Chapter 83: The Truth of the Azure Dragon

Li Feng struggled to breathe as the battlefield warped around him. Shen Longwei's words echoed in his mind, rippling through his very core.

"The Azure Dragon Clan was never meant to be protectors," Shen Longwei sneered, his monstrous form shifting in the eerie glow of the celestial alignment. "They sought to control destiny itself, just as I do now."

Li Feng's grip on his sword tightened. "Lies."

"Are they?" Shen Longwei gestured toward the shifting air. "Look for yourself."

A piercing light erupted from the abyss, pulling Li Feng into a vision of the past. He gasped as the battlefield around him transformed into a great imperial court. He stood amidst figures clad in royal azure robes—the elders of the Azure Dragon Clan. Their presence was regal, their power absolute.

"Our dominion must be total," one of the elders declared, his voice cold and unwavering. "With the Coiled Dragon's might, we will forge an era where no one dares challenge us."

Li Feng's breath hitched as he watched his ancestors discuss conquest, not protection. The Coiled Dragon was meant to balance the forces of the world, but here they were, planning to use it as a tool of dominance.

"No," Li Feng muttered. "This can't be true."

The vision shifted, now showing the Azure Dragon Clan at war. Entire sects fell before their might, their flames consuming those who resisted. Li Feng's stomach churned as he watched warriors plead for mercy, only to be cut down without hesitation.

The vision dissipated, and he found himself back on the battlefield. Mei Lian and Yan Shun had seen it too—their expressions were filled with horror.

"This is the truth, Li Feng," Shen Longwei said, his voice laced with triumph. "Your ancestors sought power, just as I do now. You are no different from me."

Li Feng's hands trembled. His entire life, he had fought under the belief that the Azure Dragon Clan was a force of justice. Now, he wasn't so sure.

"Think about it," Shen Longwei continued, stepping closer. "With the Coiled Dragon's power, you could rewrite history. You could undo their sins, reshape the world as you see fit."

Li Feng hesitated. The temptation was there, whispering in his mind like a siren's song. He could make things right. He could create a world free from suffering.

But at what cost?

Mei Lian's voice snapped him out of it. "Li Feng! Don't listen to him!"

He turned just in time to see Shen Longwei strike. The abyssal warlord moved with unnatural speed, his blade cutting through the air like lightning.

Li Feng barely managed to parry, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling back. He wasn't fast enough.

With a sickening crack, Shen Longwei's sword pierced through Mei Lian's side.

Time slowed.

Mei Lian gasped, her eyes wide in shock as blood spread across her robes. Li Feng's heart dropped as she collapsed to her knees.

"No!"

Yan Shun lunged forward, his sword slashing through the air, but Shen Longwei blocked it effortlessly. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Yan Shun sprawling across the battlefield.

Li Feng dropped beside Mei Lian, catching her before she could fall completely. Her breathing was ragged, her body trembling in pain.

"Stay with me," Li Feng pleaded, pressing a hand against the wound, but the blood wouldn't stop.

Mei Lian smiled weakly. "You have to… stop him."

Fury surged through Li Feng, raw and untamed. The Coiled Dragon's energy crackled around him, feeding off his rage. His vision blurred, the battlefield twisting as the power within him roared to life.

Shen Longwei grinned. "Now… let's see who you truly are."

The battlefield shakes violently as Li Feng's emotions trigger a powerful transformation. The Coiled Dragon's power surges within him, threatening to consume everything in its path.