Beaten Back

Beaten Back . . .

Mo Xie found himself injured once more, the sting of defeat gnawing at his pride. It was the second time he had been wounded by the coordinated assault of Qin Wentian, Qing'er, and Nanfeng Yunxi.

The previous encounter had taken place before Mo Xie had established his supreme physique, a time when his arrogance knew no bounds. He boldly claimed that in his presence, the inheritance rightfully belonged to him alone, and no others possessed the qualifications to challenge him for it. His refusal to let Qin Wentian take the lead led to a fierce clash. Yet, when Qing'er and Nanfeng Yunxi joined the fray, Mo Xie had no choice but to forgo dealing with Qin Wentian and depend solely on his own abilities to decipher the process of physique establishment fairly.

Mo Xie succeeded in this endeavor, forging an indestructible physique that elevated his strength to an even more fearsome level. His entire being radiated with a dark golden luminescence, exuding waves of immeasurable power.

However, fate had other plans. Qin Wentian reappeared, determined to lay claim to the inheritance once more. This time, Qin Wentian triumphed in wresting it away from Mo Xie. How could Mo Xie not feel a burning rage? Their first encounter had left him injured, and now, after achieving his mighty physique, he had been wounded once again.

Facing him once more were the same trio: Qin Wentian, Qing'er, and Nanfeng Yunxi.

"Such power! It seems that Mo Xie isn't the only one who has grown stronger; Qin Wentian has undergone a remarkable transformation. The runic aura surrounding him appears incredibly potent, and he exudes an aura of formidable might from every pore," remarked an onlooker, his eyes keenly fixed on Qin Wentian.

"Could it be that Qin Wentian has established a distinct kind of physique? Was Mo Xie's golden body not the sole successful creation of its kind? It seems that Qin Wentian has accomplished a similar feat."

Qin Wentian's current presence was nothing short of extraordinary. His body seemed imbued with an entirely unique physique, exuding an expansive aura and a mysterious energy that hinted at his newfound strength. He had clearly undergone a significant transformation.

And Qin Wentian was not the only one. Qing'er had also undergone a metamorphosis. Her eyes now held an alluring, almost otherworldly allure, their depths concealing unfathomable diagrams capable of unleashing unimaginable power. This daughter of the Evergreen Immortal Emperor appeared to possess boundless potential and harbored a hidden, earth-shattering secret within her.

"In that case, Mo Xie will no longer enjoy the upper hand when facing these three formidable opponents. Their collective strength is truly awe-inspiring."

The spectators watched with bated breath as Mo Xie steadied his aura, the vibrations of energy rippling through the air once more. Dark golden rays emanated from Mo Xie's eyes as he fixed his cold gaze on Qin Wentian and the two formidable women by his side. This marked the second time that he had suffered an injury at their hands, even after establishing his indestructible physique. Mo Xie seethed with a simmering rage, refusing to tolerate such humiliation.

The strength behind Qin Wentian's attack left everyone in astonishment. Despite Qin Wentian's lower cultivation level—only at the eighth level of ascension—logic dictated that his attacks shouldn't have been potent enough to rattle someone of Mo Xie's caliber. In normal circumstances, an eighth-level ascendant's strikes would be akin to gentle breezes against Mo Xie, incapable of shaking him. Yet, Qin Wentian's God's Hand harbored enough might to inflict injury. It begged the question of just how fierce and overpowering his attack truly was.

—BOOM!— Mo Xie stepped forward once more. However, at that very moment, Qin Wentian's voice rang out with cold determination. "Do it!"

The command barely left his lips when he, Qing'er, and Nanfeng Yunxi swiftly closed in on Mo Xie, causing all other geniuses to retreat hastily to a safe distance. None dared to remain in their proximity.

A sinister glint filled Mo Xie's eyes as he thrust his finger forward. In an instant, a monstrous surge of devilish tribulation force coalesced into a formidable demonic saber, hurtling mercilessly toward Qin Wentian. The force behind this blow could spell a gruesome end for its target.

Qin Wentian materialized a spear using the God's Hand. Its tip radiated with boundless runic brilliance, infused with a pure white energy that surged forth. He thrust the spear forward as if intending to pierce through everything, colliding directly with the oncoming devilish saber. Their collision shattered the devilish saber into countless fragments.

If Qin Wentian's previous attack had been considered a sneak assault, this time, it was a direct confrontation. The sheer might of the God's Hand's offense repelled Mo Xie's attack, leaving the surrounding geniuses awestruck by Qin Wentian's unwavering strength.

Nanfeng Yunxi extended her palm, conjuring an ancient phoenix that unfurled its wings, releasing a relentless barrage of slashing strikes. The wings' tips blazed with a fearsome crimson glow, tearing through the air with indomitable force.

Meanwhile, Qing'er sprang into action, manipulating the frenzied spatial currents around her. The ominous lotus diagrams directly imprinted themselves onto Mo Xie.

The three simultaneous attacks struck Mo Xie at precisely the same moment. Despite Mo Xie's extraordinary might, he found himself somewhat overwhelmed when confronting these three formidable adversaries.

"These attacks aren't enough!" Mo Xie's furious roar resounded as he retaliated with a powerful punch. A deafening explosion followed as his devilish tribulation force transformed into cataclysmic destruction, capable of obliterating everything in its path.

—BZZ!— Qin Wentian's long spear erupted once more, carrying an unstoppable momentum capable of shattering any obstacle. Mo Xie attempted to block it with a palm imprint, but to his astonishment, he realized that the God's Hand had imbued the spear with an even more destructive energy than before. The golden palm imprint shattered easily against it.

The chaotic spatial currents posed a grave threat to Mo Xie, binding him as Qing'er's formidable strength surged to a level three to four times more potent than before. The Immortal Slaying Diagram shot forth directly at Mo Xie, casting a looming shadow of danger over the battle.

Mo Xie extended his hand outward, unleashing a formidable devilish might that enveloped the battlefield. Countless runes condensed into an abyss of darkness as he launched a barrage of palm strikes, each slamming into the Immortal Slaying Diagram. His palm imprints transformed into sinister dark diagrams, clashing head-on with the Immortal Slaying Diagram and greedily devouring its energy.

—BOOM!— Qin Wentian's strike, amplified by the God's Hand, descended with lightning speed. The radiance enveloping his body exuded a unique, world-shattering power. The God's Hand harnessed this boundless strength, channeling it through the spear thrust. The manifested spear light expanded, spanning over 10,000 meters, obliterating any energy it touched.

Mo Xie stood unwavering, his gaze fixed on Qin Wentian's relentless attack. His other hand stretched out, summoning an immense shield of dark golden tribulation devilish force, showcasing an unparalleled defense.

In this moment, the mightiest spear and the sturdiest shield collided with titanic force.

A thunderous explosion echoed as cracks marred the surface of the shield. Simultaneously, torrents of devilish tribulation force burst forth from within, aimed at Qin Wentian.

Mo Xie now had to contend with the ferocious assaults of two formidable opponents. He transformed into an ancient devil, his body radiating a dark golden hue, emanating a world-shaking power.

However, he found himself grappling to withstand their combined might. At that critical juncture, Nanfeng Yunxi's icy gaze shifted, causing Mo Xie's expression to stiffen. He yearned to break free from the attacks of both Qin Wentian and Qing'er, but the two were no ordinary adversaries. Any attempt to free himself would provide them with the perfect opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

Mo Xie's tribulation devil constellation gleamed even brighter, emitting beams of light directed at Nanfeng Yunxi.

With a simple wave of her hand, the phantom of an ancient phoenix materialized. The phoenix's wings enveloped Nanfeng Yunxi protectively as she emitted a formidable energy barrier that intercepted the dark golden beams of light from Mo Xie's constellation.

chi... As the attacks subsided, Nanfeng Yunxi transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward Mo Xie. In that moment, a cascade of graceful yet deadly winged strikes descended like rain, shredding Mo Xie's defenses. He tilted his head, his dark golden eyes chillingly cold. Mo Xie had come to terms with the fact that, when facing the three of them together, he was sorely outmatched. A flicker of hesitation danced in his eyes.

—BOOM!— Another earth-shattering explosion resounded. Mo Xie's dark golden shield finally shattered. Qin Wentian's spear gleamed brilliantly as it thrust relentlessly toward Mo Xie.

In this critical instant, Mo Xie's defenses crumbled completely. Pressured by his three assailants, he teetered on the brink of death.

"SCRAM!" Mo Xie's roar thundered through the cave, a testament to his unwavering principles. He refused to resort to borrowed power, even from an immortal-ranked weapon. As Qin Wentian's spear, forged by the God's Hand, struck him, faint traces of blood marred his indestructible body. Despite his immense might and commanding presence, he staggered under the relentless force, struggling to maintain his footing.

Qin Wentian pressed on, his earlier civility replaced by icy determination. Mo Xie, the second-ranked contender in the Immortal Ascension Rankings and heir to two ancient emperors' legacies, radiated overwhelming power. In contrast, Qin Wentian stood at the eighth level of Celestial Phenomenon, a clear underdog.

Mo Xie watched as the trio advanced, their intent to claim his life unmistakable. His eyes blazed with terrifying brilliance, as he unleashed a surge of immortal might that saturated the surroundings. In an instant, he lunged forward.

"EVADE!" Qing'er's sharp command rang out. Her spatial energy enveloped her companions as they narrowly dodged Mo Xie's assault. He reached the cave's exit, turned, and gave them a cold parting glance as he withdrew his immortal-ranked weapon. "Your actions today. I, Mo Xie, will remember them."

With that declaration, his figure flickered, vanishing from sight.

Qin Wentian released his pent-up energy and took a deep breath. Mo Xie had chosen to flee and hadn't deployed his immortal-ranked weapon against them. Ranked second in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, Mo Xie held himself to a higher standard.

Using such a weapon to defeat them would have compromised his identity as Mo Xie.

"Let's leave. We've driven Mo Xie away, and the final true inheritance is about to fall into Qin Wentian's hands," Qing'er remarked. The onlooking geniuses were awed by the trio's astounding strength. They had relied on sheer power to force Mo Xie, the inheritor of two ancient emperors, to retreat. When these three joined forces, the result was nothing short of terrifying.

Yet, with Qin Wentian now possessing the inheritance, would Mo Xie still spare him?

Zi Daoyang, Mo Xie, and Qin Wentian—all three converged in the City of Ancient Emperors. It seemed an inevitable storm of immense proportions loomed, one that would engulf these three titans in its turmoil.