Feng Yuntian stood on the sect's walls, watching as the storm rolled closer, demonic beasts crashing against the barriers like waves against a cliff. His mind raced, but his heart remained steady. He had felt this moment coming, a force powerful enough to challenge him, yet unknown. And now, the cloaked figure within the storm had made his intentions clear.
The Skyshatter Codex.
Li Xue's eyes were sharp as she stood beside him, her sword drawn. "Are we ready for this?"
Feng Yuntian didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the figure in the distance, the one whose spiritual pressure was suffocating even from this range. He knew that the ordinary disciples wouldn't stand a chance against such a being. "I'll deal with him. Focus on keeping the others safe."
Li Xue nodded, but there was hesitation in her eyes. "You don't have to face him alone."
"This is beyond the sect's strength," Feng Yuntian said quietly. "But I've fought greater threats before. Trust me."
Without waiting for a reply, Feng Yuntian leaped from the wall, descending swiftly toward the battlefield below. His robes billowed in the wind as his feet touched the ground with a soft thud. Around him, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples fought valiantly against the demonic beasts, but the sheer number of enemies made it a losing battle.
He didn't waste time. The air crackled with energy as Feng Yuntian summoned his spiritual power, his eyes gleaming with determination. With a single thought, the "Heavenly Descent" technique surged through him, calling upon the celestial energy of the skies. Lightning danced at his fingertips as the air around him shimmered with power.
As he stepped forward, the demonic beasts that dared to approach were blasted back by arcs of lightning. Each movement was precise, controlled, as if Feng Yuntian was in complete harmony with the heavens above. Within moments, he had cleared a path through the battlefield, his eyes never leaving the cloaked figure approaching in the distance.
Back at the sect, Elder Yun and the other elders stood at the central courtyard, their faces drawn with concern. The storm's unnatural spiritual energy had grown stronger, and even the most seasoned of them felt its oppressive weight.
"We need to send reinforcements," Elder Han urged, his tone sharp. "Feng Yuntian cannot face this alone."
Elder Yun shook his head, though his expression was troubled. "You know as well as I do, Elder Han, that no one here can stand against that kind of power. This fight is beyond us."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Wait here while he risks his life?" Elder Han's voice was edged with frustration.
"We must trust him," Elder Yun said quietly. "He has already surpassed what we expected of him. If anyone can face this threat, it's him."
As Feng Yuntian closed the distance between himself and the figure at the heart of the storm, he could feel the immense spiritual pressure bearing down on him. It was unlike anything he had faced since his rebirth, and the weight of it pressed against his chest, threatening to suffocate him.
Yet he remained calm.
The figure emerged from the swirling clouds of darkness, standing tall and shrouded in a black cloak. His face was hidden, but the aura of malevolence around him was palpable. Lightning crackled around them, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
"So, you are the one who possesses the Skyshatter Codex," the figure said, his voice low and cold. "A mere mortal with the audacity to wield power far beyond his comprehension."
Feng Yuntian's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond immediately. He had no interest in wasting words on an enemy that clearly intended to kill him. His grip tightened around his sword as he focused his energy, preparing for what was to come.
"Who are you?" he finally asked, though the question was more for strategy than curiosity.
The figure chuckled darkly, the sound echoing unnaturally in the storm. "You need not know my name. But I will tell you this—I am a harbinger of the darkness that will soon consume this world. You, with your precious Codex, are merely the first step in a far greater plan."
Without warning, the figure raised his hand, and a torrent of dark energy surged toward Feng Yuntian. The force of it was immense, twisting the air and cracking the ground as it shot forward. But Feng Yuntian was prepared.
With a swift movement, he raised his sword, and the sky above responded. Thunder roared as a bolt of lightning descended, striking the ground between him and the figure. The impact was blinding, and for a moment, the two forces collided, the dark energy and celestial lightning locked in a fierce struggle.
Feng Yuntian gritted his teeth, pushing back against the overwhelming force. His cultivation surged within him, the Skyshatter Codex's power amplifying his abilities as he channeled the celestial energy into his sword. Slowly, the dark energy began to recede, and with a final push, Feng Yuntian shattered the attack.
The figure in the cloak remained unmoved, though there was a flicker of surprise in the air around him. "Impressive," he said, his voice calm. "But this is only the beginning."
Before Feng Yuntian could respond, the figure vanished, reappearing behind him in a flash of dark energy. Feng Yuntian spun just in time to block the next attack, his sword clashing against a blade of pure darkness that had materialized in the figure's hand.
The force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, but Feng Yuntian held firm, his feet digging into the ground as he pushed back. His eyes locked onto the figure's hidden face, and for the first time, he felt a surge of excitement.
This was a real challenge.
The battle raged on, the sky above flashing with lightning and the ground below shaking with the force of their blows. Around them, the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect watched in awe and terror as Feng Yuntian fought against the mysterious figure, his power growing with each strike.
But despite his strength, Feng Yuntian could sense that his opponent was holding back. The figure moved with unnatural speed, his attacks precise and unrelenting, yet there was a sense of restraint, as if he was testing Feng Yuntian's limits.
"Is that all you've got?" Feng Yuntian taunted, his breath coming in short bursts as he deflected another strike.
The figure laughed softly, the sound chilling in the storm. "You have no idea what you're up against, mortal."
And then, without warning, the figure's spiritual pressure surged, doubling in intensity. The air around them became suffocating, and for the first time, Feng Yuntian felt a sliver of doubt creep into his mind.
This was a power far beyond anything he had faced since his rebirth.
The figure raised his hand once more, and this time, the darkness around him seemed to swallow the very light from the sky. A massive wave of dark energy began to gather, coalescing into a single point of pure destruction.
Feng Yuntian's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. This was no ordinary attack. This was a technique meant to annihilate everything in its path.
He had no choice.
With a deep breath, Feng Yuntian raised his sword to the heavens. The celestial energy around him flared to life, brighter and more intense than ever before. He could feel the Skyshatter Codex's power coursing through him, and in that moment, he knew what he had to do.
As the figure unleashed the wave of dark energy, Feng Yuntian brought his sword down, and the heavens responded.