Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Heavenly Edict Cuts as the Law Commands

Feng Xiaoxuan had grown up constantly facing and defeating multiple demonic foes at once, even those of higher rank. In the end, she managed to take on five enemies single-handedly. Though it cost her life, she truly wiped out all five adversaries of equal rank.

"Xiaohui, do you have any trump cards left? If this drags on much longer, I won't have enough divine power to keep going," she said. Once again, she summoned the Array of a Million Spirit Talismans, but could only inflict minor wounds on the fiend, which healed instantly. Even the core of the war-chariot-class demon only flashed into view briefly—there was simply no opportunity for a decisive strike. The hidden sniper had fired a few times, but by the time his attacks arrived, the core had already vanished.

The Sword of Immortal Execution in her hands couldn't break through the demon's armored head. Each attempt to circumvent its defense failed, as if it was well aware of the sword's sharpness, always managing to block her attacks. The two members of the mecha team had made their way behind the demon, but their attacks were even less effective than Zhuang Xiaoyuan's bombardment of spirit talismans.

It was as if the demon knew the threat posed by Zhuang Xiaoyuan and Wen Hui. Each time they tried to flank it, it would block them. Even when the two tried to circle it from opposite sides, the demon would dart forward and then turn to face them again. Such cunning could not belong to an ordinary fiend; likely, the evil god lurking in the shadows was directing its every move.

"A killer move? If I had one, I would have smashed this fox-brained hard skull in one blow already." Wen Hui's repeated assaults were blocked by the war-chariot-class demon, leaving her hands numb from the impact. Frustration was starting to mount.

In truth, maintaining the current stalemate wasn't a bad strategy. If they could hold out until the veteran divine-armored warriors arrived, defeating the demon would be straightforward; after all, the city's defenders included far more than just those of the god-descended rank.

But whether it was Wen Hui’s competitiveness or Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s pride, neither was willing to admit defeat after finally obtaining such extraordinary power.

Even though fiends of the same rank were stronger than ordinary divine-armored warriors, Zhuang Xiaoyuan herself had not even reached the Prayer rank, remaining at the Faith rank—a full major rank below, though at its early stage. Wen Hui had only just advanced to the god-descended rank, her powers still unstable and not fully manifest.

Despite these disadvantages, neither was willing to give up. Waiting for reinforcements was a sound plan, but if they could eliminate the demon before the others arrived, so much the better.

"Xiaohui, if you were to pin this war-chariot-class demon in place, how long could you hold it? Could you manage ten seconds?" With a powerful leap to the left, she landed beside Wen Hui, dodging the demon’s iron snout, and hurled several command talismans near the demon’s eyes. Though they couldn't harm its eyes, the explosions obscured its vision momentarily.

"Hah, are you underestimating me? I could keep it there for at least half a minute. From your tone, it sounds like you have a finishing move you haven't used yet?" Wen Hui replied, lifting her chin with pride, undaunted by the mere suggestion of ten seconds.

While she couldn't wound the demon, immobilizing it was within her power—after all, she was a divine-armored warrior blessed by the Wind God. To her, every breath of air was an ally.

"Good. I'll leave it to you for now. This time, victory will be mine," Zhuang Xiaoyuan said with trust, retreating far away. She released the Sword of Immortal Execution, shaped her left hand into a sword-finger and drew it across her right wrist. As blood welled forth, she raised her left hand above her head and held her right hand in a sword-finger before her chest. Her blood streamed from her wrist, defying gravity as it twisted skyward.

"This won't count as your victory—at most, half of one. Hey, mecha team, fall back! I’m about to unleash my big move!" Wen Hui argued by habit, then shouted to the four mecha warriors above.

Though they were not new to battles involving divine-armored warriors, and these two girls were weaker than the veteran warriors they’d seen before, the mecha pilots were still impressed by the girls’ unique fighting styles. At Wen Hui's call, they obediently retreated while continuing their suppressive fire.

Once the mecha team had retreated a safe distance, Wen Hui spun her weapon, gripping it with both hands and pointing the barrel downward—the stance for her ultimate attack. Emerald winds began to swirl around her, intensifying with each second. "Winds, roar! Howling Hurricane!"

The scene resembled her previous victory over a general-class fiend, but this time, the wind did not sharpen into blades. Instead, it became denser, focused solely on restraint rather than destruction. Wen Hui had deliberately removed the slicing force from the hurricane, amplifying the wind’s raw power instead.

A verdant tornado descended upon the plaza, its target now the mighty war-chariot-class demon.

With a furious howl, the demon struggled within the green tempest, battering at it repeatedly, opening gaps only for the wind to close them instantly. For the moment, escape was impossible.

Wen Hui had not been boasting. In her current state, this demon would be trapped for at least half a minute, perhaps even longer if her divine power were at full strength—maybe up to half an hour. But with her newly acquired and still unstable powers, half a minute was the limit.

As Wen Hui held the demon fast, Zhuang Xiaoyuan was not idle. With her ritual complete, the third eye on her forehead slowly opened, releasing a blue beam of light that pierced the heavens.

At the same time, motes of starlight seemed to gather and shimmer around her, a phenomenon caused by the large-scale invocation of divine power vibrating the hidden energies in the air. Her celestial eye and the starlight lent her an aura of sacred otherworldliness.

"Blood Talisman of True Essence, Heaven's Edict—Severance as Decreed!" With both hands forming a Daoist thunder-seal before her chest, she intoned a mantra. The blood flowing from her right wrist formed a square talisman above her head, glowing with ominous power.