A cold wind swept through the scene. Lord Shenyan and the Awakened One stood motionless, locked in each other's gaze. My heart raced with excitement. I had seen the Awakened One fight once before, back when I was at the Throne of Jialan, but her strength seemed unimpressive—far weaker than her brother, Mr. Oblivion. Yet she had one ability: she could help others recover.
I also learned about her and Mr. Oblivion's past from Xu Fu. The truth of their sibling bond was dark and unbearable: for Mr. Oblivion to survive, the Awakened One chose to sacrifice everything, until she met Xu Fu and was finally freed.
But on our side, the Ghost Sovereigns all wore grave expressions.
"That woman won't be easy to deal with."
John Chou said coldly.
"Do you know something?"
"We all know about this. Back when we wiped out the Immortality Society, that woman stalled us for a long time. If she'd been slower, John Chou would have dealt with Xu Fu—the real trouble—much earlier."
Basil Bertram muttered, and Mona Ouyang nodded, then continued.
"Her power isn't worth praising. She's the weakest in the Immortality Society. This fight won't be easy for Lord Shenyan."
Lord Shenyan gripped the Sinblade with a cold, handsome expression and drifted slowly toward Ms. Genesis. She wore a white and pink fitted dress ending at her knees, her pale legs exposed, shoulders draped in a sheer shawl. There was not a hint of battle in her eyes.
Lord Shenyan drew closer to the Awakened One, lowering his sword and holding it in his right hand. The Ghost Aura around him barely fluctuated. I've seen Lord Shenyan fight several times—his control over Ghost Aura is nearly perfect. The only other person who matches this level is Isabelle Frost, though she is a bit more delicate than Lord Shenyan.
With a whoosh and a flash of fiery red light, Lord Shenyan darted in front of the Awakened One, swinging his sword upward in a diagonal slash. The Awakened One reacted quickly, leaning back expressionlessly to dodge the attack. Instantly, Lord Shenyan raised his left hand, unleashing a torrent of violent red flames.
With a thunderous sound, the flames didn't explode but split into two streams. The Awakened One supported her right elbow with her left hand, raised her right hand, and easily deflected the flames, dividing them. Lord Shenyan, quick-eyed and swift, slashed again with his sword.
Two sharp sounds rang out as the Awakened One struck with both palms, completely deflecting Lord Shenyan's sword. He retreated slightly. The Awakened One moved with a softness and fluidity, her actions smooth as flowing water.
"Hmph, that Xu Fu."
John Chou snorted coldly and glanced over. Xu Fu watched the fight with a look of excitement. Lord Shenyan seemed to be strategizing, not attacking yet. Suddenly, the Awakened One surged forward, her palms striking at Lord Shenyan—not quickly, but with extreme gentleness.
I watched in surprise as Lord Shenyan actually yielded, not dodging at all.
Two sharp sounds echoed as the Awakened One struck empty air, but immediately, the air vibrated violently. In the instant she missed, the Awakened One suddenly crouched, drawing her right palm back toward her chest in a motion like a cat, then struck out suddenly.
With a bang, my eyes widened. Lord Shenyan gripped the Sinblade in front of him, but his body seemed to be struck by some force. Instantly, blood streamed from his mouth and nose, and he was pushed backward, sliding through the air before regaining his balance. The Awakened One turned sideways, her palms raised defensively as she charged at Lord Shenyan.
With two swift sounds, Lord Shenyan swung the Sinblade, sending a cross of flaming fire toward the Awakened One. She gently spread her hands to the sides, instantly dispersing the flaming cross into smaller streams that scattered around. As they hit the ground, violent explosions erupted.
Lord Shenyan kept retreating, as if he didn't dare to confront Ms. Genesis head-on.
Lord Shenyan kept retreating, as if he didn't dare to confront the Awakened One head-on.
Ouyang Meng couldn't help but curse angrily.
Mona Ouyang couldn't help but curse angrily.
I immediately asked, and Bo Ziran shook his head.
I immediately asked, and Basil Bertram shook his head.
"For someone as weak as the Awakened One, if Lord Shenyan used his instinct and balanced their strength, it would be a huge advantage for her. Xu Fu sending her to fight is basically sealing off Lord Shenyan's instinct."
With a splatter, Lord Shenyan spat blood and was sent flying. Ms. Genesis immediately followed up. Just as Lord Shenyan steadied himself in midair, he rapidly swung his sword several times, but each strike was effortlessly deflected by Ms. Genesis's open palms, neutralizing all his force.
The situation on the field was extremely unfavorable for Lord Shenyan. He still hadn't used the power of Hellfire, relying solely on exquisite swordsmanship against Ms. Genesis. She seemed to have noticed this, counterattacking calmly and steadily, draining both their strength.
Although Lord Shenyan kept taking hits, Ms. Genesis's palms hadn't caused him any serious injuries.
The sound of swift strikes filled the air as Lord Shenyan stabbed rapidly with his sword, increasing his speed. The Awakened One's blocks were no longer as smooth as before; several times, she had to retreat to dodge Lord Shenyan's precise and tricky attacks.
The Awakened One remained expressionless as she fought Lord Shenyan. After dodging an upward thrust, she clapped her hands together, trapping the Sinblade between her palms. She rotated slightly counterclockwise, causing Lord Shenyan to lose his balance, then placed her palms on his chest.
"Dual Extremes..."
With a hum, Lord Shenyan released the Sinblade and plummeted to the ground, crashing hard. He quickly scrambled up and, with a wave of his hand, the fallen Sinblade returned to him. The Awakened One, now upside down above him, struck down with both palms as Lord Shenyan thrust upward with the Sinblade.
A flurry of blows erupted as both fighters sped up their attacks, the ground shaking violently, sand and debris swirling, chaotic currents raging around them.
A flurry of blows erupted as both fighters sped up their attacks, the ground shaking violently, sand and debris swirling, chaotic currents raging around them.
"It's impossible to defeat Lord Shenyan with that kind of power."
Neither paused for a moment, their offense and defense shifting constantly. Each attack and counter seemed almost rehearsed, both carefully avoiding the other's strikes.
"Looks like he's finally regained his rhythm."
"It's impossible to defeat Lord Shenyan with that kind of power."
Basil Bertram said casually, and John Chou breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like he's finally regained his rhythm."
The Awakened One's hands moved like serpents, agile and ever-changing, several times grazing Lord Shenyan's sword, sliding toward him. But Lord Shenyan no longer let her land a hit, skillfully dodging with his sword again and again.
Suddenly, after dodging the Awakened One's palm strike, Lord Shenyan let go of his sword and grabbed both her attacking palms, flames erupting all over his body.
"Grand Karma: Funeral Flame..."
With a rush, the Sinblade stood behind the Awakened One, glowing with fire. It split and transformed rapidly into a burning crimson lotus. A trace of helplessness flashed in the Awakened One's eyes. With a boom, the flaming lotus pierced through her body. As Lord Shenyan released her, he gripped the reformed Sinblade and stabbed it into her chest. The Awakened One immediately clamped her hands around the blade, pushing back with immense force, and the two of them slid rapidly through the air, barely a meter above the ground.
With a tearing sound, the Awakened One suddenly raised the sword she was gripping, pulling it out of her body and coming to a stop. Crimson flames flared around them.
Ms. Genesis had nowhere left to retreat. She turned sideways, raising her right palm high and lowering her left.
With two loud bangs, the Awakened One broke through an opening and escaped the flames. Lord Shenyan raised the Sinblade, and the fire surged into it, turning the blood-red blade fiery red. Hissing, wisps of blue smoke rose as Lord Shenyan stabbed forward.
The Awakened One had nowhere left to retreat. She turned sideways, raising her right palm high and lowering her left.
Ms. Genesis's hands slowly closed together, creaking as the space around them twisted violently. Cracks appeared on the Sinblade in Lord Shenyan's grip. His eyes filled with shock as he tried to withdraw the sword, but a force held it fast.
With a bang, Lord Shenyan's sword stopped right at the Awakened One's throat, unable to pierce any further. Wild flames shot skyward, surging behind Lord Shenyan like crashing waves.
The Awakened One's hands slowly closed together, creaking as the space around them twisted violently. Cracks appeared on the Sinblade in Lord Shenyan's grip. His eyes filled with shock as he tried to withdraw the sword, but a force held it fast.
With a bang, the Sinblade shattered in Lord Shenyan's hands. Instantly, the Awakened One closed her palms, her body horizontal in the air, and lunged forward, her fingertips stabbing Lord Shenyan's chest. She spread her hands again, her fingers gripping his shoulders.
Creaking sounds echoed as Lord Shenyan grimaced in pain, unable to move. The space around them shook violently. Gritting his teeth, Lord Shenyan suddenly kicked the Awakened One, catching her off guard and landing a blow to her abdomen. Her grip loosened.