The battlefield was in disarray, and it raged on beyond anyone's capability of endurance. The sky was red with blood and electrified as spiritual beasts clashed, cultivators clashed with all their might, and the ground was painted with blood and ash. Bai Cheng was frozen on the edge of the battlefield with his heart pounding. The magnitude of destruction and energy left him panting.
The Phoenix and the Dark Serpent thundered above him, and they were so big and intimidating. Every time their teeth and claws clashed against each other, it rattled the air, scorching the clouds or releasing poisonous droplets on the ground. Both animals did not surrender, their bodies riddled with wounds, and they were extremely powerful.
Bai Cheng looked at a terrifying sight—a young boy, not even ten years old, shivering while holding a short sword. His mother stood before him, her expression stern and resolute.
"Behind me!" she breathed, her own voice trembling but firm.
But mom—!
No! Save the others!" she cried, employing a fire assault that incinerated a Blood Crimson Sect member advancing towards them.
On the side, other mothers bravely protected their kids and tightened every muscle in an effort to keep the invaders at bay. Bai Cheng felt a piercing pain in his chest. "Even kids are fighting. How can I possibly fight against this kind of devastation?"
Above them, their commanders clashed in the air at unbelievable speeds, their bodies streaking around each other as they exchanged titanic blows.
Shen Huang yelled at the top of her lungs. "Zuo Tianlong! You'll regret the day you become my team member!"
Zuo Tianlong laughed, a huge and frightening one. "Regret? Shen Huang, I have already made up my mind about your destiny! Surrender your treasures and kowtow to me, and I shall spare your wretched sect!"
"Never!" Shen Huang's body was engulfed in flames, and with the swiftness of his hand, he hurled a wall of fire against Zuo Tianlong.
Zuo Tianlong counterattacked with a burst of red energy. The two collided and exploded in a blinding flash of light that shook the sky.
On the ground, a fierce battle started. Shen Huang's eldest son, Shen Lei, battled Zuo Tianlong's eldest, Zuo Han. Their swords clashed with one another, producing dazzling sparks and energy.
"You think you can defeat me?" Zuo Han sneered, his sword shrouded in dark energy. "I have defeated smarter individuals than you."
"!Words are easy to say," Shen Lei retorted, fire blazing from his sword as he deflected another strike. "Let's see! Is your sword as sharp as your words!"!
They advanced rapidly as they employed powerful methods. Shen Lei's Infernal Sword Dance cast fire arcs which scorched the ground, and Zuo Han's Crimson Blade Phantom summoned ghostly blades that descended like a deadly storm.
Not far from there, Shen Huang's brother, Shen Wu, was engaged in a fierce combat with Zuo Tianlong's youngest son, Zuo Fang.
"Your pride as a family member will be your downfall!" Zuo Fang roared, his double swords flashing with dark energy.
Shen Wu smirked. "And your recklessness will be yours." He countered with a barrage of flaming fists, his Blazing Fury Strike technique creating shockwaves with each punch.
The fight escalated as Zuo Tianlong raised his arms, his bellow ringing with sinister incantations.
"Emerge, Blood Shade Tiger!"
The earth gave way, and out of the crevices emerged a gigantic tiger, its coat black with red stripes of blood power. Its eyes burned with malevolence as it let out a thunderous roar. Blood Crimson's disciples applauded, more assured now that the monster raged in full fury.
Shen Huang, unfazed, called forth his own monster. "Rise, Flame Serpent!"
The earth beneath the Flame Sect ignited into flames as a massive serpent, composed of fire, was awakened. It wrapped itself around, its burning eyes fixed on the Blood Shade Tiger.
The two creatures clashed, their size and strength making everything else appear small. The Blood Shade Tiger employed its claws that seemed capable of slicing through anything, while the Flame Serpent attacked with its burning teeth, with fire trails following wherever it went.
Among the chaos, there was a Blood Crimson elder behind the advancing army, casting a spell. Red symbols on the ground began to appear, weaving together in a large and intricate pattern that glowed with dark energy.
"Now what are they doing?" exclaimed Shen Huang's second son on looking at the formation.
Shen Huang narrowed his eyes. "They're going to call for assistance—or worse. Prevent them!"
A team of students from the Flame Sect rushed towards the barrier, but a squad of Blood Crimson warriors cut them off, applying their dark abilities to create mayhem.
Bai Cheng felt uncomfortable while observing. "This isn't good. They have a grand design."
The Infernal Flame Array was already weak, but now it was being dismantled by the relentless onslaught. Bai Cheng felt the trembling in the air as the barrier's flames danced and weakened.
We're losing the array!" a disciple shouted.
"Wait a little while longer!" an old man shouted. "Help is on the way!"
But Bai Cheng was able to discern how desperate they were. Some of them almost fell over, their spiritual power exhausted.
Shen Huang collapsed to the floor, his brilliant energy radiating like a light. "All of you, get up! Fight with all your strength! Protect the sect at all costs!"
His words fired up the morale of the warriors of the Flame Sect, who stormed forward with renewed energy. Fights erupted everywhere, the air filled with battle cries and the smell of blood.
Even Bai Cheng also had a strong sense of determination. "They're doing everything for their team. But what am I to do? I have no spiritual power, no techniques…"
He clenched his fists, and his eyes were brimming with annoyance. "How am I ever going to meet people like these?"
While the Blood Shade Tiger and the Flame Serpent clashed on and on in the skies, Shen Huang gazed upwards. His eyes were determined as he screamed out a name, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
"ZHOU LONG!"
The name was like thunder, causing all of them to stand still even in the intense battle for a moment. Bai Cheng stood stiffly, his heart pounding. "Who is he summoning? Another elder? A mysterious master?"
The air was thick as all waited for a reaction. But nothing had as yet been accomplished when the Blood Shade Tiger unleashed a thunderous roar, its claws digging into the curled body of the Flame Serpent. The serpent released a pained hiss, but its fiery tail swung around, knocking the tiger to the ground. The sky appeared to be shaking as these two giant beings refused to yield. The Escalating Threat.
As the fight went on, Bai Cheng sensed something worse waiting for them. The teleportation array glowed with an even more intense light, its dark energy surging. The disciples of the Blood Crimson Sect fought more frantically, as though they were certain of victory. And then there was the name—Zhou Long. Bai Cheng gazed at Shen Huang, who stood tall in the midst of the commotion around him. "Whoever this Zhou Long is… he must arrive soon. Because if he does not."
The young man swallowed hard, his throat very dry. "then there is no hope for this group."
the battlefield still ablaze and an oppressive sense of uncertainty in the atmosphere. The circle of combat, the clash of monstrosities, and the acrid cries of cultivators filled the world, as the destiny of the Eclipse Flame Sect teetered on the edge of ruin.