125 Do what you have to (1/2)

The wooden bolts pierced through thick, blue-black skin. It splintered as it etched into legs, arms and shoulders. Even the Fallen Gods that were pierced through the skull with the bolts continued to advance with a calm visage. Some of them stumbled. Some fell. Some moved forward wearing bolts like it was part of their fashion, unconcerned that they left a long trail of glossy blood that coated the land like a layer of grease.

”I-Ivory Sword Saint,” one of the disciples ran up to him with sweat upon his brows, eyes darting nervously, ”We're already down to a few rounds left.”

And the Fallen Gods were already at their doorsteps. The vanguard's large statuesque faces could be made out by the spirit lights that danced along the length of the wall. If Liu Sumeng were to estimate, he would say that Chen Gaoyong was not even halfway through his incantation. There was still much time to stall, they had to fell even more of these devils to ensure the safety of the city.

”Aim for the rear,” the Ivory Sword Saint commanded. ”I will set out.”

”O-okay,” The disciple lowered his head and returned to his station.

It was finally time. Liu Sumeng held Mingshui in one hand, a spear strapped to his back and ready for use. He pulled out some of those talismans that Yuan Xuelan had tirelessly slaved to perfect and trusted in their integrity without even testing them out.

In his mind, he had not a shadow of doubt.

Armed as such the Ivory Sword Saint commanded a small troop to descend the city walls. They were forty strong. Liu Sumeng was not doubtful about the odds. He bore an aura of confidence and trust(). The others could do nothing but believe in and follow this man's lead, quelling their anxiety with thrumming adrenaline and the promise of glory and honor.

Fearlessly, the Ivory Sword Saint unleashed talismans upon the Fallen God that was only 2 li away. There were two wooden bolts sticking out of his body, one embedded just below the right shoulder and the other deep in the right thigh. Even if the God did not show much reaction to these protrusions, his thigh muscle seemed to tremble with each step.

The talismans were guided with a precise course that attacked the wounds created by the bolts. They cluttered around the wooden spear like eager insects, creeping and crawling to be soaked in the sheen of viscous, oil-like blood. The more they congregated, the more blood poured out, gushing like from a broken dam.

As the talismans swarmed around the wounds, stray pieces() of talisman tuck on around the heels of the God's feet, slowing its movements.

Fallen Gods were not so easily daunted by injury, however they had no ability to heal. Their blood gives them power and energy. Exhausting it would help even up the match up.

Satisfied with the talismans, Liu Sumeng quickly raised his sword and rushed forward. But he did not move to cut, slice, nor thrust. Instead he jumped up, narrowly avoiding a thick hand that attempted to push him aside.

With the momentum of the jump, he used the Fallen God's extended arm to jump off of and yanked the spear at the shoulder free.

The glossy dark blood poured out like wine.

Liu Sumeng moved aside to protect his robes from the filth.

The bolt that he yanked out was already corroded by the blood and mostly useless. However there was still a small bit at the end that remained untouched by blood.

He did not hesitate to throw it like a spear, at the God's face, aiming for one of those all-black eyes.

But the Fallen God reacted quickly and knocked the thing away.

While most of the Fallen Gods moved at a speed difficult to follow, it became apparent that there was a lag between each of their movements. This lag slowed and became more and more pronounced as the creatures lost their fuel-like blood.

More Fallen Gods approached behind the one that the Ivory Sword Saint fought.

Seeing that he hadn't time to waste, Liu Sumeng dashed toward the giant and this time aimed for the thigh. When he yanked the bolt free, he instantly used the uncorrupted butt of the spear to block against the palm that came down at him.

The strength of the Fallen God made his body tremble and tense with protest but Liu Sumeng only clenched his teeth, ignoring the pain. He took Mingshui and wedged it into that god's wounded thigh, cutting it open with the help of the talismans that allowed the wound the fester despite the usual nigh-indestructible skin.

The entire leg was soon severed. The Fallen God was now forced to hobble on only one leg, but it still maintained perfect balance.

However, with the blood that gushed out of the leg, creating a deep wet pool beneath them, the creature's movements became laughably slow until it could be barely considered moving at all. Only then did Liu Sumeng shift his focus on other foes.

By then there were already three more Fallen Gods surrounding him.

The other cultivators finally swallowed down their apprehension and fear. After watching the Ivory Sword Saint's flawless display of martial skill of power, a sparkle of inspiration flicked in their eyes. They charged as well, following Liu Sumeng's example and engaged the row of Fallen Gods that now marched upon them.

Above, large bolts still flew and rained down. Spell work erupted in the sky as peach wood spears shot through the bodies of Fallen Gods.

Someone screamed, a careless mistake was all it took for the Fallen God to tear a cultivator apart, ripping their body in two. In the midst of chaos, there was no helping such errors. They could only do as they could, trying not to make the same mistakes and stay alive.