Chapter Thirty-One: A Mysterious Aura

The Sect Master of the Refining Sect wore an expression of growing irritation. "Boy," he said, his voice laced with disdain, "shall I begin? Shall I show you the true meaning of combat? Here I come."

With a powerful stride, the Sect Master surged forward. A blue sphere coalesced in his palm, wreathed in crackling lightning. "Come, boy. You are the most strong-willed person I have ever encountered."

With a sudden burst of speed, the Sect Master vanished, reappearing behind Yufan to unleash the sphere. Yet, Yufan was shielded by a mysterious energy within him; without it, he would have perished back at the temple. A wisp of aberrant energy leaked from Yufan’s back, hungrily consuming the surrounding forces. However, a divine energy within him suppressed most of this strange power, allowing only a small portion of the blue sphere’s energy to be absorbed.

As the aberrant energy assimilated the power of the blue sphere, its intensity was reduced to a mere third of its original might.

Yufan’s body suddenly moved, exploding into motion like a leopard pouncing. With a light tap of his toes against the ground, he vaulted into the air, tracing an elegant arc that allowed him to skillfully evade the weakened, yet still lightning-charged, blue sphere.

The sphere slammed into his previous position, shattering the earth. Dust and debris scattered, and the air filled with the scent of scorching ozone. Yufan twisted mid-air and landed steadily, his gaze fixed on the Sect Master—a look that held both vigilance and unyielding defiance.

Sweat and dust streaked his face, only heightening his resolute appearance.

The air around them seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of their tense, rhythmic breathing and the distant echoes of the blast, signaling that this battle was far from over.

The Sect Master’s eyes sharpened. The blue sphere rotated in his palm like the eye of a storm, pulsating with destructive power.

He flickered, becoming little more than a blue afterimage, and reappeared at Yufan’s side. Instead of striking, he began to pace around Yufan with a playful air. Each step caused the ground to tremble, as if the very air bowed under his pressure.

Yufan gritted his teeth, sweat trickling down his forehead. He felt not only the overwhelming might of the Sect Master but also the violent collision of two forces within him—the protective divine aura and the restless, aberrant energy, weaving a complex struggle within his veins.

The aberrant energy, refusing to be contained, fought against its bonds, each spasm sending a wave of tearing pain through Yufan’s body. As it leaked from his back, it continued to siphon the surrounding power.

A flicker of surprise crossed the Sect Master’s eyes. He furrowed his brows, though the corners of his mouth curled into an unexpected, amused smirk.

He came to a sudden halt, and the blue sphere in his palms stopped its rotation, as if time itself had paused. The lightning on the surface of the sphere retracted, emitting a more profound, haunting glow that mirrored the depths of his eyes, which shone like the brightest stars in the night sky.

"Hmph, a mere ant, and yet you manage to weaken my strike to this degree..." he muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief mingled with excitement.

He took a slow step forward, each movement seeming to press upon Yufan’s taut nerves. The air around them rippled with his motion, creating weak vortexes of wind.

The Sect Master’s gaze locked onto Yufan, his eyes swirling with the promise of ten thousand lightning bolts, ready to erupt once more.

"Interesting. What secrets are you hiding within?" His deep voice carried both a hunger for discovery and the thrill of an impending revelation.

With that, he flicked his wrist. The sphere of lightning began to warp, transforming into a small, avian construct of electricity. It flapped its wings, poised to strike, aimed directly at Yufan’s heart. The atmosphere grew stiflingly tense.

Yufan’s gaze was sharp as lightning. He spun rapidly, his sword transforming into ribbons of silver light, clashing violently with the diving eagle of lightning.

As his sword tip struck, every collision sparked brilliant flashes and thunderous roars, the air ringing with the clashing of metal.

Though fierce, the lightning eagle began to falter under Yufan’s peerless swordsmanship, its light dimming as if it might dissipate into nothingness at any moment.

At that critical juncture, the Sect Master’s laughter boomed like thunder, carrying an inescapable weight of majesty and mockery. "Very good, very good. Now, let me show you the Seventh Stage—The Sword."

He did not move, yet the entire world seemed to shift according to his will. His right hand slowly opened, and within his palm, dark energy surged like ink, gradually congealing into the silhouette of a blade. Violet lightning surged within the steel like a caged dragon, desperate to break its bonds and unleash its world-shattering power.

At the tip of the blade, a dense sphere of darkness swirled incessantly, acting like a black hole that devoured all surrounding light, rendering the sword both mysterious and terrifying.