Fighting Against the #4 Ranker of the Immortal Ascension Rankings

Fighting Against the #4 Ranker of the Immortal Ascension Rankings . . .

As the battle raged on, a murmur of unease swept through the spectators. Each immortal emperor possessed their unique strengths, and their cultivation arts were nothing short of terrifying.

The Heavenly Mystic Mirror Art, in particular, was an ancient and supreme technique passed down from the Xuan Emperor himself. It had the power to reflect attacks, making it a formidable asset in combat. Xuan Xing's mastery of this art was a significant factor in his ranking as #27 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.

However, no cultivation or secret art could remain invincible. When faced with a force stronger than itself, the delicate balance could shatter. This was precisely what had occurred during the battle. Xuan Xing's Heavenly Mystic Mirror Art had managed to reflect a single attack augmented by God's Hand, launched by Qin Wentian in his gigantic roc form. But should Qin Wentian strike again, the mirror would surely shatter.

Fury blazed in Xuan Xing's eyes as he gazed at Qin Wentian's imposing form in the sky. The sheer size and power of Qin Wentian's transformed body exerted immense pressure. The talons of the great roc, infused with the might of God's Hand, emitted runic glows that seemed divinely bestowed, radiating unparalleled destructive force. It was truly the lost secret art of an ancient immortal emperor, capable of unifying the immortal realms.

Qin Wentian's retort cut through the tension. He had been targeted by Xuan Xing repeatedly from the moment they entered the underground palace. The incident involving the picture scroll had already put his life in jeopardy, not to mention now that he possessed the secret art of God's Hand.

The notion that there were no killings in the City of Ancient Emperors was merely relative. While the absence of enmity could discourage violence, the allure of overwhelming benefits and the threat of a life-or-death struggle could easily shatter this fragile truce.

Watching from afar, the spectators' hearts trembled. The chasm between Xuan Xing, ranked #27 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, and ordinary geniuses was insurmountable. Even those who weren't ranked couldn't withstand a single blow from the colossal roc Qin Wentian had become. They had no choice but to flee in all directions, leaving Xuan Xing to confront Qin Wentian alone.

A brilliant beam of light erupted as Qin Wentian's gigantic roc form transformed into a devastating attack. His demonic energy swept through the region like a tempest, and hurricanes tore the fabric of space. Another fearsome spear thrust forth, its malevolence capable of unsettling even spirits and demons. Radiant runic patterns enveloped the weapon as it bore down on Xuan Xing. In that moment, Xuan Xing appeared as though he stood at the heart of a maelstrom, vulnerable to imminent destruction.

Summoning his power to its limits, Xuan Xing extended his palms upward, morphing them into an ancient mirror that absorbed boundless astral energy and divine inscriptions. The Heavenly Mystic Mirror Art blazed with intensified brilliance, forming a protective barrier between him and the colossal roc. Yet, despite his efforts at defense, Xuan Xing seemed inconsequential, a mere speck in the face of this overwhelming force.

A resounding "BANG!" echoed through the air as the long spear struck the mirror once more with devastating force. The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, and the ancient mirror shattered into countless fragments. The spear, its destructive potential undiminished, continued its deadly trajectory, aimed squarely at Xuan Xing's life.

The onlookers stood frozen, their expressions a mixture of shock and dread. Could Qin Wentian truly be this audacious? Did he dare to take Xuan Xing's life?

"BOOM!" The lethal spear unleashed by Qin Wentian crashed into Xuan Xing's body, causing a collective gasp from the crowd. It seemed unbelievable, yet the evidence was undeniable. However, at that critical moment, a formidable aura surged from Xuan Xing, staunchly resisting the spear's deadly advance. While Xuan Xing was still flung through the air, coughing up blood, a faint figure materialized in front of him.

This figure exuded an air of majesty and authority, as if the very presence of emperors and kings had coalesced into one being.

"Dear friend, in the City of Ancient Emperors, why resort to such ruthlessness? It's wiser to spare those you can, leaving room for negotiations," the imposing figure addressed Qin Wentian.

"The Xuan Emperor!" The bystanders were stunned. The enigmatic figure was none other than the Xuan Emperor himself. As Xuan Xing's father, he possessed a protective strand of immortal essence that activated in times of dire peril.

"These words should be directed at him. Xuan Xing's arrogance left me with no choice. If I didn't act, he would have killed me," Qin Wentian retorted, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on the Xuan Emperor.

The Xuan Emperor scrutinized Qin Wentian's palm, his eyes reflecting comprehension of the situation. With a wave of his hand, the mighty long spear disintegrated bit by bit. Qin Wentian felt an overwhelming force propel him backward, his enormous form hurtling through the air. But his countenance remained ice-cold. In the face of the Xuan Emperor's immortal essence, resistance was futile. The Xuan Emperor possessed the power to end his life with ease.

Qin Wentian managed to regain his composure, though the divine inscriptions forming the God's Hand had been obliterated. His colossal eyes gleamed with icy determination. He understood that not only had the Xuan Emperor shattered his God's Hand, but he also sought to seal his fate within the city.

"INSOLENCE!" A thunderous voice resonated as ominous black clouds shrouded the sky. A pair of colossal, malevolent eyes materialized, radiating a fearsome demonic aura. These eyes fixed their gaze upon the Xuan Emperor with fury.

"Dare you directly intervene in the affairs of the City of Ancient Emperors?" boomed an awe-inspiring voice from the heavens. The Xuan Emperor raised his gaze, responding, "I am but a manifestation of my immortal essence, here to protect my son. I have not killed anyone or interfered with the city's matters. Senior, please temper your anger. I shall depart now."

With those words, the Xuan Emperor shot a cold glance at Qin Wentian before his immortal essence dissipated.

"Hmph," a disdainful snort echoed. The formidable phenomenon gradually dissipated, but the indelible memory of the incident lingered, sending shivers through the hearts of onlookers. The City of Ancient Emperors was indeed shrouded in mystery, its rules incomprehensible. Not even immortal emperors were allowed to meddle in its affairs.

Xuan Xing slowly rose to his feet. The earlier strike had injured him, but the timely intervention of his royal father's immortal essence had mitigated most of the damage. He was not severely wounded. His eyes remained fixed on the sky, where Qin Wentian had assumed the form of a gigantic roc. Xuan Xing's murderous intent surged higher than ever before.

A voice pierced the tension as a figure streaked through the skies. It was none other than Xuan Yang, hurtling towards the scene with a group of experts from the Twin Stars Alliance in tow. His speed was nothing short of remarkable as he closed in on his younger brother's location.

"Big brother!" Xuan Xing called out, urgently briefing Xuan Yang on the situation. His finger pointed skyward, indicating the colossal roc soaring above. "This man possesses Ancient Emperor Yi's secret art, God's Hand. We must capture him."

"Xuan Yang's here! Qin Wentian's in trouble now," the spectators whispered amongst themselves, their expressions reflecting their belief that Qin Wentian faced imminent danger.

Who was Xuan Yang? He held the rank of #4 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, and his Heavenly Mystical Mirror Art far surpassed his younger brother's abilities. Defending against the God's Hand was well within his capabilities, especially now that the divine inscriptions comprising it had been destroyed by the Xuan Emperor's immortal essence. Qin Wentian had no time to recompose divine energy to reconstruct it.

The top ten ranked individuals in the Immortal Ascension Rankings were all exceptional talents, possessing extraordinary strength, supreme techniques, and profound cultivation arts. Xuan Yang, ranked at #4, was no exception.

"Alright," Xuan Yang nodded in response to his brother's plea. He ascended into the sky, exuding an aura of unparalleled power. Multicolored lights danced around him as he activated his bloodline, rendering him almost translucent, as though he could vanish at will. His constellation, taking the form of an ancient mirror, radiated a brilliant sheen.

"Xuan Yang's mastery of the Heavenly Mystical Mirror Art is awe-inspiring, far surpassing his younger brother Xuan Xing's skills. He has used this art to defeat numerous geniuses, earning him the status of a king among the elite."

The spectators exchanged murmurs, acknowledging the formidable prowess of Xuan Yang. If Qin Wentian could reawaken the God's Hand, he might still stand a chance against Xuan Yang. However, in his current predicament, with the divine inscriptions of the God's Hand destroyed by the Xuan Emperor's immortal essence, Qin Wentian needed time to reconstruct it. The secret art of Ancient Emperor Yi was not mastered easily; even Qin Wentian, who had successfully cultivated it, had his limitations. He would need further practice to become more proficient.

"The Xuan Emperor must have detected the power of God's Hand, prompting him to destroy it intentionally," Qin Wentian contemplated silently. The actions of an immortal emperor were not without calculation. While the Xuan Emperor had abided by the rules of the City of Ancient Emperors and avoided causing severe harm, he had ensured his son's advantage.

"Xuan Yang, the #4 ranked on the Immortal Ascension Rankings," Qin Wentian noted as he fixed his gaze on his formidable opponent. Holding the #4 rank meant that Xuan Yang was a pinnacle figure among immortals.

"Are you courting death?" Xuan Yang sneered, aiming a finger at Qin Wentian's towering roc form. In an instant, the transparent mirror before him emitted beams of golden light, targeted directly at Qin Wentian's eyes with the intent to blind him.

The spectators watched in astonishment as blinding rays of light shot forth from the mirror, dazzling and dangerously sharp, capable of causing instant death.

"Bzz!" Qin Wentian's roc body transformed into a beam of light, swiftly evading the oncoming assault. However, the golden beams pursued him relentlessly, maintaining a pace that rivaled his own. If not for Qin Wentian's extraordinary abilities, any ordinary individual would have perished instantly.

"Incredible!" The spectators marveled at the might displayed by top-ranked geniuses.

"Is dodging all you're capable of?" Xuan Yang taunted. Suddenly, Qin Wentian's talons slashed downward, forming a colossal palm imprint that blotted out the sky. It descended upon the golden beams of light, obliterating them with relentless force.

"Swish!" A powerful wind rushed through the air as Qin Wentian closed the distance to Xuan Yang. In the midst of his advance, his razor-sharp talons continued their relentless assault, systematically dismantling the beams of light emitted by the mirror.

"Qin Wentian's attacks are astonishingly powerful. Even without relying on the God's Hand, his current strength places him among the top one hundred on the Immortal Ascension Rankings," the spectators murmured, marveling at his formidable prowess.