Ji Jiu could ascertain Li Ang's approximate direction through the residual aura of the miniature surveillance cameras, and the Scout Soldier Bees, bioengineered from Biological Templates, could do the same.
Before Ji Jiu and Zhi Jue arrived, two Scout Soldier Bees that had detected the Queen Bee Pheromones were already observing them from high above. Another Scout Soldier Bee flew back to Li Ang's side, indicating the exact location and distance of Ji Jiu and Zhi Jue with its hovering dance.
Li Ang had been hiding in a narrow recess beneath the edge of the rooftop, leveraging the Special Effects of the Face-Changing Mask and the Dusk Cloak to conceal his aura, all to prepare for this sudden ambush in coordination with Chai Cuiqiao.
Even with the enhanced capabilities of the Qinge Armor, Miss Chai could not clearly see the trajectory of the bullets, but she could discern the direction of Ji Jiu's gun muzzle and the motion of him pulling the trigger.
Just as Ji Jiu was about to pull the trigger and attempt to Teleport away, Miss Chai flipped up from beneath the rooftop. She placed her palm directly in the path of the gun barrel, successfully intercepting the .357-inch revolver bullet. These bullets were made of ordinary material, and while their astonishing power could easily take down bulls, lions, and elephants, they stood no chance against the exceptionally durable Qinge Armor. They couldn't even pierce her palm and were effortlessly caught and held.
This led to the difficult situation Ji Jiu now found himself in: he stood in Miss Chai's palm, his ankle firmly grasped by her, unable to escape, while Li Ang, draped in a cloak of righteousness, swung the Triangular Bone Tipped Spear at him.
The sweeping spear further restricted Ji Jiu's revolver, making it impossible to activate its Teleport Special Effect even if he fired. He would only be wasting bullets.
What was worse, Miss Chai activated the Qinge Armor's Petrification Special Effect, releasing Petrification Energy that continuously eroded Ji Jiu's ankles, solidifying his pants and shoes into stone.
If this continued, his entire foot would turn into a lump of stone.
You're forcing my hand! Ji Jiu snarled, his eyes fiery red. He flipped his right hand, pulling a narrow steel spike resembling a Western Longsword from his inventory. He used it to block the Triangular Bone Tipped Spear aimed at his ear and activated his skill, conjuring five or six more steel spikes out of thin air in front of the rapier.
These newly conjured black spikes were over two meters long, their tips glinting coldly and aimed sharply at Li Ang. After a brief delay, they bristled with contained Energy, ready to shoot out at any moment.
One of Ji Jiu's skills allowed him to conjure and launch steel spikes with force comparable to sniper rifle bullets. With the amplifying boost from the Excellent-quality rapier in his hand, he could produce spikes over two meters long. Their power far surpassed ordinary Heavy Crossbows and even rivaled modern artillery shells.
The dispelling effect of the Purification Edict lasts only three seconds. After that, regardless of my condition, all injuries and control effects I've suffered during this period will resurface, inflicting additional Psychic Damage on me.
Ji Jiu used his steel spikes to temporarily repel Li Ang, forcing the latter to spin his spear and deflect all the spikes that had been frozen mid-air.
At the same time, Ji Jiu reversed his grip on his rapier, aiming the tip downwards at Miss Chai, who was still gripping his ankle. He thrust towards the helmet of the Qinge Armor she wore.
This senior member of the Datura organization wasn't a fool. If that Red White Plate were truly the original Platinum Star Stand, as claimed, he would likely have been pummeled into pulp by a flurry of heavy punches on contact.
The Red White Plate was most likely some sort of low-intelligence Golem Puppet controlled by someone.
Golems were indeed tough and solid, but they generally had an Energy Core inside. If the Energy Core was shattered, most Golem Puppets would cease to function.
Ji Jiu's Excellent-quality steel-spike rapier, aside from launching the spikes he conjured, also possessed a "Demon-Slaying" property. If he could strike the top of the Golem Puppet's head directly, he could demolish its Energy Core...
CLANG— Without dodging, Miss Chai maintained her grip on Ji Jiu's ankle. She casually picked up a large chunk of rooftop concrete, reinforced with steel rebar, and swung it upwards at him. Not only did this knock his rapier off course, but the recoil also tore open the flesh between Ji Jiu's thumb and forefinger.
Before Ji Jiu could mount any effective defense, the large chunk of reinforced concrete, still carrying its momentum, smashed directly into his chest. It propelled him toward the building's exterior wall, and he crashed headfirst into the stone bricks at the rooftop's edge.
THUD! Ji Jiu's head suffered a heavy blow, his vision darkening. He nearly dropped the steel-spike rapier from his grasp.
He tried to counterattack, but Miss Chai grabbed his neck and applied vicious force. She punched him in the face repeatedly, breaking his nose and knocking out his front teeth, leaving him bloodied and battered.
Li Ang also reached out, hooking his hand into the groove beneath the rooftop's edge. With his other hand, he drew a Barrett sniper rifle, aimed at Ji Jiu's temple from a short distance, and pulled the trigger.
At such close range, never mind a mere human; even a layer of homogenous steel plate could be easily penetrated.
BANG— The muffled shot rang out high in the air but didn't reach the ears of the pedestrians below.
Liu Wu Dai, observing the scene on the rooftop through high-powered binoculars, was shocked to see a yellow, Talisman-like paper floating beside Ji Jiu's temple.
The yellow paper seemed light and soft, as if it could be torn with a gentle pull. Yet, it unwaveringly blocked the path of the heavy bullet. It remained completely immutable no matter how the bullet spun or advanced. Its edges flared violently as it slowly enveloped the bullet, then incinerated it, the Ash scattering in the night breeze.
This Talisman was one of five Ji Jiu had received from high-ranking members of the Datura organization before his mission; they were extremely precious.
Its Special Effect was to protect the user from five life-threatening attacks, provided the attacks weren't too powerful or too wide in range.
Originally, these five Talismans were meant to be Ji Jiu's ultimate trump card. He hadn't expected to use one-fifth of them in such a situation.
Ji Jiu should have been furious. As a high-ranking member of the Datura organization, equipped with various powerful items, he had no reason to be driven to such desperation by this bizarre pair of enemies.
BANG! BANG! Li Ang's eyes were like ice, completely unfazed by the Talisman. He continued to hang beneath the rooftop, repeatedly firing at Ji Jiu's neck.
He deduced that the Talisman likely shielded its user from harm, but such potent items usually came with equally significant restrictions; it couldn't possibly grant invincibility for long.
He just needed to keep attacking.
Two heavy bullets, fired one after the other, struck Ji Jiu's neck but were blocked by the yellow Talisman. Ji Jiu, however, found little reason to be pleased.
The three-second duration of the Purification Edict had ended, and its side effects instantly erupted. The previously healed injury to his left shoulder, pierced by Liu Wu Dai's arrow, and the suffocation from the Drown in Misfortune Assassination Method, along with additional Psychic Damage, all returned with a vengeance.
PFFT! A large gash tore open on Ji Jiu's left shoulder, and he simultaneously coughed up a fountain of blood. His body bent like a shrimp as he curled into a ball.
But his fingers were already hovering over the button of a device resembling a remote control.
If escape was impossible, then they would die together. At the very least, Zhi Jue might survive. And there was still hope of fulfilling the prophecy.