The air in the valley grew colder as the leader of the Obsidian Covenant descended from the cliffs. His heavy, jagged blade gleamed faintly in the fading light, the weapon exuding a quiet menace that made the ground beneath Xu Tian’s feet feel heavier. The faint shimmer of spiritual energy rippled around him, betraying the sheer weight of his cultivation.

  “You’ve shown skill,” the man said, his voice calm, measured. “But power without understanding is nothing more than chaos.”

  Xu Tian’s shadows writhed at his feet, responding to the tension in the air. His body ached from the fight, and the star’s whispers gnawed at the edges of his mind, urging him to give in, to let the darkness take full control.

  “Do not waste time with words,” the star murmured. “Strike now. Destroy him before he destroys you.”

  But Xu Tian didn’t move. He could feel the weight of the Covenant leader’s power, the way it pressed down on him like a physical force. This wasn’t like the bounty hunters or the Scarlet Peak disciples. This man was different—disciplined, methodical, and dangerous.

  “I don’t care about your philosophy,” Xu Tian said, his voice low and cold. “If you’ve come to kill me, then stop talking and try.”

  The leader smiled faintly. “As you wish.”

  The ground cracked beneath the leader’s feet as he stepped forward, his blade humming with energy. Xu Tian braced himself, his shadows surging to meet the incoming attack.

  The man moved faster than Xu Tian anticipated. In a flash, he was in front of him, his blade slicing downward with a force that sent a shockwave rippling through the valley. Xu Tian raised a barrier of shadows to block the strike, but the impact shattered the defense, the force sending him stumbling back.

  “Your power lacks refinement,” the leader said, his tone almost disappointed. “It’s raw, untamed. You let it control you instead of the other way around.”

  Xu Tian gritted his teeth, his hands tightening into fists. He lashed out with a tendril of shadow, but the leader sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his blade moving in a wide arc that sent another wave of energy hurtling toward Xu Tian.

  The wave struck him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling to the ground.

  “Xu Tian!” Yan Mei’s voice rang out from behind him, but he didn’t look back.

  The leader raised his blade again, preparing to strike.

  Xu Tian’s vision blurred as he struggled to rise, his body trembling from the force of the attack. The star’s whispers surged, louder and more insistent than ever.

  “You are holding back,” it hissed. “Let us guide you. Let us show you the true depth of your power.”

  Xu Tian clenched his fists, his shadows writhing chaotically around him. He didn’t trust the star—he couldn’t. But the alternative was death, and he wasn’t ready to die.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Fine,” he muttered under his breath. “But I’m still in control.”

  The star’s laughter echoed in his mind, cold and triumphant. “As you wish.”

  The shadows around Xu Tian erupted, surging upward in a massive wave of darkness that swallowed the valley. The air grew heavy with an oppressive energy, the ground trembling beneath the weight of the power he had unleashed.

  The leader of the Covenant paused, his expression shifting to one of wary interest. “So, you’re finally showing your true self.”

  Xu Tian rose to his feet, his eyes glowing faintly with dark energy. The shadows coiled around him like a living storm, their movements sharp and unpredictable. He extended his hand, and the darkness surged forward, forming jagged spikes that hurtled toward the leader with blinding speed.

  The leader moved with precision, his blade deflecting the incoming spikes with calculated strikes. Each clash of shadow and steel sent shockwaves through the valley, the sheer force of the attacks carving deep gashes into the rocky terrain.

  Xu Tian advanced, his shadows lashing out in quick, relentless bursts. The leader countered each strike, his movements fluid and deliberate, but he was no longer completely unscathed. Small cuts appeared on his arms and legs, dark blood seeping through his robes.

  “Impressive,” the leader said, his voice calm despite the intensity of the fight. “But raw power alone won’t be enough.”

  With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his blade slicing toward Xu Tian’s neck. Xu Tian ducked, his shadows surging upward to form a shield that absorbed the strike. He countered with a tendril of darkness that coiled around the leader’s arm, pulling him off balance.

  For the first time, the leader faltered.

  While Xu Tian held the leader at bay, Yan Mei and Qiao Rui moved into action.

  “Cover me!” Yan Mei shouted, pulling a talisman from her belt.

  Qiao Rui nodded, loosing a volley of arrows toward the sigil caster, who was already recovering from her earlier retreat. The arrows struck true, breaking through the caster’s defenses and forcing her to focus on Qiao Rui instead of aiding her leader.

  Yan Mei rushed to Xu Tian’s side, her talisman glowing as she pressed it against his back. A wave of warmth spread through his body, dulling the pain and steadying his breath.

  “Don’t lose control,” she said firmly. “You’re stronger than this.”

  Xu Tian didn’t respond, his focus locked on the leader.

  The leader wrenched his arm free from Xu Tian’s shadows, his blade flaring with energy as he unleashed a powerful strike. The force of the attack sent Xu Tian skidding backward, his shadows flickering erratically.

  The leader raised his blade, his expression grim. “You’ve shown promise, but this ends now.”

  Xu Tian steadied himself, his eyes narrowing. “Not yet.”

  He raised both hands, the shadows around him coalescing into a massive, serpent-like form that towered over the valley. The dark construct writhed and twisted, its glowing eyes locked on the leader as it lunged forward with a deafening roar.

  The leader braced himself, his blade glowing brighter as he met the attack head-on. The two forces collided, the impact sending a shockwave rippling through the valley and shaking the cliffs above.

  When the dust finally settled, Xu Tian stood alone in the center of the valley, his shadows slowly receding. The leader of the Covenant knelt a short distance away, his blade shattered and his robes tattered.

  “You are stronger than I expected,” the leader said, his voice strained. “But strength without control is a double-edged sword.”

  Xu Tian didn’t respond. He turned and walked away, his shadows flickering faintly at his feet.

  Yan Mei and Qiao Rui approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of relief and unease.

  “You let him live,” Qiao Rui said, his tone half-question, half-observation.

  Xu Tian didn’t look back. “I’m done killing for today.”

  Far above, in the heart of a distant mountain, the elders of the Scarlet Peak Sect convened in a grand chamber lit by glowing orbs of light.

  “The Obsidian Covenant has failed,” one of them said, his voice heavy with disapproval.

  The sect master’s gaze was cold, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his throne. “Then it is time we stopped relying on outsiders.”

  He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

  “Send the Wrathbringer.”