72- Chaos Striker 

Juanxiu's familiar, was more powerful than he had ever imagined. The necklace created a barrier that could defend against an attack from someone with seemingly unfathomable energy levels like Vathar. The enemy stepped back as if a wild animal who sensed the presence of a danger.

Then, to prepare for a full frontal attack, Vathar gathered his energy. The sky above them began to shift, and the air grew thick with power. The very atmosphere seemed to crackle with energy as Vathar summoned his strength, his body becoming shrouded in a fierce aura.

Elder Li's eyes widened in shock as he sensed the immense power radiating from Vathar. "Emperor Rank!" he exclaimed, his voice shaking with awe and fear.

The ground trembled beneath them as Vathar unleashed his power, his aura growing brighter and more intense with each passing moment. Everyone could feel the force of the energy washing over them, like a gravity pulling them down, making it difficult to even breathe.

Juanxiu gritted his teeth, determination etched on his face. He knew that he had to act quickly if they were to have any chance of surviving this battle.

The necklace around Juanxiu's neck began to change, and the people around him watched in awe as the Chaos Striker revealed its true form. The tiny dragon, with scales like a reptile and features like a puppy, looked harmless and innocent. It had not even grown its wings yet, and it was hard to believe that this creature could pose a threat to anyone.

However, when Vathar saw the Chaos Striker, his demeanor changed. He took a few steps back instinctively, his eyes locked onto the dragon. It was clear that he was taking this creature seriously.

The Chaos Striker was an extremely rare creature, even during the primordial era. There would only ever be one Chaos Striker born, and most of the time, an egg would be born from the corpse of the only Chaos Striker. It would take thousands of years to nourish the egg before it would hatch. That was how rare and valuable this creature was.

Fate had brought the Chaos Striker to Tengyang, and now it lay in the palm of Juanxiu's hand, a tiny dragon with a power beyond its size. Its appearance alone was enough to make Vathar, a powerful and dangerous enemy, wary of what he was dealing with. Without further ado, Vathar released his gathered energy into his palm like a meteor descending from earth.

Juanxiu felt his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the Chaos Striker's eyes flare with a fierce light. The baby dragon's small body trembled as it seemed to command the very air around them, creating a vortex that drew in the energy of Vathar's attack. Juanxiu's breath caught in his throat as he watched his familiar suck in the air, drawing the energy towards its tiny body.

The Chaos Striker began to glow with an otherworldly light, as if it was a conduit for some greater power. It was as if the baby dragon was channeling the very essence of the universe itself. Juanxiu could feel the air grow charged around them, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.

Vathar, on the other hand, was in disbelief. How could such a small creature be so powerful? He had never encountered anything like this before. He tried to attack the Chaos Striker, but every attempt was futile. Its shield was impenetrable, and it absorbed any energy that came its way. Vathar was completely at its mercy.

As the Chaos Striker continued to draw in energy. Then Vathar realized that it wasn't just energy, the creature was sucking his cultivation. Vathar's Emperor rank cultivation was being forced out of him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The tiny creature was like a black hole, drawing in everything around it, including Vathar's qi attack, leaving him defenseless. With each passing moment, the Chaos Striker grew stronger, and Vathar grew weaker.

Vathar's cultivation level continued to plummet. They all watched in anticipation as the creature's rank fell from Emperor, to Master Swordsman, and finally to General. Its shield remained impenetrable, and any energy that Vathar threw its way was absorbed without fail. The Curse Striker seemed to be enjoying its meal, not slowing down until Vathar was at the 5th stage of the General rank, before the tiny dragon shifted back into the form of a necklace.

Vathar was panting, sweat pouring down his face. He had never felt so exhausted, so helpless. For the first time since he possesed the body of Jinhai, he felt fear. He had underestimated his opponent, and it had cost him dearly.

Yinjie approached Vathar, a smug look on his face. "Looks like you're not as invincible as you thought," he taunted.

Vathar glared at him, but he knew it was true. He had been defeated by a creature that he had never seen before. He had become careless, and now he would have to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, Juanxiu tried reaching out to his familiar, but he felt nothing. Their connection had been severed, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. What had happened to his companion? He could only hope that the Chaos Striker was merely in a state of torpor after ingesting so much energy.

"You should not allow this abomination to step away from here alive," shouted Yinjie. He was right. If they give this creature enough time to recuperate, it will only bring chaos to the Nine Great Provinces.

Xiao Yinjie's command echoed throughout the area as the members of his clan sprang into action. They fanned out, creating a circle around Vathar and cutting off any escape routes. Vathar was now trapped, with no way out.

Elder Li stepped forward, his tonfa gleaming in the sunlight. The bone of the tusk of the steel boar had been carefully crafted into a formidable weapon, and the elder had imbued it with his qi, making it even more deadly. He had not used this weapon in battle even during their encounter with the executioner, but he knew that this was no time to hold back.

The other elders followed suit, drawing their weapons and preparing for battle. Despite their numerical advantage, they knew that this would not be an easy fight. Vathar was powerful, and they had already seen what the Chaos Striker was capable of.

Yinjie was in his element, wielding his meteor hammer with ease. He spun the weapon around his body, his movements fluid and graceful. It was as if the meteor hammer was an extension of his limbs, moving with the same precision and speed as his own body.

As the six elders and Yinjie prepared for their attack, the air around them began to crackle with energy. They all knew that their opponent, Vathar, was not to be underestimated, but they were determined to take it down. With weapons drawn and qi imbued, they rushed towards Vathar, their movements in unison.

Elder Li attacked first with his tonfa, striking with great force at Vathar's legs. The weapon, made from the bone of the tusk of the steel boar, glinted in the light as he imbued it with his qi.

Another elder followed with his long spear, thrusting it towards Vathar's torso. The weapon was tipped with a sharpened steel point, and he expertly maneuvered it in the air.

Elder Wang used his twin sabers to attack from both sides, their curved blades flashing in the light. He moved with speed and precision, aiming to strike Vathar from every angle.

A female elder wielded a large mace, its heavy head designed to crush bones. She swung it with all her might, aiming for Vathar's head.

Another attacked with his halberd, its sharp blade glinting as he swung it in wide arcs. He was a master of the weapon, and he moved with fluid grace as he aimed for Vathar's weak points.

Elder Huang used his chain whip, expertly lashing out at Vathar from a distance. The weapon coiled and uncoiled like a serpent, striking with deadly accuracy.

Despite their strong attack, Vathar was able to defend itself with ease due to the disparity in cultivation levels. Its body was surrounded by a barrier of energy, and the elders' attacks seemed to bounce off it harmlessly.

But just as they began to feel discouraged, Liu Peng fired a qi from a distance, aiming for Vathar's head. Although it didn't do any damage, it was enough to break Vathar's concentration.

Furious, Vathar released a wave of energy that sent the elders flying backwards. It then lunged towards Liu Peng, but before it could attack, Yinjie's meteor hammer bound around its neck, stopping it in its tracks. Using his own energy, Yinjie was able to subdue Vathar, causing it to roar in anger.

Elder Li seized the opportunity to shout "Attack!" The six elders all channeled their energy into their weapons, and with a battle cry, they charged towards Vathar once again.

As the six elders attacked with all their might, the other cultivators in the area joined in the fight. They fired powerful qis from a distance, creating a barrage of energy that bombarded Vathar. The creature was not fazed, however, and continued to defend itself against the onslaught.

Finally, the first wound was created. The blade on the meteor hammer of Yinjie created a clean wound on the chest of Vathar, black blood flowed from it. The tonfa of Elder Li connected with the neck of Vathar, dislocating it. But with just a shrug, it was able to return its neck to its original state. The creature was furious, and it let out a roar that shook the earth beneath them.

As the battle raged on, Siyi noticed a familiar glint in the eyes of Vathar. It was like the shimmer of the gem worn by Jinhai earlier. Siyi knew that the creature was just a fraction of consciousness based on its explanation. It has yet to complete its body.

"Keep attacking! We have to take it down now!" Elder Li yelled to the other cultivators.

The group redoubled their efforts, firing even more powerful qis at Vathar. The creature was weakening, but it was still dangerous. Suddenly, Vathar let out a burst of energy that pushed the cultivators away. The creature was trying to break free.

Siyi's eyes widened as she saw the glint on Vathar's left eye. "Attack its left eye!" she shouted, hoping the other cultivators would hear her.

Juanxiu's eyes followed Siyi's gaze and he saw the small fragment of gem embedded in Vathar's eye. He quickly focused his energy on the target, aiming for the gem fragment.

Vathar's eyes widened in fear as he realized what they were planning to do. He tried to move, to dodge the attack, but the chains held him firmly in place. "No! You can't do this! I won't let you!" he roared, his voice filled with desperation and rage.

The group fired their qis, aiming for the eye of the beast. Vathar felt fear creeping up inside him as he realized what they were trying to do. He knew that if the gemstone was destroyed, it will sever the connection to Gong Jinhai's body, and his own existence would be erased.

Juanxiu's attack hit its mark, but it wasn't too strong to even wound the eye of the creature, let alone destroy the fragment of gem. Vathar let out a blood-curdling scream.

Vathar began to concentrate his energy, preparing to make a run for it. But the cultivators were not going to let him go that easily. Elder Huan used his chain whip and bind the creature.

The six elders held the chains tightly, preventing Vathar from taking even a single step. "You think you can just escape and cause chaos again?" Elder Li sneered. "You're nothing but a coward."

Vathar snarled, his eyes blazing with hatred. "I'll find a way to get out of here. And when I do, I'll make you all pay!"

But the cultivators were not intimidated. This is an opportunity for them to avenge a fallen comrade. The though of killing a god also keep their blood boiling, They were not afraid of him anymore.

They tightened their grip on the chains, determined to keep him captive. As for Vathar, he knew that he was defeated. But he was not going to give up. He would find a way to escape, and he would come back stronger than ever. He would make them all pay for what they had done to him.

As the chaos striker struggled against the chains, it began to panic. Vathar realized that if the fragment was destroyed, he will have to return again into nothingness. He couldn't allow that to happen. He had to find a way to escape and retrieve the other remnants of his energy before wreaking havoc once again.

With all its might, the God of Torture tried to break free from the chains, but the combined strength of the six elders was too much for it to handle. In its desperation, it unleashed a powerful wave of energy, shaking the ground beneath them and causing rocks and debris to fall from the walls of the old temple.

Suddenly, they were caught off guard as an unknown person entered the fray. Juanxiu, gasped, he was familiar of what this figure was wearing. He remembered it back during their battle with Alchemist Cui Bai.

The figure's appearance was sudden, as if he materialized out of thin air. His black robes were tattered and worn, and his face was obscured by a hood. But his eyes gleamed with an unnatural intensity as he looked down at Vathar.

Without a word, the figure produced a sharp blade from the folds of his robe and swiftly moved towards the chained creature. With a swift movement, he gouged out the left eye of Vathar and took the piece of gem that was embedded in it. The creature writhed in pain and struggled against its chains, but it was no match for the robed figure. The it vanished like an ashes being lifted into the air.

When the figure turned towards the group of cultivators, they could see a twisted and eerie smile on his lips. The sight sent shivers down their spines.

With the gem in hand, the mysterious figure turned and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.

The cultivators were left to ponder the significance of his actions and the ramifications of what had just transpired. They knew that Vathar was not truly defeated, and that the threat of the it would continue to loom over them.