- Brother Xiao, can't you see how misguided your path truly is? Why shed the blood of the innocent and plunge the world into the abyss of chaos? Do you truly believe that evil can triumph over good? - Se Yan sighed, deep sorrow resonating in his voice as his eyes filled with genuine regret.
He took a step forward, extending his hand in a gesture of reconciliation:
- We can find another way. A path where innocent souls need not be sacrificed to achieve our goals. A path where honor and justice walk hand in hand with power.
- You… Hearing his words, Xiao Chen was stunned. It was as if lightning had struck him. He froze in place, his eyes widening as if he were only now beginning to see the true nature of things.
Se Yan watched Xiao Chen's reaction carefully, hoping his words would find their mark.
- I know you're capable of more than just following the path of violence - he continued softly. - There's still room in your heart for compassion and justice. Don't let the darkness consume you entirely.
Suddenly, Xiao Chen's face contorted with rage, all traces of his former calm vanishing without a trace. Blood rushed to his cheeks, and his eyes flared with an unkind fire. In that moment, he was ready to pounce on Se Yan and tear him to pieces — the empty words about righteousness seemed so unbearable to him.
- Nonsense! Complete nonsense! - he growled, clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked. - Where, when have I killed the innocent? Can't you see that this old man won't listen to anyone but himself? Why should I bear responsibility for his decisions?
His voice trembled with anger, and fury bubbled in his chest. Every word from Se Yan seemed to pierce him like a sharp blade, igniting a new wave of indignation.
- You speak of justice, but you refuse to see the truth!
Never before had Xiao Chen experienced such acute irritation from mere words. Usually cold-blooded and unflappable, capable of easily ignoring any attacks, today he felt rage boiling in his veins like molten metal.
Every syllable coming from Se Yan's lips was like a sharp knife, piercing his composure. Lies, groundless accusations flying over the crowd like poisonous arrows — all of this could no longer go unnoticed.
His fingers involuntarily clenched into fists, and the muscles in his neck tensed like steel cables. His breathing became heavy and прерывистым, and blood pounded in his temples, beating a frantic rhythm.
For the first time in a long while, the mask of composure began to crack under the onslaught of righteous anger. To witness someone sullying his name with impunity, to see the crowd listening to these false accusations — it was more than he could bear.
- Xiao Chen, don't worry - the voice of the Enlightenment Dao(5) expert rang out like steel striking ice, his eyes colder than the winter wasteland, piercing through Se Yan.
- I will crush him to dust here and now. Today, no one will leave this place alive. No one.
No sooner had these words been spoken than the space trembled. The spiritual energy of Enlightenment Dao(5) surged into the sky like a black tornado, warping reality.
At the edge of the power's epicenter, ethereal silhouettes wavered — ancient spirits of prohibition, shrouded in wisps of primordial mist. Their tendrils of chaos intertwined into a living cage, where even the thought of escape dissolved in suffocating darkness.
- Be careful - Xia Qingyue whispered barely audibly.
Se Yan's turned around, and his smile flashed like a sunbeam on a blade — dazzling yet cold.
- Calm down, Qingyue - he said, and at that very moment his palms rose in a ritualistic gesture.
Between his fingers, a spark ignited, transforming into a blinding magical circle. Ancient runes, like golden serpents, crawled through the air, weaving into a three-dimensional mandala. With each rotation, the symbols multiplied, filling the space with humming energy — everything around began to vibrate like a taut string before snapping.
It was like the birth of a new universe: thirteen dimensions collided in the crucible of his spell, matter melted into golden dust, exposing the ribs of the cosmic framework. The young geniuses nearby froze, their own spirit protectors turning into marble statues. Some collapsed to their knees, choking on blood from the overload — their souls literally creaked under the pressure, like ships being dragged into a whirlpool.
- Oh, my God! — a shrill scream tore through the tense silence, echoing off the vault of heaven.
- This… is the power of an Immortal! — another voice whispered, trembling with reverential fear.
- The young master is truly an Enlightenment Dao(5) expert!" — someone gasped in amazement, unable to believe their eyes.
- This… is incredible! — a voice came from the crowd, where everyone could feel their hair standing on end from the power emanating from Se Yan.
In the next instant, the crowd seemed to turn to stone. People froze with their mouths agape, feeling powerful energy waves coursing through their bodies. The fluctuations of Qi were so intense that the ground beneath their feet began to vibrate, and the air crackled with tension.
Even the most experienced masters could not hide their shock. Their faces expressed a mixture of horror and admiration, and their hands involuntarily reached for protective artifacts.
The very space itself seemed to acknowledge Se Yan's might, bending in reverence before his power.
"Puff!" — a trickle of blood spurted from the old man's mouth.
Se Yan's spiritual energy crashed down upon his opponent like an avalanche, shattering all defensive barriers. The old man staggered, his hands — which had been firmly held in a defensive position — now limply dropped to his sides. Surprise mixed with involuntary respect for his opponent's power flickered in his eyes.
Every muscle in the old man's face trembled with tension, as if trying to contain the force surging from within. His body convulsed in a silent cough, and then another trickle of blood traced a path down his wrinkled cheek.
- Impossible… how… how did you become so powerful? - he croaked, barely forcing the words out through his raw throat.
A murmur of admiration rippled through the crowd. Even the most seasoned masters bowed their heads in silent acknowledgment — before them stood not just a warrior, but a true immortal, whose power transcended all earthly limits. He needed neither sword nor fist — his mere presence was enough to force the enemy to fall to their knees.
- Xiao Chen! We must leave immediately! — the old man's voice faltered, yet remained resolute.
- It's dangerous to stay here! — he repeated, swiftly approaching.
In the next instant, the old man was beside Xiao Chen. Despite his age, his grip was unexpectedly firm. He seized the young man's shoulder with an iron grasp, like a vice, and began to drag him away.
Xiao Chen, consumed by icy rage, tried to break free. His muscles tensed, ready for resistance, but the old man's grip proved unexpectedly strong. Cold fury filled him, yet even that could not help him overcome the skilled warrior.
- Let go! — he growled, but the old man only tightened his grip.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a whirlwind of ash and shattered stones. The wind swept through the place of their disappearance, lifting dust and debris into the air, which swirled in a frenzied dance, as if mourning the departed.
*****
Sorrow's Embrace:
Hello, traveler.
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May fate guide you on the right path!
P.S. Your questions and plot theories inspire me to write new chapters — I look forward to your ideas!