Several li away, the mind confusion array that once covered a large area now shrank by more than half. It seemed as if the very earth had upturned, leaving behind a stretch of scorched land that spanned dozens of li and crumbled hills. The devastation was staggering.
The ground trembled non-stop as the fierce battle between Fang Xia and the purple roc continued underground.
Boom! Suddenly, the white fog dissipated, revealing the breathtaking sight of the Cloud River. Its waters churned violently, and waves several dozen zhangs high crashed upon the shores, as if the sky and earth were being torn asunder.
A black figure encircled by layers of golden light shot into the sky, then raced along the river.
Swoosh! The massive roc burst forth from the raging waters, the explosion creating a hole in the river bed. The river water poured into the newly formed cave, resulting in a massive whirlpool that surged into the collapsing cave below.
Accompanied by a haunting whistle, a stream of purple flame with unimaginable power soared over the river, instantly vaporizing the water and casting a veil of white mist.
In the blink of an eye, nearly half of the ten-li-long river evaporated completely, and the rest was on the verge of drying up. The unstoppable flames devoured everything in their path, consuming the landscape like a city consumed by a raging firestorm. Countless trees on both banks began emitting thick smoke.
It was a sight that sent shudders through the hearts of the observing Heavenly Rankers.
“A ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivator is capable of unleashing such devastating power? Fang Xia’s strength is truly awe-inspiring,”
“However, he is still no match for that roc. Right now, he’s desperately evading the attacks.”
“The power of the array cannot be sustained indefinitely. It will ultimately come down to a battle of endurance.” The Heavenly Rankers, including the Arctic King and Emperor Dong Pan, reached a similar conclusion.
Fang Xia’s strength was undeniable, his prowess unmatched. But Great Jin’s roc array was even more terrifying.
…
“This! The ancestor is the one being pursued?”
“Can he withstand it?” Huan Jian and Bu Yu watched the fight with bated breath. This was their first glimpse into battles between qi refiners. Rivers were overturned, the flow of seas were reversed and the sky and earth were rent asunder. It was an entirely different ball game compared to fights between mortal martial artists.
The application of essentia combined with heaven and earth’s power allowed Fang Xia to exhibit a level of force that left them wide-eyed. Great Jin’s array also caused their hearts to tremble.
Granted, Huan Jian and Bu Yu understood that such insane strength couldn’t be achieved by those at the first or second stages of the Qi Sea phase. However, they also knew that with diligent cultivation, one could gradually accumulate essentia and mana, paving the way for breakthroughs in one’s cultivation path. This was why early-stage Qi Sea cultivators spent the majority of their time cultivating in seclusion, rarely venturing outside.
Old Fang! Wu Yuan’s mental state was highly tense, his Soul Force fully merged with the radiant sphere of golden light.
He could keenly sense that Fang Xia’s vital energy was waning. During their collision underground, Fang Xia had endured two strikes from the purple roc, and the devastating impact inflicted serious injuries on him.
Qi refiners, though highly versatile in combat due to essentia, had the disadvantage of fragile bodies.
Suddenly, a piercing voice resounded in Wu Yuan’s mind: “Young Master, it’s time! Soulquake Art!”
The opportunity would only come once.
“Kill!” Wu Yuan’s eyes turned red with bloodlust as the soul energy in his upper dantian burst forth.
The space within the golden sphere suddenly transformed. Cryptic patterns adorned the space, only perceptible via Soul Force.
With a mere thought, Wu Yuan’s Soul Force cascaded through these intricate patterns. Like an avalanche, the power escalated exponentially.
The unseen ripple of Soul Force bypassed the multitude of feeble creatures within the killing formation’s range, avoided Fang Xia, and surged directly toward the imposing purple roc.
Within the fiery exterior of the roc, Wu Yuan faintly discerned the presence of seven lives.
Boom! At the moment of impact, the Soul Force encapsulated within the fluctuation erupted!
…
In the sky beyond Cloudhill, Fang Xia abruptly halted his frenzied escape through the billowing white fog. Then, he turned back and charged towards the approaching purple roc.
“What’s Fang Xia trying to do?”
“Is he tired of living?”
“Instead of fleeing, he decided to charge right in?” The Heavenly Rankers observing from outside the array could not believe their eyes.
The two sides were only around three li apart, and the impending collision seemed inevitable.
“No!” Huan Jian and Bu Yu both paled. Fang Xia was only able to somewhat hold his own due to his arcane arts. Engaging in close combat with the roc was a suicidal move.
Kill! The moment that Soulquake hits them will be my best opportunity. I believe the young master will not disappoint. Fang Xia’s eyes were cold with determination, focused on the roc’s chest.
After multiple probing attempts, he discovered that the weakest point of the array was its chest!
…
“Kill him!”
“Since Fang Xia has decided to throw away his life, we’ll gladly oblige!”
Led by Jin Ji, the Septet Ignis Array emanated an aura that shook the sky. All seven of the Heavenly Rankers broke into smiles as they sensed the change in Fang Xia’s movements. He was literally handing them victory on a platter.
But in a sudden turn of events, they felt an explosion go off within their souls, as if someone had hit the back of their heads with a staff.
This… Jin Ji’s head spun, but clarity was quickly restored by the soothing green glow of the gem nestled at his chest.
Not good, it’s Soulquake Art. How is it so powerful? Panic flickered in his eyes as he realized the other six Heavenly Rankers were left disoriented.
Jin Ji controlled the core of the Septet Ignis Array, but he alone couldn’t manipulate such a colossal array. And even though he regained his wits quickly, the momentary lapse had cost him dearly as Fang Xia was already closing in for the kill!
In a blinding flash, a torrent of golden light converged, resembling a divine sword of immense proportions slicing through the sky, straight toward the chest of the giant roc.
The roc was slashed into two, its bisected halves falling to the earth.
Flames scattered, and the resounding boom echoed through the air. But the divine sword did not stop there—it changed direction and plunged forward, cleaving through space and obliterating the four Heavenly Rankers in front. Their bodies shattered into countless fragments.
All of them were dead!
For cultivators at the Qi Sea phase, getting hit by the attack of a cultivator nearing the Golden Core phase meant they were as good as dead upon impact.
The air crackled with energy as the golden light clashed with a streak of green light, the latter deftly manipulating a rapidly shrinking array to block the assault.
Jin Ji emerged from the chaos, his eyes filled with fear, and his qi in turmoil. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Without hesitation, he employed a forbidden art and fled. The instant that he clashed with Fang Xia, his speed skyrocketed to a terrifying level, propelling him into the sky.
Wind? He’s certainly fast! With a mere thought from Fang Xia, the golden light that illuminated the sky and earth abruptly changed course, a portion of it hurtling toward the fleeing Jin Ji.
The rest split in two, transforming into two menacing sword lights that charged toward the two other Qi Sea cultivators – Zhao Yi and Hai Jian.
Block it! Jin Ji gritted his teeth and he fled with all his might. He swiftly formed a series of hand seals, summoning a massive shield that radiated layers of green light, resembling a giant pillar. It crashed towards the relentless golden light.
Artifact: Green Shield, arcane art: Wind Shield Art
Rumble~ In a cataclysmic explosion of green light, the shield was sent hurtling backward through the air, though it had exhausted a substantial portion of the golden light’s power.
A resounding explosion echoed through the air as the remaining streams of golden light struck Jin Ji, causing his qi to churn violently. However, he channeled that momentum to accelerate even further, swiftly leaving the array’s range.
As for Zhao Yi and Hai Jian, they managed to regain consciousness after getting hit by the Soulquake Art. They were given no opportunity to unleash arcane arts or employ artifacts to deflect Fang Xia’s assault. Even if they were, their chances of survival were slim at best.
Splat! Splat! As two streaks of golden light streaked across the sky, Zhao Yi and Hai Jian were reduced to crimson mist.
Both lives were extinguished in an instant.
A deafening boom followed as the two halves of the purple roc crashed to the ground. Flames erupted into the sky, intermingling with the swirling dust and rubble.
A thin veil of white fog clung to the air, as Fang Xia stood in the sky, enveloped in layers of golden light. Clad in black armor, he looked at the Heavenly Rankers who witnessed the battle with an icy gaze, his aura emanating a deity-like ferocity.
Whoosh! Jin Ji broke free from the array, racing away without a single backward glance. A streak of vibrant green light vanished into the sky.
The Arctic King, Emperor Dong Pan, Old Jiaolong, and the Heavenly Rankers from across the world watched the spectacle unfold. A silence descended upon them, lingering for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, breaking the silence, the Arctic King slowly uttered four words, “World’s number one expert.”