Dancing with silhouettes part 1

Even though Lucias was currently trapped in the dungeon and still unconscious within the artefact prism, the war between the demon beasts and human cultivators had only just begun, even in the middle of the shattered night, the raging war had yet to cease fire.

Even though this invasion of the demon beasts had already lost its hidden edge, the sixth grade demon beasts that have already awakened their wisdom were still more than just qualified to be leading the war. They were capable, not just qualified.

Not only that, as demon beasts that are in the Four Domains, they possessed the wisdom to identify potential threats and pull out counter measures.

What's with this ominous feeling that I'm sensing? Cidd panicked internally, with a single notion of his, he withdrew his zither from his spatial ring.

*Whirr*

With a single pluck of one of the strings, a musical note floated above his group, bursting into beams of spirit energy that pierced through the bodies of the incoming demon beasts while catching them by surprise.

"Return to the city gates immediately while I gather the others. A storm is brewing."

"Elder Cidd, what's the matter?" One of the disciples asked out of curiosity, only to back out after being scolded.

"Don't question my words, I still need to gather the others." Cidd gave them a demanding stare as the disciples quickly turned around before leaving.

"Elder Cidd, please bring the others to the kingdom gates alive. We'll be waiting for you to return with the others."

CIdd turned around and left without even replying to them, but the disciples weren't offended by his actions.

"Senior Lancelot, what's going on right now?" One of the disciples asked anxiously as he depleted the spirit energy he just recovered in order to slay another demon beast.

Even though Lancelot was already panicking amidst the chaotic situation in which demon beasts were just flooding towards them, he still kept his forced poker face.

"Don't panic, focus on recovering your depleted spirit energy, I'll bring all of us out of here in one piece."

Lightning energy gathered around the tip of his spear as he charged towards the direction of the kingdom gates, paving out a way for the disciples he was leading with a charge from his spear.

"Don't turn back, just trust me on this." Lancelot assured again despite the tough spot he was in as lightning energy gathered into the tip of his spear, creating some empty space towards the right flank as the disciples made use of this gap to escape into open space.

Lancelot then sped up and right when he was about to join back the group, a powerful aura descended from above and just the impact wave it caused when landing forced him to retreat backwards.

Even though he reacted the moment the imminent danger was recognised by him, his internal organs were still severely injured, blood was leaking from the corner of his mouth and his body was screaming in pain.

Lancelot didn't show any form of pain, but deep down, he was clenching his teeth to resist the force of the sudden impact.

"What the hell is that?"

"Senior Lancelot, get out of there fast!"

The disciples attempted to save Lancelot as each and every single one of them attacked the enormous toad that just leaped onto them.

"Multi Drive!"

"Mountain Shatter Fist!"

"Cyclone Kick!"

Yet, despite those efforts, the toad withstood the attack without even a scratch being left on it as it turned its body towards the ten disciples.

"Get out!"

Lancelot shouted at the disciples as he mustered up the remaining strength and courage in his body, lightning cloaking around his body successfully for the first time as he stabbed the spear into one of the toad's eyes.

The lightning not only made his actions faster, his body felt weightless for some miraculous reason, but it wasn't the time to completate about it now.

"Croak…!"

The toad reacted in pain as its body leaped backwards instinctively, only for Lancelot to make use of this momentum to find the perfect angle, using the last of his remaining strength, he pushed the spear deeper into the toad's body before infusing his lightning intent into the tip of the spear.

*Vzzt! Vzzt!*

The toad spasmed and attempted to pull away, but since its body was numbed by the lightning, Lancelot made use of this chance to pull out his spear before stabbing the spear into the same spot with even more force, the impact of his spear fully destroying the internal body of the toad as it fell onto the ground. It was dead.

"Huff...huff…" With heavy breaths, Lancelot turned towards his juniors as his body fell forward, into the arms of Cidd who had arrived just too late yet on time.

"I'm sorry that I returned late, but we have to pull an immediate retreat. The rest of you follow me, I'll carry Lancelot on my back." Cidd cut straight to the chase and explained his plans briefly as he casted another musical halo to surround them.

Even though this halo would consume a significant amount of spirit energy, it would be worth the depletion with the speed increase the disciples would gain. It was a race against time.

After settling Lancelot down as the other disciples agreed to keep guard before he regains consciousness, Cidd consumed some spirit energy recovery elixirs before making his way to search for Ray's group.

As for the fourth prince, he should have some cards up his sleeve that would keep him safe in this war while playing an impactful role.

*Lucifer's castle*

"Jay, what is your intention in keeping me here for seven months?" Once they were alone with Lucifer taking his leave to prepare for his so-called 'training', Ace returned to his true self and asked the question calmly.

"I do not have the slightest intention of restraining your actions, nor do I plan of trapping you here for seven months. After a month here, I'll be sending you somewhere else to cultivate." Jay explained with a sly smile as Ace subconsciously stepped backwards.

Closing his eyes to take in a deep breath, Ace cleared his mind. "Promise me that you'll take great care of the sect in these seven months that I'm away."

"I will."

The next moment, Lucifer opened the door and stepped into the room, with a solemn face, he told Ace, "If you aren't even able to reach the eighth layer of the training I've prepared for you, then you can leave here after a month."

Jay opened his mouth, only to close it once again.

Lucifer was staring at him with a demanding gaze that warned him not to interfere.

Chuckling with a confident smirk that couldn't be wiped off his face, Ace cooled his head while probing, "Are you looking down on me right now?"

"I am, you may be talented, but if that's the best you can show us, then you're free to leave right now because you're of no value to us." Lucifer rebutted quickly, only to get annoyed with Ace's next question.

"Who is the 'us' that you're referring to?"

*Slam*

As a mysterious door that was floating in the air opened up, the sudden suction force pulled Ace into it before he could even react.

Jay stood there stupefied by what just happened as he furrowed his brows in disapproval.

"What did you do that for?"

"If he can't even adapt to sudden changes in his environment, how do you expect him to keep his calm before five years are up to save that girl he loves?"

Lucifer raged at Jay immediately and before Jay could even comment about his actions, he left the room, only his last message floating in the air, into Jay's ears.

"This is not only for his sake, but ours as well. If you really believe in him, this has to be the least he's capable of doing."

Lucifer's voice was hoarse, Jay could tell that much.

*Thud*

Landing on the ground once again, Ace stretched his body as a silhouette of a human cultivator formed before him.

Judging from the spirit energy the silhouette possessed, Ace could judge that it was only in the early stage Martial Apprentice realm.

Without even unsheathing his sword, the sword intent of his manifested in the air, but it wasn't the fire or frost intent this time, but the phantom slaughter law he has yet to fully grasp.

With a single notion of his, the phantom slaughter law manifested into a faint sword wave that easily tore apart the silhouette. It was only in its development stage, but its strength was already beginning to overpower the combined strength of his fire and frost intent.

*Zwoop*

The second silhouette is already forming? Seems like this will be fun...

"Bring it on!"