Teacher by day, Farmer by passion - Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Divine Combat [1]
Ace’s eyes narrowed.

“…A fairy?”

The woman laughed, a light, musical sound that echoed with something sinister underneath.

“No, not quite,” she purred. “Let me introduce myself properly.”

She gave a graceful bow, the air around her darkening with her presence.

“My name is Sword Maiden, Tatsumi. Also known as the master of Zhao Yun and Zhao Mei.” Her smile widened, almost cruel. “Do those names ring a bell?”

Ace’s blood ran cold. His fingers twitched.

Shan Yifeng stood frozen for a moment, then looked down at the formation lines still glowing faintly beneath their feet. His voice shook.

“Master… I’m sorry. I… I trapped us in.”

Ace didn’t respond right away. His gaze remained locked on the woman before them, every instinct in his body screaming danger.

The mood in the room shifted.

Heavy.

Dark.

This was no longer just a confrontation, it was a carefully laid snare. And they had walked right into it.

“Prepare to fight,” Ace said calmly, his voice steady despite the tension coiling in the air.

Without hesitation, Liu Mei summoned her soul bonds.

In a flash of light and aura, three colossal beasts appeared.

A towering black dragon whose scales shimmered like obsidian under moonlight.

A majestic fox with snow-white fur and eight flowing tails that sparkled like frost.

And lastly, a burly bear, though, when it stood next to the two, it looked like a dwarf although it was way taller than a normal human.

Tatsumi’s confident smile faltered. Her eyes widened.

“I—I wasn’t told anything about this!”

The fox—White Fur—extended her long, elegant tails, wrapping them gently around Ace, Shan Yifeng, and Liu Mei. With effortless grace, she lifted them to rest on her broad, regal head.

Liu Mei clung to her soul bond like a child reunited with a dear friend.

“White Fur, you’re still so fluffy,” she sighed, snuggling into the soft fur.

Then, as casually as asking someone to pass the salt, she pointed. “Can you get rid of that man over there? Oh—and the woman too.”

Black Midas, the black dragon, shifted form. His massive body condensed into that of a tall man clad in black robes, his golden eyes glowing.

A curved obsidian horn protruded from the right side of his head.

He tilted his head, smirking as he looked to Liu Mei.

“Master… even the girl?”

Liu Mei didn’t hesitate. “Especially the girl.”

Black Midas cracked his neck, then slowly turned his gaze to Tatsumi, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Tatsumi instinctively took a step back.

Giyo wiped the blood from his lips and let out a hoarse laugh.

“If you think I came unprepared, you’re sorely mistaken.”

He slammed his palm to the ground. A magic circle erupted beneath him, glowing with a murky green light.

From the circle, a monstrous frog emerged—its body bloated and pulsing, eyes bulging with venomous malice. Its skin shimmered like oil on water, and with each breath, a poisonous mist hissed from its nostrils.

“Meet Gorgolth,” Giyo announced, “a swamp tyrant who’s devoured legends whole.”

The frog let out a deep, gurgling croak that rattled the air, its long tongue snapping like a whip as it eyed the soul beasts warily.

Tatsumi stood calmly, then raised her hand.

“Fine. Since you’ve brought out your playthings, I’ll bring out mine.”

The ground cracked behind her as a Bifeng burst forth—a towering storm-winged serpent, its feathers glittering like steel, lightning crackling from its eyes.

It hissed, circling her in midair with elegance and destructive grace.

Ace narrowed his eyes.

“A frog and a storm serpent…”

Black Midas grinned. “This just got interesting.”

White Fur fluffed her tails dramatically. “Ugh. Frogs. Disgusting creatures.”

The bear—still silent until now—snorted and casually cracked his knuckles, eyes locked on Gorgolth.

Liu Mei leaned closer to Ace and whispered, “Master… does that frog look constipated to you?”

Ace blinked. “Let’s focus on the fact that it probably wants to eat us, so don’t get eaten.”

Shan Yifeng, fingers already glowing as he set another layer of defensive formation, muttered, “Master, should I draw an anti-amphibian array?”

Ace sighed. “You know what? Sure. Go wild.”

Shan Yifeng dropped to his knees, sleeves rolled up as his fingers danced across the stone floor, drawing formation circles with swift, precise strokes.

His brows furrowed in intense focus, lines glowing faintly as spiritual energy gathered.

Meanwhile, Giyo let out a battle cry and launched himself into the air, spear first, directly toward Midas touch.

The black dragon roared, switching to it’s beast form, shaking the room with its force.

He flared his wings and shot upward to meet the attack, scales shimmering like obsidian armor. Claws clashed with spear, sparks exploding mid-air as power rippled outward.

Tatsumi floated up leisurely, her movements almost lazy, as if the battle below were nothing more than an elegant dance.

“Now then,” she cooed, eyes fixed on Ace, “why don’t we get reacquainted properly?”

But Liu Mei was already in the air before she could get closer.

“Don’t even think about it,” she hissed.

Her daggers flashed like twin comets as she closed the gap in an instant, slashing in a flurry.

Tatsumi’s smirk widened as she raised a single finger to block the attack.

A shockwave rippled through the room as dagger met reinforced spirit energy.

Ace watched the air ripple from the clash, hands tightening around the sickle.

His instincts screamed danger, but his disciples were already moving—for him.

“Master!” Shan Yifeng called from the ground, never looking up. “Give me twenty minutes!”

Ace nodded, “Sure.”

* * *

Liu Mei spun in midair, delivering a beautiful arc of slashes that Tatsumi barely parried.

“I’ll peel that smug look right off your face,” she growled.

Tatsumi’s chuckle deepened, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Finally. A girl with some bite.”

Black Midas unleashed a sonic roar, clashing again with Giyo.

White Fur curled a protective tail around Shan Yifeng and Ace, eyes locked on the Bifeng now circling above like a storm cloud gathering fury.

Ace cracked his neck.

“Well… this is turning into a party.”

And his sickle hummed to life in his hand.