Death-Dealing Strike

Death-Dealing Strike

The calamity lightning blades descended, carrying a tumultuous and desolate aura with them. Qin Wentian tilted his head back, releasing an anguished roar. His sword qi pierced through the heavens, summoning his King Sword astral nova into existence. It created a protective shield formed from the swirling sword qi, countering the destructive energy cascading towards him.

Ye Kongfan sneered coldly, launching his palm towards Qin Wentian. Simultaneously, behind him, his two astral novas merged, giving birth to an enormous lightning god palm that surged forward. The very air quivered, and the earth trembled beneath the weight of their power. Qin Wentian found himself shrouded in lightning, with the colossal lightning palm clamping down upon him, as though seizing the very sky itself.

Ye Kongfan's eyes glittered with icy amusement as he watched Qin Wentian, fully confident in the imminent death of his adversary.

The spectators below were left dumbfounded as they witnessed the colossal lightning palm imprint. It was clear that even if Qin Wentian somehow escaped death, he would undoubtedly be severely injured.

Li Hanyou's eyes brimmed with disdain. In her eyes, Qin Wentian was nothing but a worthless piece of trash, sullying the reputation of the Battle Sword Sect with his feeble strength. How audacious he had been to decline her master's invitation with such limited power! He was nothing more than an arrogant fool who couldn't discern his own limitations.

"ROAR!" A deafening roar of rage reverberated through the area. Almost simultaneously, Ye Kongfan's palm trembled violently. In that instant, the lightning web shattered, unleashing torrents of destructive energy that tore through everything.

A demonic figure suddenly materialized before the onlookers – Qin Wentian's Demon Sovereign astral nova. With a furious bellow, it shielded Qin Wentian with its colossal form, absorbing the full force of the devastating lightning energy. The demon sovereign's defense was beyond question; the lightning's destructive force had no hope of breaking through.

Qin Wentian locked eyes with Ye Kongfan, who now wore a frozen smile. He reached out with his hand, and the Demon Sovereign astral nova mimicked his gesture, extending its colossal hands to grasp at Ye Kongfan. This attack bore an uncanny resemblance to Ye Kongfan's previous innate technique.

"How is this possible?" Ye Kongfan's expression turned sharp. Before he could react, the entire space quaked violently, as if an overpowering force had seized hold of it. This technique bore a striking resemblance to his own. Could Qin Wentian have instantly mastered it right after witnessing it? That seemed impossible, didn't it?

The only difference lay in the energy – Qin Wentian used demonic energy instead of lightning.

"BOOM!" Qin Wentian's palm clenched suddenly, sending shockwaves rippling through the area. An immense, pulsating energy surged outward, crashing into Ye Kongfan. Ye Kongfan bellowed in fury as an almost boundless storm of lightning erupted from his body, countering Qin Wentian's pulsating energy. His long hair danced in the wind, and his eyes turned violet as he harnessed the power of lightning.

"Second level Lightning Mandate, Perfection Boundary," the spectators whispered in awe. Ye Kongfan, with his peak seventh-level Heavenly Dipper cultivation, possessed astonishing mastery over lightning, a testament to his heavenly lightning physique and bloodline.

Even his wind-blown hair had taken on a shade of violet. At this moment, Ye Kongfan was undergoing a transformation, becoming even more ferocious. He fixed his intense gaze on Qin Wentian while the power of the wind swept around his form. With his attributes, his offensive capabilities were unparalleled, and he knew that neglecting his speed would be a grave mistake. Thus, he had diligently cultivated the Mandate of Wind. His first level of insight in Wind was Windspeed, while the second level was Wind Laceration. This complemented his style perfectly, not only increasing his movement speed but also sharpening his already formidable attacks.

For Ye Kongfan, this combination of overwhelming attacks and swiftness meant that no opponent could hope to outrun or outmaneuver him. His approach was a flawless synergy of unparalleled offense and exceptional speed. While some cultivators might opt for a more balanced approach with their third Mandate, often leaning towards defense, Ye Kongfan had taken a different path. He pursued the pinnacle of attack, aiming to become an unstoppable force.

"You're practicing some kind of imitation art, aren't you?" Ye Kongfan inquired, his voice laced with a hint of disdain. He continued, "But do you truly believe it will make a difference? No matter how many tricks you have, they are all futile against sheer strength."

With a bright flash, a purple lance materialized in the air, radiating overwhelming destructive power at its tip. This was one of Ye Kongfan's astral novas.

Spectators watched in awe as a lightning giant appeared behind Ye Kongfan, its body infused with the radiance of calamity lightning. It held the purple lance in its hand, while a pair of wind-formed wings sprouted from its back. All four of Ye Kongfan's astral novas combined into a formidable lightning deity that loomed menacingly behind him. The sheer power on display was enough to intimidate even seventh-level Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns.

"Let me demonstrate the perfect fusion of astral novas. Even in death, you should consider yourself honored," Ye Kongfan declared coldly. The onlookers felt their hearts race as they witnessed the terrifying might of the lightning avatar formed when all four of Ye Kongfan's astral novas merged.

"You talk too much nonsense," Qin Wentian retorted in a low voice. In response, all of his astral novas manifested. The Demon Sovereign astral nova, wielding the Heavenly Hammer astral nova, bellowed in fury, causing the entire space to tremble. This was the fusion of boundless power, a union of the Demon Sovereign and the Heavenly Hammer, blending the essence of demon and strength. The destructive force it generated was awe-inspiring.

His Great Dream Astral Soul took on a humanoid form, brandishing an ancient halberd as it stood to Qin Wentian's left. On his right, the Demon Sovereign with the Heavenly Hammer stood guard. The King Sword floated ahead, completing a triangular formation of attack-based astral novas with Qin Wentian at its center.

"I'm at the seventh level of Heavenly Dipper. How can your astral novas possibly compare?" Ye Kongfan proclaimed with confidence. In an instant, his lightning avatar shot through the air, its destructive purple lance aimed directly at Qin Wentian. The descending calamity lightning energy seemed capable of obliterating the entire world. Spectators observed a beam of violet light hurtling toward Qin Wentian.

"ROARRRRRRRRR~!" The Demon Sovereign tilted its head back and unleashed a furious roar. Wielding the Heavenly Hammer, it soared into the sky and swung with relentless force, unleashing boundless might. Stellar martial cultivators possessed full control over their astral novas, allowing them to execute the same innate techniques as their masters. As the hammer descended, its power was so immense that it felt like the world itself might shatter. The indomitable strike collided head-on with Ye Kongfan's approaching purple lance.

The violent shockwaves of destruction from their collision wreaked havoc on the heavens and earth, creating a maelstrom of power that temporarily forced back the Demon Sovereign astral nova. Formless energy rippled outward, creating a chaotic battleground. Amid this turmoil, the King Sword sliced through the air, and the Great Dream Humanoid wielded its ancient halberd. Qin Wentian's astral novas closed in on the lightning avatar, initiating a colossal showdown of epic proportions. In this fierce clash, neither side showed mercy, and the battle raged on with no clear advantage.

"Your astral novas are disappointingly feeble. If I were at your cultivation level, one strike would suffice to shatter them all," Qin Wentian taunted Ye Kongfan as he controlled his astral novas. Ye Kongfan's expression stiffened; he was the one who had boasted earlier. Despite his two-level advantage over Qin Wentian, he found himself unable to suppress him in actual combat.

Qin Wentian's four astral novas appeared unique compared to others. Each emanated a distinct energy, imbuing them with unmatched solidity. It was as though the Yuanfu nurturing them possessed a superior energy compared to standard astral energy.

"It appears that Wentian's astral souls have outclassed Ye Kongfan's," the Human Emperor remarked with a chuckle. Although the Qi King was reluctant to admit it, he couldn't deny the truth. Qin Wentian's astral novas, despite his two-level disadvantage, were holding their own against Ye Kongfan.

"Hanyou, it seems this individual is even more formidable than you described," commented Li Hanyou's second grandpa, eliciting a displeased look from Li Hanyou. She had trouble accepting that she might be inferior to someone of her generation. While she might acknowledge her potential defeat against a seventh-level Heavenly Dipper cultivator, Qin Wentian was her equal in cultivation level. How could she concede her inferiority to a peer?

The destructive qi currents still lingered in the air as the intense battle between their astral novas raged on. Qin Wentian and Ye Kongfan remained motionless, their gazes locked in a deadly stare-down, and their killing intent escalating with each passing moment.

"Qin Wentian, I'll concede that your strength is decent, but by challenging me, you're essentially seeking death. You'll undoubtedly die here today. Previously, I was toying with you," Ye Kongfan declared coldly, a contemptuous gleam in his eyes. However, his words contradicted the reality of their battle. He had initially believed that his power was sufficient to kill Qin Wentian, but that notion had been shattered.

Regardless, Qin Wentian would meet his end here today; there was no escaping this calamity.

"If your combat skills matched your talent for trash talking, you'd be unrivaled in the entire Violet Thunder Sect," Qin Wentian retorted with sarcasm. Ye Kongfan's overconfidence, despite the lack of an advantage, was baffling. If that were the case, why was Qin Wentian still standing?

"That was your final chance. Next, you'll meet your demise under the might of my lightning and thunder," Ye Kongfan declared, his bloodline power surging with even greater intensity. Lightning crackled menacingly around him, and within that brilliant display of lightning, he extended his hand to forge a lance from pure lightning energy.

With a calamity lightning bloodline and a heavenly lightning physique, this was his most formidable technique—a weapon created from the purest lightning.

"Prepare to meet your end," Ye Kongfan warned as his body vanished like a gust of wind. In an instant, he traversed the battleground where their astral novas clashed and appeared above Qin Wentian in mid-air. Qin Wentian raised his head, only to witness a bolt of lightning streaking toward him. It was the lightning lance created by Ye Kongfan, a weapon carrying the power of primordial lightning that birthed life—a force potent enough to obliterate all living beings in its path.

Under the mesmerized gazes of the spectators, there was no doubt that this lance possessed the power to bring Qin Wentian's life to an end.

With a resounding "BOOM," an explosion of astral light illuminated the surroundings as Qin Wentian executed the Stellar Transposition technique. He expertly evaded the lightning strike, leaving behind afterimages that deceived the eyes. Ye Kongfan transformed into a violet streak, racing through the air like a bolt of lightning, occupying the spot where Qin Wentian had just been. A visible field of crackling electricity surrounded him, a testament to his immense power. He turned his gaze back to Qin Wentian and taunted, "Let's see how many of my attacks you can evade."

As his voice faded, Ye Kongfan transformed into violet light once more, and another burst of astral radiance flooded the area. Qin Wentian blurred into a series of indistinct images as he activated Stellar Transposition once again. Despite Ye Kongfan's mastery of the Mandate of Wind, his speed fell slightly short of the instantaneous burst of movement provided by Stellar Transposition. Yet, he remained undeterred, believing that Qin Wentian's evasion technique would eventually drain his energy, leading to his demise.

"Ye Kongfan," Qin Wentian's voice suddenly rang out, causing Ye Kongfan to fix his gaze on his opponent. Murderous intent flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes.

"Your day of reckoning has arrived," Qin Wentian calmly declared. Despite Ye Kongfan surpassing his expectations in terms of strength, he was determined that Ye Kongfan would meet his end today.

Qin Wentian's bloodline surged, and a crimson light radiated from his body, coalescing into a blood-red halberd pulsating with indomitable demonic energy.

"Bzz!" Qin Wentian's form transformed into afterimages once more, his speed surging as he incorporated the principles of Stellar Transposition into his halberd attack. With a roar resembling that of demonic beasts, he unleashed a mighty wave of dream-will that surged into Ye Kongfan's consciousness. Ye Kongfan's facial features twitched, and he raised his destructive long lance to retaliate.

"BOOM!" Their attacks collided, generating destructive shockwaves that tore through the surroundings. Miraculously, neither of them sustained injuries. After executing that strike, Qin Wentian immediately employed Stellar Transposition, reappearing behind Ye Kongfan and delivering another strike.

One halberd attack followed another in rapid succession, as if they were limitless. The ground bore the scars of their fierce battle, with deep fissures marring its surface. In this precarious situation, Ye Kongfan dared not let his guard down. He adopted a purely defensive stance, well aware that Qin Wentian's energy consumption was tremendous and unsustainable.

The crimson light enveloped the entire space, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. To maintain his mental clarity, Ye Kongfan bit his lip, allowing his blood to flow. This tactic helped him resist the dreamlike illusions Qin Wentian attempted to ensnare him in. Unbeknownst to him, he was already affected. Within the crimson glow, several silhouettes of Qin Wentian emerged, moving so swiftly that it was impossible for Ye Kongfan to discern which one was real.

"Hmph, if this continues, your son will undoubtedly meet his end," the Han King sneered, his gaze locked on the mid-air battle. In that moment, the Qi King's brows furrowed intensely, and the sound of something being pierced rang through the air.

"RUMBLE!" The Qi King abruptly rose to his feet, and a terrifying pressure enveloped the entire space. In the instant he furrowed his brows, a blood-red ancient halberd had already impaled Ye Kongfan's head. The sight was astonishing—Ye Kongfan's eyes widened in disbelief and fury. He couldn't comprehend how he had met his demise. From his perspective, Qin Wentian hadn't even launched an attack, so when had that lethal strike been executed?