Chapter 35: Twilight's Final Gambit
The night burned with dazzling brilliance as Xiao Chen emerged before the Black Bear, his presence like an unshakable mountain. The beast's deep roar reverberated through the forest, a shockwave of intimidation rolling outward in all directions.
Its blood-red eyes flared, releasing a Crimson Halo that tainted the surroundings in an eerie glow. The air grew heavier, thick with the oppressive aura of primal dominance, an instinctual fear creeping into the bones of any who stood against it.
Yet—
Xiao Chen remained unfazed.
His gaze sharpened as he whispered, "A powerful technique... One that seeps terror into the heart and mind…" He took a step forward, his voice suddenly turning frigid. "But it's useless against me."
Raising his sword high, he pushed his Yin-Yang Laws to their peak. A storm of divine energy erupted around him, the balance of light and darkness reaching an absolute threshold.
"Yang Light—Annihilating Strike!"
A white torrent of pure yang energy manifested, surging forth like a radiant meteor. It crashed toward the Black Bear, its golden light reflecting in the beast's terrified eyes.
The moment before impact, the bear felt it— Death. Its muscles tensed, its instincts screamed "Retreat!"
But suddenly—
The impending doom vanished.
Xiao Chen, mid-air, twisted his body with supernatural grace, retracting his initial strike at the last possible moment. The deadly arc of his sword shifted—aiming not at the bear—
But at a streaking white blur!
SCHLACK!
A muffled rip echoed in the night.
The ambushing Silver Tooth Tiger froze mid-lunge, its sleek body split in two before it even realized what had happened. Its beastly blue eyes widened in utter disbelief, the glint of a dying hunter who had been out-hunted.
Blood sprayed.
Its severed corpse hit the ground with a dull thud.
Xiao Chen landed lightly, his smirk cold. He glanced at the Black Bear, whose massive frame trembled. "It's not fun keeping a cunning player around, right?"
To the Black Bear, "that smile belonged not to a man— but a devil."
Without hesitation—
BOOM!
It bolted.
The bear stormed through the dense forest, crashing past trees, its powerful legs hammering against the earth like war drums. The wind howled in its ears, its ragged breaths merging with the deafening pound of its own heartbeat. Leaves whipped through the air, branches snapped beneath its immense weight, and the ground trembled with every frantic step. The beast's had only one thought—escape!
But Xiao Chen?
He didn't move.
His smirk deepened, his gaze locked onto the fleeing beast. His Spiritual Sense had already marked it.
There was no escape.
His sword vanished as he lifted both hands, drawing profound sigils in the air. His right hand traced sharp, golden streaks—pure light, cutting through the void. His left hand wove shadows—deep, bottomless darkness, twisting with eerie fluidity.
"Law of Yin-Yang! First level—Law of Light and Darkness!"
His voice resonated like a divine decree.
BOOM!
Light and darkness collided—not in opposition, but in perfect harmony. From their fusion, a brilliant Yin-Yang Diagram manifested in the air, pulsating with boundless energy.
Then—
KA-BOOM!
A burst of radiant annihilation erupted from the diagram, a devastating force that pierced through the void itself.
The Black Bear didn't even have time to roar. The beam of destruction struck its fleeing body—obliterating it.
The aftermath?
A deep trench cut through the forest. Trees were reduced to splinters, the ground was scorched black, and weaker beasts that had lurked in the shadows were caught in the residual shockwave—either shredded apart or vaporized entirely.
Xiao Chen stood amidst the wreckage, staring at the aftermath of his attack in a brief daze. The sheer devastation left in his wake—the scorched ground, the torn trees, the silence of the night—was undeniable proof of his power.
"Whew…" He exhaled slowly, his lips curving into a thoughtful smirk.
"Just reaching Small Success in the First Level of Yin-Yang Laws… and I'm already this powerful?" He mumbled, clenching his fist, feeling the residual energy coursing through his veins. "If I reach Perfection… or even Assimilation…" His eyes gleamed at the thought.
But he let the speculation drift away. Now wasn't the time. Turning on his heel, he walked toward a massive tree, his expression calm yet indifferent.
There—pinned against the rough bark, impaled by his Dark Spear—lay the Armored Gorilla.
Its once-magnificent silver-black hide, which had gleamed under the moonlight with unbreakable resilience, now lay dull and lifeless. The aura of defiance and strength it had exuded was completely gone.
Xiao Chen stood before it, his piercing gaze unwavering. He raised his hand, extending a single finger. A small orb of energy swirled at its tip, condensing into a thin, concentrated beam of light.
The Gorilla did not move. Its once-fiery eyes had dimmed, the last vestiges of consciousness flickering like a dying candle.
It was over.
"Pitiful." Xiao Chen's voice was cold, emotionless. "Let me put you out for good."
With a swift motion—
SHING!
The beam shot forward, piercing straight through the Gorilla's heart. Its massive body twitched slightly before going completely still, the life within it extinguished. Yet, even in death, its form remained pinned against the tree, held upright by the ominous spear.
Xiao Chen sighed, dusting off his long black hair, now slightly disheveled from the intense battle. With a few practiced movements, he restored it to its usual elegance. Without sparing another glance at the lifeless beast, he turned and walked away, leaving its motionless corpse behind.
—
Meanwhile… The dense forest, bathed in soft silver moonlight, bore witness to another battle. Mistshadow stood its ground, panting heavily, its sleek silver fur marred by deep, bleeding wounds. The Moon Wolf, a magnificent creature with grey and black fur that shimmered under the celestial glow, prowled forward, eyes cold and predatory.
A low, menacing growl rumbled from its throat. Mistshadow was struggling. Its stance wavered slightly, exhaustion creeping into its limbs. The Moon Wolf had the upper hand—its movements were faster, its strikes calculated. Each exchange had left Mistshadow with another wound, another inch closer to defeat.
Watching from the sidelines, Xiao Rongyu stood with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Her eyes, however, flickered with sharp intelligence.
"Mistshadow is at its limit… Any further, and it'll collapse from blood loss."
She observed how the Moon Wolf circled its prey, maintaining complete control over the battlefield.
"Tch. As expected of a Moon Wolf… It fights with precision, waiting for the right moment to deliver the final blow." A faint sigh escaped her lips. Yet, her gaze never wavered.
Despite the odds, Mistshadow remained standing. Even as blood dripped onto the cold earth, even as pain wracked its body, it did not yield.
The Moon Wolf lunged.
**Mistshadow reacted—**but too late.
Slash!
Another deep gash tore across its side, forcing it back several steps. The Moon Wolf landed gracefully, its fangs bared in cruel satisfaction. It knew—one more strike, and Mistshadow would fall.
But then—
A glint.
A subtle shift.
The Moon Wolf tensed.
And before it could react—
Mistshadow struck.
WHOOSH!
It wasn't planned. It wasn't a calculated counterattack.
It was pure instinct.
Mistshadow's battered body lunged forward with the last vestiges of its strength, its claws tearing through the Moon Wolf's throat in a desperate, final gamble.
SHLICK!
A spray of blood painted the ground. The Moon Wolf's silver eyes widened in disbelief. It had won.
And yet—it had lost.
With a strangled whimper, its body collapsed, the life within it fading into the cold night.
For a moment, silence. Then—
"Awooooooo—!!"
Mistshadow lifted its head toward the moon, releasing a victorious howl that echoed through the forest.
Xiao Rongyu's eyes flickered. "This fool... it really doesn't know how are give up."