Chapter 85: Ascension

The battlefield trembled beneath them, the weight of their power rippling through the shattered remains of the Jade Abyss. Li Feng's body pulsed with the Coiled Dragon's essence, its radiant energy coursing through him like a river of light. Opposite him, Shen Longwei stood, his monstrous form a writhing shadow of abyssal corruption, eyes gleaming with an unnatural hunger. The celestial alignment roared above them, its energy distorting the very fabric of reality.

"I will reshape this world," Shen Longwei declared, his voice layered with countless whispers of the abyss. "The strong will rule, and the weak will be consumed. You cannot stop what has already begun."

Li Feng tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, the Coiled Dragon's energy resonating with his soul. "You're wrong," he said, his voice unwavering. "Power without balance leads only to destruction."

With a sudden surge, they clashed once more, their strikes bending time and space. Each blow sent shockwaves that fractured the surrounding ruins, distorting the battlefield into a storm of energy and shattered stone. Mei Lian and Yan Shun, still recovering from the last skirmish, could do nothing but watch from a distance, unable to interfere in a battle that had transcended the mortal realm.

Shen Longwei unleashed torrents of abyssal fire, the dark energy twisting into monstrous tendrils that sought to ensnare Li Feng. But with newfound clarity, Li Feng maneuvered through them, his movements guided by the wisdom of the Coiled Dragon. He struck with precision, each blow pushing Shen Longwei back, his abyssal form flickering with instability.

Shen Longwei roared, raising his hands to the sky. The celestial alignment responded, its power pouring into him, amplifying his strength. "This world will kneel before me!" he bellowed, his aura expanding like a black sun, swallowing all light in its path.

Li Feng felt the Coiled Dragon's spirit tremble within him, warning him of the price of ultimate power. He could not defeat Shen Longwei with strength alone. The abyssal energy had taken root too deeply. There was only one way to end this.

Closing his eyes for a fraction of a second, Li Feng whispered to the Coiled Dragon, "I understand now."

The realization struck him like a tidal wave. The Coiled Dragon's power was never meant to dominate, nor was it meant to be wielded recklessly. It was a force of balance—a bridge between chaos and order. And to truly defeat Shen Longwei, he had to sever the abyssal corruption at its source. Even if it meant sacrificing his own connection to the Coiled Dragon's strength.

Li Feng opened his eyes, his resolve unshaken. Shen Longwei lunged, his monstrous form a shadowed nightmare. But Li Feng did not move to strike.

Instead, he released the Coiled Dragon's power.

A blinding wave of energy exploded outward, not as an attack, but as a purification. The abyssal energy within Shen Longwei recoiled, writhing as if in agony. The celestial alignment flickered, its influence disrupted. The battlefield, twisted by their battle, began to unravel as light clashed with darkness.

"No!" Shen Longwei howled, his form beginning to break apart. "You cannot take this from me!"

But Li Feng pressed forward, channeling the last remnants of the Coiled Dragon's will. The energy pulsed through him, cutting through Shen Longwei's corruption like a blade of pure light. With a final, decisive strike, he severed the connection between the abyssal power and its host.

Shen Longwei's body convulsed, his monstrous form dissipating like smoke in the wind. His screams echoed through the crumbling abyss, growing fainter as the last remnants of his power unraveled. The celestial alignment above fractured, its energy scattering into the void.

Then, silence.

Li Feng staggered back, his vision dimming. He felt the Coiled Dragon's essence fade from his soul, leaving behind an aching void where power once flowed. He had done it—he had broken the cycle of destruction. But in doing so, he had severed his own strength.

Mei Lian and Yan Shun rushed forward just as the ground beneath them trembled violently. The Jade Abyss was collapsing, its ancient foundations crumbling under the weight of the battle. The remnants of the celestial alignment flickered like dying stars, signaling the end of an era.

"Li Feng!" Mei Lian shouted, reaching for him as the battlefield cracked apart. But before she could reach him, the ground gave way, swallowing Li Feng into the abyss.

As the dust settles, Mei Lian and Yan Shun stare into the chasm where Li Feng vanished. The battle is over, but at what cost? Has Li Feng truly fallen, or does his journey continue beyond the veil of the abyss?