“Well, I'm sure I'll be able to get you to speak soon enough.” The water clone of Jing held one end of her meteor hammer and spun the other.
The double-weighted weapon enhanced with the water clone’s qi was more than enough to halt Hong Long’s dash. He was forced into blocking the weighted ball unless he wanted a smashed skull. Hong was surprised to feel the power behind the girl’s weapon. As a Great Prodigy, it was difficult for him to find challenges. Considering this thing wasn’t even human, it made him wonder just what kind of technique or thing this was.
Jing pulled the other end of the meteor hammer back and began to spin the weapon. Unlike before where she only spun one end, this time she was spinning both ends around herself. The weighted ends that could crush a Winged Tiger’s skull masterfully moved around her entire body. Air swished and swooshed from the blurring speed at which the weighted ends were moving at. Hong Long watched as a small smile appeared on the girl’s face before she began to playfully skip towards him.
The casual way she was skipping made it seem like she wasn’t skillfully controlling the meteor hammer at all! Hong Long was impressed but chalked it up to nothing but tricks. How could something like this be useful in a real fight? All it takes is one good slash from his sword and that showy nonsense would be put to an end immediately.
Hong Long met the water girl head-on with his blade. He slashed at an angle to decapitate from below. As he was expecting his sword to be tangled up in the watery chains or his sword to cleave right through the weapon to decapitate the girl, neither of which happened. The Great Prodigy felt a blow that nearly shattered his jaw and sent him flipping into the air.
“Ah, I think you weren’t looking closely enough Great Prodigy, Hong Long.” Jing reared the other end of the meteor hammer and sent it flying towards Hong’s stomach. “A genius like yourself shouldn’t be too arrogant and underestimate opponents you know nothing about.”
Luckily for the Great Prodigy, Bo Fai saved him from suffering terrible harm by grabbing his clothes and moving him out of the way of Jing’s attack. After seeing Hong Long lose horribly against this mysterious person, Bo Fai decided to step up to the plate. Her skill was truly admirable, whoever this is. That weapon of hers was unusual as well. He’s never seen anything like that in either of his lives.
“You have a connection with Heaven’s Angels, don’t you?” Bo Fai realized.
“I would compliment you for such incredible deduction skills but I’d be lying.” Jing thought they already figured it out.
Jing wasn’t a fool. It was only a matter of time before people could find out the signature sign of someone from Heaven’s Angels. That signature being the usage of an unusual weapon! In a world where the top cultivators use swords or their own bodies and most forms of martial arts are centered around those two things, why would anyone bother straying from the path already set from them? Who would put in the additional effort of forging their own path when they could take the easy way and mimic those around them? While cultivators may live for thousands of years, mastering most martial arts take a lifetime to completely master. Imagine creating a martial art that could reach the peak from scratch while using a weapon that no one has ever seen before. It sounds impossible, right?
“Since she’s confirmed that she’s from Heaven’s Angels, there is no reason for us to be merciful any longer. Everyone, we must capture her to learn more about Hu Tao’s group! If she proves too difficult, just kill her instead. They have more than a few members in their group. Killing one won’t cause too much of an issue.” Meili coldly ordered.
“Aye Aye, Leader!” Yanyu pulled out a half-broken sword with a mighty dragon etched onto the blade, ready to fight.
“Follow my lead, Yu.” Bo Fai erupted with a new look. Emperor-like robes made of flame qi coated his body. He gained burning gauntlets, blazing shin guards, and a flaming cape as well.
“I’ll support you two.” Meili fed Hong Long a valuable healing pill to fix his shattered jaw before rising up with a sheathed sword in half.
“I have a question before we begin.” Jing spoke up.
“Ask away, villain.” A white aura of qi burst from Meili’s sheathed sword.
“Are you at odds with Heaven’s Angels because of Hu Tao?” It would be best if things were clarified first.
“Hu Tao has hurt all of us in some way or form. He does not hide his villainous actions nor his despicable behavior. Everyone is aware of the type of person Hu Tao is, but no one does anything about it. And your Heaven’s Angels took it upon yourself to recruit such a horrible person in your group without caring about his actions. Meaning that you too support his inhumane deeds and must also be exterminated alongside him.” Meili explained.
“I see. I see. Alright, shall we begin?” Jing readied herself to take on the three cultivators.
Jing wasn’t surprised to hear that Hu Tao managed to somehow form an entire group around killing him and those he’s close to. She was at fault as well. It was not like she really restrained his actions all that much. Only when it would prove disadvantageous to her would she do so but some of Hu Tao’s value also lied in how much trouble he stirred up without even trying. Because of his terrible personality, Jing has the chance of obtaining the secret of reincarnation from Bo Fai.
It must also be said that Jing was personally a fan of causing chaos and mayhem as a means to accomplish her goals. What person would be more perfect for doing such things than Hu Tao? Bing, Lei Zhi, Wan Qing, and Li Li weren’t suitable because of their personalities. While they might do it if she asked, they wouldn’t necessarily enjoy doing it, unlike Hu Tao who would take great pleasure in riling as many people up as he can. Ying might be a good substitution for Hu Tao but that would only work best if the people she was sent against wronged her in some way.
So, Jing was aware that the actions of Hu Tao affected her reputation as well. It affected Heaven’s Angels as a whole. But restraining Hu Tao’s actions was not the right method in using him to his full potential. All she had to do was properly direct his focus elsewhere otherwise, if he got too bored, he’ll just naturally cause some chaos without even trying. A person like Hu Tao was always needed in some way. Either his heavenly talent for combat or his unnatural ability to get on the bad side of anyone he meets. Both are abilities that are superb for aiding Jing in manipulating things to her advantage. Eventually, when she takes over the Golden Serpent Sect, his dual talent will be one of the strongest factors in helping her easily overtake the Nine Swords Sect and Blossoming Water Palace.
“Let’s see if you’re anywhere as skilled as Hu Tao.” Bo Fai took a leap forward with a single step.
“If you saw my skills two days ago, I would’ve said no.” Before experiencing the 10,000 lives, Jing was indeed weaker than Hu Tao in skill.
Bo Fai led his attack with a straight right punch that caused Jing’s water body to boil without him even touching her yet. Yanyu didn’t follow behind Bo Fai but went to circle around Jing. Meili stayed put as the white qi glowing around her sheathed sword slowly grew brighter and brighter as seconds went by. Jing took in all this information in a matter of seconds.
Her meteor hammer was launched toward Bo Fai’s face, only to clash with his fist. His fist sent the weighted end flying past Jing’s face. Bo Fai used this quick opportunity to attack while she looked helpless. As much as Jing wanted to take him on at close range, his flames were a bit too much and were actually suppressing her. This information surprised her greatly. Those flames aren’t any regular flames.
If Bo Fai could hear what Jing was thinking, he’d say that she was correct. His flames indeed were not any regular ole flames but the flames of the legendary Phoenix! While they were not the most powerful of flames compared to other legendary spirit beasts who could use fire, it was still on par with them. The heat produced by these flames was enough to burn body cultivators to ash.
Jing’s water clone wasn't made out of any special spiritual water either. Just SCP-109's water. While the water had some anomalous properties, none of it held any defense against the flames of a Phoenix. Put simply, Jing was outclassed in quality. Whether or not she would be able to make up this difference in quality with skill, remains to be seen.
“Huh!?” Yanyu cried out in surprise as the weighted end of the meteor hammer hit by Bo Fai was sent flying her way.
“Look out!” Bo Fai shouted.
“Shouldn’t you be focusing on yourself instead?” Water tendrils began to wriggle and extend out from Jing’s body. They shot toward Bo Fai with impressive speed, seemingly about to pierce straight through his body.
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"About to" normally means that they fail in such cases...