*Part Three: Hidden Enemy Revealed*
(Eternal Forest)
As the children continued to struggle with the barrier, more cracks appeared, and more shadow creatures escaped through the fractures. Chang'an tried to slay all the creatures that escaped, but they were starting to overwhelm her. The constant rush of creatures escaping through the fractures causes the barrier to further weaken, but Mu Xuan and Zhinu together used more of the inner force to reinforce the barrier. Just as they were strengthening the barrier, a massive reptile-like worm covered with spikes down its back with fishlike fins on the side of its body, surrounded by shadow energy, emerged from the port-link. It rose ever higher till it reached the top of the barrier.
"It's going to break the barrier!", shouted Gu Nan as the creature rushed towards the weak point of the barrier at the top overhead, "Brace for the backlash!", instructed Jinxi to everyone as the creature hit the top of the barrier and scattered it. The backlash was so powerful that it blew everyone backwards, including Chang'an, who was floating in the air, fighting shadow creatures. She was hit hard, pushed back, falling, but Mu Xuan noticed this, and mid-air flashed to her, grabbing her around the waist and covering her fall, landing on the ground, and she fell on him.
Gu Nan, Jinxi, and Mu Yuan were able to find their footing by landing safely on the ground. Ying Pu was the closest to the impact and was thrown back really hard. As Zhinu saw him tumbling through the air, he knew Ying Pu would not be able to find his footing and stop himself, and tried to help Ying Pu, but he wouldn't make it in time. At that moment, Ying Pu suddenly felt calm energy filling the space around and the fast-moving air around him suddenly stopped; a gentle hand wrapped around his waist, catching him mid-air. As Ying Pu looked up, he saw the face of the person saving him; it was Zhuyuan. They landed safely on the ground. As they landed, Zhuyuan noticed Ying Pu staring at him intensely and looked at him directly into his eyes, "Are you okay?" asked Zhuyuan softly as he slowly tightened his grip around Ying Pu's waist.
"I am fine", answered Ying Pu softly with a shy tone and expression. As he realized what was going on, he immediately jumped up and out of Zhuyuan's arms. "Sorry about that", said Ying Pu shyly, and Zhuyuan smiled and nodded.
As everyone settled after the backlash, the screams and roars of the shadow creatures forced them to regain focus on the situation. Zhinu landed right next to Zhuyuan, "Elder brother, we need to contain them and stop them from reaching the city", said Zhinu as he reminded Zhuyuan of the importance of the situation. "Yes, we have to keep the shadow creature away from the civilians", reiterated Zhuyuan sternly, and at that moment massive battalion of troops arrived. "First Prince, we came to aid by order of the emperor", said Shangjian, who was leading the battalion, with a smile.
"Huh, father sent you", said Zhinu annoyed, "Ahh Crown Prince, seems your still upset about earlier, forgive me for that but I was simply carrying out and imperial decree", explained Shangjian to Zhinu, "No need for that we have bigger problems at hand", said Zhuyuan sternly reminding them both of the current issue they are facing, "Yes", said they both in agreement.
"Everyone listens to my order, we have to stop the spread of the shadow horde, don't let it reach the civilian population, kill anything in your path, even if it means death, we must defend the Eternal Capital!", said Zhuyuan with a loud voice as he gave them a moral boost.
Zhuyuan then commanded them to attack, and everyone rushed and charged forward to attack the shadow horde. The shadow did not back down also charged at them, with the barrier gone the shadows were no longer restricted and containing them in Eternal forest was difficult and at that moment more of those massive beast came forth, "Damn it", said Zhinu as he slashed through shadow creatures with his sword, "Elder brother! we have stop the big ones", shouted Zhinu in a tone of annoyance.
Zhuyuan looked around and assessed the situation, "Everyone keep the fighting in a 50 Mile radius", shouted Zhuyuan as he instructed the other children, "Soldiers, listen to my order and create a boundary around the area, and don't let any shadow creatures pass", instructed Zhuyuan to the troops. At that moment, the portal-link suddenly surged with more shadow energy, and a mysterious figure came out of the portal-link, and a strange feeling passed through everyone. "Dark Qi" whispered Zhuyuan, as he knew the strange feeling of the energy, having fought in multiple battles before. "Everyone listens up, stay away from him", instructed Zhuyuan, and everyone seemed confused but understood.
"How is this possible? Dark Qi was completely eradicated from creation, I must tell father and uncle Arceus", said Zhuyuan to himself as he used palm attacks against the shadow creature, as he monitored the strange, mysterious figure.
With the children and most of the troops dealing with the shadow horde and the appearance of a strange figure, elsewhere in Hou Palace, more is revealed.
[Hou Palace]
(Imperial Vault)
As they reached the entrance of the imperial vault, Anwu asked Su Ying to open the doors of the imperial vault, and she proceeded to do so. She stretched out her arm and placed her palm against the door. Which had no doorknobs or keyholes to it, she then proceeded to channel her Heart Qi into the door, physically channeling her life force into the door.
"What is she doing?" asked Wu'an, amazed and curious.
"She is channeling her life force into the door", explained Anwu calmly.
"Why?" asked Jinhui confused, "For someone so close to the Imperial family you know little, but then again it's only through marriage", said Changchen sarcastically, "The door is infused with Elder Magic, which will search her Heart Qi to confirm that she is a member of the Direct lineal Imperial family", explained Anwu as he watched her closely.
"So it's basically searching her soul to see if she is connected to the Imperial by direct blood lineage", said Wu'an confidently and Anwu smiled with acknowledgement, "Yes but not entirely, even if you are a offspring of an imperial family member, you still won't qualify as a direct lineal member, you have to be acknowledge by the direct lineal parent", explained Anwu clearly as he looked at Wu'an, "I see", responded Wu'an understandingly.
Suddenly, the sound of a hard crack made everyone focus on the door, and the doors open slowly, "There you go", said Su Ying, having successfully opened the door. Everyone entered the Imperial Vault. Wu'an and Jinhui were amazed by the massive scale of the vault, "So this place has all the knowledge of the Eternal realm and what it has gathered", said Wu'an with amazement on his face. As they walked through the vault, Wu'an saw a strange book and looked at the cover, which had written on it, Hou Clan Genealogy and he opened it in amazement and curiosity. He turned the pages and saw his father's face and name at the bottom of the page, Hou Anwu, with a small paragraph describing him, ending with married to Chen Changchen. He then turned and saw the face of an older-looking man, "Who is this?" he asked, confused and curious because the face quite resembled that of Anwu. "It's my father, Hou Xangwu", answered Anwu confidently.
"His still alive?" asked Jinhui sarcastically, "Yes he is, he is living in seclusion", responded Anwu pleased, "Wait if his still alive, that would make him over 5 million years old, his the oldest being in the Eternal realm", said Wu'an with shocked face, "Yes, but his not the oldest being in the Eternal realm", said Changchen with a smile, who found Wu'an's quite amusing.
"Huh, he's not who is then?", asked Wu'an curiously, "That would be the Grand Empress Dowager, the stepmother of the previous emperor and step-grandmother of the current one", answered Jinhui as he looked through a pile of books. "Wow", said Wu'an with a look of shock and disbelief. As Jinhui looked, he found an old scroll and picked it up, "Ahh, found it". He proceeded to open it using a special spell. As it opened, Anwu and Changchen walked closer along with Wu'an, "What's that?" asked Wu'an with an inspecting tone.
"This the activation array of the Kongtian Seal, showing it step by step", said Anwu in shock and fear, "What would the emperor want with this?" asked Changchen curiously and inspecting, "It's for safety", answered Jinhui sternly, "It has to do with the Shadow energy I have been sensing coming from the East side of the City", said Changchen certain, "Yes, the appearance of the shadow hordes are quite unusual, the last time the shadow horde went the rampant and appeared was when the Kongtian Seal appeared previously in the Celestial Realm, which resulted in it's destruction", said Jinhui with a strict tone and straight face, "We understand", said Anwu assuring, "Wu'an go and aid the other in the Eternal Forest", instructed Anwu.
With them looking at the scroll, and as Wu'an was about leave, he turned and saw a masked figure standing behind them, "Who are you?" asked Wu'an in shock, realizing that he didn't sense him, nor did his parents and Jinhui sense him the whole time. They suddenly turned around as he asked the question, with shocked and confused faces they stare at the masked man, "We didn't sense him, this bad", said Changchen concerned, "Thank you all for your cooperation now hand over the scroll", said masked figure in a distorted voice, "We cannot let this scroll fall into the wrong hands", said Jinhui in a instructing voice and looked at Anwu who nodded in agreement.
Jinhui started to release his icy cold inner force, but was stopped by Anwu, "Forgive me for being a spoil sport, but there can't be any fighting inside the vault if anything is damaged, I will have to answer for it", said Anwu sternly and in a cold tone. Changchen then proceeded to cast a forcefield array and pushed it forward against the masked figure. The figure then flashed off, and they all followed him. As they flashed outside, the masked figure was standing on the roof of one of the buildings, "I sense strange energy on him", said Anwu softly, "He has cultivated Dark Qi", said Jinhui boldly, shocking both Anwu and Changchen. "Wasn't it cleansed from creation?", responded Changchen in a surprised voice.
"This is not going to be easy. If that's true, it's going to be a difficult fight", said Anwu, uncertain of victory. Jinhui then proceeded to call his sword to his side, and an icy, freezing sword suddenly appeared through the sky by his side. Jinhui gripped it, "The Hellfire Freezing Sword", said Wu'an with a face of amazement. Jinhui then proceeded to engage the masked figure in battle, and they fought, as they fought. Anwu and Changchen watched, "He is good", said Anwu as he watched the masked figure block and dodge Jinhui's attacks. Suddenly, Jinhui released his inner force, giving a massive slash with his sword, forcing the masked man back. Although the masked man dodged the attack, Jinhui managed to slice his mask in half, and as it fell off, they were all shocked.
"Xi Jin!", said Anwu surprised but not shocked yet still confused, as Jinhui landed next to him Anwu looked at him, "Yes, as expected but I didn't think you would reveal yourself so early", said Jinhui as he was expecting to see someone else but knew it was someone from the Eternal Imperial court, "This bad", said Changchen worried, "Wu'an go aid the others now", ordered Anwu strictly and Wu'an nodded his head and flashed off, "Sending your son to his death", said Xi Jin sarcastically, "Shut up, you traitor", said Anwu angerly and released his intense and massive reserves of inner force, calling his weapon a huge spear that he held with ease.
As they stood in front of Xi Jin Changchen then used his inner force and activated an array around the area, creating a massive barrier that could be seen across the middle ring. They all then engaged Xi Jin in a battle.
With Anwu, Jinhui, and Changchen fighting Xi Jin, who seems to be the mastermind behind recent events and disturbances, and the children holding back and fighting the invading shadow horde. Another confrontation is about to unfold at the Kongtian Shrine.
[Lower-Ring: Abandoned Section of the North Side]
(Kongtian Shrine)
As Changjian arrived with imperial guards, they saw Yujin standing before the shrine. "Stop!", shouted Changjian, and Yujin turned around with an annoyed look on his face.