Chapter Title: Confronting Wrath
After waking up and returning from the river, Xu Jian decides to ask Yura about the competition she mentioned.
Xu Jian (with curiosity):
"So, what's this competition you're in? I need to know so I can prepare."
Yura (seriously):
"It's an alchemy competition. The challenge is to create elixirs."
Xu Jian (laughing confidently):
"Elixirs? Not exactly my specialty, but I can learn in two days."
Yura (surprised and mocking):
"Two days? That's nonsense. You can't learn alchemy that fast."
Xu Jian (with a mysterious look):
"Someone taught me a trick or two. Let's say... he's a mirage."
Yura didn't ask more. She chose silence, while Xu Jian took her hand and they strolled through the blooming meadow. Flowers surrounded them, and a peaceful atmosphere gave a poetic feel to the moment.
But just as they walked, enjoying the scene, a massive black shadow descended from the sky.
Cassius (mockingly):
"Yes, a view fit for filthy adulterers like you!"
Xu Jian turned, his eyes reflecting pure rage, as if a distorted shadow cloaked his face. A dark, murderous aura leaked from him, choking the very air.
Xu Jian (furiously):
"You son of a bitch! I'll make you regret living. Enjoying yourself? I'll show you who the real adulterer is!"
Xu Jian lunged at Cassius with a powerful punch—but it crashed against Cassius's shield, leaving him unfazed.
Cassius (smirking):
"Is that all you've got? Hiding behind a girl? Show me your courage!"
Yura tried to hold Cassius back, attempting to calm things down, but Xu Jian broke free repeatedly, his fury growing terrifying.
Xu Jian (shouting):
"Is that all you've got? You talk too much but do nothing!"
In a flash, Xu Jian moved like a shadowy blur, impossible to follow with the naked eye. He grabbed Cassius and dragged him to an open space, determined to settle it away from the others.
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Chapter Title: Battle of Madness
The fight between Xu Jian and Cassius begins with brutal violence.
Xu Jian grabs Cassius tightly and unleashes a flurry of fierce punches straight to his face. Cassius takes the hits but doesn't retreat.
Xu Jian:
"Hahaha! What? You're all bark and no bite, you pathetic coward!"
Cassius:
"Your blows only feed me... Not yet!"
Suddenly, Cassius's eyes turn blood-red.
Cassius:
"This is my power... The ultimate shadow born from pain and strength. The shadow is my salvation!"
A massive aura explodes from Cassius's body, shaking the ground and pressing down on everything around them.
Instead of backing off, Xu Jian enhances his own black aura and marches forward like a rampaging beast.
Xu Jian:
"Hahahaha! This is insane!"
The punches continue raining down, both combatants attacking with reckless abandon.
Cassius's body starts to break down. Half his face loses its flesh under the brutal blows, but the surrounding shadow desperately tries to regenerate him.
Meanwhile, Xu Jian pushes his body beyond limits—his hand bone protrudes from the intense fractures, but he refuses to stop.
Blood splatters, the ground crumbles around them, and everyone watches in awe at the legendary clash of two lunatics who know no mercy.
Xu Jian and Cassius (together):
"Hahahahaha!"
The first round ends in a massive energy explosion, leaving everyone wondering: Who will still be standing?
---
Yura's eyes turn completely white, consumed by despair.
Second Elder:
"If I were you, I'd run and leave that lifeless body behind. Everything around him is over. This is a lost battle."
Yura falls to her knees, staring at Xu Jian's blood-covered body. But suddenly, a chilling white aura begins to emanate from her—an icy, terrifying force.
Yura (in a broken voice):
"I've always hated you… you bastard. My grandmother's killer, my family's thief, and the destroyer of my dreams..."
Her icy aura covers the ground, soulless, as if reflecting her despair.
Second Elder (mockingly):
"Insult me all you want. In the end... I am the victor. Come, young master. I'll heal you—you're the one destined to rule."
Just as he turns to leave, a thunderous voice shakes the air, chilling the hearts of everyone present.
The voice (furiously):
"Are you done celebrating?! Because I'm not finished yet!"
From afar, a majestic black aura begins to rise slowly. The ground trembles. Everyone looks toward the source… Xu Jian, barely standing, having regained a portion of his power.
---
Chapter Title: Pain and Fate
Second Elder:
"Still have some courage, huh?"
He doesn't say more. He simply turns his back, as if Xu Jian was beneath him, not worth his time. Was it out of respect for his host's home—or pure arrogance?
Xu Jian collapses, body trembling from pain, but still laughing.
Xu Jian (whispering through ragged laughter):
"Damn me… Still pretending to be strong… hahaha. But it was worth it, just to see that damn old man's face!"
But the truth was clear. His body was completely shattered—not just from the fight, but from Cassius's energy. It wasn't just shadow energy… it was something ancient, something like a cancer eating him from within.
Even as he healed, Xu Jian felt something else—something crawling inside him. Was that energy trying to consume him? Was he losing control?
Before he could think further, his body exploded in unbearable pain.
Xu Jian (screaming):
"Kill me, Yura! Please, I can't take it anymore!"
His body was disfigured, veins bursting, blood pouring like rivers, his skin tearing from within.
Yura couldn't bear the sight. Without hesitation, she froze him with her icy power, trying to slow the damage.
She carried him, running through the dark corridors, heading to the old woman's cave.
---
Yura dragged Xu Jian behind her, inside a blackened ice field formed from the corruption within him. His body trembled, screaming silently, as if pain itself had no words.
She wept inside, blaming herself.
"He had no fault in what happened to me… Why did I hurt him for my disgusting desire? A desire he had nothing to do with… He didn't deserve this… Am I horrible? Yes… I am horrible!"
Her tears fell, but she didn't stop. She reached the cave.
The old woman placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered:
"Don't worry. We'll find a solution. But this is the first time I've seen an injury like this."
She looked at Xu Jian, then asked:
"But tell me, child, what happened to him? How did he end up like this?"
Yura explained everything, up to the arrival and departure of the second elder.
The old woman laughed bitterly.
"Damn that old man… He left you and walked away, letting this boy burn himself out just to look strong for you. He knew he was broken… But he didn't want you to die too. He just wanted to give you a chance to escape."
Yura felt the old woman's words like daggers. She stared at her, speechless.
Understanding her shock, the old woman patted her shoulder gently.
"It's okay. You've been through a lot today. Rest. We'll find a cure for this boy. But..."
She looked at Xu Jian, still trembling in his black icy prison.
"...the price may be high."
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New Chapter: Shattered Chains
Xu Jian's body still trembled violently in his blood-soaked state, but his mind was elsewhere.
Inside his consciousness, he found himself surrounded by pitch-black darkness. Suddenly, a girl in an elegant black dress appeared, shrouded in mystery and awe. The darkness itself seemed to fear her, as if she were something beyond even the dark entities.
"How weak you are... You're still not ready."
Suddenly, she slapped him hard across the face.
Xu Jian (laughing wildly):
"Hahaha! I love your kind of bitch!"
Her eyes narrowed. She leaned in and whispered coldly:
"Your time hasn't come yet. Live for now. Don't drag me with you before we—"
Before she could finish, Xu Jian's consciousness trembled violently.
Xu Jian (screaming):
"What did you say?! Damn it! I didn't hear!"
---
Chapter Title: Rise from the Abyss
Xu Jian suddenly awoke, his scream shaking the entire place. A terrifying black aura exploded from him, shattering the icy prison Yura had created to protect him. The air filled with sparks and terrifying heat.
Grandmother:
"Impossible! What is this power?!"
Yura stood frozen as Xu Jian rose, cloaked in lightning and darkness. One of his hands had turned completely black—as if no longer human.
Xu Jian looked at himself and burst into mad laughter:
"Hahahahaha! Who in this world can stop me now?! I am the noble emperor! Hahaha! Let's play our game, old man!"
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To be continued... Chapter: After the Chains