Today marks the most fortified moment in the history of the Xingyun Pavilion for recent years, as this precisely is the predestined date outlined upon the battle scroll conveyed by the Hellish River Alliance!
Although the motivation for the grand gesture by the Hellish River Alliance remains unclear, the Xingyun Pavilion resolutely refused to showcase any hesitancy amongst spectators. Early declarations spread across the regions announced this impending confrontation between the opposing powers, resulting in droves of spectators flocking to the Pavilion some days prior. Understandable, tensions over the last few years have pushed the Hellish River Alliance and Xingyun Pavilion onto a direct collision course; such an encounter promised an epic spectacle, inevitably luring the curious. The Pavilion displayed remarkable restraint towards such gawkers, choosing accommodation rather than eviction, while also enforcing strict security measures with elite enforcement squads authorized to eradicate any individual disrupting order.
At last, that prophesied day awaited so intensely drew close.
Outside the principal halls of Xingyun Pavilion stands a cliff soaring thousands of feet high—its summit, bisected long ago in times shrouded by history, transformed into a colossal flat plaza. This is the formal grounds of engagement where Xingyun welcomed visitors today; an array of martial might now stood arrayed.
At the core of plaza loomed a figure standing still—the Pharmacist Elder, hands hidden beneath his robe as he gazed outward impassively. Behind him took place a formidable entourage: Cai Lin, the Little Healer Immortal, Qing Lin, and other honorary elders of the Pavilion—an awe-inspiring force enough to generate astonished gasps from the gathered spectators.
Cai Lin observed distantly at a gaping space where stars might pass. “Scant details regarding this assault by the Hellish River Alliance were gleaned, reportedly not even the Alliance’s elders comprehend the logic behind its actions. “
A quiet mumble of consensus graced the lips of the venerable Pharmaceutical Elder at a contemplation cloaked in obscurity.
“The Star Realm stands now in absolute preparedness; weaker disciples moved away for the bulk of our Masters have returned,” her voice softened while speaking further.
Naturally, a second acknowledging nod came from the elder. But just as speech stirred between them, a glint appeared across his pupils, his calm breaking: “They are here.”
At his pronouncement the gathered individuals snapped into tense vigilance, peering towards a shifting space—an abrupt rift, torn as though clawed by primal force unleashing a chilling wave into reality.
“Yao Chen, it’s been far too long! Have you remained well?” a commanding presence boomed from the spatial fissure. Emerged from that opening were hordes pouring forth like a tide; within moments, radiant lights soared and scattered over their plaza’s skyline like fallen stars.
In the same breathe, all who called Pavilion their home now stoked inner fires and summoned energy within unseen movements at their approach; vigilant glares set firm.
Gradually lifting his gaze, Pharmacist Elder trained sight upon this mass before discerning the figure poised upon empty air—a silhouette clad completely in dark grey. His mane—gray and flowing. Features unlined but instead ghostly pale. Save his cobalt blue-lit eyes, brimming with age-old intensity, most would fail to detect his centuries-laden vitality.
This being—seemingly mundane from afar, aura unremarkable—yet standing before the masses, he must be no simple adversary.
“Ti Ming lao yao … who expected he still breathes life.”
“Yao Chen … should spirits rise from ruins, how might death dare detain me?”
The Elder raised an idle gaze to his taunt without answering, attention scanning behind the aged silhouette before re-fixioning upon the gathering. Counting all in his sight, well over a hundred combatants arrived this place today. Half their assembly boasting saint-destroyers in presence, their strength compounded further by Ti Ming—an upper half Saint.
This force bore terrifying potential, and yet not enough. The Pavilion stood resilient, strengthened with age into an equal force. While each side’s might paralleled one another—half Ssaint to half Saint —both the Elder and his adversary shared a common status in hierarchy.
A prolonged chill settled, and then: Ti Ming’s call resounded like prophecy from above—offering a plea disguised as a retreat.
A cold rebuke met his challenge instantly.
“Preposterous,” declared Cai Lin, “Retreat and yield half the realm and still believe this house finds solace?” Would they truly vanish from Central Province and surrender credibility, becoming lesser?
“No sane entity anticipates their acceptance… these words scream challenge rather,” remarked Xiao Yan.
Yet Elder met this threat undisturbed, while Ti Ming mirrored a poised viper. Around observing peaks, other entities kept silent—battle undeniably inevitable. After all exchanges made…
Ti Ming queried once, but his foe answered laughter cloaked in fire.
“I must assume, Ti Ming does recognize the Pavilion’s might surpasses mere demands?”
“Thus the verdict stands?” Though the question bore cold, his gaze burned.
Confirmative laughter rose from the old sage followed by a sharp motion of hand—
At once, powerful presences surged from the mountains ringing the platform—a tapestry of aura and light erupted as if forming a binding array overhead, ensnaring the invaders within.
Gasps rippled through the watchers: the Pavilion prepared indeed! Today was not the first strike, but its climax unfolding now upon this very stage.
The atmosphere thickened, tensions reaching their climax amidst the chaos of power swirling high in the sky above Xingyun Pavilion, awaiting inevitable clashes of wills.
Then Ti Ming bellowed a chilling challenge followed once more by an abrupt silence before his proclamation shattered stillness.
With a sinister grin upon his lips, with his foe’s resistance as no surprise at all—”Yao, understand: destruction demands assurance,” Ti Ming continued, taunting, “You assume only recklessness would find us at this crossroads unprepared?”
As his words resonated, a shift took hold. A writhing spatial tear birthed a new horror as black fog flowed forth from its lips, heralding two unmistakably powerful entities emerging from the abyss beyond: Huns. Two. Bone幽 and one other. Power beyond any reckoning—adding a third half Saint presence in the sky. Gasps, dread—Pavilion faced odds dire even in strength. Their leader questioned again his adversary, offering last pretense of terms, but no more words would fall—resistance was clear.
Elder nodded solemnly; the only path open laid before them.
“Jie sheng” was whispered through clenched jaws.
All understood the path chosen led them to battle—glory… or annihilation.
He spoke aloud, fury building to an infernal peak: “fight to our last！”
Thus was the call made; battle would answer in fire raining down from Heaven and the fury of warriors united toward destiny’s inevitable clash.
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