While Shin was fighting his battle with the King of Serpents, the others in the Payircis were trying their hardest not to be caught in the crossfire. Shin’s Cosmic Wings and immense physical strength were things to be wary about, but the World Serpent had a far greater advantage. Each time he swung his massive tail, a tsunami of sand sped through the entire desert, toppling the placid environment that the Black Masks and the Alliance could fight on.

It didn’t matter if they were friendly or not, the World Serpent’s movement showed no disregard to those that stayed near him. Eventually, the Black Masks and Guardian Sword were forced to retreat over fifty kilometres away, to a remote part of the Payirci just to survive. It was only after reaching that safe distance, did the two sides start to engage in an intense standoff.

Kanari instantly cast her Spiritual Body Enhancement. Nine tails emerged from her behind while her nails and claws elongated exponentially. Watching her movements, the other elites of Guardian Sword quickly got into positions as well. Combatants strengthened their bodies while unsheathing their weapons while auxiliary Spirit Users tried their best to minimise their mana leakage.

Suji was the most creative one. Instead of summoning out his trusted Spirit that was capable of mowing down thousands in a blink of a second, the Son of War took out his own personal warblade and only used his plethora of martial abilities. Moving at blinding speeds, Suji kicked himself straight at the weakest members of the Black Masks. His objective was clear. Let Shin and the Saint-leveled members deal with the heavyweights. Suji was only there to make sure that the flies wouldn’t bother Shin while he’s working.

Kanari didn’t chide Suji’s clear disregard of the command. Her attention was planted right on the other elites that hadn’t made their moves. Haeun, the genius swordswoman from the Dalgeom Sect, brandished her spellbinding icy sword, creating crystal petals with each passing step. She skipped through the first defences of the Umbras, leaving a trail of blooming snow roses in her wake.

Watching that seamless movement brought a smile back to Kanari’s face. Haeun was no longer the fresh-faced swordswoman that sought battle to constantly improve. The first time they’d met, Haeun had challenged Meijing Bingying to a duel at the Summit just because she was mesmerised by the Pearl in the East’s blade. The result was obvious, but Haeun came out from that duel the overall winner as she progressed tremendously with her Ice Fairy Blade Dance techniques.

Now that the Dalgeom Sect’s genius was already matured and had a few battles under her belt, Haeun’s movements were far less reckless and much more meticulous. She danced through the Umbral army as if they weren’t there and each sword dance was seamlessly transitioned to the next one.

Speaking of female prodigies, the other top-tier talent from the Kori Federation was doing quite well herself. Sierra Glynrel, the former Flower in the North, took the liberty to target the first Spirit Emperor within the Black Masks. She was a mere Spirit King, one that was equal in ranks with both the twins and Isadore, but her attacks proved otherwise. The Spirit Emperor was flustered by Sierra’s confusing movements and the myriad of control abilities that she possessed. The Brahmin broke free from a vine? There was a poisonous fog awaiting him. He expelled the poison? Clones were waiting to assassinate him at every given opportunity. There was no resting for the Spirit Emperor, even though he was one realm above his opponent.

The same could be said about the Lantis Republic’s elites. Former luminaries such as Qilong Hu and Jingyu Taiyi overpowered their opponents with shocking speed and accuracy. At the same time, Longyu Linji and Xunyu Feifei did their best to support the hard-hitters. Not only that, but Meijing Bingying was also showing off a thing or two of her own.

People tend to forget, but before Shin came into the picture, Meijing Bingying was the Lantis Republic's brightest star. She was the youngest Spirit Adept and the one who climbed the highest at the Celestial River. Meijing Bingying was most certainly a future Spirit Saint, and she was currently living up to that mantle. Each swing of her see-through sword made the temperature dip by a hundred degrees, even though they were in the middle of a desert. If a Black Mask came charging at her unprepared, their fates were to either be turned to ice, or be sliced down before they could even count to one.

That’s why an exalted Spirit Venerate was forced to personally come down to neutralise the young threat. And shockingly enough… Meijing Bingying actually knew her opponent.

“Meijing Xuenkai! You actually have the nerve to face me after what you’ve done?!” The next head of the Meijing Clan spat while glaring daggers at the man who attempted to sneak attack her.

“The heir of the Meijing Clan is standing right before me. How could I stay still?” A cheeky reply sprung out of the Spirit Venerate’s mouth, his smile still as disgusting as ever.

“If not for you! If not for you, our Meijing Clan wouldn’t be struggling so much!” Bingying gritted her teeth as she shot a curse. “Do you know how much humiliation and damage you’ve caused our clan! You still have the nerve-!”

“Yap yap yap… Clan this, clan that. Girl, your kind is the main reason why I couldn’t tolerate the Meijing Clan anymore!” The Brahmin scolded her in anger.

“You’re just a traitor that sold out your clan for evil! Don’t badmouth the Meijing Clan, you mongrel!!!”

“Evil? Haha, from your perspective it’s certainly that case!” Meijing Xuenkai chortled out while sending his left hand flying to the right. The Killer Whale, the symbol of the Meijing Clan’s fall from grace, coiled around the Spirit Venerate’s body as if he were wearing a cape.

“...” Bingying’s face tightened. She was, after all, just a Rank 70 Spirit Emperor. Against a Rank 80 Spirit Venerate like Meijing Xuenkai, a being that had crossed the second barrier of mortality… There was bound to be some pressure. Fortunately for the Meijing Clan’s heir…

“Yipyip! Don’t you dare touch my sister!” A tiny girl tapped on Meijing Bingying’s shoulder, instantly alleviating the pressure that Meijing Xuenkai was putting onto her.

“Thank you, Bingbing.”

That simple compliment made Bingbing’s face brighten up like the summer’s sun. “Yipyipyip! Don’t misunderstand! I’m only here because of Shin’s request! I could care less if you lived or died! I’m the better Bing after all!”

“...” Bingying dropped her jaw in a flabbergasted shock. After all these years, Bingbing was still holding a grudge about how similar their names were?

“If you help me beat this guy, I shall hail you as the eternal Queen of Bings,” the Meijing Clan heir said half-jokingly.

“YIP! Really?! Then I’ll just kill him then!” Bingbing instantly got excited, spinning her petite body right at the poor Meijing Xuenkai.

“Yipyip! No hard feelings uncle! You’re going to die today!”

‘Uncle?’ Meijing Xuenkai’s eyebrows twitched a little after being called that unfamiliar term. ‘It must be the first time a Tier 9 Spirit Beast had ever called me that...’