The rival's golden energy and Wei Chen's Yang collided at full strength. The impact cracked the platform in a wide circle and sent a shockwave rolling outward that forced everyone else to brace. Red light from the claimed fragment flared around Wei Chen, thickening his power and pushing the golden force back several steps.
The rival's face tightened. He had expected to overpower the connection. Instead the fragment answered Wei Chen's bloodline without hesitation and kept feeding him.
They moved again at once. The rival came in with heavier, more refined strikes, each one carrying the full weight of his higher-realm cultivation. Wei Chen met them with the denser Yang the fragment now supplied, slipping past the worst of the force and answering with sharp, precise bursts. The stone under their feet continued to break.
Around the main clash the rest of the group kept the area from falling into complete chaos. Tigress Yu and Zhao Yin cut down the residual shadow energy that kept rising under the fragment's light. Huo Yan worked with Lan Qing and Mei Yun, their ice-flame mix creating controlled bursts that cleared space whenever the platforms shifted. The disciples held the edges, finishing anything that slipped past with short boosts from the harmony scripture.
The fragment's power settled deeper into Wei Chen with every exchange. His movements grew cleaner. The rival was still strong, but the clear advantage he had held earlier was gone.
During a short stretch where the rival was forced to block a rapid sequence of strengthened bursts, the pressure on the surrounding platforms eased. Wei Chen passed Tigress Yu, checked the cut on her arm, then rubbed her firmly between her legs while speaking low.
"Still with me."
She gave a short breath and pressed against his hand for a few seconds before he turned back.
A little later, while the disciples cleared broken stone, Wei Chen pulled Zhao Yin close behind a more stable section. He guided her down, pushed into her mouth, and moved with controlled rhythm while the main fight continued nearby. She took him quietly until he pulled back and returned to the rival.
The rival refused to give more ground. He gathered another large amount of golden energy, the pressure around him rising sharply. Wei Chen felt the fragment pulse in answer and met the attack head-on. The collision forced both of them back across the cracked stone.
In a brief opening after that exchange, Wei Chen found Lan Qing steadying her breathing. He dropped lower, parted her legs, and licked her with focused pressure until her thighs tensed and she came with a soft, controlled sound. He stood, wiped his mouth, and moved back into position.
Mei Yun received a short moment while she prepared another cast. He stood behind her, cupped her breasts, and moved his thumbs across her nipples as he spoke close to her ear.
"Keep the mix ready."
She nodded, a light flush on her face, and continued.
The fight stretched on. More residual energy from the broken seals stirred hard. Tigress Yu and Zhao Yin moved quickly to cut it down. Huo Yan and the ice queens launched a strong combined blast that cleared a wider path. The disciples held formation and prevented anything from reaching the center.
Wei Chen felt the fragment's connection lock in more firmly. The density of his Yang rose another clear step. The rival saw it and his expression darkened further.
He stopped holding back. Golden energy poured from him in a continuous wave far stronger than anything he had used so far. The pressure across the entire area spiked. At the same time the claimed fragment pulsed hard, feeding Wei Chen even as the rival committed everything to one decisive strike.
Wei Chen prepared to meet it. The two full powers built toward the collision that would decide the fight.
The red light around Wei Chen flared brighter. The rival's golden energy reached its absolute peak.
Something deeper in the sealed area reacted to the combined force. A cold, ancient pressure far heavier than the previous shadow lords began to rise.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2026
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Next Chapter: 169 - Ancient Reaction
The peak collision between Wei Chen and the rival triggers a far older power sealed deeper in the realm.