Time was frozen. The dust of battle hung still in the air, and Li Feng's shattered screams were trapped in a still frame. Only Xiao Lin and Luo Yan could move, protected by the Jiuyinlong's energy and golden blood. In front of them, three **Dimensional Observers** floated, their pupil-less eyes staring coldly.
***"You are disrupting the balance. This world must be purified,"*** their voices echoed like the rumble of an interdimensional earthquake.
Xiao Lin held the Jiuyinlong tightly. "We fight for balance! You are the ones who threaten it!"
***"Naive,"*** the middle Dimensional Observer said. ***"This chaos began when you awakened the Jiuyinlong. Now, we will wipe out all sources of primordial power—including you."***
---
**Battle in Frozen Time**
Xiao Lin charged, the Jiuyinlong blazing brightly. But every slash of his sword was slowed by the Dimensional Observers' twisted time field.
"Luo Yan! Your blood!" Xiao Lin shouted.
Luo Yan slashed his palm, his golden blood gushing out to form a **time rope** that bound the Dimensional Observer. "I can't hold them back for long!"
The Dimensional Observer smiled. ***"Creative. But it's futile."***
They snapped their fingers, and the time rope shattered. Luo Yan fell, blood gushing out.
---
**Shadow in the Soul**
Amidst the pressure, the Shadow Dragon King's voice echoed in Xiao Lin's mind:
***"Fuse with me… only then can you defeat them."***
Xiao Lin fell back into his own consciousness—the dark space where **Xue** and **Su Chen** stood.
"You need more power," Xue whispered, the black sword in her hand.
"But you will lose yourself," Su Chen added, his face concerned.
Xiao Lin looked at the Jiuyinlong. "I have no choice."
He grabbed Xue and Su Chen's hands. Darkness and light merged, forming a **nebula armor** over his body.
---
**Forbidden Power Awakening**
In the real world, Xiao Lin's eyes changed—one purple, one gold. Jiuyinlong glowed black-gold, the nine elemental dragons transformed into a roaring **shadow dragon**.
"What are you doing?!" Luo Yan shouted.
"This is the only way," Xiao Lin replied, his voice echoing in double echoes.
He slammed Jiuyinlong into the ground. A wave of black-gold energy swept across the room, forcing the Dimensional Observer to retreat.
---
**Dimensional Trial**
The Dimensional Observer raised its hands, creating a **trial chamber** among the stars. Thousands of pupil-less eyes surrounded Xiao Lin and Luo Yan.
***"Let's see if humans are worthy of survival,"*** they snarled.
A holographic screen appeared—a scene of the destruction Xiao Lin, Xue, and Su Chen had caused in the past.
"This is a test," Luo Yan whispered. "They want us to give in to guilt."
Xiao Lin tightened his grip. "I won't run anymore."
He stepped forward, Jiuyinlong stabbing the hologram screen. "We learn from our mistakes. But we also have hope!"
---
** Sacrifice and Question Marks **
The screen shattered. The Dimensional Observers were silent.
***"Interesting… but not enough,"*** they said. ***"We will return. And this time, there will be no mercy."***
They disappeared, time returned to normal. The shattered Li Feng suddenly woke up on the floor, his body filled with dimensional light.
"Where… am I?" he muttered.
But Xiao Lin fell. The nebula armor cracked, black blood flowing from his eyes.
"Xiao Lin!" Luo Yan ran.
"That darkness… is still here," Xiao Lin whispered before passing out.
In a corner of the temple, a piece of black cloth with the symbol of the Black Sun Sect was flying in the wind.