Chapter 55 – Qiang Ming vs Them Part 2

The golden light of Xie Xie's departure still lingered in the air when Qiang Ming's feet hit the ground again. His breath came heavy, but his eyes were sharp—ravenous. That momentary pause, that gap in the chaos, was instantly broken.

"RAAAAGH!"

A roar of fury tore through the battlefield as a golden blur slammed into Qiang Ming's side with meteoric force. Tang Wulin, battered but burning with determination, drove his Golden Dragon Claw deep into Qiang Ming's torso.

The impact rang like a drum inside Qiang Ming's ribcage. Bones bent—some cracked—and a monstrous hematoma burst to life under his skin. Blood sprayed from his lips as he staggered back, vision briefly swimming.

But Qiang Ming did not fall.

His muscles tensed like drawn cables. His purple eyes snapped onto Wulin's face.

"You're still standing?" Tang Wulin gasped, his breathing ragged, strain from his internal injuries evident in the blood pooling at the corners of his mouth.

Qiang Ming didn't answer with words.

He punched.

The Blackstone Abyss Hammer vanished from his grasp in a shimmer of light. His fist flew forward like the judgment of a vengeful god. Tang Wulin's pupils contracted, and he raised his claw in defense, but it was too late.

CRACK.

Qiang Ming's counter slammed into Wulin's jaw. The golden boy's knees buckled, and the world around him shimmered with golden motes as he disappeared, ejected from the simulation like a puppet with its strings cut.

Qiang Ming stood there for a second, swaying.

Pain screamed through every fiber of his being. His abdomen was a ruined mess, his mouth still oozed blood, and his body was nearing its limit.

One mistake, and I'm out.

And the next mistake came quickly.

He turned his head—and saw nothing.

Too late.

From his flank, a flurry of motion erupted. Two icicles, forged with cruel precision, lanced through the air and struck him clean in the chest. One hit high—shattering near his collarbone—while the other embedded deep in his ribs.

Qiang Ming coughed, almost doubling over. His knees dipped.

The pain was searing. Hot, raw, and immediate.

His eyes rose—locking on the distant figures of Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue.

Rage bloomed in his chest like wildfire.

"Damned… COWARDS!"

His roar echoed across the arena as he planted his feet, twisted his waist, and unleashed a violent spin, black mist and purple light flaring from his form. The Lich's Hands whipped around him like blades, deflecting incoming projectiles as he disappeared into a blur of movement.

When he stopped, the Blackstone Abyss Hammer was no longer in his hands.

He smirked.

Checkmate.

Xu Xiaoyan blinked—then screamed.

The hammer materialized behind her like a summoned curse, smashing down with terminal force. She barely had time to gasp before the massive weapon collided with her skull—and she vanished in a cascade of golden light.

Another one down.

Gu Yue's eyes widened.

But before she could summon another spell, Qiang Ming was already sprinting toward her, calling his hammer back to his hand mid-charge. The air around them was thick with burning ozone and residual Soul Power. Her instincts screamed at her, but her body lagged.

Then—

Wu Siduo arrived.

She intercepted Qiang Ming like a bolt from the shadows, her figure crashing into his with a body slam that sent shockwaves through the battlefield. Her Hell Civet Martial Soul radiated around her, claws glowing faintly.

Their clash was brief—but intense.

Qiang Ming struck with wide, brutal arcs of his hammer, each one heavy enough to shatter the bones of weaker soul masters. Siduo responded with agility, dodging and retaliating with quick, slicing swipes meant to wear him down.

For a time, the two fought in near-equal rhythm.

But Qiang Ming was still running on madness. Pure force of will. Even without his full strength, even with his bruised body and splintered bones, his movements were precise. Ruthless.

Siduo faltered just once—her balance wavered for half a second after a low kick knocked her off her rhythm.

That was all Qiang Ming needed.

He twisted his grip, reversed his hammer, and delivered a blow with the pommel directly into her chest. The impact broke her guard—and the follow-up uppercut from one of his skeletal hands shattered her concentration completely.

Wu Siduo, too, turned into golden light.

Now only one opponent remained.

Qiang Ming stood among the wreckage of the simulation.

Bruised. Bleeding. Half-limping.

He turned slowly.

Only Gu Yue remained.

And she had finished preparing her spell.

She stood across the arena, arms raised to the sky, her rings all shining at once. Wind coiled around her body, lifting her hair. Ice crystals danced in her aura. Flames burned at her fingertips. A chaotic tri-elemental cyclone gathered around her like a vortex of destruction.

Qiang Ming's eyes widened slightly.

"You think that's enough?" he growled, raising his hammer and positioning the Lich's Hands in a cross before his chest.

Gu Yue's eyes didn't flicker.

The spell launched.

Fire, ice, and wind howled together, colliding into Qiang Ming like a meteor falling from the heavens.

He braced himself behind the Blackstone Abyss Hammer, the black mist of his soul bone thickening—desperately trying to dampen the incoming storm.

And then—

BOOM.

The explosion rocked the arena.

Dust and smoke rose like a mushroom cloud.

The battlefield was silent.

And from the crater—nothing stirred.

Yet.