The ground trembled beneath their feet as Wei Tian unleashed the full force of his power. The monstrous, serpentine creature of darkness slithered forward, its massive form coiling and twisting with unnatural speed, its dark scales glimmering with malevolent energy. Every movement it made sent a pulse of ominous energy through the cavern, and Wu Qian could feel his body resisting the oppressive pressure it exuded.
"This is bad," Yan Rui gritted, his voice strained as he tried to maintain his footing. "That thing is on a different level from anything we've faced before."
The creature's massive jaws opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth that glinted with malice. It hissed, its voice a low, rumbling growl that sent shivers down their spines.
But Wu Qian wasn't afraid. Fear had no place in his heart now. They had come too far. No matter how powerful their enemy seemed, they were not going to back down.
"Stay calm and fight!" Wu Qian shouted, his eyes burning with resolve. "We've faced worse together. We won't let this creature break us!"
The others nodded, gathering their spiritual energy and channeling it into their attacks. Lian Yuxi's sword crackled with lightning, while Wei Xuan's spear radiated an ethereal glow. Yan Rui summoned the flames of his own spiritual fire, and together, they were a formidable force, one that had defeated countless enemies on their journey.
As the serpent lunged forward, snapping its jaws, Wu Qian raised his sword, channeling all of his spiritual energy into a single, devastating strike.
"Skyward Slash!" he roared, the blade cutting through the air in a flash of brilliant light. The attack collided with the serpent's scales, and for a brief moment, it seemed to falter. But the dark creature quickly recovered, its form shifting and contorting as it absorbed the energy of the strike, its power growing even stronger.
"Is that all you have?" Wei Tian's voice echoed around them, colder than ever. "You dare challenge the might of the True Horizon with such weak attacks? Pathetic."
Wu Qian gritted his teeth. "We're just getting started."
The serpent lunged again, but this time, Wu Qian was ready. With a swift movement, he darted forward, slashing at its side. The creature recoiled in pain, but its regenerative abilities quickly healed the wound, making it clear that brute force alone wouldn't be enough to defeat it.
"We need to disrupt its core!" Wei Xuan shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "There's a weak point in its chest where the dark energy is concentrated. If we strike there, we can destroy it!"
"Then let's do it!" Lian Yuxi yelled, her blade crackling with energy as she surged forward, her sword dancing through the air in a flurry of strikes. "We'll take it down together!"
With a battle cry, Yan Rui launched himself forward, his flames surrounding him like a burning shield. His fiery fist collided with the serpent, forcing it back for just a moment. Wu Qian took that opportunity to launch another attack, his sword aimed at the serpent's exposed chest. But before he could land the blow, Wei Tian's voice boomed from above.
"Enough of this!" The True Horizon Elder raised his hand, and the cavern itself seemed to shake as he summoned an overwhelming surge of energy. Shadows twisted and coiled around his arm, forming into a massive sphere of dark power. With a single motion, he hurled it at the group.
The sphere of darkness moved with terrifying speed, its sheer force sending shockwaves through the air. Wu Qian's eyes widened in shock. They couldn't dodge this. The energy was too concentrated, too deadly. If it hit them, it would be the end.
"Form the barrier!" Wei Xuan cried out, her voice filled with urgency.
Lian Yuxi and Yan Rui immediately responded, channeling their energy into a protective shield around them. Wu Qian's own energy surged as he joined in, his sword raised high as he poured his spiritual power into the barrier.
The sphere of darkness collided with the shield, sending a shockwave through the cavern. The air hummed with the pressure of the clash, and Wu Qian felt his limbs go numb as the force of the impact reverberated through him. For a brief moment, he thought the shield might collapse under the pressure, but then, through sheer will and strength, the barrier held.
"Is that all you've got?" Wu Qian shouted, pushing through the strain. His eyes burned with determination. He would not let them fail. "We won't fall to you."
Wei Tian's expression darkened. "You are nothing but insects, struggling against a force far beyond your comprehension. But very well… I will show you the true power of the True Horizon."
With a flick of his wrist, Wei Tian unleashed another wave of shadow energy, this time much larger and more concentrated than the last. The shadows enveloped the entire area, stretching to the farthest corners of the cavern, and Wu Qian could feel the suffocating pressure once again. It was as though the air itself was being consumed by the darkness.
"Brace yourself!" Lian Yuxi shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the encroaching darkness.
But even as the energy closed in, Wu Qian's resolve did not waver. He had come this far. He had defeated every challenge that the world had thrown at him. This was no different. His hands gripped his sword tighter, and with a deep breath, he unleashed the full force of his cultivation.
"Light of the Dawn!" Wu Qian's voice rang out, his sword shining with a brilliant light as he slashed through the encroaching shadows. The beam of light cut through the darkness like a divine blade, carving a path forward.
The shadows recoiled, and for a brief moment, the cavern was bathed in light. Wu Qian's attack pushed forward with unrelenting force, driving back the darkness. The serpent, still coiled in the center of the room, hissed in pain as the light seared through its form.
Wei Tian's eyes narrowed. "Impressive," he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "But it will take more than that to defeat me."
He raised his hand once more, and the shadows began to gather around him, swirling like a storm. But Wu Qian was ready. With a single motion, he darted forward, his sword raised high.
"Now!" he shouted, his voice filled with power.
Lian Yuxi, Wei Xuan, and Yan Rui all surged forward together, their combined attacks striking at the serpent's core. The darkness around them seemed to tremble as their energies converged into a singular, overwhelming force. The serpent let out a deafening roar as the light and flames collided with its form, the energy overwhelming it.
With a final, thunderous crack, the serpent's body shattered, its dark form dissipating into nothingness.
But their victory was short-lived.
Wei Tian's voice echoed through the cavern, filled with fury. "You may have defeated my creature, but the battle is far from over. You are still nothing compared to the True Horizon."
Wu Qian turned to face the Elder, his eyes burning with defiance. "Then we'll keep fighting until the end. We won't stop. Not now. Not ever."
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