The underground chamber trembled as the last remnants of the ancient seal dissolved into the air. The man who had once been bound in chains now stood freely, stretching his limbs as if savoring the sensation of movement after centuries of imprisonment.
Shao Xian remained motionless, his golden eyes locked onto the figure before him. He could feel the raw, unrestrained power radiating from the man's body—like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
Yan Yue and Wei Tian remained tense behind him. They had faced countless powerful opponents in their time, but this was different. This man was something else entirely.
The silver-haired man finally turned his gaze back to Shao Xian, a smirk playing at the edges of his lips. "It's strange, isn't it? To stand before someone you once destroyed."
Shao Xian's voice was calm, steady. "I never expected to see you again."
The man let out a low chuckle. "Neither did I. But fate, it seems, has a twisted sense of humor." He tilted his head slightly. "Tell me, Shao Xian, do you regret it? Killing me all those years ago?"
Shao Xian's expression did not waver. "No."
The man laughed, deep and full of amusement. "Good. Because neither do I."
At that moment, a powerful shockwave erupted from the man's body, sending cracks through the chamber walls. The force alone was enough to make Yan Yue and Wei Tian take a step back, their instincts screaming at them to prepare for battle.
Shao Xian, however, stood firm.
The man studied him for a moment before letting out a slow exhale. "You're stronger than before," he mused. "Far stronger. But so am I."
Yan Yue narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"
The man turned his gaze toward her, amusement flickering in his golden irises. "I have been known by many names," he said. "Tyrant. Demon. The Unchained One." He glanced back at Shao Xian. "But I believe he remembers me best as Tian Xuan."
Wei Tian's breath caught in his throat. "Tian Xuan… The God-Slayer?"
Yan Yue's eyes widened. "That's impossible. Tian Xuan died ten thousand years ago."
Tian Xuan smirked. "Did I?"
---
A Battle That Shattered Worlds
The air grew heavy as an oppressive aura filled the chamber. Shao Xian remained silent, his mind momentarily drifting back to that fateful battle—one that had reshaped the heavens and the earth.
Tian Xuan had once stood at the pinnacle of power, feared by gods and mortals alike. He was a being who had transcended the limits of the Dao, his strength so overwhelming that even the celestial realms had sought to erase him.
And yet, it had been Shao Xian who delivered the final blow.
The battle had lasted for days, shaking the very foundations of existence itself. Mountains had crumbled, oceans had boiled, and entire civilizations had been wiped from history. In the end, Shao Xian had emerged victorious—but at a great cost.
Now, the very same enemy stood before him once more.
Tian Xuan studied Shao Xian with a curious expression. "Tell me, what has changed in the world above?"
Shao Xian spoke evenly. "The heavens are still ruled by cowards. The strong are still feared, and the weak still kneel."
Tian Xuan let out a dark chuckle. "Some things never change." His gaze sharpened. "And what of you, Shao Xian? Are you still their pawn, playing by their rules?"
Wei Tian stiffened at the accusation, but Shao Xian remained unbothered. "I serve no one," he said simply.
Tian Xuan's smirk widened. "Good."
Without warning, a massive surge of energy exploded from Tian Xuan's body. The chamber walls collapsed as raw, untamed force tore through the air. Yan Yue and Wei Tian barely had time to react before they were sent flying backward, crashing into the rubble.
Shao Xian, however, did not move.
Tian Xuan's smirk turned into a full grin. "Let's see if you still deserve your throne."
And then, he attacked.
---
Clash of Titans
In an instant, Tian Xuan vanished from sight. A fraction of a second later, he reappeared behind Shao Xian, his fist colliding with the air itself, creating a shockwave so powerful that it shattered what remained of the chamber.
But Shao Xian was already gone.
He moved with impossible speed, appearing a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye. His golden eyes burned with an unreadable intensity as he countered, unleashing a devastating palm strike that distorted space itself.
Tian Xuan barely had time to react before the attack slammed into his chest, sending him hurtling through the collapsing ruins. Mountains trembled in the distance as the force of the impact carved a massive crater into the land.
Yet, before the dust could settle—
Tian Xuan emerged, unscathed, his laughter echoing through the destruction.
"That's more like it!" he roared, his aura surging with newfound intensity.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward, summoning a massive celestial spear formed from pure energy. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it toward Shao Xian, the sheer force of the weapon tearing the sky apart.
Shao Xian extended a single finger.
With a simple flick, he shattered the spear into dust.
Tian Xuan's grin widened. "Ah, I see. You really have grown stronger."
In the next instant, the battle resumed.
The two warriors collided in midair, their movements so fast that even the most powerful cultivators would have struggled to follow. Each clash sent shockwaves rippling across the land, leveling mountains and parting clouds.
Yan Yue and Wei Tian could only watch from a distance, unable to interfere.
"This… this isn't a battle," Wei Tian whispered. "It's a war between gods."
Yan Yue clenched her fists. "If Shao Xian loses…"
She didn't finish her sentence. Because she knew—if Shao Xian fell, then nothing in this world would be able to stop Tian Xuan.
---
Unleashing the Forbidden Power
As the battle raged on, Shao Xian began to push Tian Xuan back. His attacks grew sharper, more precise. Each strike carried the weight of absolute dominance, forcing Tian Xuan into a defensive stance.
Finally, after a brutal exchange of blows, Shao Xian saw an opening.
He thrust his palm forward, unleashing a technique that had not been used since the dawn of time—
Heaven's Judgement.
The sky split apart, revealing an endless void of golden lightning. The very laws of existence bent beneath the sheer force of the technique.
Tian Xuan's eyes widened. "You—"
Before he could finish, the attack struck him head-on.
The land itself screamed as the overwhelming energy engulfed everything, reducing the surrounding mountains to dust. Even the heavens trembled under the might of Shao Xian's ultimate move.
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence.
Then—
From within the storm of destruction—
A figure emerged.
Burned. Bleeding. But still standing.
Tian Xuan let out a ragged breath, his body trembling from the sheer force of the attack. Yet, despite the injuries, despite the unimaginable damage he had sustained—
He smiled.
"…Not bad." His golden eyes burned with excitement. "Not bad at all."
And then, as if nothing had happened, he stepped forward.
The battle was far from over.