Chapter 680: Portrait (2/2, Autumn Subscription)

Tai Yuema raised his sword to block……

Clang!!

A burst of Supernatural Strength sent him flying outright; his tiger's mouth went numb, the surrounding scenery flashed backward at speed, and his body slammed straight into a wall. After a brief pause, he slowly came back to his senses.

When he looked again at the long sword in his hand, a small notch had actually appeared on it, leaving a mark resembling some kind of bite.

"Disaster-rank high-tier anomaly…… Disaster-rank high-tier anomaly!!"

Tai Yuema made a snap decision, abandoned the Eagle Merchant Caravan, and fled outright.

But what he hadn't expected was that the Nuomian Gui seemed to have locked onto him, following close behind and no longer chasing the other members of the Eagle Merchant Caravan.

One in front, one behind, the two rose and fell swiftly through the dark night, vanishing into the night.

At first, when the Eagle Merchant Caravan members saw Tai Yuema flee, they all froze in unison, their faces turning ashen, gripped by terror and panic.

But once they noticed the anomaly had also left with him, they suddenly understood.

"Lord Tai, he's drawing the anomaly away for us!"

"Using himself as bait—what noble righteousness!"

"We thank Lord Tai for saving our lives!"

Fortunately, those grateful words never reached Tai Yuema's ears, or else he would have spat blood on the spot.

He had intended to use those people as bait so he could withdraw safely, but the anomaly refused to let go, and instead he himself became the bait.

After getting his bearings, Tai Yuema hurried toward the Heaven Alliance headquarters.

The Heaven Alliance had many experts inside, and most importantly…… the Heaven Alliance's Alliance Master was there!

Tiny little hands poked out from the eaves to block him, but Tai Yuema dealt with each one in turn, his speed undiminished.

Pushing his full speed, it wasn't long before Tai Yuema charged into the Heaven Alliance headquarters.

"Anomaly attack! Requesting support!"

With a thunderous shout, Tai Yuema vaulted straight over the wall and in.

Instantly chaos erupted inside, panic spreading, but then the Nuomian Gui, as if it had spotted a toy, charged into the crowd—like a wolf among sheep—and began slaughtering.

Just then……

"What manner of anomaly dares to run wild in my Chunuan City!"

The voice rolled out vast and mighty, as if coming from every direction.

The moment Tai Yuema heard that voice, he steadied himself at once, knowing he finally didn't have to keep running.

Because he recognized the voice's owner—it was none other than the Heaven Alliance's Alliance Master, Tian Wangchuan!

Rolling clouds and mist surged in from all directions. Apparently sensing some kind of threat, the Nuomian Gui stopped its movements in confusion.

In that very instant, the clouds and mist had already wrapped around it, and fierce sounds of combat immediately erupted within, as if some kind of killing battle was underway.

When the clouds and mist dispersed, a pool of blood and many severed little hands lay on the ground.

"Hmph!"

Beneath the moonlight, atop the eaves, a middle-aged man in blue clothing gave a cold snort.

"Alliance Master Tian!"

"It's Alliance Master Tian!"

Everyone hurried to bow, hearts surging with emotion.

Though they were responsible for patrolling the Heaven Alliance's station, they were all minor figures; normally, to meet the true power-holder of Chunuan City was unimaginably difficult.

Some of them, even now, had still never laid eyes on Tian Wangchuan.

Tai Yuema quickly shifted a few times and arrived at Tian Wangchuan's side.

"Alliance Master Tian, has that anomaly already been slain by you?"

A trace of doubt stirred in Tai Yuema's heart. He knew Tian Wangchuan possessed Human-rank high-tier strength, but an anomaly of the same Disaster-rank high-tier should logically be stronger.

The reason he had still come seeking refuge at Heaven Alliance headquarters despite the obvious gap in strength was that the headquarters' station had killing formations that could boost his odds. Additionally, if conditions allowed, Tian Wangchuan could even directly activate the great formation of Chunuan City to attack that anomaly!

Only with such enhancements did they have the ability to destroy that anomaly.

But from the current situation, it seemed Tian Wangchuan had repelled the Disaster-rank high-tier anomaly using only his personal strength.

Could his strength have already advanced another level, reaching that profound and unfathomable Cloud-rank realm?!

As if reading Tai Yuema's thoughts, Tian Wangchuan said lightly.

"That anomaly, though Disaster-rank high-tier, had only barely reached that grade. Every aspect of its strength, and its control over its own abilities, all fell short of what a Disaster-rank high-tier should have. To put it generously, it was only a half-step Disaster-rank high-tier anomaly. Not to mention me—even if you joined forces with the other top-ten caravan experts, you could have repelled or even slain it."

It was actually like that?

Tai Yuema was somewhat stunned.

But at the time he had seen three Disaster-ranks on the opposing side and nearly scared himself stupid; where would he have had the mind to fight to the death and gauge the opponent's true strength?

"Alliance Master Tian!"

At this moment, the other experts also climbed onto the eaves one after another, bowed to Tian Wangchuan, and asked for a clear account of what had happened.

After Tian Wangchuan gave a brief explanation……

"Alliance Master Tian, has that Disaster-rank anomaly now been slain by you?"

"No, it fled wounded."

"This……"

"Go summon people from the Government. I intend to activate the great formation of Chunuan City to search for its whereabouts."

Other matters could be left aside, but a major trouble like this that threatened the very survival of all Chunuan City had to be thoroughly investigated and managed, day or night.

And so the matter was settled.

By the time they had gathered everyone and begun the meeting, the sky had already brightened.

Dou Hongyi of the Green Division arrived very early, because this being an anomaly incident, it should originally have been handled by their Green Division.

It's just that a disaster-grade anomaly is something even the Green Division of Chunuan City can't handle, so they can only request reinforcements from the Green Division headquarters in Jingcheng.

By the looks of it, they'd have to send over a Cloud-grade expert to get the job done.

But from what Tian Wangchuan meant, with his array formation assistance, he had enough ability to resolve this anomaly, so naturally the Green Division had no need to request reinforcements — the case file just needed to be recorded and then reported upward.

Arriving together with the Green Division was Yang Diandian of Blue Coral, who let out two eerie chuckles at Dou Hongyi, as if waiting to watch the show.

"What do you mean? An anomaly causing trouble — what does it have to do with your Blue Coral?" Dou Hongyi's face darkened.

"I remember some fellow once said something like, 'If Blue Coral wants to stick its nose into anomaly business, you're welcome anytime.' Besides, it's not like you invited me — it's the Heaven Alliance Leader who issued the invitation. What's it got to do with you!"

"..."

Dou Hongyi's face darkened, and he said nothing more.

He had indeed said it in a fit of pique before — something sarcastic along the lines of Blue Coral being free to meddle in anomaly affairs whenever it liked... And since it was Tian Wangchuan who had invited the guest, naturally he had nothing to say about it.

Before long, everyone had arrived one after another. Every single person in the meeting hall was a major figure who could stand on their own in Chunuan City, yet now they all sat politely in their chairs waiting — Tai Yuema naturally among them.

Until a servant called out, "The Heaven Alliance Leader has arrived!" — only then did the crowd rise one after another to greet him.

Tian Wangchuan arrived, immediately explained the events of the previous night, then had someone produce a portrait — and it was unmistakably...

"Impossible?!"

Dou Hongyi was inwardly horrified.

The person depicted in the portrait was... a Rain-grade senior!

Although the face looked somewhat different, that white ring atop the head was truly one of a kind.

Even if it wasn't the Rain-grade senior himself, it must at least be someone with an enormous connection to the Rain-grade senior!

The Rain-grade senior is... an anomaly??

(End of chapter)