Volume 23 — Confronting Hei Xu
The Core Archives glowed faintly as Lin Feng floated, petals of the First Bloom spinning around him in a perfect storm of light. Shadows writhed at the edges, responding to the lingering presence of Hei Xu, who emerged from the darkness like a storm incarnate.
"Finally," Hei Xu said, his voice cold and sharp. "The boy who awakens the palace's power. Let's see if it's enough to survive me."
Caiyi readied her sword. "Lin Feng… this is it. No more testing the waters. He's coming at full force."
Lin Feng gritted his teeth, feeling the pulse of the palace flowing through him. Peach Spirit… guide me. I'm ready to meet him head-on.
Yes, Host. The palace and the First Bloom are one with you now. Trust the flow, anticipate, and strike with clarity, the Peach Spirit replied.
Hei Xu surged forward, shadows twisting into monstrous forms that lunged at Lin Feng from every angle. But this time, Lin Feng didn't just react—he anticipated. The petals of the First Bloom moved independently, forming barriers, slicing through attacks, and countering with deadly precision.
"Caiyi! Cover the flanks!" Lin Feng shouted, weaving through the chaos with a fluidity that mirrored the palace's energy.
Caiyi's strikes harmonized perfectly with his, creating a whirlwind of light and steel that shredded Hei Xu's shadow formations. The elite cultivator's expression darkened. "So… you've grown beyond expectation. But I am not so easily defeated!"
Hei Xu unleashed his most potent shadow technique, a torrent of black energy that distorted the very air. Lin Feng's petals flared, merging with the palace's energy. The First Bloom expanded into a radiant spiral that met Hei Xu's torrent head-on. Sparks of light and shadow collided violently, shaking the chamber to its foundations.
Lin Feng felt the pulse of the palace guiding every move, anticipating Hei Xu's strikes before they landed. With a final surge, he channeled the hidden techniques he had unlocked, directing the First Bloom in a perfect, harmonious arc that shattered Hei Xu's shadow torrent.
Hei Xu staggered, his aura flickering, but a cruel smile remained. "Impressive… but this is only the beginning, boy. You may awaken the palace, but power alone will not save you."
Lin Feng steadied himself, petals still spinning around him. "Then we'll just have to prove him wrong."
The battle between Lin Feng and Hei Xu had truly begun, and the fate of the Obsidian Root Palace hung in the balance.