C98 The Power Of The Holy Purification!

In the realm of combat skills, both contenders were equally matched.

This came as no surprise.

Chen Guo's swordsmanship, inherited from the Mount Shu Sword Sect, was a legacy that spanned countless worlds. The sect's founder, the Long-browed Taoist, had once been mentored by the Heavenly Venerable himself, eventually ascending to the rank of a Golden Immortal.

From its inception, the swordsmanship of the Mount Shu Sword Sect was renowned for its superiority. Refined over centuries by disciples battling demons and monsters, it had reached a state of perfection.

Arieti's combat prowess was equally commendable, befitting his title as the God of War.

With their skills at a deadlock, the true contest came down to sheer strength.

This strength wasn't just about physical power; it encompassed their overall capabilities, including health points, defense, and attack power.

Lei Kun and his companions watched the clash between Chen Guo and Arieti with bated breath.

Despite knowing that Chen Guo's fighting capacity had surged past the million mark, whether he could stand against Arieti was a nerve-wracking uncertainty.

The outcome, however, was swiftly revealed.

Chen Guo and Arieti were locked in a draw, reminiscent of the epic standoff between Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen, with no clear victor in sight.

Neither showed signs of defeat, nor did either yield any ground.

One brandished a blade that gleamed with golden light, while the other wielded a sword that cut through the air with its energy. Their exchange was relentless, making it difficult to discern the superior fighter, let alone determine life or death.

This standoff allowed Lei Kun and the others to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Boss Guangcheng truly lives up to his name. To think that he, in his mortal form, could confront a creature of legend head-on—he is indeed the exemplar we all aspire to emulate!" Lei Kun's fists tightened with resolve.

His own combat strength lagged far behind Chen Guo's, prompting him to devise a strategy to enhance his prowess.

Now was the time to ally with formidable teammates or ingratiate himself with NPCs. By leveraging his Heaven Smiting Lone Star destiny, he could orchestrate their untimely demise, then claim their assets to bolster his own strength.

"Lin Dong, you've got the Deep Blue boost—how come your combat strength is climbing so sluggishly?" Puluo inquired with curiosity. "Boss Guangcheng has maximized your Deep Blue potential, skyrocketing his combat strength by over 300,000 in one fell swoop!"

"That's because Deep Blue is basically a pay-to-win system; you can power up by throwing money at it. But here's the catch—I'm broke!" Lin Dong said, spreading his hands with a wry smile. "Boss Guangcheng can afford to toss around mountains of extraordinary items. Where am I supposed to get that many? Unless you all plan to support me for life."

The others rolled their eyes, thinking, You're not our beloved, why would we support you forever? That's like a pig dreaming of catching the moon—pure fantasy!

"Let's just hope Boss Guangcheng clinches a victory soon. I've had more than enough of this godforsaken place. Too bad those two are deadlocked, evenly matched," Blues grumbled, clearly frustrated.

He had plans of his own, but out of the blue, he got dragged into this hellhole. If it weren't for Chen Guo's presence, he might have perished here. Understandably, he had no love for this place and couldn't wait to get out.

"I'm sure Boss Guangcheng has a strategy to win!" Avril said, brimming with confidence in Chen Guo, "Especially if he makes use of my talent!"

"Your talent? What exactly is it?" Lei Kun inquired, intrigued.

"Sacred Cleansing. Every two minutes, it triggers a cleansing that tallies up all the damage an enemy has inflicted on me and sends it right back at them," Avril explained. "Theoretically, if your defense holds up, your advantage grows over time. Every strike from your enemy will eventually boomerang back onto them!"

"That's brutal!"

"Such a fearsome talent!"

Everyone grasped the sheer terror of Avril's ability, and they began to piece together the strategy Chen Guo was likely to deploy.

Two minutes ticked by.

Suddenly, a massive surge of holy light burst from Chen Guo, transforming into a blaze of sacred fire that instantly engulfed Arieti.

Boom!

The onslaught Arieti had sustained for two minutes was returned in full force. Even as Arieti sensed danger and turned to stone in defense, the impact sent him hurtling through the air.

Arieti's petrified form shattered mid-flight, his body riddled with fissures, and as he landed, he vomited a torrent of fresh blood.

His combined attacks within the last two minutes were staggeringly powerful, piercing through his defenses and inflicting severe damage.

"What is this assault?" Arieti gasped in shock.

"Sacred Counter!" Chen Guo beckoned with a flick of his finger. "Keep the battle going. I said I'd beat you down like a dog, and that's exactly what I'll do. My word is my bond!"

"Foolhardy! Demon Form!" In a rage, Arieti transformed, his skin turning a sickly green as Evil Energy coursed through him, quickening his attacks.

Chen Guo remained calm, countering with his precise swordplay while taking moments to reinforce his Golden Light Shield.

Despite Arieti tapping into his latent power and assuming his Demon Form, which boosted his fighting capacity, his pre-existing wounds meant that, even with the increase, he was only evenly matched with Chen Guo.

When the Sacred Counter triggered again two minutes later, Arieti braced himself and petrified once more.

Boom!

The blow landed, leaving Arieti even more battered than before.

This time, he couldn't sustain his Demon Form, and he was even stripped of his Descended from the Heavens state.

Suffering back-to-back injuries, Arieti could no longer hold any enhanced state. Panic spread across his face, his earlier confidence evaporating.

Yet Arieti was acutely aware that countless eyes from across the realms were upon him, especially those of his lord, the Demon King. He couldn't afford to show weakness, lest he bring shame upon the Evil Energy Army.

Even if his avatar were to fall in battle, it would be with honor, having fought valiantly without retreat. His courage was commendable, and his true self would remain unaffected.

So, Arieti steeled himself for the ongoing clash with Chen Guo. But this time, he found himself outmatched and overwhelmed.

He was reduced to mere defense, utterly unable to counterattack.

As the two-minute mark approached, Arieti leaped away, soaring over a hundred meters in an attempt to evade the impending Sacred Counter.

"You seem to have forgotten, my speed outstrips yours; you can't escape my judgement!" In an instant, Chen Guo materialized behind Arieti, unleashing the Sacred Counter.

Boom!

Arieti was half-kneeling on the ground, barely clinging to life.

Battles, they're like a kiss. When a young man leans in for a kiss, the girl might run away. And naturally, he'd chase after her relentlessly, with no quarter given.

"Ancestor, I invoke your presence..."

"Immortal Wind Cloud Body Technique..."

"Drunken Immortal Moon Gazing Steps..."

"Heavenly Astral Battle Qi..."

Having fortified himself with an array of buffs, Chen Guo unleashed a merciless assault on the enfeebled Arieti.