Chapter Fifteen ~ Chimera Extermination(5)

Tearing through the air, slamming into Shen Tingfeng. Shen tried to parry the attack but ultimately fails. Pushing him back into the formation's walls, leaving a visible crack. And he was left with an internal injury. Next, the chimera focused its attack on Wei Jian. [ Copper Cicada First Form: Escaping the Shell ]

Like a boulder rolling down a hill, the chimera's blade came down onto Wei Jian with built-up momentum. Evading the downward slash with a quick side-step, Wei Jian retaliated with [ Ghostly Supreme Sword 2nd form: Phantom Blade ]. Like staring into death, the chimera roared and uses his own attack [ Beastly Chimera Zeroth Form: 200 hundred Prey Screams ].

A technique made on the spot, after fusing multiple techniques it had copied from the Golden Cicada. His qi seeping from his body, giving the illusion of a wave of skeletons, whilst Wi Jian's gave everybody in the proximity the feeling of death. Their blades collided, but from Duan Xiulan's point of view, she was astonished. Their blades weren't touching at all, instead, their qi was fighting to overcome one another.

A burst of gust began to take along with it, leaves and shrubs. The barrier continued to crack, the elders and disciples unable to stop it. Duan Xiulan taking the chance rushes into decapitating the distracted chimera. Her blade inches away from the chimera's nape.

"Pwuah!", the chimera kicked out its left leg, kicking Duan back. At the same time shifting the weight of his sword, forcing Wei Jian's blade to strike the barrier. Breaking it further and nearly missing Elder Ma Li. Even though Wei Jian was able to take on the chimera, as the fight went on his qi started to run out.

Seeing Wei Jian's hand quivering as he held his blade, Shen Tingfeng knew it would not be long before he would lose another disciple so he too re-enters the fight. With the knowledge that the chimera could copy their techniques, Shen Tingfeng decide to go into it with normal attacks. Twirling his blade and twisting his body, Shen built up as much momentum as he could to deal damage without using techniques. Intending to end the fight with two bouts.

The first bout ended with Shen's yanmaodao leaving a nasty wound. When Shen struck the chimera on the back, and then kicked the chimera forwards, towards Wei Jian. Wei Jian would again use the first form of [ Ghostly Supreme Sword ]. The chimera would spit out a mouthful of black goo. Stumbling backward holding its wounds.

Like before its body began to cover itself in the black strands. But Shen Tingfeng wanted none of that. That's when the second bout began. Rushing forwards he slashed his yanmaodao in a z shape. Duan then would use her most powerful technique available to anyone in the sect master position in the Golden Cicada sect.

[ Golden Cicada: Golden Shower of 15,000 Seasons ], her blade-like, the Mount Hua Sect. Began emitting illusions of golden cicadas circling around her blade and around her. With a single stroke of her taijijian, the chimera's body was torn to pieces. And the golden cicadas began to gorge on the chimera's body part. Leaving it with no chance to heal.

The final move of Duan Xiulan broke the barrier, causing the elders and disciples to cough up a small amount of blood. But they were elated that finally, the battle was over. Wei Jian and Shen Tingfeng are both on their knees holding themselves up with their swords.

" Congratulations on the victory, Matriarch!" all of the elders and disciples bowing to Duan Xiulan. She stood tall and proud, catching herself when she began to lose her footing. Holding up her taijijian with the head of the chimera on top of it.

…..

A while later back in the small village, through the window, Wei Jian could see outer house disciples digging graves. While inner disciples carried bodies of the dead to them. The core disciples' numbers had reduced significantly. From forty-five core disciples to twenty-nine core disciples. The elders too were reduced from hundred twenty to hundred and four.

For a small sect like the Golden Cicada sect, the damage was detrimental to their ranking in the seven kingdoms. The news of the chimera spread throughout the seven kingdoms. A representative from each kingdom came to investigate the scene. A chimera of such prowess could not be left to a low-ranking sect.

Those who came were the Kunlun sect of the Ming Empire, Mount Hua of the Goguryeo Empire, Thunder Valley of the Muromachi empire, etc. All high-ranking sects could easily crush the Golden Cicada sect. And for some reason, even the imperial Pan family sent a letter saying their youngest daughter would come as their representative.

But that all happened while Wei Jian was bedridden. They've long since arrived and were having a meeting with the only available authority, matriarch Duan Xiulan. The things that Duan Xiulan truly cared about were the Pan family's opinion. Since the rest only came to investigate the scene, Pan Yi Yi came to see if they are still good enough to take on their ancient tomb task.

And of course, Pan Yi Yi was told by her father that she needed to do her job correctly for this is also a test for her. So she was ruthless in her judgment because everything was on the line. When the meeting began she asked the most important question, regardless of whether the others were supposed to go first.

" Matriarch Duan Xiulan, is your sect still able to attend to our business?"

Duan Xiulan wanted to tell the truth that they could not, due to them losing some of their strong fighters. But she knew that if they were to go and discover jade, gold, or manuals it would help them greatly. Before she could speak up, Yang Zian the genius of the Mount Hua sect, asked what the princess was referring to.

Pan Yi Yi told them everything, from the tomb to how it was an exclusive request given to only the Golden Cicada due to connections going way back. To the founder of the Golden Cicada sect. Seeing how the matriarch was not trying to refute the answer, and knowing how weak they were. The rest immediately offered their help in the expedition. All Duan Xiulan could do was remain quiet until everybody settled down.

TBC…