Chapter 27: A Glare

The rain poured heavily.

Zhao Kongcheng, holding his straight blade, was drenched in blood, his dark red cloak soaked through. His condition was utterly miserable, but his eyes... they were as bright as the stars!

So... this is what the Forbidden Ruins is like.

It feels *great*!

It felt *damn* great!

In front of him, the Ghost Face King stared in shock at its empty right arm, its pale, ghostly face contorting in disbelief.

It couldn't understand why the mouse it had just been mercilessly tormenting could suddenly unleash such a powerful force.

But its intellect was limited, and… it didn't have the time to think about it.

Zhao Kongcheng moved.

Under the effects of the Ghost God Medicine, his body had forgotten all its injuries and returned to its optimal state. He shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, rushing toward the Ghost Face King!

"Raaaargh!!!"

The Ghost Face King's eyes turned red. Now missing its right arm, it had completely fallen into a state of rage!

Its muscles bulged, its body swelled, and its legs bent as its massive form leaped forward, splashing water everywhere.

In mid-air, the two figures collided at terrifying speed!

*Bang! Bang! Bang!!*

Their movements were so fast they were blurry, and black crescent-shaped blades of energy flew everywhere, leaving deep, menacing marks in the surrounding ground!

Initially, Zhao Kongcheng's blade couldn't break through the Ghost Face King's defenses. And no matter the strength or speed, he was overwhelmingly outmatched. This was the fundamental reason he had been so badly beaten just moments ago.

But now, with *The Vanishing Life and Flashing Moon*, Zhao Kongcheng's offensive power had reached a terrifying level. Every strike left a deep gash on the Ghost Face King's body!

Although, in terms of raw strength and speed, Zhao Kongcheng still couldn't match the Ghost Face King, once he made up for his lack of killing power, all other weaknesses could be covered by experience.

Even though his physical abilities were far inferior to the Ghost Face King's, he could still pound it into the ground!

It was clear that Zhao Kongcheng hadn't been lying.

With the Forbidden Ruins, he could kill the Ghost Face King eight hundred times!

Given enough time, taking down the Ghost Face King alone was just a matter of time… but the problem was, he didn't have that much time.

While the Ghost God Medicine might unleash a person's potential, the effect didn't last long. Nearly ten seconds had passed since Zhao Kongcheng's Forbidden Ruins erupted, and his time was running out.

Fighting the Ghost Face King, Zhao Kongcheng could clearly feel his strength waning, and the pain he had suppressed was beginning to return.

Even the black crescent-shaped blades he unleashed were shrinking in size!

The Ghost Face King seemed to sense the change in his state. It didn't hesitate to expend its own energy and launched a more ferocious attack!

After a few more exchanges, the Ghost Face King seized an opportunity and landed a heavy punch to Zhao Kongcheng's chest!

*Boom—!*

A muffled sound echoed through the air. Zhao Kongcheng was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, crashing hard to the ground!

"*Hiss*... why does it hurt so much..."

The pain rushed through him like a surging tide, crashing against every nerve in his body. He clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot.

Coughing up blood, he slowly began to rise from the mud…

His gaze locked onto the Ghost Face King, the fire burning in his eyes still undiminished.

He could still breathe. His Forbidden Ruins was still active. He could still fight!

The Ghost Face King wasn't dead…

He couldn't fall now!

With his straight blade propping him up, Zhao Kongcheng shakily stood. Just as he did, a sudden explosion sounded!

*Boom—!!*

A huge blast came from behind him. The sky above him trembled slightly, and a rift appeared in the air…

This is...

Zhao Kongcheng stared blankly at the sky, as though realizing something. He suddenly turned around!

Not far behind him, a gap had torn open in the invisible canvas that had covered the sky...

And through that incomplete crack, a young man with golden eyes was walking toward him.

Zhao Kongcheng's mouth fell open. His expression was one of pure shock, like he had seen a ghost!

"You, you, you… how did you get in here?!"

Lin Qiye brushed aside the rain-soaked hair from his face, his eyes burning with a holy, fiery glow. He sighed helplessly:

"I have to admit, this *No Fear Zone* is really tough. But luckily, I have these eyes of mine. I can find its weakest point. And luckily... it's night."

Zhao Kongcheng only understood the first part, but that still didn't answer his question.

"You just entered the *Blaze Realm*, how do you have such power? Wait... you don't have a weapon, how did you break the *No Fear Zone*?"

"You might not believe it if I tell you." Lin Qiye said calmly, "I just glared at it, and it opened."

Zhao Kongcheng: ...

Lin Qiye wasn't lying. Under the cover of night, his eyes had been greatly enhanced. Though not by five times, it was at least two times stronger.

Before obtaining the *Starry Night Dancer*, he could use the Seraphim's divine power to kill the Ghost Face Man. Now, with the blessing of the night, he could use that divine power to break the *No Fear Zone*.

But it came at a cost. The toll on his mental energy was immense. Just one glare had nearly drained him entirely.

Lin Qiye glanced at the severely wounded Ghost Face King, then at the blade marks all over the ground. His gaze turned oddly as he looked at Zhao Kongcheng, "You still say you don't have a Forbidden Ruins? Is this something a human can cut out?"

Zhao Kongcheng didn't want to explain anymore, because… his time was really running out.

"Stop talking. Get back."

"I can help you fight."

"I know. Just get back."

Zhao Kongcheng turned to face him. "One more strike, I'll take one more strike, and after that, you can help me."

"Okay." Lin Qiye stepped aside.

Zhao Kongcheng took a deep breath, gripping his sword tighter. His gaze locked onto the Ghost Face King in the distance.

"Kid."

"Huh?"

"Watch closely."

"Why?"

"This strike… it's going to be very cool."

"…"

Before Lin Qiye could even show his look of disdain, Zhao Kongcheng kicked the ground with all his strength, launching himself toward the Ghost Face King at incredible speed!

The Ghost Face King seemed to realize that the man in front of him had reached his limit and didn't choose to meet him head-on. Instead, it stood cautiously, preparing to defend against the coming attack.

Zhao Kongcheng's eyes shone like a torch, growing brighter with every moment.

He smashed through the rain curtain, charging toward the Ghost Face King,

No flashy moves,

He raised his hand,

And swung his sword.

An unprecedentedly large crescent cut through the night sky, moving with such speed that the raindrops in its path were sliced in half.

This strike was so fast that even the powerful Ghost Face King couldn't dodge in time.

Even if it wanted to dodge, in its current state, it was impossible.

And so,

The black crescent soared through the sky,

Gently,

And severed the grotesque, ghost-faced head leave its body.