"Your conditions hold no appeal for us" Xiao Chong replied coldly, a glint of frost in his eyes.
With a sudden wave of his hand, a warm golden light emanated from his palm, meeting the approaching iron chains.
The light seemed alive, and upon contact with the chains, the cold aura was gradually dispelled, and the luster of the chains began to fade.
Seeing this, Zi Yan was not to be outdone.
She closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and murmured incantations. A purple light blossomed from her body, forming a shield that enveloped the two of them.
The external attacks seemed to be greatly weakened by this layer of light.
"It seems it's time to show our true power" Zi Yan said as she opened her eyes, her gaze filled with unprecedented confidence.
At that moment, an indescribable surge of power erupted from the black-robed man, causing the very space to tremble under its force.
He sneered, seemingly unimpressed by their tricks.
"Foolish resistance will only make your end more tragic!"
However, Xiao Chong and Zi Yan exchanged a glance, conveying trust and determination without words.
They knew that against such a formidable foe, they had no choice but to fight with everything they had.
"Then let's see who will have the last laugh!" Before Xiao Chong words faded, he and Zi Yan transformed into two beams of light, charging towards the black-robed man.
This was no longer mere evasion but a direct challenge.
The black-robed man seemed momentarily surprised, but soon, his eyes were filled with nothing but coldness and killing intent.
The battle in the space grew increasingly intense, with chains and light interweaving to create a breathtaking scene.
The black-robed elder figure twisted in the void, like a demon emerging from the abyss. His chains swept across, carrying a force that could tear everything apart.
The spatial rifts under his control expanded wildly, attempting to engulf both Xiao Chong and Zi Yan.
"Be careful, that black energy can erode space!" Zi Yan warned, her hands flashing with light as a crystal-clear shield materialized in front of them.
The collision of light and dark sent ripples through the air.
Though the shield was strong, it trembled under the eerie black energy, appearing precarious.
Xiao Chong frowned, his internal energy surging.
His sword transformed into a bolt of lightning, each strike precise as he sought to find a weakness in the black-robed elder's attacks.
"We must find his true body, these chains are just a distraction!"
"Hmph, looking for me? You're still too green!" The black-robed elder voice was icy, his figure flickering in and out of sight.
The chains writhed like living creatures, each swing carrying the power to annihilate the heavens and the earth, forcing Xiao Chong and Zi Yan to retreat repeatedly.
"Lets Join forces!" Zi Yan shouted, her body glowing even brighter.
She seemed to merge with the surrounding space, transforming into a dazzling beam of light that shot towards the black-robed elder.
Xiao Chong, meanwhile, surged forward, his sword tip gathering all his power, following closely behind to form a pincer attack.
Seeing this, the black-robed elder curled his lips in a sneer.
"Come on then!"
With a shake of his hands, the chains split into dozens, weaving a net of death intended to completely ensnare the two of them.
"Xiao Chong, use that move!" Zi Yan shouted from mid-air.
At the same time, her light condensed into a massive mirror, reflecting some of the incoming chains back, which collided with the black-robed elder attack, producing a thunderous roar.
Xiao Chong understood immediately.
His inner energy surged to its peak, and his sword drew upon the elemental forces around him. The blade shimmered with a dazzling silver light—his long-cultivated ultimate technique.
"Dawnbreaker Slash."
"Break!"
With a fierce shout, the sword cut through the air, leaving a trail like the first ray of sunlight piercing the deepest darkness.
This slash wasn't just aimed at the black-robed elder; it seemed to sever all restraints and despair.
Just as the "Dawnbreaker Slash" was about to strike him, the elder's figure vanished strangely, replaced by a cold, mocking laugh.
"Not bad, not bad. This is quite an exciting fight... but it's still far from enough."
Space twisted once more, and the black-robed elder reappeared dozens of feet away, a playful smile on his lips.
He seemed somewhat satisfied with their performance, yet there was an unmistakable hint of disdain in his expression.
"The game is over, little ones" he declared with an air of finality.
The dark aura around him thickened as he prepared to unleash his final, deadly strike.
"Is that so?"
Xiao Chong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes burning with even fiercer determination.
Zi Yan steadied herself, her radiant light swirling around her as she stood firmly by Xiao Chong's side.
"The real fight begins now!" they declared in unison, their unyielding spirit and conviction resonating through every inch of the battlefield.
The black-robed elder paused, then burst into laughter, seemingly moved by their resolve or perhaps even more eager for the battle.
"Good! Then let me see just how far you can go!"
"Essence of Sand, lend me your power!" Xiao Chong murmured.
The seemingly ordinary crystal in his palm, which contained the endless laws of sand, shone brightly, transforming into a stream of light that merged into his body.
Instantly, the air around him seemed to solidify. The elemental power of the desert responded to his call, forming thin yet resilient curtains of sand that blocked the raging dark energy.
Seeing this, a flash of delight crossed Zi Yan eyes.
She formed a series of hand seals, and the light around her gathered into a radiant sun, illuminating the land that was on the verge of being swallowed by darkness.
"Purify the light, banish the darkness!"
With her soft incantation, the sun of light suddenly shot out countless rays, complementing Xiao Chong's sand curtains.
Together, they trapped the black-robed elder in a space where light and shadow intertwined.
The black-robed elder expression turned grave.
He hadn't expected these two young warriors to find a way to counter his dark energy so quickly.
"Hmph, interesting. But do you really think this is enough to defeat me? How naive!"
With that, the dark aura around him surged, transforming into a massive black eagle that spread its wings, attempting to break through the blockade.
"Trying to escape? Not so easy!" Xiao Chong sneered.
Beneath his feet, waves of sand surged, forming a colossal sand beast that charged alongside Zi Yan's dragon of light.
Together, they lunged at the black eagle, stirring up a tempest of wind and sand. The clash of sand and light painted a magnificent and intense scene across the heavens.
"The little one, your willpower is indeed admirable. But in the face of absolute power, everything will be reduced to nothingness" the voice of the black-robed elder emanated from the black eagle, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Is that so? Then let's see if will and perseverance can surpass the limits of power!" Xiao Chong eyes shone like the brightest stars in the night sky, resolute and luminous.
The essence of sand surged within him, not only resisting the dark energy but also showing signs of a counterattack.