The cavern erupted into chaos as the disciples and cultivators clashed with the undead. Screams and shouts filled the air, mingling with the guttural growls of the reanimated corpses. Swords slashed, qi flared, and the stench of decay permeated every corner of the hall.
Bai Jian tightened his grip on Cloudsong, his eyes narrowing as a wave of zombies lunged toward him. He sidestepped one, activating his White Mist Step to dodge the creature's swipe, then retaliated with a swift slash that cleaved through its torso. The zombie staggered before collapsing, but more were already closing in on him.
Wang Shao fought nearby, his wood-attributed techniques flaring in green hues as he sent vines of energy lashing toward the undead, binding one and forcing it back before delivering a powerful blow to its head.
"Bai Jian, don't let them surround you!" he called out, his voice strained but determined.
"Same to you, Wang Shao!" Bai Jian shouted back, his gaze flicking over the battlefield.
The disciples of Crimson Star Palace and Ironwood Sect fought fiercely, but the relentless onslaught was taking a toll. Already, a few cultivators lay lifeless on the ground, their bodies torn apart by the undead. It was clear that the Zombie Patriarch's dark power was far beyond anything they had anticipated.
As Bai Jian cut down another zombie, he spared a glance toward the center of the hall, where Zheng Rui battled with fierce resolve. The City Lord moved with precision, each strike of his blade laced with powerful qi that tore through the undead. He was like a fortress amidst the chaos, steady and unyielding, but even he was feeling the strain of the seemingly endless swarm.
The Zombie Patriarch watched the scene unfold, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Yes… fight! Struggle! All of your efforts will only serve to strengthen me in the end," he taunted, his hollow voice carrying over the din of battle.
"The Celestial Wind Clan sacrificed themselves for my ambition, and now, you will all do the same."
Zheng Rui's eyes flashed with anger as he blocked a clawed strike from an undead. "You sacrificed your own people, your own kin, for this twisted existence! You are nothing but a monster wearing the guise of a cultivator!" he spat, slashing through the zombie with a single powerful swing.
The Zombie Patriarch laughed darkly. "Foolish words from a man clinging to his morals. Let us see how long they protect you."
Bai Jian continued to fight, his senses honed to their limit. He had no time to think, only react. He used White Mist Step to dodge a lunge from a particularly quick zombie, then countered with Heaven-Shattering Fist, channeling his qi into a powerful blow that shattered the creature's chest, sending it flying backward.
But the undead just kept coming, wave after wave, their decayed faces twisted with hunger as they clawed at the living. The disciples around him were beginning to falter, exhaustion evident in their movements as they struggled to fend off the relentless assault. The Ironwood Sect and Crimson Star Palace disciples, despite their bravado, were now visibly shaken, realizing the enormity of the threat they faced.
"Bai Jian!" Wang Shao called out, his voice strained as he grappled with a particularly large zombie. "We have to hold on. If we fall here… there's no one else left!"
Bai Jian gritted his teeth, nodding in silent determination. He could feel the weight of survival pressing down on him, reminding him of the brutal reality of the cultivation world. In this world, strength was the only way to survive, and today was a brutal testament to that truth.
He steadied his breath, pushing his exhaustion aside as he swung Cloudsong in a wide arc, cutting down two more zombies.
"We're not going down here," he murmured to himself, his gaze flickering with renewed determination.
As the chaos surged around him, Bai Jian took a steadying breath and shut his eyes, temporarily blocking out the relentless groans of the undead and the clang of steel. He focused inward, channeling his attention toward Cloudsong in his hand, feeling its weight and the quiet, latent power that resided within. The memory of the elder's strike echoed in his mind.
Slowly, he let his senses expand, attuning himself to the faint currents of air circulating through the cavern. A sense of calm washed over him, the turmoil around him momentarily fading as he found himself enveloped by the subtle movements of air. The atmosphere thickened, like the quiet before a storm, and he could feel the energy around him responding, aligning with the calm resolve in his heart.
Bai Jian's eyes snapped open, filled with a sharp clarity. He raised Cloudsong, feeling a faint aura of cloud energy pulse along the blade. The air stirred around him, a soft mist swirling at the edge of his sword as he prepared to unleash the true Cloudrend Strike for the first time.
With a swift, decisive motion, he slashed downward. The sword seemed to cut not just through flesh and bone but through the very air itself, creating a lingering arc of energy that extended just beyond the reach of his blade. The strike was precise, cutting through a zombie at a distance, the faint mist trailing after the blow as if echoing its power.
The movement was subtle, yet powerful, like the gentle stirring of clouds heralding a coming storm. The air seemed to hum with energy as he swung, each strike more accurate than the last, hitting its mark with deadly precision. The zombies staggered, unable to withstand the refined force behind each blow, and Bai Jian moved fluidly through them, his strikes carrying the strength of the skies themselves.
As he settled back into his stance, a sense of newfound mastery over Cloudrend Strike filled him. With the technique at Initial Mastery, he could now face these foes with more ease.