Chapter 30: Battle at Poor Man's Corner (Epic Scene)

Jin Wu had been one of Jin Royal Family's own, years ago. Once a promising youth of great potential, he had vanished one day, swallowed by the forest and, it was later learned, seduced by the Shadow Church's dark promises. Now, Jin Wu had returned, but not as the boy of a royal family they once knew. He had become a spectral presence, cloaked in darkness, bearing the same obsidian gaze that mirrored the Woodlands themselves, only colder, empty of warmth or mercy.

A sudden stillness rippled through the villagers as a figure appeared on the far edge of the trail, his form blurred in the fading light. Jin Wu stood silently, watching them with a chilling calm. His robes, dark as midnight, blended into the shadows, his eyes fixed upon them with a gaze that seemed to pierce through the entire group and single out Lin Moyi.

"Lin Moyi," Jin Wu's voice was smooth, quiet yet carrying through the silence like a blade drawn in the dark. "You cannot escape. You and your people hold something we need. Surrender it, and the Shadow Church will grant you peace."

Lin Moyi's eyes narrowed, his voice unwavering. "The peace you offer is hollow, Jin Wu. We will not become thralls to your church's darkness."

Jin Wu's expression barely shifted, but his gaze hardened. "I was once like you. Bound to foolish beliefs of loyalty and honor. But the Celestial Shadow Church has opened my eyes. Surrender the boy, Lin Moyi. You know he does not belong to you."

Lin Rou stepped forward, defiance flashing in his eyes. "My father said no. You'll have to get through us first!"

Jin Wu's gaze shifted briefly to Lin Rou, a faint smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. "Brave, but foolish. You do not know the power we wield. This land, this forest, that boy... is already ours. You're merely delaying the inevitable."

With a flick of his wrist, shadows began to gather around Jin Wu, coiling like black mist. The air grew colder, and a shiver ran through the villagers as they felt the weight of his power pressing down upon them. Lin Moyi turned to his people, his voice steady but urgent.

"Keep moving! Make for Poor Man's Corner, quickly! They may yet give us shelter."

The villagers surged forward, hastening their pace. Lin Moyi and Lin Rou stayed at the rear, determined to keep Jin Wu at bay long enough for the others to escape. As they pressed on, Lin Moyi could feel the forest around them responding, its ancient energy stirring as though recognizing an intrusion.

Poor Man's Corner was close, the fractured buildings looming larger now, the path narrowing as they approached. Lin Moyi cast a last glance back at Jin Wu, who stood, unmoving, his expression still and calculating. He knew the chase had only begun.

-

As dusk fell over the Obsidian Woodlands, the trees shuddered under the weight of hundreds of shadows that twisted and lurked, shifting among the thick foliage. The sinister presence made Lin Rou's expression tighten as he led the retreat, slowly guiding the villagers toward Poor Man's Corner. Each villager moved hastily, their breaths shallow and panicked as they heard the cracking of branches and felt the eerie chill of approaching danger.

In the center of one of the wagons, Jiang Feng was seated cross-legged, immersed in the intense heat of the Infernal Breathing Technique. He could feel his breath synchronize with the pulse of his blood, each beat strengthening him. Suddenly, he felt the jolt as the wagon picked up speed, accompanied by the desperate shouts of the villagers. Opening his eyes, he glanced through the small window at the back of the wagon and felt his heart drop at the sight of Jin Wu, his smirk cold and cruel, eyes gleaming with deadly intent.

"There he is! After him!" Jin Wu commanded, his figure dissolving into a dark shadow that shot forward. He seemed to glide over the ground, an embodiment of darkness itself, heading straight for the caravan.

Fear knotted Jiang Feng's insides. He knew his limits — he could barely hold his own against low-level cultivators, let alone Jin Wu and his comrades from the Shadow Church. They were shrouded in mysteries, each one possessing deadly skills that Jiang Feng wasn't prepared to face. The thought of confronting them was enough to fray his nerves, a weight pressing down on his chest.

"Focus on cultivating; we'll handle them." A calm voice snapped him out of his daze. Lin Moyi had appeared alongside the wagon, his presence a beacon of strength and calm. The old man's eyes were steady, observing Jiang Feng with an approving gleam. Even in the heat of battle, he couldn't help but marvel at the young man's progress. Jiang Feng's cultivation had surged, fueled by the hidden potential of his dragon bloodline, the legacy of the Warrior Blacksmiths, and the power of the Skyforge Flame embedded within him.

Lin Moyi didn't waste another moment. Turning sharply, he called out to Lin Rou, "Lin Rou, take a hundred warriors with you and defend the rear. I'll intercept Jin Wu!"

Lin Rou nodded, his expression hardening as he rallied his fighters. "First squad, with me!" he commanded, his voice carrying over the chaotic sounds. His blade was drawn, and a faint, rotating aura emanated from him as he tapped into the Essence Condensation Stage, his power building steadily. A hundred warriors gathered behind him, their eyes filled with resolve as they matched his pace.

Though most were at the late stages of the Foundation Realm, just shy of the Essence Condensation, they moved with unflinching courage. Swords drawn, they followed Lin Rou to confront the advancing shadows, creating a barrier between the villagers and their enemies.

The villagers pushed forward, their faces pale and drawn, retreating to the crumbling shelter of Poor Man's Corner. Amid the tension, Jin Wu's laughter echoed through the trees, dark and taunting. "Hahaha! Lin Moyi, the blood of your people is on your hands! Blame yourself for their deaths!" His voice was laced with venom as shadows coiled around his hand, congealing into a long, pitch-black sword.

"Umbral Severance!"

With a swift downward slash, a surge of darkness exploded outward, shadows spilling onto the ground like thick smoke, devouring everything it touched. The forest floor beneath Jin Wu blackened, life wilting away as his power corroded and tainted the ancient Obsidian Woodlands. Jin Wu leapt forward, his blade slicing through the air with a darkness that seemed alive, ready to consume anything in its path.

Lin Moyi stood his ground, planting his feet firmly as he faced the attack head-on. His old voice, now fierce, echoed through the trees. "Over my dead body, you disgrace of the Jin family! Wind!"

With a fierce shout, Lin Moyi swung his staff in a powerful, sweeping motion. "Horizon Cleaver!"

A powerful wave of wind burst forth, a cutting edge of air that cleaved through branches and debris alike, carving a path through the forest. As the wind intensified, trees began to sway violently, bending under the weight of his attack. Jin Wu's darkness collided with the force of the wind, their energies twisting and battling as they tried to overpower one another.

BOOM! BOOM! The forest shook under the force of their clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the trees.

Jin Wu cackled, unfazed by the display. "Still as ruthless as ever, old man! The Lin village's bloodline is famed to hold the power of the wind eagle, but today, I'll see its limits!" Dark energy pulsed around him as large, shadowy wings sprouted from his back, stretching wide with an ominous aura. His cloak shimmered, absorbing the darkness that clung to him. "Wings of Darkness!" he cried, vanishing from sight in a burst of shadowy speed.

Lin Moyi narrowed his eyes, his body tense. Gathering his own energy, he shot forward, launching himself with a shout of, "Zephyr's Wrath!"

In an instant, he transformed into a blur, his staff whipping through the air with the precision and fury of a razor-sharp wind. Every strike sent bursts of wind flying outward, scattering Jin Wu's shadows and driving back any enemy that dared come close.

BOOM! CLANG! The forest resounded with each impact, the clash of darkness and wind echoing across the trees.

Lin Moyi swung his staff again, his eyes fixed on Jin Wu. "Gale Piercer!" he roared, thrusting his staff forward. The tip of the staff emitted a concentrated burst of wind that sliced through the shadows like a spear.

Jin Wu countered with a twisted grin, his dark blade raised. "Umbral Fang!" He slashed back, the sword dripping with shadows that lashed out like fangs, meeting Lin Moyi's attack head-on.

Each strike became a life-or-death exchange as the two powers collided. Waves of darkness and torrents of wind tore at each other, transforming the forest into a battlefield of elemental fury. Amid the chaos, Lin Moyi and Jin Wu's eyes met, a silent declaration that only one of them would walk away from this fight alive.

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