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Chapter 78: Clash of Powers

"You\'ve crossed paths with someone far beyond your understanding," the dark leader hissed, his eyes glowing a deeper crimson. "Your family\'s strength will crumble beneath my heel."

Li Tian smirked, unfazed by the threats. "You\'re nothing but a stepping stone for me."

Without warning, the dark leader made the first move. He raised his hand, sending a wave of black energy rippling toward Li Tian, the attack slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The ground beneath it withered as the dark energy passed, leaving behind a trail of decay.

But Li Tian was ready.

With a swift motion, he activated the Phoenix Flame Strike, his body becoming a blur of fiery movement as he met the dark energy head-on. The two forces collided in a brilliant flash of light and darkness, creating a shockwave that sent trees and debris flying in all directions.

For a moment, it looked as though the two powers were evenly matched. But then the dark energy began to overpower the flames, pushing Li Tian back ever so slightly.

"Not bad," Li Tian muttered under his breath. "But let\'s see how you handle this."

In an instant, he activated the Dragon Soul Technique

he had recently acquired. His body pulsed with radiant golden light, the power of the technique coursing through him like a tidal wave. The flames around him intensified, transforming into something far more dangerous—golden fire that burned hotter and brighter than before.

The dark leader\'s eyes widened slightly as the pressure around Li Tian surged, but his shock quickly turned into a vicious grin. "Interesting! You\'ve acquired a forbidden technique, haven\'t you? Let\'s see how far it takes you!"

With a roar, the dark leader unleashed even more of his energy, summoning tendrils of darkness that lashed out toward Li Tian like serpents. But this time, Li Tian was not on the defensive.

The Dragon Soul Technique enhanced not only his attack power but also his agility and perception. He weaved through the tendrils of darkness with ease, dodging each one as if he could see them coming before they even moved.

In one swift movement, he closed the distance between them, his sword ignited with golden flames. He swung it toward the dark leader\'s chest, aiming to end the battle in one decisive blow.

The dark leader barely managed to block the attack with his own weapon, a jagged black blade that oozed dark energy. But the force of Li Tian\'s strike sent him skidding back several feet, the ground cracking beneath his feet.

"Impossible," the dark leader growled. "How can you possess such strength?"

Li Tian didn\'t answer. Instead, he launched a series of rapid attacks, his sword moving with incredible speed as he pressed the advantage. Each strike was accompanied by a burst of golden flames, forcing the dark leader to retreat further with every blow.

The dark leader\'s defenses began to crumble. His once overwhelming dark energy was no match for the raw power of the Dragon Soul Technique, and it wasn\'t long before he found himself on the brink of defeat.

Just as Li Tian prepared to deliver the final blow, the dark leader raised his hand and muttered something under his breath. A strange, oppressive aura filled the air, and a dark portal began to form behind him.

"You\'re strong, but this isn\'t over," the dark leader spat, his voice filled with venom. "I\'ll return, and when I do, your family will burn."

Before Li Tian could stop him, the dark leader stepped into the portal and vanished, leaving behind only a faint trace of his dark energy.

Li Tian stood there for a moment, his sword still raised, as the adrenaline from the fight slowly began to fade. The dark cultivators who had been fighting his team seemed to lose their will to fight the moment their leader disappeared. One by one, they either fled into the shadows or were cut down by the remaining elite cultivators.

Zheng Wei approached him, her spear resting on her shoulder, her eyes filled with admiration. "You drove him off," she said, her voice tinged with relief.

Li Tian let out a small sigh, sheathing his sword. "For now," he said. "But this isn\'t over. Whoever that was, he\'s part of something bigger."

The system chimed in.

[Quest Completed: Defend the Li Family Estate.]

[Reward: Dragon Soul Technique Mastery Increased.]

[New Quest Unlocked: Investigate the Dark Cultivator\'s Return.]

Li Tian\'s eyes narrowed as he read the system\'s new quest. His instincts told him that the dark leader\'s threat was not an empty one. Something darker was lurking on the horizon, and it was only a matter of time before it revealed itself.

But for now, there was calm. The battle was over, and the estate was safe—for the moment.

"Let\'s head back," Li Tian said, glancing at Zheng Wei and the rest of the team. "We need to regroup and prepare for whatever comes next."

As they made their way back to the estate, Li Tian couldn\'t shake the feeling that this victory was just the beginning of a much larger conflict. The dark forces that had targeted his family were still out there, plotting in the shadows.

And he would be ready for them.

Back at the estate, the family had gathered, anxiously waiting for news. Li Feng\'s expression softened when he saw Li Tian approach, and a rare smile touched his lips.

"You\'ve done well, son," Li Feng said, his voice filled with pride. "The estate is safe, thanks to you."