Dark, red thunders crackled across the heavens, painting the battlefield with an ominous, blood-soaked hue. Each streak of lightning carried an oppressive weight, as if the heavens themselves were judging the mortal chaos below. Shen Yuan's army stood in grim silence, gazing at the horrifying spectacle above them. On the other side, Elder Tian Xu, Feng Mo, and Zhou Rui tensed, their seasoned instincts warning them of impending doom.
Elder Tian Xu's sharp eyes flickered to Shen Yuan, leaning lazily against a wall, his posture exuding an air of carelessness. Yet, what caught Tian Xu's breath was the smirk curling on Shen Yuan's lips, a deadly, knowing smile.
"Damn it!" Tian Xu hissed, his voice filled with urgency. "That thunder... it's his doing! Retreat! Everyone, retreat—!"
Before his words could reach the ears of the elders in the sky, the red thunder struck. A single bolt descended like a judge's gavel, splitting into countless smaller arcs that targeted Tian Xu's army with terrifying precision.
Screams filled the air as the red lightning tore through cultivators, their bodies exploding into pools of blood upon contact. The stench of charred flesh and the metallic tang of blood assaulted the senses. The once-formidable army of Tian Xu was reduced to chaos, cultivators falling like leaves in a storm. Though to be precise they were more burnt and bloody than leaves.
Even Shen Yuan's own soldiers faltered, their faces pale with nausea and disbelief. Many turned their eyes toward Shen Yuan, their leader, who remained unmoved by the carnage. A few whispered among themselves.
"H-How can he be so ruthless?"
"This… this is beyond what I imagined..."
Shen Yuan's crimson eyes flicked toward them, silencing the murmurs instantly. His voice was calm, but his tone carried a chilling edge. "You hesitate? Then die like them. Or fight and live. The choice is yours."
His words reignited their resolve, though unease lingered in their hearts. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yuan's army launched themselves at the disoriented enemy, their blades cutting through the survivors of Tian Xu's army in a one-sided slaughter.
Shen Yuan weirdly felt a strange satisfaction after killing those elders as if they were nothing more than a stress-relieving mechanism.
From his position, Elder Tian Xu watched helplessly, his fists trembling with rage. "That arrogant child!" he roared.
Beside him, Feng Mo and Zhou Rui mirrored his fury. "To think this brat would dare destroy our forces like this," Zhou Rui growled.
Without another word, the three elders surged forward, their killing intent palpable. Yet, as they lunged toward Shen Yuan, a fiery blur intercepted Feng Mo.
"Grandfather." Feng Yanqing's voice was steady as she stood before Feng Mo, her Void Fire blazing around her. "I'll take care of you."
Feng Mo's eyes widened, a mix of fury and disbelief flashing across his face. "Yanqing! Even as my granddaughter, you dare—"
"I dare because I feel like it," she interrupted, her tone icy.
"Impudent!" Feng Mo roared, his aura flaring as he prepared to engage her.
At the same time, Bai Chen stepped forward, facing Zhou Rui with a calm determination. "Elder Zhou, your arrogance ends here."
Meanwhile, Elder Tian Xu continued his charge toward Shen Yuan, his focus unwavering. As a Nirvana Realm cultivator, his speed was obviously overwhelming, and before Shen Yuan could fully react, Tian Xu's hand had clamped around his neck.
"You insolent child," Tian Xu spat, his voice seething with hatred. "You think your tricks make you invincible? Let me show you the power of a true cultivator!"
Shen Yuan's smirk faltered for a moment as the pressure around his neck tightened. But then, his lips curled into a cold smile. "A true cultivator, you say?"
In an instant, a wave of Yin energy erupted from Shen Yuan's body. The air around them froze, the temperature plummeting to a bone-chilling cold. Tian Xu's expression twisted in pain as his palm began to rot, the flesh blackening as the Yin aura corroded it.
With a snarl, Tian Xu threw Shen Yuan away, shaking his hand to rid it of the rotting energy. Shen Yuan flipped mid-air, landing gracefully. His crimson eyes now burned with a demonic glow, their draconic slit pupils sending a shiver down Tian Xu's spine.
"What are you?" Tian Xu demanded, his voice laced with both anger and unease.
Shen Yuan straightened, his aura flaring like a dark tide, as he gave off a chilling smile. "I am…. Just an innocent child."
For the first time, Tian Xu felt a flicker of dread—not from Shen Yuan's words, but from the sheer malevolence in his gaze. Those eyes... they weren't human anymore.
Across the battlefield, Feng Yanqing clashed with Feng Mo, her Void Fire scorching the air as she matched her grandfather blow for blow. "You should've stayed out of this, Grandfather," she said, her voice steady despite the strain of battle.
"And you should've remembered your place, Yanqing!" Feng Mo bellowed, his fury fueling his attacks.
Bai Chen, meanwhile, had forced Zhou Rui into a defensive position, his precise strikes keeping the elder on edge.
Back on the ground, Shen Yuan and Tian Xu stood facing each other, their auras clashing violently. The ground beneath them cracked and crumbled under the pressure. Shen Yuan's mocking smile returned as he spoke, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You're afraid, aren't you, Elder Tian Xu? Afraid of a mere child."
Tian Xu's expression darkened. "Afraid? Of you? Don't make me laugh!"
Their energies surged to their peaks, the battlefield seeming to hold its breath as the two lunged at each other with ferocious intensity, their clash marking the beginning of a fight that could shake the world.