"Buzz…"
Heaven and earth roared. Space shattered.
A dazzling silver brilliance tore open the sky. Within a thousand-zhang radius, it was as though the heavens had collapsed and the earth had sunk. The mountains beneath the two combatants had long been obliterated by the violent energy, leaving only scorched ruins in their wake.
The Soul Clan elder's cold gaze swept over Chen Xiaoming, retrieving the shattered Void Devouring Flame. In a flash of light, a massive dark-red demonic-headed battle axe appeared in his hand. In an instant, his eyes turned crimson, bloodlust surging into the skies.
With a step into the void, the elder appeared right in front of Chen Xiaoming. Silver light surged toward him, but before it could get close, it was repelled by the surging red blood aura.
"You're strong. That's exactly why I can't let you live."
His icy voice rang out without emotion. Without wasting another word, the Soul Clan elder flashed upward, appearing above a massive figure in midair. The demonic-headed axe, seemingly forged from solidified blood, came cleaving down with a roar. A blood-colored axe light, nearly a thousand zhang long, tore through the sky.
The edge of the axe ripped open space itself. Black cracks hundreds of zhang long spread across the sky, and the overwhelming aura of death concentrated in the arc, devouring all in its path.
Within the enormous silhouette, Chen Xiaoming's eyes sparkled. With a slight movement of his hand, the enormous projection mirrored his action. A silver spear, etched with nine golden dragon patterns, gleamed brightly.
A cold gleam struck first—followed by the piercing thrust!
The void shattered. Space twisted open. The silver spear shot through a spatial wormhole and, faster than the naked eye, pierced directly toward the incoming axe light.
"Boom!"
A terrifying explosion rang out. The silver spear quivered slightly, and the space behind Chen Xiaoming cracked like shattered glass. As the void collapsed, he vanished in a blink.
He reappeared beside the elder. The silver spear traced an elegant arc across the sky, as fluid as calligraphy, stabbing directly toward the elder's head.
"Slash!"
The elder spun the axe handle. The demonic axe reversed course and cleaved downward again. Space cracked under its edge. The gathered bloodlust nearly turned tangible—it was like a beast that had just gorged on blood.
"Boom!"
The blood aura burst from the axe, violently clashing with the silver spear. The aura was highly corrosive—within moments, it clung to the silver spear like burning acid.
The silver spear dripped with blood, as though it had been brutally torn apart. Chen Xiaoming frowned.
A brilliant silver glow erupted from his body, and the power of space surged. With a flick of his wrist, he spun the spear rapidly in hand.
They say spearplay isn't just about length—it's about technique.
As the saying goes: "I may be short—but I spin."
Chen Xiaoming knew this well. With a masterful flick, he unleashed his Rotating Spear Art. The power of space exploded outward, shredding the surrounding void and scattering the clinging blood aura in an instant.
"Hmph."
The elder snorted coldly, his battle axe hacking down without pause. Blood-colored axe lights flew out one after another. In mere moments, he had launched hundreds of them.
The skies turned crimson with the overwhelming stench of blood. The once-blue heavens were dyed red. Oppressive killing intent surged forth, compressing Chen Xiaoming's silver radiance until it shrank within a hundred-zhang radius around his body.
The silver spear in Chen Xiaoming's hand jabbed out again and again, each thrust forming a spatial wormhole. The void around him shattered, creating a vacuum that blocked the elder's attacks.
The Soul Race elder's approach was simple: grind him down.
Chen Xiaoming's spear was strong—but not enduring. He couldn't last.
Compared to someone like him, a veteran of countless battles, Chen Xiaoming was just too green.
So what if a one-star Dou Venerate could fight a Dou Saint? His own Dou Qi was like an endless ocean. No way a Venerate could outlast him.
In the midst of the brilliant silver light, Chen Xiaoming furrowed his brows, already guessing the elder's intentions. Thanks to the System, he wasn't worried—but he had no desire to drag this out.
"I know his range—but he doesn't know my depth."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Xiaoming's lips.
Maybe... it's time to pull off a little play.
"Boom, boom, boom…"
The fierce battle raged on. Chen Xiaoming's silver light was being steadily consumed. His colossal form gradually shrank, as if unable to sustain the enormous energy expenditure.
His once-mighty aura began to show signs of fading.
The Soul Clan elder saw this and sneered coldly.
As I thought. Such a powerful secret art must come with a massive cost.
With just a one-star Dou Venerate cultivation, he can't possibly keep this up for long.
His eyes gleamed with heat. If he could seize this secret art, he might even challenge for leadership of the Soul Race.
The Void Devouring Flame surged from within. Thinking of this, the elder's eyes lit up like torches. Fearing Chen Xiaoming might escape, he launched a ferocious onslaught.
Meanwhile, far off beneath the sky—
Xiao Xun'er and the Violet-Gold Lion King also sensed the shift in momentum.
Xun'er's heart clenched as she saw Chen Xiaoming weakening. Unable to stay still, she took to the skies.
"Don't go! It's too dangerous!" the Lion King roared. "Two Dou Saints are fighting—you'll be walking into your death!"
He lunged to stop her.
But her golden flame suddenly flared, and her speed skyrocketed. She darted past the Lion King in a flash, heading straight toward the battlefield.
The Lion King stood frozen, dumbfounded.
Wait—did the disciple of a walking cheat just start cheating too?
In the skies not far away—
"Cough, cough…"
One of the elder's axe strikes tore through Chen Xiaoming's enormous form. Within it, shrouded in silver light, Chen Xiaoming spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the heavens red.
"Teacher!"
Xiao Xun'er arrived just in time to see him wounded, tears brimming in her eyes. Over the past year, Chen Xiaoming had treated her like a daughter. In her heart, he was already her master.
Even if… well, he was a bit unreliable.
"Disciple… don't come any closer! Run!"
Severely injured, Chen Xiaoming's eyes went wide in panic. With a flash of light, he leapt in front of her. The Soul Clan elder swung his axe once more.
A blood-red arc streaked across the sky, aiming straight for Chen Xiaoming.
Chen Xiaoming stood his ground, battered body trembling, shielding Xiao Xun'er without hesitation.
"Pfft!"
The silver radiance shattered as the axe strike landed. Chen Xiaoming took the blow head-on. Blood sprayed from his mouth. A massive gash split his abdomen, barely missing a clean cut through his waist.
The terrifying force sent him flying backward, breaking through the void. He flew nearly a kilometer before finally neutralizing the impact.
He turned slightly, catching sight of Xiao Xun'er's tear-streaked face.
Chen Xiaoming forced a weak smile.
And in a hoarse, broken voice, he said—
"Disciple… go… now…"
"Hahaha! None of you are leaving today."
The Soul Clan elder burst into laughter, standing triumphantly at Chen Xiaoming's side. His massive battle-axe was drawn back, the violent aura within his body slowly settling—as though victory was already in his grasp.
"Today, all of you must—"
He never finished his sentence.
A glint of icy light suddenly expanded before his eyes. A deathly chill surged into his soul with suffocating intensity. He had the will to dodge, but not the time.
Shluk—
The shard of cold light pierced straight through his skull. An overwhelming burst of spatial power erupted from within, instantly extinguishing the elder's vitality and soul. His face remained frozen in a smug expression—an echo of arrogance in his final moment.
Just before death claimed him, he caught a final, shattering glimpse: the supposedly mortally wounded Chen Xiaoming stood tall and unscathed, his aura returned to its peak.
The elder only managed to mutter a few syllables before collapsing, eyes wide with disbelief and hatred. He died with his grievance unresolved, his ambitions turned to ash.
"…Damn…cheater…"
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