58: Chapter 58 The Battle Between the Goddess of the Moon and the Angel of Hope

"Again!"

Laya gave a sharp cry and transformed into a meteor of holy light, taking the initiative to launch a fierce assault!

Aria didn't reply as the two goddesses turned into two streaks of light and clashed together.

Aria's swordsmanship was ethereal, flowing like moonlight and finding every opening. At times, a single sword strike would split into a thousand, like moonlight illuminating everything; at others, it would condense into a single blow, like a cold star falling to the earth.

Moonlight swirled around her, serving as both a sharp weapon for attack and a barrier for defense, occasionally condensing into ice shards to cause interference.

Laya's offensive was bold and wide-sweeping. Every hack of her Holy Flame Longsword carried the will to purify evil, while her Holy Shield of Light defended flawlessly. The wings of light on her back were not just tools for acceleration; they occasionally slashed out sharp light blades or showered down healing radiance.

Clang!!

Laya blocked a slash from Aria with the holy shield in her left hand, and the wings of light on her back flapped violently, sending dozens of light blades to seal off Elia's left and right sides.

She thrust the shield in her left hand forward, trying to break Aria's balance, while simultaneously sweeping her longsword to send a sea of white flames surging forth. A solid pillar of holy light followed closely behind the sea of fire! It almost completely sealed off all of Aria's paths of retreat!

However, Aria's figure became blurred amidst the moonlight, like a reflection in water or a flower in a mirror. She used Blink to perilously pass through the gaps between the light blades, then her Frost Divine Sword drew an arc, channeling a Lunar Cold Wave to completely annihilate the sea of white flames.

Finally, instead of retreating, she advanced. As she pointed her divine sword forward, she actually split the light pillar down the middle and passed through the crack herself, completely unharmed!

The moment she passed through the crack, she sent a backhanded sword qi strike, forcing Laya to raise her shield in defense once more.

Inside the training grounds, the moonlight was like silk, dancing wildly in the air and seemingly freezing the space wherever it passed; the holy flames were like rain, exploding violently in an attempt to purify all alien energy.

Frost Nova and Divine Storm annihilated each other. Various powerful combat techniques were used with effortless ease.

The chaotic energy currents crashed frantically against the training ground's shields. The alarm blared shrilly like a mournful wail, and the shield's light flickered uncertainly, clearly on the verge of collapse.

Noticing that the commotion between the two women was getting louder and louder, Li Yuan rushed over.

Even though Laya was giving it her all, Elia, in her incarnation as the Moon Goddess, seemed to have the upper hand, steadily maintaining her advantage.

After a succession of strikes, Laya's holy light flickered, and she began to lose her balance.

Elia pointed her sword at Laya from a distance, and a voice that sounded like a pronouncement echoed through the world:

"With the moonlight, I shall first Lock the Demon Lord!"

Her words became law! Endless moonlight was drawn from the void, focusing in from all directions! Laya felt her entire body tighten; both her physical form and the holy light surging within her were completely imprisoned at that moment, trapped within the moonlight.

And that wasn't all! When Elia spoke again, her voice carried an even more majestic will, like an ancient divine oracle:

"I further summon the Ancient Arrow that Shot the Suns to reveal—the Sun-Shooting Bow Source!"

"Granted—!"

A Daoist sound, seemingly coming from the world itself and containing supreme will, resonated!

Rumble—!!!

It felt as if the entire world was trembling! Above the firmament, the winds and clouds shifted as a rift appeared out of thin air. From within it, a fiery light emerged that made all things want to prostrate themselves!

Then, an ancient, desolate, dark-gold longbow descended slowly. Nine blurred Golden Crow silhouettes were coiled around its body, and it radiated the aura of a Fire Sovereign!

The moment it appeared, all the moonlight paled, and all the holy light seemed insignificant. It became the absolute center of attention!

At that moment, Li Yuan was scared out of his wits!

"Stop!!!"

Without time to think, Li Yuan immediately flew forward and lunged!

He blocked the path to Laya and lunged toward Elia!

The Sun-Shooting Divine Bow hung high in the sky, its Fire Sovereign aura making all things tremble.

Of course, Aria didn't actually draw the bow. The will controlling Aria's body seemed merely to be showing Laya how true power should be used.

When Li Yuan lunged toward Aria, it merely looked at him without making a move.

The Sun-Shooting Divine Bow in the sky turned into fire particles and scattered with the wind, vanishing without a trace.

The magnificent ice crystal armor on Elia's body also turned into specks of shimmering moonbeams, quickly dissipating into the air.

The crescent moon halo above her head faded, and the Frost Divine Sword in her hand disintegrated into basic cold mist.

"Ugh!"

Under the influence of momentum, the two of them inevitably tumbled into a heap. In the chaos, Li Yuan only felt a cool, soft, and indescribably moist sensation on his lips.

His eyes snapped wide open.

It was Elia's lips!

At the moment their lips accidentally met, a sudden change occurred!

A surge of pure, cold, and strange energy containing the universe's origin of extreme Yin and cold seemed to find an outlet. It suddenly transferred from Elia's lips, surging directly into Li Yuan's body!

This energy was of an extremely high level, bone-chillingly cold yet carrying a vitality that nourished all things. The bei ming core inside Li Yuan's body began to spin frantically at an unprecedented speed, erupting with a powerful suction force, attempting to swallow and assimilate this foreign power as it usually did.

However, this time, that Lunar Power was like slippery ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, or like the bright moon hanging high beyond the nine heavens.

The Intent of the Northern Darkness could only manage to peel off tiny strands of essence from its surface with great difficulty. That energy still maintained its own independence and purity.

But something even more wonderful happened. This Lunar Power, which could not be immediately absorbed, acted like a master guide. it actually took the initiative to lead the liquid, surging energy within the bei ming core, causing it to circulate through his meridians along a profound and complex path before returning!

A Great Heavenly Circuit!

Li Yuan clearly "saw" that when the energy of the bei ming core was guided by the Lunar Power to flow through his entire body and saturate every tiny meridian, an unprecedented sense of clarity arose.

It was as if... all the meridians in his body had been opened! He had gained the blessing of the Intent of the Northern Darkness.

Previously, only the bei ming core was desperately absorbing external energy. But now, he felt as if his entire body had become a "sponge" that was constantly and autonomously absorbing energy! The efficiency of energy absorption and conversion had increased several times over!

At the same time, the Northern Darkness energy seemed to obey his commands.

With a slight thought, he tried to mobilize the power of the bei ming core. In the next moment, a surge of pure energy instantly gathered in his right fist. The space around his fist seemed to distort slightly, and a feeling brimming with explosive power came over him.

This... this was just like the internal energy described in novels! He could concentrate energy in any part of his body, greatly enhancing local capabilities!

Slap—!

A crisp, loud slap ruthlessly interrupted Li Yuan's shock and realization.

He was pushed back by a significant force, stumbling a few steps before steadying himself, his face burning with pain.

Elia had already sat up, her exquisite face as red as a ripe apple, the flush spreading all the way down to her fair neck. One hand covered the lips that had just been kissed, while the other hand that had delivered the slap was still hanging in the air. Her ice-blue eyes were filled with the shimmering light of extreme shame and indignation.

"You... you... Li Yuan!"