The ruins were dying.
Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the ceiling, and chunks of ancient stone rained down in violent bursts. The crimson runes that once pulsed with power now flickered erratically, as if the entire structure could no longer contain the energy that had been awakened.
At the center of the collapsing hall—
Three figures stood.
Lin Ye.
Su Qingyue.
Wu Shan.
The air between them burned with killing intent.
Wu Shan rolled his shoulders slowly, his dark aura rising like a storm.
"…Now this feels right."
Lin Ye exhaled, steady and calm. The chaotic demonic energy that once threatened to consume him now flowed like a controlled current beneath his skin.
"…You really picked the worst time to fight."
Wu Shan smirked.
"There is no better time."
Su Qingyue stepped forward, her icy aura spreading across the cracked ground.
"Then we end this quickly."
The next moment—
They moved.
The Clash
Wu Shan attacked first.
His speed exploded, faster than before, his figure blurring into shadows as he closed the distance.
Black Fang Secret Art — Phantom Crushing Domain.
Dark energy spread outward, swallowing the surrounding light. The battlefield dimmed as if night had suddenly fallen inside the ruins.
Lin Ye felt it instantly.
"…A domain?"
Wu Shan's voice echoed from every direction.
"Let's see if your new power can handle this."
Multiple shadow figures appeared at once, all attacking simultaneously.
Su Qingyue reacted first.
Her palm struck the ground.
CRACK.
Ice spread rapidly, freezing parts of the shadow domain and slowing its expansion.
"Don't get surrounded," she said calmly.
Lin Ye grinned.
"…Got it."
He moved.
Demonic Phantom Step.
Crimson afterimages filled the battlefield, weaving through the shadows. This time, his movements were no longer frantic or reactive.
They were precise.
Calculated.
He struck one shadow—
THUD.
It shattered instantly.
Wu Shan appeared behind him.
Palm strike.
Lin Ye turned—
And blocked.
BOOM.
The impact cracked the ground beneath their feet.
Wu Shan's eyes narrowed.
"…You've improved."
Lin Ye smirked.
"You talk too much."
He pushed forward, forcing Wu Shan back several steps.
Su Qingyue seized the opening.
Her figure flashed forward, her palm glowing with concentrated frost energy.
BANG.
Wu Shan crossed his arms to block, but ice spread across his sleeves, slowing his movement.
For the first time—
The pressure shifted.
Wu Shan stepped back.
"…Interesting."
The shadows around him intensified.
His aura surged again, darker and more violent.
"Then let's stop playing."
Wu Shan's True Power
The shadow domain expanded violently.
This time—
It wasn't just illusion.
It became real.
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, twisting toward Lin Ye and Su Qingyue like living creatures.
Lin Ye jumped back.
"…Okay, that's new."
Su Qingyue slashed her hand forward.
Ice blades cut through several tendrils—
But more replaced them instantly.
Wu Shan stepped forward slowly, his presence now far heavier than before.
"You're not the only one with hidden strength."
His eyes gleamed coldly.
"I've been holding back."
Lin Ye sighed.
"…Everyone says that."
Wu Shan vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Su Qingyue.
BOOM.
Her defense barely held.
She slid backward across the ground, frost cracking beneath her feet.
Lin Ye's expression hardened.
He moved instantly—
Intercepting Wu Shan's next attack.
Their fists collided.
BOOOOOOM.
Shockwaves tore through the ruins.
Stone pillars collapsed.
The ceiling groaned louder.
Wu Shan pushed forward.
"You've gained power…"
"…but not enough."
Lin Ye's eyes glowed faintly.
"…You're about to be wrong."
The demonic energy surged—
But remained controlled.
He twisted his body and struck again.
Faster.
Sharper.
Wu Shan's defense cracked slightly.
Su Qingyue re-entered the fight instantly.
Her attacks synchronized with Lin Ye's movements.
Ice and crimson energy collided with shadow.
The battle turned into a seamless rhythm.
Attack.
Counter.
Strike.
Defend.
For a brief moment—
They overwhelmed Wu Shan.
He stepped back again, breathing slightly heavier.
Then—
He smiled.
"…Good."
The Collapse Begins
A massive tremor shook the ruins.
CRACK.
The ceiling above them split open.
Huge chunks of stone fell.
Su Qingyue's eyes sharpened.
"We don't have time."
Lin Ye nodded.
"…Agreed."
Wu Shan glanced upward briefly.
"…The ruins are collapsing."
Then his gaze returned to Lin Ye.
"…One last move."
His aura surged to its peak.
The shadow domain condensed into a single point.
All the darkness—
Focused.
Compressed.
Dangerous.
Lin Ye felt the pressure immediately.
"…That's not good."
Su Qingyue stepped beside him.
"We block it together."
Lin Ye glanced at her.
"…You trust me?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Lin Ye smiled slightly.
"…Alright."
Wu Shan raised his hand.
Black Fang Ultimate Art — Abyssal Collapse.
The compressed energy exploded forward.
A massive wave of shadow power surged toward them, tearing through everything in its path.
Lin Ye inhaled deeply.
Then—
He stepped forward.
Sovereign Ascendant State.
Crimson energy erupted around him—but controlled, focused.
Su Qingyue moved beside him, her icy aura merging with his.
Two forces—
Opposites.
But aligned.
They struck together.
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The collision shook the entire ruins.
Light and darkness clashed violently.
The ground shattered.
The air screamed.
For a moment—
Everything froze.
Then—
The shadow attack broke.
Wu Shan's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible."
Lin Ye didn't stop.
He pushed forward through the remaining energy.
Appearing directly in front of Wu Shan.
His fist drove forward.
THUD.
The impact sent Wu Shan flying backward into a collapsing pillar.
Dust and debris exploded around him.
Silence followed.
Escape
The ruins began collapsing faster.
Entire sections of the ceiling gave way.
Su Qingyue grabbed Lin Ye's arm.
"We leave. Now."
Lin Ye nodded.
"…Yeah."
Wu Shan slowly stood from the rubble, blood at the corner of his mouth.
But he didn't attack again.
Instead—
He laughed.
"…Next time."
Lin Ye smirked.
"Looking forward to it."
The three of them turned—
And ran.
The corridor behind them collapsed as they moved.
Stone fell.
Dust filled the air.
The exit ahead glowed faintly.
Lin Ye grabbed Su Qingyue's hand instinctively as the ground cracked beneath them.
"Jump!"
They leaped—
Bursting out of the ruins just as the entrance collapsed completely behind them.
Aftermath
Silence returned to Fallen Spirit Valley.
The ancient ruins were gone.
Buried beneath stone and earth once more.
Lin Ye stood at the edge of the collapsed entrance, breathing heavily.
"…That was intense."
Su Qingyue slowly pulled her hand away.
"…You did well."
Lin Ye glanced at her.
"…We did."
For a moment—
They stood quietly.
Closer than usual.
Then—
A faint chuckle came from behind them.
Wu Shan stepped out from the forest shadows, still standing.
Still calm.
"…This isn't over."
Lin Ye sighed.
"…You're really persistent."
Wu Shan smiled faintly.
"That's why I'll win."
Then he turned—
And disappeared into the forest.
Lin Ye watched him go.
"…He's going to be a problem."
Su Qingyue nodded.
"Yes."
Lin Ye stretched his arms and looked at the sky.
"…Good."
His eyes gleamed faintly red.
"Because I'm just getting started."