Since Zhang Xuzhi obtained that mysterious archive, he knew he was destined to succeed in his revenge, even Lord Rhein, one of the three giants, couldn't stop him.
Ever since the Bren Hill incident erupted, the Ether Association had been rife with undercurrents. The various factions were in a state of extreme tension, holding meetings almost daily to discuss topics ranging from the evolutionists to the threat posed by the strongest catastrophe, the King of Qing, and the dispute over the position of the next President.
In particular, the Night Watchers and the Judgement Court were now at the most crucial stage of their rivalry.
Until the very last moment, no one knew who would prevail.
Moreover, everyone was aware that the President was intending to forcibly prolong his life for a few years and directly pass the succession to Thunder.
Even at the cost of modifying the rule prohibiting catastrophes from inheriting the presidency!
But now, he was going to destroy everything.
So what if they were students of the King of Qing.
So what if they were the President's groomed successors.
They still violated the order and the rules all the same.
Since saving Lu Zijin came at a cost, sacrifices must be made.
Even if he couldn't kill the two of them, he would make them lose everything!
Fifteen minutes.
That time frame was enough.
His mood surged with exhilaration!
Yet, inexplicably, he suddenly heard a resounding dragon's roar, making his heart shudder for no reason.
Alongside the sound of crunching snow underfoot, someone emerged from the darkness only to instantly vanish!
Boom!
The blizzard was torn apart by a gust of wind. The long black hair of the figure fluttered in the storm, and beneath the swaying fringe was a pair of bewitching vertical pupils. His impossibly beautiful visage, breathtaking to the point of otherworldliness, exuded sheer arrogance, as if he were a celestial maiden descending from the Divine Country depicted in the murals, showcasing incomparable allure to the world while maintaining an aloofness that kept others at bay.
His long coat billowed in the wind, resembling the flowing black sea tide.
Evolutionary State.
Operating at full power without resorting to Ancient God Transformation.
"What terrifying speed."
Li Hanting and Zhou Hanye exchanged a glance, unable to fathom how this person had passed them by.
The fleeting beauty of that moment ignited ripples in their hearts.
At this instant, even Zhang Xuzhi, a Sixth Rank Domain King, felt shock and bewilderment.
Because he realized he was no longer standing in his original position but had been moved fifty meters forward!
The figure who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere also teleported across that fifty-meter distance.
The gap between them was now razor-thin!
The Ghost Slayer Path abilities, Space Jump.
After advancing to Fourth-tier Shura, the previously granted Space Jump ability had been greatly enhanced.
Boom!
The Qi Realm expanded fervently; no one wished to engage a Ghost Slayer Path user up close!
Surging Qi Force erupted in ferocity but was abruptly torn apart by the flashing slash of a blade. Within the void, the strike shattered the space itself, exposing countless terrifying fissures of primordial darkness before collapsing with a deafening roar!
One strike cleaved the void!
Zhang Xuzhi retreated like lightning, his shoulder nonetheless grazed and a chunk of flesh severed, bleeding profusely.
The Ancient Martial Path was reputed for its impenetrable defense.
But the Ghost Slayer Path's Dimension Slash ignored all defenses.
The battle could only be fought at long range!
In an instant, Zhang Xuzhi unleashed his Qi Realm within which countless clones, each formed purely of condensed Qi Force and imbued with a master's Martial Arts Extreme Intent, charged forward like an overwhelming sea tide swallowing a stubborn rocky shore, unleashing rampant Qi Force!
Baji Fist, Tai Chi Boxing, Xingyi Boxing!
Tongbei Boxing, Flipping Fist, Elephant Form Boxing, Yong Chun Boxing!
Such was the True Martial Domain wielded by a Sixth Rank user of the Ancient Martial Path!
Gu Jianlin stood amidst the domain, besieged by murder intent from all four directions, his Qi Force vibrating his lungs with intensity.
Under ordinary conditions, he'd last less than twenty seconds.
But he couldn't afford to lose this battle.
He couldn't afford to show weakness.
Even if it meant biting down until his teeth shattered, he'd endure it.
He must present the strongest front!
Now, it was time for Jiuyin to take over.
With a hum, the blade trembled!
Time plunged into a swamp-like stillness. The oncoming clones froze mid-air, the previously roiling Qi Force halted, and the blizzard's scattered snowflakes hung suspended, crystal-clear.
And then, everything was ripped apart by a single thread of frigid light.
Though Gu Jianlin had never trained in blade skills, at this moment he exuded the ancient Blade Technique Extreme Intent. The lonely blazes of the ancient blade, dormant for millennia, shone brilliantly amid the raging snowstorm—its piercing resonance reminiscent of a dragon's roar!
Unparalleled serenity, unmatched blade technique, supreme arrogance!
Silence enveloped time, leaving only the blade light galloping.
Jiuyin trembled joyously, slicing apart those clones with devastating ease!
Gu Jianlin flitted like a ghost and reappeared—the movement of his blade causing a Qi clone to detonate with a thunderous crash!
Within the frozen domain of Space Freeze, he was invincible!
Finally unable to bear further, Zhang Xuzhi sent forth countless Qi clones in a furious swarm!
With deafening roars, their Qi Force exploded outward in every direction, resonating with sonic waves!
Lion Roar!
Boom!
The Space Freeze domain shattered, and Gu Jianlin was violently hurled away.
"Hanting, Hanye, strike now!"
Zhang Xuzhi closed in, having already discerned his opponent's rank.
He aimed to kill the adversary in the shortest possible time!
Li Hanting nodded slightly, commanding his flying sword to dive down. His iron sword surged with cutting Sword Qi, targeting not the figure who had appeared out of nowhere, but the Lin siblings!
Zhou Hanye raised his hand and unleashed a terrifying Telekinesis wave!
Boom!
A golden Skeleton Giant forcibly resisted the blow, its bones shattering in response to the impact.