CHAPTER 19 WHEN CHAOS ENDS, A VOID BEGINS.

  The crimson sky over Iron Root Town has gradually faded to black. The cool autumn breeze carried the gut-curdling scent of death, shaking the souls of anyone who smelled it.

  The multi-day battle with the beast horde is entering its climax. The exhaustion of the cultivators was apparent on their pale faces and sunken eyes.

  A guard captain on the wall watched over the battlefield as the desperate defense of the town had earned a slight advantage.

  He adjusted his helmet as he looked into the distance. “We've done our part, but the finale of the battle will be determined by the patriarchs.”

  _________

  In the distance, flashing lights can be seen as powerful techniques are released by the second.

  A tall middle-aged man can be seen in a valley exchanging blows with a large 80-meter serpent.

  “Spear Art! Fire serpent's wrath!”

  Chen Wei’s Orange clan robes fluttered as he pointed his golden spirit grade spear at the sky, conjuring a semi-corporeal flame serpent with his flame qi.

  DIE! He shouted, pointing the spear towards the massive serpent.

  The Serpent quickly circulated its earth qi, causing a massive wall to appear in front of it.

  Boom! Chen Wei’s technique clashed with the massive earth wall, causing an explosion in a 50-meter radius. Tons of rocks and debris flew in all directions, shattering the nearby vegetation.

  Hmph! Chen Wei snorted.

  “This Damn snake's defense is beyond troublesome. I need to finish this battle fast and deal with that Kong brat.”

  Chen Wei looked at the locket around his neck, which showed a picture of his daughter.

  His eyes narrowed with newfound determination. “Daddy won’t fail you, and I will make that Dark Guild pay Tenfold for poisoning you, and offending the Chen clan.”

  His aura skyrocketed as he charged toward the beast Lord Serpent.

  As Chen Wei makes his stand at the East Gate, clashes at the other gates can be felt faintly in the distance.

  Meanwhile,

  North Gate.

  Fang Zhen, with the assistance of Fang Duan, engaged in a ferocious battle with a large 45-meter beast.

  Its body, composed of ash and bones, loomed over the two cultivators.

  “This sandy bastard,” Fang Duan growled. My spear cuts and wind techniques are of no use against a demon beast with such a weird physique. Only my fire qi is capable of doing any meaningful damage.”

  “Tch.” Fang Duan spat at the ground in annoyance.

  “Too bad my fire comprehension is lower compared to my wind. I need to enter close door cultivation to try and upgrade my flame qi.”He said, mumbling to himself.

  Boom! A silhouette is seen being sent flying into the mountain wall, making a small crater, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Fang Zhen wiped blood from the corner of his mouth as he got back up. “Head Instructor Duan, it would be wise if you focus on surviving the battle today before you concern yourself with the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”

  Fang Duan looked at the patriarch as if he had heard the musings of a fly and shrugged.

  Fang Zhen gritted his teeth. “Just because you're a little more talented, you dare not put me in your eyes?” Fang Zhen shouted inwardly.

  We need a strategy to do real damage to this beast! Fang Zhen shouted.

  Fang Duan clutched his halberd, tightening his grip. I have a technique I haven’t mastered yet, but it should be strong enough to defeat the beast. Fang Duan responded, stroking the stubble on his gruff chin.

  Fang Zhen laughed with restrained anger. “If you had such a technique, why did you wait till now to use it?”

  “Idiot.” Fang Duan responded.

  “What did you call me?!” Fang Zhen’s face turned ashen.

  “If members of the clan witnessed him being insulted so brazenly, he would have nowhere to put his face in the future.”

  “In the feeling of rage and embarrassment, there was also a feeling of relief that he didn’t have to fight that monster to protect his face.”

  Fang Duan sighed, ”I wasn’t thrashing this beast's sandy body without reason, I was trying to locate the core. Now that I’ve found the core, even if its body regenerates after each attack, it should die if I destroy it in a single move.”

  Fang Zhen’s eyes widened. “Does Fang Duan really possess the power to blast through this monster’s physique and destroy its core completely? Impossible! He shook his head inwardly.

  Fang Duan started channeling a tornado of wind under his feet as he slowly rose in the air. “Look closely, old fart, as you will be the first to witness my heaven-grade martial technique!”

  Fang Zhen's eyes widened in disbelief. “We don’t have a single heaven-grade technique in the Fang clan. He must have received it from the..cloud-seeking sect?!”

  “Heaven Art! Wings of the burning Asura!”

  Haah!

  Fang Duan’s halberd ignited in flames with the tip resembling the face of a fiery demon. He launched the flaming spear towards the demon beast. The spear carried a massive vortex of fire and wind behind it, increasing its velocity by the moment.

  “Roarr!!” The Beast let out an angry roar!

  Fear was clear in its eyes.

  It quickly used its Wood qi to create a dense wooden shield to protect its massive frame.

  Crackick!

  Fang Duan’s technique quickly shattered the defenses of the lord beast. The Wind aspect of the technique blew away the layers of ash that guarded its true body. As the flame asura approached, a tiny Black Core could be seen.

  Boom! A large explosion of flame and ash took place, blocking the view of the two cultivators.

  Fang Zhen was forced a few steps back from the shockwave. “Fang Duan is a bigger monster than I thought!”

  Aahseech! A loud, horrid, shrill sound could be heard as the smoke cleared.

  In a pile of ash and bones and a shattered core, the corpse of the Beast Lorde can be seen.

  Just like that, one of the ruling beasts of Iron Root Forest has been slain….

  As the last embers of Fang Duan’s flaming halberd faded into the night, the beast’s remains collapsed into a heap of bone and ash.

  Fang Duan fell to one knee, face pale and sweaty.

  “That technique is powerful, but the energy cost is great. I need to be careful when I use it in the future.” He sighed inwardly.

  Heat still shimmered in the air, mingling with the acrid smoke curling along the battlements. The cultivators of the North Gate steadied their breaths, their ears still ringing from the explosion.

  Yet, through the haze, another sound intruded deep, dull impacts from far away, each one making the stone beneath their boots tremble ever so slightly.

  The wind carried with it a faint metallic tang, sharper and fresher than the stench of burnt bone. And beneath it all, an unbroken rhythm of distant roars.

  Fang Duan’s eyes narrowed toward the south, where the horizon was lit not by firelight, but by erratic, violent flashes.

  “The southern gate…” he muttered.

  Silence fell over the wall, broken only by the far-off thunder of battle. Whatever was happening there… It was not a victory. Not yet.

  ___________________

  Iron Root Town Southern Wall.

  The moonlight pierced the smoky sky like a star in the abyss of war. Thunderous noise envelops the area as the brave cultivators make their desperate stand.

  “We managed this well thanks to your strategies, young man,” A guard captain on top of the wall said. Placing his hands on the shoulder of a silver-eyed youth in a reassuring manner.

  Kong Ming nodded. “It's not over yet. Let's complete the retreat of the frontline and get everyone behind the walls to prepare for the breach.”

  “We managed to slay 5 out of the 6 peak warrior beasts, no one would have predicted the last one to break through to the beast lord realm in its final moments.”

  “hahaha!”

  The guard captain laughed in self-mockery. The heavens are truly just! His tone dripped with sarcasm.

  Kong Ming’s eyes gazed over the battlefield as he saw people killed ruthlessly, with corpses beyond recognition. “Justice? Is there truly such a thing in this world?” He thought inwardly.

  Memories of kids laughing at him and spitting on him flashed in his head. He hadn’t forgotten the hardships he faced as a crippled youth in this town, which only respected the strong.

  Brother Ming!

  A young girl with a short bob haircut approached. She wore a pink and white dress and pink shoes. A slight hint of exhaustion was clear on her face. “I..I was able to complete the qi gathering formation so our cultivators can recover their energy faster.”

  Kong Ming patted her head. “Great job, sister Xing.”

  Xing Cai pouted.

  “What is it now?” Kong Ming said, tilting his head in confusion and slight annoyance.

  Xing Cai fiddled with her fingers I-I I want you to call me sister Cai or Cai Cai, like my grandmother before she passed away.

  “Oh.” Kong Ming scratched his head…”Cai Cai.”

  She nodded. She beamed a smile, brightening the gloomy scene around them.

  “I know you might be tired, but I will need help making a basic illusion formation to confuse the beast lord attacking the gate. If we can buy some time, we might be able to get reinforcements to support us. The captain has already sent several messengers.”

  Xing Cai proceeds to rush into action and develop a basic illusion formation around the southern gate’s entrance. Though this formation won’t confuse a beast lord for more than a few breaths, it will allow the spirit warriors to land some blows, potentially weakening the battle power of the beast lord.

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  “Not bad, Junior Kong.” A tall, handsome, scholarly youth approached with his brother walking in tow.

  Kong Mings smiled slightly. “Chen Kai, Big brother Tian, it seems prodigies don’t know the meaning of fearing death. Some of those fights you guys had outside the walls were quite risky.

  Kong Tian shrugged. We managed to save a lot of people, and I even broke through to the spirit apprentice realm.

  Kong Tian opened his palm, showing neutral spiritual energy circulating within.

  Being a spirit apprentice didn’t stop the Yin-Bear from showing you and Chen Kai the immensities of Heaven and Earth. Kong Ming said, chuckling.

  Chen Kai remained silent, slight embarrassment apparent in his eyes.

  “By the way, who was the youth in white robes that saved you? His sword movements weren't simple, and he even cleared a whole section of the southern battlefield alone.”

  “You don’t know?” Chen Kai said in slight surprise. “That is the previous top genius recruited into the Cloud-Seeking sect 2 years ago.”

  The Kong brothers' eyes widened in slight surprise.

  His name is Fang Longwei, Head Instructor Fang Duan’s son.

  “Fang Longwei!” The brothers exclaimed in unison.

  They both remembered Senior Fang personally telling them he had a son in the Cloud-Seeking Sect whom he asked to protect them when they entered the sect. The brothers appreciated his kind intentions but didn’t take those words to heart.

  But now…

  Seeing the monster that is Fang Longwei, they truly felt grateful. From his appearance, he doesn’t look older than 15 or 16 years old. From his battle prowess, it appears he’s a high-level spirit apprentice who can compete against some warrior beasts.

  The young man is a genius by the purest definition.

  Hmph! Chen Kai snorted. “Why are you so surprised? Fang Longwei will be nothing more than a stepping stone before me in a few years.”

  “CHEN KAI!!” A voice shouted in the distance. A young, beautiful girl wearing the Chen clan's Orange dress came marching over with Chen family guards in tow. Her eyes burned with anger as the mole on her cheek raised, eyes narrowing.

  “Chen Yue.” Chen Kai said.

  Voice calm. Back turned, deeming her not worth facing directly.

  “Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’re in!?” She shouted, veins bulging in her head from suppressing anger.

  “You think telling instructor Duan about the Chen clan is enough to protect a treacherous snake like you?”

  “Snake?” Chen Kai chuckled.

  “Shed your skin if you like, Chen Yue, but don’t call the scales treason.”

  “Do you blame the smoke when you lit the fire?”

  “Do you punish the mirror for casting the reflection?”

  “Shut up!” Chen Yue barked! “You always looked down on everyone in the clan, and today is the day when you’ll finally answer for your arrogance!”

  Kong Tian stood before Chen Kai. “The only snake is you, trash of the Chen Clan, who have to plot such schemes because they fear a 13-year-old!”

  “Pathetic.” Kong Tian said in disdain, spitting on the floor in front of Chen Yue.

  Just when Kong Tian was about to continue speaking, he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder.

  Chen Kai stepped forward.” You don’t need to involve yourself any further; my actions were purely out of my selfish motivations, so there’s no reason for you to defend me.”

  Before Kong Tian could respond, Chen Kai walked towards Chen Yue.

  “Take me to the Chen Clan estate, I’m done fighting over here anyway. Let's see what those pathetic elders have to say about my actions.”

  Chen Yue gave the Kong brothers a meaningful glance before leaving with her entourage.

  Kong Tian clenched his fist as he watched Chen Kai depart. “He’s a genius of the Chen Clan, he shouldn’t be punished too harshly…right?” He thought inwardly.

  Kong Ming, who remained silent during the recent exchange, observed his brother’s back. He can sense the suppressed fury from his brother and sighs.

  “It seems like the anger you have about Chen Kai being punished for sticking up for you is greater than the anger you have toward the Chen clan for trying to assassinate you.” Kong Ming said, annoyance in his tone.

  “I never understood how you can not be angry at the 3 great families who almost killed you with bandits and spirit wolves. Chen Kai being punished is the first time I've seen a meaningful amount of anger.” Kong Ming clenched his fist voice slowly rising.

  “I’m tired of the people of this town constantly looking down on us, ridiculing us, and seeing us as dung that they use to plow the fields.”

  Kong Tian shook his head. “I am angry about those things, Ming, but what can we do to get justice?”

  “Even someone as strong as head instructor Fang wasn’t able to get justice for his son's attempted assassination or his wife’s tragedy.” But don’t worry, Ming, I will become strong and find the culprit behind the schemes….Kong Tian’s eyes turned blood red.

  And deliver divine punishment to all those responsible!

  Kong Ming laughed in anger. We don’t need strength to get our justice. I have a plan, and when I’m done, the clans that wronged us will regret ever threatening you, my brother.

  Just when Kong Tian was about to respond..

  Squaaak!

  A giant bird demon beast came down from the sky and snatched Kong Tian from the top of the town wall.

  Tian! Kong Ming shouted as he desperately reached his hand out to grab his brother, but it was too late.

  Kong Tian struggled desperately, but was unable to break the grip of the beast's talons. It was at least a mid-rank warrior beast.

  Strange, it doesn't feel like the bird is trying to harm me. Kong Tian thought inwardly.

  Kong Ming gritted his teeth as he watched his brother get taken away.

  Daamiitt! He shouted, punching the floor in helplessness. Knuckles bleeding.

  The beast appears to be flying towards Iron Root Forest, but I’m too weak to do anything. I need to get help.

  Kong Ming’s mind raced as he tried to find a solution. He then glanced at a youth in the distance in white robes who was battling a rank 1 warrior beast.

  If it’s him, he might be able to do it!

  ________________________

  Elsewhere.

  The last sound of Kong Tian’s struggle vanished into the night, leaving only the shiver of leaves where he’d been dragged away and a fading shadow.

  Far across Iron Root Town, another shadow began to move.

  In a quiet merchant district untouched by the chaos at the southern gate, the flicker of a lone lantern masked the arrival of death.

  Figures in eerie wooden masks slipped from the darkness between shuttered shops, their steps soundless, their blades already drawn.

  Creek! A wooden floor creaked from the step of one of the masked men.

  A sentry at the watch tower turned his head at the faint creak of wood and saw nothing. When he looked again, the street was empty… yet the shadows had grown longer.

  The Dark Guild had entered the city.

  Five silhouettes moved like a swift torrent through the town, heading straight for the martial school.

  “According to our informant, the headmaster of the school has been out of town, and now that they are dealing with the beast horde school should be unguarded. Said a masked man.

  The Leader of the group nodded

  As they entered the Iron Root Martial School's courtyard, the group split into two. “The item we’re looking for should be in the headmaster's office or the head instructor Duan’s office.” Said the leader of the masked group.

  As they entered the headmaster's quarters, they noticed a sealed chamber hidden behind the bookshelf.

  “There it is!” Our informant found a way to release the seal without breaking it.

  They quickly made 4 hand symbols using spiritual energy.

  Buzzz! The Spiritual seal on the chamber hummed before dissipating.

  They quickly dashed into the chamber and looked around the area cautiously.

  “Here it is,” a man exclaimed, holding a jade key in his hand.

  “Excellent,” the leader nodded.

  “I’ve also noticed this strange artifact in this case. We should take it as well. The branch manager will be pleased if we present it as a gift to him.”

  The group nodded in agreement as they snatched the sword and placed it in their spatial ring.

  As the agents of the dark guild made their escape from Iron Root Town, they noticed a girl in an alleyway placing strange marks on a wall.

  This girl was young, short, and wearing a pink dress, clearly someone of noble upbringing.

  The leader narrowed his eyes. “That girl is…a formation user!” and at such a young age!”

  “Take her! Our guild can use a formation prodigy.”

  A masked man and woman quickly moved like swift eagles snatching an unsuspecting prey.

  Xing Cai felt an odd presence behind her, and before she could even scream, her mouth was muzzled with a scented cloth over her face.

  Her vision began to blur. Her last thoughts were of a lonely silver-eyed youth in a cave…

  Brother Ming...I..I’m..sorry. Her consciousness faded.

  The man placed her on his back, and they continued their swift escape from the city.

  Kong Ming would have never imagined that it would be years before he sees Xing Cai ever again.

  __________________________

  Meanwhile, Iron Root Forest.

  The cold wind howled above the canopy before the giant bird demon beast descended, wings folding with a thunderous rush. It landed in a moonlit clearing, talons opening to release Kong Tian onto the grass.

  Kong Tian stumbled, his breath still ragged, eyes fixed on the towering avian.

  “What… is this place?” he muttered. “Why bring me here?”

  The bird’s head tilted toward the shadows beyond him. A faint vibration passed through the ground, then the air itself began to ripple.

  A seam of darkness split open, swallowing the moonlight. The temperature seemed to fall as a medium-sized form stepped through: the Void Sacred Beast. Black mist clung to its frame, its silver eyes cutting through the gloom like twin lanterns.

  Kong Tian froze, instinct urging him to run, yet some deeper pull rooted him in place. “You… you’re that beast that saved me the other night.

  The beast’s voice came not in sound, but in fragmented thoughts that pressed into his mind.

  Danger… you… taken.

  Kong Tian blinked. “Taken? By whom?”

  …friend-bird… bring.

  His gaze flicked to the bird demon beast standing silently at the edge of the clearing. “You… ordered it to bring me?”

  The sacred beast’s head lowered slightly. Safe… here.

  Kong Tian’s thoughts swirled. “Why? You don’t even know me.”

  A pause. Then the broken voice again: Bond… before… void… on you.

  “bond… void?” He glanced at his hands, searching for meaning, but the beast offered nothing more.

  He took a step closer. “The others… the people fighting in Iron Root Town, they’re still in danger. Can you get the beast to return?”

  The beast’s eyes lingered on him, unreadable. Finally: Return… beast… to…forest.

  Far away, muffled roars began to fade, like a tide withdrawing. Kong Tian’s chest eased, though confusion still gnawed at him. “I… don’t understand any of this,” he admitted. “But… thank you.”

  A gentle light can be seen in the beast's eyes.

  A sharp gust tore through the trees, carrying with it two streaks of light.

  Steward Gu landed first, robes flaring, eyes locked on the sacred beast with immediate caution. Chan Chan followed, her expression tired and tense.

  “Kong Tian! Step away from it,” Gu commanded, his voice like drawn steel.

  Kong Tian instinctively moved between them. “It saved me. You don’t need to do this.”

  “You have no idea what you’re dealing with,” Gu cut in, eyes never leaving the beast.

  Chan Chan’s tone was softer, but her words carried weight. “Tian… creatures like that don’t just wander into your world. Its origins could bring disaster, not just to you, but to your brother.”

  Kong Tian turned to look at the sacred beast, which was cautiously observing Steward Gu.

  Chan Chan stepped closer, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Keep it hidden. The beast's origin is beyond your understanding, and you won’t be able to protect it.

  Lady Chan Chan sighed. If the wrong people learn of this… There will be no end to the trouble.”

  She placed a cooked rabbit in front of the beast and smiled amicably. “Little fellow, me and steward Gu don’t mean you any harm, we only behaved the way we did because we thought you harmed my little brother over there.”

  “Now that we know he is safe, please take this meat as an apology.”Chan Chan tried to make the most harmless face she could muster.

  The beast looked at Kong Tian.

  Kong Tian nodded and said You can trust them, they have even saved my life before. It really was a misunderstanding, and they were also fighting to protect me. I hope you can forgive them.

  The Beast cautiously observed the rabbit meat as its stomach began to growl..

  Chan Chan's cheeks puffed as she withheld her laughter. No need to be shy, this young miss has plenty of snacks to offer as an apology for earlier.

  The sacred beast began to eat the rabbit meat, its eyes widened from the savory flavor.

  That's our clan's heavenly blue honey you're tasting, is it delicious? Chan-Chan said with a knowing smile.

  Steward Gu shook his head as he put away his sword. Young Man, I’m trusting you to take care of the beast for now, but we will also keep an eye on things to prevent any more calamities.

  Kong Tian Nodded. The amount of casualties and damage caused by the beast horde is beyond measure, and even though he felt a strange kinship with this black-winged tiger, he also felt an immense pressure and fear.

  The sacred beast’s gaze met Kong Tian’s

  Kong Tian stood silent, heart pounding. “Some things,” he said quietly, “are worth protecting… even if I don’t understand them yet.”

  Chan Chan’s eyes softened, but her brow remained furrowed. “Then pray you’re ready when the cost comes due.”

  Above them, the night sky stretched wide and cold, the last echoes of the beast tide fading into the forest.

  “It's late, can you help us get home?” Kong Tian asked steward, Gu and Chan Chan.

  We shouldn’t fly and attract too much attention, Steward Gu said. Kong Tian just realized that they were flying.

  Wait! You guys were ... were flying. That must mean you’re Spirit Masters?!?!

  Steward Gu didn’t answer. “The young miss and I are on a mission, and we must keep a low profile when possible.” He thought inwardly.

  He pointed to the sacred beast stuffing its face.

  “Our little furry friend might be able to help.”

  Kong Tian glanced at the sacred beast.

  The beast, eating the extra rabbits Chan Chan placed, noticed everyone's gaze and tilted its head in confusion.