Gods of Destruction

Chapter 23 A Draw

Once Faisal steadied himself, his eyes turned cold, and he said, "Junior Brother Tariq, I advise you not to get involved in this messy situation. Don't end up losing yourself while trying to save someone else."The young man remained silent, standing firmly by Abbas' side. He raised the massive sword in his hand, pointing it directly at Faisal and his companions, his intentions unmistakable.Nasser Reza's heart trembled slightly. He and Abbas were far from being a match for Faisal and his men, but this young man had stepped in to save Abbas in a moment of crisis, displaying remarkable courage."Haha, Brother Tariq, your timing is perfect! Let's take down this wretched traitor together!"Abbas laughed heartily as his azure longsword danced, crackling with lightning. Blades of sword energy shot straight ahead. As his sword followed the motion of his body, Abbas channeled his inner force, thrusting the sword directly toward Faisal's chest. Tariq followed closely behind Abbas, his seemingly ordinary giant sword in hand, though no one dared to underestimate it.Faisal did not dare to face the combined force of the two directly. He immediately shouted to the others, "These two defy the laws of the sect and dare to challenge their superiors. Why haven't you all captured them yet?"The others didn't dare to disobey. Instantly, waves of sword energy surged forth, dense as rain, pouring toward the pair. Although these disciples were not as strong as Faisal, Abbas, or Sword Tariq, they were all from the same sect of Qingyun Peak and still possessed significant power. Combined, their joint attack was like a giant wave crashing down, not to be underestimated.Taking advantage of the situation, Nasser Reza wasted no time. He fiercely activated his Bull Strength technique, causing energy to surge through his body. In an instant, it flowed into his arms and down to his palms, where terrifying power gathered. His body moved like a fierce predator, swiftly striking down two opponents.In that moment, sword energy flooded the sky, shooting toward them like an unstoppable tide. Though Nasser Reza had knocked down two foes, the threat remained undiminished. Abbas, fully focused, had already thrust his sword directly at Faisal, leaving no room for distraction.Meanwhile, Tariq swung his massive sword, and a black veil of sword energy descended, blocking the incoming torrent of sword strikes. For a brief moment, the air was filled with the sharp, incessant clang of clashing energies, as shockwaves rippled outward from the fierce collision.Amid the surging shockwaves, the black veil of sword energy remained unmoved, as if an immovable mountain, completely unshaken. Then, Tariq charged into the crowd like a tiger into a flock of sheep. His sword movements were bold and sweeping, and though the massive sword appeared heavy, in his hands, it seemed weightless. Anyone who faced him either had their sword shattered and body flung back, or was left trembling and bleeding. Terrified, the crowd retreated in panic, fearing they'd meet a fate of shattered swords and grievous injuries.At this moment, Faisal's sword flurries surrounded Abbas, with flashes of azure sword energy colliding everywhere, only to be shredded by Faisal's fierce strikes. The swirling sword aura and overlapping shadows were dazzling, leaving Abbas struggling to dodge. In an instant, several bloody wounds appeared on his body.A savage glint flashed in Faisal's eyes as his slender longsword cut through the layers of sword shadows, thrusting straight at Abbas. Just then, Tariq spun around, his dark sword slashing directly at Faisal with no unnecessary flourish. Abbas let out a loud cry, his inner energy surging, and his azure sword aura crackled like lightning, with faint rumbling thunder, as it swept forward with overwhelming momentum.Tariq's massive sword and the azure longsword clashed simultaneously with Faisal's blade. In that instant, the three forces of sword energy intertwined and exploded with a deafening roar. The resulting shockwave tore through the surroundings, snapping trees and sending leaves whirling in the air.Faisal's longsword trembled violently in his hand as his body was thrown backward. A sharp, tearing pain shot through his palm, and he felt a surge of blood rising in his throat. He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, but stubbornly forced it back down.Abbas and Tariq didn't fare much better. Both of their faces suddenly turned pale, and Abbas coughed up a mist of blood, his entire body trembling.The three of them steadied themselves, facing each other warily. Their expressions were grim, with a hint of surprise in their eyes—each had clearly underestimated the other's strength."You two junior brothers are truly martial prodigies. Even with hidden injuries, you still possess such power," Faisal remarked, his voice laced with both admiration and caution.Abbas and Tariq, their swords still pointed at Faisal, had cold glints in their eyes. Tariq snorted, "Thanks to your 'special care,' but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."Faisal's expression shifted, uncertainty flashing across his face. The recent exchange had left him with serious internal injuries. As he looked at Tariq, though the latter's face was pale, his energy remained strong and steady, leaving Faisal unsure of how much strength he had left. Abbas, though heavily injured, still had a sharp and determined look, his fighting spirit undiminished. Faisal couldn't tell if either of them had any more tricks up their sleeves.With the sect's grand competition fast approaching, Faisal knew that if he suffered injuries that couldn't heal in time, the championship might very well slip from his grasp, allowing a disciple from another hall to claim the title.After careful consideration, Faisal finally sheathed his sword and smiled, saying, "We are fellow disciples of the same sect. There's no need for this unpleasantness. Since you two are determined to protect Nasser Reza, I'll let this matter go. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to it, junior brothers."With that, Faisal turned and left, though the intense hatred in his eyes was unmistakable. In his heart, he thought bitterly, "I'll let you go for now, but after the grand competition, you'll regret this. Anyone who threatens my future position as the head of Qingyun Hall must be eliminated."The others, seeing Faisal depart, didn't dare linger and quickly followed. In the large clearing, only Nasser Reza, Abbas, and Tariq remained.Abbas finally let out a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Tariq sheathed his massive sword and also sat down, fatigue evident on his face. Seeing this, Nasser Reza joined them, sitting beside Abbas."Today, we really owe it to Brother Tariq. Without your help, the two of us would have been done for. If not dead, we'd at least be crippled by that pack of dogs," Abbas said.Tariq, however, closed his eyes, focusing on healing his injuries, and replied coolly, "No need to thank me. I was helping myself too."Nasser Reza felt a pang of guilt. Though Abbas and Tariq had long been at odds with Faisal, this battle had ultimately started because of him.Suddenly remembering the purpose of his visit to Qingyun Hall, Nasser Reza untied the wine flask from his waist and handed it to Abbas. "This wine was given to me by a senior. It might help with your injuries."Abbas didn't hesitate and took the wine flask. Upon pulling out the wooden stopper, a rich aroma immediately filled the air, so enticing that it made one's mouth water. Even Tariq couldn't help but open his eyes, his gaze fixed on the flask.Unable to resist, Abbas lifted his head and took a hearty swig. Instantly, the fragrant wine filled his mouth, and he felt a warm, fiery current flow from his abdomen to the rest of his body, like a blaze spreading. His face flushed red, his eyes bulged slightly, and suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of dark, clotted blood. His body shook violently as he exhaled several deep breaths of foul air.After a long while, Abbas finally calmed down, only to realize that the stubborn internal injuries he had struggled to heal were almost fully recovered. With just a couple more days of rest, he would be completely healed. Even the wounds from his recent battle with Faisal had already mended by half."Good wine," Abbas finally exclaimed in shock, uttering only two words. His heart was filled with excitement—this wine's effects were exactly what he had been desperately in need of.Afterward, Abbas began to slowly recount to Nasser Reza all that he had experienced in Qingyun Hall in recent days.Though Qingyun Hall is the most prestigious of the Nine Halls, boasting cultivation resources unmatched by the others, the competition among its disciples is also the fiercest.For a long time, Faisal had been the foremost among the disciples, monopolizing the best cultivation resources. If everything proceeded as expected, he would become the next head of Qingyun Hall. However, the arrival of Abbas had made him feel threatened.Thus, Faisal instructed his followers to constantly challenge Abbas under the guise of friendly sparring, attempting to wear down Abbas's resolve. Yet, contrary to his expectations, Abbas not only remained undeterred but grew stronger, his abilities surging with each setback.Faisal, unable to contain his frustration, personally intervened several times. Despite Abbas's rapid rise in strength since joining Qingyun Hall, he was still no match for Faisal and was severely injured. Though Abbas recovered from the physical wounds, they left behind hidden internal injuries that persisted until now.These hidden injuries seemed harmless on the surface, but over time, as they accumulated, they posed a grave danger. If triggered, they could explode without warning, and even if Abbas survived, his martial path would be ruined, leaving him crippled for life. Faisal's actions were nothing short of ruthless.The hidden injuries had always been a great source of anxiety for Abbas, but he never expected that the wine Nasser Reza brought would heal them. With this burden finally lifted from his heart, he felt immense relief.Tariq, witnessing Abbas drink the wine and recover from his hidden injuries, was astonished. He couldn't help but feel envious, wondering what kind of wine could have such miraculous effects. Tariq had been in Qingyun Hall longer than Abbas and had also suffered from Faisal's schemes. His internal injuries were even more severe than Abbas's.Without hesitation, Abbas handed the wine flask to Tariq, who gratefully accepted. After taking a drink, Tariq felt as though his body were ablaze. He spat out a mouthful of black blood and immediately felt light and refreshed. His internal injuries were mostly healed, leaving him shocked. In a trembling voice, he asked, "Could this be the wine brewed by Ibrahim, the Mountain Keeper?"Nasser Reza nodded, though inwardly puzzled. Ibrahim was known for his lofty character and demeanor, embodying the grace of a senior master. But why was he referred to as the "Mountain Keeper"?Tariq said, "The wine brewed by Ibrahim is renowned among the Shadowed Path as a rare treasure, comparable to the top elixirs from the Apothecary Hall. However, the Mountain Keeper has always maintained a distance from the Eight Halls, with little interaction. The disciples of the Eight Halls have only heard rumors of such a fine brew but have never actually encountered it."Nasser Reza laughed heartily, "Regardless of its origins, we've had a thrilling fight today. Let's just enjoy the wine!""Exactly as Nasser Reza said," Abbas agreed with a grin. "When life is good, we should celebrate. Let's drink to our hearts' content!" He took the wine flask and drank deeply once more.The three of them took turns drinking and chatting, their spirits high and their camaraderie strong, enjoying each other's company as if they had been friends for years.