Pagi keesokan harinya, di Sekte Tian Bao terasa damai. Para murid sibuk menjalani rutinitas mereka, baik berlatih seni bela diri maupun memperdalam kultivasi mereka. Di halaman latihan, Che Su sedang duduk bersila, bermeditasi untuk memulihkan energinya setelah pertarungannya dengan Xiao Zhui kemarin. Ia merasa ada sesuatu yang perlu ia tingkatkan, terutama teknik dasar dalam pertarungannya.
"Aku harus menjadi lebih kuat," gumam Che Su. "Jika aku ingin melindungi sekte dan semua yang berharga, aku tidak boleh puas dengan ini."
Di kejauhan, Xiao Zhui mengamati sambil tersenyum. "Che Su, kau benar-benar tak pernah berhenti berusaha, ya? Tapi jangan lupa untuk beristirahat," katanya sambil melangkah mendekat.
Namun, sebelum Che Su sempat menjawab, sebuah tekanan aura besar tiba-tiba menyelimuti area sekte. Para murid yang sedang berlatih terhenti, mata mereka melirik ke arah gerbang utama dengan waspada.
"Apa ini? Tekanan ini... sangat menakutkan," ujar salah satu murid dengan nada gemetar.
Dari balik kabut yang menyelimuti gerbang, muncul sosok Zhou Xin. Penampilannya kini jauh berbeda; tubuhnya dipenuhi aura gelap, matanya bersinar merah, dan hawa membunuh yang ia pancarkan membuat semua orang mundur beberapa langkah.
"Che Su! Keluar dan hadapilah aku!" teriak Zhou Xin, suaranya menggema di seluruh sekte.
Che Su membuka matanya perlahan, merasa tekanan itu mengarah langsung kepadanya. Ia berdiri dan berjalan menuju Zhou Xin, sementara Xiao Zhui mencoba menghentikannya. "Che Su, jangan gegabah. Ada yang aneh dengan dia. Aura itu... tidak normal," kata Xiao Zhui dengan nada khawatir.
Che Su menepuk bahu Xiao Zhui. "Aku tahu. Tapi aku tidak bisa lari dari ini. Jika dia datang mencariku, maka aku harus menghadapinya."
Saat Che Su berdiri di depan Zhou Xin, ia bisa merasakan perubahan besar pada pemuda itu. "Zhou Xin, apa yang terjadi padamu? Mengapa kau seperti ini?" tanyanya, mencoba mencari jawaban.
Zhou Xin tersenyum dingin. "Kau ingin tahu? Semua ini karena kau, Che Su. Kau menjadi penghalangku. Aku tidak peduli apa pun lagi, aku hanya ingin mengalahkanmu!"
Zhou Xin melompat ke depan dengan kecepatan luar biasa, melancarkan pukulan yang dipenuhi aura gelap. Che Su dengan cepat menghindar, namun tekanan dari serangan itu menghancurkan tanah di sekitarnya.
"Apa kekuatan ini?" pikir Che Su, terkejut dengan peningkatan kemampuan Zhou Xin.
Zhou Xin tidak memberinya waktu untuk berpikir. Ia melanjutkan serangan bertubi-tubi, memaksa Che Su untuk terus bertahan. Meskipun Che Su berhasil menghindari sebagian besar serangan, ia tidak bisa menahan seluruhnya. Beberapa pukulan mengenai tubuhnya, membuatnya terdorong ke belakang.
"Che Su, apakah ini batasmu?" ejek Zhou Xin, auranya semakin gelap. "Dengan kekuatan ini, aku bisa menghancurkanmu kapan saja!"
Namun, Che Su tidak menyerah. Ia berdiri kembali, menatap Zhou Xin dengan mata penuh keteguhan. "Aku tidak akan kalah darimu, Zhou Xin. Aku tidak tahu apa yang telah kau lakukan untuk mendapatkan kekuatan itu, tapi aku akan menghentikanmu!"
Che Su mulai mengumpulkan energi spiritualnya, cahaya biru lembut melingkupi tubuhnya. Aura itu memberikan ketenangan di tengah kekacauan, membuat murid-murid lain yang menyaksikan merasa yakin padanya.
Zhou Xin tersenyum sinis. "Cahaya kecil itu tidak akan cukup untuk melawanku!" Ia kembali melancarkan serangan, namun kali ini, Che Su berhasil menangkisnya dengan sebuah tameng energi.
Pertarungan antara mereka semakin sengit, tanah di sekitar mereka bergetar akibat benturan energi. Zhou Xin terus menyerang dengan kekuatan gelapnya, sementara Che Su mencoba menemukan celah untuk melawan.
Di tengah pertarungan itu, suara misterius bergema di kepala Zhou Xin. "Jangan buang waktu, Zhou Xin. Gunakan semua kekuatan yang kuberikan padamu dan selesaikan dia!" suara itu adalah Feng Tianshui, yang terus memanipulasi Zhou Xin dari dalam.
Zhou Xin menggertakkan giginya. "Baiklah, Che Su. Jika kau ingin mati, aku akan mengabulkan permintaanmu!" Ia mulai mengeluarkan serangan terkuatnya, membentuk bola energi gelap yang memancarkan aura destruktif.
Melihat itu, Che Su sadar ia harus menggunakan semua kemampuannya untuk bertahan. Dengan menguatkan tekadnya, ia menarik energi spiritual dari dalam dirinya, bersiap menghadapi serangan tersebut.
"Jika aku kalah, aku akan mengecewakan semua orang di sekte ini. Aku tidak akan membiarkan itu terjadi!" pikir Che Su.
Bola energi Zhou Xin meluncur ke arah Che Su, menciptakan gelombang destruktif yang mengancam menghancurkan seluruh area latihan. Che Su mengangkat tangannya, menciptakan perisai energi yang bersinar terang.
Benturan dahsyat terjadi, menciptakan ledakan besar yang mengguncang seluruh sekte.
--
[ English Version ]
Chapter 5: The secret of Zhou Xin's power
The next morning, the Tian Bao Sect was peaceful. The disciples were busy going about their daily routines, either practicing their martial arts or refining their fighting skills. In the training yard, Che Su was sitting cross-legged, meditating to recover his energy after his fight with Xiao Zhui yesterday. He felt that there was something he needed to improve, especially his basic fighting techniques.
"I need to get stronger," Che Su muttered. "If I want to protect the sect and everything that is precious, I can't be satisfied with this."
In the middle of the conversation, Xiao Zhui watched with a smile. "Che Su, you really never give up, huh? But don't forget to rest," he said as he stepped closer.
However, before Che Su could answer, a huge aura of pressure suddenly ravaged the sect area. The disciples who were training stopped, their eyes darting towards the main gate in alarm.
"What is this? This pressure... is so terrifying," one of the disciples said in a trembling voice.
From behind the fog that was the gate, Zhou Xin appeared. His appearance was now very different; his body was filled with a dark aura, a flash of red light, and the killing intent he exuded caused everyone to take a few steps back.
"Che Su! Come out and face me!" Zhou Xin shouted, his voice echoing throughout the sect.
Che Su slowly opened his eyes, feeling the pressure coming straight at him. He stood up and walked towards Zhou Xin, while Xiao Zhui tried to stop him. "Che Su, don't be reckless. There's something strange about him. That aura... is not normal," Xiao Zhui said in a worried tone.
Che Su slapped Xiao Zhui's shoulder. "I know. But I can't run away from this. If he comes looking for me, then I have to face him."
As Che Su stood in front of Zhou Xin, he could feel the great change in the young man. "Zhou Xin, what happened to you? Why are you like this?" he asked, trying to find an answer.
Zhou Xin smiled coldly. "You want to know? It's all because of you, Che Su. You've become my obstacle. I don't care about anything else, I just want to defeat you!"
Zhou Xin leaped forward at incredible speed, throwing a punch filled with a dark aura. Che Su quickly dodged, but the pressure from the attack shattered the ground around him.
"What is this power?" Che Su thought, shocked by Zhou Xin's increased ability.
Zhou Xin had no time to think. He continued his barrage of attacks, forcing Che Su to continue to defend. Although Che Su managed to dodge most of the attacks, he could not withstand all of them. Several blows landed on his body, sending him flying backwards.
"Che Su, is this your limit?" Zhou Xin taunted, his aura darkening. "With this power, I can crush you at any time!"
However, Che Su did not give up. He stood back up, staring at Zhou Xin with determined eyes. "I will not lose to you, Zhou Xin. I do not know what you have done to gain such power, but I will stop you!"
Che Su began to gather his spiritual energy, a soft blue light surrounding his body. The aura brought calm amidst the chaos, making the other disciples watching him feel confident.
Zhou Xin smiled sinisterly. "That little bit of light will not be enough to defeat me!" He launched another attack, but this time, Che Su managed to block it with an energy shield.
The battle between them became more intense, the ground around them shaking from the clash of energies. Zhou Xin continued to attack with his dark power, while Che Su tried to find an opening to fight back.
In the midst of the fight, a mysterious voice echoed in Zhou Xin's head. "Don't waste time, Zhou Xin. Use all the power I gave you and finish him!" The voice was Feng Tianshui, who continued to manipulate Zhou Xin from within.
Zhou Xin gritted his teeth. "Alright, Che Su. If you want to die, I will grant your wish!" He began to unleash his strongest attack, forming a dark energy ball that radiated a destructive aura.
Seeing that, Che Su knew he had to use all his abilities to survive. Strengthening his resolve, he drew spiritual energy from within himself, preparing to face the attack.
"If I lose, I will let everyone in this sect down. I will not allow that to happen!" Che Su thought.
Zhou Xin's energy ball shot towards Che Su, creating a destructive wave that threatened to destroy the entire training area. Che Su raised his hand, creating a brightly shining energy shield.
A violent collision occurred, creating a massive explosion that shook the entire sect.