Chapter 24: The Hei Clan's Pursuit
The inn buzzed with the soft hum of
morning activity, the scent of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen, a fleeting peace after the tournament's chaos. Yet, within the shadowed corners of Dawnriver City, Hei Clan scouts tracked Lin Xuan's recent victories, their reports reaching Hei Long's ears. The elder, his 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a dark storm, dispatched a 4th Layer Qi Transformation elder—Hei Wu—a broad man with a scarred face and a qi-infused mace, to capture Liu Yue and Liu Yang. The streets outside the inn grew tense, the air thick with the faint trace of curse-infused qi as Hei Wu and his two 6th Layer disciples approached, their black robes blending with the early dawn.
Lin Xuan sensed the threat, his crimson eyes narrowing as he stood in the courtyard, the silver-blue flame extinguished, his body taut with readiness. "Junior Sister, Liu Yang, stay alert," he called, his voice cutting through the morning stillness. Liu Yue emerged, her raven hair tied back, her sapphire robes shimmering, her moonlight eyes meeting his with trust. Liu Yang followed, his crystalline blood armor faintly visible, his young face set with resolve. Lin Xuan activated Abyssal Lotus Step, his body gliding with mixed martial arts footwork, intercepting Hei Wu on the cobblestone street just as the elder raised his mace, a dark qi wave tearing toward him.
The fight erupted with a clash—Hei Wu's mace swung, its qi shattering a nearby stall, splinters flying. Lin Xuan dodged with Celestial Glide, the wave grazing his arm, a sharp sting flaring. Crimson Lance Burst, crystallized blood spikes erupting from his hand, piercing Hei Wu's shoulder, drawing a grunt of pain. The elder retaliated, his mace spinning, but Lin Xuan's Vein Fortress Body hardened his skin, absorbing the blow with a dull thud, his blood armor glowing red. A disciple lunged, his qi blade slashing, but Liu Yue's Icy Skin froze the air, her icy qi clashing with the attack, slowing it. Liu Yang's blood sword cut the disciple's arm, a crimson arc spraying blood, the boy's training shining through.
Hei Wu roared, unleashing a qi storm, the cobblestones cracking under its force. Lin Xuan twisted, his Abyssal Lotus Step weaving through the chaos, and struck with Starlit Void Fist, the celestial punch shattering the elder's guard. Crimson Lance Burst followed, spikes embedding in Hei Wu's leg, forcing him to stumble. Liu Yue's icy qi encased the elder's feet, her snowflake mark glowing, while Liu Yang's blood sword slashed his side. Lin Xuan devoured the residual qi with Energy Devour, a cool rush pushing him toward the 3rd Layer Qi Transformation. Hei Wu escaped, limping into the shadows, his voice a vow of revenge echoing. "This isn't over!"
Back at the inn, the Celestial Unity Crest pulsed, a warning of escalating danger. That night, Lin Xuan sat by the silver-blue flame, refining a space ring with red lightning, its arrays glowing as he fused a Lightning-Scaled Snake's core. The process was intricate, the ring's surface crackling with energy. Liu Yue's ring sparked in response, a red lightning thread connecting them, deepening their bond. "Senior Brother, it feels… alive," she said, her moonlight eyes shining. He nodded, the ache in his chest a bittersweet reminder of their shared path, his resolve steeling for the threats ahead.