A powerful force surged from behind Xuan Yang, and he turned around abruptly, but it was too late.
A sharp pain shot through his chest, as if he had been struck by a massive hammer. Xuan Yang let out a muffled groan and was thrown backward, crashing heavily to the ground, dust flying everywhere. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, which blossomed into a shocking crimson flower on the gray earth.
"Cough, cough..." Xuan Yang struggled to rise, but felt utterly powerless. Waves of excruciating pain radiated from his chest, making it nearly impossible for him to breathe. His vision blurred, the world before him seemed shrouded in a bloody haze. Damn it, this shadow is ruthless!
The figure of the shadow slowly materialized before him, a mocking smile on its face as it looked down at Xuan Yang, as if viewing a dying insect. "Is this all you’ve got? Puppet Master? How disappointing!" The tone was laced with contempt, as if Xuan Yang were nothing more than a joke in its eyes.
Xuan Yang gritted his teeth and remained silent; he knew that speaking now would be futile. He needed to conserve his strength and wait for an opportunity to counterattack. He laboriously lifted his head, glaring at the shadow with eyes filled with hatred, a fierce fire of defiance burning within him.
The shadow approached him step by step, each footfall feeling like a crushing weight on his heart, suffocating him with pressure. The sound of its boots striking the ground echoed dully, hammering against Xuan Yang's nerves.
"Give up, Xuan Yang, you cannot defeat me," the shadow's voice was like that of a demon from hell, laced with seduction, as if it sought to devour Xuan Yang's very soul. "Submit to me, and I can grant you supreme power; everything you desire can be yours."
Xuan Yang scoffed derisively, his eyes brimming with disdain. "Even if I die, I will never submit to you! You despicable coward who only plays with schemes and tricks; you are not worthy of power!"
"Is that so?" The shadow's tone held a hint of regret, as if lamenting Xuan Yang's stubbornness. "What a pity. You could have been my right-hand man and enjoyed wealth and glory, but you chose this dead end instead."
The shadow raised its hand, dark energy coalescing within it to form a massive black sphere that shimmered ominously with an unsettling glow, exuding an oppressive aura that made the air feel thick and heavy. A sense of death permeated the surroundings.
"Die!" The shadow roared as it hurled the black sphere toward Xuan Yang. The sphere trailed a long black tail like a harbinger of death from hell, rushing toward Xuan Yang with destructive force.
In despair, Xuan Yang closed his eyes; he knew he could not evade it. This damned shadow was far too powerful!
Just at that critical moment, a figure suddenly appeared before him, blocking the shadow's attack. A brilliant light erupted like exploding stars, instantly illuminating the entire valley.
It was Qu Si Yang!
“Si Yang!” Xuan Yang exclaimed in shock, filled with concern. He had not expected Qu Si Yang to appear at this moment, nor did he anticipate her willingness to risk everything to shield him from this fatal blow.
A dazzling light radiated from Qu Si Yang, enveloping her and Xuan Yang within a massive energy shield that repelled the attacks of the shadow. The energy shield emitted a blinding glow, colliding with the black sphere of death and erupting with a deafening roar.
“Si Yang, you…” Xuan Yang looked at Qu Si Yang, his heart filled with emotion. He wanted to say something but choked on his words, unable to express himself.
Qu Si Yang remained silent, merely offering him a faint smile, her eyes filled with determination. Her face was pale, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, clearly indicating that she had paid a hefty price to withstand the shadow's assault.
“Shadow, you will not harm Xuan Yang!” Qu Si Yang's voice rang out clear and powerful, echoing through the valley like thunder. Her tone was filled with anger and resolve, as if she were a guardian deity vowing to protect the one she cherished at all costs.
The shadow's expression darkened; he had not expected Qu Si Yang to appear at this moment. He had thought he could easily deal with Xuan Yang but was caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events.
“Qu Si Yang, you’re seeking death!” the shadow roared as he launched another attack against her. Black energy surged forth like a tide, transforming into countless black blades that rained down upon Qu Si Yang.
The energy shield held firm against the shadow's onslaught, but Qu Si Yang was not unscathed; her complexion grew even paler, and blood flowed more freely from her lips. Gritting her teeth, she endured the pain and controlled the energy shield to fend off wave after wave of attacks.
“Si Yang, how are you?” Xuan Yang asked anxiously. Seeing Qu Si Yang in pain filled him with guilt and worry.
“I’m fine,” Qu Si Yang shook her head, forcing herself to speak through the pain. “You need to go; I’ll hold him off.”
“No way! I can’t leave you here alone!” Xuan Yang insisted firmly. He couldn’t bear to watch Qu Si Yang sacrifice herself for him; he had to stay and fight alongside her!
“Listen to me; you must go!” Qu Si Yang’s tone held a hint of pleading. “Staying here will only be a burden to me. If you leave, I can focus on dealing with him.”
Xuan Yang hesitated; he knew Qu Si Yang was right. His presence would only distract her. He had to leave to create an opportunity for her.
“Alright, I’ll go. Just be careful!” Xuan Yang said before turning and running toward the village exit. He dared not look back; he feared that if he did, he would never be able to leave.
“Want to escape? Not so easy!” The shadow sneered as he flashed in front of Xuan Yang. There was no way he would let Xuan Yang go; today, he intended to eliminate both Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang!
"Shadow, get away from me!" Qu Si Yang shouted, launching another attack at the Shadow. A dazzling beam of light shot from her hand, aimed directly at the Shadow's face.
The Shadow had no choice but to turn and defend against Qu Si Yang's assault, giving Xuan Yang the chance to escape the battlefield. He ran towards the village without looking back, knowing he had to become stronger quickly to protect himself and Qu Si Yang.
Watching Xuan Yang flee, the Shadow's expression darkened further. He hadn't expected Xuan Yang to get away, and this filled him with rage.
"Qu Si Yang, how long do you think you can hold me off?" The Shadow's voice dripped with malice as he unleashed all his fury on Qu Si Yang, dark energy pouring down on her like a torrential storm.
"Then let's see you try!" Qu Si Yang replied fearlessly. The light surrounding her grew even more brilliant, as if it could dispel the darkness itself.
The two powerful forces clashed once more, erupting in a violent shockwave that shook the entire valley like an earthquake.
The battle raged on...
Xuan Yang had escaped the battlefield, but he did not leave the village. He hid in the shadows, observing the unfolding fight.
He saw Qu Si Yang repeatedly fend off the Shadow's attacks to protect him, her body covered in wounds, blood staining her clothes.
His heart felt like it was being torn apart. He knew he could no longer run away; he had to return and fight alongside Qu Si Yang!
Taking a deep breath, he turned and ran back toward the battlefield…
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