Chapitre 4: Chapter 34- The Resolve of Hao Jiming
As Hao Jiming stepped into the air, the sky trembled and the colors of the surrounding began to change. The aura emanating from his body was powerful and overwhelming, it was as if he was in complete control of the territory. He held his halberd with ease, the weapon seemed to be an extension of his arm, moving fluidly and gracefully.
Xu Chen watched in awe as Jiming played with his halberd, twirling it in his hand with precision and skill. But as he watched, he could see no opening in Jiming's movements, no weakness that he could exploit. He knew that this was going to be a tough fight.
When Jiming lifted his halberd and pointed it towards Xu Chen, the latter could feel the weight of the weapon through the air. He knew that this was the prelude to their battle. The energy released by Jiming was immense, it was as if the very fabric of space was being distorted by his power.
Xu Chen's aura surged as he increased the power he was injecting into his strings. At his back, an image of a demon seemed to materialize, playing the strings as if they were an instrument. With a flick of his fingers, the strings lunged forward, encircling Jiming in a deadly embrace. But Jiming was undeterred. With a swift twirl of his halberd, he shattered the strings into countless pieces.
However, Xu Chen was not done yet. The strings were imbued with his aura, and he commanded them to take on a new form, transforming into hundreds of arrows that pelted Jiming. But Jiming was fierce, his halberd a blur as he created a perfect defense against the onslaught of arrows, deflecting them with ease. The battle between the two generals had truly begun.
When the battle between Hao Jiming and Xu Chen raged on, Xu Chen began to unleash his true power. He began to speak, his voice low and menacing. "You Hao's, always thinking you're so high and mighty. Do you remember that night, when your clan was besieged by the empire? Your father, begging for his life as I beheaded him?"
Jiming's expression remained stoic, not allowing himself to be affected by Xu Chen's words. He knew that Xu Chen was trying to manipulate his emotions and distract him from the battle.
But Xu Chen was not done yet. As he spoke, his strings began to glow with a dark aura. "I bet you still have nightmares about that night. The way your father pleaded for his life, the way he begged for mercy. And you, his son, unable to lift a hand and help him."
Jiming's grip on his halberd tightened, but he refused to be drawn in by Xu Chen's taunts. He knew that this was just a tactic to distract him. Instead, he focused on the battle at hand, twirling his halberd with fluid movements, expertly deflecting the strings that came his way.
Xu Chen's expression twisted in anger as he realized that his mind manipulation tactics were not working on Jiming. The Hao Clan leader stood tall, his halberd held firmly in his grip, his eyes locked on his opponent.
"You may have taken the life of my father, but you will not take me down so easily," Jiming growled, his aura intensifying.
With a fierce determination in his eyes, Jiming unleashed a powerful technique, causing the sky to darken and the winds to whip fiercely around him. Xu Chen's strings were no match for Jiming's halberd as it cut through them with ease, leaving the former General reeling. As the strings fell to the ground, Xu Chen let out a roar of frustration.
"The battle is far from over, Hao Jiming," Xu Chen spat as he pulled out a new weapon, a set of metallic fingernails. "The empire will not rest until your clan is destroyed."
Jiming's expression turned grim as he realized the true intentions of the empire. He had long suspected that their clan's downfall was not a coincidence, but to hear it confirmed by Xu Chen himself made it all the more real.
"Why?" Jiming asked, his grip on his halberd tightening. "Why does the empire want to destroy us?"
Xu Chen sneered, "Why does it matter? You'll be dead soon enough."
As Xu Chen spoke, each of the nails began to sizzle and release a dark aura that formed into more strings. Jiming and Tengyang both watched in anxiety as the strings seemed to come from the abyss.
Xu Chen sneered as he looked at Hao Jiming, who stood before him with his halberd at the ready. "Do you have any final words, Hao Jiming?" he taunted.
Jiming's eyes narrowed, he knew something was off. The aura emanating from the strings that came out of Xu Chen's metallic fingernails was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was dark and demonic.
As the strings crept closer, Jiming could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had never felt such fear before. But he knew he couldn't let it show, not in front of Xu Chen. He readied himself, prepared for the battle that was to come.
Xu Chen let out a maniacal laugh as he gestured with his fingers, controlling the strings with ease. Jiming could feel the ground shake beneath him as the strings shot towards him, ready to skewer him. He swung his halberd with all his might, but it was like trying to slice through steel. The strings were too strong.
Tengyang watched in horror as the battle unfolded. His trauma of not being able to save the old patriarch was still fresh in his mind. He couldn't let it happen again. But what could he do? He was no match for Xu Chen. He could only watch in anxiety as the fight continued.
Xu Chen's eyes glinted with malice as he watched Jiming struggle against the strings. He laughed maniacally as Jiming's movements became more and more frantic, the dark aura of the strings slowly creeping closer and closer to him.
"Is this the best you can do, Hao Jiming? I thought you were supposed to be a powerful cultivator," Xu Chen taunted. "Come on, entertain me some more."
As Xu Chen towered over Hao Jiming, he let out a lunatic laugh. "You think you can defeat me, Hao Jiming? I am the empire's puppet master, pulling the strings of fate to ensure your clan's downfall," he sneered. "Do you want to know the truth about your father's death? The truth about why the empire turned against your clan? I'll tell you, but only because it amuses me to see the look of despair on your face."
Hao Jiming gritted his teeth, refusing to let Xu Chen's words affect him. But deep down, he couldn't shake off the feeling of dread creeping up his spine. He knew that Xu Chen was not to be underestimated, and he had to stay focused on the battle at hand.
As the two clashed once again, the air around them crackled with energy. Hao Jiming swung his halberd with precision and ferocity, but Xu Chen's strings were like snakes, wriggling and twisting out of his reach. The more they fought, the more Hao Jiming felt like he was being toyed with. Every time he thought he had the upper hand, Xu Chen would unleash a new weapon or technique, leaving him reeling.
Tengyang watched the battle with bated breath, his heart heavy with the memories of the past. He couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt for not being able to save the old patriarch, and now he feared for the safety of his clan's leader. He could see the desperation etched on Jiming's face, and he knew that this battle was not going in their favor.
Xu Chen continued to laugh maniacally as he played with Hao Jiming like a cat with a mouse. "You see, Jiming? Your clan was nothing but a thorn in the empire's side. Your father stumbled upon a secret that the current king wanted to keep hidden, and so the empire had to eliminate him and the rest of the clan's elders. And as for you, Tengyang? I had my men keep a close eye on you during your visit to Qingyun. You may have fooled everyone else, but I know you were gathering resources to rebuild your clan's power. And I can't allow that to happen."
Xu Chen stood tall in the sky, a smirk playing on his lips as he looked down at Hao Jiming. "You're still alive, I see," he said mockingly. "But for how much longer, I wonder?"
Jiming glared back at him, his grip on his halberd tightening. "I'll be alive long enough to send you to the afterlife, Xu Chen," he spat.
Xu Chen chuckled, "I see that your spirit hasn't been broken yet. But it will be soon enough." He raised his hand and the strings that surrounded him began to twist and contort, forming giant metallic claws that seemed to come straight out of a nightmare. The aura around them was deadly, like that of a death knight with a scythe.
Just as the claw descended upon Hao Jiming, he watched in horror as he was unable to do anything to stop it. But at the last minute, Tengyang gathered all of his remaining power and used his own body as a shield, sacrificing himself to protect Jiming. That day, it rained blood on the land where life is slowly returning.
As Tengyang's body was split in half, Hao Siyi, who had just regained consciousness, let out a wailing scream of agony. Her eyes were red with anger as she lost all sense of judgment, ready to avenge her father. But Liu Peng, also experiencing the pain of losing his brother-in-arms, stopped her from rushing into battle. He promised his old friend that he will take care of his daughter and he is determined to fulfill his promise.
Xu Chen, who had been watching the events unfold with a bored expression, finally had a reaction. He sneered at the group, "You all are nothing but a bunch of weaklings. You should've remaind quiet instead of wriggling on the ground,"
Jiming's heart was heavy as he watched Tengyang's body fall from the sky. He could hear Siyi's wailing screams in the background as she saw her father's sacrifice. Her eyes were red with anger and her agony was palpable in the air. Jiming was filled with agony as well, his loyal friend was gone due to his incompetence.
He shouted to Liu Peng to take Siyi away from here and to look for the young master. They had to remain hidden at all costs until they had gathered and build their power. Before Liu Peng left, Jiming took out a key on his pocket and threw it at him. He told Liu Peng to give it to Juanxiu and to tell him how much he loved his son. With a heavy heart, Jiming turned back to Xu Chen, ready to avenge his fallen friend and protect his clan at all costs.
Jiming prepared to use his final trump card, a technique passed down only to the leaders of the clan, he knew that the cost of using it would be his own life. But he was resolved to do whatever it takes to protect his clan and avenge his fallen friend. He closed his eyes and focused all of his energy into the technique, the "Dragon's Fury."
As he unleashed the technique, the air around him began to warp and contort, as if being sucked into a black hole. The temperature rose dramatically, and even Xu Chen, who had been casually observing the direction in which Liu Peng and Siyi had fled, could feel the change in the air. He knew that Jiming was about to use a powerful technique and he became serious, ready to face the full power of his opponent.
As the energy reached its peak, Jiming opened his eyes and they were now glowing with an intense light. His body was surrounded by a fiery aura that looked like a dragon, and his halberd was also engulfed in the same aura. He pointed his halberd to Xu Chen and shouted, "This is the end, Xu Chen. You will pay for what you have done to my clan!"
Xu Chen's energy soared to new heights as he called upon the souls of the damned to empower his final attack. His aura became that of the grim reaper, ominous and threatening.
As they both launched their attacks, the earth trembled and the sky turned black as their powerful energies collided. The ground cracked and the trees were uprooted as the force of the blast spread, creating a massive crater where the two warriors stood.
Liu Peng and Hao Siyi, who were fleeing the land, were awestruck as they witnessed the destruction from a distance. The sight of their home, forever changed by the events that transpired, filled them with sorrow and a sense of finality as they trudged on, leaving their past behind.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone