The Shadow Devourer lunged forward, its massive claws tearing through the air with a sound like thunder. Its speed was shocking, but Tang Xiu didn't flinch. He stood still, his eyes locked on the beast, every muscle in his body relaxed but ready.
At the last possible moment, Tang Xiu sidestepped with ease, his movement smooth like flowing water. The beast's claws smashed into the ground where he had been standing, shattering the stone and sending shards flying in every direction.
The cultivators, still reeling from their losses, froze at the sight.
"Who is that guy?" one of them stammered.
"Doesn't matter! He's crazy for going up against that thing alone!" another hissed.
The leader of the group, blood trickling from a wound on his arm, narrowed his eyes. "He's not just anyone… Watch him closely. There's something strange about him."
Tang Xiu ignored their murmurs. He swung his staff lightly, testing its weight. "You're fast," he said to the Shadow Devourer, his tone casual. "But speed alone won't save you."
The beast snarled, its glowing red eyes narrowing. It crouched low, its muscles coiling as it prepared to attack again.
This time, it moved even faster. The air cracked with the force of its charge, but Tang Xiu was ready.
"Too predictable," he muttered, twisting his body to avoid the attack. As the beast rushed past, he struck its side with his staff.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air. The beast roared in pain, its scales dented where the staff had connected.
Tang Xiu's eyes gleamed. "So, even your defenses aren't impenetrable. That makes this easier."
The Shadow Devourer turned on him, enraged. It opened its mouth, releasing a torrent of black energy. The wave of darkness surged toward Tang Xiu, consuming everything in its path.
The cultivators scrambled to get out of the way, their fear growing with every second.
"He's done for!" one of them shouted, already retreating.
But Tang Xiu stood firm. He planted his staff in the ground and raised his other hand, drawing a complex pattern in the air. A faint golden light began to glow around him, forming a barrier just as the black energy hit.
The clash of darkness and light created a deafening roar, shaking the canyon. Dust and debris flew everywhere, obscuring the battlefield.
When the dust settled, Tang Xiu was still standing, his barrier intact. The golden light around him shimmered like the morning sun, unyielding against the beast's attack.
The cultivators stared in shock.
"He blocked it…?"
"Impossible! Who is this man?"
Tang Xiu didn't spare them a glance. His focus remained on the Shadow Devourer, which was now pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
"You're strong," Tang Xiu said, his voice calm but firm. "But strength without strategy is useless. Let me show you what true power looks like."
He raised his staff, and the air around him seemed to shift. A subtle pressure spread through the canyon, making the cultivators and even the beast hesitate.
Tang Xiu's voice rang out, steady and commanding. "Heaven's Echo Strike."
With a single swing of his staff, a ripple of energy shot forward, fast and precise. It struck the Shadow Devourer head-on, sending it crashing into the cliffside with a deafening boom.
The cultivators gaped in awe. The beast, which had seemed unstoppable moments ago, now lay crumpled against the rocks, struggling to rise.
Tang Xiu walked toward it, his steps unhurried. The Shadow Devourer growled weakly, its fiery eyes dimming.
"Even the strongest beast has a limit," Tang Xiu said quietly. "Yours ends here."
He raised his staff for the final blow, but just as he was about to strike, a voice rang out.
"Stop!"
Tang Xiu paused, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the sound. A young woman in a flowing crimson robe stepped into view, her presence commanding despite her delicate appearance.
Her hair shimmered like silk under the faint light, and her piercing gaze swept over the scene before landing on Tang Xiu.
"That beast is not yours to kill," she said, her voice firm.
Tang Xiu studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "And who are you to decide that?"
She stepped closer, her movements graceful but deliberate. "I am Yan Ruoxue, second daughter of the Yan Clan. That beast belongs to us. If you kill it, you'll be making an enemy of my family."
Tang Xiu raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Your clan's claim means nothing to me. This creature attacked, and I defended myself. If you can't control your property, it has no right to exist."
Yan Ruoxue's eyes flashed with anger, but she held her ground. "You've proven your strength, but this isn't about pride. That beast holds secrets we need. I'm willing to negotiate."
Tang Xiu's lips curled into a faint smile. "Negotiate? What could you possibly offer me?"
She hesitated for a moment before replying, "Information. You're clearly not from here, and I doubt you're just a wandering warrior. If you let the beast live, I'll tell you what you want to know."
Tang Xiu's interest was piqued, though he didn't let it show. "And if I refuse?"
Her gaze hardened. "Then I'll make you regret it."
The air grew tense, both sides waiting for the other to make the first move.
Finally, Tang Xiu lowered his staff, though his grip remained firm. "Fine. I'll give you your chance. But if this beast causes trouble again, not even your clan can save it."
Yan Ruoxue relaxed slightly, nodding. "That's fair. Follow me, and we'll talk."
As she turned to lead the way, Tang Xiu cast a quick glance at Lei Xian, who had been watching from the sidelines with his jaw practically on the ground.
"Well?" Tang Xiu called. "Are you coming, or are you just going to stand there?"
Lei Xian scrambled to his feet, muttering under his breath. "This is getting crazier by the second…"
Tang Xiu smirked, following Yan Ruoxue into the mist.