Chapter 10: Palace under Siege

"Hehehe. Burn. Burn. Burn!" Ignus laughed as it threw fireball after fireball, the black flames devouring all it touched and turned anything within its blast radius into ash.

"Go on ahead and steal from the assassins. Kill any traveling alone with weaker cultivation. Your mission is to find out information on who they are," Ni Lang said, Ignus nodding as it sped past the assassins.

"How do you have a demon familiar?" the assassins asked. "You a necromancer, a black mage? Where are you?"

"You depend too much on your eyes. True assassins should sense with their spirit energy," Ni Lang whispered, his voice striking fear into them as they could hear their comrades die and even accidentally killed each other as they could not discern friend or foe.

"Exit the darkness and regroup outside!" one cried and they all dispersed, some of them crashing into each others.

"Heart, liver, arm, leg, neck, waist, and eyes. What to stab? Which to run through or sever?" Ni Lang asked, his voice ominously raising his voice with each syllable. An assassin cried out with each syllable and the assassins never felt such fear. They were used to darkness, but this was magical darkness.

They tried to remember where they saw the talisman thrown, but pieces of the ceiling fell from every miss. Each crash on the floor sounded like thunderbolts crashing from the sky. They were the ones being assassinated. They were the ones being hunted, and they knew it.

Ni Lang killed twenty three assassins before he heard a whistling sound. Eyes narrowing, he ran out of the darkness. He put a finger to his lips and concentrated his mana, overloading the talisman with  magic as he made it explode. Six balls of soul fire went into his chest, meaning at least six died from the explosion. Ignus also returned, by his command, tiny slips of paper in its hands.

"Did you find out who did it?" Ni Lang asked, Ignus pausing as it was about to enter his shadow.

"The Sacred Spear Faction," Ignus said as it read one of the pieces of paper.

"Accidentally leave those out where my father and grandfather are trapped. Their faction leader should be trapped with them. Best to let them take care of him," Ni Lang said and his golem appeared before him at his bidding. "Magical items are great. I suppose I can't summon Yomi, the panda cub should allow them to escape with that black gas. Golem, head north, to the Sacred Spear faction. Kill all people there. Ignus, what does there symbol look like?"

"Uh....it is a white spear with a golden spear head, a gold snake coiling from the shaft to the metal," Ignus answered and the two left to do their duties. Golems of the Golden Army were able to store items within their bodies. Ni Lang would kill the assassins and gain their treasures as their most powerful cultivators should be assaulting the palace. He would kill two birds with one stone.

"Sometimes it is best to be cunning than to use tyrannical strength. I guess my training as an assassin has some affect on my personality and preferences," Ni Lang brooded as he saw Tifa and followed her to the room Ken found.

"Big bro!" Ni Bu cried, racing to his brother.

"Not even a scratch on you?" Shiro asked, impressed.

"Well, I did not face them head on. That would be foolish," Ni Lang nodded as he saw they had all made it as Ni Qian waved at him. "I can shroud us in darkness, using my talismans. With the element of destruction, I can erase traces of our spirit power from escaping out of the barrier of shadows. However, do not make any sounds."

"Right," they all said and stood with him as he held two talismans.

"We meditate in a pyramid formation, you all putting your hands on the person in front. I will be at the top of the pyramid, using your spirit energy to maintain the barrier and spirit nullification. If I was a martial artist adept at formations, this would not be necessary and a much easier task. Remember, try to control your spirit energy and make it harmonize with the person in front before sending it to them. Send pure spirit energy, no elemental spirit energy. If they do not have the same affinities as you, sending them elemental spirit energy might kill them," Ni Lang warned and sat down. The other five concentrated on supplying spirit energy while two talismans floated above his lap. One glowed violet and destroyed any spirit energy that tried to emanate past the barrier while the other glowed black and made them invisible in the darkness.

"This is so strange. I never saw this technique," Ken whispered.

"Talisman mages really are gifted at subterfuge magic," Shiro whispered back. "I never knew any talisman masters still existed, to teach Ni Lang to this extent.

"Big brother is self taught. I know it," Ni Bu said.

"You three be quiet back there," Ni Qian said, both of Ni Bu's hands on her back while Ken's left hand was on her while the other was on Tifa. "You might expose us. We don't know where those assassins are, or who they work for."

"They work for the Sacred Spear faction," Ni Lang answered. "Since all your spirit energy is directed to me, I can sense that the nearest assassin is several yards away."

"The Sacred Spear? But why? Weren't they the first to be targeted?" Tifa asked and then her eyes widened. "It can't be....they sacrificed three of their own participants to eliminate any suspicion on their faction before they targeted others. What a vile plan."

"We have to tell grandpa," Shiro said, his voice rising.

"Be quiet!" Ni Lang hissed. "I already provided evidence to them. Since the faction leader is, no doubt, trapped with them; there should be no problem in killing him. We need to survive this assault first. Do your best to ignore the screams or your own death cries will join them. When the noise stops, we will head out. Stay calm or your spirit energy will fluctuate and disrupt my talismans' effects."

A half hour later, Ni Lang released the talismans' magic and the other five hurried to the elders and patriarchs as Ni Lang laid back against the wall, exhausted. One thing he did not tell them was that part of their spirit energy would become his, making him stronger while increasing the size of his Soul Realm. His spirit energy was fully restored, even higher than before. He was only mentally exhausted and Ignus floated around him, in its spirit form as it kept watch. The golem returned ten minutes later, dumping many things on the floor while Ignus searched through it.

"Find anything?" Ni Lang asked.

"I did. It seems that a concubine of the Guan Dynasty's emperor had fled the imperial palace three years ago. Some papers indicated she has connections with Black Sun City. She saw something she shouldn't have and a faction wishes to kill her. According to a few reports, it seems to be the Princess Consort. The reports say the current Princess Consort is the third concubine who is also the mother of the crown prince. The reports also say she stole something they would very much like back. Three actually," Ignus answered.

"Political intrigue. How fun," Ni Lang laughed. "So what did she steal?"

"It---someone approaches, cloaked in darkness. Master must take care," Ignus warned as it faced the door.

"We'll be safe here. No assassins seem to be approaching this area," a male voice said.

"We must secure your safety and report to my imperial father about this matter. The true aim of the assassins is you," another male said as he seemed to be talking to someone else.

"Your Highness, you must not risk your life for me," a female voice said and the three owners of the voice arrived in the room, accompanied by ten guards with their swords drawn. The thirteen stared at the giant golem, the treasures on the ground, and a young adult who currently had his back on the wall. His hair was cut short around his head, the top of his hair around two inches long. He had blonde hair and grey eyes, but he looked like a native from the Tian Continent.

"Who are you?" a guard asked, the other nine taking a formation in front of the two.

"So spirit reactors were truly not the only aim of these assassins. They are using you as an excuse to bolster enough forces to also wipe us out. I assume you must be a prince, a noble, the escaped concubine, and the prince's royal guards?" Ni Lang asked.

"How do you know that?" the guard captain cried, his armor much more intricate and inlaid with some gold.

"These are the treasures and reports of the faction that hired the assassins. Some of them even dressed like them so as to kill their competitors in Black Sun City," Ni Lang answered, tossing the reports at them. "Explain yourselves or I will kill you."

The guards narrowed their eyes as Ni Lang's cultivation skyrocketed to what seemed to be the late stage of the Flame Realm. This was an extremely talented youth, for someone not of the noble clans or sects. The guard captain nodded at his men and four of them rushed to him, all four at the middle stage of the Flame Realm. Ni Lang did nothing as their swords were about to strike, a grey golem appearing out of the shadows and rammed through all four of them. They cried out as some of them had their shoulders or arms broken on contact.

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"I should warn you, I never fight alone. Tyrannical strength has its advantages, but I hate to underestimate my enemy. I underestimated an action I made once, with eleven others, because I blindly listened to someone I trusted. I won't make the same mistake twice," Ni Lang said, the golem standing at his side.

"You dare harm the Fifth Prince?" the guard captain roared but paused as one of the two young men held his hand up.

"My apologies. My guards acted rashly. I am Shen Guilong," the prince said cupping his hands to Ni Lang. "May I ask for your name?"

"I am Ni Lang, a grandson of one of the top six factions of Black Sun City. The concubine you are protecting has brought much trouble to the city," Ni Lang answered with the same gesture. "You have a top knot with a jade ornament and long pin. It seems you are of noble birth. The other has one as well. Now, why are you here?"

"I am sorry for the grief I have caused. My name is Su Bingbing," a beautiful girl around twenty said, bowing on both knees to him in apology. "Please, is there somewhere safe we can talk?"

"They must be freed by now," Ni Lang muttered and a gold rune circle appeared before him, Yomi appearing ten seconds later. Ni Lang handed the panda to the golem, the panda exhausted from its efforts. Ignus kept its guard up as Ni lang took out five talismans. The thirteen's eyes widened as they saw him use the talismans to create a five star, pentagram circle.

"Please enter through. It consumes far more mana than I would like, but it will take us to my pagoda," Ni Lang said, allowing the golem to walk through first to prove that it was safe. The guards had their eyes on him as they walked through, the four injured taking the rear. After they left, Ni Lang waved his arm and the treasures entered his shadow as it extended below them. He walked through as his talismans began to burn and turned to ash as soon as he and Ignus walked through.

"That's a strange creature you keep with you," Su Bingbing said, shocking Ignus and Ni Lang as they turned to her.

"An imp! A demon!" the guards cried as Ignus materialized before them.

"Enough! It must be one that is tamed. Otherwise, it would not be as his underling. We know not the mysterious ways of pugilists," the prince said, the guards uneasy as the imp snickered at them.

"I am not one that wonders the world, yet. However, I have my methods that are ancient and long forgotten," Ni Lang said as the imp appeared and served them tea. "Relax it is not poisoned. I could have killed you all, but I fear Your Highness, the noble, and the guard captain are at the Obsidian Realm. It would prove....difficult, but not impossible."

"I am Duan Jingrui," the noble and friend of the prince greeted. "Please, allow me to explain our situation and askfor your aid."

"It is best to hear them out first. I can always slit their throats or steal their weapons before they make sudden movements," Ignus giggled, using their telepathic link as thrall and master.

"Speak and spare the formalities. I do not know how long we have until the patriarch and other senior members of my clan return," Ni Lang said.

"Then allow me to explain," Su Bingbing said. "I am the daughter of an ancient clan long destroyed a few years after my birth. I was taken into the palace, for my beauty and body."

"I can see that," Ni Lang said, Jingrui roaring with laughter as Bingbing blushed.

"Um, I was supposed to serve the emperor on the night of my arrival. However, I was passing the residence of the Princess Consort and saw a strange ritual proceed. Curiosity overcame me and I stole into her house, hoping to prevent it as I sensed something dangerous happening in her courtyard. However, I was seen and I fled. My uncle is cousins with the seventh concubine, the mother of Prince Shen Guilong. No one knows he is here, to protect me. Duan Jingrui is my cousin from my mother's side of the family and also Guilong's best friend. We secretly fled here, to Black Sun City, three years ago. My mother was once a friend of the city lord. He hid us here, but the Princess Consort's spy network is vast," Bingbing sighed. "One mistake in unveiling the mask of my face to admire some painting in the market, and the assassins shortly arrived."

"What did you steal that would be worth your life?" Ni Lang asked.

"One is secretly in my mother's possession. As for the other two, I can only allow you to see one of them," Guilong said as he nodded at Bingbing. "We are not sure of this item as we are not mages. As you wield talismans, you should be knowledgeable on ancient magic and artifacts."

"This--!" Ni lang cried as Su Bingbing handed him a round, red diamond. They noticed his shocked surprise as his hands trembled as they reached to touch them.

"Does Mage Ni Lang know what this is?" Guilong asked.

Hey, big brother! Look what I made! Isn't it pretty?

Yes. Yes it is. Cassandra is a good girl.

Hehehe. I'll be as strong as you someday! My enchantment magic is better than you.

Don't get your hopes up. The one I made is even better. You'll surpass me for sure. Maybe in fifty years?

Meanie!

"Cassandra...." Ni Lang said as memories as Cid Drake flashed through his mind. "This diamond is your work, but it is far too archaic from what I last saw. I wonder how you are doing now?"

"Who is Cassandra?" Jingrui asked.

Ni Lang snapped out of his daze and looked at him, saying, "She is someone close to me. I have not seen her in what feels like many millennia. Too long. Way too long. As for what this diamond is, it is a mana reactor, one made by enchantment mage specialists. This might be what is used as the power source of the ritual Bingbing witnessed. Without it, there is no way such a ritual could not attract attention in any courtyard as it would require hundreds or thousands of mages to compensate for its absence. Ritual magic does not depend on how powerful a mage is. It depends on the mana available to power the ritual and one's own understanding of magic. Based on the color of the gem, the Princess Consort was summoning an spirit of the fire element. What kind, I don't know."

"I see. This is most troubling," Guilong said, Jingrui nodding in agreement.

"How did you see my imp in its spirit form? It is impossible for any, but a devil, to see an imp in spirit form if you are not its master," Ni Lang asked Su Bingbing.

"Um, my spirit is a four-winged unicorn. The holy power of a unicorn's horn rivals the dark power of a devil," Bingbing answered.

"Master, I sense your clan is arriving back in Burning Phoenix District," Ignus warned.

"It seems our meeting is at an end. Please leave," Ni Lang said as he handed back the gem.

"How does one make a mana reactor? Is it the same process as spirit reactors?" Guilong asked.

"No, it is nowhere near as monstrous and abominable. It just takes a very deep understanding on magic and years of studying magical beast cores. Those that belong to dragons are natural mana reactors as dragons are the most powerful magical beasts on Dajarok, normally speaking. Unless you are a prodigy, it is very difficult to make artificial mana reactors," Ni Lang answered. "You imperials are in quite the danger. If I were you, I would leave this continent if the Princess Consort's spy network is as vast as you acclaim."

"You healed them? Wait, you have wood affinity?" Guilong gasped as the area around the four injured guards glowed with jade and healed them of their injuries.

"You will need all your guards to ensure that woman's safety. Best to leave now. This city will be the center of attention and all exits and entrances to Black Sun City will be closed to kill all remnants of the Sacred Sword faction and the assassins," Ni Lang warned.

"Yes. Many thanks, Ni Lang, for your hospitality and information," Guilong cupped his hands and left with the others in haste.

"It seems I will be traveling all over this continent, maybe posing as a pugilist? Seeing that gem makes me believe my sister might have been here. Either that, or there are some who might have a connection with my past," Ni Lang said.

"Then we will roam the land? Excellent. I hate to confine my mischief to a general area. You just can't steal as much as you like. Hehehehe," Ignus giggled. "What about the Ni Clan?"

"I will return before I turn twenty two, and head to an academy then," Ni Lang answered. "I'll be fine so long as it is within the age limit. Best to leave with a note by the entrance. Staying here will not allow me to progress to the peak of the Flame Realm and make a breakthrough to the initial stage of the Obsidian Realm."

"And the golem and panda?" Ignus asked.

"To stay here to protect the panda. It will roam the nearby forests and the golem will interfere when necessary. I can't be recognized by any undead with fleshy bodies lest I want my identity to be known to Bones and Lyle. The panda must grow stronger and will definitely mutate its appearance as it further evolves," Ni Lang answered and left a note by the entrance to his pagoda before vanishing out the city.