บท 68: Chapter 68: Grand Finale (I)

"So, is this your grand plan? Running away from them?" Jasmine's voice resonated from within Yun Che's mind.

"Who says I'm running away?" Yun Che responded confidently as he rode atop Hebi's skull, with Jasmine's presence beside him.

"Then what are you doing, if not running away?" Jasmine inquired, still unaware of his true intentions.

"You'll see," Yun Che grinned mischievously. "Retsu, initiate Phase 2." With a nod, Retsu prepared to take off towards an undisclosed location.

"Oh, and Retsu?" Yun Che added, "Deal with him in my stead."

Retsu comprehended the second part of their plan before preparing to depart. Just before leaving, she surprised Yun Che by planting a kiss on his cheek and playfully said, "Young master, I'm still waiting for my reward." She pointed to her lips before disappearing in a flash, leaving Yun Che in a state of bewilderment.

"That girl," Yun Che sighed with a smile before extracting a gigai version of Retsu from his system and activating it using a modified soul candy he pressed through its mouth.

The gigai suddenly came to life, its personality mirroring Retsu's affectionate demeanor towards Yun Che. "Chappy desu! Yuuki-sama! My orders, pyon?" The gigai 'Retsu' spoke with the characteristic cuteness of Chappy, the most popular soul candy among women in Bleach. Yun Che had specifically chosen this version for Retsu's gigai, as he had a plan to deal with the sect masters hot on their trail.

"You're going to get captured," Yun Che revealed his straightforward plan to the gigai, Chappy.

"Why, pyon?" Chappy questioned as she tried to comprehend his strategy.

"I have a plan. Don't worry; your soul candy will return to the system once you're done," Yun Che reassured Chappy, making sure her existence wouldn't go to waste. While Chappy was typically meant to last only a few moments, under the system's care, she could exist for an extended period. This time, Chappy would continue to exist as an independent entity.

"Understood, pyon!" Chappy saluted. "Yuuki-sama, pet my head, pyon!" She suddenly approached him with a bunny-like eagerness, requesting to be petted. Yun Che chuckled and obliged, finding Chappy's enthusiasm rather endearing, reminiscent of the real Retsu's affectionate nature.

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Yun Che and Chappy had finally come to a halt in the plains, hundreds of kilometers away from the city. His bankai still cloaked him, as he patiently awaited the pursuers. Chappy's presence by his side meant that everything was set into motion.

"You brat!!! You gave us one hell of a chase," exclaimed one of the sect masters as they finally caught up. With her slightly slowed pace, the Earth Profound Realm elders and sect masters had been able to follow Yun Che despite their inability to fly. He was now encircled by seven sect masters and dozens of Earth Profound Realm elders, with no escape route in sight. The entire superpower was here, and their sect was now defenseless, driven by their desire to capture him.

"Sort of. I am choosing my own funeral place. How's that fair?" Yun Che smirked in defiance.

"Finally giving up resisting, are you? Now, hand over that Imagery Stone and divulge all the secrets you're carrying. We'll consider letting you keep your body intact," declared Sect Master Xue from the Burning Heaven Clan, and the other sect masters shared the same intent, eager to possess the secrets of the giant snake and its devastating power.

"Hmph, as compensation for crippling my son and disciple, hand over that beast of yours and reveal how you control it," said Xiao Tiannan, his eyes gleaming with greed as he gazed at Hebi.

"Then, I'll take that woman with me. I want her to reveal the secrets of her profound techniques before she accompanies my son and disciple," added Elder Wu Nie, further complicating the demands.

"Hooo, going straight to the point now, are we? Well, you'll just have to find out if you have what it takes to steal it," Yun Che retorted with a mischievous grin.

"Hmph, still keeping that smug expression, aren't you? You declared war on the seven great sects the moment you showed that Profound Imagery Stone. Now, how do you plan to resist the sect masters and the elders of these sects?" Xiao Tiannan taunted.

The sect masters were not there to trade barbs. Their avarice was apparent. They desired the mighty Hebi, the devastating power they had witnessed Yun Che command. The older ones among them, like Xiao Tiannan, were also driven by a thirst for revenge, while others, like Elder Wu Nie, had darker designs on their mind.

Yun Che, reading their intentions like an open book, playfully baited them, "Since we're about to rumble, why not show our true colors?" A move, a mere mental nudge to the system, and their true auras unfurled, making several jaws drop. Here were two young cultivators, with power beyond their years. Yun Che had the system display his true aura, while Chappy, lacking any cultivation aura, utilized a fake sixth level Spirit Profound Realm beast core to boost her gigai's aura.

The gigai had its perks, and Yun Che understood them well. The notion of enhancing its cultivation with a beast core was intriguing, but he knew there were limitations. The price tag of around 50,000 SP for a single gigai was steep, and acquiring suitable beast cores to grant it substantial cultivation was no easy task. An idea sparked within him – amassing an army of such ultimate mortals, all with Sovereign Profound Realm cores, seemed enticing. Yet, the bitter truth remained: they'd be mere level 1 entities, their power eclipsed by even a level 100 cultivator. With raw strength but lacking skills, they'd be easy prey for seasoned cultivators. So Yun Che set that ambition aside, opting to bide his time until he could unlock the true potential of these modified souls. Still, the notion of a Retsu harem seemed too tantalizing to completely dismiss.

The revelation stunned the sect masters and elders. They had already witnessed too many surprises today, and now this young man and his peculiar companion were even more powerful than initially thought.

"Sixth Level of the Earth Profound Realm and Sixth Level of the Spirit Profound Realm? Impossible, this is impossible. Who are you two?!?" The elders were dumbfounded, realizing they had sent their low-level elites against these formidable foes. It felt like they had sent lambs to the slaughter.

"Me? Just a nobody, really. And this lady actually cultivated only half a year ago. So go easy on her," Yun Che said with a grin.

Chappy, with her infectiously cheerful demeanor, chirped in agreement, "Yes, I am, pyon!" drawing a chuckle from Yun Che. He shook his head, amused, "She's truly one of a kind. I can't ever get used to it," Yun Che sighed, while the people around them were left bewildered by Chappy's peculiar interjection.

The atmosphere, thick with tension and disbelief, was further punctuated by Yun Che's casual banter and Chappy's innocent exclamations.

"We don't know what your intention is here, but facing several Earth Profound Realm cultivators, you're bound to die," Xiao Tiannan threatened, his determination to obtain Yun Che's secrets palpable, especially the techniques he believed the strange, enthusiastic woman possessed.

"Sure, sure. Let's fight, shall we? I want to end this quickly before preparing for my next voyage," Yun Che declared, swinging Hebi toward the sect masters. The onlookers watched in horror as the snake's incredible capabilities became evident. The sect masters could do nothing but dodge as Hebi lunged at them, her movements under Yun Che's control impeccable. The snake swiftly switched targets, her fangs finding smaller cultivation elders each time they narrowly evaded her attacks. Unbeknownst to the elders, their forces were gradually dwindling as Hebi switched targets the moment she failed to catch her initial prey. Little did they know, Hebi had a mind of her own, and she was executing Yun Che's commands with deadly precision.

Some elders attempted to attack Yun Che, as he was the one controlling the snake. However, their efforts were in vain as Hebi's bones neutralized their attacks before they could get close. Even if they managed to dismantle her, she reassembled in a matter of seconds.

"You!! Are you acting like a coward? Fight us like a man! Stop hiding behind that snake of yours!" Sect Master Xuan shouted, avoiding yet another of Hebi's bite attacks. Xiao Tiannan attempted to strike Yun Che while he manipulated the snake, but it instantly coiled around her master to protect him, at the same time Hebi choosing the Xiao Branch Sect master as her next target.

"Since when fighting like this is a coward? I am not running from a fight, am I?" Yun Che retorted in a bored tone as the sect masters continued their provocation. They were left speechless, realizing that Yun Che's snake provided unwavering protection, and their strongest attacks barely made a dent in it. Yet, they also noticed a conspicuous absence – Yun Che's companion, who hadn't joined the fray at all. With Yun Che facing two dozen Earth Profound Realm masters alone, things were not going as planned for them.

The fight was interrupted by a cutesy scream from a distance. Yun Che turned to see Chappy held captive by two elders, her arms restrained. He couldn't help but acknowledge that the real Retsu would never have allowed any man to touch her. If this were the genuine Retsu, those elders would have been vaporized before reaching her.

"Kyaaa! Yuuki-sama, they captured me, pyon! Save me, pyon!" Chappy exclaimed with an oddly happy tone. Being a basic cutesy soul, she had no knowledge of combat, rendering her helpless in this situation. Yun Che realized he might need to address this issue later, given the opportunity.

"Yuuki-sama?" The elders were puzzled by the name she used, wondering why she was so joyous about being captured.

Yun Che, on the other hand, internally berated himself for not informing Chappy about his alternate name, Yun Che. Nevertheless, he couldn't shake the grim reality that none of these elders would leave this place alive with his real name.

"Sect master, I've captured her," boasted the two Xiao Branch Sect elders as they brought Chappy over to their group. They placed themselves on high alert, guarding her closely against any potential retaliation from Yun Che. While they feigned righteous intentions, their dark desires lingered beneath the surface, their lower instincts aroused by Chappy's presence. They eagerly anticipated the chance to sate their lust after this confrontation, before ultimately handing her over to Wu Nie. This audacious move rejuvenated the sect masters' fading confidence. Unable to defeat Yun Che through conventional means, they now had a potent hostage to wield as a bargaining chip.

"Hmph, brat, I strongly advise you to surrender before we are compelled to harm her," warned the elder who had apprehended Chappy. The rest of the elders encroached closer around her, determined to shield her from any aggressive moves Yun Che might make. They believed that provoking him might lead to a violent rampage, but much to their bewilderment, Yun Che's expression was anything but angry.

"A smile?" Xiao Tiannan was rendered speechless, unable to comprehend why Yun Che seemed unfazed by the situation. He questioned the young man's sanity, unable to comprehend how he could remain so calm after they had captured his companion.

"You, you think we won't kill her?" the elder threatened, raising his sword menacingly and pressing it against Chappy's throat.

Casually, Yun Che inquired, "Chappy! You okay over there?" His tone held an air of indifference, as if this were a mundane occurrence.

"Ehee... these guys are quite rough!" Chappy exclaimed with an unusual degree of happiness, despite the sword's edge resting dangerously close to her throat. Her demeanor baffled and confused the surrounding elders, who were at a loss as to how to interpret her reaction in such dire circumstances.

Yun Che stood there, his eyes filled with a mixture of disdain and amusement, as he gazed at the sect masters who had resorted to questionable methods to win. He couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

"*Sigh, look at you old fools. Resorting to the most despicable methods to win. No wonder your disciples are the same. But, I wanted to ask one thing though," Yun Che remarked with a sly grin.

The sect masters remained stoic, their attention unwavering, as Yun Che positioned Hebi beside him. They knew this kid was full of tricks, and they were prepared to counter them if necessary. The sect elders, too, acted swiftly, moving closer to the captured Retsu to shield her from any potential attacks.

The tension in the air was palpable as Yun Che, despite the imminent threat to his life and those of his comrades, posed a profound question to the assembly of sect masters. Their age-hardened faces bore the markings of countless battles, betraying not a hint of emotion. Yet Yun Che's audacity and seemingly nonchalant behavior left them on edge.

His question hung in the air, heavy and loaded: "What is the most perfect art?"

Before the sect masters could gather their thoughts, Yun Che made a swift move, retrieving Chappy's soul candy from Retsu's gigai. The elders, for all their expertise, were blind to the soul world, which rendered them incapable of seeing the importance of the small object now in Yun Che's hand.

Chappy's soul candy, now separate from Retsu, looked plain and innocuous, but it hid an immense power. "Good work, Chappy," Yun Che murmured with a smirk.

The plains echoed with silent confusion. The elders exchanged questioning glances, their eyes darting between Yun Che and Retsu, who had crumpled lifelessly. Before they could mull over an answer or even the implications of the question, Yun Che seized the moment. "No answer?" He taunted with a sly grin. The wind rustled his robes as he raised his hand, the light of the setting sun gleaming off Chappy's candy. "Then allow me to enlighten you."

The onlookers were dumbfounded. This audacious young man dared to discuss the concept of art while his companion lay on the brink of death? It was a stark irony, and some of the elders couldn't help but wonder why Retsu had suddenly slumped down, her gigai now resembling a lifeless corpse.

Before they could react, Yun Che began to speak once more, his voice calm and confident. "No answer? Well, let me answer it for you. The most perfect art is…" His words trailed off as an astonishing phenomenon unfolded before their eyes. Retsu's lifeless body started to radiate a brilliant, fiery red light, a phenomenon none of the elders had noticed until now.

The plains were filled with stunned silence as the glow intensified, casting eerie shadows on the faces of those present. Yun Che's revelation was about to be overshadowed by an unexpected turn of events, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats, wondering what mysterious power lay hidden within Retsu's lifeless form.

"Explosion!!!" Yun Che's shout pierced the tense silence, a chilling prelude to the chaos that followed. His fingers snapped, and in an instant, Retsu's lifeless body erupted into an apocalyptic explosion.

BOOOOM!!!!!!!

The shockwave was cataclysmic, vaporizing the nearby elders and hurling everyone into disarray. The force of the explosion sent tremors through the earth, and a colossal mushroom cloud loomed over the plains, dwarfing the stunned onlookers below. The seven sect masters, once unflinching in their authority, now stood aghast at the sight of Yun Che's ruthless sacrifice.

They were fortunate to be at a distance, for had they been closer, their fate would have mirrored that of their unfortunate comrades. Desperately, they activated their protective charms and treasures, shielding themselves from the searing inferno. Half of their elders lay dead, the rest either injured or miraculously unscathed.

All that remained was a colossal crater, a grim testament to the destructive power unleashed upon them. Yet, from the swirling smoke, an unexpected figure emerged – Yun Che, the cunning young man who had orchestrated this deadly gambit. He cradled his giant snake beside him, his eyes locked onto the sect masters, exuding a sinister confidence that left them bewildered.

As notifications chimed in his ear, marking his victories and the gain of precious experience points, a sinister smile played on Yun Che's lips. The satisfaction of outwitting his foes and seizing victory coursed through him like a potent elixir.

He couldn't help but notice that the higher-ranking elders had sensed the impending explosion and made their escape in time, while the lower-ranking guards had been engulfed in the fiery devastation. It was a painful sight, one that tugged at Yun Che's emotions despite his cold exterior. But then again, they had willingly stood between him and his goal. The goal of obtaining countless experience points.

"Woooo, that's one big explosion," Yun Che quipped, his voice laced with a chilling nonchalance. "Probably stronger than a tactical nuke. And that's not even a nuke."

In the midst of chaos and destruction, Yun Che stood as an enigma, a young man with the audacity to challenge the world and the cunning to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.

Elder Wu Nie emerged from behind a nearby rock, using it as a meager shield from the devastating explosion. He blinked, his eyes wide with disbelief. He couldn't fathom the audacity of the young man before him, who had seemingly sacrificed his companion to achieve this gruesome victory. If Retsu was truly dead, their hopes of obtaining her valuable technique were dashed forever.

"You monster!" roared Xiao Tiannan, his rage palpable as he stared at the unscathed youth amidst the aftermath of destruction. The fiery explosion had consumed not only half of his own elders but also those from rival sects. The death toll numbered in the dozens, a testament to the brutal cunning of Yun Che.

Yun Che met their furious gazes with a smug grin, his confidence unwavering. "I know you wanted to do that from the beginning," he taunted, savoring their helplessness. "So, I replaced her with a dupe. But that dupe contained explosive materials beyond your wildest imagination. When you captured her, I merely pushed the activation button."

The sect masters exchanged incredulous glances, their expressions shifting from anger to bitter realization. Yun Che had uncovered a hidden facet of the system's technology during his recent exploration of the system shop: Gigais possessed the ability to self-destruct, with the intensity determined by the amount of reiatsu channeled into them. Using this newfound knowledge, he had crafted another Retsu gigai, filling it to the brim with his own spirit force. It was akin to a car exploding with a full tank of gas, a deadly surprise that Chappy had made remarkably convincing.

The sect masters seethed with anger and embarrassment. They had fallen for a deception, a ruse that had cost them dearly in lives and pride. They yearned to tear Yun Che apart, piece by piece. However, a nagging question remained: if the girl was a dupe, then where was the real Retsu?

The plains, once a battlefield of combat and cunning, now lay shrouded in silence, a chilling prelude to the mysteries yet to unravel.

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Somewhere, several hundred kilometers from the New Moon Profound Palace, a sinister plan was in motion. Three weeks had passed since the secret meeting of the sect masters, where they had conspired to lay waste to their rival sect. None of the sect masters wished to sully their hands with the blood of those they deemed beneath them, so they had entrusted their Spirit Profound Realm disciples to carry out the slaughter.

Hidden amidst the rugged mountains, the disciples waited for the signal to commence the massacre. The base was a hive of activity, teeming with Spirit Profound Realm cultivators. There were nearly two hundred high-ranking disciples, three hundred mid-ranked True Profound Realms, and another two hundred low-ranked practitioners. It was evident that the seven sects were resolute in their mission to obliterate the New Moon Profound Palace, as they had united these formidable warriors under a single banner.

"So, are we really going to wipe out everyone at the New Moon Palace tonight?" one disciple inquired.

"Hmph, who cares what they did to earn the wrath of the seven sects," another replied dismissively.

"No matter, I've heard they have a genius who's a real beauty. I intend to have her for myself," a disciple from the Xiao Branch Sect declared.

"Then I'll race you to see who has what it takes to claim her," chimed in one from the Burning Heaven Clan.

However, amid their laughter and boasts, a shadow of unease fell upon one of the disciples. His face contorted with discomfort, as if he sensed impending disaster.

"I don't feel so good," he muttered. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"You're overthinking it," his partner reassured him. "Maybe after we've had our way with the New Moon Profound Palace tonight, you'll feel better."

As they bantered, their attention was suddenly seized by an approaching red light, growing brighter and more intense by the second. It streaked across the night sky like a blazing comet, heading directly for their encampment.

The red light collided with the earth in the center of the camp, unleashing a thunderous explosion that reverberated through the night. Every disciple stationed there was drawn to the fiery spectacle, their expressions shifting from amusement to bewilderment.

As the smoke began to dissipate, a lone figure emerged from the heart of the crater. The figure wore a pristine white robe, with a black garment concealed beneath it, creating a stark contrast in its attire. What truly caught the eye was the mysterious mask that concealed its face, a vivid red-striped fox mask, its expression an enigmatic blend of curiosity and danger.

The disciples soon realized that the figure's unmistakable curves and a prominent bosom clearly indicated that she was indeed a woman. A terrifying woman.

Atop her head, amidst a cascade of long, jet-black hair that flowed like a waterfall, perched a pair of delicate fox ears, adding an otherworldly charm to her presence. These ears twitched with an otherworldly awareness, attuned to every sound and movement around her.

Her hair, glossy and midnight-hued, cascaded down her back, reaching well below her waist, and there was a subtle grace to the way she moved, hinting at a woman's fluid elegance.

But perhaps the most striking feature of all was the long, sinuous fox tail that trailed behind her, a testament to her otherworldly nature. The tail swayed elegantly, its tip almost brushing the ground as she stood in the midst of the bewildered disciples.

A sword was securely fastened to her shoulder, gleaming with an otherworldly aura, as if it bore witness to countless battles in realms beyond mortal comprehension.

The disciples exchanged incredulous glances, their curiosity mixed with trepidation. Who was this enigmatic woman, and what had just crashed into their midst? The night had taken an ominous turn, and the answers to their questions remained hidden behind that mysterious mask, adding to the mystique of the woman who had appeared before them.

"Who and what is that?" The disciples muttered to each other in hushed tones, their wide eyes fixed on the enigmatic woman.

"What is going on?" A voice sounded in the distance, and suddenly, various elders from different sects arrived before them. They had not been present during the pursuit of the two geniuses but had come to lead these disciples when the signal was given.

"Elders, we don't know," one of the disciples stammered, tension thick in the air. "There's something that crashed here, and we all came to investigate. And then we saw that…"

All at once, a palpable and overwhelming killing intent began to saturate the surroundings, causing both the disciples and the elders to snap to high alert. The source of this malevolence was none other than the woman standing in the center of the crater.

The elders, despite their apprehension, quickly adopted defensive stances before their leader stepped forward and extended a courteous gesture toward the mysterious assailant. "Senior, we represent the seven sects of New Moon City. We beseech you to forgive us if we have unintentionally disrupted your cultivation. We meant no harm."

However, the figure remained silent, causing a growing unease among the gathered disciples and elders. Their apprehension deepened when they witnessed her drawing her sword.

The leader's voice quivered slightly as he continued, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. "Senior," he implored, "are you absolutely certain you wish to make adversaries of the seven sects? It would be unwise to engage with over two hundred opponents."

As the leader spoke, the atmosphere grew tense, and the rest of the disciples followed suit. Weapons were drawn, and their skills were poised and ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice. The elders, too, shifted into combat-ready positions, their expressions a mixture of anxiety and determination.

Despite the leader's plea, the figure remained silent, her intentions inscrutable. Then, to their astonishment, a soft, ethereal voice escaped her lips, uttering a single word, a word that sent shivers down their spines, a word that defied comprehension no matter how long they pondered it.

"Bankai!"

Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of killing intent and pressure descended upon the area like an unrelenting tempest. The disciples felt as if they were transformed into lifeless burdens under this immense weight, while even the elders were not spared from this bone-chilling aura. It was as though they were gazing into the eyes of the grim reaper himself.

The surroundings transformed in an instant, the ground beneath their feet becoming covered in a crimson substance, as if they had been transported to a nightmarish world drenched in blood. The air itself turned malevolent, thick with the cloying scent of iron and death. Fear gripped the hearts of the disciples as they struggled to comprehend the unfolding horrors.

The woman's sword underwent a terrifying metamorphosis, shifting from a long blade to a shorter, dark-red weapon. Sinister, glowing runes adorned its surface, and the most unsettling aspect was the red substance that seemed to ooze from the blade, casting eerie ripples in the air around it.

With a fluid motion, the woman swung her blade upward, unleashing a colossal, arc-shaped surge of crimson energy that surged towards the paralyzed disciples. They stood frozen in terror, their eyes wide with horror, as the malevolent arc descended upon them with devastating force.

The energy arc expanded exponentially as it tore through the hapless disciples in its path, leaving only chaos and destruction in its wake. Their anguished cries filled the air as the once-numerous ranks of disciples were rapidly dwindling in the face of this overwhelming power.

With every swing of her blade, the woman seemed to channel the very essence of destruction, and the night bore witness to the carnage she unleashed upon her unsuspecting foes. The encampment, once a thriving bastion of power, now lay in ruins, a grim testament to the enigmatic woman's formidable and merciless might.

The once-thriving encampment now lay in ruins, with the disciples' fate sealed by the wielder of this terrifying power. The night had taken a harrowing turn, and none could have foreseen the horrors that had been unleashed by the enigmatic woman with the crimson blade.

It was as if she was drawing strength from each kill, her aura steadily increasing to the mid stages of the Earth Profound Realm. Removing her suppression and killing intent, she observed her surroundings. As the disciples regained control of their bodies, they felt a chilling fear gripping their hearts, witnessing the devastating attack that had just obliterated a quarter of their forces.

"Senior!?!? What have we done to offend you? You don't have to kill them. We can settle this peacefully," the elders implored, desperately trying to calm the mysterious woman. However, she swiftly flashed to a nearby elder and slashed him with her blade. The strike didn't kill him, but it left him severely wounded.

"Senior, since you attacked and killed us, don't blame us for not being polite," one of the elders warned. But before they could launch an attack, their strikes were blocked by the very elder who had been injured moments ago.

"You! Why!?" The other elders were dumbfounded. The injured elder had somehow turned against them, and his body was no longer under his control.

"I don't know. My body isn't listening to my orders. Stay back, stay back!" The injured elder jumped at his brethren, attacking them with the ferocity of a madman. His Earth Profound Realm strength posed a formidable challenge, and some elders struggled to hold him at bay. A few managed to break free and rushed toward the mysterious woman, challenging her to a duel. However, they couldn't even see her move before they were reduced to nothing more than a cloud of tiny, bloody fragments. Once again, notifications filled her mind, confirming her young master's wisdom in seeking out and eliminating stronger opponents.

With the elders defeated, panic spread among the remaining Spirit Profound Realm disciples. The woman's young master had given her a clear directive before she arrived: complete annihilation of the camp.

"Arise," she commanded, and suddenly, the blood in the vicinity began to coalesce, forming three figures resembling medieval knights. These blood knights bore no resemblance to the fallen elders; instead, they mirrored the disciples in their cultivation and profound techniques. With her blood points, she had summoned peak Earth Profound Realm blood knights to fulfill her purpose.

The camp was now engulfed in chaos and despair, as Retsu's relentless onslaught continued, guided by a dark and mysterious purpose.

A medieval blood knight, clad in ominous obsidian armor adorned with crimson accents, cuts a menacing figure on the battlefield. Their helmet, an intimidating visage of a fearsome beast, conceals their identity, and a sinister crimson cape billows behind them. In one hand, they wield a massive, serrated blade, its edge stained with the blood of countless foes, while their other hand carries a dark, blood-red shield embossed with nightmarish sigils. Their presence is an embodiment of dread, as they are bound by an unholy oath, forsaking light for dark power, and embracing the relentless pursuit of victory at any cost.

The blood knights bowed before the fox woman, their crimson eyes gleaming with a sinister resolve. Her orders were simple yet chilling: "No loose ends." The knights nodded in unison before vanishing, their forms blending into the retreating disciples.

"What are those things??" Panic and confusion spread among the disciples who had never encountered blood knights before. Their desperation grew as the knights closed in, hunting them down one by one.

"Arrghh, save me... save me!!!!" Desperate cries for help filled the air as the blood knights unleashed their profound techniques upon the fleeing disciples, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake. Those who had stayed behind watched in horror as the knights annihilated the deserters and cornered those who remained.

The elders, once thought to be their saviors, fell one by one at the hands of their controlled comrade. However, just as the elder was about to deliver the final blow, he exploded, obliterating both of them in a devastating blast. The remaining disciples and elders found themselves cornered by the relentless blood knights, while the fox woman herself hovered in the air, overlooking the grim scene.

Hopelessness washed over them, and they began to plead for their lives. "Senior, please! We were just following orders. We didn't mean to offend you."

"Orders? You were planning to do the same to the New Moon Profound Palace. I care little for the palace itself, but you intended to harm my future sister and brother. For that alone, your lives are forfeit," the woman's voice echoed from behind her mask.

A sense of dread settled upon them as they realized that she was willing to slaughter them all without hesitation. "Now then, my young master is waiting. Your services are no longer required."

Suddenly, the area was filled with crimson and blue energy bubbles that swirled and danced in a mesmerizing display. These ethereal orbs floated in every direction, their hues blending and merging until they converged into a colossal, pulsating sphere of raw power. It hung in the air, an ominous presence, before slowly compressing itself into a dark, concentrated energy with the size of a marble, crackling with malevolence and untamed might. The disciples and elders watched in awe and terror as the energy condensed into a concentrated mass.

With an air of deliberate precision, the fox woman slowly raised her slender hand towards the concentrated dark energy marble. Her movements were graceful and purposeful, every gesture measured as she closed her fingers around the swirling, ominous sphere. The energy seemed to respond to her touch, quivering and pulsating as if acknowledging her command. In that moment, her grip on the dark energy conveyed both mastery and dominance, a testament to her formidable control over the forces she wielded. As the fox woman raised her head, a bright light emanated from her hand, accompanied by wisps of smoke. Their hearts pounded in fear as they saw her palm slowly open, revealing the seething energy within. "Farewell," she whispered, pointing her palm at them.

In an instant, a blinding beam of light surged from her hand, hurtling toward the group. Their last sight was that of the approaching beam, a harbinger of their impending doom.

The beam tore through the land, creating a vast trench akin to Yun Che's crescent moon-shaped destruction in the palace. It annihilated a large swath of terrain, obliterating the surrounding forest in a blaze of devastation. Notifications filled her mind as the fox woman dissipated her blood knights and vanished from the area.

She had one final target in her sights.

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"I must warn the main sect!" gasped a figure who had miraculously managed to escape the slaughter. Clad in a robe bearing the unmistakable insignia of the Xiao Branch Sect, he had been present as one of the sect's representatives. Upon witnessing the devastating arc of red energy decimating the Spirit Profound Realm disciples, he knew he couldn't take any chances. Without hesitation, he summoned his only means of escape, a Fierce Storm Hawk, and fled for his life.

As he soared through the darkened skies, a deafening explosion rocked the air behind him, causing him to turn and widen his eyes in shock. A massive dome of destruction had engulfed the area he had just fled, obliterating all of the attackers from the seven sects in a single, cataclysmic event.

A single person was responsible for this unimaginable devastation—a woman.

Fear gripped the escaping disciple as he realized the gravity of the situation. He needed to warn the main sect immediately. The seven sects had lost their foothold in New Moon City, their leadership decimated. The main sect was now his only hope.

But just as he began to focus on his escape, a dark, sinister aura began to close in on him from behind. The Fierce Storm Hawk was his fastest mode of transportation, and he pushed it to its limits as panic coursed through him. Glancing back, he saw her—the terrifying fox-masked woman was chasing him down.

Covered in her eerie blood aura, her presence alone suffocated the surrounding forest with a palpable aura of death. Despite having started with a head start, she was relentlessly gaining ground, inching closer with every passing moment.

Desperation clawed at the escaping disciple, and he made a desperate decision. He began descending into a chasm, hoping the treacherous terrain would help him lose his pursuer. Yet, to his horror, the woman continued to gain on him as she used the rocks as a literal jumping stone. The chasm has now become her playground.

The escaping disciple rode his Fierce Storm Hawk with a desperate determination, his heart pounding in his chest. The forest below blurred into a mosaic of shadows and moonlight as he pushed his mount to its limits, the wind howling in his ears. Fear gnawed at him as he glanced back and saw the relentless pursuit of the woman with the eerie fox mask.

She was a spectral presence, enveloped in her sinister blood aura, her eyes glowing like twin crimson stars. The disciple veered through the dense forest, hoping the twisting trees and jagged terrain would slow his pursuer. Twisting and turning, he darted through narrow clearings, sending leaves and branches scattering in his wake. But the woman followed, her movements defying logic as she navigated the obstacles with uncanny precision.

Desperation gripped him as he made a daring dive toward a chasm, aiming to lose her in the rugged depths below. But to his shock, she descended right beside him as she used the air and catapult herself towards him.

The chase continued, a deadly dance through the moonlit night. The disciple's breath came in ragged gasps, his strength waning with every passing moment. His Fierce Storm Hawk was faltering, its once-mighty wings now trembling with exhaustion.

The woman with the eerie fox mask maintained her relentless pursuit, her red eyes burning with determination. She drew closer, her eerie sword glinting menacingly in the moonlight.

In a last-ditch effort, he ascended sharply, hoping to trick her into diving deeper into the chasm. However, her teleportation ability was a sinister surprise, and she reappeared beside him with chilling ease, her eerie fox mask an unyielding presence. In her hand, she clutched a menacing, sinister sword.

She grabbed the wing of the Fierce Storm Hawk and gave it a gentle squeeze. The bird let out a pitiful squeak as its wings ceased fluttering, leaving it suspended in mid-air, helpless and vulnerable.

"You really think you can escape from me? O-kawaii koto (What a lovely thing)," the woman spoke with an unsettling calmness, her yellow fox eyes locked onto her prey.

Without hesitation, the woman unleashed a roundhouse kick with incredible force, striking the disciple squarely and sending him hurtling from the back of his Fierce Storm Hawk. He plummeted like a ragdoll through the moonlit forest below, crashing to the ground alongside his lifeless mount.

The woman remained airborne, her sinister blood aura coursing through the air as she descended gracefully toward the crash site. With an eerie serenity, she landed on a tall rock that overlooked the impact, her eerie fox mask concealing any trace of emotion.

The disciple, battered and broken, managed to crawl out from the wreckage with a limping leg and the clear indication of a broken rib. His bloodied face bore the marks of his brutal fall, but his will to survive burned fiercely. He knew he might be the sole survivor from the seven sects' attacking force, and it was imperative that he live to tell the tale.

As he struggled to catch his breath, the woman's cryptic words lingered in the air, "Loyal to its master until the very end." The disciple's shock and disbelief painted his face, unable to comprehend the situation before him. He turned to see the woman approach his lifeless Fierce Storm Hawk, which had shielded him from the fall at the cost of its own life.

"Such loyalty must surely come at a cost," she remarked, her voice carrying an eerie resonance beneath her mask. The disciple's gaze remained fixed on her, a sense of foreboding creeping over him as the enigmatic woman continued to unravel the mysteries of the night.

She extended her hand, and a cluster of ethereal, glowing orbs materialized before her, casting an eerie illumination in the dim forest. Her gloved fingers danced through the air, as if caressing the very essence of magic itself. The orbs pulsed with an otherworldly energy, responding to her will.

"Hmm, I wonder what happens if I merge the knight's essence with it," she mused aloud, her voice carrying the weight of curiosity and power. The five radiant orbs moved with a purpose, floating gracefully toward the lifeless carcass of the Fierce Storm Hawk.

With a single, commanding utterance, the orbs descended upon the hawk's form, their glow intensifying as they became conduits for a dark and mysterious fusion.

"Arise..."

The word, uttered with a chilling conviction, reverberated through the silent forest. The lifeless form of the Fierce Storm Hawk began to tremble, as if in response to the siren call of dark magic. Crimson tendrils of blood snaked through the air, encircling the fallen creature, ensnaring it in a dance of death and rebirth.

The transformation was both horrifying and captivating. Before the disciple's widening eyes, the Fierce Storm Hawk began its metamorphosis, its form distorting and reshaping. It transformed into a magnificent blood-red hawk, an ethereal creature that seemed to be birthed from the very essence of the night itself. The sight was so entrancing that the disciple, battered and overwhelmed, felt his dread deepen, overshadowed by sheer awe.

The newly transformed creature stretched out not just a pair, but four grand wings. Each feather seemed to be painted with hues of the deepest crimson, interlaced with streaks of obsidian black. They shimmered, almost as if absorbing the very light around them, casting an enigmatic glow that pierced the night.

Two elongated feathered tails streamed behind, flowing with a haunting grace, their colors echoing the mesmerizing pattern of the wings. And its beak, once a proud symbol of its predatory nature, was now pitch-black, looking more like a blade carved from the heart of a starless night.

But it was the hawk's eyes that truly ensnared the disciple's attention. They burned with an otherworldly fire, radiating malevolence and ancient power. It felt like those eyes bore into his soul, revealing his deepest fears.

With a fluid grace, the transformed hawk turned to face the fox-masked woman, bowing its head in an unmistakable gesture of submission and loyalty. The disciple's heart ached as he realized that his once-beloved Fierce Storm Hawk had been reborn as the Blood Hawk, a creature of dark enchantment.

The woman chuckled softly, her voice as playful as it was enigmatic. "Ufufu… I do appreciate your company. Let's hope Minazuki doesn't grow too envious of our new bond."

"You… what have you done to him!?" The disciple's voice trembled with a mix of anger and despair as he witnessed his former companion's transformation into this woman's eerie blood hawk.

"Ara…. I just made him mine. I can't let his carcass go to waste," the woman responded casually, her fingers gently caressing the creature's side as if it were a beloved pet.

"You…you…Huarrgghhh!!" Overwhelmed by a surge of rage and frustration, the disciple lunged toward the woman, his battered body barely able to muster the strength. The blood hawk tensed, ready to defend its new master, but a single command from the woman halted its aggression.

To the disciple's astonishment, the woman made no effort to evade his attack. Instead, she allowed his punch to land squarely on her face—or more accurately, her mask. The punch was a desperate culmination of all his remaining strength, and yet, she didn't flinch. She stood there, unfazed, a smirk playing at her lips as if the strike had been oddly satisfying.

*Break…

The sound of shattering glass filled the air, and the disciple's eyes widened in disbelief as he observed the mask splinter into two unequal halves, revealing what lay beneath. It was a breathtakingly beautiful face, framed by cascades of raven-black hair, and adorned with those enigmatic, glowing yellow eyes. Half of the mask still clung to her right side, creating a hauntingly asymmetrical visage.

"You….. you…." The disciple stammered in shock as he recognized the owner of the mesmerizing face.

"Ara-ara… congratulations… you uncovered me…" The woman's smile took on a teasing quality as she allowed the broken mask to reassemble itself into its full form. Then, with a subtle grace, she slid it to the side of her head, revealing her entire face. Those yellow eyes continued to study him with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.

"Unohana Retsu…" The disciple's voice was barely a whisper as realization washed over him. She was one of the primary targets for the main attacking force, along with another individual.

Unohana Retsu merely smiled as she watched the broken disciple, the mask now set aside. "Why… Why do you hunt me…? You killed all the attacking force and left none behind. Why…?!?" His voice trembled with confusion and desperation, unable to fathom why she had pursued him with such relentless determination.

The night remained silent, save for the chilling presence of the woman who had revealed herself as Unohana Retsu, her motives and intentions shrouded in enigma.

"Ufufufu…. Is your name Xiao Zaihe?" The woman's voice took on a chillingly playful tone, and Xiao Zaihe's expression grew even paler.

"I was right then. The main attacking force? They are just my side hustle. I was hunting you actually," she revealed, her aura becoming even more unsettling as she surrounded herself in a creeping, malevolent energy.

"I was your target all along?" Xiao Zaihe stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. The realization that he had been the true target all along sent shivers down his spine.

"Yes… My young master sends his regards," the woman replied, her voice hollow and eerie.

"What wrong I ever did to you and your young master. For you to annihilate all of us," Xiao Zaihe pleaded, his fear palpable.

"Nothing really, young master just said that you hunted him down in his previous life. So he just wanted payback. Moreover, all of you were instructed to kill me, my young master, Lan Xueruo, and Xia Yuanba. Am I right? You even offered yourself to slaughter the rest of the New Moon Palace's disciples?" Her words dripped with a sense of grim satisfaction.

"Please spare me…" Xiao Zaihe begged, desperation in his voice.

"No can do. I haven't paid you back for the punch just now. Even if you hadn't punched me, I would still show you my face," Retsu retorted with a bone-chilling tone. The mere act of breaking her mask had incurred her wrath.

"Then, I will go somewhere you can't ever reach me." Without hesitation, Xiao Zaihe severed his own life veins within his Profound Veins. In a matter of seconds, he lay lifeless on the forest floor. Retsu made no move to stop him, and he had taken his own life.

She smirked.

Xiao Zaihe's soul floated above his lifeless body, a desperate attempt to escape her clutches. But before he could make his getaway, he felt something grasp him, and he turned to see Retsu reaching out his soul chain and grabbed it, an unsettling amusement in her eyes. With a mere pull, she dragged his soul closer to her.

"How...?" Xiao Zaihe tried to resist, but he couldn't break free from her grip.

"I guess you don't know what I am actually. I am a Soul Reaper," Retsu stated with a cryptic smile as she continued pulling him closer.

"Soul Reaper?!" Xiao Zaihe's soul widened in disbelief. How could she touch souls?

"You will never know. Like I said, the original Yun Che sends his regards," Retsu declared, her hand pointing toward Xiao Zaihe's soul. In a whisper, she muttered, "Way of Destruction #31 – Red Fire Cannon."

"Noo!!!" Xiao Zaihe's soul could only scream as Retsu unleashed a red blast from her palm, obliterating his soul.

"It is done. Your former master was a persistent one," Retsu remarked, speaking to the blood hawk next to her. Somehow, by infusing the essence of her blood knight into it, the Fierce Storm Hawk had evolved into a four-winged blood hawk.

"Ufuuu… now, let's see how fast you can go," Retsu spoke as she boarded the Blood Hawk, which immediately took off in search of Yun Che.