C13 Vast Sea Soul

Yu Bai pushed his hands forward, transforming the water curtain into a sphere of light that collided with Chen Yuan's fist mid-air.

There was no cataclysmic explosion. Chen Yuan felt as though his unstoppable fist had struck a mass of cotton.

This seemingly soft barrier absorbed his strength, leaving no outlet for release. Worse still, the force rebounded onto his own arm. Chen Yuan's right arm jolted violently, followed by the sound of a crack.

It was broken.

Without resorting to any fearsome or sharp techniques, Yu Bai had managed to break Chen Yuan's arm with a single move.

"The water's ability to absorb all forces is a special characteristic. As a Shadowmancer, he possesses many unpredictable tactics. You must be vigilant," Liu Xiaoxiao advised Chen Yuan, her extensive knowledge of Shadowmancers informing her warning.

Yu Bai was momentarily taken aback. Chen Yuan's arm was broken, yet he spoke with such calm?

Chen Yuan remained silent, simply nodding. He gently pressed his left hand onto the limp arm, exerting slight pressure, and several crisp sounds of bones clicking ensued.

"Quite intriguing," Yu Bai mused, eyeing Chen Yuan's now-restored right arm. "I'm curious to see how many times you can recover. Perish!"

No sooner had Yu Bai spoken than a massive black cloud materialized around him.

The cloud thickened, lightning streaked across the sky, and raindrops began to fall amid peals of thunder.

Chen Yuan found himself engulfed in the storm.

Despite his incredible speed, the air was saturated with rain, leaving him no escape from the falling droplets.

Unless he chose to retreat further.

But that was not his way.

Chen Yuan witnessed the Sunsetwood Grove disciples, like moths drawn to a flame, stirring something deep within him. A long-dormant chord in his heart was struck, and an inner voice cried out, urging him not to fall back.

In an instant, Yu Bai's Shadow Arts assault was upon him.

The raindrops, now lethal as spears, hurtled towards Chen Yuan.

He stood his ground, encircled by the relentless rain, yet he remained unflustered. His fists flew from his sleeves, striking with precision in the fractions of a second.

His fists whipped through the air, creating a series of afterimages that collided with the raindrops. Each collision shattered a droplet, sending spray in all directions.

Chen Yuan was relentless. Seizing an opening, he sprang into action once more. His single silhouette split into two, both charging simultaneously at Yu Bai.

In the curtain of rain, Yu Bai stood like a deity. It was akin to Bai Wujian's Endless Sword Domain; within this watery realm, Yu Bai reigned supreme.

His hands came together, fingertips touching in front of his chest. Mirroring his movements, the raindrops in the sky came to an abrupt halt, echoing the events of that rainy night.

But this time, Yu Bai didn't afford Chen Yuan the opportunity for a comeback. The pause was fleeting, and then, as if drawn by a magnet, all the raindrops converged towards Yu Bai's clasped hands. The once fine droplets stretched into elongated strands, weaving a vast net of intersecting lines.

Ci! A droplet of vivid red blood materialized amidst the rain, ensnared by the web of raindrops.

Chen Yuan's form stuttered as he sustained another injury.

Ci! Ci! Ci! More raindrops hurtled from behind him, piercing through his body to coalesce in Yu Bai's hands. Chen Yuan tried to defend himself, swinging his fists in a futile attempt to block the onslaught, but it was no use.

The rain was too thick, the droplets too quick and numerous. Before his fists could even rise, his arms were riddled with at least ten bloody wounds.

Chen Yuan plummeted from the sky, landing with a thud.

Yet he remained upright, his body crisscrossed with bloodied lines, wounds gaping open and bleeding profusely.

"Too weak," Yu Bai commented with a shake of his head. "The so-called Body Cultivator is powerless against the Shadow Arts. After all, in terms of technique quality and level, Body Cultivators are the most rudimentary, while the Shadow Arts are unparalleled."

"If you could still wield the Tidewatcher's Grimoire, perhaps you might have a chance against my Profound Rain."

Yu Bai was well aware that Chen Yuan's meridians had been sealed, a condition not unrelated to him and a deliberate move in his strategy.

After finishing his statement, Yu Bai's hands once again conjured a sphere of red water, a mixture of blood and rain. He hurled the sphere at Chen Yuan, who was powerless to retaliate.

Boom!

The impact was forceful, sending Chen Yuan crashing to the ground with a loud explosion, leaving his fate uncertain.

"Chen Yuan!" Liu Xiaoxiao cried out in shock and anger. The Shadowmancer's abilities were beyond her comprehension. She had assumed that even if Chen Yuan couldn't best Yu Bai, he would at least be able to defend himself. Now, the situation had spiraled out of control.

"There's no need for such desperation. You're next," Yu Bai stated coldly, devoid of any compassion.

With a wave of his hand, he manipulated another orb of rainwater, which morphed and gathered energy between his fingers.

The disciples of Sunsetwood Grove stood little chance against the indiscriminate assault of the rainstorm. Many had fallen, never to rise again, and even more couldn't get anywhere near Yu Bai.

Lee Bufan was the exception.

He had made it halfway when he caught sight of the fallen Chen Yuan. His eyes narrowed, and a chilling realization washed over him. He was fully alert now.

Sunsetwood Grove was no more.

Qiu Changfeng was dead.

Their eldest senior brother, Bai Wujian, was a traitor. The enemy had completely infiltrated their ranks, and many of his fellow disciples had perished in this slaughter.

He was the only one left who could make a stand.

Lee Bufan's thoughts raced to the techniques he had been practicing, and a movement skill called 'Phantom Wind' came to mind. It was the perfect escape tactic for this moment.

With that thought, he didn't hesitate. He turned on his heel and fled like the wind.

Bai Wujian, intent on eradicating any escapees, didn't even signal Yu Bai. The two vanished from the outskirts of Sunsetwood Grove in pursuit.

Now, only three remained on the battlefield.

Chen Yuan, whose life hung in the balance, Liu Xiaoxiao, crippled and unable to walk, and Yu Bai, the Shadowmancer wielding the power of life and death over them.

"Thud!"

A dull thump echoed ominously across the battlefield, resonating in the hearts of those present.

"Thud!" The sound came again, heavier and more resounding, like a roll of distant thunder in the sky.

"Thud!" The third sound echoed. Liu Xiaoxiao and Yu Bai pinpointed the source of the noise and saw the hand that was lifted high and then slammed down with force.

Chen Yuan was not dead!

He was not only alive but also capable of movement. He struck the ground thrice and slightly lifted his head.

His movements were slow, yet oddly, no one stepped in to stop him. He shakily rose from the ground and gradually lifted his head.

"Vast Sea..." Chen Yuan's cracked lips barely moved, his complexion deathly pale. "Vast Sea..."

"The Vast Sea Nation has long since fallen," Yu Bai remarked with a cold, mocking laugh.

"Vast Sea! Vast as the sky and sea, the sea is our nation!" Chen Yuan's frenzied scream was so piercing that it pained everyone's ears.