The sky was tense, buzzing with chaotic energy as Lin Shu and Lin Ru charged toward each other with full force, their swords poised for a devastating collision.
From the ground below, Shaurya watched with a sharp gaze, his expression hard and unwavering.
BOOM!
A massive shockwave exploded as their swords clashed. The air trembled, and a blinding flash of energy erupted, sending dust spiraling into the heavens.
Lin Shu and Lin Ru stared into each other's eyes with raw hatred, their spiritual energies crashing together like two warring oceans.
"Come on, Lin Shu… you can do it," Shaurya whispered, his fists clenched.
Suddenly, Gu Yang appeared behind Shaurya and launched a sneak attack.
Without even looking back, Shaurya casually tilted his head, dodging the incoming punch with ease. In the same instant, he delivered a precise one-inch punch directly to Gu Yang's face.
The force sent Gu Yang flying across the battlefield before he crashed violently into the ground, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Weakling," Shaurya muttered with a sigh.
He turned his gaze back to the sky.
Above them, Lin Shu's radiant blue spiritual energy clashed violently against Lin Ru's corrupted black aura.
Lin Shu soared upward and launched a fierce strike.
Lin Ru mirrored her movement.
Their blades collided mid-air, releasing a burst of blinding light that swallowed both of them.
Then they passed each other.
For a moment, everything went silent.
A thin crimson line slowly appeared across their bodies.
Blood scattered through the air like falling petals.
Lin Ru steadied himself mid-air, still floating.
Lin Shu, however, began to fall.
As she plummeted toward the earth, Lin Shu whispered in her heart:
"Mother… I have failed you…"
"I am too weak to avenge you…"
Suddenly, memories flashed before her eyes.
Her mother's final words echoed in her mind.
"Never let yourself fall into darkness."
"And never fight evil alone."
"You cannot defeat darkness by yourself."
"Seek the help of someone you trust."
"Someone who will stand beside you."
"Always believe in the light inside your heart."
As the memory faded, tears slipped from Lin Shu's eyes.
Shaurya's eyes widened.
In a flash, he dashed forward and caught her just before she hit the ground.
"Lin Shu! Are you okay? Talk to me!" he pleaded urgently.
She slowly opened her eyes.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"My body is fine… but my heart is full of regret," she whispered.
"I'm too weak. I couldn't even avenge my mother."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Shaurya gently wiped them away.
"Didn't I promise you?" he said softly.
"As long as I'm with you… I won't let you cry."
"I will make you happy, Lin Shu."
"I'm a man of my word."
Suddenly—
Lin Ru charged toward them with his sword raised.
Lin Shu's eyes widened in horror.
A flash.
A thunderous impact.
Dust exploded across the battlefield.
When the dust cleared, Lin Ru's sword was embedded deep into the ground.
Shaurya and Lin Shu were gone.
"What the hell?! Where did they go?!" Lin Ru roared.
Shaurya reappeared beside the elders, still holding Lin Shu in his arms.
Elder Wu gasped.
"Leader?! When did you—"
Shaurya ignored him.
He gently handed Lin Shu over to Elder Liya.
"Take care of her," he said calmly.
"I'll handle the rest."
With cold, measured steps, Shaurya walked toward Lin Ru and Gu Yang.
"We only have one choice now," Gu Yang said grimly.
Lin Ru nodded.
"Let's do it."
They turned toward Shaurya.
Lin Ru snarled.
"No matter how strong you are—"
"—you've offended someone you shouldn't have," Gu Yang finished.
Suddenly, dark purple demonic energy erupted from their bodies.
Their eyes turned violet, their forms surrounded by a terrifying demonic aura.
Shaurya frowned.
"Systu… what the hell are they doing?"
[System: First of all, this is a forbidden demonic ritual that sacrifices lives and souls to gain immense power.]
[System: Second, my name is not "Systu." Show some respect.]
Shaurya sighed.
"Yeah, yeah… cry later."
Meanwhile, the remaining 100 members of the Gu and Lin clans began chanting.
One by one, their bodies disintegrated into ash, their life force flowing toward Lin Ru and Gu Yang.
As the last of them turned to dust, the two leaders' bodies twisted and transformed into monstrous demonic forms.
Their auras spiraled violently toward the sky.
"Demonic energy?! My father… he's a demon?" Lin Shu gasped.
Elder Liya stepped forward solemnly.
"Not by birth."
"He turned himself into one."
"It's an ancient forbidden ritual."
"It requires the sacrifice of a married partner, one's own soul… and the lives of many others."
Shaurya looked at Lin Shu.
"Your father probably killed your mother to complete this ritual."
Tears streamed down Lin Shu's face.
But this time, they burned with rage.
"You ungrateful monster!" she screamed.
"All of this… for power?!"
The disciples erupted in fury.
Chen Fang trembled violently.
"They killed my family for power…"
Xiao Rui placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"They'll pay."
Meanwhile, Lin Ru and Gu Yang roared as their power surged.
Core Formation Level 12.
Core Formation Level 10.
"Now what, Shaurya?" Lin Ru mocked.
"You're no match for us."
"We'll kill you… torture you… and offer you as a sacrifice!" Gu Yang laughed.
Suddenly—
A blur of motion.
BOOM!
Gu Yang was sent flying through the air and smashed into a pile of rocks.
Lin Ru's grin vanished.
When he looked again—
Shaurya stood calmly above Gu Yang's shattered body.
With chilling calmness, Shaurya placed his foot on Gu Yang's face.
Lin Ru felt his soul tremble.
Shaurya grabbed Gu Yang by the hair and lifted him up.
"Those who don't value life… don't deserve to live."
With a terrifying snarl—
Shaurya ripped Gu Yang's head from his body.
Gasps echoed across the battlefield.
Even his own disciples stared in stunned silence.
Filled with rage, Lin Ru charged toward Shaurya.
Shaurya dodged the attack effortlessly.
Lin Ru's sword pierced straight through Gu Yang's remaining corpse.
Shaurya kicked Lin Ru away, sending him tumbling across the ground.
Then he tossed Gu Yang's severed head toward him.
"Soon… you'll look just like him."
Lin Ru smiled darkly.
He absorbed the demonic energy from Gu Yang's corpse.
His body mutated further.
Massive demonic wings erupted from his back.
Golden Vein Stage — Level 1.
Shaurya's eyes narrowed.
"Now kneel before your death!" Lin Ru roared.
"Witness the true power of demons!"
"Demonic power is the real power!"
A terrifying pressure wave exploded from his body.
Shaurya stood unfazed.
Slowly descending from the air, he spoke coldly.
"Power?"
"I have power too."
"But mine is not demonic."
"It is Dharma."
Golden energy exploded from Shaurya's body.
His eyes burned with divine fury.
"It is my righteous anger!"
Drawing his Meteorite Sword, Shaurya charged.
Lin Ru rushed to meet him mid-air.
Blades collided.
Fists clashed.
Explosions erupted with every strike.
Mountains trembled.
The battlefield collapsed beneath their power.
Even distant cities felt the shockwaves.
Far away, in a distant palace, a noble figure slowly placed a teacup on the table.
"Sanatan Flame Sect…"
Back on the battlefield—
"Demonic Slash!"
"Ultimate Sword Slash!"
BOOM!
"Demonic Evil Palm!"
"Mountain Breaking Fist!"
The impact shook the mountains.
Shaurya unleashed a barrage of rapid kicks.
Lin Ru retaliated with Jade Fist.
Shaurya blocked it with Crimson Barrier.
Wang Tian gasped.
"Isn't that the technique the Crimson Beast Sect elder used against me?!"
"How does Master know it?"
Then Shaurya shattered Lin Ru's jaw with Bizarre Fist.
Luo Chen gasped.
"That's my technique!"
More attacks followed.
Lin Ru attacked again with Jade Fist.
Shaurya countered with the same technique.
Lin Ru's eyes widened in shock.
Shaurya's strike was stronger.
It blasted Lin Ru backward.
But Shaurya didn't stop.
He unleashed Howling Abyss Palm, striking Lin Ru's stomach and sending him flying across the battlefield.
"How do you know my techniques?!" Lin Ru screamed.
The disciples stared in awe.
Elder Wu whispered,
"No wonder he is our Sect Leader."
Shaurya slowly raised his hand toward the sky.
"Now you will face the judgment of karma."
Golden clouds gathered above the battlefield.
A celestial vision unfolded.
"You will pay for everything you have done."
"To Lin Shu."
"To her mother."
"And to every innocent life you destroyed for your greed."
A massive golden divine palm descended from the heavens.
"You will suffer endlessly in hell."
"But that suffering will not be given by me."
"It will be given by your own karma."
Lin Ru panicked and attacked wildly.
But it was useless.
Then he saw something.
Lin Shu stood nearby, hatred blazing in her eyes.
Behind her appeared a glowing spirit that looked just like her.
"Lin… Lin Sher?!"
The golden palm descended.
"NOOOO! I can't die like this!" Lin Ru screamed.
BOOM!
A divine explosion engulfed the battlefield.
Demonic beasts fled.
The entire city trembled.
When the dust finally settled—
Lin Ru was gone.
The battlefield fell silent.
Then—
Shaurya looked toward his disciples.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face as he stood in a playful T-pose.
The disciples erupted into cheers.
Wang Tian and Luo Chen high-fived.
Xu Qian hugged Su Quan.
Lin Shu clutched her pendant.
"Mom… I finally avenged you."
"Not alone… but with someone I trust."
"I'm finally free from that poisonous family."
A glowing spirit—Lin Sher—embraced her daughter.
Lin Shu could not see her.
But Shaurya could.
The spirit smiled gently at him before fading away.
Shaurya walked toward Lin Shu.
She suddenly hugged him tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
High above, Lin Sher's spirit blessed them both.
Shaurya hugged Lin Shu back gently.
Don't worry, he thought.
I will protect her… until my final breath.
The spirit dissolved into golden light.
---
But far away—
A mysterious figure finally arrived at the sect entrance.
"So… I've finally reached the Sanatan Flame Sect."
Deep within a dark cave, a man sitting on a throne grinned.
"That was a beautiful battle."
"Sanatan Flame Sect…"
"I'm coming."
Elsewhere, in a royal palace—
A golden-haired prince stood by the window.
"Are the preparations complete?"
A guard bowed.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"You may now travel freely to the Sanatan Flame Sect… Third Prince."
To be continued…