'The Legacy of the Zu Clan can't possibly be as cut-off as I originally believed. To still have access to a technique like Chanting… They've hidden their roots deeply!'
Still Ryu didn't panic, nor did he try to run. He stood on Little Rock's back proudly, looking forward toward the three Immortal Ring experts.
In truth, he was a bit surprised by Yasuo's actions. Chanting wasn't exactly a great stress, but it wasn't as easy as breathing either, especially for someone only of the Soul Birth Realm. He was a bit confused as to why this Zu Ancestor would cast such a powerful defensive Visualization from so far away for the sake of a mere Host Minn.
This was far different than what the norm should have been. With Ryu's low cultivation, they should believe they could defeat him easily, no? What would they need Host Minn for?
'… It must not be so simple. The Zu Clan is trying to gain a foothold in the Core Region. As for their reasons… I'm still not sure…
'Even though this Host Minn is nothing but a jumping clown, Immortal Ring experts are too rare on the Pedestal Plane. He's only one of two in the Minn Clan. If they grasp a hold of his gratitude… Their futures will definitely be much easier.'
Ryu had been so rampant that he almost forgot that these were mere Sixth Order Clans he was talking about. Immortal Ring experts were already Ancestor level characters among them!
If Ryu were to take on an even deeper level of analysis, what the Zu Ancestors gained wouldn't just be mere gratitude either. Host Minn was too foolish to realize that his current actions were making him an enemy of the Apostles. However, the two Zu's most definitely knew this.
If they waited until after they killed Ryu to explain this, then Host Minn would be in the palm of their hands. How could he dare go against someone who knew such a dark secret of his? In such a case, he would be little different than a puppet on a string.
This made the reason they saved Host Minn obvious… They wanted to ensure that he was the one who dealt the killing blow to Ryu!
Seeing through all of this, Ryu sneered. 'I can use this…'
Without giving them time to coordinate, it was actually Ryu who attacked first, his valiant figure streaking across the air upon Little Rock's back.
His actions completely shocked the three Immortal Ring experts. Who would ever think that a Divine Vessel Realm expert would take the initiative to attack them?
'I need to focus. Manipulate my Impose Barriers… Change their forms as I please…'
Ryu completely ignored Yasuo and Kioshi, making a mad sprint toward Host Minn.
"Qi~ Qi~ Qi~."
Little Rock's battle cry sounded across the skies. His voice was still immature, but still held a powerful gravity that only a beast with a primordial bloodline could elicit.
After years of being diligently raised by Ailsa, his bloodline had slowly grown purer. If it wasn't for the fact the Pedestal Plane was lacking in the rare Spiritual Herbs the little guy needed to evolve his Earth Grade bloodline to the Heaven Grade, he would already be far more powerful than he was now.
Simply put… As a battle partner to Ryu… He was perfect!
Little Rock flashed forward at blinding speeds, closing the distance once more.
"Fool!" Host Minn roared in laughter, completely oblivious to Yasuo and Kioshi's furrowed brows. He clearly didn't understand the Ryu's actions… Were obviously the smartest!
"Many thanks for helping me." Host Minn said respectfully. "Let's take this ignorant brat down together!"
Yasuo and Kioshi smiled on the surface, hiding their disdain deep within their hearts.
They may have resolved to die, but their mission still came first. It was only after they succeeded that their lives would be reaped. As such, Host Minn was still important to them. The Zu Empire must reign once more!
"[Vortex Spear]."
The Zu Ancestor's attacked at once, but who knew that Ryu wouldn't even attempt to block the runes etched spears that manifested in the skies?
Beautiful petals of snow descended, deflecting them in all directions. But now a single landed upon Ryu or Little Rock!
Unfortunately for the Zu Ancestors, they had made two mistakes. Firstly, they lowered their strength on purpose, holding back so as not to kill Ryu. And secondly… They had underestimated [Immortal Sakura].
Now that Ryu was less worried about his Focus Qi thanks to the Prayer Mat, the calculations he executed with this supreme defensive technique were far more sophisticated. Instead of simply meeting and blocking attacks head on by getting in the way of their trajectories, Ryu could now spare the processing power to deflect their paths at angles of least resistance instead.
This meant that Ryu could not only better protect his mind from backlash, but the attacks he could block were far higher in strength now.
Yasuo's gaze flashed. "[Six Trigram Shell]!"
In that moment, Ryu's lip curled. Yasuo sensed that something was wrong, but the change was too sudden.
Yasuo, Kioshi, Host Minn and Ryu all stood in the air within twenty meters of each other. This distance was ironically both meaningless and infinitely large at the very same time for reasons that would soon become apparent.
'[Warp].'
Kioshi saw what was about to happen and reacted quickly. "[Flow Wave]!"
Much like Chanting, [Flow Wave] was the unique ability of a birthed soul. However, instead of amplifying Visualizations, it had the opposite affect: interrupting them.
Unfortunately for Kioshi… Ryu had the Origin Flame. His Visualizations were flawless every time. Interrupting him was simply impossible.
Ryu vanished from Little Rock's back, appearing behind Kioshi in an instant.
'… I've been a fool.' Ryu thought to himself. '… I've been struggling with trying to manipulate my Rebirth Flame Impose Barrier, but do I not have the King of Flames by my side? If the Origin Flame wants the Rebirth Flame to heed a command… It does so!'
Ryu's gaze focused entirely on Kioshi's back. A Mental Realm Master's weakness was always obvious: their body. After letting him get so close… Ryu didn't care if Kioshi was even ten time more powerful!
Ryu's aura surged. His Rage Flame Impose Barrier breathed like a living being, its outer shell marked with the scales of a dragon that rippled rhythmically. In that moment, Ryu tapped into his Origin Flame, grasping control of the Rage Flame's core and bending it to his will.
The sound of a shattering barrier resounded.
Ryu's glaive pierced Kioshi's back, exiting through his heart and chest in a single instant. Even his own eyes widened at the ease of it all.
All he could hear was Ailsa's gentle, bell-like giggle over his shoulder.
'… I may have forgotten to mention that manipulating the shape of one's Impose Barrier is the key to transcending the Impose Realm and entering the Ruler Realm… Oopsie.'
Ailsa's innocent laughs played as a backdrop to an Immortal Ring expert burning to ash without so much as a cry of pain.
Unfortunately for Ryu, entering the Ruler Realm was both exactly what he needed and didn't need right now. Kioshi's death was good. But… What was he supposed to do now that even more qi was surging toward him thanks to Essence descending from the Heavens?