Within the Clear Sky Clan's seating area—
Under Tang Lie's raging Spirit Abilities, Li Zhexian only grew fiercer the longer he fought.
The Third Elder, Tang Cang, clenched his fists within his sleeves so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"This boy… how can he be this strong?"
Fourth Elder Tang Yuan's tone dripped with killing intent, his composure nearly breaking.
"Let's hope the Second and Fifth Elders reach the city before Chen Xin and the others!"
"Only when Li Zhexian dies will I finally rest easy!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance—
within their eyes flickered both murderous intent and reluctant admiration.
Though they were sworn enemies who would never rest until one side perished, even they had to admit—
Li Zhexian's unwavering will and boundless battle spirit were beyond extraordinary.
Even they…
Felt a moment of genuine admiration.
...
"Li Zhexian…"
Upon her throne, Bibi Dong sat tall and majestic,
the twelve jade ornaments of her crown casting soft shadows that concealed her exquisite features, leaving only the faint curve of her perfect chin visible.
To others, it appeared that Her Holiness the Pope was pleased by the spectacle of power within the secret realm.
But only she herself knew—
What surged within her heart was a tide of murderous rage.
Admiration?
Perhaps, just a trace.
But far more than that—she wanted Li Zhexian dead.
"Once I have you captured,"
"I'll force the truth of your Spirit Rings from you…"
"And afterward—make you beg for death, yet never be allowed to die!"
...
"Zhexian…"
Qian Renxue gazed at the blood-soaked youth in white who still met every blow with his sword. Her eyes trembled, her flawless face filled with pain.
"This boy…" The several worship elders of Spirit Hall sighed in unison.
Now, they finally understood—
Why Li Zhexian, at such a young age, had reached such terrifying heights.
Innate talent was only a fraction of it.
It was this near-mad obsession with becoming stronger—
That was the true root of his rise.
...
Tang Lie's Spirit Abilities were shattered one by one under Li Zhexian's assault.
His breath came ragged, dark hair clinging to his blood-red face.
At that moment—
Every vein in his body felt filled with fire, Spirit Power dammed and unable to flow.
He needed… a battle that would let it all loose!
Clang——!
A sword cry rang out, like a dragon roaring to the heavens.
For hundreds of meters around, sword energy filled the air, crisscrossing like a purgatory of blades.
"Fifth Spirit Ability—Yazi Sword Rift!"
As his voice fell—
Li Zhexian vanished into his own sword qi.
His body became one with countless streaks of sword qi, flickering around Tang Lie from every direction.
Seven Qinglian Swords spiraled around him, each unleashing razor-sharp, unpredictable waves of sword qi, pouring down like a storm of steel and light, brimming with killing intent.
Tang Lie swung his Clear Sky Hammer in a storm of blows, the hammer wind forming an impenetrable barrier—solid as a mountain.
"Come from eight directions if you wish—one hammer will break them all!"
At that instant—
Li Zhexian appeared high above, sword raised, slashing down with killing intent that filled the skies!
Tang Lie crossed his hammers to block—
CLANG——!
The clash of metal echoed like thunder, sparks flying as Spirit Power erupted in waves.
That sword was like striking a mountain—it didn't budge an inch.
—but then Li Zhexian exhaled sharply, his breath blazing hot like flame!
The long-suppressed fire attribute energy within him exploded, flooding his meridians!
His Spirit Power surged like a river bursting through its dam, shaking heaven and earth!
Two crisp cracks resounded from within his body—
The shackles of Level 65 shattered!
Level 66!
Level 67!
He broke through two levels in an instant, his aura soaring sky-high!
Sword light turned crimson like blood, crashing down like a falling star!
Tang Lie's face twisted in shock. A surge of unstoppable force crashed from above; the scattered sword qi ripped into his hands, cutting flesh and bone alike!
"Get—DOWN!" Li Zhexian roared, driving his sword with unstoppable might!
The Clear Sky Hammer screamed in protest, its handle bending under the strain before slamming back into Tang Lie's chest—
BOOM——!
Tang Lie was hurled into the ground, the earth shattering and stones flying.
Li Zhexian stood suspended in midair, lotus-like sword qi blooming beneath his feet, supporting his body.
He looked down upon the swirling dust below—
no joy on his face, only a faint furrow in his brow.
The energy of this realm was growing restless.
The next instant—
His pupils constricted sharply.
Within the dust—
The dark purple ground suddenly dried and cracked, turning to desolation as if scorched for a thousand years.
From beneath the earth, a blazing sun surged upward, its light devouring the haze.
Nine Spirit Rings flared around Tang Lie!
The outermost black ring alone spanned a thousand meters—
Its radiance blinding, impossible to look upon.
A hoarse voice echoed across the world:
"Ninth Spirit Ability—Nine Suns Cataclysm: Clear Sky Strike!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
That blazing sun collapsed inward, condensing into a searing pillar of divine light that tore the heavens as it rushed toward Li Zhexian!
Only when it neared could one see clearly—
It was a colossal hammer wreathed in heavenly flame.
This strike carried not only the fury of fire—
But the unrelenting might of the Clear Sky Hammer itself.
Even if flame could not harm Li Zhexian—
Its crushing force was enough to shatter the earth itself.
"Killing God Domain!"
"Sword Wine Boils!"
"Second Spirit Ability—Threefold Sword Glory!"
All three amplification abilities surged, converging into one final strike.
Behind Li Zhexian—
The phantom of a feral beast roared.
Seven sword intents coiled around him; the Qinglian Sword in his hand burned crimson like molten iron, twelve lotus petals swaying along its blade.
"Qinglian Sword Song…"
"Star Light, Blazing Frost, Formless Wind, Thunder Ash…"
"Seven Swords as One!"
Seven radiant sword lights soared skyward, weaving visions of falling stars, mingled frost and flame, raging storms and thunder—
All gathered into a single force that could cleave through all creation!
They met the descending Clear Sky Hammer head-on!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions shook the heavens, earth fracturing, sky changing color.
Waves of energy roared like an angry sea, clouds shredded apart.
Within a kilometer radius, everything was swept away into nothingness.
The cataclysm was so immense that even the powerhouses racing toward the scene paled in shock, hastening their speed once more.
…
Outside the secret realm—
"Wh–who won…?"
Someone's trembling voice broke the silence.
And then—
From within that blinding light—
The chaotic energy finally began to fade, the scene growing clear…
A young man in torn white robes stood trembling, pale-faced, barely upright—
Yet the Qinglian Sword still gleamed cold and unwavering in his grasp.
"Cough… cough…"
Tang Lie too was faltering, his breath unsteady, his figure swaying.
"Li Zhexian…"
"I admit—you are strong."
"But at most, this was a draw."
"Neither of us can defeat the other."
But the moment those words left his mouth—
Rooooar——!
A feral roar tore through the heavens,
a sound like some ancient beast awakening.
Before the stunned eyes of countless onlookers—
a monstrous creature, its body wreathed in bloodlight,
stepped forth from behind Li Zhexian—
clenching a sword between its fangs.
Before facing a powerful foe,
Li Zhexian would always invoke "Yazi's Retribution"
He had done so even when battling Tuoba Xi—
but Tuoba Xi had been too weak,
unable even to wound him.
Thus, Yazi's Retribution had never truly been unleashed.
"Yazi's Retribution" —
When the sword strikes its target,
all previous damage dealt to the user by that target
is instantly returned, ignoring all defenses.
Out of the corner of Li Zhexian's eye,
he saw silhouettes racing toward him from all directions.
He smiled faintly, blood staining his lips.
"Old man… you've lost."
"Yazi's Retribution."
"You impudent brat, how dare you!!!" (x2)
Two furious roars rang out in unison—
As the sword-bearing beast lunged toward the aghast Tang Lie with overwhelming ferocity…