Chapter 259: Hu Tao Joins the Battle
Hu Tao leaped, her funeral director's robes fluttering around her like the wings of an agile, fiery butterfly. She descended gracefully from the steep cliff face, plunging into the chaotic heart of the battlefield raging in the valley below.
Zhongli, however, remained steadfast at the cliff's edge. His figure was as upright and unyielding as an ancient pine, his expression as placid as the surface of a forgotten well. He merely raised his right hand in a seemingly casual gesture, and a brilliant, weighty golden light flowed from his slender fingers—Geo energy, as pure and viscous as molten amber.
In an instant, two incredibly solid Jade Shields materialized from thin air. Like the most loyal of guardians, they silently enveloped Hu Tao and the other warrior, Varesa, who was still fighting fiercely in the valley. The shields glowed with a steady, reassuring luster, effortlessly deflecting the claws of several flying monsters attempting a sneak attack, as well as a volley of corrosive Abyss projectiles.
His gaze remained fixed, calmly surveying the entire battle. His aura was locked onto the swirling abyss portals that spat out an endless tide of creatures, ready at any moment to respond to a sudden shift with a thunderous, decisive strike.
Hu Tao, like a burning maple leaf caught in a downdraft, landed lightly amidst the monster horde.
The very moment her toes touched the ground, her Staff of Homa had already carved a scorching, fan-shaped arc of light through the air. The crimson polearm sliced two oncoming Hilichurls clean in half at the waist, their bodies igniting into a pair of shrieking, flailing torches.
She steadied her stance, gave her long spear a sharp shake, and cried out, her voice ringing with power, "Guide to Afterlife!"
As if a gateway to a world of pure flame had been thrown open, a dense, almost tangible wave of blazing Pyro energy erupted from her, instantly engulfing her entire body and the spear in her hands. At the same time, countless lifelike butterflies, formed from the purest essence of Pyro, materialized around her, their wings beating in a graceful, silent dance.
These were no mere embellishments; their agile, erratic flight paths actively disrupted the monsters' perception and broke their rhythm of attack. With every flap of their wings, they scattered incandescent sparks. Upon touching an enemy, these embers would ignite, burning with the tenacity of a cursed ailment and inflicting crackling, continuous Pyro damage.
Immediately after, Hu Tao unreservedly unleashed the secret spear techniques of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Her style was utterly unique, a captivating fusion of a dancer's fluid grace and a seasoned soldier's battlefield ruthlessness. It was ever-changing, unpredictable, and left her opponents utterly defenseless. At one moment, her spear was a fierce storm, a dazzling flurry of red shadows that impaled, pierced, and ignited any Hilichurl that dared to approach. The next, it was a phoenix spreading its wings, the long spear unleashing a wide-ranging shockwave of fire that cleared the entire area around her.
Though still young, the sophistication of her spear arts and her exquisite control over Pyro energy already hinted at the bearing of a grandmaster. She moved freely through the tide of monsters, a whirlwind of crimson and black that formed a stark contrast to Varesa's raw, wild, and thunderous fighting style not far away.
Varesa, naturally, noticed this sudden and powerful reinforcement. She especially noted the golden shield that had inexplicably appeared around her, radiating an aura that settled her frantic heart. Her swinging fists paused for a fraction of a second, a hint of undisguised surprise and confusion flashing in her visible eye.
While continuing the fight, she delivered a lightning-infused spinning kick that blew apart an Abyss Mage attempting to ambush Hu Tao's flank, all while trying to close the distance between them.
Upon getting closer, she deliberately cleared her throat and lowered her voice, attempting to make it sound steadier, hoarser—more in line with her self-perceived image of a "powerful, independent warrior." But the clear, unpolished undertone of a young woman who had yet to see the world was impossible to completely mask. "Hey! You over there! Where did you come from? Are you the only one?"
Faced with Varesa's deliberately gruff tone, Hu Tao found it deeply amusing but knew this wasn't the time to tease her about it.
Her Staff of Homa swept upward, precisely blocking a heavy vertical chop from a Mitachurl's massive stone axe. The clash of the spear's shaft against the axe blade sent a piercing metallic shriek through the valley, scattering a shower of sparks. While skillfully deflecting the force, Hu Tao flipped her wrist. The lead shot forward like a venomous snake striking from its coil, instantly piercing the Mitachurl's throat. With another flick of the spear's tip, she flung the hulking corpse away, sending it tumbling into several smaller Hilichurls rushing up from behind.
"I am Hu Tao, the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!" Her voice was a bright, clear chime, laced with a young woman's pride. She simultaneously gestured with her eyes toward the steady figure on the distant cliff. "The consultant providing support is Zhongli. We were invited by the Traveler, Lumine, and Paimon to come to Natlan and help out!"
"The Traveler's friends?!" Varesa's visible eye, no longer hidden by her eyepatch, seemed to light up. Her deliberately lowered voice unconsciously reverted to its original tone—an earnest, enthusiastic girlish sound that created a lovely contrast with the stoic image she had tried to project moments before.
"Are you really the Traveler's friends?! That's great! My name is Varesa! Iansan-sensei has told me so much about the Traveler!" she chirped, her words tumbling out in a rush. "She said the Traveler and her friends are super amazing; they went deep into the Night Kingdom and rescued Kachina! It's so good that you can come and help! I'm so happy to meet you all!"
Her tone was filled with undisguised excitement and admiration, as if she had just met heroes straight out of a legend.
Yet, in stark contrast to her sudden "fan meeting" giddiness, her combat actions showed no sign of relaxation. If anything, her excitement seemed to lend a few extra points of strength to her blows. She executed a swift sidestep to avoid a Rifthound's lunge, then spun on the balls of her feet like a top. A magnificent and powerful spinning kick, wreathed in explosive lightning, slammed into the Rifthound's midsection, sending it flying like a ragdoll to smash against a rock wall with a dull, wet thud.
Upon hearing that Varesa already had a teacher named Iansan, Hu Tao's little plan of 'scouting an apprentice for Xiao the Yaksha' immediately cooled by half. She couldn't help but secretly pout, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features.
'Alas, I finally found such a... distinctive talent, but I didn't expect her to be taken already. Oh well,'she thought,'Xiao's fated encounter just hasn't arrived yet. I'm sure he'll run into someone more suited to his style in the future...'
She quickly adjusted her mindset, casting aside the small regret and refocusing all her energy on the battle at hand.
"Haha, it seems we need to step up our game! We can't let you down, Varesa!" Hu Tao laughed brightly, the offensive of her long spear becoming even swifter and more ferocious. She spotted an area where a dense group of monsters had gathered, and a cunning yet serious light flickered in her plum-blossom eyes.
"Take this—Spirit Soother!"
Following her clear shout, a plump, translucent, and somewhat eerily cute little ghost was summoned by her, its spectral form floating placidly by her side.
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