The air was thick with tension as Tianyang's eyes blazed with fury. "Betrayer!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the forest.
Ryūjin's smirk never wavered, but his eyes flashed with warning. Tianyang, undeterred, unleashed a devastating attack – the Moon Emperor Northern Fusion. The technique was a masterclass in martial soul fusion, but Ryūjin was no ordinary opponent.
With a dismissive flick of his wrist, Ryūjin summoned a Legendary Soul Fusion, his will intent block glowing with an ethereal light. The attack was formidable, but Tianyang's technique was no match for Ryūjin's sheer power.
Ryūjin sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Still stuck at Martial Soul Fusion, Tianyang? How... quaint."
Tianyang's face darkened, his aura surging with an intensity that made Ryūjin's eyes widen. The air seemed to vibrate with Tianyang's transcendent will, his power doubling in an instant.
Ryūjin's eyes flashed with alarm, and he raised his hand to strike. But before he could, a voice echoed from the Moonlit Sect, calling out his name.
Ryūjin's gaze flicked towards the sect, his expression twisting into a snarl. "I'll be back, Tianyang," he spat, before turning to flee.
Tianyang watched him go, his chest heaving with exertion. He turned to Liè Renwǒ, his expression serious.
"Take this scroll and return to the sect. You must prepare for the test against the Heavenly Above Faction."
Liè Renwǒ nodded, his heart still racing from the intense confrontation. He took the scroll and flew back to the sect, his mind whirling with questions and doubts.
As Liè Renwǒ returned to the sect, Zhao bombarded him with questions, but Liè Renwǒ skillfully dodged them, hiding the truth about his encounter with Tianyang and Ryūjin.
Zhao's eyes narrowed, but he let it slide. "Liè Renwǒ, be prepared to face the Divine Sense Awakening Tier's young master, Ling Xiao, from the Heavenly Above Faction Sect."
Liè Renwǒ steeled himself, determination burning in his eyes. "I'm ready to survive and make the Moonlit Sect proud."
Zhao smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "Good boy. And Liè Renwǒ, your friend Xiǎo Wēi will be fighting against the Young Spirit Sea Expansion Tier's master, Yuán Chéng."
Liè Renwǒ's eyes widened in shock. "What!!! I hope he'll succeed."
Zhao chuckled reassuringly. "Don't worry, he'll do fine."
Meanwhile, Ryūjin met with the Heavenly Above Faction Sect's leader, Jiǎng Huàn, to discuss their sinister plans to destroy the Moonlit Sect.
Unbeknownst to them, Tianyang had been cultivating at his abode, but a strange feeling had crept over him, warning him of impending doom. He quickly disguised himself as a Heavenly Above Faction member and snuck into their stands, ready to intervene and prevent any catastrophic outcome.
As the crowd cheered and the tournament began, Liè Renwǒ and Xiǎo Wēi prepared to face their opponents, unaware of the treacherous forces at play.
The tournament kicked off with a bang as Míng Yuè, a Crystal Core Tier cultivator from the Moonlit Sect, faced off against Hóng Wēi, a formidable Gold Core Formation master from the Heavenly Above Faction Sect.
The air was electric with tension as the two opponents clashed, their auras locked in a struggle for dominance. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the crowd held its collective breath.
Sect leaders and elders from both factions watched with keen interest, their eyes narrowed in analysis. Meanwhile, a group of outsiders, eager to profit from the tournament, placed bets on the outcome.
Míng Yuè, determined to emerge victorious, unleashed a barrage of attacks, channeling all his soul energy into a single, devastating blow. The ground cracked and splintered, and Hóng Wēi stumbled backward, defeated.
The referee declared Míng Yuè the winner of the first match, and the Moonlit Sect's supporters erupted into cheers, their spirits soaring.
Zhao grinned, his eyes shining with pride. "Well done, Míng Yuè! You've set the bar high for our sect."
Liè Renwǒ and Xiǎo Wēi exchanged a look, their faces set with determination. They knew they had tough matches ahead, but they were ready to give it their all.
The Heavenly Above Faction's leader, Jiǎng Huàn, coldly dispatched his defeated member, demonstrating the faction's ruthless nature. He then summoned another formidable warrior, Hǎo Rán, to take on the Moonlit Sect's next challenger.
Tianyang observed the subtle exchange of glances between Jiǎng Huàn and Ryūjin, sensing that they were concealing something sinister.
Jiǎng Huàn discreetly summoned an archer, whispering a cryptic message in his ear. Tianyang's eyes narrowed, his gaze locked onto the archer's suspicious movements.
The archer raised his bow, targeting Liè Renwǒ. Just as he was about to release the arrow, Tianyang swiftly dispatched his mental sword, striking down the archer. However, it was too late; the arrow had already been loosed.
In a shocking twist, the arrow's trajectory suddenly altered, piercing Zhao's chest instead. The crowd fell silent, horrified by the unexpected turn of events.
Liè Renwǒ spun around, his eyes widening in horror as he beheld Zhao's lifeless body, the poisonous arrow lodged in his chest. The Moonlit Sect's members erupted into a chorus of despairing cries.
"Noooo!" Liè Renwǒ screamed, his voice echoing through the stunned silence.