Baihan charged toward Qingye, breaking the stalemate with thunderous, instantaneous speed.
He appeared before Qingye and threw a punch with his gauntlets. "Get back to your senses!" The punch struck Qingye, and the gauntlet glowed as an explosion rocked the courtyard, blasting the latter into the opposite wall with such force that Qingye's body broke through the pillars and the wall behind him.
Qingye dug himself out of the rubble, and flames covered his torso as his injuries started to close up. He stepped out of the hole he had created; the rain began to physically cry as the temperature rose slowly and steadily. The air around Qingye simmered as flames enveloped his body, turning him into a flaming human.
Baihan blinked—his body was tossed back by a force that struck with immense weight and speed. He came to a skidding halt a good distance from the center of the court to the gates of the Sect grounds. He winced at the burning sensation and brought his ash to cover the burn wounds.
"50% potential unlocked! Maximum amplification."
< Power rerouted >
< 50% core Neuro-Qi production >
< Maximum amplification >
< Implants overheating: 10% >
The interface, accessible to his eyes, appeared as he opened the limiters placed on his potential. He breathed in, and ash exploded from his pores, pooling into the surroundings. A phenomenon occurred as the very ash consumed stone and trees alike, turning them into ash and multiplying its quantity until half the courtyard was covered in it.
Baihan commanded the ash to circulate around his brother. He clenched his hand, and the ash mimicked the gesture, creating a dome around Qingye faster than the latter could react. The dome shot inward, creating spikes that aimed to pierce him.
Baihan had to shield his eyes as the dome of ash exploded in seven directions. Qingye stood there, covered in flames that had formed arms and a cloak. His eyes widened when he saw the familiar constructs around Qingye. "The Guardian Scripture... I knew you were talented, brother, but this much? Astonishing!"
Qingye, as usual, had no reaction on his face. He raised his hand, and a chain of flames shot from around him, heading toward Baihan at frightening speeds. Baihan countered with his version of the chain and smirked as the chains collided.
My ash is a natural counter to your fire! You need to try harder, brother, he thought—only for his smirk to falter.
The flaming chain demolished the ash chain and narrowly missed Baihan, who had dodged the attack by a hair's breadth.
Baihan landed on the ash platform he had created and glared at his brother. He had severely underestimated him. Despite being at the same level and soul-bound, the discrepancy in their skill was like night and day. Normally, he had the advantage, as fire attacks caused little to no damage to him. But the chain overpowering his made Baihan doubt he had any advantage at all.
Qingye's feet left the ground, and he gained elevation rapidly, his robes flapping in the wind. He raised his hand, and the sky illuminated a bright orange as his fire created massive rings with rapidly rotating centers that wrapped around like smooth ribbons.
Baihan gasped. "You wouldn't, brother! Are you insane?!"
Flames like lava descended from the heavens at Qingye's decree. The flames morphed into dragon heads as they closed in on Baihan.
The first dragon head struck the ground, and an explosion rocked the Sect. The blast radius dwarfed the trees in the forest and the houses around the Sect. Baihan huffed as he barely dodged the dragon. His ash? Completely obliterated in the area where the dragon head landed.
"100% output."
< Core limit reached >
< Maximum output condition achieved >
Baihan breathed in and gathered the ash on the ground around him. The ash returned into his skin, and he turned black. Grinning like a madman, Baihan charged at the dragons, his ash creating multiple hands that destroyed the flaming heads, resulting in explosions that lit up the night sky and made it seem like day.
"WAKE UP!" Baihan yelled as he penetrated the attack zone Qingye had made. He threw his charged gauntlet at Qingye, striking the man in the face while a column of fire exploded from the circle around him, resulting in another explosion.
---
"Uh... where am I?" Qingye asked as he looked around, seeing a blinding white light. His eyes settled on Baihan in front of him, who was smiling.
Baihan placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad to have you back, brother. We can't talk much—time is brief. But brother, what happened?"
Qingye held his head. "I can't remember... I only remember seeing Elder Juin, then everything is hazy!"
"I see. That complicates things. But brother, no matter what you've done, this isn't your fault. Elder Juin must've done something to you! Promise to remember!"
"I will!"
---
As the smoke from the explosion died down, Qingye knelt on the ground with his clothes torn. His wounds gradually closed from the fire he commanded, but his implants were overheating.
On the opposite end, staring up at the rain clouds, was Baihan. His body was burnt in multiple areas, including his hands and feet. His gauntlets were destroyed, and he was breathing hard—he couldn't move a muscle. His cores had exceeded the maximum limit he could exert.
"You've bested me."
Qingye got up and made his way to Baihan. His hand pressed on the capsule in his pocket, and the sword he used appeared in his hand. He stepped above Baihan and pointed the sword at him.
Baihan closed his eyes, awaiting death.
A hand clap caught their attention, and Baihan turned to see Juin clapping. He clicked his tongue, cursing himself for exhausting himself to such a level.
Juin stepped up to Baihan and gave one last clap. "You've proven strong enough to be a valuable asset. With you, the White Scabbards are complete."
Juin placed his hand above Baihan's eyes, and Baihan's gaze glazed over. The possession of Baihan was a success, and the man rose from the ground like a corpse. Juin snapped his fingers, and four other shadows appeared, kneeling before him.
Baihan and Qingye fell in line as well.
Juin grinned, seeing the assembled Scabbards before him—his personal army to conquer the heavenly cities, starting with Heaven's Feel City. The people before him were the cornerstones of his conquest.
"From today onward, the heavenly cities shall be ours! We are the White Scabbard and Flame Emperor. Your dynasty's rule shall go down in history!"