The light from the explosion slowly faded.
Smoke drifted across the shattered courtyard as fragments of stone and burned earth settled back onto the mountain of Ji Xia Sect.
At the center of the battlefield, Elder Rong knelt on one knee, his broken blade lying beside him. The crimson flames that once roared around his body had weakened into faint embers.
Across from him stood Yan Fu, calm and unmoved.
Golden spiritual energy still lingered around his white robes, flickering softly like starlight.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
The cultivators of the Blood Flame Sect stared in disbelief.
Their strongest elder… had been defeated.
One of the younger disciples whispered nervously,
"H-how is this possible…?"
Another clenched his fists.
"That man… he crushed Elder Rong's domain!"
The fear spreading among them was almost tangible.
Yan Fu lowered his staff slightly and spoke in a calm voice.
"This is your final chance."
His hazel-green eyes were steady and merciless.
"Leave this mountain and never return."
For a moment, silence filled the battlefield.
Then Elder Rong began to laugh.
At first it was quiet.
But slowly, it grew louder.
"You think… this battle is over?"
His voice sounded hoarse, but the hatred within it burned fiercely.
He slowly stood up again.
Behind him, several Blood Flame Sect elders stepped forward.
Their expressions were dark and grim.
One of them spoke coldly.
"Elder Rong… we should retreat."
But Rong shook his head.
"No."
His eyes locked onto Yan Fu.
"If we return after losing like this, the sect will execute us anyway."
He raised his broken blade.
"So we fight until the end."
Crimson flames suddenly erupted again around the Blood Flame Sect cultivators.
Not the controlled flames from before.
These flames were unstable, wild… desperate.
Yan Fu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"They are burning their life force."
The mysterious visitor watching nearby chuckled softly.
"How dramatic."
Across the battlefield, Elder Rong roared,
"Blood Flame Sect disciples!"
The remaining invaders raised their weapons.
"Burn your blood and destroy this sect!"
A terrifying wave of spiritual energy exploded from their bodies.
Several of the younger Ji Xia disciples staggered backward in fear.
"They're sacrificing themselves!"
Li Fei stepped forward, pink flames igniting around his hands.
"Then we stop them!"
He launched forward like a streak of light.
"Phoenix Flame Strike!"
His palm collided with one of the Blood Flame disciples, blasting the man backward in a wave of pink fire.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, the divine guardians moved again.
Vorath's amber eyes gleamed with savage delight.
"Good."
His claws tore through the ground as he leapt into the enemy ranks.
"I was getting bored."
Dark shadows gathered around his body.
"Devouring Night Claw!"
BOOOOOOM!
The strike ripped through three enemy cultivators at once, sending them crashing into the courtyard wall.
Above the battlefield, thunder rumbled.
Tianlong roared as lightning spiraled across the sky.
The storm dragon descended like a falling star.
"Thunder Annihilation!"
CRAAAAAACK!
A massive lightning bolt struck the ground, blasting apart an entire group of Blood Flame Sect attackers.
Meanwhile Aetherion remained near the Ji Xia disciples.
His horn glowed brilliantly.
Soft turquoise light spread across the battlefield.
"Divine Restoration."
The wounded disciples felt their injuries closing almost instantly as warm healing energy flowed through their bodies.
Their confidence returned.
"Protect the sect!" one of them shouted.
The Ji Xia disciples charged forward again.
The courtyard exploded into chaotic battle.
Fire techniques collided with wind blades and lightning strikes.
Explosions echoed across the mountain.
But even as the battle raged—
Elder Rong focused only on Yan Fu.
His eyes were bloodshot.
"You destroyed my domain…"
He raised both hands.
Crimson flames gathered violently around him.
"Then I will burn everything!"
The flames twisted together, forming a gigantic blazing spear above his head.
The heat from the weapon distorted the air itself.
Even the distant trees began to wither under its pressure.
Yan Fu looked up at the attack quietly.
"So this is your final move."
Elder Rong screamed,
"Blood Flame Cataclysm!"
The enormous spear of fire shot toward Yan Fu like a falling meteor.
The power behind it was immense.
Even the mysterious visitor raised an eyebrow slightly.
"That attack could destroy half this mountain."
But Yan Fu did not move.
Instead, he slowly lifted his celestial staff toward the sky.
Golden energy gathered around him once again.
However, this time it was different.
The energy was deeper.
Ancient.
Like the awakening of something that had slept for countless ages.
The wind across the mountain suddenly changed.
Above the battlefield, the clouds parted.
Stars appeared in the daylight sky.
Elder Rong's expression froze.
"What… is this?"
Yan Fu's voice echoed across the mountain.
"Celestial Dao…"
Golden runes appeared around his body.
"…First Scripture."
The staff in his hand began to glow brighter and brighter.
Spiritual energy from the surrounding world rushed toward him like rivers flowing into the sea.
The mysterious visitor leaned forward slightly.
"Ah."
Their silver flames flickered with excitement.
"So he finally reveals it."
Yan Fu's eyes shone like twin stars.
"Starfall Judgment."
He struck the ground with his staff.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The sky erupted.
Several massive pillars of golden light descended from above like falling stars.
They collided directly with the incoming spear of fire.
The two attacks clashed violently.
For a moment, the battlefield disappeared inside a blinding storm of light and flame.
Then—
CRACK.
The flaming spear shattered.
The golden pillars continued downward.
Elder Rong's eyes widened in terror.
"No—!"
BOOOOOOOM!
The impact blasted him into the ground, creating a massive crater at the center of the courtyard.
When the light faded, the battlefield fell silent once again.
Smoke drifted through the air.
The Blood Flame Sect cultivators slowly stopped fighting.
They stared toward the crater with pale faces.
Inside it, Elder Rong lay unconscious, his body completely drained of spiritual energy.
Yan Fu stood at the edge of the crater, his staff resting calmly in his hand.
The Ji Xia disciples erupted in cheers.
"We won!"
"The elder is defeated!"
The remaining Blood Flame Sect cultivators dropped their weapons.
Fear filled their eyes.
Yan Fu looked across the battlefield.
His voice was calm but absolute.
"Leave."
The invaders hesitated for only a moment.
Then they turned and fled down the mountain.
Within seconds, the battlefield was empty.
Silence returned to Ji Xia Sect.
The disciples gathered together, exhausted but victorious.
Vorath stretched lazily.
"That was entertaining."
Tianlong circled once above the mountain before landing nearby.
Aetherion walked calmly toward Yan Fu.
"The sect has survived its first war."
Yan Fu nodded slightly.
But before he could respond—
A slow clap echoed through the courtyard.
Everyone turned.
The mysterious visitor stepped forward, silver flames dancing around their body.
"Well done."
Their eyes gleamed with interest as they studied Yan Fu.
"Your strength exceeds my expectations."
Yan Fu looked at them calmly.
"You watched the entire battle."
The visitor smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Their aura suddenly deepened.
"And now…"
A powerful pressure filled the courtyard.
"…it is my turn."
The disciples felt their hearts tremble.
Vorath growled.
Tianlong's wings spread.
Even Aetherion's calm expression hardened.
Yan Fu tightened his grip on the celestial staff.
The mysterious visitor's silver flames burned brighter.
"Let us see…"
Their voice carried both curiosity and excitement.
"…if the master of Ji Xia Sect can defeat me as well."
The mountain fell silent.
A new battle was about to begin.