Exchanging Blows

Exchanging Blows . . .

Qin Wentian could sense the unyielding provocation emanating from Jiang Kuang's piercing gaze. Jiang Kuang, a young master of the Jiang Clan, was not one to be easily swayed or intimidated.

"My sister's abduction was orchestrated by the City Lord Manor, and it has no affiliation with the Jiang Clan. If you release her, I, Qin Wentian, will remember this favor," Qin Wentian declared, his eyes unwaveringly fixed on Jiang Kuang.

Yet, Jiang Kuang's response was a dismissive smile followed by a firm "No."

A frigid glint sparked in Qin Wentian's eyes, his resolve unwavering. He stepped forward, unleashing a torrential surge of qi and declared, "Since you doubt my capabilities, allow me to demonstrate exactly what I can do."

His fierce battle intent radiated outward, directed straight at Jiang Kuang. Despite the evident three-level difference in cultivation, with Jiang Kuang standing at the fifth level of the Celestial Phenomenon realm, while Qin Wentian was a second-level ascendant, Qin Wentian openly challenged him.

In this tense moment, Qin Wentian made his intentions clear: he was prepared to fight.

Even amidst this perilous situation, he had the audacity to confront Jiang Kuang directly.

Qin Qing, witnessing her brother's fearless determination, welled up with gratitude. Knowing that Qin Wentian hailed from a mere particle world, she couldn't fathom his connection to a powerful background. Killing with such brazen force was a display of strength, and it carried immense risk. Yet, Qin Wentian had acted without hesitation, all to save her.

Moreover, he exhibited astonishing power. Earlier, he had effortlessly dispatched the assailant who had injured her grandfather.

"Big Brother Qin is a virtuous man with remarkable talent. He must not face harm because of me. I would rather meet my end here than see any harm befall him," Qin Qing silently prayed, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve. She had unwittingly implicated her grandfather and her brother, Qin Feng, in this perilous situation. Now, she was determined to shield anyone else from harm.

A gust of potent wind swept through the atmosphere as Qin Wentian's aura surged dramatically. His jet-black hair billowed in the wind, and he exuded an eerie aura, surrounded by radiant runic patterns as if donning a fiendgod's armor. His presence resonated with an unassailable dominance, an aura that proclaimed his unrivaled status.

Beside Jiang Kuang, several of his companions rose to their feet, exuding formidable immortal might that surged toward Qin Wentian. Yet, Jiang Kuang himself stood and signaled for his followers to stand down. He emanated an overwhelming sharpness, resembling a peerless divine treasure, brimming with destructive force.

"A second-level Celestial Phenomenon?" Jiang Kuang's laughter rang out, his cultivation surpassing Qin Wentian's by three levels. He couldn't fathom how he could possibly lose to a second-level ascendant. The mere thought was inconceivable to him, and he had no intention of taking Qin Wentian lightly.

A thunderous "BOOM!" reverberated through the air as Jiang Kuang advanced with a menacing stride. An ominous aura engulfed his surroundings, and an eerie black radiance swirled around him, exuding an aura of impending doom.

In response, Qin Wentian raised his palms, launching a formidable attack that shook the heavens. His Star-Seizing Palm Imprint was colossal, blotting out the sun as it descended upon Jiang Kuang. The sheer magnitude of the palm imprint could shatter the very skies with a single strike. As it closed in on Jiang Kuang, it completely enshrouded him in its crushing force.

Jiang Kuang gripped a black battle lance tightly, channeling a devastating qi into its tip. He focused all his power into this singular point as he thrust the lance forward. The moment of impact erupted with a deafening cacophony as the palm imprint shattered into countless fragments. Remarkably, the black battle lance appeared unscathed.

Qin Wentian hadn't expected a single attack to defeat Jiang Kuang, a fifth-level ascendant. As he executed his initial strike, he had been gathering energy, making his runic aura even more resplendent. Absorbing the power of the Sky Demon Oracle Bone had further fortified his physical defense. His body was now akin to divine copper, his bones like steel, with runic imprints swirling around him. His body, in essence, had become a formidable divine weapon.

The Fiendgod Body Refinement Art had transformed him into a true fiendgod, bestowing unparalleled power.

"Your attacks are far too feeble," Jiang Kuang scoffed, maintaining his aerial stance. Qin Wentian didn't relent, unleashing another palm strike. This time, a blinding light illuminated the space around them, its brilliance sending shivers down the spines of onlookers. Thunderous echoes filled the air, but Jiang Kuang remained unruffled. The ashen qi surrounding his lance danced frenziedly as he once again shattered the incoming palm imprint.

"Merely a second-level ascendant. How could his attacks pose a threat to young master Jiang?" remarked a confident voice from the Jiang Clan's spectators below.

"That's absolutely right, this individual underestimates the vastness of the heavens and the earth," echoed the crowd, seemingly in agreement with the expert from the Jiang Clan. However, there were those who understood the reality—that Qin Wentian possessed an extraordinarily formidable combat strength. In a reversed scenario, with Qin Wentian at the fifth-level ascendant and Jiang Kuang at the second, a single blow from Qin Wentian would undoubtedly obliterate his opponent. But in their present circumstances, Jiang Kuang found himself without a viable response.

Determination etched across Qin Wentian's visage, unwavering and resolute. With a fierce determination, he thrust his palms forward once more, unleashing a cataclysmic force that reverberated through the heavens and earth. Countless palm imprints surged forth, embodying the pure essence of destruction, an unstoppable force that sought to dominate everything in its path. These imprints appeared to be linked together, creating a tidal wave of power that swept over the world with an indomitable spirit.

Jiang Kuang furrowed his brow. The colossal palm imprint hanging in the air had unexpectedly fragmented into a multitude of smaller imprints, each possessing the same devastating force as the initial torrential wave. Furthermore, these palm imprints were now overlapping, compounding their strength to an unimaginable level.

However, would this be enough?

This display might make Jiang Kuang take the situation more seriously, but would it truly alter the outcome?

Now encased in a shroud of menacing black light, Jiang Kuang summoned several vicious-looking battle lances that materialized around him, radiating a corrosive malevolence.

"ATTACK!" Jiang Kuang roared, and the battle lances shot forth with blinding speed.

A deafening clash resonated through the air as the formidable battle lances collided with the colossal palm imprint, causing it to fracture with continuous cracks. Finally, with an earth-shattering boom, the palm imprint disintegrated, a smug grin forming on Jiang Kuang's lips.

"You should be nearing your limits by now," Jiang Kuang sneered. If Qin Wentian's strength extended no further than this, Jiang Kuang was confident he could vanquish him today.

However, at that very moment, Qin Wentian's body began to expand, his fiendgod armor radiating an even more brilliant light, giving the impression of an authentic deity. His eyes gleamed with an icy resolve that sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld him.

"My limits? It's far too early for that," Qin Wentian retorted with a cold laugh. As he thrust his palms forward once again, an even more colossal palm imprint materialized. This time, it was denser and larger, radiating a world-shaking might.

"How audacious!" Jiang Kuang seethed with anger, his radiance intensifying as his own form grew larger. The multitude of battle lances converged into a singular, supreme weapon. He shot a cold gaze at Qin Wentian. "You've been attacking relentlessly; it's time you experience the power of my assault."

"Apologies, but I'm afraid I don't have the luxury of time," Qin Wentian replied coolly. His palms could seemingly pluck stars from the sky and seize the very moon, their might unfathomable.

Jiang Kuang's eyes smoldered with seething fury. He had initially regarded his attacks as mere probes, an attempt to belittle Qin Wentian and teach him that a second-level ascendant was inconsequential in his presence. However, Qin Wentian's prowess had surpassed all expectations. Despite a three-level disparity in their cultivation, Jiang Kuang found himself on the defensive. If this continued, he would be relegated to a passive role, and his reputation would suffer a severe blow.

Jiang Kuang had no choice but to seize the initiative and launch a counteroffensive.

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" The heavens rumbled as numerous colossal palm imprints descended from the sky. Jiang Kuang relentlessly repelled Qin Wentian's attacks, and the shockwaves from their clashes were so intense that they sent shockwaves rippling through the very fabric of reality.

"This level of attack..." Jiang Kuang felt a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.

"Why is Young Master Jiang toying with him? In my opinion, he should finish this swiftly," murmured the spectators below. Little did they know the immense pressure weighing on Jiang Kuang at that very moment.

In the aerial battleground, myriad incarnations of Qin Wentian manifested, numbering in the tens of thousands. They all attacked simultaneously, unleashing an overwhelming assault that sent shivers down Jiang Kuang's spine, filling his heart with trepidation.