Chaos churned like a tempest within the Grand Hall of the Obsidian Peak Sect, warriors locked in desperate combat, their weapons clashing with sparks and fury. Amid the swirling madness stood Kai Feng, his heart hammering relentlessly as adrenaline surged through his veins. Every breath burned, every movement felt slow and deliberate—he was an island amidst a sea of violence, vulnerable yet defiant.
But in this moment, despite the roaring calamity, his focus crystallized into one singular purpose: survival.
The twin sisters, Liu Yu and Liu Yue, fought fiercely at his side. Their movements were as mesmerizing as they were lethal—a dazzling spectacle of combat mastery. Liu Yu's blades flashed relentlessly, cutting intricate patterns through enemy ranks, while Liu Yue wove delicate threads of shadow energy that ensnared opponents, rendering them helpless. Together, their coordination proved overwhelming, decimating wave after wave of attackers.
"Liu Yue, watch your left!" Liu Yu called urgently, dispatching two enemies simultaneously.
Liu Yue pivoted gracefully, spinning as her cloak billowed like dark mist around her. She responded swiftly, deflecting a ferocious strike before unleashing a devastating counterattack. For a brief instant, the immediate vicinity cleared, allowing her to glance at Kai with concern etched deeply in her brow. Her usually calm eyes flickered anxiously, betraying her worry.
"Master, please be careful!" Liu Yue's voice carried genuine fear, something rarely seen from her normally composed demeanor.
Kai nodded once, acknowledging her words, trying desperately to stabilize his swirling emotions. He tightened his grip around the Celestial Eclipse Manual, feeling the pulse of strange, ancient Qi within. The manual seemed to resonate with the chaos, its golden inscriptions glowing fiercely.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, Kai noticed a shadow shift. A subtle glimmer of silver flashed ominously amidst the flowing drapes that lined the hall's perimeter.
His heart clenched. Liu Yue stood unaware, exposed to an unseen threat.
"Yue—!" he shouted instinctively, already lunging forward.
A volley of deadly silver needles, shimmering with lethal venom, streaked silently toward Liu Yue's back. Her attention was fully committed to the front lines, oblivious to the fatal trajectory.
Kai's body moved without conscious thought, drawing desperately upon the Celestial Eclipse Manual's hidden techniques. Time seemed to freeze; sound dissolved into a muted whisper. His Qi surged erratically, enveloping his fingertips in a blinding sheen of black and gold.
"Celestial Eclipse: Void Deflection!" he roared, thrusting his palm outward.
A shimmering barrier formed instantly, intercepting the deadly needles mere inches from Liu Yue's vulnerable spine. With a resounding hum, the needles ricocheted violently, turning their murderous intent back toward their unseen shooter. Kai felt a sharp sting ripple through his meridians, the backlash of Qi fiercely punishing his inexperienced attempt, but his resolve held firm.
A strangled gasp echoed from behind heavy curtains, followed by the muffled thump of a body collapsing to the marble floor. Liu Yue spun in shock, eyes wide and trembling with realization. Her breath caught painfully in her throat as she pieced together the sequence of events.
Kai stumbled slightly, breathing hard. He moved toward the curtain, pulling the fabric aside to reveal the assassin.
His blood ran cold.
Lying dead, his eyes frozen open in disbelief, was Caretaker Chen. The very man who had welcomed Kai when he first arrived at the Obsidian Peak Sect, the trusted steward who managed daily affairs with quiet efficiency. Betrayal burned hot and bitter in Kai's chest, but he had no time to dwell on the implications—not now.
"Master," Liu Yue whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. She stepped toward him, reaching out briefly to touch his arm. Her usually reserved face softened with a warmth Kai had never seen before. "Thank you."
Kai looked at her, offering a faint, tired smile. "Stay alive, Yue. I need you by my side."
A subtle blush warmed Liu Yue's cheeks, and she nodded firmly, resolve hardening again.
Across the hall, Elder Kong roared commands, his booming voice cutting through the cacophony. Elder Huo, sweat pouring down his forehead, burned enemies mercilessly, keeping the pressure at bay. But the enemy pressed relentlessly, driven by Master Shen's formidable presence.
Kai drew a deep breath, gathering his resolve, and raised his hand sharply. "STOP!"
His voice rang out with unexpected clarity, echoing off the obsidian pillars, shocking both friend and foe into momentary stillness. Every eye turned to him, hostility momentarily suspended.
Master Shen narrowed his eyes, amused yet wary. "What trick are you playing at, Librarian?"
Kai swallowed hard but stood his ground, voice steady and authoritative. "We're all bleeding here. Lives are being lost—lives that don't need to end this way. This madness has to stop."
Murmurs rippled through the hall, skepticism mingling with curiosity. Shen stepped forward, eyes cold and calculating. "The bloodshed can end, but only if you surrender the Celestial Eclipse Manual."
Kai shook his head firmly. "No way."
Outrage erupted from the alliance cultivators, their voices rising in a furious storm. Shen's expression darkened dangerously, his voice dripping with threat. "Then there's nothing left to discuss."
Kai raised a hand, silencing the renewed aggression. "Wait!"
All eyes were upon him again, heavy with expectation. He exhaled slowly, calming his trembling nerves. "A wager, then. You seek the manual—I will offer you a chance to take it, honorably."
Master Shen's eyebrow lifted skeptically. "Explain."
Kai squared his shoulders bravely, meeting the enemy master's gaze evenly. "Three strikes. I will receive three blows from you without defense. If I survive, you will leave our mountain, and this war ends here."
Gasps of shock filled the hall. Liu Yue grabbed Kai's sleeve, her voice urgent with panic. "Kai, you can't—"
He silenced her gently, voice firm but reassuring. "Trust me."
Shen's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "And if you don't survive?"
"Then the manual is yours," Kai replied evenly, accepting the gravity of his own words.
"Master, this is madness!" Liu Yu protested fiercely, joining her sister's concern. But Kai merely smiled sadly at both girls, turning back to Shen.
"Do we have an agreement?"
Shen nodded slowly, eyes glinting with ruthless satisfaction. "We have an accord."
Kai stepped forward into the open, vulnerable and unguarded. His heart thundered, pulse roaring in his ears. The Obsidian Peak Sect watched in stunned silence, frozen by their leader's audacious gamble.
Master Shen strode forth, his presence immense, pressure crushing. Qi roared violently around him, gathering power. His first strike came swiftly, mercilessly, a palm strike infused with devastating energy, slamming directly into Kai's chest.
Kai coughed violently, tasting copper as blood surged up his throat. The impact exploded pain through his ribs, shattering his inner Qi balance, driving him to his knees instantly. But he did not fall completely.
A collective gasp echoed around the hall, horror dawning upon Obsidian Peak disciples' faces. Liu Yue cried out softly, gripping her sister's hand tightly, anguish tearing at her heart.
Master Shen sneered coldly. "Second strike!"
This time, a vicious crescent kick engulfed in brilliant Qi caught Kai squarely, lifting him into the air before he crashed violently onto the marble floor. Agony blinded him momentarily, darkness dancing dangerously at the edge of his vision. Blood seeped freely from his mouth as he struggled desperately to remain conscious.
"Kai!" Liu Yue's voice trembled desperately.
Yet somehow, through sheer determination, Kai stood again, legs trembling violently, barely able to hold him upright.
Master Shen's gaze narrowed, frustration sparking. "Impressive determination, Librarian. But futile. Prepare yourself."
Kai could barely hear, pain deafening him, senses fading rapidly. But one thought resonated powerfully within his battered soul. He could not fall, not now.
Master Shen gathered his Qi, energy crackling wildly around him. He positioned himself, preparing to deliver the third, final, and most destructive blow yet. The hall held its collective breath, frozen in dread anticipation.
"HEAVENLY STARFALL JUDGMENT!" Shen's voice thundered, as a colossal sphere of brilliant celestial Qi exploded forth, hurtling towards Kai with catastrophic intent.
Kai stood unmoving, defiantly staring death straight in the face, as the lethal blow rushed towards him—