Three God-King-level beings advanced, their aura terrifying.
"I'll leave the rest to you," Ning Fengzhi said. If it were only the God of Destruction, his plan had a hundred percent chance. The Golden Dragon King's sudden appearance ruined that, cutting odds below fifty percent.
No matter. Against three God Kings, having nearly a fifty-percent chance was remarkable.
"Don't worry, Father," Ning Rongrong said, Sea God Trident in hand at the front, with Ma Hongjun and the God of Lust at her sides.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin couldn't help a pang of worry and guilt. As father and grandfather, they were letting their child stand in front to face overwhelming foes. But the greater cause mattered most. For victory, there was no other way.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze firmed. His nine spirit rings spun around him and fused.
The three God Kings didn't wait; they moved as he prepared.
"Golden Dragon Shock Burst."
"Annihilating Divine Thunder."
"Fallen Angel's Radiance!"
A golden shockwave, a bolt of purple-black lightning, and a beam of pitch-black light lanced toward Seven Treasure Mountain.
If they hit, not only the mountain—everything within thousands of miles would be razed, life extinguished.
"Fire God Spear Technique—Divine Blaze Wildfire, Nothing Unburned."
"Original Sin—Dance of Lustful Heavenly Demon."
"Golden Thirteen Halberds—Man and Halberd as One, Stars Shift."
The three first-rank gods knew well the power gap. To block those moves, they could only fight with their lives and unleash their strongest techniques.
Ma Hongjun faced the Golden Dragon King. In the Douluo world, phoenixes never surpassed dragons. At first clash, the gap was colossal; the Divine Artifact Fire God Spear couldn't even compete with the Golden Dragon King's flesh.
"Hmph. A phoenix? Trash," the Golden Dragon King snorted, increasing power. The spear's tip cracked.
The God of Lust faced her former master, the God of Destruction. Since reuniting, neither had spoken. The God of Lust had no idea what to say; the God of Destruction didn't moralize her into sacrificing herself. He knew she wasn't his match. Better to kill her himself than let the Evil Sword Immortal devour her. The Evil Sword Immortal only wanted the god position's power; the God of Lust's death would return it to the core, awaiting a new inheritor.
"Forgive me, God of Lust. This is all I can do for you," he sighed, his thunder swelling.
"Ugh!"
With twin cries, two figures were hurled back. Even staking everything, Ma Hongjun and the God of Lust were no match for the Golden Dragon King and the God of Destruction. Both were heavily injured, unable to continue. But their all-out strikes did block the Golden Dragon Shock Burst and Annihilating Divine Thunder—not a pointless sacrifice.
Only Ning Rongrong, wielding a super-artifact, fought Qian Xunji to a draw with the last form of the Golden Thirteen Halberds.
"Not bad. You blocked our attacks even without your lives," the Golden Dragon King said approvingly. It seldom recognized humans; their resolve was worthy—worthy to die by its hand.
"By comparison, we have a useless one," the God of Destruction glanced at Qian Xunji. "A God King who can't handle a newly minted first-rank goddess."
"Laughable indeed. If the first Fallen Angel God, Lucifer, knew his successor became such a useless waste, he'd jump out of his coffin," the Golden Dragon King jeered.
Qian Xunji's face darkened. As the most exalted Pope of the continent in his day, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? But he couldn't fight the two who mocked him.
He could only vent on Ning Rongrong, gathering divine power to strike again—this time to kill the girl.
Ning Rongrong raised her trident, refusing to back down even alone.
"Rongrong, fall back. The rest is on us three," Chen Xin called.
Ning Rongrong looked back at the three stalwart figures—her guardians since childhood: Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin. Even as a goddess now, standing behind them, she still felt utterly safe.
The three shielded her. Ning Fengzhi smiled. "All preparations are complete. Three versus three—fair enough."
Fair? The three enemies were baffled. They were three God Kings; their opponents were two Titled Douluo and a first-rank goddess. How was this fair?
Qian Xunji burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Ning Fengzhi, you're ignorant. To deal with you three, I alone am enough."
"Is that so? Come try," Chen Xin said, not even sparing him a glance, sword aura suppressed, fearless before three God Kings.
His disdain enraged Qian Xunji. This resurrected version held only negative emotions—another fatal flaw. At least the original could remain rational in battle to fully wield his strength.
Now, goaded by a few words, he lost control, turning into a streak of black light toward Chen Xin.
"Idiot, get back!" the Golden Dragon King roared. "Can't you read the situation? That man feels no less dangerous than the Evil Sword Immortal."
Too late. Qian Xunji had already charged. In the next instant, Chen Xin's gaze sharpened. Before Qian Xunji could react, four of his eight wings were severed, and a sword mark split his abdomen. He staggered back—had God-King-level power not protected him, he'd be dead.
"He hasn't even drawn his sword. Mere stray sword aura dealt such a grievous wound. What offense power—far beyond a God King's. How is this possible? How did he do it?" the God of Destruction was aghast. A Sword God's offense was known to be strong—but not like this. If the Sword God were this powerful, the God Committee seats would have changed ages ago.
"I saw it—just now. That man fused all his spirit rings, then detonated them—raising himself to god level in one breath—and used the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to buff Chen Xin," the Golden Dragon King said. As a beast, his senses were sharper; he alone had caught it.