Shui would have liked a few more swings to perfect it, but his technique was complete enough to test. As he was a minuscule gap away from reaching Soul Perfection, Shui was intimately aware of his muscles and could move his body flowing with transcendent force just as he envisioned while optimising his motions with martial intent. He took a solid step forward, twisted his body and used the rotation to swing his sword at the wave of tentacles.
"Ethereal Blade Method, Power Form, First Stance: Cutting Mountains"
Using the strength of his entire body, Shui moved the air with his blade, and even though he kept Sui at its usual length, everything in front of his swing was cut in two. This not only included the fallen's tentacles but also the clouds in the distant sky. Shui was glad to see his technique work, but using it was more draining than expected. Even with vigorous transcendent force flowing through his body, the muscle strain would keep him from making any intense motions for at least an hour, and the burden on his damaged soul forced him to stop using mental control on himself. Knowing he could only watch as the fallen prepared another attack, Shui called out to his partner.
"How much longer?!"
Shui didn't think he could hold off the fallen much longer with his energy drained, his body weakened and his soul damaged, but he could still use martial intent to cut a few more tentacles. Shui slowly lifted his blade to face the enemy once more.
"No need to rush me. It's done."
Along with the sound of that voice, the heavenly void flames that had pierced the fallen transformed into nails, and the fire jumped in intensity. While struggling, the fallen shrunk at a visible pace until it was trapped within the confines of the nails. The nails then joined together to form a solid silver-green cage before sinking underground together with the fallen. While Shui was still in awe of the sealing array, Alia flew down to his shoulder.
"That was the Low Seal of Purgatory array. It uses the world's flow of foundational energy to fuel the flames that burn the fallen and keep it trapped underground. Even the fallen's immortality and vitality absorption ability won't be enough to help it escape in short order unless the flow of energy is cut off. However, that spatial technique is dangerous."
"What do you mean?"
"The fallen won't be able to escape for at least a century, but with the spatial technique it can continue draining life from the land while sealed. The pace will be much slower than before, but this entire region will likely become barren within ten years."
"So it's changed from an immediate threat to a latent one. How long will it take you to regain your full power?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I left some treasures scattered across this realm, but I only have a vague idea of where they are, and even if we gathered everything, I'll need time to absorb it. It would be quicker to get some spatial treasures I can use to seal it off completely."
"Spatial treasures aren't exactly common these days, but we'll just have to do what we can."
Shui planned to move his family and friends if they couldn't stop the fallen from ruining the land in time, but he also had found memories of his home, so he wished it didn't have to come to that.
"You can rest here for now; I'll add some traps and barriers to make sure no one messes with the seal this time."
"Okay."
Even though cultivators at the Soul Realm could go many days without sleep, Shui's exhausted mind demanded that he get some well-needed rest. While Shui finally took the opportunity to close his eyes, the Sky Realm experts far away from the battle had stopped and were looking in the direction of Silver City. They were close to the eastern border of the Five Cities Region, so even those with the strongest spiritual senses could only vaguely detect any energy fluctuations from the battle, but the mayor and the leaders of the three major forces possessed artifacts that could determine the life and death status of their Masters.
With these artifacts they were quickly notified of the passing of the Masters, and initially the group sped up to escape the region, but soon the vague pressure of death in the air had vanished. Some wondered if the Masters had sacrificed their lives to stop the monster, but no one knew for sure. In the end, Senior Inspector Han had everyone camp where they were to observe any further changes.
Inside Malirin Forest, the beast lord also took note of the fallen's appearance as well as its subsequent disappearance and maintained a similar vigilance to Senior Inspector Han's group. Though it had been one of its dearest wishes, the destruction of Silver City brought it no joy in this case. The beast lord was less willing to evacuate its territory than the residents of Silver City, but the aura of the fallen provoked an innate fear in its bloodline, so it didn't want to face this threat if possible.
The elites inside the other cities were similarly distraught by the fallen's presence. News of an impending calamity had spread throughout the five cities, but the upper echelon kept recent details out of common ears. Only Masters could stretch their spiritual senses far enough to catch energy fluctuations from Silver City, and with the scant information they gained from this, they knew that they didn't have the strength to stop the calamity.
Some citizens left the Five Cities Region entirely, but most who had lived here their whole lives found it hard to leave while there was still hope. Lily and Lilia's family were in the latter group. Although Lilia only recently moved to Cyrus, she had never left the Five Cities Region in her entire life. Even Yur, despite being a frequent traveller, had never left the region. He was prepared to leave with the remnants of the Heaven clan, but he knew it would be difficult to convince them. Fortunately, thanks to Alia, the threat of the fallen would be dormant for the time being.
Back at the flattened site of Silver City, the sunset had come once again, and Alia finally finished securing the area. While rubbing the back of her neck, Alia flew over to Shui's shoulder.
"I worked way too much today. Boy."
"What is it?"
Shui was still resting, but he could lend an ear to Alia.
"Reward me."
"Huh?"
"I've worked hard today, so give me a reward. I don't expect much; just please me."
Shui looked at Alia with annoyance, but he couldn't deny that her assistance had been essential to stopping the fallen. However, that didn't mean her request would be easy to grant. He didn't have any fire-attribute treasures that would be up to her standard, and he wasn't sure what else she would like.
"Do you have anything specific in mind?"
"I don't know. Can't bother to use my head any more."
In order to satisfy the whimsical spirit, Shui searched through the memories they shared to find something that might work. When he was nearing the end of his recollections, Shui finally found a suitable idea. He went into his storage ring and took out one of the precious instruments he received from the Angel of Shadows treasure chest.
"I'm inexperienced, but would you like to hear my attempt at playing an instrument?"
"Hmm, if you're good I'll be pleased, and if you're bad I can laugh at you. Very well."
Alia's words weren't very encouraging, but since he had her approval, Shui raised the flute to his lips.