He Zhongyi and Sikong Ran were violently blasted backward by the overwhelming force, stumbling back more than a dozen paces before they could regain their footing.
Blood trickled from the corners of their lips—one exchange, and they were already wounded.
Only now did they manage to steady themselves.
From the sidelines, Gu Qingli watched in silent alarm—this was the first time she had witnessed a King-tier cultivator make a move.
The gap between the King-tier and a Great Martial Warrior was far too vast. Even one at the pinnacle of nine stars stood no chance against such power.
He Zhongyi and Sikong Ran, even combined, were utterly helpless.
If it had been her in their place—how much of a chance would she have had?
Moreover, once a cultivator entered the King-tier, they gained access to a variety of devastating battle techniques. The difference between the peak of the Great Martial Warrior rank and the lowest level of the King-tier was as vast as heaven and earth.
The King-tier marked the true watershed between ordinary cultivators and genuine powerhouses. To step over that line was to begin one's ascent into the ranks of the mighty on the ancient continent of Shengu.
"Damn it!"
Sikong Ran wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, cursing through clenched teeth. Fury simmered in his chest—ever since he'd grown up in Loulan City, no one had dared lay a hand on him.
A flash of green light flickered on his palm, and with a roar, a massive, crimson-maned lion materialized before them.
"ROAR!"
The red-furred lion raised its head and let out a deafening roar that echoed across the surrounding mountains, shaking the trees on both sides as if a storm had swept through the forest.
Its presence even seemed to surpass Sikong Ran's own power as a Two-Star Spirit Adept.
Gu Qingli quickly took note—spirit beasts summoned by Spirit Illusionists often exceeded their master's rank by a star or more.
"The Scarlet Flame-Armored Lion!"
The black-robed man's eyes narrowed in surprise as he recognized the formidable beast.
Gu Qingli couldn't help but feel a pang of envy at the sight of the majestic creature.
The lion and Sikong Ran were a perfect match—bold, fierce, and unrestrained. Its entrance was nothing short of domineering. Truly, the beast reflected the nature of its master. If only she, too, could form a contract with a magical beast...
"Young master, are you alright?"
He Zhongyi gripped his greatsword tightly, his heart heavy with disbelief. The man who held the secret of his lineage turned out to be his father's enemy.
"He Zhongyi," Sikong Ran coughed violently, blood staining his lips. "We can't beat him. If you get the chance—run. Go home. Find my father."
Guilt surged in He Zhongyi's chest, but his expression turned glacial. His eyes locked onto the black-robed man, who stood watching them with a mocking gaze.
"If you want what I have," He Zhongyi growled, "at least tell me—who was my father? Where is he now?"
But the black-robed man merely sneered.
"The dead have no need for such knowledge."
As the final word fell, pale blue battle energy erupted violently, slamming toward the colossal lion.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed through the forest as the Scarlet Flame-Armored Lion quivered beneath the impact. Gu Qingli, watching from above, nearly lost her grip on the tree.
But the lion's hide was astoundingly resilient—it withstood the blow, glaring fiercely ahead without retreating a single step.
Yet before He Zhongyi and Sikong Ran could breathe a sigh of relief, the black-robed man's expression remained eerily calm as an even greater tide of blue energy began to swell around him.
The very air grew dense—thick with impending doom.
Gu Qingli held her breath, her expression solemn. This next attack held immense power. She wasn't sure if the mighty lion could endure it.
He Zhongyi's face darkened, and with a cry, he raised his greatsword high and charged at the cloaked figure.
"Foolish overconfidence!"
The black-robed man scoffed coldly, unleashing a surge of battle energy. Blue light gathered in the air, forming a massive sword of pure force that came crashing down upon the lion.
The ground trembled as though the heavens had fallen.
The Scarlet Flame-Armored Lion was hurled through the air like a broken comet, landing more than twenty meters away with a thunderous crash that carved a deep crater into the earth. Sikong Ran's face turned deathly pale as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
When a contracted beast suffered injury, its master suffered as well.
Meanwhile, the aura around He Zhongyi's greatsword grew fierce—the green glow sharpened like a blade of vengeance, aimed straight for the black-robed man's heart.