Chapter 105: Battling The Celestial Shadow Church

The Skyforge Zone was in full effect, the five Spiritual Burst Pills sending waves of energy through Jiang Feng's body like a tsunami. His twelve meridians pulsed and vibrated, expanding to accommodate the overwhelming influx of spiritual energy. Jiang Feng had come to a realization: hiding would only delay the inevitable. Sooner or later, trouble would find him.

His existence alone was enough to draw enemies, and the Shadow Church, for reasons unknown, seemed hellbent on capturing or killing him. Perhaps they coveted his draconic power, or perhaps they sought to eradicate it to prevent future threats. Whatever their motives, Jiang Feng knew he could not escape his fate.

His experiences in the dreamscape had taught him many things, and the awakening of his bloodline had fundamentally altered his personality. No longer content to remain in the shadows, he now sought to dominate, to rise above the chaos and claim his place at the pinnacle of power. His path of reverse cultivation would pit him against the heavens themselves, and trouble would follow him no matter where he went. So why hold back? Why not let his pent-up emotions run wild, like a spear thrust in the heat of battle? Why not let his soul soar through the nine heavens?

Blazing blue flames roared around him, their intensity so overwhelming that even Shen Long from Silver Sword City had to exert every ounce of his strength to protect himself and the five others behind him. "What the hell is this? How can a junior be so powerful, damn he isn't even at Golden Core!" Shen Long shouted, his voice strained as he summoned a swirling shield of Sword Qi to deflect the searing heat. The others behind him were pale and sweating, their throats burning and their spiritual essence rapidly depleting.

"Retreat now!!" Shen Long roared, his voice cracking under the strain. If they stayed any longer, he feared they would meet a gruesome end.

Nearby, Lan Xue from Northern Moon's Azure Spirit Hall knelt on the ground, her hands pressed firmly against the earth. A circular shield of flames rose around her, Zhao Tian, and Zhen Ruyi, but it wobbled precariously, as if it might shatter at any moment. Lan Xue's Thousand Palm Flame Seed was formidable, but its true strength lay in pill refinement, not prolonged combat. The heat from Jiang Feng's Skyforge Zone was pushing her to her limits.

"Jiang Feng, are you crazy? Are you trying to kill others from Northern Moon City?" Zhen Ruyi shouted, her voice tinged with desperation. She crushed a talisman to boost her strength and began hastily setting up formation cores to create a stronger shield. Her movements were frantic, her usual composure shattered by the overwhelming power radiating from Jiang Feng.

"Bastard!!" Zhao Tian roared, his vision filled with the charred remains of cultivators from various cities. The battlefield was littered with bodies, their forms blackened and lifeless. The sight filled him with rage, but also a deep, gnawing fear.

Among the chaos, there were those who had been hiding their true strength. On the Mist Ridge side, a young man named Danue Ge, the fourth strongest of his city, revealed a shining pearl. With a shout, he activated it, and the pearl exploded into a massive globe of water. The water surged outward, clashing violently with the flames of the Skyforge Zone. "Water Prison!" Danue Ge bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield. The globe expanded, forcing the flames back and creating a temporary safe zone for his allies. But the effort was immense, and Danue Ge's face was already pale, his spiritual energy draining rapidly.

Those who couldn't reach the safety of the Water Prison in time were consumed by the flames, their screams cut short as their bodies turned to ash. Danue Ge's eyes burned with fury and hate, his bloodshot gaze locking onto Jiang Feng. "I'll kill you!" he snarled, his voice trembling with rage.

Similar scenes played out across the 50-meter domain. The healers from Verdant Sky City were forced into a full retreat, their bodies wrapped in protective vines as they fled beyond the range of the flames. They stopped just outside the domain's edge, unwilling to leave entirely, which only deepened Jiang Feng's frown. His spiritual energy was dwindling, and the strain of maintaining the Skyforge Zone was becoming unbearable.

The cultivators from Thunderclap City and Obsidian Lake City had suffered heavy casualties. Only their strongest members had survived, their faces grim as they struggled to withstand the relentless heat. Danue Ge's Water Prison continued to expand, its pressure forcing the Skyforge Zone to expend even more energy to suppress it. The globe trembled under the strain, but it held firm, a testament to Danue Ge's determination.

Jiang Feng's attention snapped to the Water Prison as the Celestial Dagger shot forward like a furious dragon. The air trembled as the dagger slammed into the globe with a deafening **BOOM!** The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, but the Water Prison did not shatter as expected. Instead, it held, though Danue Ge spat out a mouthful of blood, his body shaking from the force of the blow. Behind him, his allies collapsed, clutching their heads as blood leaked from their eyes and ears.

Danue Ge pressed his hands together, his fingers forming a series of intricate symbols. He slammed his palms against the Water Prison, pouring more spiritual energy into it to reinforce its structure. The globe glowed brighter, its resistance increasing as it fought against the oppressive flames.

Jiang Feng watched all of this unfold, his expression calm but his mind racing. He glanced back at Ji Moran, who stood ready with her sword, blue flames dancing around her like a scene from hell. The tree bark used in the forging of her armor had proven remarkably resilient, but even she was feeling the strain.

"They're on the move," Jiang Feng said, his voice steady. "They're heading in my direction as we speak. Prepare to defend yourself from the others. If you find a chance, the icy lake is suitable for you. Do your best to cross it and see if you can acquire the blue flame. But be careful."

Ji Moran nodded, her eyes red with unshed tears. This was her first time witnessing such carnage, and the weight of it pressed heavily on her heart. Life and death hung in the balance, and she knew that at any moment, she could be swept away by the chaos and killed. But she also knew that Jiang Feng was counting on her and would be keeping on eye on her no matter what happens. She swallowed hard and raised her sword, the Ice Lotus technique forming a protective shield around her as she readied her Ice Press Sword Art.

"Be careful!" she shouted, her voice trembling.

Jiang Feng smiled faintly, his eyes darkening as the concept of darkness flickered within them. The shadows seemed to cling to him, lending him an air of otherworldly menace. He turned away, his gaze locking onto two figures emerging from the chaos. A young man and woman, their movements swift and silent, like shadows given form. Their eyes were cold and calculating, their weapons—a whipblade and twin shard daggers—gleaming with deadly intent.

The two attacked without warning, their blades slicing through the air toward Jiang Feng's throat. But he was ready. The Celestial Dagger shot forward, its runic lines glowing as it clashed with their weapons. The sound of metal on metal rang out, sharp and piercing, as Jiang Feng's body vanished like smoke, reappearing behind them in a blur of motion.

**BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!!**

The battlefield erupted in a series of explosions as Jiang Feng and the two shadow cultivators clashed. Their movements were too fast for the eye to follow, their attacks leaving afterimages in their wake. The air currents generated by their battle buffeted the area, sending debris flying in all directions.

"It's the Celestial Shadow Church!!" Zhao Tian shouted, his voice filled with fear. The name alone was enough to send a chill through the hearts of those who heard it.

"Retreat now!!" Danue Ge turned and fled, his Water Prison collapsing as he abandoned the fight. He had heard of the brutal nature of the Celestial Shadow Church's top juniors, and he knew that staying would mean certain death.

"Damnit, how did they get in here?" Zhen Ruyi muttered, her hands moving swiftly to reinforce the formation shielding her group. "Leave at once!"

Shen Long watched from a distance, his expression grim. The battle had already claimed many lives, including some from Silver Sword City. The arrogance of Thunderclap City had been humbled, and even Obsidian Lake and Mist Ridge had suffered heavy losses. "Just when did Northern Moon City produce such a powerful junior?" he wondered aloud.

Zhen Ruyi, Lan Xue, and Zhao Tian exchanged uneasy glances as they retreated. They had known Jiang Feng was talented when he fought at the Eastern Wall and news spread, but none of them had expected him to be this strong. Not even Wu Lihua, Lei Wenshan, or Zhen Ming could compare to him now. "How did he cultivate?" Zhen Ruyi muttered, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ji Moran stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest. The Celestial Shadow Church was a name that struck fear into even the most seasoned cultivators, and yet here she was, refusing to flee. Her eyes were firm, but her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her sword. The flames around her flickered, their light casting long shadows across the battlefield.

"Ji Moran, are you crazy? Get out of there!!" Zhen Ruyi shouted from a distance, her voice filled with concern and wonder. Despite their rivalry, they were still from the same city, and Zhen Ruyi couldn't bear to see Ji Moran throw her life away for Jiang Feng's sake, after all, he wasn't one of them.

"She's mad," Lan Xue muttered, moving closer to Zhao Tian for protection.

"Am I afraid?" Zhao Tian asked himself, his eyes fixed on the battle. Jiang Feng's Celestial Dagger clashed with the whipblade and shard daggers, their movements a blur of light and shadow.

"Leave her. If she dies, the Ji clan has no one to blame," Lan Xue said coldly.

Jiang Feng surged forward, his fist blazing with light as flames erupted beneath his feet, propelling him forward with brute force. Above him, a vortex of fire spun wildly, drawing the flames upward to form a massive cage. Dragon scales shimmered across his body, their dark, primal energy enhancing his strength and speed. He was like a Dragon God of war birthed in flame, his Eternal and Draconic Bloodlines blazing to life.

Seeing him shooting their way, the member of the Shadow Church didn't falter, the killing intent in their eyes soared.

"Shadow Bell!" the young woman from the Shadow Church shouted. A black bell materialized around her, its surface covered in mystic symbols that glowed faintly. The bell emitted a deep, resonant sound, creating a shockwave that blasted toward Jiang Feng. It caused the flames in its way to ripple, breaking apart as the sound wave traveled. Her name was Ling Meixue, and her companion, Han Yunfei, was already preparing his next move.

Han Yunfei's hands moved in a series of intricate gestures before he pressed them together and shouted, "Howling Moon!" Above him, a blood-red moon rippled into existence, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield like dripping blood. The area around Han Yunfei turned crimson as the moon descended toward Jiang Feng, its power radiating a sense of impending doom.

Jiang Feng's eyes narrowed, the darkness within them deepening as the concept of darkness surged through his veins. He was ready. The battle was far from over, and he would not falter here!