The golden-sapphire pillar of Shaurya's Divine Form slowly dimmed around him—

but its aftershock still hung in the air like the echo of a divine bell.

Gou Yan didn't retreat.

Didn't cower.

Didn't run.

He braced.

Grey aura boiled from his body like volcanic ash, thick and violent, swirling around him in jagged, broken currents. His bones cracked as they expanded. His skin hardened as stone runes crawled over him like a colony of iron serpents.

Two monsters stood across from each other.

One glowing gold.

One burning grey.

The ancient hall trembled under the weight of their presence.

Then—

They vanished.

AURA LINES COLLIDE

Two streaks of light carved through the hall

A golden line blazing like a shooting star—

A grey line ripping through the air like a tearing mountain—

And they collided.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

A shockwave erupted in a perfect sphere, blasting the hall apart. Pillars snapped like twigs. The ceiling cracked open. A spray of stone dust erupted like a blinding sandstorm.

Shaurya's sword arm glowed with golden spiritual force as he swung at blurring speeds.

Gou Yan's mountain-thick axe tore arcs through the air, each swing leaving grey afterimages like fractures in space.

CLANG!!

BOOM!!

CRACK!!

The sounds intertwined like a violent orchestra.

The fighters weren't just moving.

They were shredding physics.

Every time Shaurya darted forward with aerial steps, golden sparks trailed behind him.

Every time Gou Yan stomped the ground, grey shockwaves burst outward like collapsing cliffs.

Both streaks of aura slammed into a giant wall at the same moment—

KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSHHH!!!!

The wall shattered into razor-sharp fragments.

Shaurya burst through first.

His boots slid across the polished stone floor of the next hall, sparks flying behind him in long arcs.

His Divine Form cloak flickered with golden flames.

His breathing deepened as he steadied his stance.

Behind him—

Gou Yan exploded through the opening like a cannonball.

The Stone God Elder roared, axe raised high.

"DON'T YOU RUN FROM ME, BOY!"

Shaurya spun sharply, drawing his sword in one swift arc.

"Who is running from a weakling like you!"

CLAAAAAAAAANG!!

A violent shockwave rippled outward as sword met axe.

The ground beneath Shaurya's feet cratered.

Stone tiles lifted and spun into the air like leaves in a storm.

Both pushed.

Both slid.

Both growled through clenched teeth.

Grey against gold.

Stone against starfire.

Beast against divine.

The entire hall shook.

A dozen Howling Abyss Sect disciples were kneeling in meditation near glowing spiritual pools—

their wounds healed, their breathing calm.

Xia Coco and Zia Bailey had just opened their eyes when—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

The entire wall behind them exploded inward.

Stone chunks flew like artillery. Dust swallowed the hall in a choking cloud. Debris rained like shattered meteors.

From within the rubble—

A sliding golden streak tore across the floor.

SHAURYA.

He skidded backward, sword drawn, boots carving twin lines across the polished stone.

The Howling Abyss disciples froze, eyes bulging.

"W-What…?!"

"What monster—?!"

"Is that—Sect Master Shaurya?!"

A deep grey blur erupted after Shaurya—

GOU YAN.

His axe came crashing down with enough force to rend heaven itself.

Shaurya snapped his sword upward—

"Come on!"

CLANG!!!

The collision of forces sent a hurricane of pressure blasting through the hall.

Howling Abyss disciples were thrown off their feet—

some tumbled across the floor, others slammed into walls.

Only Xia Xu managed to hold hee ground, jaw dropping in disbelief.

"That pressure… these two… they're too strong!"

Shaurya gritted his teeth, pushing upward against the descending axe.

Gou Yan's feral eyes bored into his.

"I'LL SPLIT YOU IN HALF!"

"Try it," Shaurya growled.

He thrust forward—both warriors exploded backward at the same time.

They streaked again.

Two divine lines ripping from hall to hall:

GOLD — Shaurya

GREY — Gou Yan

They smashed into a side corridor—

CRAAAASH!!

In another hall, a group of disciples from an unknown sect shrieked as the fighters tore past them, the shockwave throwing them aside like dolls.

"WHAT THE HELL—!"

"AVOID THEM!!"

"RUN—THAT'S TO STRONG FOR US!!"

The two didn't even notice.

Shaurya slashed down—

A crescent of golden sword light carved through the floor like molten fire.

Gou Yan swung up—

A grey wave of stone essence burst outward, turning the golden slash into glowing gravel.

They clashed again—

again—

AGAIN—

CLANG!

BOOOOM!

CRACK!

SLAM!

Walls collapsed.

Ceilings caved.

Floors trembled.

They left destruction behind them like two storms crossing the land.

After blasting through three more halls, they entered a massive circular chamber.

Both fighters skid across the floor—

sideways—

almost hovering from sheer speed, their feet scraping sparks.

Dust spiraled.

Chunks of stone floated from the shockwaves.

Their eyes met in that sideways slide.

And both screamed:

"RAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

Their auras flared—

and they launched forward.

Shaurya swung the Meteorite Sword in a blazing arc—

GOLDEN SLASH!

Gou Yan countered—

GREY AXE SLASH!

The two blows collided mid-air—

BOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

The resulting explosion lit the hall like a sunburst.

They flew through it.

Shaurya struck.

Gou Yan parried.

Gou Yan struck.

Shaurya dodged by a hair.

Their movements blurred like brush strokes in a divine painting.

Sword beams intersected with axe waves, each impact sending concussive rings of vibrating air across the hall.

Shaurya ducked under a horizontal swing—

The wind shear sliced a pillar behind him in half.

He countered with a rising slash—

Gou Yan blocked, sparks bursting like fireworks.

Grey and gold lights twined around each other, forming spiraling helixes as the fighters spun and clashed.

Shaurya braced his stance.

Golden aura wrapped around his sword like a raging miniature sun.

He roared:

"ULTIMATE—SWORD—STRIKE!!"

He slashed diagonally—

A huge golden arc ripped through the hall, tearing a trench in the stone floor.

Gou Yan planted his feet.

He swung his axe upward to block—

The moment the energies met—

KRRRRRRRRRRRRSHHHHH!!!!

His axe shattered.

Into dust.

The moment froze.

Slow motion.

Gou Yan's eyes widened.

His mouth parted in pure shock.

Then—

Shaurya moved.

He twisted sharply—

his right leg glowing pink—

and slammed a SPIN BACK KICK into Gou Yan's abdomen.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

Gou Yan flew across the hall like a falling meteor,

Shaurya exhaled once—

a thin ribbon of steam drifting from his lips like a dragon's breath cooling.

He tightened his grip on the Meteorite Sword…

then slid it into the scabbard in one smooth, elegant motion.

Click.

The moment the blade settled inside the sheath—

golden spiritual energy erupted from his wrists in two blazing streams.

FWOOOSH!!

Both wrists ignited with swirling golden energy, coiling around his forearms like twin divine bands.

The ground trembled under the pressure.

Across the hall—

Gou Yan dug his heels into the floor to stop—

slid helplessly across the stone floor, arms limp, aura flickering in chaos.

Blood trailed behind him in a long, dark streak.

Sparks burst beneath his boots as stone cracked violently.

He finally skidded to a halt, coughing blood, vision spinning.

But before he could lift his head—

Shaurya appeared in front of him.

Not walked.

Not ran.

Not teleported—

He simply arrived.

Aerial Steps leaving a golden flash behind him.

Gou Yan's pupils shrank.

Shaurya's shadow fell over him.

His fist was already raised—

glowing brighter and brighter, golden flames spiraling tightly around it like a compressed star.

The pressure alone made the ground beneath Gou Yan fracture.

With a guttural snarl, Gou Yan clenched his own fist.

Stone runes burst across his forearm, crackling like lightning across granite.

He roared—

"RAAAAAAAAAH!!"

He thrust his fist forward with every ounce of fury his battered body could muster.

Shaurya didn't flinch.

He didn't meet the blow head-on.

At the exact instant before their fists met—

he shifted.

A single, precise Aerial Step sideways—

light as mist—

sharp as a blade.

Gou Yan's punch tore through empty air.

Shaurya's fist, however—

did NOT miss.

He twisted his hips, shoulder, and torso in perfect harmony—

the golden aura spiraling tighter—

Then unleashed a lightning-fast punch—

STRAIGHT INTO GOU YAN'S FACE.

CRRRAAAAAAACKKKKK!!!!!!

Blood exploded like a crimson burst.

The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the hall.

Gou Yan's head snapped back violently.

His entire massive body lifted off the ground—

then flew backwards like a broken meteor.

He flipped—

once—

twice—

three times—

Each flip slamming his spine against the stone with bone-shattering force.

He crashed into a wall.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The wall didn't just crack—

it CAVED IN around him, forming a crater of pulverized stone.

Gou Yan pinned on the wall—

Blood pouring down his face.

His vision blurred.

But Shaurya didn't give him even a heartbeat.

FWIP—

Shaurya's silhouette blurred.

Aerial Steps again.

In an instant—

he appeared directly in front of Gou Yan,.

His right fist ignited with a new light—

not gold—

but a vibrant, almost neon pink aura swirling like a wildfire lotus.

He whispered:

"Bizzare Fist."

The air screamed as he punched forward.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

His fist crashed into Gou Yan's face like a meteor impact.

The wall behind Gou Yan exploded outward from the imapact—

chunks of stone launching like cannonballs.

Gou Yan's body rocketed backward—

flipping violently—

spinning through dust, debris, and shattered pillars.

But Shaurya still wasn't finished.

Mid-flip—

Gou Yan's mangled body hung in the air for a fraction of a second—

And Shaurya lunged.

His hand snapped forward—

And he grabbed Gou Yan's face mid-air with terrifying precision.

A perfect, claw-like grip over the jaw and skull.

Gou Yan's eyes widened in raw horror as Shaurya's grip tightened—

Then—

Shaurya SLAMMED him down.

CRAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!!

The floor cracked open.

A crater blasted outward.

Dust shot up like an eruption.

Shaurya didn't stop—

He DRAGGED Gou Yan across the floor—

stone grinding beneath his skull, sparks flying, blood smearing in a long violent streak.

Then—

With a brutal heave—

Shaurya THREW him across the hall.

Gou Yan launched like a ragdoll—

spinning, flipping, crashing through another wall—

Until he was back—

in the very first hall where the battle began.

Every disciple froze.

Elder Feng Yu's jaw clenched.

Lin Shu's eyes widened.

Wang Tian whispered:

"No… way… He dragged him all the way around…?"

The dust cleared.

Bodies of Stone Shattering Sect scattered the ground—

over two hundred disciples,

ten elders—

lifeless.

Only Gou Yan remained.

He lay flat, face mangled, blood pooling beneath him.

Shaurya stepped through the broken wall, breathing heavily.

His Divine Form flickered.

He stomped once—

Right on Gou Yan's face.

Then jumped, did a front flipped in mid-air—

Landing lightly in front of Lin Shu.

He exhaled.

His golden aura dimmed.

His eyes returned to black.

Divine Form—

Gone.

But the pressure around him remained sharp and heavy.

Lin Shu moved to support him.

He shook his head.

"…I'm fine."

He turned.

Gou Yan had risen to one knee.

Normal form returned.

Face destroyed.

Blood dripping.

He looked around.

His sect.

His disciples.

His elders.

All dead.

"What… what… what have you done…?"

Shaurya Exhaled softly.

A quiet, controlled breath.

Then he spoke—

voice calm, steady, carrying a weight that filled the entire shattered hall.

"We were never enemies, Gou Yan," Shaurya said, his voice firm but not cruel.

"Nor were we ever friends."

He looked across the hall—

at the countless bodies,

at the shattered walls,

at the wreckage of two powerhouses colliding.

His gaze returned to Gou Yan.

"You attacked us because of greed.

Not justice.

Not duty.

Not honor."

He shook his head slightly.

"You were strong.

Your sect was strong.

Strong enough to carve your name into this empire."

A pause.

Blood dripped once from Shaurya's fingertips.

"But greed destroys more than any enemy ever could.

And today—

it destroyed you."

The words echoed, drifting through the dust-filled air.

Gou Yan Breaks

The old monster's eyes shook with rage.

Face twisted.

Teeth clenched so tightly blood seeped from his gums.

"SHUT… UP!!"

His voice cracked—

half pain,

half fury,

half despair.

"Your words… your morals… MEAN NOTHING!"

He stumbled forward.

Forced his battered legs to stand.

Grey aura flickering weakly around him.

"You think you're above me?!

YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME?!"

His roar tore his throat raw.

Shaurya didn't move.

Didn't blink.

Just watched.

Gou Yan's body trembled violently as he forced all remaining energy into his right arm.

Stone runes flickered desperately.

He lowered his stance.

His aura shook the floor around him.

Cracks webbed outward under his feet.

He clenched his fist so hard the knuckles split open.

Then—

With a defiant roar that seemed to rip the halls—

"DIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!"

He launched forward.

Shaurya's expression changed.

Not anger.

Not hatred.

Just… resolve.

His right arm slid backward—

golden aura gathering around his fist like a swirling sun.

His eyes, which were black only moments ago—

flashed golden again for a single heartbeat.

A miniature golden dragon spiraled around his arm, forming from spiritual energy, coiling upward with a divine glow.

The air hummed.

The hall vibrated.

The torches flickered violently.

Even his own sect members held their breath.

Shaurya stepped forward—

Left foot sliding along the cracked ground.

Right shoulder twisting.

Torso coiling like a loaded spring.

Then he thrust his fist forward—

A roar exploding from his lungs:

"DRAGOOOOON—FIIIIIST!!"

The golden spiritual dragon erupted with a blinding roar, its serpentine head leading the strike.

It tore through the air, leaving a flaming trail behind it.

Gou Yan's eyes widened.

"No—

NO—!!"

He didn't have time to finish.

Impact

KAAAAAAAAAAAAA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

The golden dragon slammed into him with enough force to bend the world.

Light swallowed everything.

A thunderous blast shook the entire castle.

Stone shattered.

Air ignited.

Fragments flew like a cyclone of razors.

For several seconds—

There was nothing but roaring gold.

Then silence.

Dust fell like slow snow.

When the blinding light faded—

Gou Yan lay on the ground.

What was left of him.

His entire right side—

torso, arm, hip, leg—

had been turned to ash.

Ash still drifted upward from the ruined half of his body.

His remaining eye flickered weakly.

He coughed blood—

and whispered through shredded lips:

"W-When… did someone this strong… appear in our dynasty…?"

A trembling breath.

"He was holding back…

All this time…

Holding back…"

His vision blurred.

"I…

Underestimated him…

He's… a monster…"

His gaze, fading, locked onto Shaurya.

"Shaurya…

You're truly…

s-super… strong…"

His head rolled to the side.

His chest stopped rising.

Gou Yan—

Elder of the Stone Shattering Sect—

was dead.

Shaurya exhaled slowly.

The adrenaline drained.

His knees softened.

His balance faltered—

Lin Shu rushed forward, catching his arm.

"Shaurya!"

He shook his head gently.

"I'm fine."

His voice was faint but steady.

Elder Wan hurried over, rummaging through his sleeve.

He pulled out a small jade-green pill.

"Master—take this.

It's the upgraded medicinal pill.

Elder Hua improved the formula."

Shaurya took it without hesitation.

The moment it touched his tongue, a warm wave spread through his torso.

Cuts closed.

Bruises faded.

The pain receded.

He opened his eyes fully—

Calm.

Focused.

He glanced at his sect—

all standing, all exhausted, all waiting for his command.

Then he looked into the broken depths of the hall.

"We don't know how long the realm will stay open," he said quietly.

"So we move."

He lifted his chin slightly.

"Stay alert.

Guard yourselves.

Avoid unnecessary conflict."

Every disciple straightened immediately.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Shaurya inhaled.

Turned.

And stepped forward into the next hall.

The ruins behind him fell silent.

To be continued…

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