Chapter 989: Flash Shadow

Having anticipated this possibility, Gao Yang executed his prepared plan, issuing commands in Nine Frost's stead without hesitation.

Though blind and deaf, Crimson Bee and Bumblebee needed only physical contact to implement the strategy. They found each other with ease. Crimson Bee's fingers morphed into ten needles, piercing Bumblebee's thick back to inject Spider Venom.

“Aghhh!!” Bumblebee’s pained cries fell on literal deaf ears.

Moments later, Decaying Particles erupted from his armpits in massive waves, indiscriminately flooding half the battlefield. As weakness settled into everyone's bodies, they received a gift—a spider's vision. Crimson Bee's Spider Venom granted them the ability to perceive ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light.

Meanwhile, after Six Senses Judge halted the enemy assault, Qilin had pulled back all his shadows into armor, defending against the Decaying Particles and potential ranged attacks. A bloody black Phantom blade extended from his left arm's stump. Through Mind's Eye, he detected a nearby presence. He charged forward, blade aimed at their chest.

Mid-thrust, realization struck.

The figure stood motionless, waiting. It was Gao Yang!

Qilin stopped himself from getting close to Gao Yang. The young man was dangerous and cunning. If Qilin could take him out from a medium range, he wasn’t going to get into melee range.

Qilin quickly moved back.

However, now with a spider’s vision, Gao Yang saw Qilin.

He immediately teleported forward to close in on Qilin, making sure Qilin was never out of the range of his light sensory.

Qilin tensed, baffled by Gao Yang's precise tracking despite the sensory deprivation. He leaped backward, dispatching three shadow soldiers through Phantom.

Gao Yang, having secured his target, remained within Teleportation range.

Activate Flash Shadow.

Whoosh.

In that instant, Gao Yang phased through the shadow soldiers and materialized behind Qilin, securing him in a tight grip.

The maneuver caught Qilin off-guard. Despite anticipating the teleportation and retreating, Gao Yang had appeared exactly where he needed to be—as if Qilin had inadvertently positioned himself for capture.

Qilin quickly calmed. His body was still armored with Phantom, and daggers and hidden weapons wouldn’t hurt him. Moreover, Gao Yang couldn’t make a charged attack with Fire Punch in such a brief window.

In fact, Gao Yang’s move seemed downright suicidal.

Qilin deactivated Six Senses Judge, instantly regaining vision to unleash Brain Formatting at point-blank range.

Gao Yang's mind flickered—but only for a second.

He had endured it!

The impossible resistance stemmed from level 7 Psychic Armor, level 7 Absolute Defense's Golden Armor, and... Willful Power's extreme stat shift.

Gao Yang's Charisma had soared beyond a staggering eighteen thousand.

Clink!

At the same time, the Absolute Barrier he had prepared beforehand triggered, turning into a golden phonebooth that trapped him and Qilin together.

Qilin didn’t have the time to be surprised about Gao Yang’s resistance to Brain Formatting. Without delay, he commanded Phantom to spawn countless black needles from his armored back.

Even with Golden Armor's protection, the shadow needles pierced Gao Yang's body at such close range. Blood sprayed as Gao Yang released his grip, stumbling backward against the Absolute Barrier.

Qilin knew the rules – no one could enter from outside, and those within couldn't escape without the Talent user's permission. Before Gao Yang could attempt to escape, the shadow needles piercing his body transformed into countless threads, binding him in place.

Now, Qilin couldn’t get out, and neither could Gao Yang. Both of them were safe at the moment.

He stared at the now-restrained Gao Yang and asked, “What are you doing now?”

Gao Yang wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, cracking a faint smile. “Kill you, of course.”

“At the price of your life?”

“I’ll die.” Gao Yang’s smile widened. “But I swallowed a hairpin, so worry about yourself.”

Qilin's gaze shot upward through the barrier. Beyond the translucent golden walls, death itself gathered in layers:

First came the swarms of black Pestilence poison, interweaving with deep purple mist—Decaying Particles enhanced by Spider Venom and Bee Venom.

Next, a rain of talismans hung suspended, each crackling with powerful debuffs ready to seal and weaken their target.

Then, a perfect circle of Black Gold blades, each coursing with lightning that connected blade to blade, forming an electric cage of certain death.

Beyond that whirled a ring of razor-sharp air blades.

The outermost layer bristled with countless earth stings erupting from the ground, forming an impenetrable circle.

In an instant, Lying Wood's Afterimage doubled every layer, until real and false became indistinguishable.

And around this dome of death stood Qilin's enemies:

Qing Ling, her expression glacial as she raised her Tang Dao.

War Tiger, newly awakened and smirking as he hefted the Dragonslaying Giantsword.

Wang Zikai, wiping blood from his mouth, ready to expend more vitality through his crimson bone stings.

Liao Liao with her twin guns primed.

Hong Xiaoxiao, prepared to rescue Gao Yang with Time Reset.

Ke Yo, whistle at ready should anything go wrong.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Dead Pig, human once more, positioning himself to shield his weaker companions.

Adept Horse and One Stone tending to the injured.

Nine Frost and Chen Ying charging in from command.

Heavenly Dog soaring overhead, Spatial Shards at the ready.

Nainai hovering with hands on hips, a dramatic declaration waiting to escape.

And finally, Rewind—small and fragile in her red cheerleader uniform, raising her megaphone with tear-reddened eyes.

“Qilin will die!”

“Justice will win!”