Outside the domain, chaos reigned as Ling Xuan relentlessly attacked the remaining White Blade Masters.
BANG!
A thunderous shockwave erupted as Ling Xuan's fist collided with Zhou Qianfeng's face, sending the wounded Master flying back. But Ling Xuan didn't pause. His gaze quickly shifted to Liu Xuehua, who was still trying to recover. Without hesitation, he grabbed her by the hair, lifting her off the ground, and began pummeling her face with brutal force.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Each punch turned Xuehua's face into a bloody mess, but Ling Xuan knew better than to let his guard down. He was well aware that her regenerative abilities would kick in soon if he didn't finish the job.
"I'm not letting you go now!" Ling Xuan growled, his grip tightening around her head as he began to exert crushing pressure.
Just then, a fierce shout rang out.
"Don't you dare!" Ren Tai roared in fury, charging toward Ling Xuan in a desperate attempt to save his comrade.
Ling Xuan smirked and, with a swift motion, hurled Xuehua's body toward Ren Tai. Startled, Ren Tai instinctively caught her. But as soon as Xuehua was in his arms, he noticed something strange. A spike was embedded in her face, and it was glowing ominously, as if ready to—
BOOM!
The explosion erupted with devastating force, consuming both Ren Tai and Xuehua in a fiery blast. The shockwave sent debris flying, and the ground trembled under the sheer intensity of the detonation. Ling Xuan stood firm, his expression cold as he observed the aftermath.
"That should keep them incapacitated for a while," Ling Xuan muttered, turning his gaze toward Zhou Qianfeng, who stood paralyzed with horror. The names of his fallen comrades, Ren Tai and Xuehua, trembled from his lips as he tried to comprehend the devastation before him.
"R-re-ren... Xu-e-h-hua..." Zhou Qianfeng stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
In an instant, Ling Xuan appeared before him, his hand locking around Zhou Qianfeng's throat like a vice. The suddenness of it left the wounded Master gasping for breath, his eyes wide with fear.
"You know, I didn't realise I was this powerful," Ling Xuan remarked casually, almost as if speaking to himself. It wasn't just arrogance—it was a genuine revelation. Ever since regaining his sealed memories, Ling Xuan had discovered the deeper meaning behind the Qi Beholder Method.
The titles of the levels were more than just names—they were truths. Each represented a fundamental transformation of Qi, an evolution of power.
"The Ox is a refiner, the Serpent is the weaver, the Tiger is a master, the Dragon is an infallible Lord, and the Golden Immortal is enlightened above all," Ling Xuan mused aloud, his grip tightening as he stared into Zhou Qianfeng's eyes.
Ling Xuan had barely grasped the implications of his newfound power when his thoughts were violently interrupted. He knew he had barely scratched the surface of these abilities, especially when it came to creating constructs with Qi.
"I need something to reference," Ling Xuan thought, the frustration evident as his mind wandered. But his thoughts were abruptly cut off by the gasping breaths of Zhou Qianfeng.
"Oh, I forgot you were still alive. Apologies," Ling Xuan said absentmindedly, tightening his grip on Zhou Qianfeng's throat, ready to crush his windpipe and end the struggle once and for all.
WHOOSH!
The sudden sound of something cutting through the air snapped Ling Xuan to attention. His pupils dilated as he spotted the incoming projectile, its shape unmistakable—an arrow!
"Shit!" Ling Xuan cursed, instinctively trying to dodge. But to his horror, his body refused to respond.
"What's happening?" Ling Xuan thought in panic as his limbs remained frozen, paralyzed by some unseen force. Before he could comprehend what was happening, the arrow struck.
BOOM!
The arrow exploded on impact, driving Ling Xuan back with its force. Blood spurted from his mouth as the shockwave ripped through his chest. He staggered, trying to regain his balance, his mind racing to understand what had just occurred.
"Qi-infused gunpowder arrows are something else, right?" a voice called out.
Ling Xuan recognized it immediately, his eyes narrowing in pain and anger. "Ou Yezhi!" he groaned through gritted teeth. The fourth and final Master of the White Blade Sect, the Master of the Forger's Market.
Ou Yezhi spectated the incapacitated trio.
"You guys sure have seen better days." Qu Yezhi spoke as he tossed some objects towards the three.
The objects came upon them and fused with their bodies.
"This is a method our White Blade Sect had devised to instantly heal. You see our Sect's True Weapons are infused with the Qi of our Sect Master which not only makes it powerful but also triggers rapid regeneration." Ou Yezhi remarked as the three began to heal rapidly.
White Blade Sect Technique - Weapon Art - True Weapon Unification!
"Well things just took a turn." Ling Xuan grimaced.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Within the domain,
A gargantuan wave of water rose over the land, into the sky, threatening to swallow everything within its path. Centrally in that turmoil were the Dragon of Innumerable Lightning and Lei Tei, unshaken by what was to come. The tsunami was overpowering and unstoppable, but none of them moved from their place.
BOOM!
With a huge thunderous roar, this massive wave and force of nature got annihilated. Only a punch that Lei Tei had hurled forward, one with the power to slash the air like a mountain, had somehow, in the same instant, banished that huge tsunami with all its fury into oblivion, leaving behind nothing but a shadow of its roar.
And as the waters receded away, from among the gloom and havoc ascended one more figure—Linhua. Her image was ghostly, proof of the harsh, brutal battle she had gone through. It had been a time when she had been whole and immaculate. Now she was ravaged, one eye gouged out and one arm torn.
"I only need to strike once!" Linhua's thoughts whispered in her mind, her grip tightening around her weapon. The sword she had wielded changed shape—it became a vile, curved blade with a shining silver texture, pulsing with a malevolent aura.