Chapter 28 - Destruction's Seeds

Xin Yang stepped into the training grounds, the legendary Fangtian Huaji spear resting easily in his hands. His breakthrough to the Golden Core realm had infused his frame with rippling strength and power. Across from him, Ye Meng straightened from his stretching, ruined blood aura swirling in anticipation.

"Are you ready, brother?" Xin Yang called out, eyes alight with fiery passion. This would be their first full powered spar since reaching new cultivation heights.

Ye Meng grinned, flexing his fingers as monstrous energy coiled around his limbs. "I should be asking you that question. Show me what your new spear techniques can do!"

With a roar, Ye Meng launched himself forward, ruined blood erupting. Xin Yang pivoted on his foot, spear swirling to meet the explosive punch head on. Their collided attacks released a shockwave that shattered the air and left cracks fractaling through the earth.

The spar had begun.

The explosive collision of Ye Meng's punch and Xin Yang's spear thrust shook the training grounds. Cracks raced outwards from the point of impact as the brothers pushed against each other with rising strength.

Ye Meng poured his ruined blood into reinforcing his physique. The corrupted power flowed through his bones, turning them harder than steel. He pushed back against Xin Yang's spear, forcing the Divine Fangtian Huaji downward inch by inch.

Xin Yang grimaced, channeling more qi into his spear arm. The Void Shattering force unleashed by his technique rippled through the air, threatening to destroy everything in its path. "Not bad brother, but you'll have to do better!" he grunted.

With a burst of strength, Xin Yang forced Ye Meng backward and swept his spear in a horizontal arc. Ye Meng twisted to avoid the blow, leaving an afterimage that shattered into nothingness. He rolled and sprang back up, ruined blood surging as he prepared to counterattack.

Their duel continued with rising intensity, the training grounds steadily deteriorating under the force of their clashes. Bai Lihua and Yu Yong watched from the sidelines, eyes intent as they analyzed the brothers' evolving fighting styles.

Xin Yang spun his spear overhead, weaving ribbons of distortion through the air with its motions. Ye Meng dodged and deflected each strike, sensing openings but holding back from exploiting them fully. This was merely a friendly spar to test limits, not an all-out battle.

As they exchanged blows, Ye Meng glimpsed an opening in Xin Yang's guard. With ruined blood empowering his lunge, he struck like a viper for Xin Yang's core. But at the last moment, Xin Yang twisted aside, bringing his spear haft around in a backhanded block.

The ensuing shockwave sent them both flying backward, clouds of rubble kicking up in their wake. They landed lightly and faced off once more, breathing heavily but eyes shining with competitive fire. Both had pushed each other to new heights and refined techniques in the heat of combat. A draw it was.

"How fascinating, your battle was most enthralling to observe," Yu Yong remarked as the group came together. Few in this era could match their fluid exchange of techniques.

Ye Meng lounged casually against a pillar. "Quite the show indeed. Those exploding qi bursts gave me goosebumps!" He chuckled at the memory.

Bai Lihua dabbed at her brow with a slender wrist. "You both never cease to amaze. Though it taxed even my eyes to follow such ferocity of movement and power."

Xin Yang grinned widely, coming down from the adrenaline high. "For real, I was damn near vibrating in my boots the whole time! But it ain't a rager unless everyone gets down, yeah?" He nodded to Bai Lihua and Yu Yong. "Your turn to dazzle us with something fresh. Let's see what flavors you'll serve up!"

Bai Lihua tilted her chin, sizing Yu Yong up in a new light. Sparring him alone would offer deeper insight than mere surveillance. And bettering herself was why they trained, after all. "I'm willing, if he is."

Yu Yong gave a courteous bow. "It would be an honor to cross blades with you, Lady Bai. I look forward to witnessing your prowess up close." His eyes gleamed below the polite veneer, anticipating the coming contest.

With that, Bai Lihua and Yu Yong took positions opposite each other in the ring.

Bai Lihua and Yu Yong circled one another warily, eyes locked in assessment. As an auxiliary cultivator, Bai Lihua's combat skills were not on par with physical powerhouses. However, her Illusionism Bewitching Eyes granted her a unique advantage in battle.

Yu Yong moved first, lunging forward with palms aglow with spirit energy. Bai Lihua dodged the strike and retaliated with a flick of her wrist, her Illusion technique enshrouding Yu Yong's vision in a dizzying mirage. He froze, momentarily stunned, as illusory sounds and sights bombarded his senses.

Sensing her chance, Bai Lihua darted behind Yu Yong, knife flashing toward a mortal point. But before it could connect, real sight returned to Yu Yong in a blink. He spun, catching her wrist with blinding speed before launching her backward with a shove of qi-laced hands.

Bai Lihua flew through the air, mind racing as she centered herself to land smoothly. Her illusions could buy openings, but Yu Yong's millennia of experience meant he recovered swiftly from her tricks. She would have to be faster, layer illusions over attacks for maximum distraction.

As she thought, Yu Yong flowed into an ancient stance, spirit patterns weaving around him too intricate for mere eyes to track. Seeing his movements modulate, Bai Lihua flashed through hand seals, a veil of mirages blanketing the training grounds. Yu Yong disappeared from view, technique concealing aura and presence alike.

Xin Yang and Ye Meng watched with keen interest as techniques collided. This would be a bout of swift, unpredictable strikes, where even a split-second failure to perceive reality could prove fatal. The strategies and skills on display stirred excitement to see more innovations in their friends' evolving styles.

Within her illusion veil, Bai Lihua strained all her senses to locate Yu Yong. A whisper of displaced air gave him away, and she spun, knife lashing out—only to meet empty air.

A strike descended from above, Yu Yong's form briefly visible as he bore down on her. She brought her knife up to block, buckling under the force of his blow. His hand crackled with energy, poised to strike a vital point.

With gritted teeth, Bai Lihua channeled the last dregs of her strength into her eyes. The irises flashed, flooding the area in disorienting patterns and afterimages that warped reality itself.

Yu Yong's attack faltered, his iron focus momentarily disrupted. It was all the opening Bai Lihua needed. She twisted, yanking him off-balance and punting him away with both feet. His illusion fell as he tumbled across the arena floor.

Bai Lihua stumbled, dropping to a knee as exhaustion slammed her. Her illusions dissipated, leaving them visible once more. Across from her, Yu Yong rose lightly to his feet, smiling as he dusted himself off. "Well fought, Lady Bai. Your techniques are most formidable."

She panted, managing a wry grin in return. "You're...no pushover either."

…

Sect Leader Qin bowed deeply before the Emperor, flanked by the leaders of some of the most powerful sects and aristocratic clans in the empire. They had been granted a rare private audience, and Qin knew this was likely his only chance to enact vengeance against the thieves who had destroyed everything.

"Rise and speak your piece," the Emperor commanded from upon his throne. "This had better warrant the disruption of my schedule."

Qin rose and launched into a carefully crafted tale of woe. "Your majesty, my sect was recently utterly demolished by unknown forces. Entire generations of cultivation were annihilated without cause or provocation. Furthermore, my only son was murdered in the attack."

Gasps and mutterings arose from the court at this revelation. Qin continued gravely, "We have reason to believe these infamous attackers originated from the reclusive Medicine Valley, a sect that has long thumbed its nose at your imperial authority."

Here he shot assessing looks at the other sect leaders gathered, knowing some would jump at the chance to divide the rich valley's resources. "If left unchecked, their impudent defiance could inspire other sects to disobey and destabilize your empire's peace. I humbly request your forces join ours in eliminating this persistent threat before it festers further."

Nods of agreement sounded from the other sects. Their self-interest was thinly veiled, but an emperor cared little for facade—results were all that mattered. And Qin knew that ambition and greed were powerful manipulators of mortal hearts.

The Emperor's eyes seemed to bore into Qin's very soul. At last he said, "Your plea is well-reasoned. I cannot ignore the disrespect shown against one of my loyal sects. Neither can I abide open defiance within my borders. You have my imperial authorization to annihilate the Medicine Valley by whatever means necessary. Do not fail me."

Bowing deeply once more, Qin turned and strode from the hall, heart venomous with dark satisfaction. Soon, vengeance and reward would be his—and the fools who destroyed his sect would learn the full weight of his retribution.

Sect Leader Qin met with the True Pine Sect Leader in a secret location far from prying ears. They got straight to business, both knowing the other saw this solely as an opportunity for gain.

"So the emperor has given us the green light," Qin stated. "How shall we divide the spoils once the valley falls?"

The True Pine Sect Leader smiled thinly. "Straight to negotiations, I see. Very well, as the instigators of this undertaking, I believe sixty percent of the valley's resources should go to your Divine Cedar Sect."

Qin's eyes narrowed. "Sixty? Do not test my patience so soon, 'friend.' Without your sect's forces bolstering ours, victory would not be guaranteed."

A tense silence followed as they glared at each other, weighing costs and benefits. At last the True Pine Sect Leader conceded. "Very well, fifty-fifty it is. A fair agreement between allies."

Qin gave a humorless laugh. "Do not think to play me for a fool. I know as well as you that those thieves originate nowhere near the valley. We both merely covet its wealth and standing."

The True Pine Sect Leader did not bother denying the obvious truth. "Regardless of motive, our sects stand to profit immensely should this raid succeed. That alone merits cooperation."

With that, they clasped arms to seal their unholy pact, venomous grins hiding lingering distrust. Once the valley fell, it would be every sect for itself in the scavenging aftermath. But for now, cooperation better served selfish interests than conflict, and so their fleeting partnership was forged in the fires of greed alone.

As Qin and the True Pine Sect Leader parted ways to prepare their forces, a shadow detached itself from the enclosing darkness.

"Ancestor Li, I see you've been lurking as always," Qin said without turning. "Have you come to offer your clan's strength as reinforcement?"

A low chuckle emerged from the shadows. "Strength yes, but not for your plans, Sect Master. I have ambitions of my own."

Qin glanced back, eyes narrowed. "Explain yourself."

Stepping into the dim light, Ancestor Li's features were all keen edges and cold calculation. As chieftain of the venerable Li Clan, second only to the Divine Cedar Sect in might, his word held weight. Few would dare defy him and survive.

"I propose a...modification to your scheme," Li said smoothly. "While your forces and that sniveling True Pine clan are occupied annihilating the valley, my clan will launch a covert strike against their main compound."

Understanding lit in Qin's eyes, followed swiftly by vicious approval. "And what is left after your 'modifications' will be exclusively ours, with no need to share."

Li smiled, the baring of fangs in wolf's clothing. "Precisely. By the time the valley lies in smoking ruins, we will hold the remnants of both the valley and True Pine Sect in our palms. All that remains is deciding how the spoils should be...distributed."

A dark cackle escaped Qin. "Your mind works as deviously as ever, Ancestor. I admit I had not anticipated such advantage could come of this venture. Very well—the Li Clan shall strike at the True Pine Sect when battle is joined against the valley. After that...we shall see who emerges victorious to claim the greatest portion."

Their gaze met, avarice and ambition writ plain.