BOOM!
Right when Li Mei was about to rush outside the area of Huang Shi's cloaking system, a flash of azure lightning suddenly erupted from right in front of her, causing her to stop her forward charge and step back a few paces.
Huang Shi, who had barely been able to catch up, suddenly trembled as he saw the person who had just barely been able to stop Li Mei.
Grandfather!
Huang Li was currently surrounded by flashing azure lightning bolts crawling all across his body as his robes flew through the air, his blue eyes filled with pain.
"Mei'er… wait… just wait for a moment, okay?"
Li Mei suddenly trembled, her purple eyes flashing with anger as she opened her mouth and screamed.
"Liar! Why did you lie to me?! I always knew there was something wrong with how my sister died! But despite this, I forced myself to stop asking any questions because you told me to trust you! And I did trust you!"
"But why? Why didn't you tell me the truth? Why did you keep me in the dark?"
RUMBLE
All of a sudden, shadows appeared all over Li Mei's body as her purple eyes shone with rage.
Before long, she suddenly waved her hand as a circular shadow spread out from under her feet, extending for a range of about fifty meters and almost surrounding the entire courtyard. Then her voice, filled with cold rage, spoke.
"Umbral Nightmare Imperial Codex – Umbral Shadow Guards."
WHOOSH
From the dark circular area around Li Mei, tendrils of purple shadows slowly rose up, forming into humanoid shapes of armored warriors wielding all sorts of weapons—swords, spears, halberds, sabers, and more.
Each and every one of the shadowy armored warriors had cold and impassive eyes burning with purple flames. From their stance, you could tell that these warriors were born for fighting; despite their emotionless nature, you could still feel a sharp sense of bloodlust emitting from their bodies.
It was not only that—these warriors surrounded Li Mei like loyal, battle-hardened vassals protecting their beloved empress. With a single nod of her head, all of the warriors surrounding her, about ten in total, instantly pointed their weapons straight at Huang Li, their burning purple eyes signaling their intent.
If our Empress commands us, we will fight to the death for her cause!
Huang Shi, who had been staring at the confrontation between Li Mei and his grandfather from the back, suddenly paused. His expression shifted into stunned silence as he opened his mouth in shock.
What the fuck is that? Hey System, isn't that too fucking OP? I think I remember someone having techniques like that in a manhwa I read! Are Earthly Physiques supposed to be this powerful?
[Responding to the host: Any physique, item, or bloodline given to the nine women who are connected to the host by bonds of true love via the Wheel of Fortune are things coveted by both heaven and earth alike.]
[In terms of Earthly Bloodlines, the Umbral Nightmare Monarch Bloodline comes from an extinct race of conquerors in another universe and therefore has the potential to become a Heavenly Bloodline with enough resources!]
Huang Shi's mouth twitched in shock as he once again voiced a complaint to the system.
Wait, so let me guess... are you telling me that the only reason my Mei'er's bloodline isn't of the Heavenly level is because you decided it's best for her to only have that level of potential in this lower-level world—because it requires a lot fewer resources to improve her cultivation?
[The host is right! The host is very intelligent! :))]
Huang Shi was once again locked in a stunned silence as he screamed inwardly.
You fucking bastard! Then why did you give me a Heavenly Physique? Couldn't you have given me an Earthly Physique so I could also improve my cultivation faster and then just upgrade it when I get to a higher-level world?
[...]
The system went silent for a bit, as if thinking of a response, before finally sounding out once again inside of his mind.
[Responding to host: The system has learned its lesson from your current problematic circumstances and has therefore adjusted its thinking when giving gifts to one of the nine women so that they do not suffer the same problems that you do!]
Huang Shi was speechless; truly, he didn't know what else to say but this:
Damn it, you bastard system! You really are so fucking biased toward women! What the hell, man! Can't you be a bit more—
BOOM!
Just as Huang Shi was about to voice more complaints to his system, a cold and anger-filled voice suddenly rang through the courtyard.
"Umbral Shadow Guards, hold that man back for me! I need time to escape!"
WHEENG
Instantly, the ten Umbral Shadow Guards that had been surrounding Li Mei protectively with their weapons raised against Huang Li rushed toward him in a veil of purple shadows.
Huang Li, on the other hand, had a pained expression on his face as he replied with sadness.
"I—I had my reasons, Mei'er! You know that I would never do anything that would intentionally cause you and your sister pain! You have to believe me!"
Despite his words of remorse, Li Mei ignored him. Clearly, suddenly learning that her beloved sister had died because of the schemes of other people had filled her with boundless rage to the point that she was no longer able to maintain a logical mind.
WHOOSH
Despite this, she had never actually ordered her Umbral Shadow Guards to attack Huang Li; she had only ordered them to hold him back for a bit so she could escape. Clearly, despite her anger, she never truly had any intention of harming her father.
Huang Li, on the other hand, despite not wanting to resist, knew that he couldn't let his only remaining daughter go on a suicide mission all on her own. So, even though it went against his heart to do so, he prepared himself for combat.
RUMBLE