The Flaying's True Identity: Steve and Glynn

Ticking Bone yearned to press for more answers, but the ethereal glow from Blade of Heaven Peak proved ephemeral, fading in an instant. With no leisure to fully grasp the unfolding situation, he rocketed towards it at his utmost velocity!

At that very moment, Old Foye, who had been soaring from Blade of Heaven Peak towards Longblade Peak, glanced back. Witnessing the chaotic spectacle erupting from Blade of Heaven Peak, he let out a weary sigh. With practiced ease, he produced a black scarf, bound it over his face, and sharply turned, streaking back into the fray.

Within a secluded Mountain Hollow of the Amulang Mountains, Jamis and Old Bovin were engaged in a casual, rambling conversation, their minds already plotting the various escapades they'd embark upon once back in the city. The formidable 'Number Eight' artifact, which had so decisively vanquished Xue Ji, had mysteriously vanished. As the brilliant light erupted, Jamis's body stiffened; he whirled around to probe its source, a note of peculiar wonder in his voice: 'Behold this radiance! It appears a lifeline has been activated!'

Old Bovin flashed a wide, toothy grin. 'Peculiar, isn't it? The Amulang Mountain Range ought to possess but a single Water's Embrace Lake's Lifeline, yet that one rests nigh Longblade Peak. What then, pray tell, is this aberrant phenomenon unfolding upon Blade of Heaven Peak?'

Their gazes locked, then broke, a silent question passing between them before they erupted in a unified shout: 'Could it be! Is there a *second* lifeline hidden within the vast Amulang Mountains!?'

Jamis pressed, his voice laced with intrigue, 'To what dominion does this latent lifeline grant passage?'

Old Bovin mused, 'Beyond the lifeline itself, what manner of essence are those swirling black and crimson lights? They bear the unmistakable aura of... power exceeding that of a tenth-tier Battle God!'

'What course of action should we pursue?' Old Bovin yawned expansively, a picture of indolence. 'Ah, forget it. What business is it of ours? The little hussies from Water's Embrace Lake aren't due for another three months. We should... hehe, let us simply retire to the city!'

Jamis, a lecherous glint in his eye, nodded conspiratorially. He let out a low, lascivious chuckle. 'Indeed! Let us make haste to the city and try our luck with a few rounds of chance!'

Within the unassuming wooden shack nestled near the Amulang Divine Tomb, Old Warma's thunderous snores came to an abrupt, indignant halt. He pursed his few remaining teeth in a disgruntled pout, mumbling aggrievedly, 'Will they never allow an old man his slumber? At my venerable age, too...' With a theatrical huff, he yanked the blanket over his head, sinking back into the embrace of sleep.

While the radiance erupting from Blade of Heaven Peak blazed with spectacular brilliance, the sheer immensity of the Amulang Mountains proved a formidable shroud. Though the inhabitants near Three Blades Peak beheld its dazzling display, and the wild beasts and soaring raptors of the mountains were profoundly rattled, beyond these immediate witnesses, the light had diminished to mere scattered, firefly-like twinkles upon reaching the mountain range's outer periphery, drawing not a single iota of extraneous attention.

Blade of Heaven Peak, aptly named, stood as if a colossal saber had descended from the heavens, cleaving the earth and resting horizontally. Its form, broad at the summit and tapering towards the base, resembled a vast, elongated blade. By daylight, it presented a breathtaking spectacle, yet at this moment, beneath the 'blade's edge,' a turbulent maelstrom of black and crimson mist seethed and roared.

Flaying stood ensconced within a narrow Mountain Hollow of Blade of Heaven Peak, facing a colossal, forward-leaning cliff face, its peculiar peaks jagged and formidable. The roiling black and crimson mist relentlessly, madly, battered the mountain wall before him. A few stones, dislodged by the assault, tumbled away, revealing the mountain's pristine, white-jade-like interior. The five-colored radiance seen moments ago had indeed erupted from this very jade-like rock. This, beyond a doubt, was a mystical lifeline, but emphatically *not* the Water's Embrace Lake's Lifeline! To what unknown realm did it lead!?

Ticking Bone was the vanguard to reach Blade of Heaven Peak. His eyes immediately caught the sight of the dual-colored mist, black and crimson, furiously assailing the mountain. He let out a cold, sharp cry: 'Flaying! I shall still address you as Flaying, but regardless of your true identity, we are all devout adherents who swore an unbreakable oath beneath the effigy of Du Chen, the Divine — never to betray the Divine Cult, and to serve as the Young Master's Guardian Battle Gods! Release Steve from within that golden mist and searing fire. Should grievances plague you, let us resolve them through discourse. Elsewise...'

Flaying appeared utterly deaf to his words. The black and crimson mist billowed outwards, expanding until the forms of both Flaying and Steve within became indistinguishable, even as the tempest continued its frenzied assault upon the pearlescent mountain wall!

Before Dus could relay any further intelligence, the voices — *both* Flaying's and Steve's — pierced clearly into Ticking Bone's mind. 'I... I have arrived!' and 'Francis! Francis!' Two starkly disparate voices, yet both resonated with the same raw, unbridled madness. Their combined clamor caused Ticking Bone's expression to twist into one of grave concern. While Flaying's ferocity was expected, Steve was but a paltry, low-tier Battle-Warrior; such desperate shrieks could only signify a peril of monumental proportions!

Ticking Bone's patience snapped. With a surge of resolve, his Blade of Vanishing Moon's Deadwater sprang forth, and he launched himself, body and blade as one, at Flaying!

A frigid, lethal intent washed over them, yet from within the swirling mist, Flaying and Steve bellowed in terrifying unison: 'Those who dare impede me shall perish!' A slender Flaying Blade, an extension of their combined will, erupted from the mist, instantly blossoming into a fearsome, tyrannical blade-light. With a resounding 'BOOM,' it met Ticking Bone's attack, their blades clashing in a violent exchange!

Fueled by the sheer momentum of their clashing blades, vast segments of the cliff face dislodged and cascaded downwards. The five-colored radiance pulsed anew, and the pearlescent mountain body subtly, almost sensually, undulated, as if a captivating siren were beckoning her lover into the sanctity of her private chambers...

Having received Ticking Bone's strike, Flaying let out a piercing shriek. His body coiled, the black and crimson mist around him whirled with accelerated fury, and with a savage thrust, his blade lunged forth once more to re-engage Ticking Bone!

Ticking Bone, however, paused in bewilderment. 'Peculiar! Why has Flaying's prowess diminished? He must be constrained, unable to unleash his full might while burdened by Steve!' Instantly, their fierce duel resumed, locked in an intimate, deadly dance!

Blade-lights crisscrossed, a chaotic tapestry woven from flashing black, vivid crimson, and deep azure, constantly manifesting and receding!

Though Flaying's blade was deceptively small, its radiating edge possessed an unparalleled tyranny, sweeping in vast, unhindered arcs. Wave after wave of black and crimson blade-light surged forth, carving swathes of destruction towards Ticking Bone from every conceivable angle. Ticking Bone's blade, conversely, pursued a path of uncanny stealth and intricate cunning, his entire form compressing with preternatural speed, allowing him to weave through the labyrinthine gaps of the crisscrossing blade-lights like a phantom water snake, occasionally striking out with devastating stealth from the obscured crevices to ambush Flaying!

CLANG! Their blades locked in a violent embrace! At that precise moment, a pillar of golden light descended from the heavens, cleaving horizontally between their entwined weapons. 'Cease this folly! Glynn and Steve are in dire need of absolute serenity!' A lone figure, brandishing half of a golden greatsword, stood resolutely between the warring combatants.

Though the sudden interloper was cloaked and masked, Ticking Bone, by discerning his formidable stature and distinctive voice, instantly recognized him. Sheathing his blade, he queried, 'Is Your Excellency the enigmatic figure from Lanning Death Row?'

Old Foye, too, recognized Ticking Bone instantly—the warrior bore no masks or enchantments, revealing his true visage. 'Is this not Brook, whom Du Chen, the Divine, personally assigned to Francis?' Old Foye mused internally, a torrent of questions assailing him. 'Was *he* the one who shattered the Auerbach Hurricane Array within Lanning Death Row? And in that case, the one who vanquished those two young maidens... was *that* Francis? Oh, dear! How many clandestine affairs has that boy, Francis, kept hidden from me!?' Old Foye's lips twisted into a wry, bitter smile.

Observing that his adversary had ceased hostilities, Flaying, without pause, renewed his furious assault upon the mountain wall. Ticking Bone cast a brief, assessing glance at the frenzied figure, then turned his gaze, blazing with indignation, upon Old Foye. He barked, 'Who are you? How came you to know this is Glynn? And by what right do you impede my actions?'

Old Foye, too, cast a profound, troubled glance at Flaying. He let out another weary, bitter laugh. 'The intricacies of this matter are far too convoluted to elucidate at present! However, it is paramount that Steve and Glynn remain utterly undisturbed! You must trust my word!'

Ticking Bone snorted, a sharp exhalation of disbelief. 'And why, pray tell, should I place my faith in your pronouncements? What is the meaning behind Glynn's current frenetic assault upon this mountain wall?'

'I confess ignorance as to why Glynn has arrived here to hammer at this mountain wall, yet I know with certainty they are presently entangled in a most critical juncture...' Old Foye's jaw clenched in resolve. 'Let us unite our powers, you and I, to dissipate the golden mist and searing fire enveloping Glynn. But on no account are we to inflict harm upon their persons. Once it is cleared, you shall comprehend everything!'

Ticking Bone gave a terse nod of assent. The Blade of Heaven and the Nether Blade, twin weapons of immense power, now allied. Standing back-to-back, the two masters spun their blades with furious speed, conjuring a towering maelstrom that ripped towards the heavens. Slowly, inexorably, Flaying's dual-colored mist began to dissipate and grow faint...

A frenzied silhouette materialized! Indeed, there was but *one* figure! Steve! Ticking Bone gasped, utterly taken aback. 'Only Steve is here? Where, then, is Flaying?' He shot a look of profound shock at Old Foye, who merely offered a slight shake of his head. 'They are now a singular entity... they are undergoing a profound fusion, and must, under no circumstances, be interrupted!'

At this very juncture, Dus, having gleaned the intelligence from the unfolding chaos outside, swiftly relayed it to Du Chen! 'Francis! Fifth Brother, I was a complete dolt! It wasn't that Flaying was merely carrying Steve; they have never, *ever* been separate entities!' Du Chen, at this moment, was utterly befuddled. 'Fifth Brother, what bewildering nonsense are you prattling about?' 'Francis, the energies of Flaying and Steve have been converging, their chaotic dance growing so intense it's blurred my very 'sight'... They were, in fact, merging! — Your Eldest Brother *is* Flaying!' The Lotus Pedestal beneath Du Chen trembled violently, and he very nearly toppled from its sacred seat!

'Presently, Steve stands poised to breach a mountain wall—what appears to be a lifeline—with Ticking Bone and that other masked individual attempting to thwart his passage...'

As Dus's urgent report of the current predicament echoed in his ears, Du Chen desperately spurred his Precious Lotus Scripture to accelerate. Yet, he could only unleash another exasperated, internal curse: 'Damn it all! Why, in the name of all Arcane Artifacts, is there nothing within these Lotus Sacred Artifacts that can hasten my speed!?'

At the base of Blade of Heaven Peak, Steve, a maelstrom of madness incarnate, continued his relentless advance. His countenance shifted with kaleidoscopic speed: one moment a mask of vacant confusion, the next a visage of chilling malevolence, then a contortion of pure, unbridled frenzy. From his lips issued a horrifying duality of voices: 'I am here, I am here!' and 'Francis! Francis!'

Suddenly sensing the dissipation of his protective mist, Steve paid it no heed—he had utterly shattered the mountain wall, revealing the lifeline! 'Hahaha, I have arrived!' Steve bellowed with maniacal laughter, stepping boldly into the dimensional rift of the lifeline!

Ticking Bone cried out, his voice laced with urgency, 'Since we are no longer adversaries, let us combine our strength to halt him! He must not be permitted entry!' Old Foye's response was swift and decisive; his Blade of Heaven was already in motion. Yet, he cautioned, 'We must dedicate ourselves purely to defense, and under no circumstances inflict injury upon him. Endeavor to flow with the currents of his blade-light, and, crucially, do not disrupt the circulation of his battle qi!'

Steve turned his head, his gaze venomous and malevolent, fixed upon Old Foye and Ticking Bone. 'Damn you! You dare to obstruct my path? Die!' The Flaying Blade's sweeping, tyrannical, and peerless radiance erupted as fiercely as ever, but now, its hilt was undeniably clutched in Steve's hand! The Ghost Blade yearned to plunge into this lifeline, its destination utterly unknown. The Blade of Heaven and the Nether Blade valiantly struggled to block its passage, yet they were hindered by a myriad of constraints, finding themselves, for a fleeting moment, on the defensive! Three blades—three of the most formidable weapons in the mortal realm—had converged into a maelstrom of steel!

Upon Du Chen's tumultuous arrival at Blade of Heaven Peak, his eyes were instantly assaulted by the chaotic tableau of three figures locked in desperate combat. One truth, however, cut through the pandemonium with crystalline clarity: his Eldest Brother was attempting to breach a lifeline whose ultimate destination remained shrouded in mystery, and Ticking Bone, alongside another enigmatic individual, was valiantly attempting to prevent his entry. Concurrently, two profound enigmas plagued his mind: Why were Eldest Brother and Flaying one and the same? And who was this masked figure allied with Ticking Bone? 'Damn it all!' he seethed internally, 'I *must* halt Eldest Brother and demand an explanation!'