Xenos knew that using such a powerful item would come at a cost, causing his heart to ache. This item had been with him for a long time, but for them to survive, he needed to use it. He nodded to Elder San, and they both stepped back from Ghorm.
"Everyone, get back!" Xenos shouted to the rest of the group as he raised the red orb in his hand.
He channeled his qi into the orb, which glowed with a bright red light. Taking aim at Ghorm, he released the attack.
A massive explosion rocked the room, and Ghorm let out a deafening roar as he was engulfed in flames. The attack was powerful enough to instantly kill Ghorm, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
An attack by a Qi Gathering expert was something an Opening Qi powerhouse couldn't withstand. Even a casual attack would obliterate an Opening Qi powerhouse.
The Qi Gathering Realm was like a threshold for any creature, an upgrade in life rating. To cultivators below this realm, a Qi Gathering expert was akin to a god. They could conjure spells of higher quality, fly through the air, and possess bodies as strong as steel.
Exhausted from using the item, Xenos slumped to the ground, unable to move his body.
"Elder San, help them kill the wolf," Xenos managed to say, his voice strained.
Elder San hesitated but eventually nodded.
"Okay... Take this healing pill first."
Elder San fed the healing pill to Xenos, and shortly after, Xenos could feel his body starting to recover.
Slowly standing up with his sword for support, Xenos surveyed the room and saw that the rest of his companions had already begun fighting the wolf.
The wolf remained formidable, even without Ghorm. Its massive body towered over them, and its claws and teeth glimmered in the light.
Xenos knew he needed to join the fight, but his body still felt weak. He took a deep breath and started channeling his qi, feeling it flow through his body.
Raising his sword, he charged toward the wolf, skillfully dodging its attacks with nimble movements. With each strike of his sword, he felt his strength returning.
The battle was intense, but Xenos could feel his energy waning again as the wolf continued to resist their attacks.
Suddenly, he was petrified in place when he caught sight of Elder Tan Zong impaling Elder San through the heart with his sword.
Xenos couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had thought Elder Tan Zong was their ally, but now he had turned against them. His mind raced with questions as he watched Elder San's lifeless body fall to the ground.
Taking advantage of their distraction, the wolf launched a powerful attack. Xenos quickly regained his focus and managed to deflect the attack with his sword. However, he was too exhausted and not fully recovered. The impact sent him flying, rolling across the ground as he fell.
Glaring at Elder Tan Zong, Xenos's face contorted with rage. "Why?" he shouted.
However, he quickly calmed himself down, knowing he had to act swiftly before Elder Tan Zong could strike again. Summoning all the strength he had left, he charged at the traitor, his sword at the ready.
"Tan Zong, why did you do this?" Xenos demanded as he engaged in a deadly dance of blades with his former ally.
"I have my reasons," Elder Tan Zong replied coldly, parrying Xenos' strikes with ease.
Xenos sensed that Elder Tan Zong's strength far surpassed his own, and he knew he couldn't defeat him in a straight-up fight. He had to come up
with a plan.
Feinting a strike toward Elder Tan Zong's left, Xenos caused the traitor to shift his weight to that side. He quickly changed his stance and struck toward his right, catching Elder Tan Zong off-guard and grazing his shoulder.
"Hmm, you're pretty good for someone who just entered this realm," Tan Zong remarked, looking at Xenos intently.
The remaining soldiers and Patriarch Song snapped out of their shock and began encircling Tan Zong. The teachers and students of the Blue Wind Sect struggled to decide what to do but eventually joined Xenos's group, encircling Tan Zong.
Looking around, Tan Zong couldn't help but laugh maniacally. Suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Tan Zong's appearance started to change. He transformed from an amicable old man to a corpse-like figure, his eyes turning a bright red.
Xenos and the others were shocked and taken aback by the sudden change in Tan Zong's appearance. They could sense a dark energy emanating from him.
"You-you're an evil cultivator?!" Xenos exclaimed, fear and anger evident on his face.
The idea of evil cultivation was universally condemned by all cultivators. Evil cultivators used dark, forbidden methods to gain power, often at the cost of innocent lives. They were seen as a scourge on the cultivation world, and anyone who practiced such methods was hunted down and executed.
Tan Zong smiled wickedly. "Yes, that's right. I am an evil cultivator."
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