The immense pressure enveloped Li Hao's immediate vicinity once more, as if his entire being was trapped within a pitch-black prison. This wasn't a physical confinement, but rather a sensory one, most vividly perceived by those with heightened mental fortitude.

Just as Li Hao attempted to break free from this pressure, *boom boom boom boom*...

Around Li Hao, bursts of black light erupted.

Mental Blast!

The most direct and domineering offensive maneuver achievable after grasping the Golden Zone, now transformed into a terrifying mental artillery strike in Zhao Qinglong's hands.

How many present could withstand such mental bombardment?

At that moment, everyone discerned Li Hao's defensive method: a faint golden wall erected before him. All the mental blasts hammered against it, generating only ripples.

...Impossible, it couldn't be breached?

In the next instant, Zhao Qinglong appeared before Li Hao, a punch hurtling down, shattering the golden barrier and sending Li Hao staggering backward. He instantly repositioned to Li Hao's flank, a spinning heel kick sending Li Hao flying. His hands, wreathed in black flames, seized Li Hao's ankles and abruptly slammed him into the ground.

*Boom*...

The ground cratered. Zhao Qinglong levitated into the air, a black, lightning-entwined orb of energy coalescing between his hands, warping the space around it.

The black orb hurtled toward Li Hao.

*Buzz*

The piercing sound drilled directly into their minds. Everyone clutched their ears as a black shockwave swept outward, detonating upon Li Hao's body. The aftershock scoured the ground, peeling away a layer of earth.

Though battered, Offee and the others were relieved, having been flung back several meters – distance enough to save them. Zhao Qinglong had indeed proven his mettle. He, second only to Li Hao in talent back then, had been tempered by five years of relentless training. How could he possibly lose to someone who had been languishing for half a decade? He had to trust his judgment and logic. He had made the right bet!

But Li Hao was formidable, there was no denying. To retain such prowess after all these wasted years...

Saz拉克 and Lu Donglei's shock was no less than their subordinates'. They had anticipated that Zhao Qinglong, as the strongest, might have grasped Ryushin-Wu, but they hadn't expected it to be refined to this degree. His comprehension of energy far exceeded their expectations.

Neither man concealed their delight. They genuinely admired Zhao Qinglong. Standing atop USE, yet unpretentious, calm, composed, and ambitious – these were precisely the qualities of a leader the military sought.

Li Hao's presence had served a purpose. Without competition, Zhao Qinglong wouldn't have been able to improve further.

"Keep boasting, why don't you?" Kiran Rao scoffed. "If Dragon hadn't held back, that guy would be dead already. He just had to court death!"

No one responded. Zhou Nanyi and the others were ashen-faced. Could anyone survive under such an assault?

For a moment, no one even called for the medical team, all were stunned by Zhao Qinglong hovering in the air.

"This is... somewhat interesting." A sudden, jarring voice emerged from the pit. Li Hao slowly rose.

With a soft thud, he landed on the ground, lightly dusting the dirt from his hair.

At that moment, the entire arena fell deathly silent. Even Lu Donglei and Saz拉克 couldn't believe their eyes. They had reviewed a lot of classified data, even the current projected limits of human capability.

But what was this state of Li Hao's?

And to this point, they still couldn't discern Li Hao's abilities or his current stage.

Zhou Nanyi and the others flushed, their gazes meeting, revealing excitement, joy, and incredulous disbelief.

"Still holding back? Bring it all out. You know, testing me won't work if you want to defeat me. Are you afraid of losing control and killing me, or are you afraid of being killed by me?" Li Hao continued.

Zhao Qinglong gritted his teeth, his expression becoming grim, his pupils transforming into black flames. He spread his arms wide, black flames surging around him. *Buzz*

"Not enough, still not enough!" Li Hao's voice rang out like a morning bell.

Each word

was a goad to Zhao Qinglong. The black flames in Zhao Qinglong's eyes began to swirl and explode, black fire erupting from his body. The flames then violently contracted back into his form, and in the next moment, the surging fire formed a massive black dragon coiled around Zhao Qinglong, a suffocating pressure enveloping the entire training ground.

At that moment, Zhao Qinglong truly resembled a demon god from mythology.

Lu Donglei and Saz拉克 couldn't suppress their excitement, heartily cheering. They knew that the strongest stage of the Golden Zone was Ryushin-Wu, and the ultimate manifestation of Ryushin-Wu was Honpon (soul embodiment), a projection of one's soul essence, the recognition of self!

Zhao Qinglong's Ryushin-Wu – Black Dragon Honpon!

Zhao Qinglong had not only mastered Ryushin-Wu but also the most powerful method of its application. This meant that Earth had finally reached the pinnacle in terms of elite combat power. Regardless of victory or defeat, they weren't at a disadvantage in realm!

As the dragon god incarnate, Zhao Qinglong flicked his fingers, *bang bang bang bang*

Four walls of black flame rose from the ground, encircling Li Hao. The terrifying black flames possessed a lethal burning effect on both body and mind.

Even more terrifying was Zhao Qinglong's own fearsome power. The black fire, though only about a meter in range, had become pitch-black and profound. The black dragon began to bare its fangs and claws, the ground trembling. Then, the training ground started to collapse. Offee and the others scattered, avoiding the falling debris. Accompanied by Zhao Qinglong's roar, the training hall roof was blasted away. Immense power was gathering in his hands.

He stretched out his hand, and a K23 titanium sword materialized, instantly infused with black flame, and a devastating pressure dominated the entire arena.

Black Dragon Honpon – Youmie Hongeki-Zan (Nether Obliteration Soul Strike)!

*Roar*

With all his power focused, he slashed out with the K23 titanium blade, instantly filling the training ground with black flames. A black dragon, jaws agape, lunged toward Li Hao with the power of annihilation. At the same time, the black prison surrounding Li Hao contracted instantaneously.

*Buzz rumble rumble rumble*...

Chaotic power unleashed, the bone-shattering infrasound assailing their senses. This power exceeded the comprehension of every participant in the Mid-Season Tournament.

Everyone knew Zhao Qinglong was strong, but no one had imagined he had reached such a level.

Under the dragon's might, all would be reduced to dust.

After a long while, the crowd regained their senses. The training ground was a complete ruin. Zhao Qinglong had landed, and Li Hao…

Li Hao was gone...

Where he had stood was a massive, pitch-black crater, over ten meters in diameter.

Zhao Qinglong's face was unreadable. He had won. It was finally over. But there was no joy.

Wu Zang and the others had gone pale. Zhou Nanyi's eyes welled up, as she clenched her teeth powerlessly, as if her soul had been drawn away. The others hadn't recovered their wits. The battle had reached a level beyond their judgment. All they could say was that Li Hao had met Zhao Qinglong.

"Medical team, hurry!" Lu Donglei roared. He hoped Li Hao was still alive, even with a sliver of chance. This was also an absolute asset of Earth.

"Quick, quick, quick!" Saz拉克 waved his hand. Zhao Qinglong was essential, but Li Hao would also be USE's second strongest. Facing the moon, Zhao Qinglong alone wouldn't be enough.

They couldn't afford to lose either. They had established the rules of the competition. The competition wasn't the objective; discovering experts was!

Before the medical team could arrive, Offee and the others reacted fastest. But after taking just a few steps, Offee suddenly stopped them. "It's not over yet."

From within the crater, a surge of black flame erupted, and a figure slowly floated out, enveloped in black light.

???

Zhao Qinglong's Black Dragon Honpon had been absorbed by Li Hao???

"Wow, wahahaha, Hao-ge, awesome! I knew it, I knew he'd be alright!" Ma Long shouted, waving his arms wildly.

Zhou Nanyi quickly and discreetly wiped her eyes. Damn it.

Zhao Qinglong, who had begun to relax, refocused. Forget about the Black Dragon Honpon, at most, it was the Ryushin-Wu state from just now, and only barely.

Cang Gongtian and the others exchanged bewildered glances. What the hell was this?

He didn't die from that?

He even seemed to have absorbed Zhao Qinglong's black flame power. What kind of ability was this? Absorbing the power of others???

Perkins was drenched in sweat. He hadn't been this nervous even when facing Deprya. Looking at Li Hao in the air, he felt like running. Was there a spaceship back to Earth? This was not human.

What madness had possessed him to provoke him!!!

"Your method of using it is wrong. It should be used like this." As he spoke, the black figure flickered, and Li Hao appeared before Zhao Qinglong. Zhao Qinglong gave a muffled roar, and the titanium sword in his hand slashed rapidly toward Li Hao. But Li Hao's fist had already struck Zhao Qinglong's chest.

*Buzz*~*Boom*...

The ground beneath their feet shattered, and surging black flames poured directly into Zhao Qinglong's body. Instantly, Zhao Qinglong's body erupted with blood, the terrifying force detonating within him.

With just one blow, Zhao Qinglong crashed to the ground.

The arena was deathly silent. Everyone stared at the only man standing. Offee, Robbie, Yan Peng, Deprya, and the members of Hunter were watching this man with fiery eyes. Time seemed to have stood still.

He was still the same as he was five years ago.

*Poof*~*Splurt*~

Blood seeped from Zhao Qinglong's mouth, eyes, ears, and skin, radiating black flame. Li Hao's strike had completely shattered his defenses.

Still as hopelessly powerful as he was five years ago.

"Kill me," Zhao Qinglong said blankly.

Li Hao simply looked at Zhao Qinglong, not moving. Offee and Robbie sighed. What was coming had come, but when it came down to it...

"Do it! Why aren't you doing it? Cough, cough, cough!" Zhao Qinglong suddenly roared.

"Still as stubborn as ever, Lao San (third brother)," Li Hao sighed and said softly.

Zhao Qinglong's eyes, bloodshot, suddenly stopped moving, then his body began to tremble violently. The dignified number one in USE, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Li Hao slowly helped Zhao Qinglong up. "I know, you did it to save me. In the end, you're still a bit more like me."

"Knowing that they were targeting you, why did you come back!" Zhao Qinglong clenched his fists.

"Knowing the consequences of me not being here, why did you tell me?" Li Hao said.

Zhao Qinglong's eyes were red, his teeth clenched tightly, allowing Li Hao to support him as he slowly closed his eyes.

One eldest brother, one second brother, all were brothers. If the eldest brother set a trap to kill the second brother, what was he to do?