Chapter 117: The Emperor's Trial
The forest clearing buzzed with a tense, electric energy a year later,
a vast circle formed by the gathered forest beasts, their fur and scales glinting under the midday sun,
the air thick with the musky scent of anticipation, the faint metallic tang of past battles, and the rustle of leaves stirred by a restless breeze,
sunlight piercing the canopy in sharp beams, illuminating the scarred earth at the center where destiny awaited.
Lin Xuan stood barefoot at the heart of the circle, his body a map of scars—jagged lines across his chest, a crescent on his thigh—
his cultivation still sealed,
his black eyes faintly glowing with white pupils, the Celestial Unity Crest dormant on his back,
his stance a blend of weary readiness and unshakable calm, forged by a year of relentless trials.
Before him towered Huangdi the Golden Roar, the forest emperor,
a massive lion with a mane like molten gold, its eyes blazing with fierce pride,
its growl a thunderous rumble that shook the ground, the beasts roaring in unison, their voices a cacophony of challenge,
"Prove your worth, human!"
Anika perched on a treetop vantage, her raven hair swaying gently in the wind,
her gaze intent and unwavering as she watched from above, a silent sentinel amidst the branches,
her presence a steady pulse in Lin Xuan's peripheral awareness, though his focus remained locked on the lion.
Lin Xuan laughed coldly, his voice slicing through the roars like a blade,
a sound laced with respect and a hint of defiance.
"I respect loyalty. Let's see if your emperor deserves it."
The battle erupted with a deafening roar,
Huangdi lunging with claws like scythes, its speed a golden blur,
Lin Xuan channeling Xiangzun the Earthshaker's strength with Earth-Supporting Pillars,
his legs grounding him like mountains as he absorbed the initial impact, sweat beading on his brow, muscles straining.
He shifted to Huli the Swift Claw's agility, Chasing the Morning Sun fueling his Celestial Glide footwork,
dodging a swipe with a graceful sidestep, the lion's claws raking the air with a whoosh,
the ground trembling as he evaded, his breath steady despite the adrenaline surge.
Yuanmo the Stonefist's power shaped his next move, a Sky-Reaching Claw punch landing on the lion's shoulder,
the thud echoing through the clearing as Huangdi snarled, its mane bristling,
the gorilla's influence guiding his fist with a raw, unyielding force that tested the emperor's resolve.
Hours dragged on, a grueling dance of blood and sweat,
the earth stained with crimson as Lin Xuan unveiled new techniques—
Crimson Fang Strike, a Muay Thai elbow infused with a red energy burst, cracking against the lion's jaw with a crack,
Shadow Step Dodge, a Kyokushin Karate evade that left him a fleeting shadow, slipping past a tail lash with eerie precision.
Huangdi fought with relentless ferocity, its pride a blazing shield,
claws raking Lin Xuan's arms, drawing fresh blood that mingled with the dirt,
but Lin Xuan's endurance held, his body a testament to a year's forging,
his mind a fortress of focus amidst the chaos, every scar a badge of survival.
The climax neared, Lin Xuan summoning his final reserve,
channeling the collective might of his training into a Heaven-Pressing Slam,
his arms pressing down with a slam that pinned the lion to the earth,
the ground shuddering under the force, Huangdi's breath heaving, its golden eyes dimming.
The lion yielded, a weak growl escaping its throat,
its pride bowing beneath Lin Xuan's unyielding will,
the beasts falling silent, their roars fading into a tense hush,
their gazes fixed on the victor standing over their emperor, bloodied but unbroken.
Anika's eyes gleamed from the treetop, a silent acknowledgment of his triumph,
the clearing holding its breath, the air thick with the weight of the moment,
the beast emperor's pride challenged, the stage set for a new dawn,
Lin Xuan's victory a solitary pinnacle as the beasts awaited the next move.