Joint Attack . . .
Xuan Yang maintained an unflappable countenance even as he faced Qin Wentian's relentless onslaught. Beams of light erupted incessantly, and although Qin Wentian's colossal palm managed to destroy them, Xuan Yang remained unperturbed.
A transparent spear emerged from the ancient mirror, and Xuan Yang effortlessly seized it, his gaze locked onto Qin Wentian. His aura exuded the dominance of an elite genius at the pinnacle of his power.
Lengyue, one of the Immortal Ascension Rankings' top-ranked individuals, turned to Xiao Lengyue with concern etched on his features. "Qin Wentian is surely destined to lose this battle against Xuan Yang. We can't allow Xuan Yang to capture him too easily. What should we do?"
Greedwolf, another high-ranking individual in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, was acutely aware of the disparity in strength between Qin Wentian and Xuan Yang. If Qin Wentian possessed God's Hand, he might have stood a fighting chance due to its formidable offensive capabilities. However, without it, despite his increased speed and strength as a giant roc, his knowledge of constellations was inferior to Xuan Yang's, who had reached the peak of Celestial Phenomenon. This gap in comprehension extended to their respective constellations, and Qin Wentian's power paled in comparison. The top-ranked individuals on the Immortal Ascension Rankings operated on a different level altogether, as they delved into the realm of immortal foundation and began to grasp the laws of immortal energy. Although they hadn't established their immortal foundations, they wielded a nascent form of immortal power. This advantage alone favored Xuan Yang.
Greedwolf believed that, despite Qin Wentian's remarkable prowess, he would ultimately succumb to Xuan Yang's superior strength.
Xiao Lengyue concurred with Greedwolf's assessment. When rankings reached their level, each participant possessed supreme cultivation arts and techniques. Xuan Yang's mastery of the Heavenly Mystical Mirror Art had pushed the limits of Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants. His ability to absorb and reflect attacks made him a formidable adversary, capable of turning an opponent's strength against them. This presented a formidable challenge to anyone who faced him, as their own attacks could easily be turned against them, with the intensity of the reflection increasing in proportion to the attack's power. Xuan Yang's consistent ranking at #4 demonstrated the effectiveness of his abilities, as he maintained his position above illustrious individuals like Princess Qing'er.
"Agreed," Greedwolf replied with a nod. Qin Wentian descended from the sky at lightning speed, extending his talons toward Xuan Yang. As his attack unfolded, the menacing silhouette of a giant roc materialized before Xuan Yang, emitting a spine-chilling screech, as if it aimed to tear Xuan Yang apart. In the presence of this colossal silhouette, Xuan Yang appeared minuscule, yet his aura remained imposing.
With his long spear, Xuan Yang unleashed a surge of astral energy. Countless dazzling beams of light illuminated the air, making it difficult for Qin Wentian to open his enormous eyes.
A resounding clash ensued as an immense wave of energy collided with Qin Wentian's talons. He swiftly retreated, moving with the grace of a wind roc, soaring into the distance. His colossal talons trembled under the pressure of the immense energy surge, much like what had befallen Xuan Xing. Xuan Yang was a master of the reflection technique, and he had the capacity to amplify the power of his opponents' attacks. Under the colossal tidal wave of energy, Qin Wentian's talons teetered on the brink of shattering.
Qin Wentian fixed his gaze on Xuan Yang, pondering the might of the Immortal Ascension Rankings' #4 ranker. He activated his immortal battle art, enveloping the great roc's body in a shimmering layer of runic light. His eyes sharpened, as if they could pierce through anything, and astral light from his constellations radiated brilliantly, casting its luminous glow upon him.
In an instant, a black streak streaked across the sky, and Qin Wentian surged forward with the swiftness of the wind. All that could be perceived was a beam of darkness hurtling toward Xuan Yang.
Xuan Yang remained aloof in the air, his constellation's astral energy slashing out wildly in an attempt to intercept the oncoming black streak. To his astonishment, Qin Wentian paid no heed to his constellation's attack. When the destructive astral energy collided with the great roc's body, the protective layer of light surrounding it effortlessly deflected the assault, producing thunderous collisions that reverberated throughout the atmosphere.
Spectators marveled at the astounding defense displayed by the great roc. As a demon sovereign of the skies, its speed and resilience were nothing short of astonishing. Combined with Qin Wentian's immortal battle art and the Fiendgod Body Refinement Art, his defensive capabilities reached unparalleled levels. Confronting him with mere astral energy from a constellation was futile.
A palm strike sliced through the air, hurtling outward. Xuan Yang retaliated with a spear thrust, resulting in a deafening explosion. Qin Wentian's figure vanished from view, leaving only the rustling sound of the wind.
A sequence of thunderous crashes followed, echoing through the air as the great roc, akin to a bolt of lightning, continuously clashed with Xuan Yang. The speed and ferocity of their collisions were awe-inspiring.
The endless collisions took their toll, wearing down Xuan Yang despite his formidable strength. Witnesses couldn't help but marvel at the incredible swiftness, unmatched in its agility. Even if Qin Wentian were to face defeat here, escaping Xuan Yang's grasp would prove challenging.
"Unprecedented speed. It's simply unrivaled. Even if Qin Wentian loses this battle, eluding Xuan Yang's pursuit will be no easy task," murmured the onlookers as they watched the earth-shaking clashes unfold in the sky.
In the midst of this intense combat, a unique aura emanated from Xuan Yang's vicinity. Boundless astral light enveloped him as he readied his long spear for yet another thrust.
Observing closely, one would discern a peculiar fluctuation in Xuan Yang's surroundings, exuding a mysterious law energy. It was as if his environment transformed into a mirrored chamber, and when his spear thrust seemed to slow down, it harbored an enigmatic power. Although the spear pointed in a single direction, the ensuing attack unfolded in every direction simultaneously.
Xuan Yang's spear technique projected forward, but the spear's brilliance bent and radiated in all directions.
A deafening "BANG!" resonated behind Xuan Yang as Qin Wentian's palm, brimming with destructive force, descended. However, cracking noises ensued, and beams of mirror-like light erupted relentlessly. Qin Wentian's razor-sharp talons bore the brunt of an immensely potent force, which happened to be his own attack.
To his astonishment, the reflected attack not only mirrored his full strength but seemed to amplify it, directing an even more potent assault back at him.
Amidst a deafening explosion, Qin Wentian's colossal roc form was propelled far into the distance, blood spewing from his mouth in a crimson spray.
"Immortal law energy?" The onlookers below felt their hearts tremble as they witnessed this spectacle. It became evident that the top-ranking individuals on the Immortal Ascension Rankings wielded not only supreme attack power but also possessed a glimpse of immortal law energy. This infusion of immortal law energy into their strikes was a profoundly terrifying feat.
"The reflected attack is more potent than Qin Wentian's original assault." Despite Qin Wentian's transformation into a giant roc, his cultivation remained inferior. Moreover, aside from God's Hand, his other cultivation arts and innate techniques paled in comparison to the Xuan Emperor's formidable Heavenly Mystical Mirror Art. Adding to that, Xuan Yang had even grasped a trace of immortal energy.
In this situation, as long as he failed to shatter Xuan Yang's Heavenly Mystical Mirror Art, regardless of the might of his blows, they would all rebound onto himself. Unless he could reactivate God's Hand, he stood no chance of breaching Xuan Yang's mirror.
Qin Wentian continued to retreat, his energy reserves severely depleted after the protracted battle. The earlier clashes had taken a toll on him, leaving him fatigued. This outcome had been sealed when the Xuan Emperor dismantled his God's Hand. Although the Xuan Emperor's casual strike didn't infringe upon the City of Ancient Emperors' rules and wasn't excessively oppressive, it had effectively dismantled one of Qin Wentian's most potent trump cards.
"Senior brother, be cautious!"
A voice pierced the air, Jun Mengchen's urgent cry. A looming sense of danger materialized as overwhelming auras surged towards him from behind. Simultaneously, Xuan Yang, positioned in front, moved with lightning speed, launching an assault.
"Bzz!" Qin Wentian's wings flapped with urgency, intercepting the incoming attacks from behind. With a powerful thrust of his wings, he ascended higher into the sky.
"Art of Grand Freezing!" In an instant, an icy chill blanketed the surroundings, capable of freezing everything under the heavens. Frost materialized in the air, encasing Qin Wentian's massive form in solid ice. Not only was he frozen, but the entire space he occupied succumbed to an icy grip. Nevertheless, the ice-encased roc continued to soar skyward, propelled by its prior momentum.
"BOOM!" An overwhelming surge of demonic qi erupted as the ice gradually shattered. Greedwolf materialized on the giant roc's back and thrust a finger forward. A chaotic torrent of energy punctured Qin Wentian's body, wreaking havoc within him in an attempt to tear him apart.
"Escape is futile," Xiao Lengyue's cold voice echoed. A profound chill descended, causing even distant spectators to shiver from the frost.
Xuan Yang, ranked #4 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.
Xiao Lengyue, ranked #6 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.
Greedwolf, ranked #12 on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.
These three supreme geniuses at the pinnacle of their art joined forces to confront Qin Wentian, promising an unparalleled cataclysm of destruction.
The battlefield crackled with intensity, as this showdown pushed everyone to their limits. Qin Wentian had unlocked the secrets of God's Hand, a formidable achievement that made him a prime target for his pursuers. However, his transformation into a wind roc endowed him with incredible speed, making him an elusive prey. Capturing him would require not just effort but also inflicting severe injuries.
In the midst of this chaos, Xiao Lengyue materialized before Qin Wentian, her hands radiating an icy, ever-strengthening frosty power. She prepared to strike at Qin Wentian with unrelenting ruthlessness.
"SENIOR BROTHER!" Jun Mengchen's voice echoed through the tumultuous air. He and Zi Qingxuan shot skyward in a desperate attempt to intervene, only to find themselves blocked by the formidable experts from the Xiao Sect.
"GET OUT OF OUR WAY!" Jun Mengchen's enraged roar reverberated, his veins bulging as torrents of fury coursed through him. The mere thought of Xiao Lengyue's attack hitting Qin Wentian filled him with dread, knowing it would leave his friend on the brink of death.
Despite Jun Mengchen's earth-shattering cry, he remained powerless to act.
Then, in a sudden turn of events, the frigid power of ice and frost came to an abrupt halt.
"BOOM!" Xiao Lengyue's assault missed its mark, and the icy grip on the battlefield was violently torn asunder by an intense wave of golden radiance that materialized in front of Qin Wentian. What truly stunned the onlookers was the faint, ethereal silhouette of an exceptionally beautiful woman that shimmered within the golden light.