Zhang Xin's body, battered and weak from his previous battles, trembled as he saw Jiang Ren, the Blood King, step into the cavern. The oppressive presence of the Blood King felt like an iron chain around his chest, squeezing the breath out of him.
Jiang Ren's crimson eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction as he observed Zhang Xin, who was standing with the precious Dragonroot Herb in his hand.
"You've come a long way, Zhang Xin," Jiang Ren said, his voice smooth but filled with coldness. "But you've reached the end of your journey. Hand over the herb. It's no longer yours."
Zhang Xin gritted his teeth, clenching his fists. His body ached, and the exhaustion from his previous encounters weighed heavily on him. But there was no way he would let Jiang Ren take the herb. Not after everything he had endured.
"I won't let you have it," Zhang Xin replied, his voice steady despite the pain. "I've come too far."
Jiang Ren chuckled darkly, stepping closer. "Very well. If you insist on keeping it, then you'll have to fight me."
The Clash of Power
Without warning, Jiang Ren's form flickered, and in an instant, he was upon Zhang Xin. His Blood King techniques were not only fast but devastating. His hands moved like whips, sending sharp waves of blood-red energy toward Zhang Xin.
Jiang Ren's Techniques:
1. Blood Lash: A whip-like strike that created devastating blood waves capable of tearing through steel.
2. Crimson Pillar: A column of blood that rose from the ground, aiming to trap and crush anything in its path.
3. Blood Ensnare: A binding technique that manipulated the blood around him, seeking to wrap and restrain his opponents.
Zhang Xin barely managed to dodge the first strike, his body heavy and sluggish from exhaustion. The blood waves brushed past him, leaving scorch marks on the ground. He summoned all the strength he could muster to gather his Light Attribute, but his movements were slow, and the pain in his body made it hard to focus.
He narrowly avoided Crimson Pillar, diving to the side as the blood tower erupted from the ground. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the cavern, rattling the walls.
I have to move… I have to find an opening, Zhang Xin thought desperately.
Summoning the last of his energy, Zhang Xin activated his Golden Dragon technique, his golden flames surging around him in a powerful explosion. The dragon made of pure light roared to life, its golden form shimmering with unparalleled radiance.
"Golden Dragon!" Zhang Xin cried, sending the dragon toward Jiang Ren. The light dragon collided with Jiang Ren's Blood Lash, causing a massive explosion of energy that shook the cavern to its core.
The Power of Light and Blood
The golden dragon roared as it clashed against the waves of blood. For a moment, the two powers seemed evenly matched. But the blood began to coil around the golden dragon, trying to choke the light out of it. Zhang Xin gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength into the dragon.
The struggle continued, with both forces pushing against each other in a clash of light and dark. Blood and golden flames swirled in a violent maelstrom, tearing through the air. Zhang Xin's hands shook as he maintained the light dragon, but his stamina was running low. The blood techniques of Jiang Ren were relentless.
Finally, with a tremendous roar, Zhang Xin pushed the Golden Dragon forward, shattering the Blood Lash and Crimson Pillar. The dragon collided with Jiang Ren, sending him crashing into the stone walls of the cavern. The impact left a massive crater in the rock, and Jiang Ren lay there, wounded but not defeated.
A Desperate Gamble
Jiang Ren stood up slowly, his body covered in blood and bruises, but his eyes burned with an intense fury. He wiped blood from his lips and chuckled darkly.
"I must admit, you have power. But I won't let you leave here alive, Zhang Xin."
Zhang Xin took a step back, his breath ragged and his body barely able to stand. His muscles screamed in pain, and his vision blurred. The fight had taken everything from him. He was out of options.
"Do you think you can defeat me with that?" Jiang Ren's voice was dripping with contempt. "I am the Blood King, and you are just a boy with a flicker of light. You're nothing."
Zhang Xin's heart pounded in his chest. He couldn't back down. He couldn't let Jiang Ren win. He had come too far.
With what little strength he had left, Zhang Xin raised his hand toward the ceiling, gathering every bit of his Light Attribute into a concentrated sphere. His body trembled as he focused all his energy on one final strike.
"I won't lose… not to you."
The Final Strike
Jiang Ren laughed cruelly, ready to strike. But just as he moved forward, a sudden bright light filled the cavern. Zhang Xin had formed a Light Sphere, a powerful orb of radiant energy, the culmination of all his strength. He hurled it at Jiang Ren with all the force he could muster.
Light Sphere: The attack condensed the purest form of Zhang Xin's light attribute into an orb of intense power. Upon impact, it unleashed a massive burst of energy that would burn through any darkness.
The Light Sphere collided with Jiang Ren's chest, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. The light expanded, washing over everything, engulfing Jiang Ren in a blinding explosion.
When the light faded, Zhang Xin stood panting, his body on the verge of collapse. Jiang Ren was lying unconscious on the ground, his body smoking from the intense light attack. He had been overwhelmed, his blood powers completely countered by the purity of Zhang Xin's light.
Zhang Xin fell to his knees, exhausted. His victory had come at a great cost, but it was a victory nonetheless. He had defeated the Blood King.
Aftermath
Zhang Xin stared at the Dragonroot Herb still clutched tightly in his hand. His body ached with the toll of battle, but he had accomplished his mission. The Pathway of Treasures was full of danger, and he had barely survived. Yet, he had completed the task Master Han Lingxiu had set for him.
But he knew this was only one battle in a much larger war. Many dangers still awaited him. Zhang Xin's gaze hardened as he looked ahead, the light of his determination shining through the weariness.
I will return… stronger than ever.
And with that, Zhang Xin turned and made his way out of the Pathway of Treasures, carrying the Dragonroot Herb and the lessons learned from his brutal encounters. His journey was far from over.