The Overall Situation Reversed

Thud! Thud!

Wh-what kind of joke is this?

Ye Qun gritted his teeth, gripping the broken dagger stabbed into the ground.

With sheer force, he pushed himself up.

He raised his head, his face twisted in anguish as he glared at the shadowy creature before him, radiating arrogance.

That posture, that expression.

How dare it look down on them like this?

Worst of all, he could swear he saw traces of that venomous woman in this monster’s demeanor!

Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!!!!

Ye Qun’s eyes burned crimson as he panted heavily, roaring with all his might, "Just a damn monster! Don’t you dare underestimate humans!!"

Before his voice even faded—

Whoosh—!

The shadow creature instantly transformed into a streak of abyssal darkness.

With a sonic boom, it teleported right in front of Ye Qun, so fast it seemed to tear through space, leaving a shrill screech in its wake.

Its blood-red eyes locked onto Ye Qun as it bared its fangs, growling in a guttural voice, "Too much talk..."

It can SPEAK?!

Everyone’s pupils trembled in shock.

The next instant, before anyone could react—

Its massive, fan-like claw clamped around Ye Qun’s skull like a steel vice, fingers tightening violently.

"Gh...?!"

A sickening crack echoed from Ye Qun’s skull, like an old wooden door being forced open.

Then, the shadow creature’s muscles bulged as it lifted Ye Qun bodily and swung him through the air at a dizzying speed.

Whoosh—whoosh—

Ye Qun’s body cut through the air, each swing accompanied by howling winds.

With a thunderous BOOM, he was slammed into the wall—hard stone fracturing on impact, debris scattering in all directions.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

"Ugh—cough!"

Ye Qun spat blood, his face contorted in agony.

But before he could even catch his breath—

He was grabbed again and smashed into the ground.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

The shadow creature swung him left and right like a club, battering him relentlessly.

The solid stone floor caved in, dust billowing into the air.

"GAAAAHHHH—!!!"

Ye Qun’s screams of torment and despair filled the chamber.

Wrapped in unbearable pain and dizziness, his consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse.

N-no way…

How can it be this brutal?!

Everyone stood frozen in place.

Chu Yu’s expression stiffened as she watched.

If she remembered correctly from her past life, Ye Qun was supposed to become a Supreme powerhouse.

Yet now…

Why was he so powerless?

No… This can’t go on.

If Ye Qun dies here, we’re next.

So…

Chu Yu clenched her teeth, her gaze sharpening. "We fight this monster to the death!!"

She didn’t believe they could win—she was gambling.

Betting that Ye Qun would pull through and lead them to survival!

After all, in her past life, he had become a Supreme!!

With a battle cry, she channeled her spiritual energy into her sword and lunged at the shadow creature without hesitation.

The blade cut through the air with a piercing shriek, carrying her full strength.

Yet the creature moved like a ghost, sidestepping effortlessly as Chu Yu’s sword grazed past its fur.

"Huh?!"

Chu Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

It dodged that?!

In that split second of vulnerability, the creature’s hind leg lashed out like a battering ram, slamming into her chest.

"Pfft—!"

A crisp snap—the sound of ribs breaking—echoed painfully. Chu Yu’s chest caved in as she was sent flying like a cannonball.

She crashed through several boulders with bone-shattering force before collapsing in a pool of blood.

Chu Yu vomited blood in heaving gasps, her throat gurgling.

Her vision blurred, but through the haze, she saw the shadow creature finally release Ye Qun.

Now… it’s up to fate…

The three Qingyan Sect disciples snapped out of their stupor, their eyes bloodshot as they roared in unison.

"FIGHT!!"

Without hesitation, they charged the creature.

Lin Yue leaped high, his longsword gleaming as he aimed a vicious slash at the creature’s neck, the blade tearing through the air.

Song Hao dashed low, daggers thrusting toward its abdomen.

Chen Feng flanked from the side, swinging his massive axe at its hind legs.

Yet the shadow creature merely tilted its head with disdain. Lin Yue’s sword struck its rock-hard hide, the recoil splitting his palms and sending the blade flying.

Song Hao and Chen Feng barely got close before the creature’s tail whipped out, hurling them away.

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

They crashed to the ground, blood spraying from their mouths.

Su Bailian cowered in a corner, shrieking incoherently, "KYAAAAAAAH!!!"

"IT’S TOO SCARY!!!"

Her screams echoed until she noticed another figure hiding nearby—the masked man.

Her face immediately fell.

Seriously?!

While everyone’s fighting for their lives, you’re just squatting there?!

Meanwhile, Su Muwan—

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!!!

She hammered away at her controller, shouting excitedly, "Up, down, left, right!!"

"Hey hey hey hey!!"

"Is that all you’ve got?!"

"Really?! You’re worse than Qin Luo!!"

"Keh-keh-keh-keh~~!!"

On the screen, hyper-realistic combat effects exploded across the display, sending thrilling vibrations through her brain.

Oh my god, this ultra-realistic fighting game is AMAZING!

I could play this forever!

Su Muwan grinned smugly as she watched the characters on-screen get utterly demolished by her shadow puppet.

So much for being "T0 Destiny’s Chosen." Pathetic!

Hmm…

Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

Maybe I should just… eliminate them here?

After all, this shadow puppet isn’t technically me. Maybe the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions won’t apply…

Meanwhile, Qin Luo observed Su Muwan’s gameplay. Her skills were impressive, no doubt.

But…

This was just a hastily made shadow puppet.

Compared to the real Su Muwan, the difference was like heaven and earth.

The reason she was dominating now was simple—Ye Qun and the others hadn’t used their spiritual techniques yet.

But if they discovered this place’s secret…

Then…

Qin Luo’s eyes narrowed as he watched the screen.

The tables would turn.

I wonder who’ll figure it out first.

Back in the stone chamber—

The masked man hadn’t been idly hiding. He’d been scouting for an escape route.

But…

No luck.

Behind the mask, his eyes flickered with resignation.

He’d assumed these people were strong enough to handle things without him.

But now… If he didn’t act, they’d all die here.

With that thought, he stepped forward.

BOOM!

A torrent of spiritual energy erupted from his body, flooding the chamber with emerald light.

For the first time, he spoke: "Everyone, unleash your full spiritual power."

Unleash their full power?!

Ye Qun, sprawled on the ground in agony, heard this.

Without hesitation, he dug his fingers into the stone and roared—

"RAAAAAGH!!!"

In an instant—

BOOM!

Spiritual energy erupted from his body like a volcano.

[Primordial Heaven-Shattering Art!!!]

[Little Ye!! Your Primordial Heaven-Shattering Art broke through again?!]

"Only by facing death can one find life!!"

"You truly are this old man's most satisfactory disciple!!"

Chu Yu leaned against the corner, clutching her chest, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Ye Qun—who had suddenly regained the ability to wield his techniques—and the masked man.

Had the sealing array failed?

No... that wasn't it...

After a moment of focused sensing, realization struck her.

She quickly turned to the others and shouted, "I've figured it out!! The restriction here isn’t suppressing spiritual energy!"

"It’s absorbing it!!"

"So! If we unleash our full power at once, we can break free!!"