The Dawn of the New World

Hao Xuan looked to the sky and saw the eight blades of light aiming down at him. They were getting ready to fire by collecting all the surrounding energy from the environment to power themselves up.

It was already getting harder to move even before they had done anything so Hao Xuan had no choice but to retaliate in full force.

This was it. This was one of the two chances he would have to end the fight as quickly as possible with the least amount of effort.

Channeling a good 60% of the Chaos Qi into his territory Hao Xuan regained control of the nearby space.

*VOOM*

A transparent barrier was erected around him within a radius of 20 meters, the same as the boundary of the territory. But the changes did not stop there.

The ground cracked beneath his feet and tongues of flame erupted from within. They surrounded his lower body creating a strong electrical charge that appeared in the shape of ropes of random lightning bolts tying him down.

The glaive glowing bright red due to the flame turned a faint blue as the power of fire and lightning danced across its blade.

The temperature rose in his vicinity but it got even colder just outside which gave birth to stronger lightning bolts. His feet were not even visible anymore due to the excessive current gliding through them.

They bore through his skin and into his bloodstream, mixing with the Lycan bloodline making it go mad with power.

"AAAAAAHHHHHRG!"

Stasa's mind palaces had finally finished powering up and fired. The first shot came from the first Mind Palace, the smallest of the swords.

*BZZZZZ*

It cut through the atmosphere in a beam of intense white light and fell right on top of him. Hao Xuan raised the glaive into the air and met it head-on using the teachings of the 'Imperial Glaive Doctrine'.

Feet firmly planted onto the ground he swung once upwards. All the electricity gathering at his feet traveled up his body and shot forward through the glaive.

Two blades of light, one blue and one pure white met in the air and created a bright spark that blinded every single being.

There was no explosion, only a simple conversion of energy as both of them canceled each other out with a shockwave to dissipate the rest of the energy all around them.

The barriers shook like wet paper in a storm but somehow managed to hold on until the end, keeping the energy contained. Dai Zhi's face instantly drained of all color as he swallowed a mouthful of blood climbing up his throat.

The intense kickback had damaged some of the areas of the colosseum.

When the light receded there was one less serpent floating in the air.

Hao Xuan was unharmed but his hands were a little numb. The flames and electricity below his feet were on the verge of being snuffed out just by this one interaction.

He looked at the other seven and knew there wasn't enough Qi in his body to go against all of them.

Just then Stasa's voice rang inside his head.

'Give up. This is your only chance.'

Hao Xuan frowned inwardly. He was the one in the corner so was Stasa reaching out to him? Why not just attack and finish him?

'Why would I do that?'

'Because you will lose, and in the process take me down with you.'

'I don't know, I think I can kill you before it comes to that. Besides, shouldn't you be the one giving up?' Hao Xuan retorted trying to keep him talking so he could find his location within the cyclone.

*Sigh*

'You are as arrogant as you are ignorant. Do not force my hand, mortal. I agree you have some skill but you cannot win against me. This technique that you're facing, the great ice blade hanging over your head is the result of my master's own founding technique. It belongs to the category of 'God Slayers' and was not meant to be used against the likes of you.'

'If I end up executing the technique it will not only annihilate you but also leave me weakened for the next 100 days. My cultivation will be damaged and set back months. It will be a pyrrhic victory for me, and the end of the road for you. Is that truly what you desire?'

Hao Xuan had to admit there was truth to his words. If he could he would definitely opt out of the fight but then he would only end up fighting one of the others. This was the only way now, there was no room for hesitation.

'I wish I could. Unfortunately, the circumstances won't allow me such an opportunity. If I surrender I will die.'

'You will die if you don't.'

'Guess we'll have to see about that, won't we?'

'"Devour!"'