Chapter 20: The Final Strike
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Chapter 20: The Final Strike
The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the city. Tian Mo stood atop a high-rise building, his gaze unwavering as he looked across the sprawling metropolis. It had become his playground, his empire in the making. His eyes gleamed with cold determination—nothing would stand in his way. But there was one final obstacle, a looming storm that threatened to sweep everything he had worked for into oblivion.
The Hidden Circle had finally revealed their hand. The time for subtlety had passed. They had sent their elite assassins, the most dangerous of their operatives, trained in forbidden arts, to bring him down. They believed he was vulnerable—perhaps because of his new alliances, or maybe because of his own arrogance in thinking that no one could truly challenge him.
But Tian Mo was never one to be caught off guard. Not anymore.
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The Assassin's Approach
Lian Hua, his newest ally, stood beside him, her expression unreadable. Despite her previous betrayal, there was something undeniably lethal about her presence. Her loyalty, bought with promises of power and protection, was something Tian Mo could feel, like a blade hidden in the dark, waiting to strike.
"They will come," she said softly, her eyes narrowed as she scanned the horizon. "The Hidden Circle has no more moves left. They've sent their best."
Tian Mo turned his attention to her, his sharp eyes studying her every movement. "And you? Will you betray me too?"
Lian Hua smirked, her lips curling upward. "If I were going to betray you, I'd have done so long ago. But I've made my choice, and I'm not a fool. The Hidden Circle is using me as much as they used you. I won't go back to being their puppet."
Tian Mo let out a low chuckle, amused by her boldness. "We'll see if your loyalty remains once the battle begins."
She met his gaze evenly, no fear in her eyes. "I'm not afraid of what's coming. And neither should you be."
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The Ambush
As dusk fell, a ripple of Qi spread across the city. The assassins were near. The Hidden Circle's elite had arrived, their presence like a shadow moving through the alleys and streets, unseen yet unmistakably dangerous. They had perfected the art of stealth, blending into the environment like phantoms. But they had underestimated one thing—Tian Mo's vigilance.
Tian Mo had long known that the Hidden Circle would come for him. Their spies had given them the false impression that his empire was vulnerable, that his connections and allies were all easily manipulable. But his cultivation, his abilities, had reached a level where he could perceive the slightest shift in the world's energy. Their approach hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Ready yourself," Tian Mo said to Lian Hua, his voice calm but filled with the weight of impending danger.
Lian Hua nodded, her hand resting on the hilt of the curved blade she had drawn. "I'll take care of the ones coming from the east. You handle the rest."
Before Tian Mo could respond, a series of violent fluctuations in the Qi surrounding the building made him tense. A burst of energy lashed out from the shadows—a figure clad in black, a blur of motion too fast for the naked eye to follow. It was an assassin—he could feel the sheer intensity of the Void Shattering Realm.
The assassin lunged, aiming to strike with a poisoned blade aimed straight for Tian Mo's heart. But Tian Mo was faster. His chaotic Qi exploded outward, forming a protective barrier that shattered the assassin's attack in an instant.
He didn't give the assassin a chance to react. In a single movement, Tian Mo's hand shot out, his fingers enveloped in a swirling vortex of black and gold energy. The assassin tried to retreat, but it was too late. Tian Mo's Qi wrapped around the figure like chains, constricting and suffocating, drawing the assassin into his grasp.
With a cold, calculated smile, Tian Mo crushed the assassin's heart with a simple flick of his wrist, sending the assassin's body crumpling to the ground like a broken doll. The assassin's corpse vanished in a burst of ash, their soul devoured by Tian Mo's chaotic energy.
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The Hidden Circle's Desperation
The Hidden Circle had been playing a dangerous game, assuming they could crush Tian Mo underfoot. But they hadn't anticipated his rise to power. They hadn't seen his Nascent Soul form reaching its peak, nor had they realized how thoroughly he had entrenched himself in Earth's underworld. His empire was built on secrets, manipulation, and control—and now, he wielded them all with devastating precision.
"They've already made their move," Tian Mo muttered under his breath. "The Hidden Circle doesn't play for second place. They'll throw everything they have left."
As he finished speaking, the air shifted again. A new presence emerged—stronger than the last, more refined. A figure stepped forward, cloaked in robes made of an ethereal, shimmering fabric. A woman, with an aura that practically crackled with forbidden power.
"Lian Hua," the woman said, her voice like the sound of a thousand whispers, "So this is where you've ended up. Traitor."
Lian Hua's eyes flicked to the woman, her face betraying no hint of fear. "Sima Lan. I didn't expect you to be sent after me."
Sima Lan's lips curled into a smirk. "I've been assigned to bring you back. The Hidden Circle doesn't tolerate betrayal. But you've made a grave mistake aligning yourself with him."
She turned to face Tian Mo, her eyes narrowing with disgust. "You really think you can take on the Hidden Circle? Do you know how many have died at our hands? How many innocent lives we've twisted to our will?"
Tian Mo met her gaze without flinching, his voice low and cold. "I know exactly who you are, Sima Lan. And I know what the Hidden Circle has done. But I've already risen beyond your reach."
The two cultivators stood in a tense silence, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Lian Hua stepped forward, drawing her blade. "Let's see if you're as strong as you claim."
With that, the battle began. Sima Lan's energy surged as she unleashed a series of Void Shattering strikes that cut through the air like blades of light. Lian Hua countered with her deadly speed and precision, her blade a blur of motion. Tian Mo stood back for a moment, watching, waiting.
When the time was right, he struck.
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The Final Gambit
Tian Mo's chaotic Qi exploded outward in a surge of power, swallowing everything in its path. The forces of the Hidden Circle were not prepared for the intensity of his cultivation. His energy tore through the battlefield like a raging storm, striking down assassins with each movement.
Sima Lan staggered back, her face twisted in disbelief as she realized that she was facing something far more dangerous than she had anticipated.
"You're finished," Tian Mo said, his voice cold and final.
With one final surge of power, Tian Mo unleashed his Primordial Chaos Technique, breaking Sima Lan's defenses and sending her crashing to the ground, her body shattered beyond repair. The remaining assassins fell one by one as Tian Mo's energy decimated their ranks.
The Hidden Circle had underestimated him. They had thought they could control the game, but it was clear now—the true game master was Tian Mo.
As the battle ended, the city fell silent.
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Status Update:
Tian Mo: Nascent Soul (Peak Stage) | Chaos-Yin Hybrid Qi | Empire Consolidation in Progress
Lian Hua: Now a trusted lieutenant | Former assassin of the Hidden Circle | Stronger than ever
Sima Lan: Defeated | Hidden Circle leader | Body shattered by Tian Mo's power
Hidden Circle: Crippled, their elite assassins eliminated | Forces scattered
Anna: Still working to solidify Tian Mo's control over high society
Yin Hua: Strengthening internal defenses | Preparing for future threats
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