“HAHAHA! Little boy, are you talking to me?" the man sneered, his laughter echoing through the air as he walked forward, each step releasing a surge of his demonic aura. The atmosphere grew heavier, drenched in a sense of malevolent energy that seemed to taint the very air around them.
But Tian Ping didn’t flinch. He was done being looked down on, done being treated as weak and powerless. His eyes burned with a fire that refused to be extinguished, his resolve like steel. "I didn't stutter when I spoke," he said, his voice steady and unyielding.
As he took a step forward, Tian Ping released his own aura, raw and potent. The pebbles on the ground began to rise, trembling in the air as if acknowledging his power. With each step, the ground beneath him seemed to pulse, matching the rhythm of his determination.
The man’s grin widened, though there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—perhaps surprise. "HAHAHA! GOOD! GOOD! LET ME SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE QI REFINING REALM AND YOUR LITTLE DANTIAN REALM!"
He lunged at Tian Ping, the force of his movement so powerful that the earth beneath his feet shattered, leaving deep imprints in the ground. The air cracked under the pressure of his charge, a shockwave of energy rippling outward as he closed in on Tian Ping with deadly intent.
“SIMPLE SWORD TECHNIQUE: PIERCE!”
Tian Ping planted his feet, pouring every ounce of his strength into his move. His sword thrust forward with all his might, a fierce determination lighting up his eyes.
"IF YOU THINK THAT WILL WORK AGAIN, YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR MIND!" the man roared, his voice dripping with contempt. Demonic energy flared up around his blade, a dark aura almost identical to the cloaked men from before. With a wide swing, he unleashed a wave of malevolent energy, the air crackling as their blades met.
CLANG!
The impact was thunderous. A shockwave erupted from the clash, the force so intense that the wind howled in response, scattering leaves and debris into the air. The ground beneath their feet cracked under the pressure, tremors running through the earth. Zhou Lan clung to a nearby tree, struggling to stay upright as the ground seemed to shift beneath her.
Despite his best efforts, Tian Ping felt his sword buckle under the immense pressure. Cracks began to snake their way across its surface, the metal groaning in protest. The man smirked, his eyes narrowing in cruel delight. "This sword... It looks familiar. Did you steal it from one of my men?" He sneered, adding more force to his attack.
Tian Ping didn't answer, his face a mask of grim determination, though his eyes burned with a cold, murderous intent. He gritted his teeth, muscles straining as he tried to hold his ground against the overwhelming force.
"HAHA! It doesn't matter. I'll just send you to join them!" the man laughed, his demonic energy surging in a final push. The force of his aura intensified, and Tian Ping felt himself sliding back, his feet carving furrows into the dirt as he struggled to stay upright.
CRACK!
Tian Ping's sword shattered in his hands, the shards scattering like glass in the air. In that moment of vulnerability, the demonic cultivator's blade found its mark, plunging into Tian Ping's shoulder. A sharp gasp escaped Tian Ping's lips as the pain seared through him.
"Tian!" Zhou Lan screamed, her voice breaking with desperation, tears welling in her eyes as she saw him take the hit. She reached out, powerless to stop what was happening, the terror and helplessness etched on her face.
"NO! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Tian Ping shouted, his voice edged with worry as he saw Lan Zhou trying to move closer. Blood flowed freely from the wound in his shoulder, but he didn’t flinch, his gaze locked on the enemy before him.
Lan Zhou's eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her face as she watched the scene unfold. She was trembling, her hands clutching at the grass in desperation. She felt utterly powerless, watching the person she cared about suffer while she could do nothing.
The demonic cultivator's eyes glinted with amusement. "Aw, isn't this adorable," he sneered, letting out a twisted laugh that echoed through the forest. "I’ve gotta applaud you, kid. If any regular first-stage Qi Refining cultivator had taken my attacks, they’d already be dead. But you... you’re different."
He grinned wider, his expression a mix of mockery and twisted admiration. "A sixth-stage Dantian realm cultivator standing against my second-stage Qi Refining realm strength... No wonder my men lost to you. You're a true genius."
The man's sword twisted, and with a sickening sound, he wrenched the blade out of Tian Ping's shoulder.
"AAARGH!" Tian Ping screamed, his voice raw with pain, the agony ripping through him like fire. He stumbled back, blood streaming down his arm, staining the ground beneath him.
"But you know what, kid?" the man said, his tone turning cold, his smile vanishing. "Many geniuses don't live long enough to realize their potential."
He raised his sword high, dark energy crackling along its length. "Just like you won't," he said, swinging the blade down with lethal intent, aiming straight for Tian Ping's head.
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