One Attack, Overwhelming
One Attack, Overwhelming
Qin Wentian's body ascended, fixating his gaze on the two remaining dark red fruits at the topmost branch.
Not long ago, he had witnessed an unfortunate expert plunge to his death while attempting to pluck these fruits. There were no apparent external injuries, but it was evident that these two fruits were the most challenging to acquire.
As he approached them, Qin Wentian felt his heart racing, every cell in his body throbbing as if it might burst. He halted, taking a deep breath and gazing up at the dark red fruits.
On the same branch, Jian Jingtian and Shang Qi landed on either side of him. Several other experts below stared coldly at him.
With four fruits in his possession, Qin Wentian was now seen as a treasure trove, surpassing the value of the two dark red fruits at the uppermost level. To others, it seemed easier to plunder the fruits directly from him.
"You won't be able to keep those Constellation Fruits. Do you want the fruits or your life?" Shang Qi brandished the Frenzied Demon Halberd, his bloodline power surging. The halberd gleamed with sharpness, and his whole body radiated a blood-colored light, presenting a fearsome sight.
"Give us the fruits, and we'll ensure your safe exit," Jian Jingtian offered, positioned on the other side.
Below on the branch, Xie Yu and Jin Yan joined them, their killing intent palpable as the four of them encircled Qin Wentian, trapping him.
"Madman," Ji Xue muttered, concerned for Qin Wentian. He was standing alone against so many experts, recklessly pursuing the Constellation Fruits. Earlier, he had nearly been struck by Shang Qi's halberd, and now he was surrounded by four formidable opponents. Didn't he value his life?
"If you want these Constellation Fruits, come and get them," Qin Wentian declared, stepping forward. His body pulsed with an overwhelming energy, as if every cell within him was on the verge of eruption.
Shang Qi stepped forward but unleashed a palm attack at Qin Wentian. A massive blood-colored palm reached for him, its glow causing Qin Wentian's blood to surge, nearly bursting from his veins.
With a snort, Qin Wentian let drops of his blood sink into his palms. He then unleashed a bloodcurse imprint, colliding with Shang Qi's blood-colored palm, creating a deafening explosion as a torrent of bloodthirsty energy filled the air.
In that very moment, Jian Jingtian and the two below him sprang into action, all converging on Qin Wentian. The pressure on him felt overwhelming, like a lone lamb surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves, with danger lurking at every corner.
"If you want those fruits so badly, come and claim them," Qin Wentian taunted, continuing his ascent toward the dark red fruits. The pulsing energy grew more intense, and the rhythm of his heartbeat echoed loudly for all to hear.
"No matter what, you won't leave here alive today," Shang Qi declared with icy determination as he soared upwards, closely followed by Jian Jingtian, who was protected by sword-like halos.
Beneath them, others refused to remain passive, attempting to challenge the pressure field generated by the last two Mandate Fruits. Within moments, over ten fifth-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns joined the fray, flying toward the Mandate Fruits—or rather, toward Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian, a single man, had ignited a frenzy among the experts gathered at the Celestial Constellation Tree.
Qin Wentian's heart continued to thump rapidly. He closed his eyes, immersing himself in the pulsating energy as if he were trying to adapt to it. Even the power of his bloodline surged, resembling the ebb and flow of ocean tides.
Raising his foot, Qin Wentian advanced once more. The crowd's hearts raced, and before they could react, he was just two steps away from his goal.
Did he dare to reach for these two elusive fruits, the most difficult to acquire?
Shang Qi, Jian Jingtian, and the other geniuses stared at Qin Wentian in amazement, marveling at his audacity. Even among the most exceptional individuals, none would dare to entertain the idea of seizing more than half of the Mandate Fruits for themselves in front of such formidable characters.
Ji Xue and Xu Feng, who were also in the crowd, found the situation absurd. They couldn't help but shake their heads at the young man in white who stood closest to the dark red fruits. He was clearly a madman— even if someone as formidable as Shang Qi had such aspirations, they wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of the collective opposition.
Yet, this young man seemed utterly fearless, as if he had no concept of fear.
Qin Wentian faced an unparalleled sense of pressure at that moment. However, it wasn't solely due to the threat from the others but rather the pressure generated by the Mandate Fruits themselves. These fruits were genuinely deadly; his heart was pounding at an alarming rate.
Taking deep breaths, Qin Wentian steadied his heartbeat, synchronizing it with the pulsating force. He took another step upwards. He wasn't alone in this; the other geniuses behind him matched his rhythm and continued their relentless ascent, launching attacks without faltering.
"Pu!" A mouthful of blood sprayed from Qin Wentian's lips, but he remained resolute, his eyes fixed on the elusive fruits ahead.
"What kind of Mandate is this?" Qin Wentian pondered, his senses overwhelmed by this unique power.
"One step left," Shang Yue muttered, her gaze fixed on the white-robed youth on the branch. She couldn't help but marvel at his audacity.
Qin Wentian struggled to regain his composure, focusing on steadying his breathing and balance. Meanwhile, below him, Xie Yue held nine bows, seven of which were aimed directly at Qin Wentian, while the other two targeted Shang Qi and Jian Jingtian.
In this critical moment, any external disruption could lead to Qin Wentian's heart giving out. If he perished, his interspatial ring would undoubtedly be seized.
"Be careful!" Ji Xue shouted, her eyes locked on the scene above. Qin Wentian's keen perception had already alerted him to the intense killing intent looming behind him. Shang Qi and Jian Jingtian were equally aware, and they readied themselves for a final attack in this tense standoff.
Their thoughts were aligned with Xie Yu's plan: if Qin Wentian died, his interspatial ring must fall into their hands.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the air as other experts closed in on Qin Wentian. Despite the mounting pressure, they all sought to seize a chance at his interspatial ring.
Qin Wentian remained motionless. To the onlookers, he seemed completely tense, immobilized by the pulsing pressure and the relentless pounding of his heart. Xie Yu's sinister plot had become apparent; he had strategically positioned himself the farthest from the Constellation Fruits and readied his arrows for the crucial moment.
"That white-robed youth is courting death, daring to approach the Constellation Fruits so closely. The closer one gets to the pressure field, the weaker their resistance becomes," muttered some of the weaker experts below, believing that Qin Wentian's efforts would ultimately benefit others.
There was little doubt in their minds that Qin Wentian would meet his demise. With Xie Yu's arrows aimed at him, he had no means of defense, only awaiting his inevitable fate.
However, at that very moment, Qin Wentian's hands moved, thrusting downward with immense force.
"BOOM, BOOM!"
The echoing chimes now sounded like the tolling of death bells. Ancient bells materialized in the air—this was none other than the Heartbreak Echo.
In an instant, Shang Qi and the other geniuses turned pale. They had been the closest to the Space Mandate Fruits, and their heartbeats were already teetering on the brink of control due to the overwhelming pressure. Yet, with Qin Wentian's innate technique unleashed, it seemed he aimed to rupture their hearts as well!
"Pu..." Shang Qi felt his heart nearing its breaking point, coughing up blood as he rapidly retreated, channeling all his strength to shield his heart from bursting.
"Pu, pu, pu!" It wasn't just Shang Qi; everyone, including the experts below, was coughing up blood. The resonating ancient bells somehow harnessed power from the pressure field, striking directly at their hearts. Weaker individuals were instantly felled, their life force extinguished. As they fell from the sky, they inadvertently obstructed Xie Yu's arrows. Unless Xie Yu possessed the skill of Fan Le to control arrow trajectories, he had no way to target Qin Wentian amidst the falling bodies.
However, Xie Yu appeared incapacitated as well. His complexion had paled, and he, too, was coughing up blood.
Qin Wentian's single attack left those who had anticipated his downfall dumbfounded, gazing in astonishment at the unfolding scene.
Whether they were geniuses or chosen ones, none were spared by that attack. Even demon-level figures like Jian Jingtian and Shang Qi couldn't evade it. The attack forced everyone to descend back to the ground, too afraid to return to the skies. It was as if they were here solely to witness the spectacular moment of the white-robed young man's triumph.
He hadn't shied away from the specter of death; he had persisted until the very last step. And in that critical instant, with a single maneuver, he annihilated all his adversaries.
He was just one man, facing off against all the geniuses from major factions. But what did it matter?
He had already seized more than half of the Constellation Fruits in existence. Was there anything left he wouldn't dare to do?
Shang Yue's exquisite eyes froze as she watched, a profound sense of awe gripping her heart. She couldn't believe what she was witnessing; it all felt like an unbelievable dream. Shock was the only emotion etched across her face.
Ji Xue and Xu Feng, too, were left incredulous, their hearts racing as they observed the young man in white.
"This..." Ji Xue stammered. He had dared to execute this daring move because he had a well-planned strategy from the beginning. He patiently waited for everyone to ascend and approach the Constellation Fruits before unleashing his decisive strike.
At this moment, no one could pose a threat to him.
The young man in white didn't even spare a glance for the others. From the very instant he sensed the pressure field generated by the Space Mandate Fruits, he knew that his Heartbreak Echo could be magnified by it, sweeping aside all opposition with unmatched dominance.
With unwavering determination, the young man in white ascended the final step, securing the two dark-red fruits within his interspatial ring. The pressure field dissipated instantly, but the astounding spectacle that had unfolded lingered vividly in everyone's memories. Even years later, when the young man in white had ascended to legendary status, Shang Yue would still vividly remember this very moment—the image of him standing proudly and dominantly in the air.