Chapter 1097: Weng Falos 3.1 (143)

Genshin.

"Is this what they call a frail academic? How is his strength greater than that of the Fire Thief Walker?"

Kawei gave a meaning‑laden glance at Ai Er Haishen, who was silently sipping coffee nearby.

At that moment he sat with his legs crossed, his expression unmoving as a storm; sunlight filtered through the café's glass, casting a flowing amber halo over his well‑defined muscle lines. His shoulders were broad and solid, the outline of his abs hinted beneath his clothing. Were it not for the book he constantly carried, it would be hard to link this fellow with the impression of a "frail" scholar.

"If the other side doesn't grasp Alchemy, then Kexia also knows a fair bit of martial arts, which makes sense," Ai Er Haishen said without raising an eyelid, silently turning the pages of his book. "I also suggest that while you're pulling all‑nighters to deal with the client's hassles, you carve out some time to train properly. Stacking seven or eight books together can serve as a suitably weighted dumbbell."

"Do you normally train like this at home?" Kawei stared dumbfounded. "Why is it that when I'm at home I don't… ah, never mind, so this is why you've managed to train yourself to spar with the Grand Discipline Officer?"

Hearing that, Saino clearly couldn't stay seated; he tapped the table with his fingers and, solemnly, corrected himself: "It wasn't an evenly matched duel; I wasn't giving my all at the time."

"Um… why does your competitive spirit always flare up in places like this," Tighnari sighed helplessly, "…especially when it comes to card games and jokes."

"Because these are realms where I won't concede," Saino said earnestly. "You may question other aspects of my life, but not my card skills or sense of humor."

——

"'Hundred Realms Gate—open!'"

Accompanied by a violent explosion, the Fire Thief Walker was blown away on the spot; when he got back to his feet, a Hundred Realms Gate stood in the arena's center, and everyone, along with the flames, vanished right before his eyes.

The group passed through the Hundred Realms Gate into the real world; Kexia staggered unsteady, when a strand of pale blue light shone behind him.

He saw Bai E's expression change instantly.

Kexia thought to himself that something was wrong and instinctively raised his gun, aiming at his rear!

Sure enough, the Fire Thief Walker tore a rift in mid‑air, the whole body instantly slashing through!

"Tsk—!"

Red crystals spread like a tide, instantly raising a ground spike that, with a single strike, pushed the ghost‑like shadow behind Kexia back several steps.

Crystal shards fluttered through the air, and a familiar voice from behind called out, "What a mess, 'Savior'."

Bai E froze for a moment, but quickly recovered, laughing lightly as if a weight had been lifted, and turned to ask, "Ha, why didn't you descend from the sky?"

Xing jerked his head back, and at the same instant Ti Bao seemed to exhale a sigh, collapsing onto the ground almost exhausted.

Behind him a blinding red light surged like a breached dam, instantly dyeing the entire arena scarlet. Wandi strode over calmly, the red crystals spreading beneath his feet like cold air, as if to seal everything he touched within that ominous yet magnificent red.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The sound of crystals growing was fine and dense, like millions of transparent insect wings trembling in unison.

"This city has always been mine… how could there be any reason not to use the 'main gate'?"

The Fire Thief Walker still tried to wrench himself out of the crystal, but after freeing one hand, Wandi leapt, hurling countless crystals at him like a storm, sealing him inside again.

——

Demon Slayer.

"Waaah—!"

"So cool! Wandi is just too cool! Is this what inheriting the contested divine office looks like?! So reassuring!"

A suppressed scream shattered the courtyard's tranquility.

Mitsuri of Ganlu Temple cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands, her light‑green eyes sparkling as if countless tiny stars were frantically flickering.

"Ganlu Temple, please keep quiet in the courtyard and don't disturb the lord."

The rock pillar's reminder instantly calmed the girl, who had just been shy and excited, and she awkwardly touched her face: "S‑sorry… I'll be more careful next time."

"After assuming the divine office, this guy's strength seems to have risen a lot; with that, we should be able to take down that… Fire Thief Walker, right?" Busichuan frowned, arms crossed, and said.

"Not necessarily," Ihei Kobane sat cross‑legged on the tatami, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on the magnificent red crystal pillar in the sky, "Although on the surface Wandi can suppress the Fire Thief Walker, he may not be able to kill it outright; its regeneration is still too strong."

"Hmm, I agree with Mr. Ihei's view," Butterfly Ninja said, brow slightly furrowed. "The more we clash with the Fire Thief Walker, the more abilities it shows. At first Kexia's ambush pierced its chest yet it survived; Ti An's Hundred Realms Gate couldn't contain it; this time it even tore open the 'Maze of Memory' and escaped directly… that's just too bizarre."

Butterfly Ninja's words were like a cold splash of water, finally bringing everyone back to calm after Wandi's rescue excitement.

"It's hard to say what other abilities he'll display in this fight against Wandi, a Demigod. If possible, we should aim for a one‑shot kill, leaving him no chance to recover or use other tactics."

——

"Wandi flexed his fists, bracing for action. The Fire Thief Walker finally shattered his restraints and faced Wandi and the others head‑on."

"Heichi's footman—me, King of the Suspended Blade Armies, have come to be your opponent."

"Seshis felt the familiar Demigod aura nearby and sighed, 'Long time no see… Nicadoli.'"

"The Fire Thief Walker split his figure into four, almost simultaneously attacking the group. Yet his main body remained still, overlapping the strange ritual sword with a heavy blade in his hand; in an instant, a gust of dark wind made his black robe rustle."

"This is no good omen."

"On the battlefield, when an inexhaustible monster suddenly halts all movement, it's not because it's tired nor soft‑hearted—but because it's about to do something far more dangerous than before."

"Wandi was the first to notice the anomaly."

"He took three steps in the time of two, launching a strong attack, trying to punch the Fire Thief Walker's motion, but the phantoms surged forward one after another, blocking him and hindering his offense."