章節 15: Chapter 45- The Shaoying Empire
As the massive predator plant revealed its true form, a massive flower bloomed from its center, releasing a thick cloud of ominous pollen into the air. Juanxiu, who had been observing the battle, finally realized the true nature of the plant. It was the Howling Vampire Gloomonster, a plant known for its deadly pollen that could paralyze anyone below the Sky Swordsman rank.
Juanxiu shouted out to the alchemists and cultivators fighting in the area, warning them of the danger. "We have to leave now! We'll be vulnerable to the plant's attack if we stay!"
Most of the alchemists and cultivators were quick to realize the gravity of the situation and began fleeing from the deadly pollen. However, some were not so lucky and were caught in the thick cloud, their bodies immediately paralyzed by the potent toxins.
As the Howling Vampire Gloomonster began to move, it was clear that those who had not managed to escape would not survive the encounter. Their vitality has been sapped dry by the vines.
In the chaos of the retreat, only Alchemist Lai Xiaoli and Liao Zhengshong remained in the battle area. Even Du Hong, Li Jing, and Alchemist Li had already left, with the latter still recovering from his long imprisonment.
Liao Zhengshong, using his mineral manipulation abilities, created a mask to protect himself from inhaling the pollen. But Lai Xiaoli warned him that it would only provide a temporary protection.
Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, Lai Xiaoli commanded the vines of the Howling Vampire Gloomonster to relentlessly assault Liao Zhengshong. The mineral alchemist fought back with all his might, but he could feel the potency of his minerals waning.
The vines were relentless, each one coiling around him and sapping his strength. Liao Zhengshong knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer. He had to end this battle quickly or it would be his downfall.
As Liao Zhengshong battled against the relentless vines of the Howling Vampire Gloomonster, Alchemist Lai Xiaoli called out to him, "Do you know why this plant is called the Howling Vampire Gloomonster, Liao? It has a vampiric ability that sucks the energy of anyone or anything it comes into contact with. It feeds on poison, it is voracious and greedy. But that's not all. You must defeat this predator plant immediately, or the Gloomonster will arrive." Lai Xiaoli's voice was filled with urgency as he continued, "A giant moth that feeds on the nectar of its flower, its setae on its wings are incredibly dangerous and its petrification skills are potent beyond measure. You must act fast, Liao, or risk falling victim to the Gloomonster's deadly abilities."
Liao Zhengshong grit his teeth as he fought against the vines with all his might, knowing that time was running out and the Gloomonster was closing in.
The battle between Lai Xiaoli and Liao Zhengshong reached a fever pitch as the Howling Vampire Gloomonster's vines relentlessly assaulted the mineral alchemist. Despite his best efforts, Liao Zhengshong found himself struggling to keep up with the movement of the deadly vines. But as a last resort, he pulled out his trump card - a small casing containing a fragment of the powerful energy source known as Floydian.
As Lai Xiaoli watched, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he felt the chilling energy emanating from the case. And as soon as Liao Zhengshong opened the case, a blinding light exploded from within, illuminating the entire area.
The vines that were attacking Lai Xiaoli were instantly disintegrated by the powerful energy, but Liao Zhengshong was not spared from the attack, his hands were charred and blackened from the intense heat of the energy.
"Liao, you shouldn't be dabbling with energies beyond your control," Lai Xiaoli warned.
But Liao Zhengshong didn't listen. Instead, he turned on Lai Xiaoli, accusing him of being a "dog of the Shaoying empire."
"You've lost your mind, Liao," Lai Xiaoli denied, but Liao Zhengshong pressed on.
"We both know what you're really up to," Liao Zhengshong said.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
"Stop pretending, Lai. There's no one here to hear you. The union will be swallowed entirely by the empire, and we'll lose our independence," Liao Zhengshong spat out as he struggled to fend off the vines.
Lai Xiaoli let out a chilling smile, "It's better to be part of the empire than to be colluding with the Blank Continent. Trust me, Liao. I am doing this for the unification and development of the Alchemist Union."
As they continued to clash, Liao Zhengshong's strength began to wane. The burn on his hand was worsening and he had already lost three of his fingers. He looked at Lai Xiaoli with a mixture of anger and despair, "You're making a grave mistake, Lai. The union will be destroyed by the dark hands in the empire."
But Lai Xiaoli was unfazed, "I will take full responsibility for my actions, Liao. It's time for you to realize that."
As Liao Zhengshong saw no way to overcome his opponent, he made a bold decision. He murmured as if talking to his deceased son, his voice filled with emotion. "We will soon meet, my son. I apologize that our revenge against the empire will have to be carried by the next generation." With determination in his eyes, he swallowed the Floydian, causing Lai Xiaoli's eyes to widen in shock.
The leaves of Howling Vampire Gloomonster quickly encapsulated him, protecting him from the final attack that was about to be unleashed by Liao Zhengshong. As Liao Zhengshong's body swelled, it was as if a balloon was being filled with air. His veins bulged as the energy inside him continued to grow.
The massive vines of the predator plant enveloped Liao Zhengshong, wrapping him tightly in their embrace. Trying to reduce the amount of energy that will be released by absorbing it.
Liao Zhengshong body continued to swell, growing larger and larger, until he was the same size as the predator plant itself. The cultivators who had recently fled watched in horror as they saw the figure of a massive human continue to expand, seemingly without end.
The onlookers could only stand and watch in stunned silence as the final moments of Liao Zhengshong's life played out before their eyes.
The ground shook violently as the body of Liao Zhengshong finally reached its limit. The veins and leaves of the predator plant clung tightly to him, as if trying to contain the immense energy that was building up inside of him. Suddenly, with a deafening roar, Liao Zhengshong's body exploded in a massive blast of energy, sending debris and smoke flying in all directions.
The explosion was deafening and the ground shook violently. A massive mushroom cloud of smoke and debris rose up from the epicenter of the blast, obscuring the once-proud predator plant from view. The cultivators and alchemists who had fled the scene watched in horror as the recoil of the explosion rolled towards them, a wall of dust and debris that threatened to engulf them in its wake.
As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the true extent of the destruction was revealed. The predator plant stood tall, though its vines and leaves were shredded and burnt, its once-vibrant petals now blackened and wilted. The ground was littered with debris, shards of rock and pieces of metal that had been fused together by the intense heat of the blast.
And there, amidst the chaos and destruction, stood Lai Xiaoli, the leaves of the predator plant that had wrapped around him still clinging to his body. He was completely unscathed, not a single scratch or burn marring his skin. He surveyed the destruction around him with a cold, calculating gaze, his mind already turning to the next step in his plan for the unification of the Alchemist Union.
Meanwhile, Master Feng stood tall amidst the smoke and debris, his eyes locked onto Grandmaster Zhang. His face was etched with a mixture of sadness and determination.
"It's over, Master Feng," Grandmaster Zhang said, his voice carrying a hint of finality. "Your friend's sacrifice was in vain. You can't win this battle."
Master Feng's eyes hardened. "I will never surrender to the empire that treated me and my kins like trash," he replied, his voice firm and resolute. "I will fight until the end, even if it means sacrificing my own life."
Madam Zhang Ai, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "You're being foolish, Master Feng," she sneered. "Do you really think you can defeat us?"
Master Feng's expression remained unchanged. "We may be just rebels, but we have something you don't," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "We have the strength of our convictions, the will to fight and bring this proud empire to its knees."
Grandmaster Zhang sighed. "I understand where you're coming from, Master Feng," he said. "But this battle is futile. The empire will never change. It will never give up its power and control."
Master Feng's eyes narrowed. "That may be true, but we will never stop fighting for what we think is right," he said. "We will continue to resist, to fight for our freedom and the freedom of our people. And one day, we will succeed."
Madam Zhang Ai sneered. "You're deluding yourself, Master Feng," she said. "You and your rebellion will be crushed."
As the battle raged on, the air around them crackled with energy as Master Feng and Grandmaster Zhang exchanged blows. Master Feng's sword glinted in the sunlight as he expertly parried and counterattacked, his movements smooth and precise.
Grandmaster Zhang, on the other hand, unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, his fists and feet a blur as he sought to overpower his opponent.
Despite the ferocity of Grandmaster Zhang's attacks, Master Feng remained unfazed. He had spent decades honing his skills and training his body, and he was not about to be defeated.
He knew that this battle was not just about him, but for seeking justice for the people wronged by the empire.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the two fighters stood panting and sweating, their bodies bruised and battered. But despite the toll the battle had taken on them, they stood tall, their eyes locked in a fierce gaze.
"You are a fool," Grandmaster Zhang spat, his voice filled with contempt. "You could have ended this battle and spared yourself and your people
Master Feng and Grandmaster Zhang were locked in a fierce battle, the clash of their energy sending waves of power throughout the battlefield. As they fought, Master Feng began to narrate a story to Grandmaster Zhang, a tale of a peaceful tribe that once thrived in the Yanmen Mountains.
"Before I became a cultivator, I was just a child, playing with my friends in the Yanmen Mountains," Master Feng began, his voice taking on a distant, nostalgic tone. "Our tribe was a simple one, living off the land and surviving in harmony with nature. It was a idyllic place, the mountain range was lush with greenery, the rivers were pure and clean, and the air was crisp and fresh. We were a happy people, content with our lives."
As he spoke, the scene around them began to shift, the battle fading away as a flashback took over. Master Feng was now a young boy, running through the fields with his friends, laughing and playing as the sun shone down on them. The Yanmen Mountains were as he had described, a verdant paradise, where life seemed to thrive in every corner.
But this peaceful existence was not meant to last. Suddenly, an army from the empire appeared, accusing the tribe of hiding something demonic. Master Feng's parents were dragged to the center of the plaza, kneeling and pleading for the lives of the other tribe members. Master Feng ran to his parents, tears streaming down his face as he saw the fear and hopelessness in their eyes.
"Mother, Father, what's happening?" he cried out, his voice trembling with fear.
"My son," his mother said, her voice full of love and adoration. "You must be strong. We knew this day would come, but we always hoped that it wouldn't. The empire will stop at nothing to achieve its goals, even if it means destroying innocent lives."
"But why?" Master Feng sobbed. "Why are they doing this to us?"
"Because we are different," his father replied, his voice firm and resolute. "Because we refuse to submit to their rule. But we will not go quietly into the night, my son. We will fight until our last breath. And you, my son, must continue to live. You must carry on our legacy and make sure that our sacrifice was not in vain."
As his mother was telling him to take care, a massive ax descended upon her, severing her head from her body. Master Feng was in shock, tears streaming down his face as he watched the brutal execution of his parents.
The members of the clan was then taken away by the empire's army, some of them, never to be seen again. The most fortunate ones who survive were thrown to the Blank Continent, where his innocence turned into vengeance.
Master Feng, now locked in battle with Grandmaster Zhang, began to narrate his story. "Do you know what it feels like to see your parents brutally murdered in front of your very eyes? To be taken away from your home and everything you've ever known? That is what the empire did to me and my tribe. They accused us of hiding something demonic, when all we wanted was to live in peace."
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