Kurogane's enormous fists pummeled Ye Chen, his bones cracking with each blow.
Ye had to come up with a plan, or he wouldn't last much longer. His head was spinning, and his vision was starting to blur.
Suddenly, Ye remembered his Shinobi training. Ye used his remaining strength to slip out of Kurogane's grasp and dart towards the edge of the room. As he ran, he noticed a pile of rocks and rubble nearby. Ye grabbed a large stone and turned to face Kurogane.
Kurogane sneered and charged towards him. Ye ducked under his punch and swung the rock with all his might. The stone hit Kurogane square in the chest, and he stumbled back, gasping for air.
Ye took the opportunity to launch a barrage of punches and kicks. Kurogane was taken aback by his sudden surge of energy, but he quickly regained his composure and fought back fiercely. Their fists collided in a brutal exchange, each hit feeling like a sledgehammer to Ye’s battered body.
Despite the injuries, Ye refused to give up. He used every technique he had learned in his years of training to keep Kurogane on the defensive. His movements were swift and precise, and he felt a sense of satisfaction landing blow after blow on Kurogane's body.
However, the victory was short-lived. Kurogane suddenly grabbed Ye by the throat and lifted him off the ground. Ye gasped for air, vision growing dim.
As Ye felt his consciousness slipping away, he was once again contacted by the HRS.
[Warning: Internal hemorrhaging.]
Ye had to act fast if he wanted to survive. With a burst of adrenaline, he summoned all his strength and broke free from Kurogane's grip.
Ye fell to the ground, panting and gasping for air. Kurogane stood over him, breathing heavily.
Ye was in a dire situation as Kurogane continued to attack relentlessly. He was taking heavy hits, and couldn't hold on for much longer.
Suddenly, Ye got a prompt from the Heavenly Retribution System.
[“Early Mortal Stage Cultivation form transformation: Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form is now available. Would you like to transform and raise your Power Level?”]
Ye had gained significant experience points by defeating a rare and dangerous Yinghon Spector. He quickly weighed his options and realized that the Early Mortal Stage Cultivation Form transformation would be his only way out of the situation.
Int the world of cultivation, there were various levels of power, each with their own tiered cultivation levels. And each tier had its own Transformation Forms. The higher the tier, the more powerful the Transformation Form.
The first tier was the Mortal Stage. The Transformation Forms at this level were considered basic, but still impressive. The Early Mortal Stage form is the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form, a form that can amplify your strength and qi, making you faster, stronger, and more agile. It is a form that can provide a solid foundation for the higher levels of cultivation.
For the moment, Ye was content with the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form. It was a basic form, but it was still an impressive feat of cultivation.
It would allow him to move with incredible speed and strike with great force. It also provided a measure of protection against the attacks of his enemies. Ye had no doubt that with this form, he would be able to take on Kurogane and emerge victorious.
Without hesitation, Ye spent the experience points he had gained from defeating the Spector to unlock the Form Transformation of the current Early Mortal Stage Cultivation Tier: the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form.
He could feel the transformation overtaking his body. His muscles began to tighten, and a surge of power coursed through his veins. His hair turned an ethereal shade of white, and his eyes glowed with an otherworldly luminescence.
Now in the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form, Ye’s body was wrapped in a faint white aura, a testament to the newfound power he possessed. He was faster, stronger, and more agile than he had ever been before. He could feel the energy within him, begging to be unleashed.
With a roar, Ye charged at Kurogane, who barely had time to register what was happening. His movements were like lightning, too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Ye struck him with a barrage of punches and kicks, each blow landing with the force of a thunderbolt. Kurogane was completely overwhelmed, unable to keep up with Ye’s newfound speed and power.
In a matter of seconds, Ye had Kurogane on the defensive, his body battered and bruised from the relentless assault. With one final, devastating punch, Ye caved in his face, exploding his forehead and brain matter with an unforgettable crunch.
Then in a single movement, Ye unsheathed his sword, in this form the Shadowfang had been replaced with the Luminous Ivory Saber, and removed what was left of Kurogane's head. The rest of his body collapsed to the ground in a pool of his own blood.
Ye had defeated Kurogane.
But the victory came at a cost. The Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form had drained him of significant Qi. His legs trembled beneath him, and his breathing was heavy and labored. The white aura around his body began to fade, and he knew he had only seconds left in this powerful form.
Seeing that Taro was not ready to jump immediately in, Ye powered down the transformation, hoping to preserve more Qi for the fight to come.
Taro stood there, his eyes fixed on Ye with a mix of surprise and admiration.
"I must say, I am impressed with your new form," Taro said, his voice tinged with a hint of curiosity.
"It seems to have added at least 500 to your base Power Level. Transformations are a rare art form in this realm, especially for one outside of the highest of samurai priests. And for a lowly shinobi like yourself... truly remarkable. Indeed, you must be the product of an auspicious lineage. It's a shame I must now snuff out your life."
Taro’s words were chilling, but Ye refused to let fear overtake him. He glared back at Taro, eyes burning with determination.
"You'll have to try harder than that to intimidate me," Ye spat back.
Taro smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Kurogane's job was to soften you up and draw out your secrets," he explained, gesturing to the corpse of the headless warrior who lay crumpled against the wall. "He has done that. Now, you're tired, and I know what tricks you have up your sleeve. You've already shown me your hand, and it's not enough to beat me."
Ye clenched his fists, body still trembling from the exertion of the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form. He knew Taro was right - Ye was tired, and had revealed his secret weapon.
But Ye couldn't let him win. He had to find a way to defeat Taro, even if it meant pushing beyond his limits.
As Ye prepared for the confrontation with Taro, he couldn't shake the sinking feeling that he had exhausted his resources. Unlocking the new form and using it to kill Kurogane had come at a great cost. His Qi had been drained almost completely, leaving him weakened and vulnerable.
Taro's eyes gleamed with anticipation, sensing Ye’s exhaustion. He slowly circled him, like a predator sizing up its prey.
"You've done well, Ye," he taunted, "but your time is up. You're injured and tired, and your precious form won't save you this time."
Ye Chen’s heart raced, and he felt the weight of the predicament bearing down. With every passing moment, his body grew more fatigued, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to use the Celestial Ivory Ascendant Form as aggressively as he had against Kurogane.
Despite his weary state, Ye was ready for the battle ahead. He wouldn’t give in.
He thought of the innocent lives Taro and the Flesh Merchants had destroyed and of little Sasha, who had suffered so much. His resolve grew stronger, fueled by a desperate need to make things right.
"I won't let you win, Taro," he declared, voice shaking but resolute. "No matter how tired or injured I am, I will find a way to defeat you."
Taro just smirked, his confidence unshaken. "We'll see about that, Ye," he responded, his voice dripping with menace. "We'll see."
With that, the two warriors tensed, preparing for the final battle which would decide their fates.
As they faced each other in that Chamber of Flames, Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. He had come so far, but now he stood on the precipice, facing an enemy who seemed almost insurmountable.
The outcome of this fight would determine everything, and Ye couldn't afford to fail.
