Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Dongzhai in Ruins
Inside the Heavenly Dragon Sect...
The news of the death of elder Fu Hong had startled everyone. The great hall, which normally stayed calm, was now a cauldron of fury and grief. The death of Elder Fu Hong had sent shockwaves through the sect, and people were filled with rage.
Wu Renchen, the sect leader, sat at the head of the chamber, his expression stoic but his eyes betraying the turmoil within. He had lost a trusted friend, a brother in arms, and the loss was keenly felt. Around him, the other elders of the sect were gathered, their voices raised in anger and demand for retribution.
"Elder Fu Hong was not just a member of this sect," Elder Lin roared, slamming his fist on the table. "He was one of us! A pillar of strength ! To allow his death to go unanswered would be a stain on the honor of the Heavenly Dragon Sect! We cannot allow this to happen"
The other elders nodded in agreement, their faces hard with determination. "We cannot let this insult stand," Elder Xuan added, his voice cold and resolute. "To do nothing would show us weak and pathetic. The entire cultivation world would see us as cowards. What message we will be sending to our disciples"
Elder Meng, who was a respected figure for his sharp knowledge, leaned forward, his expression grim. "This is more than just about revenge. Fu Hong was protecting his disciple, who was framed as a demonic cultivator. If we do not act, we will be seen as complicit in his death. The implications are far-reaching."
Another elder, Elder Qiu, spoke up, his voice filled with anger. "The people of Dongzhai and their divine transformation experts think they can kill one of our own and walk away? They must pay with their blood! The sect's honor demands it! I will not stop until I take their blood."
Wu Renchen listened to his fellow elders, the weight of their words pressing down on him. He knew they were right. The death of Fu Hong could not go unanswered, but he also understood the delicate nature of the situation.
Acting against Dongzhai and the Starry Sky Sect, which had ties to the powerful Lei Family, could lead to greater conflict. But could he afford not to act?
As the elders continued to argue for immediate retaliation, Wu Renchen held up his hand, signalling for silence. The room quieted, all eyes turning to their leader.
"I understand your anger," Wu Renchen began, his voice calm yet commanding. "Fu Hong was a dear friend to many of us, and his death is a tragedy. But we must think carefully about our next move. Striking out in blind rage will only lead to more bloodshed and chaos."
Elder Lin stepped forward, his face flushed with emotion. "Sect Leader, with all due respect, hesitation now will be seen as weakness. We must show the world that the Heavenly Dragon Sect will not tolerate such an affront!"
Elder Xuan added, "We must send a message that anyone who dares to harm one of our own will face the full wrath of our sect."
Wu Renchen closed his eyes for a moment, weighing his options. He knew the elders were right. The sect's honor was at stake, and the demand for justice could not be ignored.
Finally, he opened his eyes and nodded. "Very well. We will take action. But our response must be calculated, not reckless. We will strike at those responsible for Fu Hong's death—the divine transformation experts who dared to challenge us. Dongzhai will learn the cost of crossing the Heavenly Dragon Sect."
The elders erupted in approval, their voices rising once more in agreement. Wu Renchen continued, "Prepare the sect. We will march on Dongzhai at dawn. Let them see the power of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and let them know that we do not forgive, nor do we forget."
The next day....
The sun had barely risen over Dongzhai when the quiet morning was shattered by the sound of war drums and the thunderous march of an army.
The people of Dongzhai, still reeling from the recent events at the auction, looked up in terror as the skies darkened with the arrival of the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
At the forefront of the invading force was Wu Renchen, the Sect Leader, his face set in a grim mask of determination. He had made his decision.
"Today," Wu Renchen's voice boomed over the gathered forces, "we avenge Elder Fu Hong! Let none stand in our way!"
The sect members roared in unison, their battle cries filling the air as they charged towards Dongzhai.
In the city, panic spread like wildfire. People scrambled to hide, to flee, but it was too late. The Heavenly Dragon Sect descended upon Dongzhai with the fury of a storm, their divine transformation experts leading the assault. Blasts of energy erupted across the city as the invaders tore through buildings, streets, and defenses.
The first wave of attacks was devastating. Entire sections of the city crumbled under the sheer power of the assault. Shops, homes, and temples were reduced to rubble in moments. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and blood as the Heavenly Dragon Sect warriors cut down anyone who dared to oppose them.
"Show no mercy!" one of the elders shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Leave no stone unturned! Dongzhai will be made to remember this day!"
Amidst the destruction, the protectors of Dongzhai fought valiantly, their divine transformation cultivators clashing with the invading forces.
Wu Renchen himself engaged Elder Zhong, their fight shaking the very foundation of Dongzhai. Energy blades and torrents of spiritual power clashed in mid-air, each strike from these titans capable of leveling entire blocks.
"You think you can kill one of my own and get away with it?" Wu Renchen snarled, his sword glowing with a blinding light as he unleashed a devastating slash. "You've made a grave mistake, Zhong!"
Elder Zhong barely managed to parry the attack, his face a mask of concentration and effort. "We were carrying out justice! Fu Hong was defending a demonic cultivator, a traitor to all that is righteous!"
"Justice?" Wu Renchen spat the word like a curse. "This is not justice—this is murder! And for that, Dongzhai will burn!"
"How dare you kill one of our own?" Wu Renchen shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield. "For Fu Hong, you shall pay with your lives!"
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Elder Lin faced off against a pair of Dongzhai's experts. With a long spea in his hands, he moved like a living creature. With a roar, he unleashed the Dragon's Fury Spear Art, a technique that caused his spear to erupt with flames. The heat was so intense that the air around him shimmered, and the ground beneath his feet scorched.
"You think you can withstand the might of the Heavenly Dragon Sect?" Elder Lin sneered as he thrust his spear forward. The flames engulfed his opponents, who screamed in agony as their bodies were incinerated.
Elder Xuan, a master of Heavenly Ice Palm, had engaged in a duel with a formidable opponent, a woman named Wan Mingque,who wielded a pair of curved blades. The air around them crackled with energy as they exchanged blows, the speed of their movements nearly too fast to follow.
"Your ice techniques are impressive," the Wan Mingque hissed, her blades cutting through the air with a silver flash. "But they won't save you!"
Elder Xuan's expression remained calm as he deflected her attacks with his palms, each strike sending a wave of icy energy through the air. The ground beneath them froze solid, and with a swift movement, he trapped her legs in a block of ice. The woman cursed and tried to break free, but Xuan was relentless.
"Glacial Destruction!" Elder Xuan intoned, and with a crushing force, he shattered the ice along with her legs. She fell to the ground, helpless, as Xuan's cold eyes looked down upon her.
"You should have stayed out of this," he said, before delivering the final blow.
The battle raged on, with both sides suffering casualties. The divine transformation experts of Dongzhai fought bravely, but they were no match for the overwhelming power of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. The city itself became a battleground, buildings crumbling under the might of the attacks, and the streets running red with blood.
Their clash intensified, the ground below them cracking and splitting from the force of their battle. Buildings collapsed in their wake, and innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire, their screams lost in the cacophony of destruction.
Elsewhere in the city, Ye Chen was being transported under heavy guard, the protectors around him tense and alert. But the sudden invasion threw everything into chaos. The guards, realizing the full force of the Heavenly Dragon Sect was upon them, hesitated, unsure whether to continue their mission or turn back to defend their city.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Ye Chen's eyes gleamed with a dark, calculating light. The chaos was his opportunity.
"You fools!" he taunted the guards, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're all going to die, and for what? Protecting a city that's already lost? You should run while you can!"
The guards faltered, their resolve wavering. In that split second, Ye Chen made his move. With a burst of spiritual energy, he shattered the restraints that bound him and leaped into action. His fist connected with the nearest guard, sending the man flying into a wall with a sickening crunch.
The other guards rushed to restrain him, but Ye Chen was too quick. With a spin, he drew upon his cultivation, sending out a wave of dark energy that knocked them back. He laughed, the sound echoing through the burning streets. "You can't hold me! None of you can!"
As the battle raged around him, Ye Chen kept moving ahead. He ducked through alleys, avoiding the deadliest fighting, his senses on high alert for any threats. The city was a warzone, but to Ye Chen, it was a labyrinth of escape routes. He watched as the Heavenly Dragon Sect tore through Dongzhai, their power overwhelming the city's defenses.
Suddenly, a blast of energy ripped through the ground near him, and Ye Chen skidded to a halt, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a group of Heavenly Dragon Sect members locked in combat with Dongzhai's defenders. He knew he had to keep moving, but something in the back of his mind told him to wait, to observe.
It was then that he saw them—Wu Renchen and Elder Zhong, their duel creating a maelstrom of destruction around them. The two divine transformation experts were evenly matched, but the Heavenly Dragon Sect's leader was relentless, his attacks fueled by rage and loss.
Ye Chen grinned. The scene was perfect for his escape. In the midst of such chaos, who would notice one prisoner slipping away?
As the battle between Wu Renchen and Elder Zhong reached a fever pitch, Ye Chen slipped into the shadows, using the debris and confusion to mask his movements. He moved quickly, darting from one ruined building to the next, careful to avoid the attention of either side.
As he neared the outskirts of the city, Ye Chen could see that Dongzhai was all but lost. Fires raged uncontrollably, and the screams of the dying filled the air. The once-thriving city was now a smoking ruin, a testament to the Heavenly Dragon Sect's vengeance.
"I need to find a place to hide," Ye Chen muttered to himself, his thoughts racing. "Somewhere they won't find me... Somewhere I can grow stronger."
He paused at the city's edge, looking back at the destruction. His heart was cold, but his mind was clear. Dongzhai had been a stepping stone, nothing more. Now, it was time to find a new haven, to plan his next move.
With one last look, Ye Chen turned and vanished into the wilderness, leaving the burning city and the chaos behind him.
Back in Dongzhai, the battle reached its bitter conclusion. Both sides had suffered heavy losses, the ground littered with the bodies of the fallen. The divine transformation cultivators on both sides were battered and bloodied, their energy nearly spent.
Wu Renchen, standing amidst the wreckage, surveyed the scene with grim satisfaction. The cost had been great, but justice had been served. Fu Hong had been avenged.
But as he looked around at the devastation, a part of him wondered if this was truly justice—or just another step in an endless cycle of bloodshed and revenge.
Dongzhai was in ruins, its people scattered or dead, and Ye Chen was nowhere to be found.
As the remaining members of the Heavenly Dragon Sect regrouped, Wu Renchen gave the order to withdraw. They had made their point, but there was no sense in lingering.