Reincarnation of the Celestial Bastard

Chapter 60: Shen Wu's Challenge

The night air was heavy with tension as Li Tian and Shen Wu stood opposite each other. The remnants of the previous fight littered the forest floor—bodies of the fallen assassins strewn about like discarded leaves. But none of that mattered now. All that Li Tian could focus on was the man standing before him, his aura thick with power.

Shen Wu's eyes glinted in the moonlight, an amused smirk still lingering on his lips. "It's been a long time since I've encountered someone who piqued my interest this much. You should feel honored."

Li Tian's expression remained calm, though inside, he could feel his blood stirring. This was what he craved—an opponent worthy of testing his strength. The small skirmishes up until now had been nothing more than child's play, but Shen Wu radiated danger. He wasn't someone to take lightly.

"You talk a lot for someone who hasn't made a move yet," Li Tian remarked, his voice smooth and unbothered.

Shen Wu chuckled, his dark aura swirling around him like a living entity. "Oh, I'll make a move. But first, let me ask you something, Li Tian. Why do you fight? Is it for power? Glory? Or something more... personal?"

Li Tian's eyes narrowed, though he didn't answer immediately. He wasn't here to indulge Shen Wu's curiosity, but something about the question struck a chord. Why did he fight? He had asked himself that very question many times in both lives. In his previous life, it had always been about power, about survival in a world where strength dictated everything. But in this life? He had made a conscious decision to take a different path. Yet the desire for strength never fully disappeared.

"I fight because I can," Li Tian finally replied, his tone indifferent. "And because people like you need to be put in their place."

Shen Wu's grin widened, as if that was exactly the answer he had been hoping for. "Then let's see if you can back up those words."

Without warning, Shen Wu shot forward, his body blurring as he closed the distance between them in an instant. His fist, wrapped in dark energy, struck out like a thunderbolt, aiming directly for Li Tian's chest.

But Li Tian was ready. His instincts kicked in as he executed Celestial Void Steps, his body shifting out of the path of the attack with blinding speed. It was as if he had become one with the shadows, moving seamlessly through space. Shen Wu's punch hit nothing but air.

"Not bad," Shen Wu remarked, his voice calm despite the miss. "You're fast."

Li Tian reappeared several feet away, his lips curved into a smirk. "And you're predictable."

Shen Wu's eyes flashed with amusement, but there was something darker lurking beneath his gaze. "Predictable, am I? Let's see how you handle this."

He raised his hand, and the ground beneath them trembled as dark tendrils of energy erupted from the earth, snaking toward Li Tian with terrifying speed. Each tendril pulsed with malevolent power, their sharp edges glinting dangerously in the moonlight.

Li Tian wasted no time, his body moving fluidly as he dodged the incoming tendrils. With each step, he activated his newly acquired technique, Heavenly Dragon's Descent, enhancing his strength and agility. The dragon-shaped aura flared around him, his movements growing more precise and deadly.

He dodged one tendril, then another, his feet barely touching the ground as he twisted and turned, avoiding the attacks with ease. But the tendrils were relentless, and Shen Wu controlled them with terrifying precision, directing them toward Li Tian with every passing second.

Finally, Li Tian decided it was time to end the game. In one swift motion, he leaped into the air, summoning the full power of the dragon within him. His fist glowed with radiant energy as he descended toward Shen Wu, aiming for the man's chest.

Shen Wu's eyes widened, but before he could react, Li Tian's punch connected with devastating force. The impact was explosive, sending shockwaves through the air as Shen Wu was sent crashing into the ground, a crater forming beneath him.

Li Tian landed gracefully, his breathing steady as he watched the dust settle around Shen Wu's fallen form. For a moment, there was silence, the forest eerily still.

Then, a low chuckle echoed through the clearing. Shen Wu slowly rose to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Impressive. Very impressive. I haven't been hit that hard in a long time."

Li Tian's eyes narrowed. He had put a considerable amount of power into that punch, enough to incapacitate most opponents. But Shen Wu was standing as if nothing had happened. Who was this man?

"You're strong," Shen Wu continued, his voice laced with a strange kind of admiration. "But strength alone won't be enough."

Before Li Tian could respond, Shen Wu's aura flared once more, even more intense than before. The ground shook beneath them, and the air grew heavy with pressure as Shen Wu unleashed his full power. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and the dark tendrils of energy returned, this time more ferocious and uncontrollable.

[New Task: Overcome Shen Wu's Dark Domain.] [Reward: Forbidden Technique: Chaos Breaker Fist.]

The system's message flashed in Li Tian's mind, and his heart raced with excitement. A forbidden technique? That was something worth fighting for.

He clenched his fists, feeling the power surge through his veins. "Come on then," he said, his voice steady. "Let's see who comes out on top."

With that, the two clashed again, their auras colliding in a violent storm of energy. The battle had only just begun, and Li Tian could feel that this fight would push him to his limits. But that was exactly what he wanted.