Chương 85: Battle of the Sects, Reversing Heaven and Earth Alone (3)

Tiandaozi's eyes narrowed, a trace of hesitation flickering within their profound depths. After a moment of heavy silence, he offered a slow, deliberate nod, though he could not suppress a final, stern admonishment.

"Your participation was always part of my design," he murmured, his voice laced with a sharp warning.

"However, you must swear that you will not act recklessly. Do not claim a life, or I shall personally see to your punishment!"

"The Sect Master need not fret; I know exactly where the line is drawn," the youth replied, rising with a fluid, predatory grace. Under the reverent and fearful gazes of the Qingyan Sect's younger generation, he transformed into a streak of azure light, descending upon the Ascension Terrace with practiced ease.

"I am Ming Diao Zhanchen of the Qingyan Sect!" he declared, his tone flat yet vibrating with an innate, unshakable confidence. He adjusted his sleeves with a flick of his wrist.

"I shall grant you the first move. Do not say I never gave you a chance."

"Arrogant brat!" Hei Shi spat, his face flushing with a deep, mottled fury at such blatant condescension. He channeled his True Essence, his fingers dancing through a series of complex mudras that sank into the Fire Toad hovering before him.

"Gwa!" The beast let out a piercing, guttural croak. Though forged from pure, condensed flame, its fist-sized eyes shimmered with an eerie, lifelike intelligence, as if it had birthed its own spirit. Driven by the seals, it unhinged its jaw and spewed a torrent of white-hot fire directly at Ming Diao Zhanchen. The temperature skyrocketed instantly; as the flames surged, the spectators felt a blistering wave of heat wash over them, bringing a sudden, suffocating dryness to the air.

Far across the field, among the ranks of the Xuanxiao Sect, Reyn watched the exchange with a subtle, internal shake of his head. He knew Hei Shi was walking into a slaughter. From the moment Ming Diao Zhanchen appeared, Reyn's Divine Sense had detected a foundation so deep it practically rivaled an Early Foundation Establishment cultivator. Sure enough, as the Fire Toad's breath approached, Ming Diao Zhanchen merely sneered.

"A mere trick of condensed flame. Disperse!" He raised a single hand and clenched it into a violent fist. A colossal spectral hand materialized in the air, translucent yet heavy with spiritual pressure, and seized the Fire Toad in a crushing grip. Poof! Hei Shi's eyes bulged as he coughed up a spray of thick, crimson blood. The Fire Toad had been forcibly detonated, its spiritual connection to him severed with brutal efficiency.

The incoming flames flickered and died into embers before they could even singe the hem of Ming Diao's robes.

"Allow me to send you on your way!" Ming Diao's expression turned vicious. With a violent sweep of his arm, the spectral hand reappeared, snatching the stunned Hei Shi and hurling him toward the Xuanxiao Sect like a discarded rag. Crack! Crack! Even from a distance, the sickening sound of snapping bone was audible to all. Hei Shi's meridians and skeleton were shattered in over a dozen places. Without a miracle or a Grade 4 pill, his cultivation path was effectively severed, leaving him a cripple for life.

The sheer, uncalled-for cruelty of the act made many of the surrounding cultivators blanch in horror. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Excellent... truly excellent!" Dan Chenzi hissed, his face a mask of cold fury as he withdrew his hand from the broken disciple. After ordering his men to carry the boy away, he turned to the Qingyan Sect and let out a series of chilling, mirthless laughs.

"If his skills are lacking, he pays the price. He isn't dead, is he? Or does Daoist Dan Chenzi intend to personally discipline a junior?" Ancestor Ming Diao replied, his voice equally frigid and dismissive. The two Golden Core experts locked eyes in a silent, murderous confrontation. Only after a long, tense silence did they each let out a cold snort and look away.

"Next. I wonder which Daoist from the Xuanxiao Sect wishes to offer me guidance?" Ming Diao Zhanchen said with a thin smile, daintily dusting off his clothes.

"Don't get too comfortable, brat! I'll be the one to humble you!" At that moment, a burly, rugged youth from the Xuanxiao Sect stepped forward. With a flash of light, he leaped onto the stage, his heavy landing causing the stone to groan.

"It's Hei Feng from Azure Valley Peak!"

"Senior Brother Hei Feng was born with Herculean strength; his physique is far sturdier than an ordinary cultivator's. Combined with his Nine-Turn Golden Body Scripture, he can hold his own even against a Foundation Establishment expert!"

"Break his bones, Senior Brother! Avenge Hei Shi! Turn that brat into a pulp!"

"Quiet, you fool! Hei Feng is Hei Shi's elder brother. With Hei Shi crippled like that, Hei Feng is going to fight with his very life on the line!" As the shouts and curses from the Xuanxiao Sect reached his ears, Ming Diao Zhanchen's expression remained unchanged, though the killing intent in his eyes sharpened into a blade-like edge.

"Oh? So that waste from earlier was your brother? Since the little one failed, the big one comes to play? Fine. I shall seize you and snap every bone in your body one by one. You can join your brother in his misery." Hei Feng's eyes burned with a primal rage. A low growl escaped his throat as golden light erupted from his pores. Under this radiance, his bones popped and expanded with a rhythmic thudding sound.

His muscles swelled with such explosive force that his robes shredded instantly, revealing skin that gleamed with the metallic luster of polished brass. He stood there like a Golden Armored War God, his furious gaze carrying an immense, physical weight.

"Today, I will turn you into a pile of mincemeat!" Hei Feng bellowed, his voice rolling like thunder. He charged, each thunderous step causing the terrace's defensive restrictions to flare with light. The sheer momentum of his bulk was enough to strike fear into the hearts of any observer. However, Ming Diao Zhanchen did not flinch. A cold, mocking curl touched his lips. Without moving from his spot, he simply reached out and clenched his hand toward the charging giant. Bang!

A massive spectral hand condensed and slammed into Hei Feng. The collision produced a jarring sound of metal striking metal, a testament to the incredible density of Hei Feng's physical form.

"Hmph! Hah!" Hei Feng roared, the golden light around him thickening into a dense shroud. His face turned a deep, bruised purple as he strained against the invisible force, his feet still grinding forward toward Ming Diao Zhanchen. Ming Diao Zhanchen's eyes flashed with a brief flicker of surprise, which was quickly replaced by a sneer.

"You actually have some skill; no wonder you're so confident. But if you think this meager strength is enough to defeat me, you are dreaming!" As he spoke, he brought his other hand into play, clenching both fists simultaneously. A second massive hand manifested from the ether, doubling the crushing pressure instantly. Splurt! Under the combined weight of the two spectral hands, the golden light surrounding Hei Feng began to buckle with a screeching, metallic sound.

Hei Feng's resistance shattered as he vomited a torrent of blood, his internal organs suffering catastrophic damage under the immense, focused pressure.

"Surrender," Ming Diao Zhanchen mocked, looking down at the trapped, bleeding giant.

"Beg for mercy, and I might just let you crawl off this stage. What do you say?"