Black aura shrouded Qian Jinglei and Long Chen as they effortlessly deflected the furious attacks.
Nantian Fengyu’s phoenix flames, which could incinerate stars, dissipated against their dark energy shields.
Long Qingxuan’s draconic claws, capable of tearing through dimensions, scraped harmlessly against their corrupted defenses.
Linlin and Qingqing joined the assault, their lightning and wind elemental attacks combining into a devastating thunderstorm.
However, Qian Jinglei merely flicked her wrist, sending a wave of Uncreation that vaporized their techniques and blasted them backward. They crashed through several ancient trees, their small forms lying motionless.
Long Xi’s eyes narrowed, her Dragon Queen of Light aura radiating pure divine pressure. "How?" she demanded coldly. "You were never this powerful."
Qian Jinglei smiled, her expression twisting into something ancient and cruel. "We have always been Lord Yin’s servants. From the moment we ’met’ Yun Lintian in that timeline, everything was arranged."
Long Chen laughed, the sound dripping with mockery. "All of it—acting. The battles, the camaraderie, even our ’growth’ alongside him. We thought he would see through us with his power, but he never did."
Nantian Fengyu’s fury reached its peak. Divine Phoenix flames erupted from her completely, turning her into an avatar of celestial fire. "You will pay for this betrayal!"
She shot forward, but Long Chen met her head-on. Black and crimson energies collided, shaking the very foundations of the Land of Beyond Heaven. To everyone’s horror, Long Chen matched her blow for blow.
"Did you know," Long Chen taunted while blocking her flames, "that staying here taught me all your weaknesses? The Divine Phoenix’s arrogance, the Dragon Clan’s pride—all flaws to be exploited."
He glanced toward the meditating Yun Lintian. "He deserves to lose everyone. Too trusting. Too weak. A pushover playing at being a god."
The revelations struck harder than any physical blow. These weren’t just betrayers—they were ancient enemies who had been hiding in plain sight all along.
And they had been learning everyone’s secrets while pretending to be allies.
Yun Lintian remained deep in meditation, oblivious to the carnage unfolding around him. The perfect balance he had achieved within himself created a bubble of tranquility that shielded him from the screams and clashes of battle. His face showed no reaction as his friends and allies fought and died to protect him.
Nantian Fengyu, Long Xi, and Long Qingxuan formed a protective triangle around his still form. Their attacks came in furious waves—phoenix flames, dragon claws, and azure energy crashing against the dark defenses of the traitors. But for every technique they unleashed, Qian Jinglei and Long Chen countered with brutal efficiency.
"Protect the young ones!" Long Xi shouted as she deflected a wave of Uncreation energy aimed at a group of Wood Spirit children.
Ireya and her people joined the defense, their nature magic creating barriers of ancient wood and living vines. But Qian Jinglei simply laughed as she tore through their defenses with corrupted energy that turned life to dust.
"Pathetic!" he mocked. "Your nature magic means nothing against true Uncreation!"
The Dragon God Clan members fought with desperate courage, their scales gleaming in the divided sky as they formed defensive formations. But Long Chen moved through them like a shadow, his attacks precisely targeting their weaknesses—knowledge gained through years of false friendship.
"Remember when you showed me that technique?" Long Chen taunted as he shattered a young dragon’s defensive stance. "You were so proud of it. Now watch as I use it against you!"
The Land of Beyond Heaven, once a paradise of balanced energy, now ran red with blood. The pristine waters of the Misty Lake darkened with crimson stains. The Tree of Life’s golden leaves withered where blood splattered against its bark. The harmonious atmosphere gave way to screams of pain and anguished cries.
Nantian Fengyu’s phoenix tears fell as fiery droplets when she saw children cut down. "Stop this! They’ve done nothing to you!"
Long Chen caught one of her tears, letting it sizzle against his palm. "Their only crime was trusting you—and him." He pointed contemptuously at the meditating Yun Lintian.
Qian Jinglei grabbed a Wood Spirit elder by the throat. "You always were so kind to me," she sneered before snapping the ancient being’s neck. "A fatal flaw in this universe."
The defenders fought with increasing desperation, but the traitors’ power seemed limitless. Every fallen ally only made Qian Jinglei and Long Chen stronger, their Uncreation energy feeding on the death and despair.
Long Qingxuan took a devastating blow meant for a group of children, her draconic scales cracking under the impact.
"Run..." she gasped to the young ones. "Find somewhere to—"
Her words cut off as Long Chen’s blade pierced her side. "Nowhere to run, little dragon. This entire realm will become his tomb."
As the protection circle shrank around Yun Lintian, the traitors’ laughter grew louder, their joy in the slaughter evident in every cruel word and gesture.
The sanctuary had become a slaughterhouse, and the blood of friends stained the land that was meant to be their safe haven.
Nantian Fengyu’s phoenix flames erupted with unprecedented fury as she fought her way toward Yun Lintian.
"Junior Brother! Wake up!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the chaos of battle.
But Yun Lintian remained motionless, his meditation deeper than any she had ever witnessed. His body glowed with soft golden-black light, completely unaware of the carnage surrounding him.
Long Chen intercepted her with a mocking laugh. "He can’t hear you, little phoenix. He’s achieved what none of you fools could—true balance. Pity he won’t live to enjoy it."
Their clash sent shockwaves through the blood-stained landscape. Nantian Fengyu’s flames met Long Chen’s Uncreation energy in explosive collisions. Each time their powers met, space itself fractured around them.
"Seven Phoenixes Seeking the Sun!" Nantian Fengyu unleashed her ultimate technique. Seven divine phoenixes materialized from her flames, each carrying the power to incinerate worlds. They shot toward Long Chen from different angles, their cries shaking the very foundations of reality.
Long Chen merely smiled. "I’ve read about this technique in the library. Did you really think I wouldn’t find its weakness?"
He didn’t bother to dodge. Instead, he pointed at the seventh phoenix—the core of the technique.
The magnificent phoenix shuddered, its glorious flames turning black before dissolving into nothingness. The other six phoenixes wavered and collapsed without their core.
The backlash sent Nantian Fengyu stumbling backward, blood trickling from her lips.
"How...?" she gasped.
Long Chen’s smile turned cruel. "I watched you practice this for decades. Every flaw, every weakness—I documented them all while pretending to be your friend."