C9 Fallen into the Abyss

Within moments, the guards had closed in on Qin Yu. Brandishing their swords, they lunged at him, but Qin Yu showed no signs of evasion. As the blades neared his body, he swiftly seized their wrists, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Suddenly, a scarlet aura emanated from his body, coiling up the guards' wrists. It didn't take long before it enveloped their entire bodies. After encircling them, the aura eerily flowed back into Qin Yu. It was an extraordinary sight.

The scarlet aura whirled with increasing speed, and the two guards felt their Genuine Qi draining away. They soon lost the strength to even stand, their swords clattering to the ground as they collapsed, utterly still.

"Draining Genuine Qi! Everyone, spread out! Avoid any physical contact with this fiend!" An elder disciple among the guards cried out.

At his alarm, the guards who had been advancing on Qin Yu halted and quickly dispersed, leaving no one daring to approach.

Qin Yu surveyed the crowd and took a measured step forward. Suddenly, his face contorted, and the scarlet aura around him grew turbulent. Amidst the scarlet, other peculiar auras darted about, seemingly in conflict. In a short time, this strange aura reached Qin Yu's forehead, and the crimson glow in his eyes began to fade.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what's happening to him?" a guard asked the elder disciple, observing Qin Yu's bizarre transformation.

"He must have absorbed someone else's Genuine Qi and can't assimilate it right away, leading to a backlash!" the elder disciple explained, his brow furrowed. He then addressed the guards, "This is our chance to take him down!" With that, he charged at Qin Yu, followed by a surge of guards.

Qin Yu felt as if his body was on the verge of bursting, the discomfort unbearable. As the guards swarmed him, he instinctively raised his hands to defend himself. Under their relentless assault, he stumbled backward, sustaining numerous sword wounds. In a matter of seconds, he was cornered and trapped.

Qin Yu knew that if things continued as they were, he would undoubtedly be captured. The thought of being confined in a dark cell, shackled in iron chains, filled him with unbearable pain. There was only one thought in his mind: escape the Celestial Punishment Hall at all costs!

In the span of a few breaths, Qin Yu managed to suppress the Genuine Qi chaotically surging within him. He launched himself at the guards once more, but this time his attacks were a ruse. His true intention was to carve out an escape route and then burst out of the Celestial Punishment Hall.

The guards were oblivious to Qin Yu's plan, assuming he was merely lashing out in desperation like a trapped animal. They scattered to the sides, preparing to defend, but as they braced for his assault, Qin Yu abruptly halted his advance. With a powerful stomp, he leaped over them and soared out of the Celestial Punishment Hall.

"He's escaping!" The eldest guard disciple was the first to snap to attention, immediately giving chase. But Qin Yu had already dashed out of the hall. With a casual heave, he hurled a massive stone at his pursuer.

The eldest guard disciple managed to deflect the stone and kept up the pursuit. Meanwhile, Qin Yu felt his energy draining away. He sprinted another several meters before coming to an abrupt halt. Gravel slipped silently beneath his feet, revealing a vast chasm before him.

"You can't run, demon! Surrender now!" The eldest guard disciple approached Qin Yu slowly. Soon, the other guards caught up, encircling him at the edge of the cliff.

Qin Yu's once crimson eyes had faded, and with them, his strength ebbed away, leaving him profoundly weakened. He swept his gaze over the guards before him, then looked up at the sky. Dark clouds roiled above, obscuring any trace of starlight, mirroring the perpetual darkness of his life, devoid of any glimmer of hope.

A bitter yet defiant smile crossed Qin Yu's face. He turned to face the abyss, and with a slight shift of his feet, he leaped down into the void.

"Stop him!" The eldest guard disciple shouted, lunging forward with an outstretched hand. But it was too late; Qin Yu had already descended into the depths of the abyss.

Deep into the night, a silhouette stood with hands clasped behind his back outside the Sect Master's bedroom, gazing up at the sky, lost in memories of years long past.

It was an era dominated by the Demon Race, a time when the Human Race was waning. Goose-feather snowflakes drifted through the air, accompanied by the desolate wail of the wind, casting a solemn mood between heaven and earth.

On either side of the river lay the encampments of the Human and Demon Races, poised for a decisive battle. At the forefront of the Human camp, a man with striking features and a long sword in hand stared across the water at the dense throng on the opposite bank.

"Brother Qin Tiange, what's your take on this war between the Human and Demon Races? Who do you think will emerge victorious?" A tall man with rugged features and an air of stern righteousness approached the handsome swordsman from behind.

Qin Tiange remained silent, reaching out slowly to catch several snowflakes stained with blood. He examined them closely until they melted into water in his palm. Only then did he clench his fist and turn to face the young man with a calm demeanor, "No one will win."

"What?" The young man with the resolute face paused, his expression one of confusion as he regarded Qin Tiange.

Qin Tiange simply shook his head, his gaze returning to the far side of the river. After a long silence, he spoke to himself, "All beings in this world are living creatures. This battle will bring grievous losses to both the Human and Demon Races. With death comes defeat. Therefore, how can there be talk of victory?"

The young man with the resolute face stood in mute realization, then also turned to look across the river, his eyes reflecting a tangle of complex emotions.