*Part Six: The Approaching Evil*
(Eternal Forest)
As Zhuyuan and the others flashed forward in front of Xi Jin and his men, but still leaving quite a distance, Taiyu could feel and unceasing presence coming from inner capital, "Impossible", said Taiyu stammering softly, he could feel the malicious aura of Xingtian, "You can feel HIM, right?" asked Xi Jin maliciously, "He has entered the Capital".
"State perpector?", said Zhuyuan, concerned by the look on Taiyu's face that he could see does not mean good, "Forgive me, First Prince", said Taiyu in dispert tone, and Zhuyuan had never sensed this feeling from Taiyu before and nodded his head slightly. Taiyu then flashed off. "Hhm, his leaving you all alone with us, you'll die now", said Yujin in a sadistic tone. Zhuyuan could feel the strange presence as well, so he could not stop Taiyu from going, even if it meant being unmatched here. "We just have to endure", said Zhuyuan to the others. At that moment, Xi Jin sent forth a massive wave of Dark Qi, hurling it towards Zhuyuan, Mu Xuan, and Ying Pu.
The three then got into stances quickly, and together they erected a shield using the Qi energies, "Hold steadfast", instructed Zhuyuan commandingly. The wave of Dark Qi dissipated, and they dropped the shield. Yujin appeared behind Ying Pu and attacked him with a kick, but Ying Pu blocked it with his forearm, which drove them both back. The mysterious figure appeared before Mu Xuan instantly and hurled a ball of purple energy at him. Mu Xuan set a shield, but the ball of energy drove him back until it finally exploded. Mu Xuan managed to escape the explosion, but the mysterious figure continued to attack. Xi Jin pressed forward against Zhuyuan,
Zhuyuan then released his inner force, a destructive force of energy that broke the massive sphere of dark energy and scattered it. Zhuyuan immediately countered by sending a massive stream of destructive energy, hurling towards Xi Jin,
Ying Pu blocked Yujin's relentless attacks with Dark Qi. Ying Pu then released his inner force, which created a blinding white light and a flowing aura of energy while blocking the attack. Showing his mastery of Qi and battle IQ, Ying Pu then released his inner force through his palms,
Zhuyuan stopped his advance as Ying Pu flashed to his side. Zhuyuan looked at Ying Pu with a slight smile and a nod, acknowledging his skill and even presence. Xi Jin and Yujin were now driven into a corner, facing Zhuyuan and Ying Pu.
Mu Xuan was starting to get overwhelmed by the mysterious figure, who brought him to his knee, as the mysterious figure walked closer, he removed his hood, which he had been wearing the whole time, revealing a faceless man who whispered dread and despair. Mu Xuan, struck by the feeling of fear, began to think of a way out, "That's the only way", said he as he stood up, releasing his inner force and starting to charge towards the faceless man, increasing his speed as he moved.
As he got closer, the faceless man blacked the impact, but the force of the attack sent him flying back. Mu Xuan immediately countered and flashed above the faceless man, who seemed unfazed, and Mu Xuan drew his bow again by conjuring it, and he shot it down at the faceless man. Just as the arrow almost hit him, the faceless man vanished. "Where did he go?" asked Mu Xuan, shocked and confused. He started to scan the area from above and noticed a faint presence in the direction of Ying Pu and Zhuyuan, and he flashed over there.
As Mu Xuan appeared closer to them, he shouted for them to fall back as he sensed something happening. Xi Jin and Yujin smile maliciously, Zhuyuan heard Mu Xuan and grabbed Ying Pu and flashed away.
At that moment, a massive explosion of Dark Qi erupted around Yujin and Xi Jin from the ground. The faceless man merged with Xi Jin, "Yes!!", shouted Xi Jin in a distorted voice. Yujin, releasing what was happening, looked rather disturbed but couldn't move because of the pressure of the Dark Qi. Xi Jin then looked at him and placed his hand over his face, gripping him. He started to pull the life force out of Yujin, sucking him dry. Yujin struggled but couldn't do anything until he was a breathless corpse that fell to the ground.
(Xuanfang Tower: God Gazing Pavilion)
"You're really giving up that pawn", said Arceus, surprised as he looked at the board and then at Xingtian. "It's but a small casualty, nothing much", responded Xingtian as Arceus placed his piece and removed five of Xingtian's pieces from the weiqi board.
(Eternal Forest)
Zhuyuan and Ying Pu, who made it to safety and landed next to Mu Xuan, looked on in fear and horror. "As expected from someone who Dark Qi consumes", said Zhuyuan knowingly in a worried tone, "They start consuming the life force of other beings".
With Xi Jin now before them consumed by Dark Qi he has become too powerful for them to battle, "We won't be able to stop him", said Mu Xuan as he notice and assessed the current situation, "I know he won't let us escape", responded Zhuyuan calmly and concerned, "I have an idea", said Ying Pu has he stepped forward. Zhuyuan stopped him by gently grabbing him by his arm, but Ying Pu smiled softly at him, "It's fine", said he, reassuring Zhuyuan, who seemed quite concerned. Zhuyuan then let go of his arm and instructed Mu Xuan to lead the others and protect them by erecting a shield. Mu Xuan nodded and then flashed off to join the others.
Zhuyuan remained with Ying Pu to defend him against any attacks. Ying Pu then ascended into the air as the wind rippled through his white and green hanfu. He then released an enormous amount of Qi that shocked Zhuyuan, "Incredible, he has Qi reserves on par with Uncle Arceus", said Zhuyuan in amazement. The release of Qi was so strong that it sent a shock wave across the battlefield, they children was stuck in front of the approaching shockwave but Mu Xuan appeared just in time and erected a shield that deflected the shockwave, he kept the shield up just in case, "Gu Nan, Wu'an and Zhinu aid me", said he and they helped enforce the shield.
Zhuyuan stabilized himself using his inner force, as the pressure released by Ying Pu was so immense. As Ying Pu cultivated his core, a massive white tiger with black spots appeared behind him entirely out of energy. He activated a magical array above in the sky and spread it across the sky. Xi Jin, seeing this, prepared himself by concentrating on the Dark Qi around him. Ying Pu then released and opened the array fully, revealing a massive sword the size of a mountain that could be seen across the capital.
(Eternal Market)
"What is that?" asked a little girl to her father as they walked through the market, and her father looked, and his facial expression changed to shock and worry. Everyone around and across the capital stopped and looked in the eastern direction of the sky, "What's going on?" asked many people across the Capital. "It's probably an Eldar", said a certain.
As everyone noticed the massive sword and array in the sky, they looked on, and so did the Zhi'an from a bridge as he walked from his visit to the empress, "Your majesty", said the Head Eunuch, worried. "Let go", said Zhi'an, realizing something, and they flashed off.
(Xuanfang Tower)
As Arceus placed his piece, in the light of the massive array in the sky, he smile, "It seems you have make the wrong choice", said he to Xingtian, who looked disappointed as he looked at the board, where he was at a disadvantage but notice something in the game, "Let's see if he will succeed", said Xingtian coldly as if he knew something and was certain of success, "Xi Jin won't let me down", added Xingtian as he placed his piece.
(Eternal Forest)
Zhuyuan looked on in disbelief as he saw the array Ying Pu activated, "This is the…
Ying Pu then released the massive sword, and it came falling straight at Xi Jin. Xi Jin released all his Dark Qi upwards to create a shield of pure darkness, but he struggles to stop it. The array was too powerful; it scattered the shield of pure darkness and crashed down directly onto Xi Jin, piercing through his chest straight into the ground, with blood spewing from his chest and mouth. The array vanished into thin air from the sky, and Ying Pu felt dizzy and light-headed and fell to the ground, but Zhuyuan caught him again and safely brought him back down, landing softly and gently.
"That was impressive", said Zhuyuan complementing Ying Pu, who smiled half softly who was too weak to fully smile, "How did you know that ancient array?" asked Zhuyuan softly but Ying Pu fainted in his arms, "That array is magic array from the God Realm, how could you use it? Unless your uncles…", said Zhuyuan as he realized something and stopped. Zhuyuan looked at Ying Pu but pondered many questions that he now had but remained silent and placed his focus back on Xi Jin who laid pierced on the ground. As Zhuyuan looked on at Xi Jin's body it dissipated into thin air and the massive sword vanished as well, "Its done", said he as he picked up Ying Pu and turned around.