Tears of Purification

They engaged in an incessant battle, both consumed by uncontrolled fury. Lian was constantly left with even more severe injuries, having his limbs torn off on multiple occasions, but the lotus flower spun, and a red Qi like fire gathered and restored him in no time.

The spectators gradually realized that Lian's Qi was depleting, indicating that the fight wouldn't last much longer. That's when someone noticed several pieces of black flesh accumulating around the battlefield. The demon was slowly injured, but the black Qi wasn't healing him.

The divine tree constantly absorbed the power of the black lotus with each impact. Initially, the lotus aided the demon, but now it was growing weaker, and Lian was able to inflict real damage on the enemy.

With his Qi dwindling to less than 10%, Lian felt the urgency to end it quickly. As he channeled his Qi into the attack, he realized that his meridians had transformed into a new source of power, being pushed to the extreme and refined to the limit. Unbeknownst to him, he had reached the Meridian Transformation Realm.

This was a new opportunity to surprise the demon, and he advanced for a final strike. The unleashed power was equal to the previous ones, while a worn-out claw of the completely deranged demon blocked the attack without any fear.

With a sound that seemed to pierce everyone's eardrums, Lian's ethereal saber cracked and exploded into thousands of runes. The demon seemed to instinctively sense it was an opportunity, and his black power exploded in a fury.

However, the demon suddenly felt that death was approaching him instead. At that moment, Lian appeared as an absolute sovereign, hovering above the heavens. The space around them fractured frantically, rocks exploded as the ground shook violently, and waves of Qi surged up to the sky, then exploded.

With a fist so heavy it seemed capable of crushing the world and all forms of life, Lian attacked, shaking the hearts of everyone. The demon, then, used all his strength to defend himself as best he could.

*BOOM!*

Everyone started circulating the little Qi they had to protect their bodies while lying on the ground. The earth was upheaved, and a terrible hurricane, including countless crushed stones, engulfed them completely.

After the storm finally subsided, people crawled out of the earth, astonished to witness the scene before them. An immense, endless chasm had been carved into the ground, extending in a broken line beyond the horizon. The entire terrain had been transformed.

Lian and Anri faced each other. The demon's condition was deplorable, not a single part of his body remained intact. His wings, horns, and scales had been crushed, and his entire being was covered in black blood.

On the other hand, Lian had only 1% of his Qi remaining. He had used all the gnome's power to attack with all his might, and now he had no defensive power or ability to continue fighting.

The sinister power of the black lotus left him extremely surprised; the demon, despite his injuries, was still able to fight. It seemed that some other source of power was aiding him. And the situation quickly became desperate.

At that moment, the divine tree within his meridians communicated with Lian, eager to be useful in some way. Lian had faced countless situations of imminent death, and his mind became increasingly serene in the face of such circumstances. That's when a daring idea emerged in his mind.

With no Qi left to use, his soul, though cracked and wounded, still possessed some capacity. His eyes then shimmered like a starry sky.

Intense pain struck his mind and soul, a pain coming from a wounded soul that was worse than any physical injury. His eyes began to uncontrollably bleed, and all the veins in his body swelled and started to burst, spewing blood in all directions.

The Albedo clan's technique, "Eyes of Ruin," had always been something enigmatic to Lian. When using it for the first time, he felt that it seemed to have been made to be used by a divine soul like his. However, its ability seemed to be materializing something from within the user's soul into the world.

He speculated that a demon could materialize a demonic god, and a divine beast could materialize an ancestral power. A human could attack the enemy's fragile mind and materialize their entire desire for domination.

The divine tree had been born using a part of his own soul. If he used this technique to materialize this strange life form, what could happen? The answer remained uncertain, but Lian's curiosity grew stronger and stronger.

The laws of the world instantly froze, making the air so heavy that everyone felt a sense of suffocation. Everyone was paralyzed, turning their gaze towards Lian.

The illusory divine tree rose majestically, its form delicate and elegant, enchanting everyone. An aura of peace and healing emanated from it, enveloping everyone. Instantly, their minds became light, and their pains vanished.

Despite its humble size, it radiated a powerful divine presence, capable of completely shaking all who beheld it. A sweet and comforting fragrance filled the air around the tree, filling everyone's senses with a feeling of tranquility and renewal.

The black Qi and physical pains vanished under the influence of the sacred tree. The seven black elves, who were severely injured and unconscious, opened their eyes, and their minds seemed to regain lost sanity.

Gradually, their minds, once obscured by corruption, cleared. Tears of purification streamed down their faces as they didn't understand the origin or nature of that sacred tree. However, its inexplicable presence and transformative power transcended understanding, resonating with their elven lineage.

Riria's eyes widened as she fixated on the divine tree. Her face displayed a mix of shock and admiration, revealing a deep connection between her essence and the majestic presence before her. A sensation of pulsating energy ran through her body as if the tree was calling out to her.

Her heart raced, and Riria felt an inexplicable attraction enveloping her as if the tree recognized something within her. It was as if an ancestral calling echoed in her core.

Anri, engulfed by the transcendent impact of the illusory tree, felt a profound shift within himself. Despite his corrupted lineage and connection to the demon world, something extraordinary was happening within him. The turbulent demonic power that consumed him seemed to find balance as the influence of the divine tree enveloped him in a purifying aura.

Amidst this transformation, long-lost memories of his life as a slave black elf resurfaced in his mind. Images of pain, suffering, and oppression flooded his consciousness, bringing forth intense emotions and a renewed understanding of his own identity.

His heart beat erratically, and his soul vibrated with a mixture of agony and hope. That's when a bright image of Artemis, the person he deeply loved, illuminated his mind. It was as if their spirits connected in an instant, conveying mutual love and concern.

Waves of emotion overflowed from his being, and tears of happiness streamed from his eyes. Their gazes met in a distant direction, and in Artemis's gaze, he found confirmation that she was there, alive and radiating the same unwavering love he felt in his heart.

The divine tree began to turn translucent and quickly disappeared. Lian realized that it couldn't unleash its full power; something was missing in this new technique, and he knew he would have to delve deeper into its study in the future.

While Lian was immersed in his thoughts, a sinister event occurred suddenly. A demonic eye opened amidst a black mist, emerging from behind Anri.

Lian immediately felt the presence, which went beyond mere black Qi; it was a tangible and sinister consciousness, a malevolent entity taking form at that moment.

The mist started to writhe and coalesce, creating the illusory figure of an evil being. It was as if darkness itself was materializing before them, assuming a terrifying form. The shadow seemed to possess its own will, a malevolent consciousness seeking to escape the sacred power present in that area.

Suddenly, like a fleeing black lightning bolt, the illusory shadow darted in a specific direction, attempting to escape the divine influence. Seeing that, a chill ran down Lian's spine.

He knew that sinister shadow was not something to be underestimated. Determined, Lian focused his last reserves of energy and destroyed hundreds of thunder cores, embarking on a relentless pursuit. Lian and his group had killed a lot more during their training in the forest, including the demon beast with the thunder cores. He just didn't expect he would have to use them at this moment.