Legend of the Divine Archer

In the heart of the corrupted core room, Yan Jin sprinted deeper into the darkness, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the oppressive silence. Behind him, Bloodwitch Fu and her twisted subordinates pursued relentlessly, their forms barely visible in the swirling mist of corruption.

"Old witch, why are you chasing after me?" Yan Jin called over his shoulder, not daring to slow down. His voice was edged with frustration and the faintest hint of amusement. "I already gave the box away."

Bloodwitch Fu's eyes burned with suspicion, glowing a sinister red in the shadows. "I don't believe for one second that you would share the stem cell," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "I know it's still with you—give it back!"

Yan Jin smirked as he continued to weave through the dark corridors, the mist thickening around him. After what felt like an eternity of running, he finally turned to face his pursuers. His expression was calm, almost mocking. "Since you won't let me go, you might as well stay here forever," he said, nocking an arrow onto his longbow with practiced ease.

Bloodwitch Fu's laugh was cold and filled with disdain. "You think you can stop me with your puny cultivation?" she sneered, her eyes glowing brighter as she summoned her dark energy. The mist around her seemed to pulse in response, thickening and twisting with her power.

Yan Jin's smirk deepened as he pointed past her into the darkness. "Not me. Him."

Before Meng could react, Scar emerged from the shadows like a vengeful phantom, his massive, scaly form cutting through the mist with terrifying speed. His roar echoed through the chamber, a sound filled with raw power and rage. He lunged at the bloodwitch's subordinates with a ferocity that left them no time to react, his immense scales gleaming in the dim light as he tore through their ranks.

In the chaos that followed, Yan Jin seized his chance. As Bloodwitch Fu was forced to defend herself against Scar's relentless assault, Yan Jin melted into the dark mist once again, his form vanishing as if he were a part of the shadows themselves.

The bloodwitch, now preoccupied with the monstrous force of Scar, had no choice but to focus on the immediate threat, her pursuit of Yan Jin momentarily forgotten.

Scar's roars and the sounds of battle reverberated through the corrupted core room, but Yan Jin was already gone, slipping deeper into the darkness where the mist swallowed all sound and sight.

He had successfully diverted the bloodwitch's attention, leaving Scar to delay her and her followers while he continued on his path, determined to fulfill his mission and outmaneuver those who sought to stop him.

--

On the surface, Wei Xi was locked in a desperate battle, his spear flashing as he struck down wave after wave of corrupted cells. The box he carried had drawn the attention of the corruption, giving the citizens precious time to reach safety and defensive formations. But now, he was encircled, his breath coming in ragged gasps as exhaustion threatened to overtake him.

"Jump up!" The command cut through the chaos, and Wei Xi's head snapped up. He recognized the voice immediately—it was Meng Xiao, perched atop the Meng Family's familiar eagle, its wings beating the air with powerful strokes.

Without a second thought, Wei Xi summoned the last reserves of his strength, roaring as he pushed his bloodline to its limits. He thrust his spear skyward with such force that it propelled him into the air, carrying him up to the eagle's side. The moment he landed, the eagle took off, soaring above the battlefield and drawing the corrupted cells away from the city.

"How is the situation?" Wei Xi asked, struggling to catch his breath.

Meng Xiao's face was grim as she responded, "The appearance of the box has focused the corruption's attention on us, but the city has suffered severe damage. If we don't find a solution soon, Pine City is done for."

Wei Xi's eyes narrowed with concern. "What about the Golden Warriors?"

Before Meng Xiao could answer, a shadow loomed over them. "Ah, careful—" she started, but it was too late.

With a terrifying roar, Nie Li's flying lion slammed into the eagle with the force of a thunderbolt. The impact sent both mounts spiraling downwards, feathers and fur mingling in a deadly dance as they plummeted toward the ground. The lion's jaws clamped down on the eagle, its teeth sinking deep into the bird's flesh, and with a savage twist, it tore the life from the noble creature.

"Noooo!" Meng Xiao's scream echoed in the air as she watched her beloved pet fall lifeless from the sky. The ground rushed up to meet them, the once-majestic eagle reduced to a lifeless husk, and Meng Xiao's heart shattered as they both descended into the chaos below.

The fall was brutal, the ground unforgiving as they crashed down. Wei Xi tumbled across the debris-strewn streets, the impact jarring every bone in his body. Blood trickled from his mouth, but he forced himself to rise, his spear still clutched tightly in his hand. Around them, the corrupted cells closed in once more, drawn by the scent of fresh prey.

The situation had gone from dire to desperate, and now, survival seemed even more uncertain.

Overcome by rage and grief, Meng Xiao's eyes flared with fury. Her beloved eagle lay dead, and the sight of its lifeless form pushed her beyond reason. With a furious cry, she lunged directly at Nie Li, her claws outstretched and her face twisted in pure hatred.

Nie Li remained unimpressed by the young woman's desperate assault. With a swift, calculated move, he caught her claws mid-air, his grip ironclad. A cold smile played on his lips as he plunged his spear into her abdomen, the sharp blade slicing through flesh and bone. Meng Xiao's scream choked in her throat, her eyes wide with pain and shock as the life drained from them.

The ferocity that had driven her just moments before ebbed away, leaving only a hollow shell that crumpled to the ground.

Without hesitation, Nie Li turned his attention to Wei Xi, who had barely managed to rise to his feet. In a flash, Nie Li was upon him, delivering a savage kick to his chest. The force of the blow sent Wei Xi crashing into the debris, his body crumpling as unconsciousness took hold.

Nie Li's gaze shifted to the box that had caused so much chaos. With swift, practiced movements, he grabbed it, securing it in his grasp. Without wasting a moment, he leaped onto his flying lion and soared into the sky, leaving the scene of devastation behind him. His destination was clear—the Yan Family. The box was now in his possession, and he intended to make the most of the chaos he had sown.

--

"Argggggggggggggggh!!" The agonized roar of the Corrupted Garuda echoed across the battlefield as it clashed with Purple Spear Meng and the City Lord. Each blow shook the earth beneath them, the corrupted energy from the Garuda colliding with the powerful strikes of its opponents.

But amidst this fierce battle, their senses heightened, both Meng and the City Lord suddenly perceived a shift not far away. The faintest disturbance in the air—the unmistakable aura of betrayal.

They turned their attention toward the source of the disruption, their eyes locking onto the fleeing figure of Nie Li, clutching the coveted box. A dark rage ignited within them. Meng's thoughts raced as the memory of his niece's death flashed before him, fueling his fury. With a guttural roar, he abandoned his fight with the Garuda and sped toward Nie Li, the City Lord following close behind.

"Nie Li, I will kill you!" Purple Spear Meng's voice was a thunderous declaration of vengeance as he sprinted after the fleeing traitor. The distance between them closed rapidly, but Nie Li, driven by desperation, pushed his flying lion harder, urging it toward the Yan Clan's stronghold.

The towering silhouette of the Yan Clan's compound loomed on the horizon, and Nie Li's heart pounded in his chest. "Launch the array!" he screamed, his voice strained with panic as he saw the pursuing figures gaining ground. The patriarch Yan, seeing the dire situation, hurriedly activated the array, the intricate patterns on the ground glowing with an ominous light.

Nie Li barely managed to slip into the safety of the array's confines before it began to seal off, his breath coming in ragged gasps. A twisted grin spread across his face as he turned to taunt his enraged adversaries, believing himself safe from retribution.

But before he could utter a single word, a flash of steel cut through the air—a long spear, hurled with deadly precision by Purple Spear Meng, soared toward him.

In a reflexive act of self-preservation, Nie Li shoved the patriarch Yan forward, using him as a human shield. The spear struck true, embedding itself in the patriarch's shoulder with a sickening thud, severing his left arm in the process. Blood sprayed across the array as the patriarch let out a guttural cry of pain, his eyes wide with shock and betrayal.

Nie Li stumbled back, his cowardice once again exposed, but his fear was overshadowed by the fact that the array had completed its activation. In an instant, the Yan Clan, along with their golden guardians and the treacherous Nie Li, vanished from Pine City, leaving behind only the chaos and devastation they had wrought.

As the light of the array faded, Purple Spear Meng and the City Lord were left standing at the edge of the city, their fury unquenched. The spear that had severed the patriarch's arm now lay embedded in the ground, a stark reminder of the vengeance they had been denied. The corrupted Garuda roared in frustration, its prey having escaped, but the two warriors knew that this battle was far from over.

The Yan Clan may have fled, but they had not escaped judgment.