MARTIAL UNIVERSE: The strongest

The tension in the air was palpable as Mo Xie's voice cut through the storm of battle.

"The Root Withering Poison is designed to weaken and restrict your Yuan Power temporarily. So be a good girl and come with me. I have so many plans for you..." His words dripped with malice, his eyes gleaming with a twisted joy. He could almost taste victory, savoring the moment as his scheme reached its climax.

"I'll kill you all!!!" MeiYing's fury erupted in a golden blaze, her words like a roaring tempest. The golden brilliance surrounding her exploded, the light of her soul nearly blinding the very air itself. For a brief moment, she was as radiant as the sun itself, a beacon of defiance. Without hesitation, she thrust her sword forward with unparalleled speed, aiming for Mo Xie's heart.

But Mo Xie was no ordinary opponent. The instant her blade was an inch from his neck, his skeletal arms shot out with unnatural speed, his fingers stretching inhumanly to clamp down on her sword like an iron vice. MeiYing's blade faltered, its tip stopped cold, unable to move an inch further.

"Your Divine Physique allows you to leap over realms and challenge those stronger than you. But I am no ordinary Yuan Dan cultivator," Mo Xie taunted, his voice thick with amusement. His eyes narrowed as an overwhelming demonic aura surged from his body, the air around him warping with malevolent energy.

MeiYing staggered back, her strength momentarily drained by the overwhelming pressure of his aura. Middle stage of the Yuan Dan Realm? Her mind raced. She knew her power was being sapped by Mo Xie's poison, but her resolve only hardened. She couldn't back down now.

"This farce ends now," Mo Xie sneered, his finger pointing directly at MeiYing with chilling precision. "Ancestral Devil Finger!" he roared.

In an instant, a massive, black demonic finger materialized, hurtling through the air with terrifying speed, a deadly projectile aimed straight for MeiYing's chest. She had no choice but to retaliate.

"Empress' Soulblade Sutra: Empress Command!!" MeiYing's voice was sharp as she slashed downward, her sword cutting through the air with the force of a typhoon. The arc of her blade clashed with the demonic finger in a titanic explosion of force. Sword intent clashed with demonic might, and the resulting shockwave sent out ripples of destructive energy, shattering the ground beneath them.

BOOM!

The collision sent MeiYing flying back, her body crashing into a tree as blood spilled from her mouth. The ground around her trembled, the explosion leaving her dazed and battered. Mo Xie and his henchmen remained unfazed, standing strong in the wake of the blast.

"Hei Yan! Mu Chen! Get her!" Mo Xie ordered, his voice sharp and filled with rage.

The two cultivators lunged forward with terrifying speed. Hei Yan, the green-robed youth, and Mu Chen, the stout man with the massive blade, rushed toward MeiYing, their attacks fueled by a deadly intent.

"Raksha Blood Palm!" Hei Yan shouted, his palm stretching outward, a red aura of blood swirling around it.

"Demon Soul Blade!" Mu Chen howled, his enormous blade swinging with brutal force.

The ground shattered beneath the weight of their attacks as the two forces combined, a massive, blood-soaked palm and an obsidian blade hurtling toward MeiYing in a merciless assault. Her heart raced. She could feel the poison slowing her movements, her Yuan Power unwilling to respond.

'No! I won't fall here!'

With a single flick of her finger, a sacred symbol appeared on her forehead, glowing with golden brilliance. The aura around her intensified, spiraling outward as she shouted, "I don't just have Yuan Power!!"

"Endless Yearning: Abyssal Devourer!!" MeiYing's fingers twitched, and a small, wriggling black dot materialized in front of her. As the blood palm and soul blade collided with it, the black dot expanded into a massive vortex of energy, drawing in both attacks with an unimaginable force. In mere moments, the attacks were devoured, leaving nothing but fragments of demonic Qi lingering in the air.

Mo Xie's eyes widened in disbelief. A 4th Seal Symbol Master, awakened sword intent, and a Divine Physique... What kind of monstrous talent was she? He could no longer hide his greed, his eyes glinting with avarice.

"Let's see how long you can keep using that divine ability!" He spat, his voice laced with fury. "Get her!" Mo Xie commanded, his voice low and menacing. Hei Yan and Mu Chen wasted no time, charging toward MeiYing with bloodlust in their eyes. They were relentless, but MeiYing's gaze hardened.

"Empress' Heartbinding Gaze!" she intoned, her golden eyes flashing with an overwhelming force. The two attackers froze mid-step, their bodies convulsing violently as they collapsed to the ground, clutching their heads and screaming in agony.

"To love me is to obey. To resist is death," MeiYing's voice was a soft whisper, yet it carried an unyielding power. She smirked, blood dripping from her nose as she reveled in her newfound control. With a flick of her wrist, she raised the two former attackers to their feet, their bodies now puppets to her will.

Her strength was faltering. She could feel her mental energy draining, the toll of using her divine abilities rapidly depleting her reserves. She knew she couldn't keep this up forever.

"What are you waiting for?! Get her!!" Mo Xie shouted, his temper finally snapping. He was visibly rattled, realizing that his grip on the situation was slipping. The other henchmen surged forward, ready to tear her apart, but MeiYing was quick. "Kill them for me," she ordered softly.

The two controlled slaves, now her loyal warriors, lunged at the advancing foes. Mu Chen, the massive, wild-eyed man, swung his blade with reckless abandon, tearing through the ranks with brutal, untamed fury. He carved through them like a berserker, his rage unstoppable.

Meanwhile, Hei Yan, the green-robed boy, raised his hand. In an instant, dozens of spiritual beasts surged into the battlefield, answering his call. They attacked the remaining henchmen with savage ferocity, the beasts under his control overwhelming their opponents.

MeiYing stood back, her chest rising and falling with the effort. She was surprised by the sudden flood of beasts. Gojo was right all along. There's something wrong with these beasts. They're being controlled by him.

She shook her head, focusing on the task at hand. There was no time to dwell on that now.

"Fuck! I'll just have to capture you myself then!!" Mo Xie cursed, his voice filled with venom. His wings of dark bone unfurled from his back, and with a powerful beat, he shot into the sky, his eyes locked on MeiYing's fleeing figure.

The chase was on.

A/N: The chapter is probably shorter than usual, but enjoy.