Ling Xuan whispered to himself, "Let's dance," as his 172 meridians began to absorb and conduct Qi throughout his entire body. His figure began to glow faintly, a sign of the immense power circulating within him.
With a surge of energy, he unleashed his self-created technique.
Self-Created Technique - Crimson Void Barrage!
BOOM!
The air around them crackled as the space itself seemed to tear apart. Ren Tai, gripping his summoned Greatsword of Equality, swung the massive blade toward Ling Xuan, meeting the attack head-on.
Greatsword of Equality Technique - Total Equalisation!
A powerful wave of Qi erupted from the clash, rippling outward as the two forces collided. Ling Xuan immediately felt the strength in his fists being sapped away, reduced to match the power of Ren Tai's weapon.
"Good move," Ling Xuan acknowledged, his voice calm as he quickly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, he aimed a precise punch straight at Ren Tai's unguarded lower abdomen.
"Shit," Ren Tai cursed under his breath. He could see the attack coming but knew he had no time to dodge. The proximity and speed of Ling Xuan's strike made escape impossible.
But just as Ling Xuan's fist was about to connect, he abruptly halted his attack and retreated.
A split second later—
BOOM!
An explosion erupted where Ling Xuan had stood just moments before. The ground shattered, sending dust and debris flying.
"I'm afraid, O Warrior of The Empire, I can't just let you kill one of the last of The White Blade Sect, now can I?" a cold voice called out as a figure stepped forward, placing herself between Ling Xuan and Ren Tai.
Liu Xuehua's appearance had drastically changed. Her entire body was now encased in a black leather armour that gleamed ominously in the dim light. The armour covered everything except for her eyes, which were bloodshot and filled with unwavering determination.
White Blade Sect - True Art - Armour Manifestation!
Ling Xuan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the woman standing before him. Liu Xuehua, the Vice Sect Master of The White Blade Sect, was no ordinary opponent. Known as the Mistress of The Blade, she was the strongest Master in the Sect, second only to Sect Master Linhua. Her tactical brilliance was renowned, particularly in the division and restructuring of the Sect into three major divisions to enhance its operational effectiveness.
This was also why Lei Tei had targeted her first—to weaken her before she could fully unleash her power.
"I have to take her out first." Ling Xua determined and dashed towards Xuehua who prepared herself as well.
Seeing this Ren Tai looked towards the still distant Zhou Qianfeng.
"Oi you bastard come help us over here!" Ren Tai shouted as he charged towards Ling Xuan as well.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, inside the domain...
BOOM!
The space within the domain twisted and distorted as Linhua's Blade of Twisted Space hurled itself toward Lei Tei. Reacting quickly, Lei Tei summoned a bolt of lightning, hurling it at the incoming attack.
The two forces collided mid-air. The lightning bolt clashed with the twisted blade, sending ripples through the fabric of the domain. The bolt dissipated into sparks, while the Blade of Twisted Space was knocked back, momentarily disrupted but not destroyed.
Linhua narrowed her eyes, realizing that the blade's spatial warping ability alone wouldn't be enough to overpower Lei Tei. With a swift motion, she changed tactics. The Blade of Twisted Space began to twist and reshape itself, the crystalline structure warping into something entirely different. The weapon transformed into a longsword-like blade, its surface shifting with a mixture of colors that seemed to pulse with ancient power.
White Blade Sect Mythical Weapon Technique - Myriad Blades 5th Form: Blade of Ancient Elements!
Linhua swung the newly-formed blade toward Lei Tei, unleashing a roaring firestorm that surged forward with destructive intent.
Lei Tei's expression remained stoic as lightning gathered in his arms, crackling with raw energy. With a forceful motion, he reached out and grabbed hold of the firestorm itself. But just as his lightning-infused hands made contact, the flames abruptly vanished into thin air.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, Linhua had bent space to her will, appearing behind Lei Tei with blinding speed. Before he could react, she struck.
BANG!
The impact was powerful, sending shockwaves through Lei Tei's body as the blade connected with his back. He staggered forward, the force of the blow reverberating through him, but he quickly regained his footing, the intense lightning energy around him flaring up in response.
"That was close," Lei Tei thought, wincing slightly as he felt the searing effect of the Blade of Ancient Elements lingering in the wound. The continuous damage reminded him of the remnant lightning from the Dragon of Innumerable Lightning—a relentless, gnawing force that didn't allow the wound to heal easily.
Yet something was off.
As the creator of the domain, Lei Tei had an innate sense of every movement and change within this enclosed space. But when Linhua had teleported behind him, he hadn't detected it. The realisation sent a ripple of unease through him.
"Something is wrong," Lei Tei muttered, his frown deepening. How had she managed to bypass his sensory control over the domain?
Before he could dwell further, Linhua attacked again. The Blade of Ancient Elements shifted once more, morphing back into the Blade of Twisted Space. She vanished, reappearing in a different location, her movements fluid and untraceable within the domain.
Lei Tei's eyes narrowed as he followed her with precision. "Is this all you have, O Sect Master? No techniques or skills other than the blade?" His voice dripped with a challenge, hoping to draw out something more from his opponent.
Linhua's gaze was cold and unwavering. "I require no such method. The Blade is far more than enough to compensate for all such." Her voice held a quiet confidence, and as she spoke, the blade in her hand began to shift again, taking on a new shape.
"Very well then," Lei Tei remarked as lightning crackled around him, coalescing into a massive, ethereal form. The energy twisted and surged, taking the shape of a colossal dragon made entirely of pure lightning.
Mythical Being - Dragon of Innumerable Lightning!
GRAOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!
The dragon's roar reverberated through the domain, shaking the very fabric of the space. The air crackled with electricity, and the ground beneath their feet trembled as if the sheer power of the creature was too much for the domain to contain.
Linhua's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the shifting blade in her hand. The Dragon's immense presence dominated the battlefield, its scales crackling with energy as it glared down at her, ready to unleash its wrath.
"Let's fucking go," Lei Tei muttered, a fierce grin spreading across his face as he and the dragon charged toward Linhua in unison.
The Dragon of Innumerable Lightning surged forward, its massive form moving with a speed that belied its size. Bolts of lightning lashed out from its body, striking the ground and sending arcs of electricity dancing through the air. Lei Tei followed closely behind, his body enveloped in the dragon's lightning aura, ready to strike at the moment of impact.