The sky bled a sinister red, an unsettling hue that drenched the horizon in malice. An ominous aura permeated the realm, rendering the very air thick with dread. Bai Cheng stood at the brink of a crumbling balcony, clutching its charred railing as he peered at the distant figures converging in droves. Their silhouettes advanced with intent, emanating a palpable menace that set his heart racing.
A low, thunderous growl reverberated across the ground, mingling with the wails of countless spiritual beings. It was not only frightening; it was suffocating, as if it bore the burden of a thousand lost lives behind it.
Bai Cheng automatically dropped into a crouch, his muscles tensed in readiness. "I must be prepared," he snarled, his voice barely audible over the din. But then he recalled the elder's words:
This is merely a recollection, a fleeting instant. Observe and understand, but be aware you cannot act.
Knowing he was unable to change the fate of things, Bai Cheng rose tall, his fists balled tightly. But the cruel nature of things—the blistering heat, the oppressive tension, and the heavy bloodlust that clung to the air—made it seem as if he was an integral part of the very essence of the war.
The sect erupted with a rush of activity. Cultivators flooded the courtyards, their red and gold robes flying as they geared up to fight for their home country. Above the ranks of disciples, the elders hovered, their spiritual power coalescing like rivers pouring into an ocean.
Form the Infernal Flame Array!" an old man bellowed, his voice ringing out above the din.
Bai Cheng marveled as several dozen cultivators moved in harmonious synchrony. Their palms danced through the air, executing intricate seals, as blinding fire erupted, curling itself across the grounds of the sect like a living serpent. Blazing fire encircled them, its heat driving back the encroaching shadows.
"Stand strong!" another elder barked. "Within the array, no attack can reach us. Trust in its power!"
The disciples nodded, their faces a combination of determination and fear. Bai Cheng saw how the radiant light of the dome lifted their spirits. The flames danced with excitement, repelling attacks as bursts of energy blazed harmlessly against its surface. Inside, spiritual energy flowed like a river, healing wounds and purifying techniques.
"Unstoppable," Bai Cheng murmured, impressed despite himself.
At the far edge of the battlefield, the Blood Crimson Sect announced themselves. Their leader, a hulking figure dressed in dark red robes, emerged. His aura spread like a plague, crushing and suffocating, tainting the sky a darker crimson.
Following him were his two sons, whose faces were remarkably alike each other—lean but muscular bodies, with the air of arrogance typical of their father. They had the aura of core-forming cultivators in the late stage, but their eyes glowed with a fervent hunger for destruction.
The Blood Crimson Sect disciples trailed behind, their abilities casting a chilling aura. Coils of blood-red energy wrapped around their figures like malevolent serpents, which Bai Cheng could sense. Behind them stood their spiritual beasts: blood hydras, scarlet wolves, and even grotesque beings with deformed bodies that defied the natural laws.
These individuals aren't just foes," Bai Cheng grumbled to himself. "They're monsters.".
The leader of the Eclipse Flame Sect ascended into the air to face his foe. His golden fire-robes shone like sunlight bursting through clouds. His mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation made the very air surrounding him crackle with a palpable heat.
How dare you cross into my lands, Zuo Tianlong?" he boomed, his voice echoing over the battlefield.
The leader of the Blood Crimson Sect sneered. "Your territory, Shen Huang? Do not be foolish. All of this is for the strong, and you are no longer among them. Hand over the sect treasures and the Emberstone Dragon, and I may spare your disciples' lives."
Emberstone Dragon was what made Bai Cheng's ears perk up with interest. "The halberd is one thing, but what in the world is this dragon?" he thought, his interest piqued.
Shen Huang's expression turned solemn, his spiritual energy surging within him. The oppressive heat met the cold malice from Zuo Tianlong. Their spiritual energies clashed like mighty waves, causing the earth to shake and splitting the heavens asunder.
Zuo Tianlong roared, his sect erupting as a result. Blood Crimson disciples attacked with techniques infused with black energy. The sky darkened as ribbons of red light cut through the air and struck the Infernal Flame Array dome.
"Fortify the array!" shouted one of the elders of the Flame Sect.
Flames roared, deflecting the attacks with ease. The Blood Crimson disciples cried out in anger as their attacks came back at them, some even singeing themselves in the process.
In the battle, Shen Huang's eldest son led the defense. "Hold the line! Do not break!" he bellowed, his voice full of command. He unleashed waves of fire, scorching the earth in front of the oncoming enemy.
Zuo Tianlong's sons were not idle either. The eldest, a lean man with snake-like eyes, attempted to pierce the array. He called out a gigantic blood hydra, its many heads pounding the dome repeatedly.
"It's holding, but for how long?" Bai Cheng muttered to himself, observing the cracks already beginning to form on the flame dome.
High up in the air, Shen Huang and Zuo Tianlong clashed with blows that shook the heavens.
"Take this!" Shen Huang roared, as he released the Solar Incineration Art. In his grasp, a small sun appeared, emitting heat so fierce that even Bai Cheng, who was inside the protective array, could feel his skin tingling.
Zuo Tianlong responded with a similarly powerful art: the Crimson Dominion. The ground in front of him turned into a sea of red, tendrils of energy shooting up to meet the sun attack.
Their collision produced an explosion of light that illuminated the battlefield.
"You'll have to try harder than that, Shen Huang!" Zuo Tianlong joked, his voice ringing out with good-humored laughter.
Despite being in the safety of the protective shield, Bai Cheng felt the impact of the war raging outside. He hunched down as the ground beneath him trembled violently. "This. this isn't a memory," he panted, his heart pounding. "It feels too real."
The disciples gathered around him toiled diligently, their hands radiating with energy as they infused it into the array. Sweat streamed down their brows, yet none wavered in their efforts. Bai Cheng found himself admiring their unwavering resolve.
Abruptly, a sharp crack shook the air. One of Zuo Tianlong's sons had managed to weaken the array at a single spot.
"It's breaking!" shouted a disciple. Stand firm!" shouted Shen Huang's eldest son. He plunged towards the gap, calling for fire that quickly sealed the break.
As the fight continued to rage on about him, Bai Cheng's mind went to the Emberstone Dragon. "What sort of creature is this to be so much trouble?" he wondered.
His dog growled low, standing guard at his side. Bai Cheng knelt, petting its fur mindlessly. "Stay near," he breathed.
A sudden roar reverberated through the sky, more thunderous than anything he had ever encountered. Everyone froze in place, even the Nascent Soul cultivators engaged in their fierce battle. A shadow swept across the battlefield, its immense form eclipsing the crimson-tinted sun.
Bai Cheng opened his eyes, his breath caught in his throat. "That. can't be it, can it?" Far above, a monstrous CREATURE with molten stone scales and burning eyes came down from the sky. Its presence appeared to distort the fabric of reality, its fire so intense that it vaporized the air around it into a glowing haze.
A Dragon?" Bai Cheng whispered, wonder and terror intermingled in his tones. The monster let out another thunderous roar, its fiery eyes staring down at the field below.
Bai Cheng held his dog close to him. "What do we do now?"
The solution evaded him, as the world outside descended into chaos.