As the battle grew more intense, I watched in horror as one more giant figure appeared on the battlefield. The clash between Blade Tigress's spirit form and the Blood Spirit Deity unleashed immense shockwaves, causing the death toll to rise with every moment.
Again, Blade Tigress managed to push back the monstrous Blood Spirit Deity. At the same time, the Three Eccentrics had defeated her Left and Right Guardians. Bone Fist Eccentric gripped the Left Guardian by the arm and crushed her neck with a single violent twist. The Right Guardian's body had been pierced by numerous knives, each laced with a different venom. Her lifeless form crumpled as the poisons overwhelmed her.
At that moment, a telepathic message reached the minds of the Three Eccentrics from Blood Talisman Eccentric.
"I am at my limit… I cannot control the Blood Spirit Deity for long. I will now use my final strike. Once I do, you three must kill Blade Tigress."
The Three Eccentrics responded in unison, "Understood. We'll do our best."
Without delay, they ordered their sect's remaining warriors to form a protective perimeter as they sat down in a meditative position, beginning to recover their strength.
Meanwhile, the Blood Moon Sect had already lost nearly 50% of its warriors. Blood Talisman Eccentric's eyes flashed with deadly determination.
"Blood Moon Sect! We give our all in this final attack!" she cried out, her voice rising above the din of the battlefield.
She changed the chant once more, reciting ancient, forbidden words. The fallen bodies of her comrades slowly liquefied, turning into rivers of dark blood. Another 20% of her remaining warriors collapsed, their bodies disintegrating into pools of crimson.
All that blood rose into the sky, twisting together to form a grotesque, pulsating heart. The talismans of every Blood Moon Sect warrior flew from their bodies and adhered to the blood heart—except for the one held by Blood Talisman Eccentric herself.
With both hands raised, she directed the massive heart toward the Blood Spirit Deity. The heart was absorbed into its chest, and suddenly—
BOOM-BOOM
A deep, bone-shaking heartbeat echoed across the entire battlefield. The sound alone struck terror into the hearts of the bandits, making many freeze in place. Then... silence.
Suddenly, the Blood Spirit Deity erupted in a crimson aura. The flames burning from its head exploded with brightness, as if a sun had ignited in the heart of the battlefield. Four of its arms grabbed Blade Tigress's spirit form by her arms and legs, locking her in place.
"What… I'm trapped?!" Blade Tigress realized, her eyes wide in disbelief.
With its remaining two arms, the Blood Spirit Deity raised its flaming sword—now larger, sharper, and blazing like a meteor descending from the heavens.
Inside her spirit form, Blade Tigress saw the incoming blade.
"I must endure… I must survive!"
She quickly conjured three layers of shield around her body within the spirit form. But the flaming sword came crashing down, striking the chest of the spirit form with divine fury.
BOOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the entire battlefield. Shockwaves from the impact were so powerful, they hurled even the strongest warriors to the ground. Even our caravan, positioned on the mountain, shook violently from the force. Thick, choking smoke engulfed everything.
The Blood Spirit Deity's body slowly melted into blood and dissolved, its essence forming a bright red beam that surged toward Blood Talisman Eccentric. She absorbed it through her black talisman.
Blood spilled from her lips as her knees hit the ground. She was panting heavily, drenched in sweat, her qi completely depleted.
"The weight of this technique… it's too much. I'm still… too weak…" she muttered.
All remaining warriors of the Blood Moon Sect fell to their knees, completely drained. Warriors from other sects hurried to protect them. The battle had taken a heavy toll.
As the smoke cleared, in the very center of the battlefield stood Blade Tigress—barely alive. Her body was covered in deep gashes, bruises, and severe burns. Blood streamed from her head, arms, and legs.
"How… how is she still alive after that?" I said, my voice trembling.
Yu Meixian smirked.
"Heh… Blade Tigress is known for her monstrous endurance. She earned that reputation for a reason."
Blade Tigress, with rage burning in her bloodshot eyes, let out a furious roar:
"I will cut you people into a thousand pieces and feed you to the dogs, you bastards!!"
The Three Eccentrics advanced toward her.
Poison Eccentric narrowed her eyes.
"Well, this proves your reputation isn't a lie. You truly are the one with the greatest endurance in Chongqing."
Blade Tigress glared at them, her killing intent exploding like a volcano.
Bone Fist Eccentric stepped forward.
"Let's end this."
She took a deep stance and shouted:
"Sixth Form of Iron Bone Fist Technique – Ten Arm Demon!"
Her muscles swelled grotesquely, and her qi surged around her like a storm. Eight extra arms formed behind her through martial essence, making her look like a wrathful goddess of war. With a thunderous roar, she charged.
Countless punches rained down on Blade Tigress, but she blocked each one with blade-infused strikes. Then, she swung her blade, releasing a powerful blade qi slash.
Bone Fist caught it with six of her spirit arms while launching a punch with the remaining four. One of them landed squarely on Blade Tigress's face, sending her flying back, blood trailing from her mouth.
"Fifth Form of Wind Ruling Whip Technique – Wind Blade!" shouted Whip Eccentric.
Her whip spun through the air like a cyclone, now infused with wind qi. The vortex howled like a beast, filled with countless sharp blades of air. At the same time, Poison Eccentric cast:
"Seventh Form of Poison Serpent Knife Technique – Ten Serpent Knives!"
Ten floating blades morphed into ethereal, snake-like entities. Nine of them merged with the wind vortex, slithering silently within the whirlwind.
Despite her exhaustion, Blade Tigress raised her blade with one hand and matched the rhythm of the whip's movement. She countered the tornado attack by disrupting its airflow with her own blade qi, causing it to dissipate.
But then—nine venomous serpents shot out from the fading vortex, charging toward her like lightning. With her other hand, she shouted:
"Second Form of Flow Palm Technique – Great Palm!"
A massive palm made of golden qi manifested in front of her, slamming into all nine serpents and scattering them.
Just as she tried to catch her breath, pain flared through her leg. She looked down and saw one of the qi serpents had bitten her calf. Her veins rapidly turned dark blue.
"Damn it… poison!"
Without hesitation, she cut off her own leg, falling to the ground.
With her last ounce of power, she slammed the ground, creating a shockwave that blasted all three Eccentrics backward. Smoke clouded the field.
Blade Tigress tried to flee, dragging her wounded body through the haze.
But then a cold voice came from behind her.
"It's over."
She turned her head.
Bone Fist Eccentric had her arms in a vice grip. A whip coiled tightly around her remaining leg.
Poison Eccentric approached, her knife gleaming with a chilling green aura.
"You fought bravely… but this is the end."
"The Queen… will avenge me," Blade Tigress gasped, blood trailing from her lips.
Then, without mercy, Poison Eccentric slashed her throat.
Blade Tigress collapsed lifelessly onto the battlefield.
The remaining bandits, seeing their leader slain, panicked. Chaos erupted among their ranks as they attempted to flee.
The Three Eccentrics shouted:
"Kill every bandit!"
The hunt began.