Chapter 360: Full‑Force Counterattack

On the battlefield, space seemed twisted by an invisible force, multicolored energy streams darting wildly, forming a stark and eerie contrast with the Black‑robed People's ink‑black silhouettes. Strange mist swirled around, sometimes glowing with a pale blue chill, sometimes flashing a blood‑red dark light, cloaking the whole field in a veil of mystery and danger.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn were surrounded in this dream‑like yet peril‑filled core zone. The Dragon Clan power within Ao Li erupted like a volcano, bathing her in dazzling golden radiance that gathered countless tiny stars, illuminating the darkness‑shrouded space around her. The long sword in her hand resembled a lithe golden dragon, flickering in the light; each swing emitted strands of golden Sword Qi, and where the Sword Qi passed, space shattered like broken glass, rippling in layers.

Lín Jìn was no less impressive; he pushed his potential to the limit, a massive surge of blue energy roiling from his body like an endless deep ocean, or like a mysterious Star Nebula in the vast cosmos. Within the blue energy, threads of violet lightning danced like spirit serpents, crackling, as if playing an exhilarating battle anthem.

"Ao Li, the all‑out counterattack is now!" Lín Jìn's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing across the chaotic battlefield with a reassuring firmness.

Ao Li answered with a resolute gaze, then, like a golden meteor, she surged into the Black‑robed People. Her figure was light and agile, each movement exuding a grace and power beyond mortals. Golden Sword Qi crisscrossed, weaving a brilliant net among the Black‑robed People; those struck by the Sword Qi instantly turned into specks of black starlight that vanished in the air, leaving only a series of mournful screams echoing through the mist.

Lín Jìn's hands whirled rapidly as he chanted an ancient, mysterious incantation. In an instant, a massive blue vortex appeared in the sky, its interior studded with twinkling stars as if linking to the depths of the universe. Buckets‑wide bolts of thunder poured down from the vortex, their deep blue hue interlaced with mysterious runes, hammering the Black‑robed People with world‑shattering force. Each bolt's impact triggered a fierce explosion, dazzling light, and the surrounding space buzzed and trembled as if about to collapse.

Under the duo's ferocious assault, the Black‑robed People's encirclement began to loosen. Yet the high‑rank members of the Black‑robed People would not concede easily; they quickly gathered, forming intricate hand seals and chanting Dark Energy spells in unison. Instantly, a thick, ink‑like Dark Energy surged from beneath their feet, spreading like a black ocean. Within the Dark Energy, countless twisted black tendrils emerged, resembling demon claws from Shenyuan, trying to drag Ao Li and Lín Jìn into endless darkness. Wherever the tendrils passed, the ground was corroded into bottomless chasms, exuding a nauseating stench of rot.

"Careful, this Dark Energy is extremely strange!" Ao Li warned loudly, while her golden radiance intensified, forming a layer of golden Dragon Scale armor over her body. Each Dragon Scale on the armor glimmered with mysterious runes, emitting powerful protective force that shattered the approaching dark tendrils.

Lín Jìn then condensed an energy shield that emitted a ghostly blue glow, its surface swirling with intricate patterns like an ancient Star Chart. He rapidly expanded the shield, enveloping himself and Ao Li, warding off the Dark Energy's intrusion. Dark Energy clashed with the blue shield, spraying countless black and blue sparks; as the light flickered, the entire battlefield seemed cloaked in a grand, perilous fireworks display.

Ao Li timed it perfectly, her figure flashing like a phantom as she slipped between the Dark Energy and the Black‑robed People. Her long sword transformed into a golden bolt of lightning, thrust straight at a high‑rank Black‑robed member. The Black‑robed man showed terror, hastily casting a Dark Shield to block, but Ao Li's assault was unstoppable; the golden sword instantly pierced his Dark Shield and drove into his chest. He let out a wail, his body falling slowly like a withered flower, turning into a puff of black smoke that dissipated, and his dark power waned with it.

With that high‑rank Black‑robed member fallen, the Dark Energy assault weakened slightly. Lín Jìn seized the chance to increase his output, and the blue shield suddenly swelled, dispersing the remaining Dark Energy entirely. After the Dark Energy vanished, the battlefield revealed a wrecked scene: uneven pits scarred the ground, and a sharp acrid and rotten stench filled the air.

Seeing the unfavorable turn, the Black‑robed People altered tactics again, scattering like black bats and swooping toward Ao Li and Lín Jìn from all directions like a sudden gale. In an instant, Black‑robed adversaries wielding blades that flickered with a cold, eerie light surged from every side like hungry wolves.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn stood back‑to‑back, ready in a tight formation. Ao Li's long sword sliced through the air, the golden light around her forming a solid barrier that repelled Black‑robed attackers from the front and left. Each clash of blade against a Black‑robed weapon erupted in brilliant sparks, like fireworks blooming in the night sky. Lín Jìn continuously fired blue energy beams from his hands, each streaking across the night like a meteor, striking Black‑robed foes on the right and rear with pinpoint accuracy. Those hit were instantly enveloped by blue energy, emitting a painful howl before turning to ash and vanishing.

Just as the battle stalled, Ling Yin and the Silver Armor Guard arrived in time. Ling Yin raised the Jade Flute, its melodious, stirring notes echoing across the field. The flute's sound transformed into multicolored sound waves, like a flock of lively birds, soaring toward the Black‑robed People. Where the waves passed, the Black‑robed bodies seemed sliced by invisible blades, sprouting streaks of blood that spurted out, blooming in the mist as eerie blood flowers.

Led by their commander, the Silver Armor Guard surged forward like a silver torrent toward the Black‑robed People. Their silver armor glimmered with a cold sheen under the strange light, and their long spears resembled silver sea‑dragons, each thrust delivering immense force and unstoppable momentum. The spears pierced the Black‑robed bodies, splashing blood that stained the silver tips red; under the Guard's assault, the Black‑robed fell like leaves in an autumn wind.

Under the combined assault, the Black‑robed People's defenses gradually collapsed. Ao Li and Lín Jìn sensed the dawn of victory and unleashed their power once more.

Ao Li unleashed the Dragon Clan's ultimate move, "Holy Dragon Radiance," raising her long sword and chanting an ancient Dragon Clan incantation. In an instant, a massive golden holy‑dragon apparition materialized in the sky, radiating sacred, awe‑inspiring light; its Dragon Scales glittered with multicolored brilliance as if studded with stars. The holy dragon opened its enormous maw, spewing a torrent of golden flame that cascaded like a golden waterfall onto the Black‑robed crowd. Wherever the golden flame touched, the Black‑robed were instantly ignited, emitting mournful cries as their bodies turned to ash, leaving only plumes of black smoke rising. The ground, scorched by the golden flame, melted like liquid gold, emitting dazzling light and rolling heat waves.

Lín Jìn then performed "Stellar Fission," rapidly forming seals with both hands before thrusting them toward the sky. The stars above seemed drawn by a mysterious force, beginning to flash violently. Then countless stars broke from their orbits, raining down like a meteor shower onto the Black‑robed People. Each star, bearing destructive power, struck the crowd, and every impact triggered an earth‑shaking explosion, dazzling light, and clouds of dust…

Across the battlefield, chaos and darkness intertwined. Thick, ink‑like Dark Energy mist roiled wildly, twisting as if alive, seeking to devour everything. Within the mist, eerie red glints flickered intermittently, like a demon's eyes coldly watching the brutal slaughter. The surroundings were suffused with a nauseating blend of rot and blood, making one retch.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn were trapped in the dark core, like two lone boats in a storm. Ao Li's Dragon Clan power burned within the darkness like an unyielding golden flame, raging brightly. The golden light tore a slice of darkness open, illuminating her resolute face and the long sword in her hand that exuded a chilling aura. Golden rune light coursed over the sword, as if recounting the ancient Dragon Clan's brilliance and glory.

Lín Jìn's power also erupted in the darkness, a ghostly blue aura surrounding him, within which flickered eerie black lightning strands that hissed like black venomous snakes, emitting a chilling aura.

"Ao Li, it's time for an all‑out counterattack!" Lín Jìn's voice echoed through the darkness, bearing a resolute, do‑or‑die determination.

Ao Li's gaze hardened, like a golden bolt of lightning, instantly disappearing into the Black‑robed crowd. She moved through the darkness with ease, each swing of her long sword shedding golden blood blossoms. The Black‑robed foes struck by the Sword Qi had their bodies corroded as if by strong acid, melting rapidly, leaving only painful wails echoing in the darkness. Blood splattered into the dark mist, sizzling, as if souls being devoured by the darkness were struggling.

Lín Jìn's hands whirled rapidly as he muttered an obscure, incomprehensible incantation. In an instant, a massive black vortex formed in the dark sky, emitting a bone‑chilling roar. Black bolts of thunder struck down from the vortex, their lightning interlaced with twisted human faces, as if sealed vengeful spirits were breaking free. The black thunder hammered the Black‑robed, and those struck were instantly corroded by Dark Energy, turning into a pool of black pus that exuded a pungent stench.

Under the duo's ferocious assault, the Black‑robed encirclement showed a slight loosening. Yet the high‑rank members of the Black‑robed quickly reacted, gathering together, forming hand seals and beginning a forbidden Dark spell. In an instant, the Dark Energy mist surged like a tide toward them, coalescing into a massive black demon apparition. The demon's gaping maw spewed black flames; wherever the flames touched, everything was reduced to nothing, and the ground was scorched into huge black pits, emitting waves of charred odor.

"Careful, this Dark Demon is hard to deal with!" Ao Li shouted, while her golden radiance surged, forming a golden shield. Ancient Dragon Clan runes appeared on the shield, flickering faintly, repelling the black flames' assault.

Lín Jìn then condensed a ghostly blue energy sphere and hurled it at the black demon. The sphere collided with the black flames, erupting in a burst of intense light where black and blue intertwined like two battling dragons. However, the black demon's power was immense; the blue sphere gradually shrank under the black flames' erosion.

Ao Li timed it, flashing forward toward the black demon. She unleashed a Dragon Clan ultimate technique, thrusting her long sword at the demon's eye. Sensing danger, the demon swung its massive claw at Ao Li. She deftly evaded and drove the sword into the demon's arm. The demon roared, spewing black blood from the wound that splattered onto the ground, corroding deep pits.

As the demon was wounded, the Black‑robed People's Dark spell weakened slightly. Lín Jìn seized the moment to boost his output, and the ghostly blue sphere suddenly expanded, dispersing both the black flames and the demon's apparition. The Dark Energy mist also receded a bit, revealing a grim, eerie battlefield strewn with corrosion marks and the mutilated corpses of Black‑robed foes.

Seeing the unfavorable turn, the Black‑robed People altered tactics again. They scattered like phantoms, leaping from shadowy corners toward Ao Li and Lín Jìn. In the darkness, their silhouettes flickered in and out, their weapons glinting with icy cold light.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn stood back‑to‑back, eyes vigilant on all sides. Ao Li wielded her long sword, golden Sword Qi crisscrossing through the darkness, repelling any approaching Black‑robed foes. Lín Jìn continuously emitted ghostly blue energy beams, each streaking through the dark like a meteor, striking Black‑robed enemies with pinpoint accuracy. Those hit were instantly enveloped by blue energy, then shattered into countless black fragments.

Just as the battle stalled, Ling Yin and the Silver Armor Guard arrived on the field. Ling Yin raised the Jade Flute, its eerie, melodious notes resonating in the darkness. The flute's sound transformed into black sound waves; wherever the waves passed, the Black‑robed bodies seemed pulled by invisible forces, contorting and deforming. Led by their commander, the Silver Armor Guard surged like a silver torrent into the Black‑robed ranks. Their long spears glimmered with cold light, each thrust delivering massive force that flung the Black‑robed aside. The Guard's armor shimmered with strange light in the darkness, as if contesting the dark power.

Under the combined assault, the Black‑robed People's defenses gradually crumbled. Ao Li and Lín Jìn felt the dawn of victory and unleashed their power once more.

Ao Li unleashed the Dragon Clan's ultimate skill, "Dragon Shadow Annihilation," causing a massive black dragon shadow to loom around her. The dragon shadow exuded a potent dark aura that resonated with Ao Li's golden light, forming a bizarre, powerful force. The shadow opened its maw, spewing a black dragon flame that surged like a black torrent toward the Black‑robed crowd. The Black‑robed screamed mournfully as the flame instantly devoured them, turning them into piles of black ash.

Lín Jìn performed "Dark Fission," gathering both hands to form a massive black energy sphere whose surface shimmered with ghostly blue runes. He hurled the sphere into the Black‑robed crowd; upon impact it exploded instantly, the resulting black energy shockwave blasting all nearby Black‑robed foes away. The Black‑robed were tossed like leaves in a gale, their bodies twisting in mid‑air before crashing heavily to the ground, never moving again.

With Ao Li and Lín Jìn's two rounds of massive attacks concluded, the Black‑robed People finally could not hold, scattering in a frantic retreat. The battlefield was left with only a few Black‑robed corpses and fleeing silhouettes.

Ao Li, Lín Jìn, Ling Yin, and the Silver Armor Guard watched the retreating Black‑robed People, smiles of relief on their faces. In this battle, they had, through stubborn will and astonishing potential, successfully turned the tide…