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039 Great Barrier
🕑 Added 2025-02-21 15:33:43 +0000 UTCThe clash of steel sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. Da Wei’s blade met the demon’s greatsword, and the very air trembled with the impact. Ren Jin, hovering above, watched with narrowed eyes. Below, cracks spiderwebbed across the earth beneath Da Wei’s feet, but he did not yield an inch. Instead, he met the demon’s gaze with cold disdain.
To Ren Jin’s astonishment, the creature flinched.
A golden arc of light followed Da Wei’s sword, cutting through the sky in a blinding crescent. The demon—Brukhelm—twisted midair with an unnatural grace, his black wings beating once to propel him backward. He evaded by the barest margin.
Ren Jin frowned. That name—Brukhelm—sat oddly on his tongue, foreign and ill-fitting to the cadence of the land. He tested it under his breath, reshaping it.
"Bu Lu Keng? Bu Keng? Bu Kel?"
It did not matter.
As a prince of the Empire, Ren Jin had walked among sages and stood in the presence of immortal masters. Though he had been outmaneuvered by his kin and relegated to govern this distant city, he was no stranger to the heights of cultivation. And yet, in all his years, he had never seen a monster like this.
The battlefield was gripped by fear.
Bu Lu Keng’s mere presence sent waves of dread crashing over the gathered cultivators. The elite guards of Yellow Dragon City, men who had stared death in the eye a hundred times, faltered. The proud disciples of great sects—heirs to legendary techniques—shook as if their knees might give out.
Floating above the chaos, Ren Jin’s expression remained stoic. This was beyond the scope of what a mere city governor should contend with, but he had no choice.
“Elders,” he commanded, his voice laced with Qi, resonating across the battlefield. “Aid in the evacuation.”
There was hesitation, then movement. The older cultivators took charge. The younger disciples, still shaken, hurried to guide the weak to safety. Some of the stronger ones lingered, their eyes locked onto the duel unfolding before them.
Not fear alone held them. Curiosity, too.
How vast was the gulf between them and that demon? Between them and the man who stood against it?
Ren Jin’s gaze returned to Da Wei.
‘Who are you?’
The man had entered his city as nothing more than a wandering cultivator, unremarkable and unassuming. Yet now, he stood unyielding before a high-ranked demon. His blade carved through the air with divine brilliance. His expression was calm, battle-worn—not the look of a reckless fool, but of one who had done this countless times before.
And the demon hesitated.
Ren Jin's grip tightened on his sword.
This man… was not ordinary.
Bu Lu Keng let out a deep, reverberating laugh. “You are strong, Paladin. But you are alone.”
Da Wei tilted his head, eyes cold. “So are you.”
Ren Jin’s gaze sharpened. The battle was far from over. No matter the outcome, Yellow Dragon City would never be the same.
Bu Lu Keng rose higher, twisting through the sky as radiant blades of light lanced toward him. His black wings unfurled, each beat sending turbulent winds crashing into the shattered remains of the arena. His crimson skin pulsed faintly, veins alight with a sinister golden-red glow. His gaze swept over the battlefield—calculating, searching.
Then, his eyes locked onto Ren Jin.
A suffocating force descended upon him, as though an unseen mountain had slammed onto his chest. His breath caught. His limbs felt heavy, the marrow in his bones turning to ice. It was a fear that ran deeper than mere instinct—a primal truth etched into his very soul.
He was prey.
Ren Jin clenched his teeth and forced himself higher. His qi surged, resisting the crushing weight that sought to drag him from the sky. A translucent dragon coiled around him, its shimmering form forged from his qi—proof of his mastery of Dragon Soaring the Peaks.
Flight was a privilege beyond most cultivators. Those beneath Soul Recognition Realm could not even dream of true flight, and even at his level, Spirit Mystery Realm, most could only hover short distances. But his technique, an imperial legacy refined by the Grand Emperor, allowed him to soar—at a cost.
But Bu Lu Keng did not care.
The demon turned away, uninterested. His focus remained on Da Wei alone.
Ren Jin exhaled sharply, retreating to the roof of his manor. From here, he could see it all—the devastation, the chaos, the terrifying power unleashed below. The demon’s aura blanketed the city like a creeping tide. Even from this distance, Ren Jin could feel it, his own cultivation straining against the unnatural pressure.
And worse still, beneath that oppressive weight… his people were unraveling.
The once-grand arena lay in ruins, but the true destruction was only beginning. Panic and madness took root. Fear twisted into desperation. In the streets, men and women turned on one another, lashing out in blind terror.
Yellow Dragon City, the city he had nurtured for decades, was beginning to tear itself apart.
“I apologize, City Lord, but we must contain the battle here. My speed is lacking, and this fiend can fly,” Da Wei said, his voice resonating through Qi Speech—or something akin to it.
His sword gleamed with divine radiance, each strike carving golden crescents through the air. The earth trembled beneath him, stone and qi-forged bleachers splitting apart, debris scattering in every direction. His onslaught was relentless, forcing Bu Lu Keng onto the defensive.
But the demon was no weakling either.
Bu Lu Keng’s jagged greatsword met Da Wei’s attacks with unholy might, each collision unleashing shockwaves that rattled the city. Windows shattered. Weaker structures crumbled. The air itself warped under the sheer intensity of their duel.
With a single swing, the demon carved through the remnants of the arena, leaving a deep trench in the earth. Screams erupted as fleeing spectators scrambled for cover, chunks of stone and splintered wood raining down upon them.
Amidst the chaos, the city’s enforcers and sect elders moved swiftly. Chief Enforcer Liang Na led the guards, barking orders with practiced efficiency. The elders of the Sword Canopy Sect, Cloud Mist Sect, Isolation Path Sect, and others spread out, conjuring barriers and guiding the weaker cultivators to safety.
Yet, despite their efforts, devastation reigned.
Ren Jin’s gaze flickered back to the battlefield. Da Wei stood unmoved, his golden aura clashing violently with Bu Lu Keng’s crimson malice—a battle between righteous judgment and pure corruption, waged at the heart of Yellow Dragon City.
The sky roared with fury as their blades met, sending shockwaves rippling through the heavens.
Ren Jin pressed his fingers together, forming a swift seal. A breath later, he activated Qi Speech, his voice cutting through the chaos with clarity.
“Keep the city guards in formation! Any who cannot fly, retreat immediately!”
A beat later, Liang Na’s voice echoed back, firm and unwavering. “Understood, My Lord! We are securing the market district. What of the arena?”
Ren Jin’s eyes swept over the battlefield—where Da Wei and Bu Lu Keng streaked through the ruins like golden and crimson meteors. With every clash, the ground cracked further, the once-proud arena reduced to rubble.
“Do not engage,” he ordered. “This battle is beyond us. Focus on minimizing casualties.”
More voices came through Qi Speech as the elders of the Sword Canopy Sect, Cloud Mist Sect, and Isolation Path Sect checked in.
"City Lord, the residential districts are secure," Elder Pan Xia reported. "We are keeping the escape routes open, but some civilians refuse to leave their homes. This is madness. What manner of fiend is this?"
Ren Jin’s expression darkened. "Then force them if necessary. This is no mere calamity—we face a Great Demon."
Another elder, Lei Fen, spoke, his voice edged with urgency. "And what of the governor’s manor, my Lord? Your estate—"
Ren Jin’s heart clenched.
"I will handle it."
Without hesitation, he reached out through Qi Speech to the one person he trusted most. This was no time for chances.
"Yue’er."
A single heartbeat passed. Then, a soft but firm voice responded. "Jin."
Relief flooded through him. Yue Ruo was safe—for now.
"The manor is no longer secure. Take the retainers and leave at once. Do not wait for me."
A pause. Then, his wife’s voice, steady yet laced with concern. "And you?"
Ren Jin turned his gaze back to the battlefield. Below, Da Wei’s blade struck true, sending Bu Lu Keng hurtling through another district. Buildings crumbled as the demon’s body carved through stone and steel, a storm of dust and shattered debris rising in his wake.
"I must remain," Ren Jin answered. "I will not abandon the city."
Silence.
Then, Yue Ruo’s quiet yet resolute voice came through.
"Be careful."
Ren Jin exhaled. "I will."
Severing the Qi Speech connection, he turned his full focus back to the battle. Below, his orders were being carried out. The city guards moved with practiced efficiency, guiding civilians to safety. The sect cultivators formed protective barriers, shielding the evacuation routes from falling debris and stray waves of qi.
Yet at the heart of it all—Da Wei and Bu Lu Keng clashed, their battle shaking the heavens.
Ren Jin clenched his fists.
This was far from over.
Suspended above the ruins of the arena, his robes billowed in the turbulent winds. His gaze flickered between the combatants, tracking every movement, every devastating clash.
Da Wei was relentless, his golden radiance a beacon of defiance against the abyssal malice of the Great Demon. Yet even with his overwhelming skill, the destruction spread unchecked.
The city was bleeding. His people—his soldiers, his cultivators—remained vulnerable.
If this battle was not contained soon…
Yellow Dragon City would not survive.
Ren Jin took a deep breath, steadying his mind. He had no intention of remaining a mere spectator.
Gathering his qi, he opened his mouth and roared, his voice amplified by both Qi Speech and his very vitality.
"I AM REN JIN! GOVERNOR OF YELLOW DRAGON CITY!
MY ELITE ENFORCERS, GUARDIANS—COME TO ME! RAISE THE GREAT BARRIER!"
His words thundered across the city, shaking the heavens and the earth. This was no simple call—it was a command, infused with authority and power, compelling all those sworn to him to answer.
From the manor, the city walls, the very sky itself, golden streaks of light shot toward him. His elite enforcers—the sworn protectors of Yellow Dragon City—had heard the call.
The Great Barrier was not a mere dome of energy. It was an ancient, meticulously designed array, requiring precision, discipline, and the synchronized might of an entire force.
They took their positions with flawless coordination—a celestial dance performed by battle-hardened cultivators.
Leading them was Chief Enforcer Liang Na.
The outermost ring consisted of defensive specialists—shield cultivators, barrier masters, and formation experts. Their weapons gleamed with golden inscriptions, thrumming with defensive qi as they anchored the perimeter of the formation.
The middle ring contained formation channelers, those who linked the entire array together. They moved as one, their bodies glowing with synchronization techniques, flowing through the sky like an eternal river.
At the core stood Ren Jin himself, suspended in midair, his robes whipping against the turbulent winds. Golden lines of qi extended from his fingertips, linking him to every enforcer.
Then, they spoke as one—a unified, unbreakable force.
"AS THE DRAGON WATCHES, SO SHALL WE STAND!"
Golden symbols ignited in the air, interweaving into an intricate, pulsing network. The enforcers raised their hands, channeling their combined qi into the formation.
Ren Jin felt their power converging on him—a monumental surge of energy coursing into his core. His own qi flared, binding them all together as one.
From his body, golden lines unfurled, extending outward into a perfect sphere. The light spread, linking with the city’s foundational ley lines.
Yellow Dragon City answered his call.
The sky trembled, and then—
A translucent golden dome erupted into existence, stretching far and wide, enclosing the battlefield in its celestial embrace.
Bu Lu Keng’s demonic aura crashed against the barrier—a tide of abyssal malice surging forward—yet the formation held firm.
Beyond the barrier, the citizens were safe.
Ren Jin exhaled, his body trembling slightly under the strain, but his eyes remained sharp.
Above the city, the barrier was no simple dome—from below, it shimmered like a golden sky, but from above, it was a vast, celestial mandala, a grand geometric pattern woven from pure qi, spinning, shifting, and adjusting as the enforcers maintained perfect synchronization.
The golden light pulsed like a living heart. When Bu Lu Keng’s demonic force slammed against it, the formation shuddered but did not break.
The city was protected.
Now, the battle belonged to Da Wei.
Ren Jin hovered above the battlefield, the golden radiance of the Great Barrier pulsing around him like a divine aegis. His enforcers maintained their positions, their qi flowing through the formation in steady, disciplined cycles. Yet his gaze remained fixed on the two combatants at the center of it all—Da Wei and Bu Lu Keng.
The battle had not slowed. If anything, the intensity had only increased.
Da Wei’s sword flashed with golden brilliance, its divine radiance cleaving through the air with each swing. Crescent arcs of light tore through the ruins of the arena, carving trenches into the earth and forcing the demon further back.
Bu Lu Keng, however, was no mindless beast. His jagged greatsword clashed against Da Wei’s strikes, sending out thunderous shockwaves. Every time their weapons met, the force of their collision shook the very sky, causing the cultivators outside the barrier to instinctively retreat.
Still, Ren Jin noticed something strange—Da Wei remained unscathed.
His armor, gleaming under the radiance of his own power, bore not a single mark. Not even the slightest scratch.
Bu Lu Keng noticed as well. The demon snarled, his blackened, molten eyes narrowing as he shifted his stance. "You should have run when you had the chance," Da Wei remarked casually, his voice carrying even over the roaring destruction.
The demon scoffed. "Run? From you?" His jagged teeth gleamed as he smirked. "I have nothing to fear from a human."
Da Wei let out a short laugh, spinning his sword once before leveling it at the demon. "I’ll admit, you’re faster than me—especially by cultivator standards," he said, tilting his head slightly as if conceding the point. "But for a demon like you? I’m more than enough."
Bu Lu Keng growled, but before he could retort, Da Wei continued, his tone shifting—mocking, confident. "Do you know what’s funny?" He tapped the chest of his armor lightly. "All this fighting, all this struggling… and yet, not a single scratch has graced my armor."
Ren Jin saw the way Bu Lu Keng’s fingers tightened around his greatsword, the subtle twitch in his expression. The demon was beginning to realize—Da Wei was toying with him.
Then, Da Wei’s lips curled into a sly smile.
With a sharp inhale, he suddenly raised his voice, addressing not just Bu Lu Keng but everyone—the enforcers, the elders, the scattered cultivators still watching in shock beyond the barrier.
"People of Yellow Dragon City!" His voice rang out, infused with his might, reaching every corner of the battlefield. The very air hummed with power as his words reverberated through the streets.
"You need not fear this demon any longer!" He spread his arms wide, his golden aura blazing like a miniature sun. "For I am here!"
Ren Jin felt the morale of his soldiers shift—fear gave way to awe, hesitation turned to belief. Even beyond the barrier, cultivators who had been wary, uncertain… they stood straighter. Some even let out quiet cheers.
Bu Lu Keng, however, let out a low, seething growl. "Arrogant human."
Da Wei simply smirked. "Shall we?" He gestured with his sword, tapping his uncovered head as if inviting the demon to try again. "How about some advice? I'm not even wearing my helm—maybe try hitting me in the head. That ought to give you a fighting chance."
