Two Years

Two Years . . .

Eight imposing minotaurs, each towering at an awe-inspiring 1,500 meters in height, brandished their formidable golden spears as they charged relentlessly toward Qin Wentian. Their mere presence sent shivers down the spine, instilling fear into the hearts of any who gazed upon them.

The overwhelming pressure hung heavily in the air. Even before the battle commenced, Qin Wentian felt as though the very atmosphere was bearing down on him. These colossal golden minotaurs, despite their fifth-level Celestial Phenomenon cultivation, possessed combat prowess that far exceeded their apparent level.

As those eight formidable figures drew nearer, Qin Wentian's determination surged, radiating an intense battle-ready spirit.

In the combat region, retreat held no place. He had to give his all, test his limits, and shatter them. Qin Wentian sought to gauge his true potential, to witness how high his combat prowess could soar without relying on divine weapons.

His constellation unfurled to its utmost, casting the ethereal shadow of his astral soul behind him. A multitude of suppression deities manifested, bathed in the constellation's radiant light. The astral energy that enveloped them pulsated with boundless might as they surged forward.

With a cold arrogance, Qin Wentian declared, "ERADICATE!" Stepping forth, the suppression deities clashed with the golden minotaurs, colliding in a burst of brilliance. Explosions resonated as all eight minotaurs were jolted backward, their bodies numbed. They now understood the sheer power of Qin Wentian's violet-gold astral soul.

The eight minotaurs responded swiftly, the spears in their hands conjuring winds and clouds. A colossal, circular shield, aglow with radiant golden light, appeared before them. This shield, while reminiscent of the previous one, was markedly stronger. Undeterred by the mounting pressure, they inched forward, closing in on Qin Wentian.

Impressed by their strength, Qin Wentian marveled, "Truly powerful." The boundless might of suppression cascaded from the heavens, but to no avail. The ancient golden shield remained unbroken, and though cracks formed, the energy radiating from the minotaurs swiftly mended them. As long as they maintained their energy, this shield seemed impervious.

With a resounding roar, Qin Wentian lunged forward. Astral light enveloped him as his body morphed closer to that of a true fiendgod. In a blaze of brilliance, he executed the incarnation burst technique. Countless incarnations of Qin Wentian materialized around him, each exuding the indomitable aura of a fiendgod. In an instant, they descended upon the minotaurs, their combined might capable of shaking the heavens and earth.

"BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!" The incarnations crashed into the ancient shield, producing a deafening cacophony. At last, a thunderous roar reverberated as the shield shattered into pieces. Yet, in that very moment, the eight spears thrust skyward, converging into a divine beam of light that annihilated everything in its path.

With an ominous battle cry, the concentrated spear of divine light swept forth, an unrelenting force tearing through space, obliterating Qin Wentian's incarnations.

But Qin Wentian was not one to back down. Despite his colossal stature, he moved with lightning-like agility. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before one of the towering minotaurs, delivering a heaven-suppression palm strike crackling with runic brilliance. An adjacent minotaur retaliated, thrusting its golden spear, yet Qin Wentian deftly mirrored their tactics. His left palm formed a shield of intricate runic inscriptions, effortlessly warding off the incoming spear.

Simultaneously, his other palm connected solidly with the minotaur's chest. A cataclysmic surge of energy coursed through the creature, imploding it from within. Qin Wentian, a blur of movement, darted away, but the seven remaining minotaurs responded swiftly, their powerful leaps propelling them skyward, their radiant spears coalescing once more into a devastating beam.

Qin Wentian's voice thundered, "COLLAPSE!" His feet slammed down, sending shockwaves that stifled the fiendgods. His remaining incarnations hurled themselves at the destructive beam, creating a detonation that obliterated the seven minotaurs. Capitalizing on the chaos, he ascended higher into the air.

The minotaur king on the throne remained impassive as he summoned ten more minotaurs into battle.

Qin Wentian's gaze flicked to his fellow sect members' battlefields. Qing'Er, though slightly slower in combat, was grappling with avian beasts whose lightning-quick movements posed a formidable challenge. Jun Mengchen, on the other hand, confronted lion-like creatures two ranks above his own. Encased in magnificent armor, he emanated an aura of absolute dominance.

"Junior apprentice brother is quite the powerhouse," Qin Wentian mused, his attention returning to his own battlefield. He realized he shouldn't have dispatched those formidable minotaurs so swiftly. The combat region palace was designed for immersive combat, a crucible where experts could push their limits and glean insights. Qin Wentian now understood the true purpose behind it.

With a newfound sense of ease, he turned his gaze back to the minotaurs beneath him. He needed to engage in prolonged combat and explore the extent of his abilities. The palace held the keys to unlocking his potential, a place where any expert could confront their limits and ultimately transcend them.

With resolute determination, Qin Wentian moved, his silhouette flashing. He unleashed a barrage of palm strikes, summoning dragon-like palm imprints that roared with tyrannical might. The minotaurs countered in unison, dispelling his palm imprints and ascending into the air, seeking to encircle him.

"Hmph." Both the Sword Slaughter Constellation and the Suppressive Annihilation Constellation materialized, casting swathes of sword light, suffused with suppressive force. Qin Wentian's wings beat rhythmically as he charged toward one of the minotaurs. In his hands, an astral energy-formed spear crackled to life, thrusting forward at the speed of lightning, its strike brimming with overwhelming suppression.

The other minotaurs, observing their brethren's peril, unleashed a barrage of golden spears to rescue them, forcing Qin Wentian to retreat hastily. Despite the overwhelming pressure, he remained undaunted, swiftly choosing a new target. With each battle, he honed his skills, growing ever more adept at manipulating fusion energy. Where once he relied solely on the supreme suppression might of his constellation, battles now stretched for days. He sought to extend them as much as possible, crafting himself within the crucible of the combat region, refining his techniques and perfecting his combat style.

The minotaur king on the throne offered a reprieve, advising Qin Wentian, "Should your astral energy wane, you may take a respite to recover." Qin Wentian acknowledged, only ceasing his onslaught when every last drop of astral energy had been depleted. Over the course of several months, he had vanquished countless minotaurs, only for the minotaur king to resurrect them with a casual gesture.

Unbeknownst to him, Qin Wentian had spent several months within the combat region palace. His control over his constellation had grown substantially, as had his mastery of the fusion energy derived from true intents in battle. Today, he faced thirty-two minotaurs, their attacks growing increasingly ferocious. In the heat of battle, he thrust his spear, imbuing the atmosphere with a wisp of law energy. The minotaurs slowed, one of them erupting in a thunderous detonation as Qin Wentian retreated.

His astral souls materialized behind him, incarnations pulsating with runic light and fusion energy surrounding the minotaurs. Simultaneously, his main body darted around the battlefield like a streak of lightning, dispatching yet another minotaur. His speed and efficiency increased with each encounter.

"It's time," Qin Wentian murmured, suspended in the air as an intensified astral light emanated from his body. His transformation was palpable.

"SUPPRESS THEM ALL!" he bellowed. Torrents of strength surged forth, spear light streaking like lightning, striking the minotaurs with thunderous force. The battlefield fell silent. Qin Wentian floated, the radiance of his astral light intensifying. He had ascended to the fourth level of Celestial Phenomenon.

Impressed, the minotaur king acknowledged, "Well done. With this breakthrough, you can now challenge sixth-level minotaur ascendants directly. In fact, even ordinary seventh-level ascendants would pose no problem for you in the outside world."

A resonant hum emanated from Qin Wentian's body, his yuanfu receptacles expanding, and the brilliance of his constellations shining even brighter. Moments later, his aura grew mightier, his eyes gleaming with intensity. With a grin, he stared at the minotaur king on the throne and demanded, "MORE!" The minotaur king obliged, summoning four sixth-level minotaurs, each towering at 1,800 meters, radiating an even more formidable aura than before.

Qin Wentian charged, pouring all his strength into the battle. In the combat region, three grand battles raged on, transcending the bounds of time as these young prodigies embraced combat wholeheartedly, leaving fatigue in their distant past.

Meanwhile, in the external world, the seasons shifted. Two years had flown by since Qin Wentian's departure from Driftsnow City. Although his exploits still lingered in the city's memory, discussions about him had waned. Only when they passed the ancient weaponized city did they reminisce about the legendary figure, Qin Wentian.

During these two eventful years, beside the ancient Driftsnow City's Nine Immortality Bells, a solitary figure often graced the scene. It was none other than Pei Yu, her presence laden with profound emotions that stirred the hearts of many, evoking pity and a tender fondness.

Amid the hallowed grounds of the combat region palace, three formidable figures emerged, basking in their shared triumph. Jun Mengchen, ever the cheerful one, couldn't resist chiming in with his trademark enthusiasm. "Oh, the sheer delight of it all! Senior brother, your strength is truly a marvel to behold. That final explosive attack of yours was nothing short of astonishing. Sixty-four of those formidable sixth-level ascendant monsters crumbled before your overwhelming might. You're simply unparalleled!"

Qin Wentian exchanged a knowing look with his junior brother. "Aren't you the remarkable one? Towards the end, you didn't even lift a finger to fight. Instead, you merely unleashed the commanding aura of your kingship, and lo and behold, those monsters prostrated themselves in submission. What kind of being are you, exactly?"

Jun Mengchen couldn't help but chuckle. "Haha, I was just too exhausted to bother with more fighting. Once I saw both senior brother and senior sister emerge victorious, I felt it was hardly worth my time to continue. It was time for a well-deserved rest." Jun Mengchen's cherubic face held no hint of the imposing figure he had cut during those intense battles, commanding the awe and obedience of all things in the world. The contrast was truly remarkable!