Boom!
A surge of electric Qi exploded outward.
Hua was struck mid-motion, her body thrown across the ground as lightning danced along her limbs. She crashed hard, breath torn from her lungs.
Yang was already moving.
He rushed forward, laughter spilling from his mouth, fingers cracking with residual Qi. As Huǒ Yànhuā struggled to rise, he tore the sleeve from her robe only for her to kick off the ground, barely forcing distance between them.
"Hahaha! Why run?" Yang laughed wildly. "It's over for you! You're weaker than me; you've always been weaker. So why keep struggling?"
Yànhuā staggered to her feet, a blade pressed against her own throat, her hands shaking.
"I would rather die," she said through clenched teeth.
Yang's grin widened, slow and vicious.
"Oh? You don't say." He tilted his head, voice dripping with mockery. "Did you know my men have been hunting that little boy you care so much about? Ohh, what's his name again, mmm yeah right Tianyu Xing."
He chuckled softly.
"They haven't found him in over a month. Odds are, he's already dead. Don't worry, you'll be joining him soon. Maybe you'll meet in the hall of Asura."
He took another step forward.
Huǒ Yànhuā's eyes hardened. She tightened her grip—and froze.
"Ah—!" Her body stiffened mid-motion. The blade trembled, refusing to move another inch.
"I—I can't…" She staggered, panic flooding her face.
"Nyaahahahaha!" Yang threw his head back in laughter. "Did you really think I'd let you escape so easily?"
Dark Qi spread beneath Hua's feet like living ink.
"This is my clan's secret art, Shadow Control. Every second you stood there listening, I was setting the array. And now—"
He extended his hand.
"You're finally mine. There's no escape this time."
Huǒ Yànhuā struggled, muscles screaming as she tried to break free, but the invisible restraints tightened like chains.
"Ahh…!" She gasped, teeth clenched.
No matter how much she resisted, the technique did not yield.
Yang smiled.
"Finally, my time has come,"
Yang's hand shot forward, fingers digging into Hua's face, squeezing hard. Her eyes widened with terror—but not a single tear fell. No matter how tightly he held her, she refused to break.
"Tch… tough skin," Yang muttered. His face moved closer, breath brushing her cheek—
Fweeeee—!
A sharp whistling cut through the air. A violent gust erupted between them, blasting Yang backwards and tearing the shadow restraints apart.
Tianyu burst into the fray.
In one fluid motion, he swept Hua into his arms and retreated, landing several paces away.
"Tsk." Yang spat as he steadied himself. "You little pest… so you're still alive."
He drew the blade at his waist; it was as white as bleached bone, cracked along its length. Each movement made it creak like thunder in a storm.
"Hm," Tianyu said calmly, lowering Hua to the ground. Her face was flushed not with blood, but with lingering fear and embarrassment.
"Why is it that every time we meet, you're always surrounded by men with ill intentions?"
He set her gently against a broken pillar.
"Stay here," Tianyu said. "I'll handle it."
He tossed her a pill. "Eat this."
Hua said nothing. She clutched the pill and watched his back as he stepped forward, placing himself between her and Yang.
"What is this feeling…?" she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest, her face ruby red.
"I was teasing him at first, have I fallen in love?"
"Oh?" Yang sneered. "So, you've grown deaf while hiding in these ruins? Looks like you picked up something good since you're carrying a sword now."
"After I kill you, I will be taking it." Yang continued.
Tianyu didn't answer.
Instead, he closed his eyes and whispered to the blade still resting in his spirit book.
"Let's see your strength."
The blade, which had been thrashing violently moments before, suddenly stilled.
Tianyu drew it.
The moment steel met air, a chilling pressure flooded the battlefield.
死 — Death!
The blade crackled with Qi as Tianyu raised it high.
Forged from black steel, its surface was layered with whirling folds, red and grey undertones rippling like blood trapped beneath stone.
Tianyu shifted his footing, drawing his first stance.
"Astral Blade: Second Form."
A soft, white radiance flowed over the edge of the blade as he condensed his Qi for the first form.
Yang lowered his centre of gravity, his entire body trembling with violent Lightning Qi. His eyes sharpened like those of a beast locking onto prey.
"Lightning God Second Form: Swirling Whirlwind."
Silence fell.
Dum. Da dum. Dum. Da dum.
Huǒ Yànhuā's heart thundered in her chest as she watched the two enter their stances.
DU—
Within less than half a heartbeat, they launched forward.
Yang charged in like a thunderstorm, destroying the ground beneath him with his great speed.
While Tianyu thought he was fast, his footsteps were light, leaving little to no grooves on the ground.
CLANG!
Their blades met.
"Hahaha!" Yang laughed wildly. "So, you really are skilled. I thought I'd end this in a single move, but I suppose not!"
"Make this entertaining for me." Yang had a large grin on his face.
White light and crackling blue lightning collided, the two energies grinding against one another in a brutal contest for dominance.
The pressure exploded.
Both were flung backwards, skidding across the ground to opposite ends of the battlefield.
In that fleeting instant, Yang's fingers twisted into a hand seal.
A spiralling surge of energy shot forward, slamming into Tianyu's face.
"Got you!"
Yang surged in immediately, blade flashing.
Slash!
Blood sprayed from Tianyu's shoulder.
"Ugh!" Tianyu groaned, barely deflecting the follow-up strike.
"How do you like the poison of my clan?" Yang sneered. "It may not be lethal, but soon you won't even be able to s—"
His words cut off.
Tianyu was already moving. He swung his blade, but the strike missed; only the very tip brushed against Yang's robes.
BOOM!
The ground behind Yang shattered as if struck by a falling star. Shockwaves tore through the earth, and Yang was blasted backwards, skidding violently across the broken terrain.
Tianyu froze.
"…What the hell is wrong with this blade?"
The first attack had drained most of his strength; this one had been a casual swing.
He lowered his gaze to the weapon in his hand, studying it. He regripped it and faced Yang.
Thud!
Yang slammed into the ground, then forced himself upright. Blood streamed from his forehead, staining his face.
"What kind of attack was that?" he snarled. "And how are you still seeing? My poison should've taken effect by now!"
His eyes locked onto Tianyu, unease flickering beneath his fury.
"Tsk…No matter."
Yang steadied his breath and stopped retreating. He raised his blade vertically before him.
"Dragon Bone Blade Unlock: Second State."
Crack!
Bone scales erupted from the sword, crawling onto Yang's shoulder, waist, and down his legs.
Thick skeletal armour formed like twisted vines wrapping around a ruined house.
As the bones fused, their colour deepened dark crimson, like blood-soaked marrow.
"You may have a special blade," Yang sneered, "but so do I. This is the Drag—"
SHING!
A distant slash of energy tore across the battlefield, carving through the ground and slamming into Yang mid-sentence.
Dust exploded outward.
For a heartbeat, silence, then Yang stepped out of the smoke.
Unscathed.
The bone armour gleamed, unscared.
"You should learn patience," Yang said coldly, his voice heavy with confidence.
He lunged.
Their blades clashed again and again.
Steel screamed as sparks flew. Each exchanged blows, strikes landing and narrowly dodged, neither giving ground. Techniques collided in rapid succession, the battlefield cracking further with every impact.