The final judgment fell.
Cold force denser than any previous wave crashed across the sealed area. Entire platforms shattered. Large sections of floating stone simply broke apart and dropped into the void. The pressure hit with the clear intent to end resistance.
Wei Chen met it with everything the claimed fragment would give him. Yang energy surged out in a wide defensive wall. The collision in front of the group cracked the remaining main platform in multiple places and forced everyone back. Tigress Yu and Zhao Yin held their positions through sheer will. Huo Yan, Lan Qing, and Mei Yun poured their combined ice-flame power into layered barriers that strained under the force. The disciples kept the outer edges from complete collapse, but several were driven down by the weight of the attack.
The rival was thrown hard. His golden energy flared desperately as he blocked, and this time he was forced fully to one knee before he managed to rise again. Blood showed at the corner of his mouth.
When the wave finally passed, the sealed area was broken. Large gaps yawned between the remaining platforms. The black mist moved in disordered, heavy currents. The ancient being stood near the deeper gate without any visible damage, red eyes still fixed on Wei Chen.
"You still stand," it said. The voice carried the same calm weight as before. "Unexpected. But the judgment is not finished."
It began gathering cold energy once more. The pressure that rose this time felt different — more focused, more personal, and aimed primarily at Wei Chen.
The rival wiped the blood from his mouth and looked at the ancient being with open calculation. His earlier confidence was gone. He no longer attacked Wei Chen. Instead he began conserving what power he had left, clearly reassessing whether survival was still possible if he continued to fight both threats.
Wei Chen felt the claimed fragment pulse hard. The connection remained strong, but even it registered the rising danger. He did not wait for the next wave. He drove a dense burst of Yang directly at the ancient being, trying to interrupt the gathering. The attack landed against the being's chest and forced a slight shift, but the cold energy continued to build.
The group used the short space. Tigress Yu moved first, cutting down the shadow energy that rose faster under the new pressure. Zhao Yin bound clusters of residual threats so the disciples could finish them. Huo Yan worked tightly with Lan Qing and Mei Yun to stabilize the most damaged platforms with controlled ice-flame bursts.
Wei Chen moved through the recovery with less of the earlier pattern. He stopped beside Tigress Yu only long enough to check the fresh strain in her body and give her a firm, grounding touch between her legs while speaking low.
"We're still here. Stay sharp."
She answered with a short nod and returned to position.
He found Zhao Yin near a more stable section and pulled her close for a brief moment, pushing into her mouth just long enough to take the edge off the tension before releasing her again. She wiped her lips and moved back to the front without needing further words.
The ancient being's power continued to rise. The air grew heavier. More platforms at the edges cracked and began to fall.
Wei Chen passed Lan Qing while she steadied her breathing. He dropped lower for a short, focused moment, licked her until her thighs tensed, then stood and returned to the main line. The contact was brief.
Mei Yun received only a quick, firm touch as he passed — a hand on her breast and a quiet reminder to keep the mix ready — before he moved on.
The rival finally made a decision. Instead of conserving power, he launched a heavy golden strike at the ancient being, committing a large portion of what he had left. The attack landed against the being's shoulder and forced a clearer shift than before, but the red eyes barely lingered on him.
"You both continue to interfere," the being said. "Then the next judgment will be absolute."
The cold energy around its hand reached a density that made the previous waves feel limited. The pressure across the entire remaining sealed area climbed past anything the group had endured.
Wei Chen felt the fragment pulse in sharp warning. This next wave would not be something they could meet the same way.
The ancient being raised its hand fully.
Both Wei Chen and the rival prepared for the absolute judgment.
The final force began to fall.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2026
All rights reserved.
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Next Chapter: 178 - Absolute Judgment
The ancient presence releases its absolute attack, forcing a decisive turning point for Wei Chen, the rival, and everyone still standing in the sealed area.