One percent

Placing a steady hand on each of their shoulders, Eli Shan said, "Then don't leave me behind, brothers."

Jian Wu and Wen Lun exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what Eli Shan was hinting at. Before they could voice their confusion, a sudden, icy chill ran down their spines.

Their eyes widened in utter disbelief.

The hand resting on their shoulders wasn't just any touch; it was a grip that radiated effortless strength as if the one behind it held the power of the heavens themselves.

Before they could react, the hand pushed them back with a force that felt both immeasurable and overwhelming. The two, who annihilated thousands of shadow emperors, staggered as if they were nothing more than clumsy children shoved aside by a muscular elder.

Their breaths caught in their throats, and for a moment, they felt like they were standing before a mountain, immovable and invulnerable. The sheer force of that presence overwhelmed their senses, leaving them momentarily paralyzed.

The realization of such power struck them like a thunderclap, stunning them into silence. Their minds raced with uncountable questions, each more urgent than the last, before a singular, chilling thought pierced through the haze of disbelief.

They glanced at each other, their eyelids trembling with shock. No words passed between them, yet their shared understanding was undeniable, carried in the flicker of their gazes.

"This... this power is beyond the cultivation!"

Ignoring their astonished expressions, Eli Shan strode forward toward the incoming attack with unshakable confidence, his movements calm and assured. As the overwhelming attack closed in, he raised his hand casually, waving it through the air as though swatting away an insignificant fly.

What followed next left everyone frozen in stunned silence, their jaws slack with disbelief.

From that simple, almost dismissive gesture, an unimaginable power erupted—a surge so vast, so overwhelming, it seemed as if the fabric of the universe itself was bending to his will. The very ground trembled, and the air quaked under the weight of his might. It was a force that didn't just threaten to destroy the universe; it transcended destruction, a presence beyond mortal comprehension.

"No," Jian Wu murmured, his eyes wide as he gazed at Eli Shan's broad back, a figure that now seemed immeasurable. His voice trembled with awe as he continued, "This power won't destroy the universe... It is the power of the universe!"

Beside him, Wen Lun nodded, his face pale yet filled with reverence. His gaze remained fixed on Eli Shan's outstretched hand, watching as the wave of overwhelming energy collided with the incoming attack. The clash wasn't an explosion, nor a struggle of equal forces.

Eli Shan's power consumed the attack entirely, devouring it so effortlessly that it was as if the attack had never existed. The display was absolute, a declaration of supremacy that left no room for doubt.

The silence that followed was deafening, the sheer weight of what they had witnessed settling heavily on everyone's hearts. Eli Shan stood there, unmoved, his hand lowering slowly as if what he had just done was no more extraordinary than flicking away dust.

"W-What...?"

The shadows stammered, their voices trembling with disbelief. Their minds struggled to grasp what their eyes had just witnessed. Or perhaps, it was beyond their comprehension altogether—a reality too surreal to accept.

The combined attack of trillions of shadows was a force that even their sect master, the strongest cultivator they had ever known, would approach with utmost caution. It was a catastrophic power, capable of obliterating anything in its path. And yet, in the blink of an eye, it was gone—erased by a mere wave of a single hand.

Such a feat wasn't just unthinkable; it defied the very laws of existence they believed in.

For a long moment, the entire shadow army stood rooted in place, their minds trapped in a haze of shock and confusion. The silence that followed was suffocating, broken only by the faint sound of their own breaths, shallow and uneven. It wasn't just disbelief that consumed them—it was fear.

Far beyond the battlefield, on countless distant planets, the same disbelief rippled through the universe. The colossal attack that had threatened to consume everything had vanished without a trace. Entire civilizations looked to the sky in confusion, their hearts pounding with unanswered questions.

Among them, cultivators at the peak of the emperor realm and even great emperors had glimpsed the event through their enhanced senses. Their gazes lingered where the attack had once been, their faces pale and their bodies trembling.

"What... what just happened?" they murmured, their voices barely audible as they tried to process the impossible. These were the proud beings who had spent centuries reaching their current cultivation realm, yet they stood frozen, their disbelief etched into their very souls.

Then, they felt it—an aura so vast and commanding it seemed to eclipse the stars themselves. High above in the sky, Eli Shan moved forward, each step shattering the lingering silence like thunder rolling across the heavens. His presence alone seemed to rewrite the very laws of nature, bending the fabric of reality to his will. With every stride, his aura grew, expanding relentlessly, until it felt as though the very cosmos bowed beneath its weight.

"You're all from the higher universe, aren't you?" Eli Shan asked, his voice calm but carrying an edge sharp enough to cut through steel. Each word fell like a hammer, echoing in the stillness. His gaze, colder than the void, bore into the shadows before him. "How many lives have you taken? How many innocent families have you annihilated in your pursuit?"

As he spoke, his killing intent surged—a formless, suffocating force that rippled outward in waves, making the air grow dense and icy. The faint hum of his suppressed power vibrated through the atmosphere, a subtle reminder that the calm could shatter into a storm at any moment.

The shadows froze, their movements arrested as if invisible chains bound them in place. They trembled under the weight of his words, their once-imposing figures now reduced to faint silhouettes in his overwhelming presence. Though they were countless, numbering in the trillions across the vast expanse, the sheer disparity between them and the lone figure was undeniable. It wasn't just power they faced—it was judgment.

Guilt and terror churned within them, unspoken truths reflected in their silence. They could feel it in their bones, a primal instinct screaming at them: the being before them was not merely human. It was as if death itself had descended, taking the form of Eli Shan.

The realization sank deep into their hearts: if battle erupted, at least half of them would die before they even had the chance to retaliate. None dared to step forward, their fear paralyzing them in place.

Eli Shan stopped just before the army of shadows, his gaze like a blade slicing through each of them. His eyes burned with a cold, unyielding resolve that left no room for negotiation.

"All of you should consider yourselves fortunate," he said, his voice steady but commanding. "I have no desire to slaughter so many cultivators. After all, doing so would weaken the universe as a whole. However, know this: from this moment forward, every one of you—and anyone who shares your bloodline—is forbidden from stepping into any lower universe!"

The words echoed like a divine decree, reverberating through the heavens.

Then it happened.

The shadows' eyes widened in unison, panic and dread consuming them. They felt an indescribable shift, as though the very fabric of the universe had turned against them. Blessings they once took for granted vanished in an instant, their connection to the lower universes severed like a frayed thread.

"Wh-Who are you?" Yin Wuying stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of his terror. His trembling eyes locked onto Eli Shan. "How can you command the universe itself?"

Even Jian Wu and Wen Lun shared his disbelief. Though unspoken, they both felt it—the faint yet undeniable sensation that the universe had heeded Eli Shan's command.

"Could he be..." Jian Wu glanced at Wen Lun, his figure trembling, not with fear but with excitement.

Eli Shan merely shook his head, his expression calm and detached. He didn't bother answering Yin Wuying's question. "It's time for all of you to return to the universe you came from," he said, his voice steady yet carrying an edge of finality.

Then, he whispered, "Hey, Shadow, come out."

Suddenly, a dark spirit materialized on his shoulder, its form flickering like a living flame. It had eyes, a nose, and a mouth, glowing faintly against its ominous silhouette.

Eli Shan chuckled lightly. "This is confusing. I named you Shadow, and now, our enemies are also called Shadows. What a mess."

The dark spirit on his shoulder quivered with excitement, letting out a cheerful, childlike sound. "Nu nu!"

"What's there to be happy about? I've got work for you," Eli Shan said, his tone teasing but firm.

The spirit leaped from his shoulder, its fiery form floating in front of him. Tilting its head curiously, it let out another sound. "Nu?"

Before Eli Shan could respond, Jian Wu interrupted, his confusion evident. "Little brother, who are you talking to?"

Eli Shan turned back, his brows furrowing in surprise. "You can't see him?"

Jian Wu's frown deepened. "See what?"

Even the Shadows, still frozen in place, exchanged uneasy glances. To them, Eli Shan had suddenly started talking to thin air. Whispers rippled through their ranks, some speculating in hushed voices. Had wielding the power of the universe taken a toll on his mind?

Eli Shan's gaze lingered on Jian Wu for a moment before he shrugged. "Hmm. If you can't see it, let's leave it at that."

Turning back to the Shadow, he whispered, "Shadow, open the portal to the universe they came from."

The dark spirit quivered with excitement, letting out another gleeful "Nu!" before darting forward. Suddenly, a massive portal tore open in the sky. Its swirling darkness loomed ominously, resembling the gaping maw of an ancient dragon poised to devour the universe itself.

The sight was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, casting an oppressive shadow over all who beheld it.

"What... what is this?" the shadows whispered among themselves, their bodies trembling as the overwhelming aura from the portal pressed down on them like a suffocating weight.

"I can feel it," one shadow muttered, his voice barely audible over the tense silence. His eyes widened as they flickered to Eli Shan. "The higher universe... it's on the other side of the portal."

Another shadow, his face pale and drenched in sweat, nodded. "Who is this person? How can someone from a lower universe wield this kind of power?"

"I don't know," another replied, his voice low and filled with dread. "But I do know one thing—if we return without him, the sect master will kill every last one of us."

Their whispered fear barely reached Eli Shan's ears, but his laughter rang out loud and clear, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Hahaha! Who said I'm sending you back so easily?"

Yin Wuying stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "What do you mean by that?"

Eli Shan's grin widened, his gaze sharp and unrelenting. "I've been wondering... where I should test the power I've cultivated all these years. Don't you think all of you make the perfect candidates?"

A ripple of panic spread through the shadows, their murmurs turning frantic, until one stepped forward—a hulking, muscular figure with a voice as rough as grinding stone.

"Hey, kid," the shadow growled, his tone laced with defiance. "Don't you dare corner us like this. If we're left with no choice, we'll fight to the death. Even if half of us fall, we'll obliterate you with this puny little universe you call home!"

"Oh?" Eli Shan's smile deepened, the corners of his mouth curling with amusement.

The muscular shadow's eyes narrowed dangerously as he stepped forward, ready to kill or be killed. "What are you smiling at?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

Eli Shan brushed him off with a casual wave and whispered to himself, "Let's go with one percent. I'll channel most of the power into speed."

Closing his eyes, Eli Shan took a deep breath, drawing the boundless energy inward like a tidal wave surging through his veins. This energy didn't merely flow—it flooded every fiber of his being, igniting his cells with an overwhelming, explosive power. It was as if each particle of his existence was reforged, becoming something far greater.

The force didn't stop there. It surged toward his mind, coursing through his brain like a storm of lightning. His thoughts sharpened, expanding beyond mortal comprehension as his spiritual consciousness blazed to life. It was no longer bound by limits—it stretched infinitely, touching realms and truths far beyond the grasp of ordinary beings.

When his eyes opened again, they burned with an otherworldly intensity. A dark, crackling aura erupted from his body, coiling around him like sentient shadows. The energy pulsated with untamed ferocity, a force that seemed to defy the very laws of existence. The air around him trembled, humming with an oppressive resonance that made the planets around him groan in protest.

The world seemed to halt. Everything fell unnervingly still, as though the universe itself had paused to bear witness to the transformation. The sky, the earth, even the faintest whispers of the wind—all were silenced, drawn into the gravity of this moment. Time felt meaningless, stretched thin under the oppressive weight of his newfound power.

Gradually, as the overwhelming strength settled in, Eli Shan's thoughts surged with exhilaration. So, this is just one percent of my universe's power? The realization sent a shiver down his spine, not of fear, but of pure, unrestrained excitement. His lips curled into a grin that bordered on disbelief, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. It's incredible... no, it's overwhelming!

Looking ahead, he saw the shadow army frozen mid-stride, their previously threatening movements suspended as though time itself had come to a halt. Their weapons hung in the air, their faces unreadable behind their dark cloaks, but the stillness of their figures spoke volumes. Eli Shan's gaze shifted, landing on his brothers. They, too, were locked in place, their expressions frozen in a mixture of awe and utter shock.

"What's happening? Why is everyone standing like a statue?" he murmured, his voice low but laced with excitement. His eyes widened as realization dawned, and a mischievous grin stretched across his face. "Could it be...?" He chuckled softly, the sound growing louder until it erupted into a full-throated laugh.

"I'm simply too fast!" he exclaimed, the dark aura flaring brighter as his grin grew even more devilish.

Without another word, Eli Shan bolted toward the heart of the shadow army. To an outsider, it might have looked like he teleported, his movement so fast that the air itself seemed to ripple in his wake. Shadows crumbled as he tore through them, their forms unraveling like mist caught in a gale.

"Time to send you all back to the portal!" he shouted, his voice brimming with confidence and exhilaration.

With that, he singled out a shadow at random and swung a punch at his jaw, intending only to knock him toward the portal. But as his fist connected, the shadow's head exploded with a deafening boom, shards of flesh and bone suspended mid-air, unmoving like drops of crimson paint on an invisible canvas.

Eli Shan's grin faltered as his eyes widened in shock. "What...?" He stared at the gruesome aftermath. "Was he so fragile? Or... is even one percent of this power too much?"

Determined to figure it out, he approached another shadow, this time pulling his punch significantly. With deliberate slowness, he drove his fist into the figure's stomach. Yet, even with his restraint, the result was no less catastrophic—the body imploded instantly, reduced to a grotesque pool of blood and gore that hung eerily in the frozen air, as though time itself refused to move forward.

Eli Shan frowned and moved on, experimenting with different methods. A light tap to the chest? Instant obliteration. A flick of his finger? The shadow burst apart like fragile glass. Even the gentlest push sent their bodies crumbling into nothingness. No matter what he tried, his overwhelming strength rendered them helpless, their figures unable to withstand even the faintest contact.

He let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his head, frustration evident in his eyes. At this rate, I can't even hurl a single shadow into the portal. His gaze swept over the battlefield, now littered with remnants of his failed attempts.

"What a mess," he muttered, shaking his head.

He paused, thinking for a moment. Then, a flicker of realization lit up his eyes. "What if I concentrate all the power into speed alone? Maybe that'll work!"

Focusing, Eli Shan shifted the universal power within him, channeling every bit of energy away from his fists and into his movements. "Let's try this again."

He darted toward another shadow, his movements impossibly fast. This time, he threw a soft punch, ensuring every ounce of strength was restrained. The impact was less devastating, but still, his fist punched a gaping hole clean through the shadow's torso.

Eli Shan sighed again, shaking his head in exasperation. "Ugh, this is ridiculous! Even at the lowest strength, I'm still tearing them apart. Should I lower the power even more? But then... I won't be able to learn how to control this power ever."

Feeling dejected, Eli Shan approached another shadow, muttering to himself, "Let's try something simpler this time." With a flick of his finger, he tapped the shadow's jaw and aimed to hurl him toward the portal.

But the result was no less horrifying. The shadow's head shattered like glass under a hammer, launching upward at lightning speed while the rest of the body remained frozen in place.

Eli Shan pinched the bridge of his nose, his frustration growing. "Sigh... why is this so hard? All I want is to throw them back in one piece!"

Determined to fix his technique, Eli Shan stepped toward another shadow. This time, he murmured, "Alright, let's remove all the universe power from my arm and shoulder. No enhancements. Just a normal push."

He closed his eyes, focusing deeply. A faint ripple of energy shifted through his body as the overwhelming power receded from his arm and shoulder. "Now... let's try this again!"

Appearing before the next shadow in a blur, Eli Shan gave a firm push. The shadow's body wobbled, eyes reddening with strain, but to Eli Shan's immense relief, the figure shot toward the portal intact.

"Yes!" Eli Shan exclaimed, his face lighting up with a triumphant grin. He jumped in excitement, pumping his fists into the air. "I finally did it! I can push them back without... you know, exploding them!"

His confidence restored, Eli Shan turned back to the frozen army of shadows, now resembling a field of petrified statues. Cracking his knuckles, he said with a mischievous grin, "Alright, time to clean up."

One by one, Eli Shan began pushing the shadows toward the swirling portal in the sky. Each push was carefully calculated, delivering just enough force to cripple a major realm of their cultivation but leaving their bodies intact.

As he worked, shadows flew through the portal like meteors, their figures disappearing into the dark maw above. Though fear gripped their hearts, they couldn't resist, or... they couldn't even realize what was happening to them until teleporting through the portal.