Gao launched himself skyward, his dark form hidden from the chamber's dim light. His blade whistled as it plunged toward Yuan Xia's head. She shifted her weight, the blade missing her by a hair's breadth.
Despite her effort to seal the wound with her qi, blood kept trickling steadily from her stomach, forming a growing crimson pool at her feet. As she tracked Gao's movements, Yuan Xia's mind churned through possibilities about the true nature of his abilities.
"Every qi technique has limits," she muttered. Her eyes narrowed as she studied his form. Despite his apparent immortality, his movements had slowed to match her own pace. The perfect, overwhelming speed from earlier had diminished.
Another Gao materialized at her side, blade slashing horizontally. Yuan Xia brought Black Heaven up in a fluid motion, deflecting the strike with a metallic clang that echoed through the chamber.