Yin Wuying stepped forward, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. Each step radiated silent, deadly resolve, like a predator closing in on its prey. His aura surged, oppressive and suffocating, bending the very air around him.
In stark contrast, Eli Shan remained rooted to his spot. His body trembled visibly, his shoulders quivering as though buckling under an unseen weight. But was he trembling in fear? Was he shaken by Yin Wuying's overwhelming presence?
No.
His eyes burned with an unmistakable fire, a flame that defied all notions of fear. The trembling coursing through his body wasn't weakness—it was pure, unrestrained excitement. A thrill surged through his veins, igniting an insatiable hunger.
To fight.
To clash his strength against someone formidable.
To test the boundaries of his power.
And, to kill.
Eli Shan's grin widened as Yin Wuying lunged, his blade slicing the air with lethal precision. The sheer speed of the strike left shockwaves in its wake, causing space itself to ripple as though torn by the force. Onlookers flinched instinctively, some shielding their eyes, unable to process the blinding speed of the attack.
But Eli Shan stood motionless, his grin unwavering, as if the strike were little more than a passing breeze.
The blade closed in, mere inches from his neck. Yet, in the instant that followed, Yin Wuying suddenly froze mid-strike. His entire body trembled violently, veins bulging against his skin, his breath hitching in his throat. The oppressive silence that followed was deafening.
Without warning, he leaped backward, retreating in an instant. His chest heaved, his wide eyes locked onto Eli Shan, filled with disbelief and raw fear.
"What... what was that?" Yin Wuying's voice cracked, betraying the turmoil within. "The moment I was about to strike... every instinct of myself screamed at me—screamed for me to stop! If I hadn't... I would've died. I'm certain of it!"
The shadows exchanged uncertain glances, their confusion evident. Their leader was about to strike Eli Shan down—why did he suddenly retreat? The same question rippled through the onlookers, their silence heavy with curiosity. Even Eli Shan found himself momentarily perplexed.
Then, the corner of his lips twitched, forming a faint smirk. His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, as though the answer was obvious.
"Looks like he has some sense after all," Eli Shan mused to himself, his tone edged with mockery.
Yin Wuying's breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling as he fixed his gaze on Eli Shan. Desperation flickered in his eyes, barely masked beneath a veil of composure. For a moment, he hesitated, his fingers twitching against the hilt of his sword. Then, as though resolving himself to an unthinkable decision, he inhaled deeply and exhaled in a slow, deliberate breath.
The silence was heavy, the air almost suffocating, before Yin Wuying's voice shattered it. "It seems I have no choice... but to use that."
A ripple of unease swept through the onlookers. Their whispers died down as they watched him reach into his space ring. From within, he retrieved an object—a shimmering, ethereal token that radiated faint pulses of energy. Its runes glowed faintly, weaving intricate patterns that seemed to hum with an otherworldly resonance.
Eli Shan's eyes widened, recognition flashing through his expression before it gave way to a sly grin. He tilted his head slightly, the faint smirk deepening. "Ah, a high-level formation token. And judging by the energy... this one's for a large-scale teleportation. How intriguing."
The crowd murmured in confusion, their curiosity piqued but their understanding was limited.
Eli Shan remained motionless, his gaze sharp and unyielding, observing Yin Wuying with the focus of a predator studying its prey.
Without hesitation, Yin Wuying clenched the token tightly in his hand. A single, decisive motion followed.
Crack.
The sound of the token shattering echoed like a clap of thunder. The faint hum of its energy erupted into a shockwave, rippling from the token as it dissolved into shards of light.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to be frozen. The onlookers stood in stunned silence, their confusion deepening as they stared at the dissipating remnants of the artifact.
Then, the skies above began to change, their bright blue hue fading as deep darkness spread like ink spilling over water. The deep rumble that followed wasn't just heard—it was felt, resonating in the bones, shaking the earth with a menacing growl. Cracks appeared in the very fabric of reality, faint at first, but quickly splintering into jagged, chaotic patterns that spread like the shattering of fragile glass.
Around Eli Shan, the rising panic began to grow, their voices trembling with fear as countless eyes were fixed on the dark, chaotic sky that churned like a sea of despair.
"Is the sky about to collapse? Are we all going to die?" someone gasped, their voice breaking.
"The gods are furious! Nothing can save this universe now!" another cried, clutching their head in despair.
"What have we done? How did we make the gods our enemy?" a trembling whisper echoed, carrying a weight of hopelessness.
For a bone-chilling moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. The oppressive energy hung heavy, suffocating, and unrelenting. It was as though the very fabric of existence was tearing apart, and every being could feel the cold grip of inevitability.
This was no mere calamity—it felt like the universe itself had reached its end, an unstoppable catastrophe that promised to leave nothing behind. No mortal, no god, no force of nature could stand against its wrath.
At the same time, in other small universes...
In a distant realm shrouded in darkness, a figure cloaked in shadows stirred. A faint pulse resonated from the ring on his finger, its energy rippling like a whisper through the void. With a flicker of his spiritual consciousness, he retrieved a token, only to watch it disintegrate in his palm. A swirling portal burst open before him, its swirling energy illuminating his darkened figure.
His calm facade broke as a wide, almost feral grin spread across his face. "So, it's finally time. The mission concludes today."
His voice reverberated through the void as his spiritual consciousness expanded, stretching across the entire universe. His command thundered in the minds of countless shadow-like cultivators. "Prepare to move. The time has come. Leave nothing behind!"
Simultaneously, similar scenes unfolded in every corner of the smaller universes. Tokens shattered, portals appeared, and legions of shadows mobilized with a singular purpose.
Back at the Sword Sect...
The sky above the sect darkened, its once serene expanse fractured by countless spatial cracks. Terror gripped the hearts of all who gazed upward.
"Is this the end of our universe?" a great emperor on a certain planet muttered, his voice grim.
"I'm sure we're all going to die," his friend, another great emperor replied, his face pale.
At some place on the planet, a young child clung to her mother, her innocent eyes wide with fear. "Mummy, are we going to die?" she asked softly.
The mother held her tightly, her own expression betraying her words. "Don't worry, my child. Nothing will happen to us," she said, though her voice wavered. The crowd's murmurs turned into sobs as they struggled to console themselves, though the looming sense of doom was undeniable.
Within the Sword Sect, Jian Wu and Wen Lun stood motionless, their gazes fixed on the sky. Jian Wu's jaw tightened as his fingers curled into a fist at his side, while Wen Lun's brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Watching so many cracks appear in space, even Eli Shan's composure wavered. His brows arched, and his lips parted slightly as he took in the scene. Even he, with all his strength and insight of formation, had not foreseen this. After a moment of stunned silence, a slow, villainous smile crept across his face, an unsettling gleam lighting up his eyes. "I want this token to study... at any cost!"
In the sky, the spatial fractures continued to multiply—millions became billions, then trillions—until they stretched across the entire sky. Then, as if the universe itself had split open, the cracks unleashed a sight that left even the strongest hearts trembling. From every fissure, thousands of shadowy cultivators emerged, their dark figures blotting out what little light remained.
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"W-What are those things?" a disciple stammered, his voice shaking.
"They're gods!" an elder whispered, his voice tinged with despair.
"We should never have made them our enemies," the Great Elder murmured, his regret palpable.
The oppressive aura radiating from the shadowy army covered thousands of planets like a dark tide, choking the very air. Cultivators crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from their mouths as the pressure shattered their defenses. Others succumbed without resistance, their bodies collapsing into unconscious heaps.
Those who clung to consciousness found themselves forced to their knees, their trembling arms struggling to hold them upright. The invading presence was so suffocating, so absolute, it felt as though the universe itself was groaning in protest under its unrelenting weight.
Gradually, the spatial cracks began to seal, their chaotic energy dissipating into nothingness, leaving behind an eerie stillness. The shadow cultivators moved, gathering into a single, unified mass that exuded an aura of boundless menace.
Seeing the gathering shadows, Yin Wuying's tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed. His figure shot skyward with lightning speed, cutting through the air like a blade. In an instant, he arrived before the ominous assembly, his posture resolute as his gaze locked onto the shadowy figure at the forefront.
He offered a curt nod, his expression a mixture of respect and urgency. Without wasting a moment, Yin Wuying extended a hand, pointing decisively toward Eli Shan. "That's him," he declared, his voice sharp and unwavering. "He matches every description, but most importantly... the Fate Mirror failed on him."
Following Yin Wuying's pointed finger, the shadow leader shifted his gaze to Eli Shan. His piercing eyes narrowed, gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and malice. Slowly, a cold grin crept across his face. "So, it's true," he murmured. "The Great Elder claimed the Fate Mirror would work on all beings—except him."
Another shadow leader, standing just beside the first, let out a low, dark chuckle as his gaze swept over Eli Shan's calm and unshaken demeanor. "This child was worth breaking the teleportation token for?" he mused, his tone both mocking and intrigued.
Yin Wuying nodded gravely, his expression dark. "He has no cultivation," he began, his voice steady but carrying a weight of unease. "And yet, his presence alone sent a shiver down my spine. He hasn't even moved, but my enhanced senses—the very ones I pride myself on—screamed at me to run."
His gaze hardened as he recalled the moment. "He simply smiled at me," Yin Wuying continued, his tone dropping to a near whisper, "and in that instant, I felt like a helpless prey caught in the gaze of a relentless hunter."
His voice grew sharper, almost defiant. "Do you truly think someone at my level would simply imagine such things?"
The shadow leader nodded in agreement, his tone cold and resolute. "Then he must be strong. But that only means you won't claim the glory alone. Now, this one belongs to all of us!"
Yin Wuying nodded, his response immediate and firm. "I know," he said, his tone carrying a weight of understanding. "That's why I hesitated to use the token. But after meeting him..." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as the memory resurfaced. "I understood why the sect master is so wary of him."
Hearing this, the other shadow leader's expression turned grim. Still, fear did not take hold. No matter how formidable this individual might be, could he truly contend with trillions of shadows? Even if he were the man of prophecy destined to dethrone the king of the higher universe, surely he would need time to grow before reaching such heights. Thinking of this, even though they were wary of him due to Yin Wuying's statement, they weren't scared of him.
.
.
.
From the sect below, Eli Shan's gaze swept over the gathered shadows, his expression composed and unreadable. With a measured breath, he launched himself into the air, ascending with lightning speed toward the ominous dark army hovering above the void.
He wasn't entirely certain why these shadows were targeting him, but if they sought him out, it was only right to face them directly. He couldn't allow their malevolence to harm others in his place. That's why, he ascended alone to confront them.
Yet, he wasn't alone for long. Two figures burst through the atmosphere behind him, their movements swift and resolute. Sensing their approach, Eli Shan slowed mid-flight, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Elder brothers! Don't follow me—it's dangerous!" Eli Shan called, his voice carrying both concern and gratitude as he turned toward his pursuers.
Jian Wu and Wen Lun exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions resolute. "Our junior brother is in danger. How could you expect us to leave you behind?" Jian Wu said.
Wen Lun arrived beside Eli Shan, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about us, brother. We're not here to hold you back."
Eli Shan shook his head, his smile softening into something more genuine. A faint chuckle escaped him. "What are you saying, brother? I'm relieved. Truly. I'm glad I'm not alone."
Jian Wu's wide grin flashed, sharp and fearless, like the edge of a drawn blade. "Good! Then let's go. If it's time to die, we will die together!"
Eli Shan chuckled softly at Jian Wu's bold declaration, but before moving, his gaze drifted downward one final time. Below, the Sword Sect stood frozen in place. The sect master, disciples, and elders all remained paralyzed, their faces pale and etched with fear.
Noticing his hesitation, Jian Wu stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on Eli Shan's arm. "Junior brother, don't misunderstand them," he said, his tone gentle. "They don't want to die—no one does. If they could, they'd stand by you. But going up against those shadows is certain death. They're not cowards; they just can't fight this."
Eli Shan shook his head. "I know, brother. I'm not holding it against them." He paused, his eyes lingering on the sect for a moment longer. "I was only thinking... I'll miss them."
Jian Wu tilted his head, a flicker of confusion crossing his face, but he chose not to press further. Instead, he gestured toward the looming void ahead, his tone turning sharp. "Then let's not keep them waiting."
Eli Shan nodded, his resolve clear. With a final glance below, he turned to his brothers. Together, the three soared forward, their figures cutting through the void as they closed in on the shadow army.
From above, the shadows watched as the trio advanced through the void.
"He's coming straight for us," one shadow leader sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Perhaps he thinks surrendering himself will spare his pitiful planet," another shadow remarked, a malicious grin twisting his lips. "But it won't matter. I'll destroy it anyway."
Dark chuckles rippled through the ranks, their malice hanging heavy in the air. Yet not all of them shared the same confidence.
Standing apart from the others, Yin Wuying's expression remained grim. His instincts, honed by countless life-and-death encounters, were still screaming louder with every passing moment. Something about the approaching figure gnawed at his nerves.
"What is this?" Yin Wuying muttered under his breath, his unease sinking deeper into his bones. His sharp gaze fixed on Eli Shan. "Could he truly be strong enough to defeat all of us?"
As Eli Shan drew closer, the oppressive killing intent emanating from the shadows surged forward like a tidal wave, blanketing him and his companions. The weight of it was suffocating, a force that could crush weaker beings into nothingness.
Yet, to the growing disbelief of the shadow army, Eli Shan, Jian Wu, and Wen Lun moved through it as if it were nothing but a breeze. Their strides were steady, their expressions unflinching.
"They're not ordinary," one shadow murmured, his earlier malice faltering as a note of reluctant respect crept into his voice.
As the trio came to a halt before the shadows, the tension in the void thickened, each moment stretching unbearably. Jian Wu and Wen Lun instinctively tightened their grips on their sword hilts, their knuckles turning white. Their bodies tensed, poised to strike at the first sign of danger.
Yet, in stark contrast to the charged atmosphere, Eli Shan's expression remained calm, inscrutable. His gaze swept across the gathered shadows, unreadable yet piercing, as if he saw straight through them.
Then, suddenly, he smiled—a soft, almost innocent smile. It was disarming, almost out of place in the face of such overwhelming darkness. And yet, that simple smile seemed to carry an undercurrent of something far more profound.
"What's that smile for?" one shadow leader demanded, his voice sharp, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Eli Shan shook his head lightly, his tone casual yet laced with an unsettling certainty. "I was just thinking... killing so many strong cultivators might weaken the universe as a whole. A shame, isn't it?"
The shadows frowned, their expressions darkening. Even Jian Wu and Wen Lun exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of their junior brother's intent.
One shadow stepped forward, his dark aura flaring as his voice dripped with disdain. "Do you truly believe you're strong enough to kill all of us?" he sneered, his tone thick with mockery.
Eli Shan ignored the shadow entirely. Instead, he turned to his brothers, his hardened expression softening into one of genuine warmth. Bowing deeply, he spoke with heartfelt sincerity, his voice steady and resolute. "I'm truly lucky to have brothers like you."
Jian Wu and Wen Lun blinked, momentarily taken aback. Scratching their foreheads awkwardly, they shared a look before replying in unison, their voices steady despite the looming danger. "And we're lucky to die with a brother like you."
A sharp, hoarse laugh cut through the moment, dragging the tension back into the air like a thunderclap. "Finished your farewells, have you?" the ignored shadow sneered, his voice dripping with venom. He stepped forward with a measured menace, his presence oppressive. In his hand, a dark spear materialized, its jagged surface emanating an aura so monstrous it seemed to consume the very fabric of light and space. The void around it warped, and it trembled as though the spear itself sought to extinguish everything in its path.
With a fierce grip, the shadow tightened his hold, and in a single, explosive motion, he hurled the weapon toward Eli Shan. "I'll turn you all to dust," he growled, his eyes aflame with murderous intent.
But he was not alone. Shadow leaders from countless lesser universes stood beside him, their elites arrayed like an unstoppable tide of darkness. One by one, they drew their weapons—blades, axes, staves, and claws—each artifact brimming with destructive energy.
The collective might they unleashed sent violent ripples tearing through the void, each wave like the roar of a collapsing star. The universe itself seemed to recoil, its fabric splitting into jagged cracks that stretched like scars across the expanse of reality.
The combined assault surged toward Eli Shan, a storm of death and chaos poised to consume everything in its path.
Jian Wu and Wen Lun, standing by Eli Shan's side, exchanged a single glance. Their silent communication spoke volumes, a bond forged through countless trials. With resolute determination, they stepped forward, their auras igniting like raging infernos. Jian Wu's aura crackled with the fury of thunder, while Wen Lun's eyes turned dark, a demonic aura erupting from his body.
Without hesitation, they placed themselves between Eli Shan and the overwhelming storm, their figures small yet unwavering against the chaos of impending destruction.
Though the power of Jian Wu and Wen Lun was immense—transcending mortal comprehension—it was still a mere flicker compared to the unrelenting storm of the shadows. The void itself seemed to cry out under the strain, its fabric fraying with every passing moment.
Jian Wu and Wen Lun stood firm, their figures illuminated by the radiant intensity of their auras. Yet, they knew the truth—their strength, as formidable as it was, could only delay the inevitable.
Turning back, Jian Wu's steady voice broke through the storm. "In our next lives," he said, his words imbued with quiet resolve, "I hope we'll meet again as brothers."
Wen Lun nodded, his expression calm yet tinged with sorrow. "We'll hold them off for as long as we can, Junior Brother. You must survive."
Eli Shan's smile widened, warmth spreading through his chest at the brotherly love showed by his brothers. Shaking his head gently, he stepped forward, placing a steady hand on each of their shoulders. His touch was firm but reassuring, a quiet strength emanating from him that seemed to defy the chaos surrounding them.
His voice, soft yet resolute, cut through the commotion. "Then don't leave me behind, brothers."