dark Warrior stomped down, blasting the earth apart, and the heavily armored warrior charged straight at the illusion before him like a war chariot, heedless of everything.