Strike of Destruction

Strike of Destruction . . . 

The protective shield of the demon god lay shattered, and despite the relentless assault of Qin Wentian's titanic palm strikes, Huang Shatian remained impervious. His aura seemed completely unruffled, now transformed into that of a supreme human emperor. An ethereal radiance, reminiscent of nine emperors, enveloped his body. A boundless sea of law energy emanated from him, making him appear as if he'd transcended mere flesh and blood, embodying the very essence of the laws themselves. The closer one drew to him, the more overwhelming the pressure emanating from his domain became.

Killing Huang Shatian had become a task more arduous than scaling the heavens. The difficulty of dispatching an immortal king lay in the pinnacle of their physical strength, and Huang Shatian had reached this zenith. Moreover, his control over a trace of immortal-king might, combined with his sheer bodily might, rendered him an invincible force within the immortal-foundation realm. His effortless capture of Qing'er earlier had made this abundantly clear—no one could thwart him.

The demonic fervor burning in Qin Wentian's eyes was so profound that it struck fear into the hearts of all who beheld it. He stretched out his hands, coalescing an inexhaustible wellspring of energy, merging the power of the God's Hand and the Art of Truth. Although Huang Shatian had gained insight into the gateway to the immortal king realm, Qin Wentian had unwavering confidence in his innate techniques. He believed that his mastery surpassed that of Huang Shatian. Additionally, the surge of his bloodline power had elevated the potency of his attribute energies to an unprecedented level. If his opponent were anyone other than Huang Shatian—a ninth-level immortal—Qin Wentian could have effortlessly overwhelmed them, as he had done with Huang Wudi.

"BOOM!" The God's Hand erupted, conjuring countless runes that cascaded from the heavens. These were runes of destruction and suppression, exuding a devastating force capable of obliterating the surrounding space and reducing the area to rubble. Under such might, flesh and blood would be torn asunder with ease.

Yet, Huang Shatian was the one standing defiantly against this formidable onslaught. Like a sovereign human emperor, he emitted a nine-colored radiance that merged and shifted in countless patterns. Extending his finger, he thrust it into the air, channeling boundless energy from his immortal-foundation. In an instant, nine avatars of human emperors materialized, each brandishing a golden emperor's sword infused with spatial power. They surged upward, aiming their collective assault at the colossal palm.

Unfazed by the aftermath of his attack, Huang Shatian pressed onward, exuding unwavering self-assurance. When the nine human emperors wielded their emperor swords, they managed to cleave through the massive palm. Chaotic currents tore through the area, eliciting trembling hearts from the distant spectators.

Qin Wentian had always appeared impervious, seemingly encased in an impenetrable defense. However, Huang Shatian's offensive intensified, brimming with unyielding force. Qin Wentian was undoubtedly formidable, but Huang Shatian was no less powerful. He was the shining star of the Nine-Emperors Immortal Empire, one of the foremost talents of his generation. Standing at the true pinnacle of the sacred academy, he ranked among the Supreme Might Rankings as an illustrious figure.

The tension in the air was palpable as the Battle Saint Tribe, the Southern Phoenix Clan, Qing'er, and Mo Qingcheng watched the battle unfold. Huang Shatian's overwhelming strength left their hearts pounding with worry. While Qin Wentian's capabilities had far exceeded their expectations, Huang Shatian's prowess was equally astonishing. With Huang Shatian emanating an aura of invincibility, the question loomed: could Qin Wentian truly stand against him?

In reality, many within the academy were already astounded by the domineering strengths displayed by both Qin Wentian and Huang Shatian. Even the monk Buyu paled in comparison. Previously, no one had believed that Qin Wentian could contend with Huang Shatian, despite his place on the Supreme Might Rankings.

However, after igniting the power of his bloodline, Qin Wentian's strength had skyrocketed. He now possessed the means to face Huang Shatian, who found it increasingly challenging to dispatch Qin Wentian with ease.

As Huang Shatian inexorably closed the distance between them, spectators still leaned toward Huang Shatian as the likely victor of the match. While Qin Wentian's bloodline power was formidable, it wasn't rooted in his comprehension of laws and cultivation base. Despite its potential, Qin Wentian could not yet fully harness this power. Instead, he employed it to augment his existing abilities.

Huang Shatian locked his gaze on Qin Wentian, unwaveringly calm. He sensed the impregnability of Qin Wentian's defenses and recognized that long-range combat was not a viable option. To penetrate Qin Wentian's defenses, he needed to engage in close-quarters combat, as his potent innate techniques would be ineffective without an opportunity to breach those defenses.

At this pivotal moment, atop Huang Shatian's perfect immortal-foundation, a divine radiance emanated, forging a connection with the heavens. Supreme power enshrouded the area. Above Qin Wentian, colossal human emperors descended. They refrained from attacking him but took strategic positions around him, asserting control over the surrounding space.

The nine human emperors, now suffused with golden spatial energy, melded into a formless barrier that encapsulated the space with Qin Wentian at its core.

"Kill!" Huang Shatian issued a single command, prompting the silhouettes of human emperors surrounding Qin Wentian to unleash torrents of golden lethal rays, aimed at shattering the enveloping space.

Simultaneously, a resplendent light emanated from Qin Wentian's immortal-foundation. It underwent a transformative process, assuming Qin Wentian's shape as an immense demonic force surged forth. Blood-colored demon shadows materialized, including a demonic dragon, a great roc, a Xuanwu, a divine elephant, and others. Each exuded formidable destructive potential. They acted as anchors against the enemy's assault, suppressing the disintegration of space surrounding Qin Wentian. Then, they launched their own counterattacks, targeting the nine human emperors manifested by Huang Shatian.

Qin Wentian's immortal-foundation emanated a resplendent golden light, conjuring an array of ancient symbols. Simultaneously, formidable ancient halberds materialized, thrusting forth with unparalleled force.

"Is this the true power of a perfect immortal-foundation?" Whispers and gasps rippled through the academy's experts as they witnessed the spectacle. Both Huang Shatian and Qin Wentian possessed perfect saint-grade immortal-foundations. Yet, merely utilizing the potential within their immortal-foundations was enough to unleash a might that sent shivers down their spines. Each individual here possessed an immortal-foundation, but none had fathomed the immense power such foundations could yield. This was the zenith of immortal-foundation might.

It was the pinnacle of immortal-foundation power.

Huang Shatian fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian, his voice laced with wisdom as he spoke, "You harnessed your bloodline's power to transform both your body and immortal-foundation, metamorphosing into a war beast in human form. This has undeniably catapulted your combat abilities to another level. Yet, you must understand that every strength has its limit. Your limit is fated to be the peak of immortal-foundation due to your limited comprehension of laws. As long as that comprehension eludes you, you will never transcend your barriers. Consequently, you will never be capable of defeating me."

He continued, his eyes unwavering, "Even with your bloodline power and your elementary grasp of laws, I am the true pinnacle of the immortal-foundation realm. At my current level, I can transcend those limits, while you can only encounter failure. Today, you are destined to meet your end here."

Qin Wentian was caught off guard by Huang Shatian's sudden proclamation. Both of them understood that no amount of words could sway their unwavering resolve. Their convictions were absolute—each sought nothing less than the demise of their adversary.

"It's truly astonishing how the path of cultivation unfolds," Huang Shatian mused. "To encounter a war beast in human form among the academy's geniuses is quite a marvel. I must admit that if you were at the ninth level, I might not have been a match for you. That's why I'm taking the time to say all this. A sense of pity has unexpectedly welled up in me because I now recognize your potential and strength. However, it's unfortunate that your growth is limited. This place shall become your final resting ground, and I lament that I am about to lose a formidable opponent."

Regret tinged Huang Shatian's voice. Facing an imposing rival was integral to reaching the summit, and he was loath to prematurely dispatch a worthy adversary. For it was in the crucible of such fierce competition that true motivation to improve flourished.

The spectators watched in astonishment as the supreme human emperor, Huang Shatian, articulated his regret and pity after confronting Qin Wentian. He acknowledged Qin Wentian's talents and power, even conceding that if Qin Wentian had attained the peak of the immortal-foundation realm, Huang Shatian himself might not have stood a chance against him.

However, no one could deny that Huang Shatian's words held an undeniable truth. Qin Wentian, driven by the potent force of his bloodline, had pushed his strength to an extraordinary extreme, even momentarily surpassing the pinnacle of the immortal-foundation realm. In this state, Qin Wentian could undoubtedly defeat any ninth-level immortal-foundation expert who had not yet glimpsed the gate leading to the immortal-king realm.

Yet, Huang Shatian remained resolute, unwavering in his determination. The outcome of this battle was already sealed in his mind.

Qin Wentian nodded in acknowledgment of Huang Shatian's words. He recognized the undeniable reality that Huang Shatian had eloquently stated.

With a swift movement, Huang Shatian materialized right before Qin Wentian with a single step. The surrounding laws surged as nine human emperor silhouettes manifested above his immortal foundation. With a wave of his hand, Huang Shatian was enveloped in an expansive aura of emperor's light. Extending his finger, he directed all nine human emperor silhouettes to converge upon Qin Wentian.

This strike incorporated the essence of all of Huang Shatian's deadly techniques. To the onlookers, it seemed as though Qin Wentian was teetering on the brink of annihilation.

Once again, the protective aura of the demon god materialized, accompanied by the phantom of the divine turtle. Qin Wentian roared in fury as a legion of demonic beasts surged forth to confront the impending onslaught. However, as the human emperor silhouettes drew closer, his defensive layers began to crumble, piece by piece. The entire space reverberated with an overwhelming, destructive force potent enough to vanquish any immortal-foundation character.

Huang Shatian's strike possessed the sheer might to claim Qin Wentian's life!