Chapter 219: Banishing Monsters, Ferrying Souls

East Sea Province, East Sea City

A large squadron of fully armed iron cavalry was galloping down the street.

"You're late?"

Chang Haoran frowned at the scene before him, which resembled a human Purgatory, his perception extending outward, sensing no trace of any living person.

Only the malice emitted by the monsters remained.

"It's really infuriating!"

Chang Haoran's face was filled with coldness; he never imagined that his first battle following Mu Yi would encounter such a brutal fight, and even though he was accustomed to life and death on the battlefield, he couldn't help but flare with rage.

"Roar!"

Monsters drawn by the sound of thundering hooves began to gather, among them a monster nearly three meters tall stood.

Chang Haoran let out a low shout, the entire legion's Cloud Energy rapidly converged onto his spear, while his Inner Qi surged wildly from his body.

The monsters following around the Deep Diver left only severed limbs on the ground; even if they were not the target, they still collapsed in the attack's aftermath.

"Dragon Spear Annihilation!"

Any monster daring to block them was crushed into powder by their charge.

They passed away peacefully, feeling not a hint of pain.

These monsters are merely appetizers; the real big ones can accumulate power in the ocean, and we absolutely cannot let them do so.

"Understood!"

Orange-red Inner Qi mixed with Cloud Energy, coalescing into a massive fireball, then erupting outward with a violent spear thrust.

Chang Haoran wildly waved his spear; each blossoming spear-flash represented several monsters falling beneath his blade.

Guan Linglong issued an order to the rescued blockade squad, then rushed toward the ocean with her personal guards behind her, without looking back.

Corpses of monsters cleaved in half littered the ground; compared to the imposing might of the Heavy Armored Cavalry, Guan Linglon's officer swordsmen were far more efficient and decisive.

Chang Haoran led the charge straight into the monster horde; in an instant, the momentum of the iron cavalry behind him surged like a rushing river, following him as they plunged into the monsters, the sound of hooves like thunder.

Chang Haoran roared, swinging down his spear; Cloud Energy rose from the soldiers, poured into the formation, and on the outer edge transformed into countless saw-tooth blades.

Likewise, the Heavy Armored Cavalry, all equipped with Shockwave Strike, could inflict lethal blows on these monsters with each weapon swing; their rune-etched Transcendent weapons maximized the destructive power of the shockwave.

These monsters are merely low-level lackeys under Level 10, lacking Transcendent weapons, and utterly unable to pierce Heavy Armor defense.

"Kill them all, then press on!"

Dark green fluid seeped from beneath the corpses, then washed clean by the rain, as if telling of everything that had happened.

"Roar!" Accompanied by a harsh hiss, the Deep Diver appeared before Chang Haoran.

Moreover, the effect of this combination is also very powerful.

A-rank monster, Ocean Deep Diver

The rumble of the Heavy Armored Cavalry could be heard several blocks away.

"Iron cavalry, charge!"

Suddenly, Guan Linglong's expression changed; she sensed the overwhelming malice emanating from the ocean.

The talent framework of the Heavy Armored Cavalry led by Chang Haoran mainly consisted of Heavy Armor Defense and Shockwave Strike; talents that seemed unrelated could actually combine, which astonished Mu Yi upon learning of it.

"Kill!"

Monsters with ferocious faces and towering scales, hands outstretched, bellowed as they swarmed toward the Heavy Armored Cavalry unit.

The monsters' attacks felt nothing on the Heavy Armored Cavalry; all members possessing Elite Talent in Heavy Armor Defense could ignore attacks below a certain threshold.

A massive monster clad like steel armor lay dead silent on the ground, unable to utter a groan before its head and half its body were shattered by a powerful strike.

Boom!!!!

The deafening roar echoed throughout the street, even the omnipresent rain could not drown it out.

"Roar!"

"Take the civilians and retreat quickly; this place will soon become a battlefield!"

"The commotion is truly huge!"

Even a glancing blow could crush a monster's body to pieces.

The monsters trampled by the Heavy Armored Cavalry had no strength to fight back, just as ordinary people have no resistance before them.

Accompanied by the Deep Diver's hiss, the monsters surrounding it immediately charged.

Monsters overturned, the Heavy Armored Cavalry under Chang Haoran's leadership carved a bloody path through the horde, their devastating power fully displayed at this moment.

Its body covered in black scales like steel, its gills fierce and jagged on either side, it gripped a long spear in its left hand, the tip pointing straight at Chang Haoran.

Seeing the Deep Diver appear before him, Chang Haoran decisively mobilized the legion's Cloud Energy.

Guan Linglong, who likewise chose to follow Mu Yi, curled her lips; before her lay a huge monster cleaved in half.

"Arrow Tip Formation!" Chang Haoran yanked down his helmet's visor and raised his spear.

One sweep cut through, no matter the monster's rank, all were cleaved in half.

The squad members rescued by Guan Linglong gazed at the monster corpses strewn across the ground, swallowed nervously, and, following her orders, escorted the likewise rescued civilians away in the direction opposite the ocean.

Although we don't know where the reinforcements came from, this place is no longer a battlefield we can stay in.

"Lone Wolf Squad, Lone Wolf Squad, report your status!"

"This is Lone Wolf; we're temporarily safe, leading civilians in retreat—you might not believe it, but we were rescued by a group of heroes who appeared out of nowhere!"

The squad leader trembled as he opened the channel, saying he could hardly believe the reality.

"Even the weakest among them is probably far stronger than I!"

As a somewhat notable presence in the Federation, I now feel only bitter resentment; there's no place for me on the heroes' battlefield.

"No, I believe, for at this moment many heroes are active in the city!" The liaison officer gazed at the screen with a complex tone.

Thousands of strangely formed heroes were active throughout East Sea Province; powerful B-rank and A-rank monsters were no match for them.

Even those S‑rank monsters were easily cut down by them.

They seem to have radar; wherever powerful monsters are, they appear there.

"Heroes, huh…"

The Eastern Sea Province combat commander stared blankly at Mu Yi, seated in the center of the screen.

All the changes were brought about by Mu Yi.

"Report: the first rescue detachment has arrived! The remaining rescue detachments are also about to reach the vicinity of Eastern Sea Province!"

The excited voice startled the commander.

"Deploy rescue at full speed by squad, and all combat units prepare for engagement!"

"The high‑level monsters in the city have essentially been eliminated; your opponents are only low‑level monsters—rush forward at maximum speed!"

"Your mission is to prioritize rescue—repeat, your mission is to prioritize rescue!"

The commander steadied his mind and quickly briefed the mission.

"Sir, over the coast…" someone asked hesitantly.

"Leave the coast to us!"

Mu Yi, who had been seated on the ground, rose, as if he could see the commander in the war room through the screen.

"Sea monster Theseus, we will eliminate it!"

Mu Yi's expression was calm, yet the crimson aura surrounding him betrayed his unrest.

Mu Yi inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Barrier enveloped him, extending from the city center to cover the whole city; although it had not yet activated, it allowed Mu Yi to perceive everything happening throughout the city.

Mu Yi could clearly hear every fearful breath in the city, as well as countless prayers.

The living were terrified of the death shadows brought by the monsters.

The dead souls wailed; pain and resentment filled their spirits, preventing them from passing on.

The waves emanating from the sea were severely affecting their souls; if left unchecked, they would mutate and become new monsters, serving as Theseus's minions.

"Damn it!" Mu Yi's eyes flashed with blood‑red crimson light.

His murderous intent had never been so pure.

"Reincarnation!"

Mu Yi closed his eyes, spread his hands, and the essence of Reincarnation etched deep in his soul suddenly began to spin.

Gentle, holy light radiated from Mu Yi's body, sweeping the bustling city like a surging tide and dispelling all shadows.

The light, penetrating every crevice, flowed silently like a winding stream through the panicked crowd.

The tranquil light soothed the people, washing away all panic and confusion like mud.

Fear breeds shadows, so Mu Yi quelled the fear.

The rational citizens began to flee toward monster‑free areas under Mu Yi's guidance; they were no longer afraid, for hope led them.

"Next… Ascension!"

Mu Yi formed the Kṣitigarbha Fundamental Seal with both hands; the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, whom he had only met once, had given him his greatest gift. Though Mu Yi did not wish to involve the Buddhist Sect further, this was the only thing he could use now.

In an instant, the Six Paths Reincarnation Barrier rose skyward, covering every place bathed in light.

At that moment, Mu Yi could clearly feel the flames of every soul in Eastern Sea Province.

Guided by Mu Yi, the wandering souls found direction, turning into rivers that surged toward him, rushing into the Six Paths Reincarnation at a torrential speed.

Two streams of blood‑stained tears slowly flowed from Mu Yi's eyes.

Tens of thousands of souls poured into the Six Paths Reincarnation Barrier, and Mu Yi could feel their pain and resentment.

Even though the Six Paths Reincarnation ran at full power, removing pain and resentment and sending those souls to Ascension, Mu Yi still bore a huge shock.

"Hey, hey, hey, the lord we follow is being a bit too over the top, is a Seventh‑rank Dark Commander really that exaggerated?"

The Military Family Descendants gathered around the coast opened their mouths wide, gazing at the city's tremors; having already received Underworld divine positions, they could better grasp the incomprehensibility of Mu Yi's actions.

They had seen souls being liberated, but they had never seen souls liberated through Reincarnation; they had never even heard of it.

"How could that be... even if you brought those great deities, they couldn't achieve this..." Ao Mo, after all, came from the Dragon Palace and understood the Heavenly Court and Underworld more thoroughly.

The more he understood, the more astonished he was at this moment—this was Reincarnation.

Even if the Four Sea Dragon Kings of Jiuzhou arrived, they could easily raise floods to drown the world, but they wouldn't dare taint even a bit of Reincarnation.

What's the difference between tainting Reincarnation and openly declaring war on the Underworld?

Ao Mo, who had never feared heaven or earth, now held Mu Yi in awe; this was no longer something a mere relationship could explain.

He had previously thought that following Mu Yi for ten years was a bargain for Mu Yi; now it seemed that being able to follow Mu Yi for ten years was the biggest advantage he had ever gained in his life.

Boom!!

The heavens burst with thunder.

On the already raging sea, huge waves rolled; the sky's dark clouds deepened, night fell like ink, branch‑shaped lightning danced like silver serpents, illuminating the towering tide.

Amid the giant waves, a terrifyingly massive head slowly rose, extending from the deep sea.

Layer upon layer of scales reflected a black‑purple glow, as if a hidden dragon burst from the waves and perched atop the sky.

However, this was not the full form of Theseus; within the waves, one head followed another, a total of four colossal serpentine heads emerged, howling toward the sky.

Pale lightning illuminated everyone's solemn faces.

"Sea monster Theseus!"

"Theseus! It's Theseus!"

The shadow of fear instantly overwhelmed the people in the Eastern Sea Province command hall; some elderly men trembled, recalling the desperation of those days.

Had the heroic squad not sacrificed themselves back then, the death toll would have far exceeded a million.

"Four heads? Theseus hasn't returned to its full prime!"

Just then, an old man recalled the story from years ago; the sea monster Theseus from back then possessed nine heads.

"Order the missile troops to lock onto Theseus, launch immediately, absolutely cannot let it escape and recover to its peak!" the commander issued the order in an unyielding tone.

Accompanied by the firm command, dozens of missiles were launched instantly, crossing the great distance and hurling toward Theseus.

"Roar!"

Amidst the towering waves, four huge heads roared in unison toward the sky.

It sensed that danger was approaching.

Theseus noticed the missiles' movements on the horizon, twisted its massive body, and the four heads let out thunderous roars.

Like an iron curtain, the rain curtain suddenly transformed, with rain turning into countless sea serpents that coiled around the missiles.

Boom!

All the missiles exploded in the sky, the booming explosions accompanied by shockwaves that kicked up fierce winds.

"Looks like we have to rely on ourselves!" Ao Mo gripped the Divine Sea Spear in his hand.

He could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Theseus's body.

Even in a weakened soul state, Theseus's body remains a true Legendary body; such an enemy is worth a fight.

"I'll hold it back, you prepare for battle!"

Ao Mo let out a furious roar, the light of the Divine Sea Spear in his hand surged, the azure light shot straight to the heavens, as if it would tear the storm‑churning sky in two.

Immediately after, Ao Mo hurled the Divine Sea Spear into the sea; the originally turbulent ocean, under the azure light's shroud, gradually grew calm.