A blade affixed to his back, and hair tossed into a messy tail of sorts, his face turned cold and unfeeling at the drop of the curtains.
Cold winds ceased.
Starlight dwindled.
The time for rest had ended.
Stepping from the room, the two followed quietly behind a woman of great aptitude and capacity, the daughter of the Travel Hallmaster, Lan Suzu.
A Senior which they had come to realize was very respected within Travel Mountain and even the Jiyue Sect, many elder's seeking to take her in and train her, though she'd refused everytime.
As they passed out into the fog, those disciples which they passed gave their well wishes and morning greetings, though the number of disciples they passed were quite few in number.
In the time leading up to the tournament of the Jiyue Sect, much had to be done and the disciples were quick to move as many seniors were returning to watch causing the Travel Hall to be very busy.
Pass through the main path, they soon arrived at a hidden area from which the fog cleared for a brief moment, before they were enveloped by a blue light.
On the other side, a cave appeared in it's vastness, perhaps even a cavern though it was too soon to tell.
Water dripped from a the ceiling creating a serene pond below, a small cabin in the midst of the cave sitting alight with wisps, little spirits and souls or perhaps just the illusions of them.
No one could tell.
They did not bother them as they passed through, the Qi in the air dense and rich, the door was opened a voice beckoning them in.
Lan Suzu, that respected senior led them inside, a talisman in her hand warding off the wisps.
Once inside, a gentle heat touched their bodies and warmed their souls as though the place they had stepped into was not a foregin cabin, but rather a familiar home.
"High level illusions can play off the psyche of the one being affected, creating the desired affect from their memories without the need to setup a specific scene." A rather older voice, albeit far more composed, revealed itself, "Granddaughter of the Wolf. Accursed Son of the Sword."
Tracing the voice, one could find a man with almost no presence, as though a specter hidden among souls.
"Welcome." His voice leaked out in a soft stream as though every moment were to enchant.
Lan Suzu took a moment to compile herself and bowed.
"Lan Suzu, daughter of Lan Juzu the Travel Hallmaster greets Sect Leader Yue." Her movements were refined and clearly well practiced since long ago.
"Feng Wuqing. Daughter to the Taotie. I no longer desire the connection to the Feng, save for my grandfather and sister." That which shone through the dark, a violet haze, a thorny storm, Feng Wuqing.
He who sees without sight, "Shou Xin. I am son to noone, my will presides over the sword not guided by it."
"Is this so?" Sitting before a gently lit fireplace, the slight crackling of the wood was clear as a pop in one's ear, "I called you all to get a good look at the children whom my junior says will overturn this era."
Lan Suzu stepped back and aside, staying silently away, it was clear she was not needed, but without being dismissed she could not leave.
As she finished doing this, a malevolent aura began to rise in the ethereal cave.
Frowning deeply, Shou Xin's figure seemed to darken and his blind gaze turn into a lighthouse, Sword Intent spilling everywhere.
"Hu Ji." Two characters, a single conviction.
"Even hearing my name from your mouth is displeasing." A new revelation, a disgusted response.
Dimon.
Fukkatsu.
From the shadow of these two individuals, the primal spirit of the Hydra and Yong spilled out creating faint figures at the backs of the two experts, their eyes locked with a single thought.
Kill.
Stepping out from the cabin, Shou Xin focused his gaze on Hu Ji, who was standing atop the small pond which was filled with extremely dense qi.
He absorbed it voraciously.
Heart Mind Array.
Around Shou Xin, three runes, three laws appeared like small planets orbiting him, their might turned into ethereal blades.
This was no simple domain… it was a Law Domain.
Extremely dangerous as it was akin to fighting with ones heart, however when the heart is strong enough that alone may be the best option.
An all or nothing strategy.
Those starlit swords sparkled and flew around him, an orbit which remained stagnant and serene, he looked at Hu Ji and smiled.
The killing intent in the air was dragged towards him, absorbed at every moment.
Between the two of them draining the air and land of qi, two storms began to form above their heads, a battle raging in their eyes.
Hu Ji called forth three spears into the air.
Law Domain.
Neither of them could back down, nor did they want to.
"I cannot breath under the same sky as you, Hu Ji."
"They call you a Sword Dragon now, in the demon realm. However, there can only be one dragon in these skies."
Facing off, the air turned sour and then tense as all pretenses were lost.
One must first crouch before being able to leap, however that is only the thoughts of a creature of the land.
Birds only fall but once.
The two storms touched.
Their figures blurred.
"That's enough." A crystal clear voice cracked the atmosphere, her words like swords and spears dull enough to not kill, but sharp enough to make one wish they were dead.
Two figures seemed to be pulled out of the middle of their battle, pinned to the ground by the immense pressure.
"The two of you are truly like fire and water." At the door of the cottage, Sect Leader Yue stepped out, yet as the moment he took a step out, flowers began to fly off his foot, shooting up his legs and then body.
In the place of the old man watching the fire was a young woman with a thousand yard gaze as though what she's seen could never be explained to them, her sight reaching beyond the sky.
A true Elder.
"And you, are reckless." With a single finger, the attack coming for the back of her head by Feng Wuqing, was blocked and she too got restrained.
Shou Xin glanced at Feng Wuqing who looked absolutely vicious, her bloodline likely acting up since she could not see if he was alright, only sensing the immense movement of Qi and then silence, his aura blocked.
She struggled ferociously.
He then turned his eyes to Sect Leader Yue, his blind gaze devoid of any fire, just a burning desire to move.
In the same moment she loosened the pressure, he shot off.
Hu Ji prepared to go all out, but he passed him without even a glance!
Arriving to where Feng Wuqing had been restrained, he held her.
"I'm here." His words reverberated in her ears, the monstrous strength she held crashed into his body, yet he endured, "I'm here."
The strength of the bloodline was powerful, however, she too was no pushover.
Her eyes seemed to shake, and she returned with a heavy breath, her breathing quick and labored.
"Sorry. Still getting used to this." It was not an easy thing, to fight off ones own instincts and had Sect Leader Yue chosen to kill her, she would have been justified in doing so.
Because of this, Feng Wuqing gave a deep bow.
"All talented ones have unique temperaments. Bloodlines. Physique. Curses. Blessings. There is not good without the bad. This is law," Sect Leader Yue waved her sleeve, and the remnant storms faded and those who were injured were healed, "Now I have seen why that little junior of mine believes so fervently you are to change the era. If you continue this way and survive the tribulations, the Exiled Court will be overturned by the war to come."
As she spoke, she walked around to the pond whose Qi had all but dried up, she then sensed the air which had been robbed of all emotion or warmth it once held.
This place was not destroyed, but it was no longer a cottage, it felt more as a battlefield than a place for one to rest and recover.
She felt sad.
She felt sad because she could see what this would turn out to become. A merciless war between these two who are rising powerhouses, the Wild States would burn under the Dragon Fire, mountains would flood beneath the Hydra's command of water.
And these two would never bat an eye.
Hu Ji was at least, shocked that Shou Xin had not taken the chance to attack, but instead go and look after his lover, without a shred of hesitation.
However, he soon shook himself out of it.
He could show such intense love for her, yet he slaughtered countless innocents and associated himself with people like the Chaotic Sword Deity, Vienna?
It was impossible.
He was a selfish man, with selfish wants who would burn the world over a single person, such a person could not be allowed.
Especially not so when they have the potential and power to perhaps achieve that.
His heart burned ever stronger with the resolve to fight.
As for Shou Xin, seeing that Hu Ji did not attack him after being released and allowed him to fully take care of his lover right before him, he was taken for a bit of a ride.
You can watch this and be still, but you cannot accept that my clan's sins are not my own? You see me as evil simply because of the deeds that others have done, yet stay still now?
He was a hypocrite, with hypocritical views that would first rather destroy every innocent person than to let go of a single criminal.
Knowing what the world thought of him, his lover and his clan, as the patriarch… he could never let this sort of person with the power to exact his own justice, live.
There was no room for hesitation, he set his resolve.
This was a fight that had to happen.
Sensing the change in these two, Sect Leader Yue could do nothing but sigh.
How could they both see the same scene, and yet have such different views? They could never see anything good about one another despite being mirror images of one another.
It was something she knew she would come to regret if she allowed any further and so…
"...Is killing always the answer?" Her tone was dry like frozen ice sticking to them with the threat of taking their skin from their bones if they moved too fast, "You two are so intent on destroying each other, do you not care about the world around you?"
"If he continues as he is, destroying wantonly, killing at the drop of a hat and wreaking havoc across the realms, then there is nothing to be done but to end him. He is guilty of evil." Hu Ji's convictions were firm and he even had some semblance of logic as well as many innocents had died because of Shou Xin's failures, slaves who he failed to save in time, the father of Xiao Wun being one.
"...saying that I am evil so easily. To attack others based off solely the sins of others, to not look into situations any further from the water's surface and decide from that to boil the sea, someone like this with enough power to back up their ignorance cannot be allowed to live." Shou Xin's words were firmly grounded, and he was almost correct as well, as many times, Hu Ji had gone off what he first saw, making impulsive moves such as trying to guard the demon gate instead of letting the slaves through.
Naturally, Sect Leader Yue who was a leading figure in the Feng State knew of what had happened, her intelligence network in the Wild States no worse than that of the External Affairs Ministry.
Her powers stretched out, capturing both Feng Wuqing and Lan Suzu but left the other two to their own devices, "Then, I should save this world from the both of you, since the change of era would be into one of blood, it is best to pick the weeds before they grow."
Hu Ji's pupils shrank and his voice turned truly violent for the first time, not a calm rage, "Sect Leader Yue, are you truly wanting to harm your own junior for this?"
Shou Xin's robes burned, and the uniform of the Shou Clan, which he had set aside for the time being so as to not attract attention, reappeared, the oath on it's back a prophecy, "I do not want conflict with the Jiyue Sect, don't do this."
Sect Leader Yue's powerful energy began to constrict the two, "I quite well think that this is the best way. Crush your souls into dust or fight and take them back from me."
Even Lan Suzu who had reached Unchained could not escape such a powerful vice-like grasp!
Walking along the line of life and death, Sword Steps.
Freezing the river styx for a fallen breath, River Dance.
The two experts, the Spear and Sword Dragon's charged forward at their full strengths.
Law Domain!
Hidden among the countless spears and swords of their domains, their Law's struck out!
Sect Leader Yue smirked, her face twisting with delight as the two in her grasp turned invisible right before their very eyes.
Haunting whisper of the beyond before, Death March.
NEHOOOOO!!!
The cave walls began to drip down from the cracks in the ceiling, tens of Law Realm troops came falling through those cracks riding droplets of water before escaping them as they crashed along the ground.
WHOOSH!
Beyond life is just a new life, Seven Headed Spear art, Hydra's Rebirth!
Dimon's figure rushed out of Hu Ji's shadow turned into several mirror images each with around the strength of Law Realm, Hu Ji's face going pale as he was forced to use his trump card right away.
SWOOSH!
At the end of the river is new waters, Nine Sanguine Sword Art, Dragon Gate!
A long spiraling river arose above in the empty space of the cave creating a water's surface from which a shadow leapt out, jumping through the gate and turning into a dragon!
It's body was rife with draconic fire and lightning!
Shou Xin's body shivered, this technique was something he had felt instinctively, but it was also something he could not use yet, yet he still activated it!
Blood stones fell out from his sleeves in droves, spirit stones fell from Hu Ji's body as well.
These stones rose into the air turning into massive orbits with the two as the suns in the middle, the Qi within them acting as the fuel for the battle.
Even they could not keep up against so many Law Realm Expert's at once.
"...I take these!" Hu Ji grinded his teeth, but he was focused on but a single task, save Lan Suzu.
He turned his back to Shou Xin, an act which took everything out of him.
Shou Xin's eyes widened in shock, he felt his hatred rise to the peak as the opportunity arose, however it was directly turned into dust before his one conviction.
Save Feng Wuqing.
Giving each other their backs, the two shadows of Dimon and Fukkatsu began their rampage!
Fire and lightning turned into one, creating gates throughout the cave from which Fukkatsu could pass through and gain strength to continue his attacks.
The drips and drops, waters of the cave became devoid as they were sucked up by Dimon who turned them into countless mirror images and then into a vast flood!
Those Law Realm Experts however were not without tricks, though they were all the same.
"Shatter the realms, Death March." Sect Leader Yue's voice rang out crystal clear.
"SHATTER THE REALMS…" Those soldiers speaking once was like a loud boom as though a bomb had gone off in their minds shaking their techniques.
"...DEATH MARCH."
At that precise moment, thousands of spears came up from the ground like an ancient booby trap, and an equal amount came down from the sky as though a heavenly punishment.
Death was certain if they did not join powers.
They'd settled for not getting in each other's way for now, but to get together and join hands…
…they would do anything to save them.
The Hydra, Dimon rushed into the space above entering Shou Xin's Dragon Gate technique, the illusory waters there nourishing Dimon as the mirror images all came back together.
Fukkatsu let out a low rumble from his very central being, and the lighting and fire turned into a single move.
Lightning Fire.
Opening his mouth, a smaller Fukaktsu seemed to escape the larger one as though the truth abandoning the lie, Fukkatsu's very core essence.
The moment he reached the Dragon Gate his figure turned several times larger with the help of Dimon whose mirror images had melted away harmlessly into the technique, allowing it to nourish Fukaktsu back to full strength albeit only for a moment.
The two below struggled to even keep on their feet, yet they struggled nonetheless.
To not struggle was to be a coward, and to hell with falling down before he did!
Their immense pride kept them standing!
Truth and lies on the edge of life and death, Fukkatsu Kiru!
Freeze the age, destroy the fools, let ice reign, Dimon Kai!
The head of a dragon reached out from the sword and spear in their hands, the last of whatever they had left coming together using their Law Domain's strength which had been concentrated.
Sword waves and spear shadows marked the sky and earth respectively, after all, who knew better how to fight each if not the other?
Then came the clash.
There was no other way to describe it, rather than absolutely dazzling. Dragon's cried and the world was silent.
It was a brief clash as it had happened all too fast.
Of the thousands of spears, only a single one had managed to touch Shou Xin, impaling him directly through the chest, almost destroying his heart.
And of the thousands of falling swords, none had managed to touch Hu Ji at all, a figure still pristine, albeit pale.
"...I only managed to be uninjured because of the extra defense above." Hu Ji did not skip a beat, he hated taking glory that was not his nor earned.
It was one of the reason's he hated the Shou so much for they were a bunch of thieves in his eyes.
"We aren't done yet." Shou Xin barely managed to stand his ground as he turned to the entrance of the cottage where a single person sat, drinking their tea ever so leisurely.
Clink.
"Truly, a great show." The spear in his chest slowly began to vanish, no wounds left over, "Though, in all my hundreds of years, I've never seen two people so intensely averse to helping one another."
The moment the truth was revealed that it was all an illusion, the two split up instantly, their truce no longer valid.
"Ha, I must be getting old," She shook her head like an old woman looking at two stupid grandsons, "You little brats if you worked together you could even fend off the attacks of an average sixth stage Law Realm Expert, but you instead choose to hurt one another. Have you two not realized anything yet?"
Hu Ji was first to frown.
He could admit, though only to himself, that perhaps he had gone a bit overboard thinking of Shou Xin as a completely selfish man, for would such a man aid his sworn enemy to help another?
Shou Xin scowled.