*Part Five: The Coming Darkness*
[Eternal Capital: Abandoned Northern Section]
(Kongtian Shrine)
With the rest of the Eternal Capital in chaos and every other person in command engaged in battle, Changjian is struggling to keep his ground against Yujin, who has almost killed every single guard alongside Changjian, although being outnumbered. "Is this all you're capable of doing?" asked Yujin sarcastically with a sly grin as he looked directly into Changjian's eyes.
Yujin charged towards Changjian, slicing through every guard in front of him. He finally reached Changjian and swung his blade at him, but Changjian blocked the attack using his sword scabbard. He then swung his sword at Yujin, forcing Yujin to leap backwards to dodge the attack, but as Yujin landed, he released a slash of sword energy directly at Changjian, and Changjian blocked it using his sword to activate a shield,
"Look around you, all your subordinates are lying dead in front of you, how can you think there will be any hope of winning this fight?", said Yujin in a stoic, menacing voice. Changjian looked around and saw his men lying on the ground, slaughtered in a field of blood and death. His look was full of despair and sadness, but he knew he had a duty that he couldn't ignore, and so did they. He continued to attack Yujin, "It was their duty to die for the Eternal Realm, and so it is mine", shouted Changjian as he rushed at Yujin,
"You old fool", said Yujin as Changjian charged towards him, activating his sword technique, creating a huge vacuum of inner force in the form of violent surging winds that cut through everything in their path. Yujin then cultivated inner force along with the Dark Qi and leaped into the air. He activated a magic array that formed a massive sword in the sky. Seeing this Changjian mid-attack as he saw the immense power in front of him, he could not overcome, but he still stood firm and changed the direction of his attack upward at the magic array in the sky.
As Changjian charged at the magic array, Yujin released the sword, and it hurled down onto Changjian, striking him down and piercing him through the stomach. As the dust of the attack settled, Changjian lay on the ground with a massive sword wound through his stomach and could no longer move. Yujin flashed downright next to him, "Dying for the Eternal Realm, duty, what a falsehood", said Yujin with a sad tone to his voice. Yujin proceeded to use a spell to take the Kongtian Seal from the Shrine,
With Changjian lying in a pool of blood and a massive sword wound to the stomach, Yujin flashed off. Elsewhere, the children were struggling with shadow horde.
(Eternal Forest)
With everyone in despair and Jinxi state still unknown, the onslaught of shadow creatures starting to take its toll, Chang'an is finally ready to release her ultimate attack. "Okay, I am ready", said she to Mu Xuan, who has been relentlessly firing arrows at the air-borne shadow creatures. Mu Xuan stopped, and the bow disappeared. Chang'an then released her ultimate attack,
"Wow, amazing", said Gu Nan with look of shock at the tremendous power being display, "Awesome", said Mu Yuan in a tone of amazement, "This is…. she must at least be at the pinnacle of the Earth Stage of cultivation,
"That's great, now we can move", said Zhinu calmly as he looked at Chang'an being carried by Mu Xuan. In that moment, the mysterious figure, noticing what had happened, instantly flashed to Mu Xuan and Chang'an, but they couldn't counter in time, and Mu Xuan tried to shield her as the mysterious figure was about to attack, but Zhuyuan, with his immense and quick movement, blocked the attack with his palm strike. As the two attacks released constant flowing energy and the two energies clashed with each other, Mu Xuan flashed away to safety, next to Zhinu.
"Are you okay?" asked Mu Xuan as he attended to Chang'an. Zhinu looked rather annoyed and turned his face at Zhuyuan, clashing with a mysterious figure. As the two attacks clashed, Zhuyuan couldn't sense anything from the figure, "Who are you?" he asked. He was confused, "I am HIM", responded the mysterious figure in a stoic and distorted voice that sent a chilling feeling down Zhuyuan's body. Zhuyuan then increased his inner force by using his core (Mythical Thunderbird Destruction Core) and used his martial art technique,
Zhuyuan then pressed against the attack of the figure and released a massive wave of destructive energy that knocked and blasted the figure backwards, sending him flying back. Zhuyuan leaped into the air, preparing for another attack, but was intercepted by Xi Jin, who appeared in front of him and used his own attack,
Suddenly, a stream of light appeared before Zhuyuan and revealed the State Preceptor, who with a swing of his horse tail whip, sent wave of powerful inner force directly at Xi Jin, driving him back, "Just in time", said Taiyu giggling. "First Prince, sorry for my late arrival", said Taiyu as he turned around to help Zhuyuan stand up. "It's fine, you're here now", said Zhuyuan, pleased.
Unable to move with Jinxi, Mu Yuan and Gu Nan, looked around, but at that moment Xunyang flashed before them, "Do you need some help", said he with happy smile, "Huh… who are you?" asked Gu Nan ready to attack, in a very unwelcoming voice, "I am friend", responded Xunyang calmly, "Great help me with him, will you", said Mu Yuan pleased and handed Jinxi over to Xunyang who carried him on his back. Gu Nan looked rather uncertain if he should trust Xunyang, but had no choice but to agree, and they flashed to the others.
With everyone regrouping by Zhuyuan and Taiyu locations, Xunyang and the others arrived with Jinxi on his back. Zhuyuan looked pleased to see that Jinxi was safe, and so was Zhinu. As everyone gathered, Wu'an appeared, "Is everyone okay?" asked Wu'an with look of concern and looked around and his see saw Xi Jin across the landscape, "He is here", said Wu'an confused looking at Zhinu, "Yes he is with enemy", responded Ying Pu confidently, " I know he attacked us at the Imperial Vault along with the Prince of Su", said Wu'an with anger in his voice and everyone was shocked.
As Wu'an looked at Xi Jin, he saw that he had the scroll with him, "That's the scroll he was after", said Wu'an with a tone of concern and despair, knowing the fact that Xi Jin standing there meant his fathers and Jinhui were defeated. "Kongtian Seal Activation array", said Taiyu with a stern voice, "The Kongtian Seal, I thought it disappeared with the Celestial realm after its destruction", said Zhuyuan, confused. "What is the Kongtian Seal?" asked Zhinu curiously and confused. "It is a power from the God Realm", responded Taiyu in a casual tone.
"The God Realm", said Ying Pu softly, as everyone knew the God Realm fell during the reign of Gao Zong Emperor, Zhinu's father. As they were coming to the realization of what was happening around them, they knew that the outcome of this current affair was going to be dark and gruesome. As they looked on, turning their attention to Xi Jin and the mysterious figure, Yujin appeared next to Xi Jin with a familiar girl on his shoulder, which Zhinu recognized as Xi Yuan. "Xi Yuan!!", shouted Zhinu, wanting to rush in, but was stopped by Zhuyuan, "Calm down, think before you act", said Zhuyuan sternly as he explained it to Zhinu.
"First Prince, we have to ensure the safety of the civilians", said Taiyu, concerned. "You aren't certain we can take them on?" asked Zhuyuan, curious. "No, with my current strength and what I am sensing from Xi Jin, it won't be an easy fight", said Taiyu, uncertain with a stern tone. "Elder brother, we have to save Xi Yuan", said Zhinu, concerned and in a worried tone. "Yes, don't worry", said Zhuyuan in a comforting tone as he saw the feeling Zhinu had towards Xi Yuan, and the concern in his eyes for her burned bright. "The only others here that might be able to fight with us are Ying Pu, Xunyang, and Mu Xuan", explained Zhuyuan in a strategic manner.
"Gu Nan, stay here and protect the rest. Zhinu, stay with them, you cannot be harmed", instructed Zhuyuan sternly, but Zhinu did not want to stay; instead, he wanted to help them but got turned down by Taiyu. Who reminded him that he is the Crown Prince and Heir of the Lion Throne, so he cannot be harmed under any circumstance. Zhinu reluctantly agreed and stayed with Gu Nan and the others. Zhuyuan then commanded Shangjian to take the remaining force of the battalion to set a perimeter around the battlefield of 250 miles.
"Your Highness, that will involve part of the dense eastern area of the Capital", said Shangjian, concerned. "I know, hence why I ordered the city guard to evacuate the civilians beforehand when I arrived here earlier", said Zhuyuan reassuringly, showing his strategic mind and foresight in battle and the ever-changing flow of battle. This impressed Mu Xuan, who is the future Heavenly Emperor, as well as Taiyu, who was the remnant of his elder brother, who is one of the previous emperors (Guang Zong Emperor: Xuan Taiyi). Although Zhinu was feeling proud of his elder brother for his talent, still couldn't shrug off the feeling of discontent and envy, but he hid it well under the mask of gently smile.
Zhuyuan and the rest then went to confront Xi Jin and his followers. Arceus is receiving an unexpected guest.
[Upper Ring: 12th Legion Barracks]
(Xuanfang Tower)
Arceus sits in his personal office in Xuanfang Tower's (God Gazing Pavilion), where an unusual disturbance in the barrier of the tower slightly alerts Arceus. "Interesting", said Arceus softly and calmly as he sat quietly in a meditating pose, silently cultivating Eternal Rebirth with his inner force.
As he continued, a strange figure appeared in the shadow of the room, and the strange figure grinded and started to walk closer to Arceus, who remained still. As the figure came closer into the light, revealing the appearance of the figure, a tall man with piercing golden eyes, high nose and gently lips, perfectly shaped face with long black hair falling down his back with strings of hair falling down his chest and gently swirling in gently breeze that came through the terrace, glad in black and red with slight a purple hanfu, giving a gently seductive smile as he walked ever closer to Acreus.
"I know you're here", said Arceus unbothered and at ease, "Obviously you do, I wouldn't expect less", said the strange figure, who's malicious aura darkened the room slightly, "I wondered when you would show yourself, Xingtian (God Slayer Deity)", said Arceus revealing that he knew of his presence in the Eternal Realm, "Oh you remember me so well old friend", said Xingtian sarcastically. Arceus then stopped his cultivation and Eternal Rebirth, stabilizing his Qi and Inner Force. "Still as powerful as ever", replied Xingtian, surprised, "Seems the little act in the Shadow realm hasn't completely weakened you".
"Why are you here?" asked Arceus with an uninterested tone, "I am glad you asked", responded Xingtian happily ignoring Arceus's uninterested tone, "I am here to play a game of weiqi, care to interest me?", said Xingtian with a malicious smile as he wave his hand and a game board of weiqi appeared besides Arceus, "Very well", said Arceus with look of slight interest.
Xingtian sat down on a cushioned chair opposite Arceus, "Shall we begin?", said he as he placed the first piece on the board.