The sky cracked open as Feng Yuntian's sword descended, a massive bolt of lightning erupting from the heavens with a deafening roar. The ground trembled, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze as the celestial energy collided with the wave of dark energy unleashed by the cloaked figure. The force of the impact was unimaginable, shaking the very foundation of the sect and sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Time seemed to slow as the two opposing forces fought for dominance, the light and darkness locked in an eternal struggle. Every cultivator within the Heavenly Sword Sect looked on in awe, unable to comprehend the sheer power that was being unleashed before them. To them, this was a battle between gods.
Feng Yuntian gritted his teeth, his muscles straining as he channeled every ounce of his cultivation into his sword. The Skyshatter Codex's power surged through him, amplifying his strength, but even so, he could feel the weight of the dark energy pressing down on him. It was relentless, suffocating, as if the very essence of the void itself had taken form.
But he refused to back down.
With a roar, Feng Yuntian pushed forward, the lightning around him intensifying as he poured his will into the attack. The sky responded, sending another bolt of lightning crashing down, merging with the first and adding to the force of his strike.
For a moment, it seemed as though the dark energy would falter. The wave of destruction began to waver, flickering as if it was losing its cohesion. Feng Yuntian's heart surged with hope.
But then, the cloaked figure raised his hand once more, and the dark energy swelled. The wave of destruction surged forward with renewed strength, pushing back against the celestial lightning. The pressure was overwhelming, and for the first time, Feng Yuntian felt his own energy begin to falter.
He knew that he couldn't hold out much longer.
"Is this... the limit?" Feng Yuntian muttered through gritted teeth, sweat dripping down his brow. His vision blurred, and his body screamed in protest, but he refused to let go. He couldn't. Not here. Not now.
The figure's voice cut through the storm, cold and mocking. "You should have known your place, mortal."
Feng Yuntian's heart pounded in his chest. The figure's power was beyond anything he had faced, but even in the face of such overwhelming strength, something inside him refused to surrender. Deep within his soul, a spark of defiance ignited, burning brighter than the lightning that surrounded him.
He closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself. He had faced death before. He had stood on the edge of oblivion, both in this life and in his past life as Xuan Jiutian. But each time, he had pushed beyond his limits, refusing to be consumed by fate.
"I will not fall..." Feng Yuntian whispered, his voice barely audible, but filled with conviction. "Not here."
And then, something shifted.
A surge of energy erupted from within Feng Yuntian's body, far beyond what he had ever experienced. It was as if the heavens themselves had answered his call, granting him the strength to continue. His spiritual sea roared to life, and the Skyshatter Codex resonated with him, its ancient power awakening fully for the first time.
His eyes snapped open, glowing with a brilliant light.
The lightning around him exploded, not just from the sky, but from his very being. It wasn't just celestial energy anymore—it was something far more profound, something that transcended the mortal world. The storm above seemed to bend to his will, swirling around him as if he had become the eye of the tempest.
The figure in the cloak hesitated, sensing the change. For the first time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in the air around him.
"Impossible..." the figure muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. "No mortal should possess such power."
Feng Yuntian didn't respond. His focus was entirely on the energy surging through him, guiding it, shaping it. With a single thought, the lightning around him coalesced into a single point at the tip of his sword, glowing with an intensity that rivaled the sun.
And then, with a single slash, he unleashed it.
The lightning tore through the air, a beam of pure, unrelenting energy that ripped apart the dark wave before it, shattering it into nothingness. The ground split beneath its force, and the storm above scattered as if the sky itself had been cleaved in two.
The cloaked figure barely had time to react. His eyes widened in shock as the beam of lightning struck him, enveloping him in a blinding flash of light. The ground trembled, and a deafening explosion shook the battlefield, sending debris flying in all directions.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence.
As the dust settled, Feng Yuntian stood alone in the center of the battlefield, his sword lowered at his side. His chest heaved with exhaustion, and his body ached from the strain of the battle, but he remained standing.
The cloaked figure was gone, nothing left of him but a scorched patch of earth where he had once stood.
Feng Yuntian exhaled slowly, his body trembling as the last remnants of his celestial energy faded. He had done it. He had defeated the figure, but at what cost? His body felt like it was on the verge of collapse, and his spiritual sea was nearly depleted.
But as he stood there, he realized something.
The figure's power had been far too great for him to be just a random enemy. This wasn't just a coincidence. Whoever had sent this figure knew about the Skyshatter Codex, and they were willing to go to extreme lengths to obtain it.
This was only the beginning.
Back at the sect, Li Xue and the other disciples rushed toward Feng Yuntian, their faces filled with awe and concern. "Senior Brother!" Li Xue called out, her voice trembling. "Are you alright?"
Feng Yuntian nodded, though he could barely keep himself upright. "I'm fine," he said quietly, though the exhaustion in his voice was clear.
Li Xue didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press the issue. "That... that was incredible," she said, her eyes wide. "I've never seen anything like that."
Feng Yuntian gave her a faint smile, but inside, his mind was racing. He had won the battle, but the war was far from over. Whoever had sent that figure was still out there, and they wouldn't stop until they got what they wanted.
As the disciples gathered around him, Feng Yuntian's gaze drifted toward the horizon, where the storm had finally begun to dissipate.
He knew that greater challenges lay ahead, and that his journey to reclaim his power was only just beginning.