"I warned you not to allow the Shadow element to run rampant, look at how helpless you've become" Yuming sighed, her small, delicate fingers grasping at the air causing the incoming ball of fire to disperse.
Ein continued his chant, sweat beading down his cheeks. The transfer array was almost complete, should there be any interference during the process the backlash would leave him close to death at best.
Yue Chen clenched his fists, helplessly watching the situation unfold. With the condition his body was in there was nothing he could do to help. Even now his True energy was being siphoned by the ring on his finger.
"My incarnation is truly pitiful, to helplessly put his life in the hands of others. Is this as far as you go?" Bai Chen said in a mocking tone. "Rest, give me control and I'll free you of your burdens for good"
Yue Chen laughed lightly. Bai Chen saw through him perfectly, targeting his doubts to take advantage of him. He had grown accustomed to the temptations Bai Chen would offer yet his resistance to them had yet to show any signs of improvement.
"It's finished!" Hearing a fatigued call from Ein, Yue Chen came to his senses. As if in tacit agreement everyone charged toward Ein at the same time. Yue Chen who was the closest was the first to reach the array followed by Ning Yuyan and Ning Biyu.
"She's attempting to cross the array!" Ein shouted from the other side of the array with a strained voice as Feng Huang sent a fireball in the direction of the array.
Yue Chen suddenly halted, preparing to fight with whatever energy he had left when Yuming suddenly darted out before him, fending off Feng Huang's attacks "Go!"
Yue Chen nodded then entered the array with Ein following closely behind. After everyone had made it to the other side Ein immediately finished his chant, closing off the array.
Ning Yuyan gasped for air before letting out a breath of relief. Had Ein finished setting up the array even a few minutes later she would have most likely been seriously injured during her fight against Feng Huang. Returning her sword to her storage ring Ning Yuan could feel her arms tingling from the last exchange.
Yue Chen took a deep breath before signalling the others to circulate their true energy. The air around them was void of moisture and the land around them was barren and lifeless with bones scattered as far as the eyes could see.
"..." Yue Chen narrowed his eyes, looking into the distance and his eyes widened almost immediately.
Ein who was also aware of what was happening was the first to react, telling everyone to be on guard. "Young master Yue Chen , your body is barely able to maintain true energy in your injured state, stay a safe distance behind, Agyth and Ning Biyu will be our vanguard while I support from the center. Miss Yuyan, please guard my liege"
"Young master? since when was my brother your servant!?" hearing her older brother address Yue Chen formally made Agyth fume with rage. Having the older brother she admired act as a subordinate to another was something she was unable to accept.
"This isnt the time to be stubborn Agyth, if you're going to become a burden it would have been best you remained in the Water Palace " Ein glinted at his younger sister angrily.
Yue Chen let a breath of relief as the figures came into view. "They're not enemies, lower your weapons "
A young man that seemed to be the leader of the group stepped forward, performing a salute "Its good to see you again Senior Brother Chen"
Yue Chen nodded. The young man was Fei Luo of the Blood Sword Pavilion and was the person in charge of the training of the juniors of the Blood Sword Pavilion. After a brief discussion Yue Chen had learned that the competition over the Gates of Demise had concluded moments ago with a total of 9 persons from each faction gaining access to it. With the Blood Sword Pavilion placing third, Fei Luo and 7 others were the third group to enter the gates and had arrived in this barren land when they suddenly met with Yue Chen's group.
"Brother Chen I think you should be careful within the gates. The Supreme Master requested that we find you as soon as possible to remain by your side" Fei Luo said, looking at Yue Chen's tattered state. "I thought the Master was merely being overprotective but looking at the state you're in its good that we found you this quickly"
"Who was it that hurt you?" a petite girl dressed in the Blood Sword Pavilion's red and white battle robes stepped forward. Her face darkened as she scanned Yue Chen's bruised body.
"Xian Fei?" Yue Chen questioned in a surprised tone. Xian Fei was the direct disciple of the Supreme Sword Master as well as Fei Luo's sister. A month ago Xian Fei had entered closed door cultivation to ascend to the Lower Spirit Realm which should have taken another three months at the least. The spiritual pressure that she gave off was not a that of a mere Spirit Realm which made Yue Chen shudder for his own safety.
"Who was it?" Xian Fei asked once more, her eyes glowing an azure blue color as her spiritual pressure intensified.
Fei Luo tapped Xian Fei on the shoulder, attempting to bring her back to her senses "Your Spiritual Pressure is going to kill him"
Xian Fei snapped back to her senses and withdrew her spiritual pressure. With a gentle smile she glanced at Yue Chen's group then at Yue Chen once more.
Yue Chen felt a chill run down his spine as he received her gaze and sighed helplessly. After a few minutes of briefing the Blood Sword Pavilion members on the encounters they had up until the inheritance space Yue Chen warned the group to remain cautious at all times. Through Fei Luo's detailed report he had also learned that a number of warriors that were not affiliated with any of the factions had made their way into the gates and to avoid crossing blades with them if possible.
"Escaping judgement is merely temporary"
Ein's face darkened as Feng Huang's voice came from behind him.
"To think she would have been able to escape by burning her way through the void" Yuming panted between her word, sweat beading down her face.
"She crossed spaces to follow after us?!" Ning Biyu was stricken with fear as she spoke. She was nothing compared to the vessel of a Saint, fighting would just be courting death.
"You have the same intrinsic energy as the one on my little Yue'er. It was you, wasn't it?" Xian Fei smiled while gathering a ball of true essence around her fists.
Seeing Xian Fei in her battle stance Yue Chen felt the need to remind her that Feng Huang was being possessed "Don't kill her, she's an acquaintance"
"Kill me? a mere human?" Feng Huang scoffed. Fire energy coalesced at her fingertips as strange runes ran along her right hand. "[Einherjar's Grace]" a blazing sword of fire manifested in Feng Huang's hand.
"Those who oppose the saint of heavenly flames shall be reduced to ashes!"