Ai Tutu's point of view. Immediately after Mu Bai's departure.
"Well, well, well, and who do we have here? Heirs of several wealthy Beijing and Shanghai Clans, as well as China's rising stars. I think if we kill you all, the uproar will partially or even fully cover our failed operation with Mingzhu's students. Nothing personal, guys, you just followed the wrong person." Sneering, one of the blue deacons said to them, apparently the unofficial leader of this trio of cloaked ones.
"Hmph, you were just afraid to even look at my guy a moment ago, and now you're trying to act tough? Since when do international terrorist organizations recruit such cowards and hypocrites? Oh, right - always. I'd almost forgotten how we used your colleagues as sandbag replacements. Thanks for the reminder." I cracked my knuckles.
I couldn't wait to test my increased physical power in a fight with these colorful clowns. Plus, Mu Bai hadn't helped us at all this time, taking even his summons with him, whereas usually he left them for our protection. This was a good chance to prove myself and show him we could stand in battle beside him, not just be a burden! Decided! My goal: beat all the bad guys before he returns!
"Tch, damn girl! Don't lump us with those weaklings! Or do you think that just because you sucked a couple of galactic veins with artifacts from your boyfriend, you're invincible?! Today I'll show you that's not true!" This guy signaled his men.
This dialogue wasn't pointless pre-fight insults. It had a purpose - to prepare for the clash. And both sides handled it perfectly. Everyone charged their spells openly. Both sides had the same goal and didn't even think of interfering with their opponents doing the same. It meant they could prepare in relative calm.
When I was about to charge the blue cloaks' leader, Mu's little sister held my shoulder and shook her head, signaling she'd handle him herself. I didn't argue. Why should I? Until I get my summons back, her power is objectively stronger than mine. I essentially have one working element, while she has two. Simple math. I may not be a genius, but I can reach such basic conclusions.
Sharply switching targets, I rushed not at the leader but at the figure to his right. She felt a bit stronger than the left one, so the choice was obvious. She wouldn't leave a strong opponent to that shady scholar and his hangers-on, or yesterday's softies, right? Let them handle the weakest! And Lady Ai would take care of the rest.
Or should I make them call me Lady Mu? For the future, so to speak... Maybe her guy would notice such a thick hint... Nah, nonsense. That blockhead only took Mu's little sister into his harem after she brought her naked to his bed. Expecting him to get hints would be stupid. Still, she loves him just like that and doesn't complain. Guess her brain just wanted a break before the fight, dragging her into such pointless thoughts.
Right then, when everyone was ready to tear into each other, not far from them, a Shadow element Sphere unfolded, followed by an Ice element domain. From outside, it looked like an opaque bubble with a black-and-blue battle raging on its surface, visible probably across the whole city.
"Heh, end of the road for your boasted guy. If he couldn't escape Master Bey, he's definitely dead now." Grinning widely, the blue cloaks' leader tried mocking them again. Is that his hobby? If so, she gets why he joined the Black Church. They probably kicked the poor guy out of everywhere else.
"Hmph, I don't know who this Master Bey of yours is, but Mu Bai never enters a battle he's not sure of winning. So in your place, I'd call in the forensics team ahead of time to figure out how horribly your boasted killer died." Not worried about Mu Bai at all, ignoring the leader, I attacked the one to his right, forcing my opponent to unleash his prepared second-step High level fire element spell "Hell Meteor."
Snorting, without slowing, I simply jumped over it, growing a Sand Aloe leaf behind me so the meteor wouldn't hit my teammates. Why dodge sideways or defend when you can just go around? With my muscle strength and light weight, I can leap onto high-rises, let alone jump a house-sized rock.
My opponent clearly didn't expect such a feint, since Mu Bai usually avoids such tricks in fights. As he told me, he just likes the feel of raw power, smashing through instead of dodging. Naturally, he won't do it at the cost of his health, but against a weak foe, why not show off? But since I'm trying to prove my independence, strength, and tactical smarts here, I'll use any means!
The good old Thunder Blade appeared in my hand, and I unleashed its full charge at the opponent, forcing him to summon artifact armor to block the concentrated ball lightning. But inertia doesn't care, and it hurled him dozens of meters away, separating him from his colleagues.
Of course, his helpers wanted to interfere, but nothing came of it. Mu's little sister lunged at the leader, unfolding her Sphere and slowing his movements since he was a wind mage trying to fly. Well, dust to him; he won't find better Seed than what Mu Bai gave Mu's little sister, so his magic will be greatly weakened. Without his own domain, he couldn't use it at all. As is, he's barely struggling, but it won't last long.
The left cloaked one was held back by Lu Nian with his soldiers and students. The Seed and Sphere were apparently only on the leader, so he couldn't suppress their magic. The kids and soldiers bombarded him with Mid-level spells, while Lu Nian blocked High-level ones, tanking the first with his first-step High level earth element "Petrifying Gaze."
Overall, that side was stable too, and all three Black Church guys started in a bad spot. What forces did they plan to use to kill their team? Did they count on that Master Bey? Think he'd kill Mu Bai and return to help? Or that without their guy, she and Jiao Jiao couldn't handle them? They're not appendages to their boyfriend; they're full combat units! That gothic guy who ran off to fight Mu Bai was right - they're not just a harem, they're a combat one!
Grinning widely at my thoughts, with a battle grimace I grew a Red Spider Lily on my palm. Since my opponent lost his artifact armor, I bet he won't mind a couple of its soul-damaging petals? I think it won't affect his interrogatability... much.
Mini Interlude. Point of view of the Giant Lizard Pseudo-Dragon, ruler of Jinlin City territory.
The giant lizard, peacefully sleeping off a meal in its cozy nest, abruptly woke. Sensing powerful energy fluctuations from several spots in the city, it blinked in confusion.
For a couple of years now, the last creature comparable to it in power had left this stone forest, making it the strongest here! Everyone knew its paws were the mightiest, its wings the broadest! So no one had dared challenge its authority with massive battles while it enjoyed its afternoon nap.
What blasphemy! Wasn't it a very merciful ruler, shitting on its subjects during daily flyovers so they could enjoy the tasty food it'd already sampled? Apparently, it'd spoiled them too much! Time to remind them who the dragon of this mountain was!
Climbing from the nest, the pseudo-dragon spread its mighty wings and flew toward the strongest source of magical fluctuations - a huge black-and-blue bubble radiating an even scarier aura the closer it got. When the lizard approached close and stuck its head in out of curiosity, all its scales stood on end, and yanking its head out, it hastily flew to the second, less powerful source.
It decided to leave this one for tomorrow. Too lazy right now to deal with violators in that part of the stone forest. It rarely flew there anyway. And that territory didn't appeal to it; let the violators take it. What a generous ruler! But it wouldn't be so merciful to the next creatures that woke it!
On approach, the lizard noticed one winged female of the human species that occasionally wandered into its domain wrapping her opponent in thorny vines and draining his blood, leaving him half-dead, while another wingless one held her foe aloft on some very hot threads, making him scream shrilly. And from both plants it sensed such a strong aura that its scales nearly stood on end again. Then those two human females looked straight at it...
Swiftly turning, the Giant Pseudo-Dragon flapped hard and flew back to its nest to pack. Mom was right: don't stay in one place too long; keep moving, it's good for body development. And it'd noticed its mighty paws weren't so mighty anymore from constant nest-lounging. Time to fly to native Dongting Lake, refresh, visit family. Always sitting alone in its stone forest, no one to talk to.
Glancing back once more at the dangerous human females still staring intently - whom it totally wasn't afraid of - the lizard flapped even faster, slightly altering course straight to Dongting Lake, skipping the nest. Why even fly in? Such clean air up high... and no scary females.