The air in the cavern crackled with tension, the faint echoes of the Demon Monster's roar reverberating off jagged walls. Blood painted the ground, a gruesome tapestry of chaos and carnage. The towering beast thrashed within the glowing confines of the "Four Pillar Beast Saint Lord Formation", its crimson eyes burning with unrelenting fury. Yet despite the monster's ferocity, the light of the formation flickered precariously, its strength waning as the two Peak-Stage Saint Lords—the "Cult Leader" and "Elder Feng Zhaoyang"—faltered under its weight.
Their bodies trembled with exhaustion, their robes soaked in sweat and blood. Qi flowed from them in erratic waves, desperation clawing at their composure. They had subdued the beast for now, but victory came with a cost—they were weakened, vulnerable.
Hua Lianxin, cloaked in the shadows, observed the scene with piercing eyes. He tightened his grip on his blade, the faint glow of golden qi flickering at its edge. His heart burned with fury, not for the chaos but for the corruption these men had wrought upon the world. "They're on the brink. It's time."
---
Hua Lianxin moved like lightning, his "10 Thousand Movement Technique" rendering him a streak of fire and steel. In an instant, his blade descended, its strike precise and merciless. Elder Feng Zhaoyang screamed as the steel cleaved through his right arm, blood spraying across the ground. The Cult Leader barely had time to react before Hua Lianxin's " "Blazing Fist of the War God" slammed into his chest, shattering ribs and sending him sprawling.
"You'll regret—" Feng Zhaoyang spat, but his words turned to a scream as Hua Lianxin's blade hovered dangerously close to his throat.
"You've cursed this world enough," Hua Lianxin said coldly, his voice steady but brimming with venom. "Your reign ends now."
Before he could land the killing blow, a thunderous boom shook the cavern. An overwhelming aura descended, suffocating and divine in its intensity. Hua Lianxin staggered, his knees buckling as the cavern quaked under the immense pressure.
From the darkness emerged the "Late-Stage Immortal Ascendant", his golden-black radiance dimming even the feral light of the Demon Monster. His six "Imperfect Peak-Stage Saint Lords" flanked him, their combined power creating a storm of dominance that crushed all resistance.
"You dare defy the heavens?" the Immortal Ascendant intoned, his voice resonating like the tolling of a great bell. "Your insolence will be purged."
---
Hua Lianxin gritted his teeth, his body trembling under the weight of the pressure, but his resolve remained unbroken. He activated "Body Transformation Level 3", his qi flaring into an inferno of golden flames.
"I'll defy anything that stands in my way!" Hua Lianxin roared, charging toward the Immortal Ascendant.
The clash was cataclysmic. Hua Lianxin fought with unmatched determination, his strikes fueled by sheer willpower. But the Immortal Ascendant was relentless, his techniques precise and devastating. The cavern became a maelstrom of fire and destruction, every blow sending shockwaves that split stone and ruptured the ground.
---
As Hua Lianxin faltered, the Immortal Ascendant raised a glowing hand, an orb of destructive energy swirling within. "This is the end," he declared, the orb growing brighter with each passing second.
But before he could release it, a pale light cut through the chaos. "Lin Changsheng" appeared, her aura burning brilliantly as she intercepted the attack mid-air. Her sword, glowing with the remnants of her "White Lotus Forbidden Technique", clashed against the orb, creating an explosion of energy that shook the cavern.
Hua Lianxin's eyes widened in shock and relief. "Changsheng!" he called, his voice trembling. "What are you doing?! You'll—"
"You think I'll let you fight alone?" she interrupted, her voice steady despite the strain in her body. She turned to him, her eyes fierce. "You're not the only one with something to protect."
Her aura surged to "Late-Stage Saint Lord", a temporary ascension granted by the forbidden technique. For thirty excruciating minutes, Lin Changsheng fought with everything she had, her blade moving like a whirlwind. The Immortal Ascendant, though momentarily caught off guard, retaliated with brutal force. Blow after blow struck her, yet she stood her ground, her determination unyielding.
But the cost was too great. Her aura flickered like a dying flame, and with one final strike, the Immortal Ascendant sent her crashing to the ground. Blood pooled beneath her as she lay motionless, her breathing faint.
---
Hua Lianxin scrambled toward her, his heart pounding in his chest. "Changsheng!" he cried, his voice cracking. He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he cradled her bloodied form. Her eyes fluttered open, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"You've done enough," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Don't speak. Just rest."
She shook her head weakly, her voice barely a whisper. "Hua... it's not over. You... you have to finish this." Her gaze softened, tears shimmering in her eyes. "Don't let it end like this."
Before Hua Lianxin could respond, the Immortal Ascendant's laughter echoed through the cavern. "Touching," he sneered, his aura flaring once more. "But this ends now."
He raised his hand, summoning a devastating attack—"Heaven's Final Judgement". The energy coalesced into a massive sphere, its light blinding and its power suffocating. He hurled it toward Lin Changsheng, the attack barreling forward with unstoppable force.
Lin Changsheng turned her gaze to Hua Lianxin, her eyes soft yet resolute. For a brief moment, there was a glow in her eyes, an acceptance of her fate. Hua Lianxin froze, his heart twisting painfully.
"No. Not again."
A flash of his past surged through his mind—the memory of his sister's final moments, the same glow in her eyes before they dimmed forever. His chest heaved, anger and anguish erupting within him. "Not this time!" he roared, his voice echoing like a dragon's cry.
---
A surge of power erupted from within him, his body engulfed in a blinding light. The ground beneath him cracked, and the cavern quaked as his qi soared to unimaginable heights. His muscles bulged, his skin glowed with divine energy, and his aura erupted like a raging storm.
The Immortal Ascendant staggered, his confidence faltering as the oppressive aura engulfed him. "Impossible..." he muttered, his voice trembling. "This... this is—"
"Body Transformation Level 4," Hua Lianxin growled, his voice a deep rumble. "And your end."
He moved with blinding speed, his strikes shattering the Immortal Ascendant's defenses. The battle reached its climax, every clash of energy tearing the cavern apart. With a final, earth-shattering strike, Hua Lianxin severed the Immortal Ascendant's life force, his body crumbling into ash.
---
The cavern fell silent, the echoes of battle fading into stillness. Hua Lianxin collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. As he knelt there, his gaze caught a faint glow emanating from the Immortal Ascendant's remains.
A golden light—radiant and divine—rose from the ashes, pulsing with the energy of the "Buddha's Wrath Flame". It drifted toward Hua Lianxin, piercing through his chest and merging with the void space within him.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming. Hua Lianxin screamed as the golden flame clashed with the crimson "Devil Blood Flame", their energies battling for dominance within him. The merging process began, a cataclysmic event that would reshape his very essence.
Once the merging was complete, the silence that followed was almost deafening, as though the world itself paused in awe of the extraordinary moment. Hua Lianxin, battered and bloodied, staggered forward and gently took Lin Changsheng into his arms. Her fragile form, weakened but still alive, carried the silent gratitude of her sacrifice and determination.
With unwavering resolve, Hua Lianxin decided to return to the "White Lotus Sect" to ensure Lin Changsheng's survival and recovery. Despite the toll the battle had taken on them both, his focus remained clear: protect her at all costs.
And thus, the chapter ends