The brightening golden light inside the stone chamber grew steadier by the second, wrapping around Chen Fan like a warm protective shield and pushing back the faint tingle of hostile black energy that had seeped through the cracks. Chen Fan sat straight, his hands still clasped in a cultivation seal, as he focused every bit of his concentration on nurturing the tiny but resilient spark of chaotic power waking up within his dantian. The pain in his meridians still lingered, and his body remained weak from the previous battle, but he did not waver—each slow breath he took drew in faint strands of spiritual energy from the air, feeding the Chaos Root and helping it recover bit by bit.
Outside the chamber, the morale of Azure Cloud Sect's disciples and elders had skyrocketed. They no longer cowered or stumbled back in fear; instead, they stood their ground with their heads held high, their weapons glinting with renewed determination. The sect leader leaned on his sword, his wounds still throbbing, but a fierce smile played on his lips as he stared at the black-robed invaders.
"See that? Young Hero Chen is rising again!" the sect leader shouted, his voice booming across the ruins. "We are not alone in this fight! Hold on a little longer, and we will push these intruders back!"
A young disciple who had narrowly escaped an invader's attack nodded fiercely, wiping the blood and dust from his cheek. "We can do this! We survived the Demon Emperor—we can survive this too!" he yelled, rallying the disciples around him. The group moved in tighter formation, covering each other's weak spots and fending off the black-robed figures with coordinated strikes. Their movements were still unsteady, and their spiritual power was low, but their will to fight burned brighter than ever.
One of the black-robed subordinates let out an annoyed grunt as he was forced back by a sudden joint attack from two elders. "These mortals are more irritating than insects. Their willpower shouldn't be this strong," he muttered, his voice cold and frustrated.
The lead black-robed figure's golden eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on the stone chamber, clearly taken aback by the turn of events. He had expected Chen Fan to remain helpless, drained of all power and easily captured, but the boy's unyielding spirit had not only awakened his own power but also reignited the fighting spirit of the entire sect. "The Chaos Root is more resilient than I anticipated," he said, his tone sharp with displeasure. "It does not matter—his power is still negligible. Seize him now, and do not hold back."
"As you command, my lord," the four subordinates replied in unison, surging forward with a new burst of black energy. The air around them distorted as the strange, icy power spread, but the Azure Cloud Sect members did not flinch.
An elder with a long white beard planted his feet firmly on the ground, raising his sword to the sky. "Sect defensive technique—Azure Shield!" he shouted, channeling the last of his spiritual power into a glowing blue barrier that covered the disciples behind him. The barrier cracked under the force of the black energy, but it held long enough for the others to counterattack.
"Your tricks won't save you," one of the black-robed figures sneered, lunging at the elder with a clawed hand of black energy.
Before the attack could land, a soft but steady golden light shot out from the stone chamber, colliding with the black energy and neutralizing it instantly. Everyone froze, turning their heads toward the source of the light. Chen Fan stood shakily in the chamber doorway, his body still battered and his robes tattered, but his eyes shone with a calm, determined golden glow. The Chaos Root on his chest pulsed gently, sending out faint waves of stabilizing chaotic power that calmed the panicked spiritual energy of the nearby disciples.
"I told you I would protect them," Chen Fan said, his voice clear and steady, carrying across the ruins without needing to shout. His legs trembled slightly from the effort of standing, but he did not take a single step back.
The lead black-robed figure stared at Chen Fan in disbelief, his cold facade cracking for the first time. "You… you can already stand? Your body should be completely broken after using all your power against the Demon Emperor," he said, his voice tinged with shock.
Chen Fan slowly lifted his hand, and a thin but sharp blade of golden chaotic energy formed at his fingertips. It was not as large or powerful as the attacks he had unleashed during his fight with the Demon Emperor, but it was steady, controlled, and full of unyielding will. "Pain and exhaustion don't mean defeat. They just mean I have to fight harder," he replied, his tone calm but firm.
The sect leader let out a hearty laugh, clapping his hands in excitement. "That's the spirit! Young Hero Chen, we stand with you!" The elders and disciples cheered, their confidence fully restored as they saw their savior on his feet again.
One of the black-robed subordinates growled in anger, charging toward Chen Fan with a massive ball of black energy. "You're still weak! One hit will take you down!" he shouted, confident in his superior power.
Chen Fan did not panic. He narrowed his eyes, focusing all his attention on the incoming attack, and guided the chaotic energy in his body to flow toward his outstretched hand. The golden blade in his hand grew slightly brighter, and he slashed it forward in a quick, precise motion. The golden blade cut through the black energy like a hot knife through butter, continuing forward and nicking the black-robed figure's arm, making him stumble back in pain.
"Impossible!" the invader gasped, staring at the small golden wound on his arm. The chaotic energy was burning away his black power, preventing it from healing.
The lead black-robed figure's expression turned grim. "The Chaos Root's power can neutralize our energy? That is a problem," he muttered, realizing that Chen Fan was not just a simple vessel to be captured—he was a threat. He turned to his subordinates, his voice sharp with urgency. "Do not hold back. Use enough force to knock him unconscious, but do not kill him. We need him alive."
The four black-robed figures exchanged glances and nodded, surrounding Chen Fan in a loose circle. They raised their hands simultaneously, gathering dense black energy between them, preparing to launch a combined attack. The air grew heavy, and the Azure Cloud Sect members tensed, ready to jump in and help, but Chen Fan raised a hand to stop them.
"Stay back," he said gently. "This is my fight. I caused this trouble, and I will fix it." He took a deep breath, steadying his trembling legs, and poured more of his willpower into the Chaos Root. The golden glow around him intensified, not with overwhelming strength, but with a resilient, unbreakable light. He knew he was still weak, and he could not defeat all five invaders at once, but he would not give up. He would keep fighting, keep recovering, and keep protecting the people who had stood by him.
The lead black-robed figure let out a cold laugh, shaking his head in mockery. "Foolish boy. You think your tiny spark of power can stand against our combined attack? You will regret resisting us."
Chen Fan's lips curved into a faint, determined smile. "I don't regret fighting for what's right. And I don't plan on losing," he replied, raising his golden-bladed hand once more. As the black-robed invaders prepared to unleash their full attack, the Chaos Root in Chen Fan's dantian pulsed again, stronger this time, as if responding to his resolve. A faint, ancient hum echoed through the air, a sign that the true power of the Chaos Root was only just beginning to wake up—and Chen Fan was ready to grasp every bit of it, no matter how hard he had to try.