CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: ELDER’S WARTH, FUSION DRAGON FIST

The scene opened with deafening blasts ripping across the battlefield.

Dust and dirt surged into the air in great waves, shrouding the land in a thick, suffocating haze. The air was heavy with the coppery stench of crimson blood. The ground itself trembled as though the earth quaked in agony, while violent mini-explosions of energy flared unpredictably, creating shockwaves that sent more dust swirling, obscuring all sight of the carnage below.

Amid this chaos, Shaurya stood with his hands casually tucked into his pockets, a faint, confident smile tugging at his lips as he watched the devastation unfold. On the other side, Ye Xuan reclined on his ornate throne, seated atop the grand chariot. His own smile mirrored Shaurya’s, though his eyes remained locked sharply on the battlefield, as if savoring every clash.

The focus shifted back to the heart of the chaos.

From the swirling dust, Elder Wu emerged, his form cutting through the haze with lethal intent. He slammed a powerful fist towards his opponent—a grizzled old general. The general crossed his forearms just in time, blocking the strike with a thunderous boom that released a rippling shockwave. Around them, explosions continued to erupt in every direction.

Elder Wu’s eyes flashed. He pushed against the old general’s guard, pivoted, and swung a sharp side kick toward his face. The old general caught the leg mid-strike, his forearm absorbing the impact, before gripping Elder Wu’s leg tightly. With a grunt, he twisted, spinning Elder Wu through the air before hurling him downwards.

Elder Wu, however, flipped in mid-air, landing lightly on his feet. His boots slid across the broken ground, leaving a trail in the dirt as he steadied himself. The old general stepped forward, his voice booming over the chaos.

"Your sect leader dared to kill my son. After you, I will kill him and avenge my son."

Elder Wu’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Who is your son?"

"My son," the general spat, eyes burning with rage, "was Chu Kang—the general your sect leader killed."

Elder Wu’s eyes widened slightly. "Oh... both son and father are generals."

Before the moment could linger, another figure burst through the wall of dust—Elder Wan—his body skidding violently along the ground twice before he stabbed his feet into the earth, halting himself beside Elder Wu. Elder Wu’s eyes darted to him, concern flashing across his face.

"Are you okay?"

Elder Wan spat a mouthful of blood, wiping it from his lips with the back of his hand. "Yeah... almost."

Then, landing heavily beside the old general, came a younger man, his features eerily similar to Chu Kang. The old general gestured toward him.

"Now meet my younger son, Chu Han."

Elder Wu blinked, stunned. "Another one?"

The old general straightened his back with pride. "I, Chu Xian, will avenge my son."

With that, he charged at Elder Wu, Chu Han rushing alongside him. Elder Wu and Elder Wan surged forward to meet them head-on. Elder Wan’s fists collided with Chu Han’s blade, while Elder Wu’s knuckles slammed into Chu Xian’s crossed arms.

Elder Wu and Chu Xian began trading blows, fists flying in a blur—countless punches in mere seconds, each impact reverberating through the battlefield. Elder Wu narrowly ducked under Chu Xian’s powerful punch, retaliating with a brutal uppercut that sent the general flying. Without giving him a chance to recover, Elder Wu leapt high, raining a devastating punch onto his opponent’s face. Blood splattered, and Chu Xian crashed into the earth, sending cracks spiderwebbing outward.

The dust was torn apart by the force, but Elder Wu didn’t stop—he drove another crushing fist into Chu Xian’s skull. The sheer force blasted chunks of earth into the air. Suddenly, Chu Xian’s aura flared violently, repelling Elder Wu backwards. The general rose to his feet, snarling through bloodied lips.

Elder Wu charged, swinging another punch—but this time, Chu Xian tilted his head, letting the blow whistle past before countering with a savage strike to Elder Wu’s jaw, sending him flying. Elder Wu twisted in the air, landing on his feet in a long slide. Chu Xian materialized in front of him, his fist driving toward Elder Wu’s chest. Crossing his forearms, Elder Wu blocked, but was pushed backwards, boots digging trenches in the dirt.

Then Elder Wu’s aura erupted, halting his momentum entirely. Chu Xian’s eyes widened in shock as Elder Wu roared, the force of his ki blasting the general backwards before slamming a fist deep into his abdomen. The shockwave from the blow ripped the dust away in a violent burst. Blood erupted from Chu Xian’s mouth.

Without hesitation, Elder Wu unleashed a storm of strikes—two hundred punches in less than ten seconds. Each blow sent sweat and blood spraying through the air, battering Chu Xian into a bruised and broken state. Elder Wu’s voice thundered.

"Bizarre Kick!"

His left leg shimmered with a blazing pink aura. Spinning sharply, he drove a devastating back kick into Chu Xian’s torso. The impact detonated like a bomb—the ground along the kick’s path cracked violently as Chu Xian was hurled away, flipping across the earth five times before smashing into it and sliding for over fifty meters. He lay battered, bleeding, and motionless.

Elder Wu cast one cold glance at the fallen body before turning away.

Scene shift.

Across the battlefield, Elder Wan raised a crimson barrier just in time to intercept Chu Han’s sword strike. Sparks cascaded across the shimmering surface, ripples of force warping the air around them. Elder Wan’s eyes narrowed—he could feel the raw power behind that blade.

Without hesitation, he slid his fingers into the loops of six crimson pills, three in each hand. Crossing his arms into an "X," his lips curved into a dangerous smirk before he hurled the pills forward. They zipped through the air like miniature comets, their glow slicing through the dust and smoke.

Chu Han, too close and caught off guard, barely had time to react before the pills slammed into him.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Explosions ripped outward, crimson fireballs consuming the space between them. The shockwave hit Elder Wan as well, forcing him back—but his barrier held, absorbing most of the blast.

As the smoke cleared, Chu Han’s figure tumbled from the air like a ragdoll. His armor was shattered, sword fragments scattering across the ground. Blood streamed from cuts across his body, dripping onto the cracked earth as he crashed to the ground. Dust lifted in a weak plume around his battered form.

Elder Wan exhaled, his chest heaving slightly. "Wow... that was close."

But before he could lower his guard, a surge of violent violet aura erupted from Chu Han’s broken frame. Elder Wan’s eyes snapped upward.

Chu Han stood again—trembling, bleeding, yet unyielding. His eyes burned with rage, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles whitened. His eye’s turned crimson.

With a guttural roar, Chu Han launched forward, closing the distance in an instant. Elder Wan’s aura burst to life in response, silver light dancing across his skin. Their fists collided mid-strike.

BOOOOM!

The ground beneath them shattered, collapsing inward to form a deep crater. Chu Han’s raw strength forced Elder Wan backwards before he slammed a fist into the elder’s abdomen. Elder Wan coughed up blood, the metallic taste sharp in his mouth.

Before Elder Wan could recover, Chu Han grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head forward before pounding another crushing blow into his stomach. Then another. And another. The flurry of strikes was relentless, each one reverberating through Elder Wan’s ribs.

Finally, Chu Han’s fist snapped upward, smashing Elder Wan’s chin and sending him crashing into the dirt. A shallow crater formed beneath him from the impact. Dust rose in lazy spirals as Chu Han descended, stepping toward him with the heavy tread of a predator approaching wounded prey.

Elder Wan lay on his side, coughing blood, his body screaming in pain. But before he could rise, Chu Han’s boot came down hard on his face, grinding it into the dirt.

"You pathetic loser," Chu Han sneered, laughter dripping with contempt. "You’re so weak. How did you even become a sect elder? Loser elder of a loser sect."

Elder Wan’s jaw clenched, his silver aura flickering faintly like embers beneath ash.

Chu Han raised his boot and stomped down again, blood spattering from Elder Wan’s mouth. Elder Wan’s roar tore from his throat—a sound that made the air vibrate.

His silver aura exploded outward, a sudden pressure that forced Chu Han back a few steps. The ground trembled as tiny fragments of stone floated into the air, drawn into the gravity of his awakening power. Dust spun violently around them in a vortex.

Slowly, Elder Wan rose to his feet, head bowed, breath steady despite the blood on his lips. When he finally looked up, his eyes blazed with molten silver light.

"Disrespecting me... is fine," he said, his voice low but trembling with rage. "But you dare... to disrespect my sect?"

His roar shook the battlefield. His silver aura detonated with such force that the earth beneath them cracked apart in jagged lines. Across the distance, Shaurya’s eyes widened in surprise. Elder Wu turned his head sharply, sensing the shift. Lin Shu, Elder Liya, and even the disciples paused mid-battle to witness the transformation.

Elder Wan had broken through—to Golden Vein Stage, Level 3.

Chu Han, eyes narrowing, rushed in with a bellow. But Elder Wan’s figure blurred, vanishing from sight.

CRACK!

Elder Wan reappeared directly before Chu Han mid-air, his foot smashing into the general’s face and blasting him backwards. Before Chu Han could stabilize, Elder Wan closed the gap again, driving a knee into his face. Blood erupted from the general’s nose and mouth.

An upper kick followed, sending Chu Han hurtling toward the clouds. He flipped three times before halting mid-air, clutching his stomach, blood dripping from his chin.

"I will kill you!" Chu Han roared, violet aura surging around him.

Elder Wan’s voice was cold steel. "Try."

He vanished again, materializing in front of Chu Han faster than the eye could track. Chu Han flinched, attempting to strike, but Elder Wan’s fist slammed into his jaw, launching him straight into the ground. The earth split apart upon impact.

Descending like a falling star, Elder Wan landed with a deathly glare. Chu Han staggered upright, his irises turning blood-red, aura thrashing like a storm.

He brought both hands together, gathering violent violet energy between his palms. The air around him warped with heat and force. Elder Wan’s eyes narrowed, his right arm pulling back. Dark Purple energy wrapped around his fist, crackling with lightning bolts.

"Now..." Elder Wan’s voice deepened, "you’re going to see my forbidden technique."

Chu Han’s scream tore through the battlefield. "DIE!"

A massive violet beam burst from his palms, ripping the ground apart as it hurtled toward Elder Wan.

Elder Wan roared in return. "GIGA CRUSHER!"

The dark purple sphere of lightning-infused energy launched from his palm, swelling rapidly until it dwarfed its caster. It collided with the violet beam in a cataclysmic impact. Shockwaves surged in all directions, blasting debris high into the air. The ground within a hundred meters fractured like brittle glass.

The two forces clashed violently, neither giving an inch—until Elder Wan’s roar pierced the chaos.

"It’s over!"

His energy sphere surged, devouring the violet beam before slamming into Chu Han. The general’s eyes widened in pure horror.

"No! I can’t—"

His scream was cut short as his body disintegrated into ash, consumed entirely. The Giga Crusher didn’t stop—it streaked toward the royal army, detonating in a titanic explosion that carved a massive crater into the earth, obliterating thousands of soldiers in its wake.

From afar, Shaurya’s smile deepened. "Elder Wan... you really surprised me." He smirked with satisfaction.

Scene shift to battle ground.

The sky was a canvas of swirling clouds and streaking light, the wind howling as Lin Shu hovered in the air, her presence radiating an icy dominance. Before her floated General Bai Hang, a middle-aged man with flaming red hair and a thick, bristling red beard. His towering frame—over six feet of hardened muscle—was coated in dust, streaked with blood and injuries from the previous clash. In his massive hands, he gripped a black iron greatsword, the weapon’s surface chipped and scarred from years of war.

Lin Shu, in contrast, remained untouched, her long hair fluttering in the wind, her eyes cold as glaciers as she fixed her gaze on the general.

Bai Hang’s roar shook the air.

"Lin Shu!"

He charged with the force of a storm, swinging his massive blade in a lethal arc. Lin Shu’s expression did not flicker; with a fluid motion, she swung her sword to meet his strike.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided, sending a cascade of sparks scattering into the air. The shockwave from the impact rippled outward, shattering distant clouds and making the ground far below tremble. Both fighters were driven slightly back, but without hesitation, they surged forward again.

The clash intensified—each collision of their swords producing bursts of blinding sparks and shockwaves so fierce that they distorted the air. To the watching soldiers, it was as though dozens of blades were striking at once, their speed too great for mortal eyes to follow.

Bai Hang roared again, his muscles straining as he tried to overpower her. Yet Lin Shu’s gaze remained as cold as winter frost. Her expression hardened, and suddenly, a powerful blue aura erupted from her body, swirling violently around her. Her sword responded, glowing with the same brilliant hue.

She screamed, her voice carrying like thunder across the sky, and brought her aura-covered blade crashing forward. The force of her strike slammed into Bai Hang’s weapon, sending him hurtling backward through the air. His grip almost faltered, the weight of his greatsword threatening to tear from his hands.

Lin Shu didn’t stop. She soared higher into the sky, the wind roaring around her. Raising her sword high above her head, both hands gripping the hilt, her aura intensified—growing so potent it seemed to shake the very sky.

Below, Bai Hang’s eyes widened in dread.

Why... Why does this attack feel like it could end me? No... I can’t die here!

He roared in defiance, planting his feet in the air as if standing upon an invisible platform. His massive greatsword began to hum violently, surrounded by black lightning that danced along its edges like chains of pure destruction.

"I won’t lose to you!" he bellowed.

Drawing the sword back, he swung upward with his full might. A black energy slash, crackling with thunderous lightning, tore through the sky toward Lin Shu.

Her face remained calm, untouched by fear. In a voice as cold as death, she spoke:

"Evil is destined to fall."

Then she screamed—

"Earth Shattering Slash!"

Her sword descended, wrapped in blinding blue energy. The unleashed strike roared through the sky like a divine judgment, colliding with Bai Hang’s black slash. For a single heartbeat, the forces met—then her power obliterated his attack in an instant.

Bai Hang’s eyes filled with horror as the blue wave surged toward him. The colossal slash struck him head-on, dragging him downward like a meteor.

The world below erupted—

BOOM!

A massive blue explosion blossomed, devouring everything in its radius. The shockwave ripped apart formations, shattering armor and sending soldiers screaming as they were consumed by the blast. Entire ranks of the royal army were annihilated in seconds.

In the silence that followed, Lin Shu descended with elegance, sliding her sword back into its scabbard in one smooth motion.

From the battlefield below, Shaurya looked up with a proud smile, while Ye Xuan, though smiling, clenched his fists tightly.

Scene shift.

A heavy object slammed into the earth nearby, throwing up a storm of dust. A crater formed where it landed, cracks spiderwebbing outward from the impact. Through the settling haze, Jian Fan descended lightly, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth.

He wiped it away with the back of his hand, smirking.

"I thought you were strong."

From the dust emerged General Zu Ha, staggering but alive—barely. His armor hung in tatters, his body drenched in blood. His face twisted with rage as he roared:

"You... How dare you insult me! I am a general!"

Jian Fan’s grin only widened, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Who cares?"

Zu Ha trembled with fury—then froze as something landed in front of him with a dull thud. A severed head, dripping blood, rolled to a stop at his feet. His eyes widened in horror. It was his brother, Zu Leo.

His hands reached out shakily toward the head—

SLASH!

A pink slash struck the severed head, exploding it in a mist of blood. Warm droplets splattered across Zu Ha’s face and armor. He stumbled backward, his gaze snapping to his right.

There stood Elder Liya, her eyes burning with a deathly stare.

"You both brothers are too weak. Who made you generals?" she said coldly.

Zu Ha’s body quaked, his fists clenching tight. Rage twisted into something monstrous as a grey aura began to leak from his body. His eyes turned crimson, muscles bulging grotesquely as his size doubled. Armor split and fell from his frame as he grew to over ten feet tall, veins glowing gold beneath his skin.

Golden Vein Stage, Level 3.

His voice became a guttural beast’s roar.

"I will kill you all!"

He charged at Jian Fan with a speed unnatural for his size, his fist swinging like a boulder. Jian Fan met him head-on, their fists colliding with an impact that cracked the earth beneath them and released shockwaves that blasted the dust away.

Jian Fan grinned, forcing Zu Ha back, then delivered a brutal punch to the face, followed by a knee to the abdomen that sent the giant crashing into the ground and sliding backward. He leapt upon him, raining down a storm of fists. Each strike cracked the ground beneath Zu Ha, rocks and debris lifting into the air from the force.

Zu Ha roared, swiping upward to knock Jian Fan away. He rose again, bellowing like a beast. But Jian Fan simply landed lightly on his feet, drawing a massive axe from his back.

"Let’s end this."

Zu Ha charged again, fist raised—but Jian Fan stepped forward and swung his axe in a single, devastating arc.

SLASH!

Blood sprayed into the air. Zu Ha’s body and head hit the ground separately. Jian Fan glanced down at the corpse, smiling faintly.

"I told you—you’re too weak."

Elsewhere, an old man knelt on one knee, blood pouring from his wounds. Before him stood Wang Tian and Luo Chen, both smiling with pride.

Wang Tian mocked him.

"General Chang Le... What happened? Is this all you’ve got?"

Luo Chen smirked.

"You’re too weak. Tch."

Chang Le’s eyes burned with rage. Slowly, he rose to his feet, his aura turning pitch black.

"Even if I die here," he growled, "I will kill both of you!"

His dark aura surged, consuming his body like a living flame.

"This is my entire cultivation... my entire lifespan. I will dig your graves here! Now die, you arrogant brats!"

He pressed both palms forward.

"Destructive Flash Cannon!"

A colossal beam of dark energy roared toward them, tearing the air apart.

Wang Tian and Luo Chen only smiled. Luo Chen tilted his head.

"If someone’s going to die, it’s you—and your pathetic royal army."

They joined fists—Wang Tian’s right, Luo Chen’s left—golden energy flooding their fists.

From a distance, Shaurya’s eyes widened.

"Wait... This looks familiar..."

The memory hit him—Lee Bie and Xiao Rui using the Fusion Dragon Fist against the royal army before.

Back in the present, the dark beam closed in on them.

Both men roared in unison:

"Fusion Dragon Fist!"

Dragon-shaped golden energy erupted from their fists, twice as massive as their usual power. The attack collided with the dark beam, shattering it instantly.

Chang Le’s voice trembled.

"No... I can’t lose to arrogant brats like you!"

But his roar was drowned out as the dragon aura engulfed him entirely, obliterating his body before slamming into the royal army and detonating in a small nuclear-like explosion. The shockwave shook the battlefield, leaving behind a massive crater.

Wang Tian laughed.

"We should thank those two fools for teaching us this technique."

Luo Chen grinned.

"Yeah. We’ll treat them to a meal after the war."

Shaurya’s surprise deepened, but the system’s voice interrupted:

"Around 99,000+ soldiers are left."

"Wow," he smirked, "we’ve killed more than half their army. Let’s finish the rest."

He raised his hand.

"My three dear beasts... welcome, and enjoy the fun."

From the Dark Pearl, three small figures emerged, instantly transforming into their colossal forms—Dragzard, Arcarine, and Blazejet.

"Kill the royal army."

The trio roared, charging into the enemy ranks.

Ye Xuan’s eyes widened at the sight, while Sanatan Flame Sect members roared in joy.

On another front, Su Quan, Xu Ran, Muo Qian, and Xiao Lian—the four queens of the sect—stood with elegance before eight wounded concubines.

"Let’s end this with our next attack," Muo Qian said.

The concubines roared and charged.

Su Quan and Muo Qian’s swords glowed with pink aura, lotus petals swirling around them. Together, they unleashed—

"Sword Shine: Lotus Petal Slash!"

Xu Ran and Xiao Lian, surrounded by blue aura blades, launched—

"100 Sword Strike!"

The concubines countered with "Invincible Slash", but the lotus petals tore through their attack, piercing four instantly. The 200 blue energy swords ripped through the remaining four.

Blood rained onto the battlefield as the eight concubines dead body fall to ground.

Ye Xuan’s smile faded as he clenched his fists, Shaurya winking at him knowingly.

Meanwhile, the beast trio rampaged—every attack of them blasting like bombs.

System notifications:

80,000 soldiers left.....60,000 soldiers left... 50,000... 40,000...

Shaurya laughed aloud.

High above, Ye Xuan rose from his throne, stepping to the edge of his chariot. A deep purple aura began to swirl around his palm.

To be continued...