Chapter Twenty-Seven: Phase Two, Health Fully Restored (5,500 words)

"Master Dong-jun, shouldn't we intervene?"

High atop a skyscraper, sitting on the very edge where she could plummet at any moment, the blue-clad magical girl dangled her legs in the air.

Beside her, a nervous-looking white-clad magical girl clutched her wand, crouching next to Bing Tang like a small, skittish cat, her skirt flapping violently in the gale. "Is it really okay to let the Sect Master fight all by himself?"

"Yumo, the Sect Master told us long ago not to interfere with his combat practice. Have you forgotten?"

"But the Sect Master also said that when dealing with scum like the Witch Society, we should all attack together, not engage in one-on-one duels..."

"That applies to us. When the Sect Master is present, no one else is permitted to act without orders."

In front of the high-rise, a faint, transparent screen of ice projected the images of Jiang Si and Dujuan. This was one of Bing Tang's abilities—Mirror Projection—which allowed her to keep a clear eye on battles happening far away. As the Great Elder and nominal Deputy Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, Bing Tang possessed the most diverse set of abilities in the entire sect, much of which was thanks to Jiang Si’s whimsical ideas; he was always coming up with strange new ways for her to use her powers. Nearly half of Bing Tang's bizarre abilities had been developed with his help.

She watched the battle in the mirror with boredom, but when the member of the Witch Society was kicked out of the air by Jiang Si, Bing Tang’s already frost-bitten expression turned even sourer.

Beside her, Yumo curled up, clenching her fists, a smile appearing on her small face. "Look, it looks like he’s about to win!"

"Don't jinx it. There’s so much dust. The Sect Master has said, 'Where there is smoke, there is no damage.' When fighting others, try not to kick up dust until you confirm the kill. Have you forgotten everything?"

"Uhh..."

Watching the stunned Yumo, Bing Tang sighed. "Go back and copy the Sect Combat Regulations for me."

"Wuu, I still have so much homework..."

"No rush. Copy them after you finish your homework. Just finish them this month; it's only ten rules."

"Fine..."

Bing Tang’s legs swung faster in the air, her tone growing impatient. "Is she actually capable or not? Isn't this supposed to be a core member? Why can't I see any difference between her and the regular grunts?"

If this continued, Jiang Si would never have to transform. She lamented inwardly; it seemed she wouldn't be seeing Ziyuan today either.

Just as she was about to jump off the building to get closer to Jiang Si, a surge of blazing red magic suddenly ignited in the distance, radiating an astonishing amount of power. Bing Tang couldn't help but turn her head to look.

Yumo also noticed the unmasked, flamboyant magic. She glanced into the distance and sniffed the wind blowing from that direction. "It’s the magical signature of Koko and Yinfen."

Yumo whispered, "Didn't Koko just become a magical girl recently? She already has such powerful magic; it’s truly remarkable. Perhaps she will be stronger than both of us in the future."

"She is the Sect Master’s younger sister, after all. Her potential is surely not low."

Bing Tang watched Yinfen and Koko rushing toward Jiang Si with a thoughtful expression. "It seems the Disaster Prevention Bureau has finally discovered the Witch Society's trail. I thought they would remain unresponsive as usual."

Yumo crouched on the rooftop, looking back and forth between Jiang Si's battlefield and the approaching pair, clutching her wand tightly, appearing busy yet not knowing what to do. "So, what should we do now, Lady Bing Tang?"

"Obviously, use your wind to block them." Bing Tang grabbed Yumo and jumped off the building. "Don't let them disturb the Sect Master’s battle."

"Oh, oh, okay!"

In mid-air, Yumo released her grip, her wand transforming into a fierce gale that blew toward Yinfen and Koko. The wind howled, instantly causing the fiercely burning red magic to flicker and sway. Yinfen’s pink petals were caught in the chaotic wind, becoming impossible to control. The two magical girls were trapped in the gale, unable to take a single step forward.

Bing Tang marveled internally; Yumo’s control over magic was still as perfect as ever. Though she appeared timid, Yumo’s strength actually ranked among the top in the Qingyun Sect. Disciples without sufficient strength weren't even qualified to enter the Illusory Moon Cave. As a core disciple, the basic requirement was to reach the mid-stage of the Seedling level. When it came to pure magic control, even Bing Tang had to concede she was slightly inferior. If she were to fight without holding back, it wouldn't be hard for Yumo to take care of Yinfen and Koko by herself.

Controlling her wind from such a vast distance, Yumo could even be precise enough to dictate where every single one of Yinfen’s petals landed. She even triggered the aphrodisiac within the petals, causing Yinfen to be distracted by her own powers and lost in the wind.

Of course, Yumo wouldn't dare to actually hurt them. Aside from the fact that Koko was the Sect Master’s sister and held a high status, that Yinfen seemed quite close to the Sect Master as well—they were likely friends.

Yumo’s thoughts drifted. She was just a humble personal disciple. If she hurt Koko and Yinfen, the Sect Master would surely kick her out of the Qingyun Sect. Without the sect’s salary, she couldn't pay off her family's debts. If she couldn't pay the debts, her parents would sell her off, and because she had the talent of a magical girl, the Disaster Prevention Bureau would surely buy her. In the end, she would become an enemy of the Sect Master and Lady Bing Tang, feeling immense pain every time she had to fight them, but forced to do so because she belonged to the Bureau. She would fight with all her might, only to lose and die miserably at the hands of Lady Bing Tang—all while she loved and admired them most...

"Sister Bing Tang, I don't want to die..."

Bing Tang, of course, had no idea that this little girl had already hallucinated an entire tragic drama starring herself just by stopping two people. She found it quite baffling. "Huh? Of course you aren't going to die."

Having spent a long time together, she knew this girl loved to let her imagination run wild and was likely projecting her delusions into reality. She tapped her forehead. "How did you jump to dying? Focus on your work and stop overthinking."

"Oh."

Once Yumo calmed down, Bing Tang looked back at Jiang Si’s battle.

Dujuan had taken out a Miracle Seed. Though it looked somewhat rotten and on the verge of shattering, it was indeed a Miracle Seed.

"Transform!"

Seeing this, Bing Tang clapped her hands, unable to contain her joy. "Yes! I knew you weren't a waste! You can do it! Go, Dujuan, don't embarrass the magical girls! Don't lose to a normal human!"

Beside her, Yumo muttered to herself, wondering why Lady Bing Tang was so happy that the opponent had become more troublesome. She was even cheering for the enemy. *Did she have a fight with the Sect Master?*

Yumo then glanced at the pitch-black magical girl who had just transformed. The usually timid eyes now held a hint of cold murderous intent. She hated the magical girls of the Witch Society the most.

...

Most members of the Witch Society were not actually magical girls. In fact, many magical girls who fell into the Witch Society quickly lost their ability to transform. The reason was simple: the power controlled by the Witch Society came from the tainted magic of Grief Seeds. They could not only create Calamity Beasts but also transplant the beasts' powers into themselves. Generally, this clashed with the power of a magical girl, so those who fell usually lost their transformation ability—those who didn't touch Grief Seeds wouldn't join the Witch Society in the first place.

However, exceptions weren't unheard of. The Witch Society’s knowledge and use of Grief Seeds were the strongest in the modern era, so it wasn't impossible for them to have methods to allow a tainted magical girl to transform. The Qingyun Sect had seen such cases before.

Thus, the moment Dujuan pulled out the Miracle Seed, Jiang Si turned and ran without looking back. A magical girl's transformation was fast—the dressing process took less than a second—but the pre-action of pulling out the seed and shouting the incantation gave Jiang Si enough time to put some distance between them.

The pitch-black magical girl quickly gave chase.

"Lucky guy, what are you running for!"

Compared to other magical girls, the tainted one’s dress looked filthy, the hem fluttering like writhing tentacles, and her magical armor seemed as if it were melting, dripping black magic with every step.

For Dujuan, she didn't want to waste her transformation opportunity on this fight. Tainted transformations had a limit; the Witch Society’s technology could only ensure the Miracle Seed wouldn't shatter within three transformations. This was her second, and after the final one, her seed would break.

Her first transformation was shortly after she joined the Witch Society; the branch she had joined was wiped out by the Qingyun Sect. Back then, the corruption wasn't deep, and she had maintained the appearance of a normal magical girl, fooling the Qingyun Sect members and escaping. Since then, she had been hiding from both the Qingyun Sect and the Disaster Prevention Bureau for two years, which had cultivated her cautious nature—because those who weren't cautious were quickly caught.

When Jiang Si jumped into the sky and kicked her down, Dujuan knew this guy wasn't simple. She could have just used the power of a Calamity Beast to take him down, but she didn't want to engage in a back-and-forth; using tainted magic didn't give her an absolute advantage and might drag the fight out. Furthermore, being knocked down by a normal human made her feel a mix of shame and anger.

She wanted to torture him slowly, to make him realize the gap between them, to cast him into the deepest despair! She wanted him to remember firmly: never try to oppose a magical girl!

Though Jiang Si was fast, after seeing his explosive power once, Dujuan was able to adapt and track him. *No matter how fast you are, you aren't faster than flight!*

She accelerated, drawing a black arc in the air and intercepting Jiang Si in an instant. Yet, he didn't slow down at all, slamming into her like a giant truck! The pitch-black magic gathered like a swampy barrier to cushion the impact, but when Jiang Si hit, the terrifying force caused the tainted magic to splatter like mud!

Still, it halted the boy's advance.

She tapped her wand on the ground, and the magic she had channeled into the earth erupted from beneath Jiang Si’s feet, reaching for his ankles. But Jiang Si stomped hard, the dull thud kicking up dust and shockwaves, and the collapsing ground forced that magic back down!

Dujuan, who had never seen her magic suppressed by brute force, stood stunned for a split second. That was all the time the boy needed—he seized the opening and threw another punch! It smashed through the magic barrier, though its momentum was mostly spent, and Dujuan dodged it by tilting her head slightly.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Si grabbed her black hair, which was soaked in tainted magic. Pulling her by the hair, he slammed her head against a nearby tree trunk!

"You're courting death!"

The moment her hair was grabbed, Dujuan tapped her wand on the ground. Magic condensed into spears above, which plunged down toward Jiang Si’s head! Jiang Si was forced to let go and jump back. A spear pierced the ground right where his nose had been. He continued to jump backward, unable to launch another attack due to the constant spikes of magic erupting from the ground beneath him.

*But the magic manipulation isn't fast enough.*

Compared to Bing Tang, it was far worse, and in terms of precision, it couldn't compare to Yumo. *A rookie Seedling.*

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Si stopped, looking at the wound on his pant leg. *Still, even so, I can't fully defend against her damage. In terms of reflexes, defense, and even speed, my body has a gap compared to a Seedling-level magical girl. Though it's not huge, every tiny gap adds up to a despairing chasm. After all, having power only at the Seedling level is simply not enough...*

Pitch-black magic churned around Dujuan. She walked toward Jiang Si, waving her hand, and a dense pillar of magic smashed toward him with overwhelming force. Even though he dodged the pillar with lightning-fast reflexes, the splashing magic cut his skin like blades.

"You are truly outstanding. I admit, in all my years, this is the first time I've seen someone develop their physical body to this extent. If it were back when I first became a magical girl, I probably wouldn't be your match."

At this point, Dujuan was neither anxious nor angry. If the Disaster Prevention Bureau and the Qingyun Sect had detected the commotion, they should have arrived by now. Since there was no sign of them, it meant those losers hadn't found her. Even if they had, it didn't matter; she could feel her captain’s aura, so she wasn't panicked.

"It’s a pity. You met me. You don't need to feel sad about your failure. Among magical girls, I am considered a cut above. Losing to me is your honor, Jiang Si. You are strong—stronger than your magical girl sister."

However, the boy clearly had no interest in communicating and charged toward the flying pillars of magic again!

Dujuan shook her head with a sneer: "Desperate enough to commit suicide?"

A large number of magic pillars divided and coiled into whips, dancing wildly between them, weaving an airtight defensive net. Then, she saw Jiang Si, who was charging, suddenly crouch down and fly right through the gaps in the magic net! He was truly flying; his feet barely touched the ground, and the magic permeating the earth couldn't catch him. In the blink of an eye, he had passed through her net and arrived beneath her.

He stepped forward, pinning her foot to the ground. Even with magic protection, she felt the pain. A flash of malice crossed Dujuan's eyes as she waved her wand, causing the surrounding magic to shrink rapidly, surging toward Jiang Si from all directions!

*There's nowhere to run!*

Yet, Dujuan noticed the boy beneath her had no intention of running. His young body compressed and tightened, muscles bulging like a coiled spring. The heat of evaporating sweat and surging vitality seemed to solidify, becoming visible to the naked eye.

Then, before the magic enveloped him, his body suddenly launched upward! His cannon-like fist pierced the magic in an instant, smashing into her chin!

*Six Paths, Reincarnation Fist!*

For a moment, Dujuan thought she had been hit by a speeding train. The body of a magical girl was actually sent flying by a human punch...

The moment Dujuan landed, the terrifying magic gathered from the surroundings swarmed over Jiang Si!

Dujuan rolled twice in the mud before stopping, and the magic beneath her lifted her up. She touched her chin; it was rare to feel such clear pain in her magical girl state. But it vanished quickly. Compared to fighting Calamity Beasts, this impact was nothing; for a magical girl, it wasn't enough to leave a scar.

"You really are a monster." Even Dujuan's tone held a hint of exhaustion. She sighed, "To hurt a Seedling-level magical girl with a body developed solely through training—you can be proud, Jiang Si. Pity, this is as far as you go. Magic is a power you cannot imagine. Even your life-risking full-power blow is but a minor injury to me."

The magic that had enveloped Jiang Si slowly dispersed. His top was tattered, his entire body soaked in tainted magic, and blood streamed down from his forehead, obscuring his right eye. He hung his head, breathing slightly, appearing to have finally exhausted his strength.

She looked at the boy, who seemed powerless, and couldn't help but sigh in relief. Although there was no real danger, his ferocious attacks had put significant psychological pressure on her. Seeing him finally lose the ability to fight, she couldn't help but relax. Then, she began to laugh.

"I can't imagine what a terrifying existence you would be if you possessed magic. But it’s a pity, I won't see that possibility. Because I will turn you into the most perfect Calamity Beast! You will be the most powerful Calamity Beast in history!"

Dujuan's tone became increasingly excited, and her pace quickened. "Be angry, be in pain! Your best efforts can't compare to the heart of a magical girl. Unleash all your despair and resentment! They will consume the entire world! I will take you..."

Her words stopped abruptly, and her footsteps halted. Dujuan stood as if someone had grabbed her by the throat, all her movements coming to a sudden stop.

The boy, who had been hanging his head, covered in wounds and barely able to stand, was now holding a seed in his hand.

A purple seed, so deep it looked black.

The cold night wind blew past, shaking a leaf onto his shoulder. Dujuan stared at Jiang Si, her gaze vacant. "You..."

"Heaven and earth are heartless."

The boy's tone was solemn, and in the distance, the faint sound of a bell began to toll. The surrounding tainted magic rushed toward him frantically!

"Treating all things as straw dogs."

"Transform."

A purple pillar of fire shot straight into the sky! It swirled like a tornado, sweeping away all the tainted magic in the vicinity!

When the flames dissipated, small, exquisite purple boots adorned with golden patterns tapped gently on the ground. Ribbons with iridescent, semi-transparent ends shimmered like fading light. On the purple and gold Lolita-style dress, purple magic surged through the simple, ancient star-and-moon cutouts.

Within the gorgeous attire, her delicate face, as if draped in a layer of moonlight, was rare even among magical girls. Her exquisite, perfect features appeared slightly youthful, accented by the cute bows in her purple hair.

However, her cold, unruffled gaze formed a stark contrast to her appearance, making even the shell-shocked Dujuan lose her focus for a second.

Beautiful, powerful, mysterious... the purple magical girl.

In BH City, there was only one.

Dujuan was stunned, her expression blank. After a long while, she spoke with great difficulty, her voice filled with extreme bitterness. "Ziyuan..."

"Warm-up is over."

The girl's tone was indifferent. "Let us begin the real battle."