Lunisolar Glory! . . .
Even if Cha Eun Xiao had been on equal footing with the formidable twenty-eight individuals, even if he were Bu Jingtian himself, the unrelenting suppression should have consigned him to the ground by now. There was no denying that, while he was resilient and determined, he was not as potent as the combined force opposing him. With sheer force of will, Cha Eun Xiao pushed back against the pressure bearing down upon him.
It was a testament to his unwavering determination and resolve, drawing both admiration and astonishment from his adversaries. "What a tenacious individual," they mused in silent acknowledgment of his unyielding spirit.
In a sudden display of anger, Cha Eun Xiao staggered dramatically, letting out an impassioned shout that resonated through the heavens. His spiritual power, which had appeared to dwindle, surged once more, defying all expectations. It marked the third time his power had experienced such a resurgence, and it left his adversaries astounded.
"Is he drawing upon his origin capacity?" queried a white-bearded elder with a solemn expression. "Initially, he employed the internal reserves of his own body, then he sacrificed his foundational energy to transform into spiritual qi. And now, he appears to be tapping into the essence of his own life force. While he may sustain this for a short while, it's unsustainable in the long run. We hold the advantage, and victory is within our grasp."
The collective sentiment was one of patience and cautious restraint. They recognized the potency of Cha Eun Xiao's poisoned strikes and were reluctant to take unnecessary risks. Their strategy was clear: continue the suppression until he could no longer endure it, ensuring a safer path to victory.
Amid the silence of unanimous agreement, one individual proposed a different course of action. "Why not employ Lunisolar Glory? We maintain our concealed positions, and what threat can his poison pose to us? A swift conclusion will work in our favor."
The suggestion resonated with many, and the idea quickly spread among the twenty-eight. With a resounding shout, a remarkable shift occurred in their combined power. It was an unprecedented transformation, a convergence of energy streams that previously operated independently. Now, they merged as one, like rivers flowing into the vast ocean, forming an indivisible, monolithic mass of power.
Cha Eun Xiao felt the crushing force of this united front, a marked difference from the earlier, more dispersed suppression. The tide had turned, and it was clear that a new stage of the confrontation had begun.
Unbeknownst to Cha Eun Xiao, the Lunisolar Glory was a formidable martial technique, a joint attack developed by the two great sects. Its power was unparalleled, but its cultivation was extraordinarily demanding. A fundamental requirement was the synchronization of fourteen elite cultivators from both the Sunlight Sect and the Starlight Sect, forming a total of twenty-eight individuals.
This martial art blended the Scorching Sun Martial Art of the Sunlight Sect with the Starmoon Martial Art of the Starlight Sect, resulting in a magnificent representation of the sun and the moon illuminating the earth. To successfully cultivate this technique, the twenty-eight individuals not only had to master the martial arts but also attain a profound mental connection.
Achieving this connection necessitated constant cohabitation and collaboration, ensuring that they were in unison both physically and mentally. It was a demanding regimen, requiring them to spend an entire year together to meet the essential criteria for practicing the Lunisolar Glory.
In addition to their physical prowess, another indispensable aspect of mastering the Lunisolar Glory was an unbroken connection with the mortal world, attuning themselves to the energy of kings, which played a vital role in achieving what was unattainable with the Lunisolar Glory alone.
This, in essence, was their Achilles' heel, a gap that had to be filled. It was a deficiency intrinsic to the technique, a natural limitation they had long grappled with.
At the core of this martial art lay the fusion of three distinct streams of power—the sun, the moon, and the stars—radiating in harmonious unity across the celestial expanse. These three luminous entities symbolized three distinct archetypes of individuals, each embodying the realms of the heavens, the earth, and humankind. The key to the technique's perfection lay in uniting these three forces into an extraordinary cosmic alignment, resulting in the awe-inspiring Triple Glory.
Despite their exhaustive efforts, the two great sects had reached a plateau, capable of executing the Lunisolar Glory but still unable to attain the more elusive Triple Glory. It took many years of research and cultivation for them to identify a potential solution. The missing piece of the puzzle was the star glow—a fundamental component necessary for the manifestation of the Triple Glory.
To remedy this deficiency, they sought the quintessential energy of kings, a cosmic force inextricably linked to the destinies of those who ruled. This enigmatic energy was the key to augmenting the star glow component, thereby completing the martial art.
Hence, for fifty years, these twenty-eight formidable individuals concealed themselves within the forested mountains on the outskirts of Chen-Xing City, situated tantalizingly close to the very epicenter of their vengeance. They had remained in obscurity, avoiding any form of contact with the outside world.
Upon learning of the deaths of Bu Jingtian and his retinue, they commenced their investigation, unraveling the truth behind this shocking event. Astonishingly, the reports indicated that in a brief span of time, a total of forty-eight preeminent cultivators, including Bu Jingtian, had met their demise. Feng Zhiling, the sovereign of Ling-Bao Hall, had dispatched Bu Jingtian with a single palm strike.
Recognizing the formidable might of Feng Zhiling, they inferred that his ability to eliminate such accomplished opponents was closely linked to his possession of the fabled poison beads and his strategic acumen. While his cultivation level was not particularly impressive, they believed that by maintaining a safe distance from him and engaging in long-range combat, they could overcome him. Defeating him appeared to be a straightforward endeavor, provided they could incapacitate him.
Their meticulous preparations and detailed planning made it possible for them to lay a trap near Ling-Bao Hall. Their meticulous and comprehensive strategy allowed them to bypass any unnecessary delays.
Cha Eun Xiao remained in the dark about the intricate web of circumstances surrounding his current predicament. He grappled with the disadvantages he faced, oblivious to the meticulous planning and the long-standing enmity that had brought him to this point.
Now, with the twenty-eight streams of power uniting in a display of overwhelming energy, Cha Eun Xiao was taken by surprise. The impact was staggering, placing him under intense pressure, pushing him to the brink of exhaustion. His defense was tested to the limit, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might collapse under the sudden assault.