Through Long Ge's intelligence, Bai Jie had a general understanding of this newly appointed elder's Gu Insects.
When facing danger, the Ice Mirror Butterflies could instantly activate an ability akin to "substitution," making a mirror take the damage in their place. Once the mirror substitute was destroyed, the Ice Mirror Butterflies' true bodies could even multiply into an equal number of clones -- and these clones would take a considerably long time to disappear on their own.
Thus, it absolutely could not tolerate a variable that could infinitely clone itself and rescue others remaining alive on the battlefield.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter...
The rain was still falling, but the snow had already stopped.
Bai Jie glanced at the sky overhead. "This barrier domain still exists -- evidently it wasn't deployed by the 'Ice Mirror Butterflies.'"
Accompanied by the sound of rain and the agonized cries of the Gu Insects, Bai Jie also heard a ceaseless stream of system notifications.
[Target Bone-Eating Centipede status has been updated to "Deceased"]
[Target Yin Snake status has been updated to "Deceased"]
[Target Yellow Camel Heavenly Ox Gu status has been updated to "Deceased"]
[Target Red Needle Scorpion status has been updated to "Deceased"]
[Target White Jade Toad...]
As for the three Secret Keepers -- Jianxin, Zichen, and the others -- just as they were about to flee the toxic rain, they were each enveloped by a golden illusory form. With golden light flowing, the toxic rain could not erode them, just like Gui Yu.
And for its own dark creatures and Wang Miaoyin, Bai Jie deployed miniature "Lightning Net Barriers" one by one for them to shelter from the toxic rain.
The only ones on the field unafraid of the toxic rain, daring to bear it directly, were probably only the Specters and Gui Yu's Yin Soldiers.
Hiss, hiss, hiss...
Several strands of spider silk shot out, snatching the corpses of the four Ice Mirror Butterflies. By the time they were received in front of it, the four butterflies had already reverted to two. Bai Jie immediately began extracting spirit essence.
Although these butterflies likely hadn't been affected by meteorite spirit essence radiation, Bai Jie speculated that it was perhaps the "Semi-Demonic Body" lifeform's naturally nurtured spirit essence.
Vitality began to rise.
522, 523, 524...
The Vitality shot up to 550 before stopping!
"Bai Zhi's aura... has grown stronger."
Long Bingheng wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, having sensed something. Her gaze sharpened.
She said in a deep voice, "My Wu Gu Clan's Gu Insects have already suffered total casualties. Bai Zhi clearly has the ability to consume other Gu Insects to strengthen itself. You two, hold nothing back any longer!"
"If we let it continue like this, it will only grow harder and harder to deal with."
The next second, her jade hands formed a seal, and her pink, tender lips parted, uttering obscure and archaic syllables. An ice-blue magic array manifested before her -- the array as beautiful and cold as a twelve-pointed snowflake.
"Moo!"
Everyone heard a roar that was dragon-like yet not quite, coming from within the array!
Enormous and dense spiritual energy gathered. An aura that awed heaven and earth emerged.
Then, an ice-blue giant Jiao serpent rose up from the center of the magic array.
When its full, massive form was revealed to the world, sleet, snow, and hail all descended at once.
The giant Jiao was over twenty meters long, its torso thicker than a water vat.
On its head were short horns, with lightning-like eyes and a purple tongue. Above the brow ridge was a protruding lump of flesh. Ice scales and a blue mane, tangled whiskers flying wildly, a golden chain locked around its neck. Blue-and-white patterns flowed across its back, and cold qi, ice, and snow swirled around its body. Its underbelly was white, with four large legs. Massive claws could grab a bull as easily as catching a mouse. At the tip of its tail grew a tough, fleshy spike...
"Go -- eat that spider. The spirit essence upon it shall be yours."
With Long Bingheng's words,
Whoosh, whoosh!
The Cold Jiao transformed into a gale of ice and snow, driving straight into the demon spider's formation. Every dark creature in its path was either effortlessly swept away or frozen into ice sculptures by the cold.
Even when the Savage-Blood Minotaur with the highest Vitality tried to block it, the moment it raised its giant axe, it was swallowed whole -- person and axe together -- by the massive maw.
Long Bingheng glanced at Yinhe and Gui Yu, whether intentionally or not. "This Jiao evolved from a Frost-Breath Snake Gu. It possesses the divine might to freeze heaven and earth. If some people are unwilling to act, then Bai Zhi's corpse shall belong to my Cold Jiao."
"With Elder Long demonstrating such divine abilities, we naturally won't hide our clumsiness," Gui Yu said with an eerie, light laugh.
Gui Yu also flickered into motion, rapidly closing in on the battle zone. Simultaneously, a golden illusory form just as tall as Gui Yu himself hovered behind him, helping clear away obstructing dark creatures.
Long Bingheng gazed curiously at that golden human figure when she suddenly heard Yinhe's voice transmit: "That's an Heroic Spirit Gui Yu summoned -- it can exorcise evil and is impervious to all poisons. The ones that just protected the other Secret Keepers from the toxic rain were also clones of the Heroic Spirit."
The refined woman nodded thoughtfully, silently reflecting: "The marvels of the New Humans are truly beyond the understanding of those in our clan who cling stubbornly to old ways and refuse to advance."
...
The fine rain gradually began to ease. Bai Jie was well aware that against the new enemies, 'Calamity Poison Rain' would be difficult to make effective.
And this was still a Gu?! Worthy of being one of the Wu Gu Clan's mightiest elders -- but admittedly, this was downright absurd!
Elder Long She's witch-incantations compared to this Long Bingheng... were like child's play...
The focal point of the battlefield -- Bai Jie gazed at the giant Jiao charging toward it with irresistible momentum and understood deep within: the real fight had only just begun.
Illusory characters appeared before its eyes.
[Target]: Ice Soul Cold Jiao (Demonic Body)
[Vitality]: 320
[Body Length]: 25m
[Status]: Healthy
(Weak spirit essence reaction detected)
The Ice Soul Cold Jiao could be counted as the Demonic Body lifeform with the highest Vitality Bai Jie had ever encountered. The remaining dark creatures on the battlefield all surged toward the Ice Soul Cold Jiao, yet it was still like ants trying to shake a great tree -- collapsing instantly.
Of course, Bai Jie hadn't neglected Gui Yu, who was now possessed by the golden figure. "Nightmare Beast, that human is yours."
"Roar!"
The Nightmare Beast bellowed -- it had been waiting for this moment for so long. It stamped the ground fiercely, flames bursting beneath its hooves, trailing a long, blood-red fiery streak as it charged head-on toward Gui Yu.
"You all go support Wang Miaoyin," Bai Jie commanded the Dark Elves.
Wang Miaoyin was currently fighting three against one -- facing Jianxin, Zichen, and Li Wang. The battle was astonishingly evenly matched; she was no longer in the weak position of begging for mercy under Jianxin's sword as before.
"Then what of you, master?" The handsome male Dark Elf expressed worry.
"I will personally deal with that big fellow. Show me your strength and value," the demon spider said calmly.
"Aye."
With the orders given, Bai Jie dispatched all the dark creatures that had been guarding its side.
At this moment, the demon spider could be called a "solitary spider."
And as it saw the Dark Elves cut into the battlefield between the Secret Keepers and Wang Miaoyin, Gui Yu, who was locked in combat with the Nightmare Beast, actually raised his hand again and condensed ten more Yin Spirits!
"...Gui Yu, just how many tricks do you have up your sleeve?!" Jianxin couldn't help but break out in a loud shout.
Zichen and Li Wang could only mutter quietly under their breath...
Boom, rumble, rumble.
The Ice Soul Cold Jiao abruptly halted when it was less than fifty meters from the demon spider.
Its blue pupils flashed with lightning, its upper body reared high. Cold qi spilled from its mouth. Fierce, violent fluctuations of aura emanated from it, and a stream of icy-blue, train-car-thick frost breath gushed forth!
Buzz!
At the same instant, a "Lightning Net Barrier" over ten meters in diameter unfurled explosively!
Boom!
Temperatures hot enough to melt metal violently collided with the icy-blue, raging force!
Extreme cold and extreme heat intertwined. Though the frost breath could not immediately break through the lightning net, it still caused the barrier to tremble violently. Ripples spread in circles across its surface.
Crackle... crackle, crackle...
The lightning net's filaments intertwined and condensed into five spear-like pillars of lightning, stirring up spatial ripples as they abruptly blasted toward the Ice Soul Cold Jiao.