Armament Haki — Hardening!
Refine. Temper. Refine. Temper…
Over and over again, more than a dozen cycles.
All the treasures Zhao Xuan had obtained inside the relic were absorbed directly into his body.
Seeing this, the four Ninth-Rank Emperors fighting nearby were all stunned.
"What?! Has he gone insane? He's actually cultivating under the assault of thousands of black flame clones?!"
"I think he's given up on living. He just wants to leave an impression before he dies. How ridiculous."
"Even I, with my Bear Bombs, wouldn't dare be this reckless. What an idiot."
The three spectators voiced their opinions one after another.
Not a single one of them believed Zhao Xuan would survive.
As for Addison—
He felt that the three beside him had brains worse than pigs. He didn't even want to be associated with them.
"With the intelligence of you three, what could you possibly understand?"
"From what I know of that kid, he never does anything he isn't confident about. That was true before. It's still true now."
"Just watch. He's about to show you something shocking."
Addison ranked third in strength on the island.
But as the saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands.
One-on-one, he could handle any of them. But the three always teamed up.
Prolonging this stalemate was exhausting.
So he deliberately diverted their attention toward Zhao Xuan.
And they fell for it.
"Let's see what kind of miracle he can pull off."
Time passed.
The attacks from three thousand black flame clones never stopped for even a minute.
Gradually, Zhao Xuan's Armament Haki began to fade. It seemed unable to protect his body much longer.
Seeing this, sweat appeared in Addison's palms.
"Is he reaching his limit? I might have to step in soon…"
Suddenly—
Zhao Xuan, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes.
Red light flashed in his pupils.
A crimson aura surged outward.
It was a fusion of Observation Haki and Conqueror's Haki.
"I found you!"
Lightning Sword — Emperor Slash!
He locked onto a direction: northwest, sixty degrees.
Lightning cut across the sky.
Dozens of black flame clones were sliced in half.
The strike landed on a figure that was slightly more solid than the others.
That clone was blasted back over a hundred meters.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed from afar.
All black flame clones vanished.
"This is impossible! My black flame clones have no flaws! How did you find me?!"
Shivelle was in disbelief.
"So this really was possible…"
The three spectators were stunned.
Addison finally relaxed.
If Zhao Xuan hadn't found the real body in time, he would have forcefully intervened.
Even if it meant turning against the world.
"For any technique in this world, no matter how perfect it looks, there will always be a flaw."
"Your black flame clones can deceive the eyes, but they cannot deceive the heart."
"As long as one feels carefully, three thousand clones are nothing but a flashy trick."
"Miss Shivelle, it seems your plan to torture me will have to be postponed."
The provocation in Zhao Xuan's voice was unmistakable.
Shivelle, already furious, completely lost the last bit of rationality she had.
"Good. You've broken through all my limits."
"Even if it costs my life, I will destroy you here!"
Great Ancient Soul, grant me the power of the Ancient God Race!
Black flames rose from her body.
Her clothes burned away.
The flames gathered behind her—
And a massive shadow appeared.
The true form of the Ancient Soul manifested.
"She's gone mad! She's using a life-burning technique!"
Addison panicked.
"My son cannot be harmed!"
He decided to stand fully on Zhao Xuan's side.
But the other three would not let him.
"Old Addison, you traitor! Try my Bear Bomb!"
Boom!
The explosion blocked his path.
Meanwhile—
A fireball connected to heaven and earth had formed.
The surrounding space seemed ready to burn apart.
Facing this overwhelming attack—
Zhao Xuan did not move.
"There's no way to dodge this."
A Ninth-Rank Emperor.
Ancient Soul.
Burning her life force.
How could he possibly win?
Everything seemed to be heading toward an inevitable end.
Then—
"Shivelle, stop."
"This man cannot die yet. He is extremely important to us."
A deep voice echoed from the distant sky.
With Observation Haki active, Zhao Xuan sensed two powerful presences rushing past him.
When he opened his eyes again—
Two white-robed figures, identical in appearance, were holding up the black fireball with their hands.
"Devour."
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