Rebirth in Against the Gods with The Ultimate System

"You cheater!" Fen Juecheng's voice cracked with fury and disbelief as he watched Yun Che and Retsu hover above the battlefield with an ease that belied their apparent cultivation level. His face twisted in rage, the realization dawning that the Burning Heaven Clan had been thoroughly outplayed.

All this time, the clan had assumed they were battling opponents of a comparable level, confident in their superiority over the True Profound Realm fighters they thought they faced. But now it was clear: Yun Che and Retsu had been toying with them, their actual power leagues beyond what anyone in the Burning Heaven Clan had anticipated.

Fen Duanhun, still clutching his wounds, gritted his teeth in frustration. "This… this entire time, we've been fighting against monsters far above our level?" His voice was strained, a mix of pain and despair. "Why… why does the Blue Wind Imperial Family produce such freaks of nature? Why are we cursed to face them?"

Yun Che glanced down at the two battered men and let a smirk curl across his face. "Cheater, huh? That's a bold accusation. We're just the type who hides our true power to play along. If you ended up facing us, well… that just means your luck's worse than I thought."

"You…!" Fen Juecheng tried to retort, but the words lodged in his throat as Yun Che's aura flared—a subtle, suffocating warning that sent a chill through the air.

Beside him, Retsu chuckled softly, her serene demeanor tinged with a quiet menace. "Ufufu… I gave you a chance back then, didn't I? But no, you just had to push your luck. Maybe I should've ended you back then for harassing Cang Yue. Seems I was too generous."

Fen Duanhun glared, the weight of his humiliation bearing down on him like a stone slab. The bitter truth was impossible to ignore—they had been thoroughly outclassed, outmaneuvered, and defeated in the tournament. The realization that they were mere pawns in someone else's game stung more than the wounds on his body.

"He… He must be using some sort of treasure to boost his powers!" Fen Juecheng blurted, grasping desperately for an explanation.

"That must be it!" Fen Duanhun added, a glimmer of hope lighting his eyes. "It has to be the treasure from the dragon's cave! He's using it!"

Hearing this, the remaining clan members gripped their weapons tightly, emboldened by the possibility of evening the odds.

Yun Che raised an eyebrow, his smirk turning into a mocking grin. "You really believe that? Let me save you the trouble—there's no treasure in the dragon's cave. Never was."

"Ufufu… they truly believed that we have treasures, Yuu-kun," Retsu sighed, shaking her head in mock pity.

"We do, but not what they had in mind." He grins and Retsu chuckled.

"But… then his cultivation is still in the True Profound Realm," Fen Duanhun stammered, his expression wavering between doubt and determination. Then, a glimmer of confidence returned to his eyes, and his smirk widened. "That means… he's just a trickster hiding behind illusions and bluffs."

"What about their flight?" Fen Juecheng asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Fen Duanhun's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the two figures hovering above them. A sly smirk crept across his face. "Those wings… look closely. They must be using those wings to fly even with lower cultivation."

"Then… those wings are treasures!" Fen Juecheng exclaimed, greed gleaming in his eyes like a predator spotting easy prey.

Yun Che shook his head, his smirk tinged with disappointment. "Ah, still consumed by greed, are they?"

Retsu sighed softly, her calm demeanor giving way to a slight frown. "Ufufu… I was hoping to spare them, Yuu-kun, but now they're after our Nemu's Wings of First Flight. How bothersome. Let's deal with them quickly and go find Little Yue."

Yun Che stretched his arms, the sound of his knuckles cracking filling the tense silence. "Dozens of men, just the two of us. Sounds about right. Let's make this quick."

"Well then…" Retsu's serene smile returned, though her eyes glinted with a dangerous edge. She turned her gaze toward the assembled men. "Shall we begin?"

Fen Duanhun sneered, his voice rising with forced confidence. "Yun Che, your bluffing ends here. We'll deal with you, take those wings, and strip those spatial rings from your hands."

"I'll cripple the woman," Fen Juecheng added, his tone dripping with malice as he still aiming for Retsu.

Yun Che's smirk didn't waver. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes locking onto Fen Juecheng. "Aren't you afraid of Cang Yue's master? Killing Cang Yue will incur his wrath, not only the Heavenly Sword Villa but the Burning Heaven Clan as well. He already wiped the Xiao Sect higher ups. Yours will be next and soon will the villa. I don't know which one will come first."

Fen Juecheng scoffed. "That's why we're dealing with this discreetly. No one will ever find out. By tomorrow, the Blue Wind Imperial Family will be missing their participants, and the wings will be ours."

Yun Che sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know, you talk a lot. But how about backing it up with some actual skill instead of empty threats?" His voice carried an edge of mockery, daring them to act.

Retsu stepped forward, her aura shimmering faintly. "Ufufu… Shall we see what they're truly capable of, Yuu-kun?"

"Men! Attack!" Fen Duanhun bellowed, his voice echoing as the horde surged toward Yun Che and Retsu.

"I'll handle the bindings. You take care of the destruction. Let's give them a proper demonstration of teamwork!" Yun Che grinned, leaping into action.

"Hai!" Retsu responded with a serene yet lethal smile, following close behind.

Yun Che extended his hand, energy pulsating around him as he called out, "Bakudō #62: Hyapporankan! (Hundred Step Fence)" A glowing, blue-white rod of energy materialized in his grip. With a deft throw, the rod multiplied into a hundred brilliant streaks of light, each piercing through the air and striking their targets with precision. The men were instantly pinned to the ground and immobilized as though caught in an unbreakable web.

The glowing rods shot forth, piercing through the men with precision. Though they felt no pain, their bodies froze, completely immobilized. Shock rippled through the ranks as the surrounding men witnessed the strange and unfamiliar technique. Their eyes widened in disbelief, for they had never seen such otherworldly arts before, let alone faced them in battle.

"What is this sorcery?!" Fen Duanhun shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of confusion and frustration as he watched Yun Che effortlessly summon glowing energy rods that pinned down dozens of his men. The immobilized warriors struggled in vain, their movements utterly restrained by the luminous constructs.

The men who had managed to avoid the rods' devastating reach stood frozen in caution, their weapons trembling in their hands. None of them had seen such profound arts before, and their confidence began to waver as they reassessed the situation. Whispers rippled through the remaining forces as they scrutinized Yun Che and Retsu, desperately trying to comprehend their fighting styles.

Fen Juecheng, however, was paralyzed for a different reason. His mind reeled with vivid memories of the moment Yun Che and Retsu had annihilated Cang Shuo with ruthless efficiency. Back then, he had clung to the belief that their power came from some mysterious treasure or artifact. But now...….

Yun Che glanced at him, a smirk playing on his lips as if he could hear Fen Juecheng's thoughts. "Finally catching on, are we? Took you long enough."

Retsu's serene yet unsettling smile deepened as she raised her hand, gathering energy for another spell. Her calm demeanor only amplified the menace radiating from her. "Ufufu… I warned you before when we eliminated Cang Shuo, didn't I?"

Retsu steps forward. Her palm began to radiate an intense yellow glow as energy gathered at her fingertips. "Hadō #63: Raikōhō! (Fiery Lightning Howl)" she intoned, her voice steady and commanding.

A sphere of crackling yellow lightning erupted from her palm, expanding into a massive, concentrated blast of energy that surged forward like a thunderous lightning strike. The explosion ripped through the immobilized soldiers, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Smoke and debris clouded the air as the once-formidable horde was reduced to silence.

Yun Che landed lightly, brushing his hands off as if the fight had been little more than a casual exercise. "That's one way to clear a path."

Retsu joined him, her calm expression betraying no sign of exertion. "Ufufu…"

Their combined power had turned the battlefield into a tableau of utter annihilation, the remaining forces staring in shock and fear, hesitant to take another step forward.

"What kind of arts is this?! You never told me he can do this kind of arts!" Fen Duanhun shouted towards his son. He refused to believe with two techniques, they already taken down more of their forces.

"Let's do another, Retsu," Yun Che smirked as he slammed his palms onto the air, releasing a burst of crimson smoke. The Sekienton technique swiftly engulfed the battlefield, a thick, swirling veil of red obscuring the movements within.

"Get ready! Surround them!" Fen Duanhun commanded, his voice sharp with urgency.

But before his men could act, a high-pitched screech sliced through the smoke, followed by a blinding flaming disc that shot toward them. The men scattered, narrowly avoiding the attack as it struck the ground and exploded with ferocious force. More flaming discs followed, emerging from the smoke in rapid succession, each one creating havoc among the ranks.

Amid the chaos, Fen Mowu's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of Retsu's silhouette through the haze. Wasting no time, he dove straight toward her, his weapon raised. Just as he neared her, a golden strap of energy shot out from the smoke, binding him mid-air.

"What is this?! I can't move!" Fen Mowu roared, struggling against the binding energy. His shouts for help echoed futilely as the others failed to locate him through the dense smoke.

Above him, Retsu emerged, her serene expression replaced with cold determination. In her hand, a massive, spiraling sphere of energy hummed with destructive power. Fen Mowu's instincts screamed at him to flee, but the golden binding held him firmly in place.

"Chō Ōdama Rasengan! (Great Ball Spiraling Sphere)" Retsu's voice rang out as the immense energy sphere in her hand grew larger and brighter.

With a forceful motion, she smashed the spiraling energy ball into Fen Mowu. The sphere expanded explosively, unleashing a torrent of wind and energy that tore through the battlefield. The surrounding men shielded their eyes and ears, helpless against the devastating force of the technique. Fen Mowu's screams were drowned out by the sound of the massive Rasengan wreaking havoc on his body.

As the smoke and debris cleared, the battlefield fell silent. In the center of a newly-formed crater lay Fen Mowu, his body battered and broken, his profound energy in disarray.

Fen Duanhun's face darkened as the horrifying truth sank in—this was no ordinary battle. They were fighting monsters wielding arts far beyond their understanding. Techniques that defied their knowledge and pushed their comprehension to its limits. The flaming disc that emerged earlier had seared his men upon detonation, and now, the massive spiraling ball of energy had obliterated Fen Mowu, leaving devastation in its wake. Not even his strongest elders could stop it.

"Impossible… They took down Fen Mowu, a high-level Sky Profound Realm elder…" Fen Zhong's trembling voice betrayed his disbelief, his eyes locked on the smoldering crater.

"What are these techniques? This power isn't something from the True Profound Realm!" Fen Xinghao muttered, his voice tinged with both awe and dread.

"We can't lose him too! We've already lost Moli!" Fen Duanhun roared, his desperation clawing at him.

Determined to retaliate, the elders shifted their strategy. Their voices thundered in unison, carrying a sense of urgency and rage. "Seafaring Flame Dragon!" Fen Duanhun and his remaining elders cried out, their blades igniting with a fiery brilliance. The air around them shimmered with heat as a thick, blazing dragon of pure flame surged forth, coiling and roaring as it raced toward Yun Che and Retsu. The scorching heatwave and sharp whistle of the wind that followed signaled the terrifying power behind their attack.

Yun Che smirked as he and Retsu synchronized their voices, chanting, "Bakudō #39. Enkōsen (Circle Lock Fan)!" With fluid movements, both extended their hands in a defensive posture, generating a dull yellow energy that coalesced into a massive spinning disc of condensed power before them. The flaming dragon's searing heat crashed against the energy barrier, only to be caught and dispersed, the flames spiraling harmlessly around the spinning shield.

The men froze, their eyes wide with disbelief. The combined might of five Sky Profound Realm elders, which should have obliterated anything in its path, had been effortlessly nullified. Their ultimate technique, reduced to nothing more than scattered embers spinning around the glowing disc.

With a subtle nod between them, Yun Che and Retsu shifted their stance, the spinning Circle Lock Fan transitioning seamlessly from defense to offense. The glowing barrier rotated horizontally, now brimming with destructive energy.

"Let's return the favor," Yun Che mused, his grin widening. "Hado#2 – Enkosen (Flaming Disc)!"

Together, they hurled the blazing disc forward. The elders scrambled, their bodies a blur as they dodged, but the disc exploded mid-air, releasing the reclaimed Sky Profound Realm flames in a devastating burst. The flames lashed out in all directions, igniting the sky with fiery devastation. Lower-cultivation men caught in the inferno screamed as the overwhelming power consumed them, leaving only chaos and ash in its wake.

Fen Duanhun could only watch, his heart sinking as his forces crumbled before his eyes.

Seizing the moment, Fen Moping surged forward, his movements a blur as he swung his Burning Heaven Blade, releasing a fiery sword wave aimed straight at Yun Che. However, Yun Che deftly sidestepped the attack, his figure vanishing and reappearing within striking range of Fen Moping.

Desperation flickered across Fen Moping's face as he attempted to retreat, but his path was cut off by a precise incantation.

 "Bakudō #4: Hainawa (Slithering Rope)!" Retsu called out, extending her hand as a crackling yellow energy rope materialized. The glowing tether shot out, wrapping around Fen Moping's arms and torso, immobilizing him completely.

Fen Moping struggled, his movements futile against the binding spell, as Yun Che leapt into the air. His leg began to glow with an intense heat, flames swirling around it as he activated Diable Jamble. Spinning mid-air, he descended with tremendous force.

"Concasse!" Yun Che roared, his flaming heel smashing down onto Fen Moping's head. The sheer impact reverberated through the battlefield, instantly rendering the elder unconscious. The flames from the attack dissipated as Fen Moping crumpled to the ground, defeated.

Retsu dispersed the glowing bindings with a gentle flick of her wrist, her serene expression unchanging as she observed their handiwork. Two elders had fallen—swiftly and decisively—an undeniable testament to their flawless teamwork.

----------------

[Ding… Energy absorption complete. Flaming Soccer Ball Leveled Up!]

[Flame Color: Purple]

[Explosive Strength: Sky Profound Realm]

-------------------

Yun Che smirked, the flaming soccer ball in his hands now radiating with a new, ominous energy. The once-orange flames had shifted to an intense purple hue, signaling its increased power. He glanced at the crowd of enemies, raised the ball high, and launched it into the air. With a sudden burst of speed, he leapt forward, his leg glowing with fiery energy, and delivered a powerful kick that sent the ball hurtling toward the men like a meteor.

The purple fireball struck its target with a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The remaining men scattered in panic, their formation broken. The flaming ball, however, wasn't finished. It ricocheted back to Yun Che, who, with precise timing, deflected it once more, sending it into the fray again and again. Each explosion rivaled the power of a Sky Profound Realm cultivator's attack, leaving devastation in its wake.

"What is that thing?!" one of the remaining elders shouted, his voice laced with panic as the ball wreaked havoc.

"It has purple flames… and the explosive force is unreal!" Fen Xinghao muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Deploy Blazing Sun Burns Clouds!" Fen Duanhun barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. The remaining elders quickly complied, conjuring a towering wall of blazing fire to shield themselves and block Yun Che's advances.

Unfazed, Yun Che empowered his next kick, flames swirling around his leg as he aimed directly at Fen Duanchi. The flaming ball hurtled toward the elder with incredible speed. Fen Duanchi, desperate to seize an advantage, extended his arms to catch the fiery weapon, intending to turn it against Yun Che.

"Got it!" Fen Duanchi shouted triumphantly as he held the searing ball in his hands. However, his moment of triumph was short-lived. The ball pulsed violently, then erupted in another explosion. Purple flames surged around Fen Duanchi, forcing him to stagger back. Though he managed to hold onto the ball, the strain of the attack left his arms trembling and numb.

"Clan Master, I've captured his weapon!" Fen Duanchi yelled, pride and pain evident in his voice.

"Bring it back to the clan!" Fen Duanhun commanded. But as Fen Duanchi moved, the ball surged with energy again, unleashing another explosion that left him stunned. The soccer ball slipped from his grip, its fiery glow intensifying as it darted back to Yun Che like a homing missile.

Fen Duanhun watched in stunned silence. The weapon wasn't just powerful—it seemed to possess a mind of its own. Meanwhile, Fen Duanchi clutched his arms, now visibly shaking from the repeated blasts. Though the flames originated from their clan's techniques, the power of Yun Che's weapon had far surpassed anything they could control.

"Damn you, Yun Che! Thousand Scorching Suns!" Fen Duanhun roared, unleashing a flurry of purple flaming spheres that streaked through the air toward Yun Che and Retsu. As the fireballs closed in, he raised his middle and index fingers, signaling his men to intensify the assault.

"Ketsu! (Bind)" Yun Che commanded calmly. A shimmering blue cube-shaped barrier materialized around him and Retsu just as the fireballs struck, enveloping them in a cacophony of explosions. The shockwaves rippled outward, and the men watching were convinced the pair had been incinerated.

As the smoke cleared, disbelief washed over the attackers. Yun Che and Retsu stood unscathed within the pristine barrier, their calm composure unshaken.

"Again! Use Thousand Scorching Suns once more!" Fen Duanhun bellowed, his voice trembling with frustration. His men complied, preparing another salvo of fiery devastation.

Retsu took a step forward, her serene smile tinged with mischief as she focused on the cluster of forming fireballs. "Hoi! (Engulf)," she said, her voice carrying an authoritative edge. Her hands moved gracefully, creating the foundation of her counterattack.

"Joso! (Corner)," she added, her energy weaving into the air as countless glowing cubes began to encapsulate the fiery orbs mid-flight. The purple flames, now trapped, hovered ominously above the battlefield, their heat sizzling against the cool precision of her barriers.

Retsu's gaze sharpened, her smile widening as she delivered the final command: "Ufuu... Metsu (Destroy)."

The barriers activated in unison, unleashing the fiery orbs' explosive power back toward their originators. The air was filled with a chaotic symphony of detonations as the fireballs peppered the men with relentless explosions, each one a reflection of their own attack.

Amid the chaos, Fen Duanhun and his guardian elders emerged, their faces battered and scorched by their own flames. Their breathing was labored, and their robes were singed and torn. The look of disbelief in their eyes was matched only by the satisfaction in Retsu's as she lowered her hands with an air of serene finality.

"Oof," Yun Che mused, his voice dripping with feigned pity. "Getting outplayed by their own flames—how tragic."

"Ufuu…" Retsu chuckled softly, her tone playful yet ominous.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Fen Zhong shouted, frustration etched across his face. Every flame they conjured was turned against them, leaving their pride and tactics in tatters.

"Ara… looks like they're still alive," Retsu said with a serene smile, her calm demeanor only fueling their enemies' rage.

Fen Duanhun's glare could have melted steel. Summoning all his remaining strength, he formed an enormous purple fireball, its energy radiating an oppressive heat.

"Take this and die, brats!" he roared, hurling the massive attack toward Yun Che and Retsu.

Retsu began forming another barrier, but Yun Che held up a hand to stop her. "Wait. I've got an idea," he said with a smirk.

As the blazing fireball closed in, Yun Che swiftly sealed it within a glowing blue cube-shaped barrier. The raging flames swirled chaotically within the transparent prison, but before Fen Duanhun could comprehend what was happening, Retsu raised her hand and chanted, "Bakudō #63. Sajō Sabaku (Locking Bondage Stripes)!"

Golden energy ribbons shot out, wrapping around the barrier that contained the fireball. With a sly grin, Retsu gripped the glowing ribbons tightly and began to spin, twirling the massive barrier around her like a deadly sling. Gathering momentum with each rotation, she released the bindings with a sharp flick.

The barrier—along with the fireball inside—hurtled back toward Fen Duanhun and his remaining forces.

"No!" Fen Zhong shouted in horror as the massive attack reversed direction.

Yun Che dropped his barrier just in time for the contained fireball to detonate upon impact. The ensuing explosion painted the battlefield in a sea of purple flames, the shockwave flattening the surrounding terrain. Yun Che and Retsu, safely behind their own barrier, stood untouched amidst the chaos.

As the flames subsided, Yun Che folded his arms, his smirk unwavering. "Now that's what I call playing with fire."

Retsu giggled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Ufuu… how clumsy of them."

-------------------------

Back in Heavenly Sword Villa's Profound Extractor Formation, Cang Yue suspended in midair as the formation began affecting her. Yuyun pulls her into the Moon World.

"Nice scream, Yue'er. You make it look convincing," Yuyun said, a faint smirk gracing her lips as she guided Cang Yue's consciousness into the Moon World, disconnecting her from the physical realm and the formation. 

Cang Yue relaxed, letting out a small laugh. "I admit, pretending that formation was melting my brain took some effort, but it didn't hurt at all. Just felt like a mild buzz." 

Yuyun nodded approvingly, folding her arms. "Yun Che's plan was flawless. That formation was originally designed to extract and transfer your mind's contents, but with the tampering, it did quite the opposite. Ingenious, really." 

Cang Yue mirrored her smirk. "I'm impressed. He didn't tell me about this twist. It's a surprise, but one I'm happy to work with." 

Meanwhile, in the physical world, Ling Yuefeng frowned, growing uneasy. "She's gone silent. Why has she stopped screaming?" 

Ling Tianni's brow furrowed, and a sinking realization washed over him as he felt an unnatural pull on his profound energy. His eyes widened in shock. "This… no! She's stealing my cultivation!" 

"What?!" Ling Yuefeng gasped, stepping closer to the glowing formation. "How could she possibly—this formation was meant to extract her thoughts and memories!" 

Ling Tianni roared, his voice trembling with fury and disbelief. "Someone tampered with it! This isn't how it was supposed to work!" 

Ling Yuefeng looked to his father, confusion and anger mixing on his face. "Who? Who could have tampered with something so crucial?" 

Ling Tianni clenched his fists, his body trembling with rage. "I entrusted her with preparing it. She was the last one to inspect and deliver it to me. That woman… she betrayed us!" 

"Who is she?" Ling Yuefeng demanded, though dread already crept into his tone. 

Ling Tianni's roar echoed across the field. "That traitor! I'll kill her with my own hands!" 

------------------

"Yue'er… this is an opportunity of a lifetime," Yuyun said with a sly grin as the tampering formation continued to siphon Ling Tianni's cultivated energy into the Moon World. The sheer purity of the profound power was a rare treasure, and Yuyun intended to make the most of it. "With this energy, I can directly tamper with your body and enhance your cultivation." 

Cang Yue tilted her head, her eyes filled with curiosity and disbelief. "Enhance my cultivation? But I thought only Moon Energy could do that." 

"Not in the traditional sense of levels," Yuyun clarified, her tone calm yet excited. "I'm not talking about raising your cultivation level outright. I mean refining your body's properties. Using his Profound Emperor energy, I can give you an entire realm's boost. Imagine possessing combat power comparable to Yun Che—being able to fight someone at the Peak of Sky Profound Realm with your current cultivation." 

Cang Yue's eyes widened in astonishment. "You can do that?!" 

Yuyun smirked confidently. "With raw, untampered energy like this? Absolutely. If you were to rely on energy from your family or allies, it wouldn't work as well. Their energy is already adapted and filtered to their bodies, which makes it less effective for this kind of enhancement. But this? It's perfect." 

She began channeling the refined energy toward Cang Yue's Yin Lunar Body, meticulously enhancing its properties. 

---------------------

SMASH! SMASH!

Ling Tianni relentlessly pounded the glowing barrier, his fists crashing against the protective formation. Every strike caused his profound energy to dwindle further, the tampering process siphoning yet another level of his Emperor Profound Realm cultivation. 

"Damn it!" Ling Tianni roared, sweat pouring down his face as cracks began forming in the barrier. "She's draining me dry!" 

Ling Yuefeng joined in, striking the barrier alongside his father in desperation. Each blow weakened the formation, but the price was steep. By the time the barrier shattered with an echoing crash, Ling Tianni's cultivation had plummeted to the Fourth Level of the Emperor Profound Realm. 

The barrier fell, revealing Cang Yue lying unconscious within. The aura of profound energy around her was dense and intimidating, a sign of the transformation she had undergone. 

Ling Tianni gritted his teeth, rage burning in his eyes. "If I can't extract her mind, I'll kill her! Better her dead than for me to lose everything!" 

He lunged toward her suspended form, his hand glowing with lethal intent. 

"Die!!!" 

Before his attack could connect, a chilling force struck his chest like a thunderbolt. Ling Tianni was hurled backward, crashing violently into a jagged rock formation with a thunderous boom. 

"Father!" Ling Yuefeng hurried to his father's side, supporting him as they both looked up in shock. 

Two figures now stood between them and Cang Yue, their presence commanding and their gazes cold as ice. 

Two figures descended gracefully, their forms illuminated by the faint moonlight. Ling Yuefeng's eyes widened in disbelief, his shock mirrored by his battered father. He had never expected these two icy, ethereal figures—silver-haired fairies whose beauty rivaled the serene splendor of the night moon—to appear here, much less to aid the seemingly helpless Cang Yue. 

Their flowing robes bore the unmistakable insignia of the Frozen Cloud Asgard, a symbol of power and prestige that sent a chill down Ling Yuefeng's spine. Their presence radiated authority and elegance, their icy auras exuding both beauty and danger. 

"Chu Yuechan… Chu Yueli," Ling Yuefeng whispered, the names falling from his lips like a curse. 

The elder sister, Chu Yuechan, stood poised and calm, her piercing gaze fixed on the father and son duo. Her silvery hair shimmered like frost in the moonlight, and her tranquil demeanor betrayed no hint of mercy. Ling Yuefeng could only grit his teeth as this woman who was once his former love interest prepared to end his life. Beside her, Chu Yueli's eyes burned with quiet determination, her delicate features accentuated by the cold light of the stars. 

"To think you would dare harm her," Little Fairy said, her voice as cold and unyielding as the ice she commanded. 

Ling Tianni, still struggling to rise after being sent flying, clenched his fists. "Frozen Cloud Asgard dares to interfere? This has nothing to do with you!" 

Chu Yueli stepped forward, her tone sharp and cutting. "Harming an ally of our Asgard is more than enough reason to intervene. Your arrogance ends here, grand villa master Ling Tianni." 

Ling Yuefeng swallowed hard, feeling a wave of dread as he realized the battle had turned. These two women weren't just renowned for their beauty—they were formidable warriors who had already overpowered his father with ease. The insignia on their robes was not just a decoration; it was a warning, one that the Heavenly Sword Villa had ignored at their peril.

"Sister Yue!" Chu Yueli exclaimed, rushing toward Cang Yue, but her elder sister, Chu Yuechan, raised a hand to stop her. 

"No, Li'er. She's absorbing his cultivation. We must ensure it stays that way," Little Fairy said firmly, her eyes locked on the struggling Ling Tianni. She understood the stakes perfectly. If her rascal were here, he'd undoubtedly let the flow of energy continue, seeing it as part of his intricate plan. Their task wasn't to save Cang Yue but to guard the formation, ensuring it empowered her as intended. 

Chu Yueli hesitated but nodded. This wasn't the time to question her sister's judgment. 

Across the battlefield, Ling Yuefeng gritted his teeth. "Just fight them, Yuefeng!" Ling Tianni barked, glaring at his son. "I know about your foolish infatuation with Chu Yuechan, but we must sever the link between me and the princess, no matter what!" 

Ling Yuefeng swallowed hard but steeled himself. "Chu Yuechan, this is your last warning. A Peak Sky Profound Realm and an Eighth Level Sky Profound Realm will make no difference against us!" 

Little Fairy didn't respond with words as the cultivation he mentioned was their old cultivation levels. Instead, she raised her sword in a single fluid motion and slammed it into Ling Yuefeng's blade. The force of her strike sent him and his father flying back, struggling to regain their footing. 

When they finally steadied themselves, they froze in disbelief. The sisters' auras surged, radiating raw power that defied all logic. 

"Li'er, go all out," Little Fairy ordered, her voice cold and resolute as she isn't keen on playing around since they're facing the higher ups of the villa. "I've got a score to settle with the Great Villa Master." 

"Yes, Onee-san," Chu Yueli replied, her tone calm but deadly. 

With a flick of their hands, Little Fairy removed Cang Yue's old suppression necklace, while Chu Yueli unclasped the Moon Empress's suppression bracelet. The moment the restraints were gone, their true power erupted like a storm, shaking the very ground beneath them. 

Ling Yuefeng and Ling Tianni stared, their faces pale with shock. 

"Impossible… Impossible!!" Ling Yuefeng gasped, his voice trembling. 

Both sisters now radiated the unmistakable aura of Half-Step Tyrant Profound Realm cultivators, their power on the verge of breaking into the next level. 

Ling Tianni's disbelief turned to anger. "How?! When did you gain this power?!" he shouted, veins bulging in his forehead. 

It had taken him decades to ascend a single level in the Emperor Profound Realm, yet these two, mere juniors, had leapt from Peak Sky Profound Realm to the brink of Tyrant Profound Realm in mere months. Worse still, Chu Yueli, who had only been in the Eighth Level Sky Profound Realm, now matched her sister's power. 

"What are your secrets?!" Ling Tianni roared, his voice laced with desperation and fury. 

Little Fairy's icy gaze met his. "Secrets?" she said, her voice as cold as the winds of Frozen Cloud Asgard. "You'll have plenty of time to ponder that—if you survive." 

"You're aware that this will spark a war between the Heavenly Sword Villa and the Frozen Cloud Asgard! Not to mention, we're backed by the Sacred Ground!" Ling Yuefeng shouted, desperation lacing his voice as he glared at the Chu sisters.

Little Fairy's icy gaze darted between Ling Tianni and Ling Yuefeng. She had heard enough of their bluff. They were clinging to an alliance they no longer possessed, thanks to her rascal's intervention. With Xuanyuan Yufeng regaining her clarity and turning against the villa, their so-called "backing" was nothing but an empty boast.

A smirk formed beneath Little Fairy's veil, cold and cutting. "The Heavenly Sword Villa? Backed by the Sacred Ground? You're delusional, Ling Yuefeng."

Ling Yuefeng's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Little Fairy tilted her head, her tone mockingly sweet. "How's your wife, Ling Yuefeng? I hear she's made a remarkable recovery."

His eyes widened in shock, a flicker of guilt flashing across his face. "You… How do you know about that?"

"Oh, let's just say she finally came to her senses after you used that vile potion on her," Little Fairy replied with a glacial edge in her tone. "She's quite the woman. Did you really think she'd continue supporting the villa after what you did to her?"

Ling Tianni's expression darkened, his fists clenching as he looked toward his son. "Potion? She knew about the potion. You tried using it on her? That thing is the villa's secret!"

Ling Yuefeng kept quiet. The Eternal Love Potion was used on Xuanyuan Yufeng to tie the villa with the sacred ground. She was the only reason the sacred ground backed the Heavenly Sword Villa.

Little Fairy didn't miss the flicker of unease in Ling Yuefeng's posture. She pressed on, her voice dripping with cold disdain. "Ask your son. He seems to have a penchant for using such despicable means. He even tried it on me not too long ago." Her gaze shifted to Ling Yuefeng, her eyes gleaming with dangerous intent. "Consider this retribution for that little stunt."

Ling Tianni froze, realization dawning on him. If Xuanyuan Yufeng's disdain for the villa became public knowledge—if word of her hatred for the villa reached the Sacred Ground—they would lose everything. The villa's prestige, their alliances, their very survival would be at stake. Worse still, if it was true that she tampered with the formation, he needed to ended woman before she became a liability.

Ling Tianni's mind raced as he struggled to comprehend the situation. The two women before him radiated an aura of power that far exceeded his own. His cultivation, now reduced further by the formation, left him vulnerable against adversaries he never imagined could surpass him. To make matters worse, the formation he had meticulously prepared to extract the Princess's secrets had backfired spectacularly, becoming the instrument of his downfall. 

Little Fairy stood resolute. Her icy gaze locked on Ling Tianni, the man she now saw as unworthy of his reputation. Her rascal's words echoed in her mind—words about Ling Tianni's willingness to abandon the Heavenly Sword Villa once he had wrung every benefit from Cang Yue. The thought that he would so callously sacrifice the girl, someone she had come to care for like a blood sister, stoked her fury. 

More than that, Yun Che had warned her of Ling Tianni's true nature—a selfish opportunist who cared for nothing but his own gain. Even if Frozen Cloud Asgard faced annihilation, he would not lift a finger to help. That revelation had struck a nerve, igniting a fire in Little Fairy that demanded retribution. 

She tightened her grip on her sword, her expression colder than ever. "Grand Villa Master Ling Tianni," she said, her voice sharp as a blade, "you dare target my sworn sister, Princess Cang Yue? Tell me, do you plan on abandoning the villa if you managed to get what is in her mind?" 

Ling Tianni's jaw clenched. "You don't understand!" he spat, desperation creeping into his voice. "Everything I've done was for survival—for the villa!" 

"Lies," Little Fairy retorted, her voice unwavering. "You planned to leave them all behind the moment you got what you wanted. You're nothing but a coward hiding behind excuses. If Cang Yue's master came to wipe the villa out for her death, you would first jump and leave them all behind." 

Beside her, Chu Yueli stepped forward, her eyes glinting with anger as her frost powers flared up. If Cang Yue falls, how can she face Mihawk or Nezuko if she meets them after she fails to protect her? "You're trying to kill sister Yue?! Death is too easy for you!"

Ling Tianni glared at the two sisters, his frustration boiling over. All because of that boy, Yun Che. It was like he knew what would happen and coordinating them thoroughly. "You think you can judge me?! You're just pawns of that damn swordsman—" 

Before he could finish, Chu Yueli moved. Her blade struck with such force that it sent Ling Tianni staggering backward. She refused to tolerate anyone insulting him. "Enough!" she said coldly. "Trying to kill sister Yue? You'll answer to us." 

Ling Tianni, battered and humiliated, realized the truth: he was outmatched, both in power and in resolve.

The battlefield was a flurry of clashing energy as Chu Yueli and Little Fairy engaged Ling Yuefeng and Ling Tianni, respectively. Despite the father and son's combined efforts, the disparity in strength and skill was glaringly evident. The icy calm of the Chu sisters contrasted sharply with the desperation of their opponents. 

"Heavenly Sword Domain!" Ling Tianni and his son shouted.

Ling Tianni roared as he activated the Heavenly Sword Domain, the air around him shimmering with sword intent as countless beams of light shot toward Little Fairy. "You dare stand against me?!" he bellowed. 

Little Fairy remained unshaken. Her aura surged as a frosty mist spread outward, freezing the sword lights mid-air. The glacial brilliance of her power rendered Ling Tianni's domain ineffective, the frozen shards reflecting his own helplessness. 

Ling Tianni gritted his teeth and charged forward, but Little Fairy met his attack with ease. Her strikes were precise, calculated, and devastating. For every blow he landed, she retaliated with overwhelming force, pushing him further and further back. 

On the other side, Chu Yueli engaged Ling Yuefeng with an intensity that left him scrambling to defend himself. He was visibly struggling under her relentless assault, her swordplay flawless and unyielding especially using her Tachikaze katana. 

"Fairy Chu Yueli!" Ling Yuefeng pleaded, parrying another strike. "I hold no grudge against you! Why are you attacking me?" 

Chu Yueli's eyes flashed with anger as she increased the tempo of her strikes. "You dare speak of no grudge? After you tried to poison my sister with that vile potion? Consider yourself fortunate I've not taken your life yet!" 

Her words carried the weight of personal experience—of battles fought and nearly lost, of lessons learned in blood. Every swing of her blade was a reminder of the strength she had gained since her near-death in the Tomb of the Moon Empress. 

Ling Yuefeng barely managed to keep up, his techniques disrupted at every turn. "You—how have you grown so powerful in such a short time?!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and fear. 

Chu Yueli's aura surged, her icy energy forming a palpable pressure around her. With a graceful but powerful motion, she unleashed a decisive strike with Tachikaze, her blade gleaming with frigid energy. The sheer force of the attack was overwhelming, and the unique property of her weapon—the ability to absorb and nullify vibrations—ensured that her strikes carried devastating power without any recoil.

Ling Yuefeng's eyes widened in disbelief as the impact met his sword. He braced himself, expecting to at least deflect part of the attack, but the strength behind her swing was unstoppable. With a deafening crack, his blade shattered, fragments of metal scattering like shards of ice. The force of the blow sent him staggering backward, his expression frozen in shock.

"This... this is impossible!" he stammered, clutching the remnants of his broken weapon. His hands trembled as he realized just how utterly outmatched he was.

Chu Yueli didn't flinch. The power coursing through her felt almost surreal—even in an all-out burst of energy, there was no strain, no backlash. Tachikaze's unique properties allowed her to attack with unrelenting ferocity, unhindered by the aftershocks that would normally accompany such overwhelming force.

Ling Yuefeng staggered again, his knees threatening to buckle under the weight of her aura. He was no longer facing the timid fairy he once underestimated. Defeated and disarmed, Ling Yuefeng's arrogance and pride crumbled as he stood before her, unable to summon the will to continue the fight.

Ling Tianni gritted his teeth as he channeled the last remnants of his Emperor Profound Realm power into his strikes, each swing fueled by desperation and fury. The once-mighty patriarch of the Heavenly Sword Villa was now reduced to a shadow of his former self, his cultivation dwindling with every passing moment. His carefully cultivated power, amassed over years of painstaking effort and resources, was being stripped away in mere moments—an irony so bitter it burned.

His strikes were relentless, yet they met an unyielding wall. Little Fairy's defenses were flawless, her mastery of ice and snow creating an impenetrable barrier. Every attack he launched was either frozen mid-air, deflected by her icy techniques, or absorbed with a calm grace that unnerved him. Even when his sword landed a direct hit, it felt as though he was striking steel, her body radiating an implacable resilience.

Then he noticed it—her delicate hands turning an ominous black, her blade shimmering with a slick, black coating that radiated a purple aura. The sight sent a chill down his spine, and his instincts screamed at him to retreat. Whatever that coating was, it exuded a lethal energy that he knew he couldn't withstand.

"What is this power?" he murmured, his voice cracking with both fear and frustration. He raised his treasured sword, an artifact of unparalleled craftsmanship, to block her descending strike.

The clash was brief but decisive. Little Fairy's sword, augmented by the ominous coating, cut through his weapon as if it were no more than paper. The once-pristine blade shattered, fragments falling to the ground with a dull clatter. Ling Tianni stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"That sword..." he muttered, staring at the broken pieces. "It was... one of the villa's greatest treasures..."

Little Fairy's expression remained icy and composed. "So?"

The irony was devastating. The patriarch of the Heavenly Sword Villa, a sect revered for its mastery of swordsmanship, had been utterly outclassed and humiliated in a sword fight by two so-called "Chu Ultimate Duo."

As the grand villa master, Ling Tianni wielded the strongest sword in the Heavenly Sword Villa—a treasure revered for its unmatched craftsmanship and formidable power. It was a weapon that had seen countless victories and symbolized his dominance in the art of swordsmanship. Yet, in the face of Little Fairy's blade, it might as well have been a brittle stick.

Her sword, radiating an eerie black sheen and cloaked in a faint purple aura, effortlessly cleaved through his treasured weapon as though it were nothing more than wood. The sharp, discordant sound of the blade shattering echoed through the battlefield, leaving Ling Tianni frozen in disbelief.

"Impossible..." he whispered, staring at the splintered remains of his once-mighty blade. The weight of his failure pressed down on him, heavier than any force he had ever faced. He widened his eyes to see the same thing happened to his son. Both swords which are treasures from the sacred ground were broken beyond repair. Both father and son hopelessly defeated by the Chu sisters.

Ling Tianni gritted his teeth as the last vestiges of his Emperor Profound Realm powers were drained away, leaving him hollow and desperate. The humiliation of being overpowered was compounded by the realization that his painstakingly earned cultivation was being stolen, moment by moment. He had no choice now; he had to sever the link before he lost everything.

"Enough of this!" Ling Tianni roared, his voice echoing with raw frustration. Channeling the remnants of his profound energy, he burst forward with speed, dodging Little Fairy's icy assault. His target was clear—the defenseless formation housing Princess Cang Yue. If he couldn't regain his power, then he would ensure no one else could benefit from it, especially her.

The air seemed to crackle as Ling Tianni pushed his battered body to its limit, his speed blurring his figure. His sword arm raised, aiming for the fatal blow that would end the process and take Cang Yue's life.

"Die!" he shouted, the desperation in his voice betraying his once-unshakable confidence.

Little Fairy's eyes widened as she saw his intent. "No, you don't!" she shouted, immediately giving chase. But despite her overwhelming power, she wasn't positioned to intercept in time.

Just as Ling Tianni's hand blade descended, ready to pierce through the suspended princess, a burst of golden energy erupted from within Cang Yue, halting his strike mid-air. The force sent him staggering back, his body trembling as the raw power pushed him away. Ling Tianni barely had time to react before a delicate fist crashed into his face with bone-shattering force, sending him hurtling through the air like a comet toward the distant sea. 

Cang Yue's figure slowly suspend within the formation, her aura now enveloped in a brilliant, golden light. Her once-helpless demeanor was replaced with one of regal authority, her golden eyes staring down at Ling Tianni with a cold detachment.

The sheer force of the aura stunned Chu Yueli, halting her in mid-flight as her eyes widened in disbelief. "What… what is this power?" 

Little Fairy, who flew nearby, turned her head toward the eruption of energy. Her breath caught as she gazed upon her sworn sister. "Sister Yue… what happened to you?" 

Hovering in the air, Cang Yue radiated a golden brilliance that slowly began to settle. But as the light dimmed, her appearance transformed. Her waist-length hair darkened into an inky black and cascaded down to her feet. Her eyes flickered between black and gold, a sharp contrast to her usual timid demeanor. Gone was the gentle princess; in her place stood a figure emanating the imposing presence of a sovereign ruler. 

A chilling, commanding voice echoed from her lips, laced with contempt. "To harm this empress… does he not understand that such insolence is punishable by death?" 

The Chu sisters stared, their breaths caught in their throats. They failed to recognized the figure before them, yet she was unlike the Cang Yue they knew. 

"Sister Yue…" Chu Yueli whispered, her voice trembling with awe and fear. 

Floating in the air, the alternate personality of Cang Yue—The Dark Empress, Shin Yue—surveyed the battlefield. Her aura was calm now, yet it carried the overwhelming weight of a ruthless ruler, suffocating those who dared to meet her gaze.

"Letting me out to deal with this, that Yue'er." Shin Yue sighed, her voice filled with disappointment. Without hesitation, her golden aura surged once more, and she launched herself toward the sea, her figure blurring with speed. Her intent was clear: to deliver swift judgment upon Ling Tianni for his transgressions against her 'nice' self. 

Chu Yueli instinctively prepared to follow, but Little Fairy placed a gentle yet firm hand on her shoulder, halting her. "Li'er, it's better to let her handle this." 

"But Onee-san…" Chu Yueli's voice was tinged with worry, her eyes darting toward the vanishing figure of Shin Yue. 

Little Fairy's gaze remained steady, her tone calm but resolute. "Whoever or whatever is possessing Sister Yue's body, it's beyond us. We can't interfere. Let her settle this in her way. For now, we focus on our part." 

Chu Yueli hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay…" 

The two sisters turned their attention to Ling Yuefeng, who stood battered and bloodied before them. His once-pristine demeanor was now replaced with desperation and exhaustion. His weapon is now broken and now facing two Half-Step Tyrant Profound Realm cultivators while being merely in the Emperor Profound Realm had driven him to the edge. 

Ling Yuefeng gritted his teeth, blood trickling down his lip. The Chu sisters weren't just fighting him—they were overwhelming him. His pride as a swordmaster and the villa's young master felt like a cruel joke under their relentless assault. 

His thoughts raced. Escape… I must escape. If I can reach Father, we can turn this around. He's the backbone of the villa, the only one who can hold us together. If he falls… the villa is doomed. 

But how? The Chu Ultimate Duo Sisters stood between him and any hope of retreat. Their reputation was no exaggeration. They moved with seamless precision, anticipating his every attempt to flee. 

"Running isn't an option, Villa Master Ling, consider this payback for attempting to poison me with the Eternal Love Potion and harming my sworn sister." Little Fairy said, her voice cold and unyielding. Her icy aura coiled around her, ready to strike at a moment's notice. 

Chu Yueli's Tachikaze gleamed in the moonlight, her stance poised for the final blow. "Surrender. It'll save you some dignity." 

Ling Yuefeng's fists clenched. The humiliation of being cornered like a rat burned through him, but his survival instinct screamed louder. He had to find a way out—before it was too late.