Hugging Higokumaru, Theresa shot Ming Yu a disdainful glance. If she hadn't temporarily lost her power, this kid would never have had a chance to show off.
With this in mind, Theresa hugged the little fox even tighter, her small hands naturally stroking the little fox's ears. Higokumaru, for her part, seemed to have resigned herself to her fate, letting the white-haired ball of fluff mess with her ears without the slightest struggle. She merely stared at Ming Yu ahead, a hint of worry in her eyes.
As soon as the door was pushed open, two rows of candles lit up one by one, illuminating the interior of the Tenshukaku.
Exquisite folding screens were linked together, partitioning the inside of the Tenshukaku into separate spaces. Beautiful patterns were painted on the screens, depicting cranes spreading their wings in flight above scenes of aristocratic life.
Were an architecture or history enthusiast to come here, they would likely be struck with awe. But Ming Yu had no intention of admiring these screens in detail. Besides his lack of interest, it was also because eight Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombies were staring at him with hostile expressions.
He remembered a time when a single Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombie and a Loyal Ninja Honkai Zombie could put him in a perilous situation, forcing him into a life-or-death struggle. But now, seeing eight Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombies lined up together, Ming Yu's expression barely changed, at most sighing about it in his heart.
Looking at the eight Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombies, Ming Yu drew Sakura Fubuki out by an inch and charged toward them.
One step, two steps, three steps. Ming Yu's strides grew larger and larger, his speed increasing until he was a white shadow rushing towards the Honkai Zombies.
The eight Honkai Zombies reacted quickly, forming two rows to support each other. Sixteen black longswords were raised, their yellow blades aimed squarely at Ming Yu's approaching figure, ensuring that no matter which one he attacked, he would face the counterattack of three or four blades.
Ming Yu's charge didn't stop. He tightened his grip on Sakura Fubuki at his waist, a faint smile playing on his lips. Before obtaining Yae Sakura's power, while he wouldn't have feared these eight Honkai Zombies, he would have likely had to spend some effort to break this formation. But now, with Sakura of the Far Shore and Sakura Fubuki at his side, they were nothing to him.
Suddenly, Ming Yu's figure came to a halt. Sakura Fubuki was abruptly unsheathed, tracing a crimson shadow through the air as a blade of sword qi shot towards the second Honkai Zombie from the left in the front row.
The Honkai Zombies, on guard against Ming Yu, clearly hadn't expected him to have a ranged attack while holding a tachi. Caught off guard, it was too late to dodge. The crimson sword qi passed over the Honkai Zombie's twin blades, slicing it in two and causing it to dissipate into motes of black light. The sharp sword qi even struck the Honkai Zombie behind it, leaving a notch on its blade.
Glancing at the lingering black motes of light, Ming Yu was a little surprised. Outside, Honkai Zombies didn't do this when they died. Was it a unique property of this Stigmata Space?
Despite his surprise, Ming Yu's movements didn't pause for a second. Taking advantage of the other Honkai Zombies' delayed reaction, he used the opening left by the defeated one to lunge at the leftmost Honkai Zombie, his Spirit Blade carving a beautiful crimson curve through the air.
The Honkai Zombie hastily crossed its twin blades in front of it, trying to block Ming Yu's attack and create an opportunity for its companions to counter.
A good idea, but the difference in strength was too vast. Ming Yu thought to himself, flicking his Spirit Blade and batting the Honkai Zombie's twin blades aside. Then, with its guard wide open, Sakura Fubuki continued its momentum and pierced through the Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombie's chest.
Slowly withdrawing the crimson Spirit Blade, Ming Yu didn't spare another glance for the Honkai Zombie he had cut down. An opponent that had once caused him immense trouble was now nothing special, unable to even withstand three strikes. He couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.
Although this was due to Yae Sakura's power, carrying the strong suspicion of cheating and hacking, it didn't stop him from feeling this way. Why shouldn't he use a cheat he earned with his own abilities?
Sweeping his gaze over the six Obedient Ninja Honkai Zombies that were slowly surrounding him, a trace of excitement grew in his heart. Defeating opponents too quickly gave him no satisfaction. If they coordinated, perhaps they could give him a more enjoyable fight.
Besides, he needed to familiarize himself with Yae Sakura's power as quickly as possible. He hadn't forgotten what kind of enemy was waiting for him on the top floor.
A Divine Key with its own consciousness was no joke in a real fight. Even if the energy in its Herrscher core had depleted over the long years, and it had been weakened by various things over the past five hundred years, it should still be on par with an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, or at least not far from it.
If Ming Yu couldn't completely master Yae Sakura's power, he wouldn't stand a chance.
As the six Honkai Zombies attacked, six black longswords swung towards various parts of Ming Yu's body simultaneously.
Honkai Zombies have limited intellect, and they had no intention of holding back against an enemy, each slash aimed at Ming Yu's vitals. If even one blow wasn't dodged, the longsword, empowered by the Honkai Zombie's strength, would leave a memorable mark on his body.
Seeing the several powerful blades hacking towards him, a smile touched Ming Yu's lips. He moved forward a few steps, his Spirit Blade striking out like lightning. In an instant, he unleashed several slashes, repelling the three longswords in front of him.
Though three more longswords were still hacking towards him from behind, swordsmanship wasn't all he knew.
"Vermilion Bird Steps on Clouds!"
Ming Yu shifted his feet slightly, his entire body turning as nimbly as a bird, narrowly avoiding the three longswords.
Having dodged the three blades that grazed past him, Ming Yu's Spirit Blade swung out again, unleashing a continuous torrent of attacks upon the Honkai Zombies.
As Ming Yu weaved through the surrounding Honkai Zombies, the ever-moving Sakura Fubuki traced one graceful crimson curve after another in the air, enveloping all the Honkai Zombies in a cage of light from his blade. It almost looked as if Ming Yu alone was surrounding the six Honkai Zombies.
The cherry-blossom-colored cage, though beautiful to behold, held a piercing killing intent. The Honkai Zombies within were certainly in no mood to appreciate Ming Yu's flashy offense, raising their twin blades to try and break through the sword-net.
But under Ming Yu's relentless swordplay, as continuous as an autumn rain, such resistance was futile.
Of course, Ming Yu had no intention of landing a killing blow just yet; these Honkai Zombies were just a warm-up for him. Since they posed no threat, why not stretch his muscles a bit?
As expected, the feeling of stomping newbs was exceptionally pleasant.
Thinking back on all the times he'd been beaten up since he transmigrated, Ming Yu couldn't help but shed a tear of sorrow in his heart. In Nagazora, he ran into a Thunder God-class Honkai Beast. At St. Freya, there was the daily torment from the Celestial. In Yae Village, Yae Sakura was a difficult opponent to defeat, and even that big fox Higokumaru was no easy character to deal with.
The thrill of stomping newbs like this wasn't something you could find just anywhere. Now that he finally had the chance, Ming Yu didn't want it to end too quickly.
If he reached the top floor too fast, he'd be faced with the prospect of getting beaten up by Jizo Mitama again. With that thought, his movements couldn't help but become a little lighter.
Watching Ming Yu move through the group of Honkai Zombies as if taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard, yet completely suppressing them to the point of helplessness, Theresa's opinion of him couldn't help but rise a little.
Although dealing with these low-level Honkai Zombies was no great feat, it showed his progress. The old Ming Yu certainly couldn't have done this.
Is this the power of that Stigmata-like thing? To think it could change a person so much. However, Ming Yu's role as its wielder couldn't be ignored either. This also showed his potential.