"Suppress," Dao Wei's voice was low, but it echoed with the authority of a god, reverberating through the mountain range.
The ethereal finger pressed down with the weight of the heavens. The moonlight-drenched swords vanished, disintegrated into nothingness. Wei Jun's assault was overpowered, his technique overwhelmed by the sheer might of the divine suppression.
When the finger finally made contact with the ground, the shockwave that followed was immeasurable. Trees were uprooted, stones hurled into the air, and the very earth split open as the force of Dao Wei's power reverberated across the landscape. The once beautiful garden was now nothing more than a crater of destruction, the land scarred by the display of divine power.
A shockwave rippled outward, bending trees, churning clouds, and sending bolts of residual lightning splintering across the landscape. The ground quaked, stones levitated, and the very air seemed to scream under the pressure of the unleashed power. Yet, Dao Wei stood unmoved at the center of the storm, his gaze calm and unyielding. His Silver Halo shimmered, the Lightning arc spinning faster, feeding more power into the divine finger as it descended.
The storm cleared as quickly as it had arrived. The vortex in the sky slowly closed, the thunderclouds dissipating. The moon's light dimmed, the once-bright blades of moonlight now gone. Wei Jun stood amidst the ruins, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, but his expression remained calm, and composed.
As the dust settled, Dao Wei slowly lowered his hand. The vortex in the sky began to close, the thunderclouds dissipating, leaving behind a clear, starry night. The lingering hum of residual lightning crackled in the distance, a reminder of the power that had just been unleashed. His Elemental Wheel dimmed slightly, though the Lightning arc still shone brightly, a reminder of the power he now wielded.
Wei Jun stood amidst the destruction, his breath heavy but controlled. His War God faded into the ether, its presence no longer necessary, satisfied with the destruction it had wrought. The swords of Moonrush were gone, their remnants scattered in the wind like dust.
For a long moment, silence reigned. The only sound was the faint hum of residual lightning still crackling in the air. The garden, now a shadow of its former beauty, lay in ruins. The air was thick with the smell of ozone, the remnants of the battle still crackling in the distance. Dao Wei closed his eyes as though the fight had never truly tested him, feeling the aftershocks of his own power reverberating through his body. He had wielded the power of the heavens, and with it, had left an indelible mark upon the world. His robes fluttered gently, stirred by the lingering energy. The technique had been more than a simple display—it was a declaration. He had wielded the power of the heavens, and with it, had left an indelible mark upon the world.
Dao Wei smiled, his back straight and proud, the thunderbolts still softly glowing around him. The demonstration was over, but its impact was only just beginning to unfold. This was the power of a true cultivator, one who defied the heavens and bent them to his will.
And this was only the first move.
As he opened his eyes, there was a new gleam in his gaze, a subtle confidence that came from knowing he had touched upon something few would ever dare. The air around him crackled with the last remnants of lightning as if even the heavens refused to fully let go of his presence. Dao Wei looked toward Wei Jun, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips
"Third Brother," he said, his voice light, though there was an unmistakable hint of amusement. "It seems I've won this round." Finally, Dao Wei broke the silence, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.
Wei Jun stood amidst the debris, the moon casting a soft glow over his figure. His expression was calm, though the power he had just unleashed was not merely a technique but a force of nature, a testament to the brutality and unyielding strength of the War God himself, a reminder of the sheer might of the Moonrush Sword Kill. He had been overpowered by the divine suppression.
Wei Jun huffed, lowering his sword and sheathing it. His lips quirked upward in a begrudging smile. "So it seems." Wei Jun chuckled, shaking his head as the War God behind him slowly faded, his presence no longer needed. "You always find a way to surprise us, second brother. What the hell was that?"
The tension between them dissipated, replaced by a sense of mutual respect. Despite the fierce battle, there was no enmity, only the bond of brothers testing each other's limits.
From the side, Lu Shen finally found his voice, stepping forward while shaking his head in disbelief. "Do you two have any idea what you've done?" he asked, gesturing to the ruined garden. "Did you two 'have' to destroy everything?" His tone was exasperated, yet there was a hint of admiration in his voice. The destruction caused by their fight was nothing short of phenomenal. "The elders are going to kill us when they see this."
Dao Wei chuckled, picking up a jar of Spirit Wine that had miraculously survived the destruction. "We'll fix it later," he said, uncorking the bottle and offering it to Wei Jun. "For now, let's drink."
Wei Jun accepted the bottle, taking a deep swig before handing it back to Dao Wei. "We really went overboard with this one," he admitted, glancing around at the devastation they had caused.
Dao Wei took the flask, and took a long sip, "Just a bit," he said, grinning. "But it's been a while since we've had a good fight."
"You think?" Lu Shen said, exasperated. "The garden is gone. Completely. What am I supposed to tell the elders?"
Dao Wei grinned, taking another long drink from the bottle. "Tell them to fix it up themselves if they have a problem." He held up the jar. "Care for a drink?"
Lu Shen sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll need more than one." Lu Shen took the flask reluctantly, his gaze still fixed on the destruction. "Next time, maybe we should spar somewhere a little less... delicate."
Wei Jun laughed, his voice rich and full of life. "Where's the fun in that?"
The three brothers sat amidst the ruins, the moonlight once again soft and serene as it bathed the scarred landscape in its glow. The battle was over, but their bond had only grown stronger, forged in the heat of battle and the warmth of shared victory. The three of them continued drinking Spirit Wine under the soft glow of the moon, their laughter echoing into the night
Dao Wei leaned against the remains of a tree stump, holding the jar of Spirit Wine with a playful grin on his face. The air was still buzzing from the energy of their fight, but for now, the atmosphere was calm, almost tranquil. He took another swig, the rich warmth of the wine spreading through his body, and passed the jar back to Wei Jun.
"That was something," Wei Jun said, tipping the jar back and taking a deep drink. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "But seriously, Second Brother, did you have to finish me off with just a finger? That's unfair!" He laughed, though the playful complaint was layered with genuine curiosity. "No sword, no flashy technique. You just... did whatever that was!"
Dao Wei shrugged, his face still relaxed as if the immense display of power had been nothing more than a casual exercise. "It's not like I planned it, Third Brother," he said, looking up at the moon now beginning to peek out from the clouds again. "The technique just... happened. Something about it felt natural."
"Natural?" Wei Jun scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Crushing my Moonrush Sword with just one finger is 'natural'? Next, you'll tell me you accidentally shattered the whole garden too."
"Well..." Dao Wei's grin widened as he took the jar back. "That's not my fault. Senior Brother can handle that, right?"
Lu Shen, still surveying the destruction with a helpless look, finally snapped his gaze to the two of them. "Oh sure, just leave it to me, Second Brother. I'll tell the elders their precious garden was reduced to rubble because you two couldn't resist a little sparring match." He reached out and snatched the jar from Dao Wei's hand, taking a long, slow drink. "I should make you both do the repairs."
"Elder Brother," Wei Jun said, trying to stifle a laugh, "aren't you always saying one needs to practice and push their limits? Well, now you've got proof we're doing just that."
Lu Shen sighed deeply, handing the jar back to Dao Wei. "There's practice, and then there's leveling an entire garden. I swear, if I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to destroy the sect."
"At least we still have the wine," Dao Wei said cheerfully, raising the jar in a mock toast before taking another drink. His eyes sparkled with the mischief of someone who knew exactly how much chaos they had caused but was too relaxed to care.
Wei Jun leaned back, rolling his shoulders with a satisfied groan. "Still though, Second Brother, that finger technique. What was it?"
Dao Wei tilted his head thoughtfully, swirling the wine in the jar. "Honestly? I don't really know. I think it's called 'One Finger Suppress the Heavens.'"
"One Finger Suppress the Heavens," Wei Jun repeated slowly, rubbing his chin in thought. "Sounds impressive, but you didn't even use a sword. It's not fair, Second Brother. How can I call myself swordsman when you're out here beating me with a single finger?"
Lu Shen smirked, finally seeing his chance to poke fun at Wei Jun. "Imagine being defeated by a single finger, Third Brother. It must be humbling."
Wei Jun groaned, throwing his hands up in mock frustration. "Don't rub it in, First Brother! It's bad enough that I'm going to have to train for years just to come close to matching that technique."
Dao Wei handed the jar back to Wei Jun, who accepted it with a rueful smile. "Just admit it, Third Brother," Dao Wei said, his voice light with teasing. "You'll always be one step behind me. But look on the bright side—you've got Spirit Wine to help you drown your sorrows."
Wei Jun chuckled, taking another deep drink. "You may be right about that. But one of these days, Second Brother, I'm going to make you use your sword in a real fight. Then we'll see who's really one step ahead."
Lu Shen crossed his arms, his lips twitching into a smile. "I'd like to see that. But until then, you're stuck as the youngest of us, Third Brother."