The Golden-Armored Man's exclamation still lingered in the air as the terrifying surge of power erupting from Qin Zhizhi swept through the courtyard like an invisible giant hand, knocking everyone to the ground. A violent gale whipped across the grounds, bending the flowers and shattering the rockeries, instantly turning the once-peaceful Qin Family estate into a scene of utter devastation.
The Golden-Armored Man scrambled up from the ground in a sorry state, glaring darkly at Qin Zhizhi with eyes full of deep apprehension. He never could have imagined that this seemingly fragile girl harbored such terrifying power within her! "Who on earth are you?!" he demanded harshly.
Qin Zhizhi slowly stood up as golden light flowed around her, illuminating her pale, delicate face and making her look sacred and untouchable. She looked down at her hands, feeling the surging power within her, but her mind was a blank. "I... I don't know either..."
Before Qin Zhizhi could figure it out, a series of piercing shrieks suddenly tore through the sky.
Everyone looked up to see dozens of black figures tearing across the firmament, shrouded in heavy demonic aura like a swarm of bloodthirsty bats, plunging straight toward the Qin Family.
"Not good! It's people from the Demon Realm!" someone cried out in alarm.
"They've joined forces with the Immortal Realm to wipe us out!"
"Zhizhi, run! They're here to capture you!"
Panic erupted among the Qin Family members as fear and despair spread through the crowd. Qin Zhizhi's parents anxiously pulled her behind them, their eyes filled with worry.
"Zhizhi, don't be afraid, Mom and Dad will protect you!"
"Mom, Dad..." Qin Zhizhi tightly gripped her parents' hands as a wave of warmth surged through her heart.
"Sichen, protect Zhizhi!" Father Qin turned to Yin Sichen, his eyes filled with a plea.
Yin Sichen nodded with a solemn expression, pulling Qin Zhizhi behind him as a fierce murderous intent emanated from his entire body.
"You guys go first, I'll hold them off!" With that, Yin Sichen shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging straight toward the aggressive contingent from the Demon Realm. His longsword danced like the wind, kicking up waves of sword energy that drove the fiends back.
"Kill them! Leave no survivors!" At the command of the Golden-Armored Man, the figures from the Immortal Realm joined the fray as well. In an instant, battle cries, the clashing of weapons, and screams intertwined, echoing through the heavens.
Led by Qin Zhizhi and Yin Sichen, the Qin Family fought desperately to resist, but the disparity in strength was too vast, and the situation hung by a thread. Blood stained the ground crimson, and a heavy stench of carnage filled the air.
Seeing one clansman after another fall, Qin Zhizhi felt as though her heart was being tightly clenched by an invisible hand, driving her to the verge of suffocation. Blood stained the ground crimson, and a heavy stench of carnage filled the air.
Watching her family members fall one by one, Qin Zhizhi felt as though her heart was squeezed by an invisible hand, leaving her gasping for breath. Yin Sichen fought with all his might, his sword energy sweeping in all directions, yet he still struggled to stem the tide of enemies crashing against them like a wave.
"Zhizhi, get out of here! Take your aunt and uncle away from this place!" Yin Sichen's body was already covered in wounds, but he gritted his teeth and held his ground, buying time for Qin Zhizhi to escape.
"No, I can't leave you behind!" Tears streamed down Qin Zhizhi's face. She hated her own weakness, hated that she possessed such immense power yet had no control over it.
At that critical juncture, a flash of golden light cut through the air, and an aged, majestic voice rang out in everyone's ears: "Stop!"
As the voice faded, an old man in white robes materialized out of thin air in the center of the battlefield.
He had white hair and a youthful complexion, possessing an otherworldly grace, and his eyes were as deep as the sea, seeming capable of piercing through all things in the world.
"M-Master?!" The Golden-Armored Man was struck with utter dismay at the sight of the old man, his immortal sword nearly dropping from his hand.
The old man ignored the Golden-Armored Man, turning instead to look at Qin Zhizhi with a complex expression in his eyes. "Child, you have finally awakened."
"You are..." Qin Zhizhi looked at the old man, a vague sense of familiarity stirring in her heart, though she could not recall where she might have seen him.
"Child, this is no time for talk." The old man interrupted Qin Zhizhi, looking up at the gathering demonic energy in the sky with a grave expression. "These fiends are after the power within you. Only by awakening completely can you resolve this crisis."
"But... I haven't the slightest idea how to awaken."
Qin Zhizhi shook her head blankly. She possessed vast power but had no way to control it—much like a child wielding a devastating weapon with no idea how to use it, risking self-harm instead.
"Zhizhi, believe in yourself, you can do this!" Yin Sichen endured his injuries, stepping close to Qin Zhizhi to tightly clasp her hands, offering her strength and encouragement.
"That's right, child, you must believe in yourself!" The old man nodded as well. "The power within you originates from an Ancient Divine Beast. Only when your heart is steadfast can you win its acknowledgment and gain complete mastery over it!"
Meeting Yin Sichen's encouraging gaze and feeling the old man's expectant look, Qin Zhizhi took a deep breath and finally made up her mind. "Alright, I'll try!"
The old man nodded and formed hand seals, sending a stream of golden light that enveloped Qin Zhizhi.
"Child, quiet your mind, feel the power within you, and awaken it!" The old man's voice echoed in Qin Zhizhi's ears, guiding her forward.
Qin Zhizhi closed her eyes, gathering all her focus inward to sense that formidable and mysterious power...
"Sichen, I leave her in your hands. Protect Zhizhi well!" The old man turned to Yin Sichen, giving him a solemn charge.
"Senior, rest assured, I will protect Zhizhi even if it costs me my life!" Yin Sichen nodded firmly. He knew this was Qin Zhizhi's most crucial moment, and he would never allow anyone to disturb her!
The golden light cocooned Qin Zhizhi, forming a massive shield of light that isolated her from the outside world. Grasping his longsword, Yin Sichen stood watch with a blazing gaze, vigilantly guarding the perimeter of the light cocoon to prevent a single soul from drawing near.
Standing to the side, the old man watched Qin Zhizhi furrow her brow inside the cocoon, a flicker of worry in his eyes. He knew the awakening process was fraught with peril; the slightest misstep could lead to a deviation, resulting in either total loss of cultivation or the forfeiture of her life.
Inside the light cocoon, Qin Zhizhi seemed to have stepped into a surreal world. She saw towering mountains and vast oceans, suns, moons, and stars, alongside countless bizarre creatures. Some of these beings were malevolent and fierce, while others were gentle and cute, but without exception, every single one of them radiated hostility toward her.
Roaring and howling, they launched fierce attacks upon her.
Qin Zhizhi was startled by the sudden onslaught, but she quickly steadied herself. She knew these trials stemmed from her own deepest fears and anxieties, and only by conquering them could she attain true power.
Mobilizing the formidable strength within her, Qin Zhizhi engaged the monsters in battle. At first, she was entirely on the defensive, driven back step by step, and on several occasions nearly swallowed whole by the beasts.
Yet she did not give up. She thought of her parents, of Yin Sichen, and of the clansmen who had fallen to protect her, a raging fighting spirit igniting within her chest.
"I cannot lose! I must defeat them! For my family, for my beloved, and for everyone who cares about me!" Qin Zhizhi let out a fierce cry as the power within her erupted once more, a golden radiance surging like a volcanic eruption that instantly engulfed and consumed the monsters entirely.