Monarch's Burst! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao's brow furrowed in unmistakable recognition, a gnawing sensation of unease welling up within him. An inexplicable swell of resentment and enmity coursed through his chest, akin to a raging wildfire scorching the land.
"This sensation…" Cha Eun Xiao's thoughts raced, piecing together the fragments of memory. "It's akin to the martial arts of the three super factions within the Qing-Yun Realm. A feeling I've encountered when I was surrounded by them back then. Yes, I distinctly remember that."
The familiar, malevolent sensation ignited his eyes with fury, and an abrupt shout to the heavens ensued. Cha Eun Xiao's latent powers surged, repeatedly shattering the barriers that had previously constrained him, leaving the watching adversaries in disbelief.
Resolute in his decision, Cha Eun Xiao resolved to no longer conceal his true capabilities. He channeled his power and his spiritual qi burst forth like a deluge, flooding the very spaces surrounding him. The qi surged through him, energizing every fiber of his being. The veil concealing his hidden potential was lifted, and his aura became palpable and awe-inspiring.
Cha Eun Xiao's hunched form transformed. He stood tall and unwavering, devoid of the former signs of fatigue and imminent collapse. His figure, like a colossal divine sword unsheathed, bridged the gap between heaven and earth. Brilliant rays of sharp light radiated from him, its brilliance an eternal testament to his indomitable spirit.
His malevolent aura swept forth, breaking apart into countless unseen blades of ethereal energy, each hurtling forth like invisible arrows. The East-rising Purple Qi materialized into a defensive barrier and shifted, moving back slightly before surging forward once more. Cha Eun Xiao now embodied an overlord, commanding an imperious, world-shaking energy that could overpower all.
His profound reserves of spiritual qi were swiftly depleted by the intensity of the power surging within him, yet it replenished itself with even greater swiftness. The spiritual channels, the Jing, and Mai, expanded and fortified, elevating his original cultivation level beyond its limitations. What should have been a mere fifth level of the Sky Origin Stage now propelled him into the middle stages of the same level, and it continued to rise.
The twenty-eight men confronted an overwhelming force, incapable of comprehending the inexplicable shift in events. Cha Eun Xiao's transformation and his sudden dominance left them paralyzed in awe. The dominion of his murderous energy crashed upon them, asserting the prowess of a conqueror.
Thus, Cha Eun Xiao, who had been entangled in a losing battle, had turned the tide of fortune. He stood in the superior position, forcing the collective energy of the twenty-eight formidable men to retreat and acknowledge his newfound power.
In essence, Cha Eun Xiao's genuine prowess was insufficient to secure victory when confronted by a single one of the twenty-eight adversaries. Nevertheless, they were engaged in a battle of vitality, where Cha Eun Xiao's murderous energy emanated from the essence of the Xiao Monarch's soul.
The vigor contained within the soul of a Dao Origin Stage cultivator like Xiao Monarch could overpower even two hundred and eighty opponents, let alone the mere twenty-eight men standing before Cha Eun Xiao. This was a disparity spanning two spiritual dimensions. While Cha Eun Xiao had merely harnessed a fragment of Xiao Monarch's soul, the accompanying aura of murderous intent and energy remained unparalleled in the world.
Moreover, the East-rising Purple Qi at the second level played an instrumental role in bolstering the suppression. Though the twenty-eight men might have been able to subjugate the entire Land of Han-Yang, they paled in comparison to Xiao Monarch, who once reigned supreme over the Qing-Yun Realm.
In a direct confrontation relying on pure spiritual qi, the outcome would have been different. Cha Eun Xiao embodied the vigor and determination of the Xiao Monarch but lacked the corresponding cultivation level. After all, one cannot make a fist without a hand. In such a physical confrontation, even if Cha Eun Xiao emerged victorious, he would have emerged severely battered.
However, due to their apprehension of Cha Eun Xiao's poison beads, the men opted for a more cautious approach to initiate the battle. The consequence was the inadvertent awakening of the profound animosity and hostility buried deep within Cha Eun Xiao's soul.
Initially, Cha Eun Xiao hadn't intended to engage in such an explosive manner. His initial plan involved employing a level 1 East-rising Purple Qi, a calculated and protracted approach. His intention was to wear down the enemy and wait for them to exhaust themselves before launching a decisive, energy-fueled assault to eliminate them one by one.
But it was the latent, overwhelming hostility concealed deep within his soul that precipitated the eruption. The release of this immense force coincided with the very moment the twenty-eight men unleashed their most devastating attack. What followed was an incredibly fierce counterattack.
The reaction of the twenty-eight men was immediate. They were seized by an agonizing pain in their heads, their vision blurred and minds thrown into disarray. Blood flowed from their eyes, noses, mouths, and ears. The weaker among them even coughed up blood, their internal organs suffering grievous harm, leaving them entirely incapacitated.
Of the twenty-three affected men, seven sustained substantial internal injuries, rendering them combat-inept. A mere five men emerged unscathed.
Even they, however, experienced a pulsating discomfort in their heads during the violent burst of energy. Their surroundings grew muted, as if their hearing had vanished.
It took some time for the men to regain their composure from the shock, their expressions etched with terror.
At that moment, they realized Cha Eun Xiao had been concealing his genuine abilities all along. It was only now that he had finally unleashed his full might, culminating in the abrupt termination of the conflict.
"No wonder he cooperated so seamlessly," they collectively concluded, recognizing the calculated deception. "He deliberately guided us to this point, where he could execute a devastating, all-encompassing strike."