A verdant radiance filled the sky, pressing down on Qian Ye from all directions with an overwhelming force. Despite holding the upper hand, Ji Rui’s shock only grew.
To command the primal forces of heaven and earth and manifest them externally was a hallmark of a divine general. Transitioning from intangibility to tangibility in one’s domain was a significant step, and advancing further to materialize the elements of nature was another level. The latter is generally a realm attained by divine generals.
Ji Rui was just a step away from becoming a divine general. Both his actions and domain exuded a verdant glow. Once he advanced and grasped the essence of something, that thing would take shape within the green light. Only then would he truly wield the power of a divine general.
In the current green light, there were faint outlines of sharp arrows, a testament to Ji Rui’s comprehension of the primal forces. When these myriad arrows fully took form, he would be able to cross the threshold to become a divine general.
Yet, Qian Ye, at merely Level 12, had cultivated his domain to the point of manifesting the primal forces! Staring at the faintly visible whirlpool in the air, Ji Rui felt a hint of fear creeping into his heart.
The manifestation of primal forces also varies in complexity.
It is generally accepted that inanimate objects are inferior to living ones, and living ones are inferior to majestic phenomena. Though Ji Rui’s numerous arrows represented the pinnacle of tangible manifestations, they remained inanimate.
Yetoong’s crimson beasts, however, were manifested life forms, or living entities. As for Song Zining’s three thousand floating leaves, Zhao Jundu’s Purple Apex to Azure, and Wei Po Tian’s Thousand Layers of Mountains, these could be classified as majestic phenomena. Yet, if scrutinized, the Thousand Layers of Mountains had more artificiality, while Yetoong’s blood beasts, brimming with vitality, almost possessed their own souls. In the future, if they were to create their lairs, they would rank among the highest class of majestic phenomena.
From this, it was clear that the potential of these individuals surpassed that of a divine general, thus earning them the title of geniuses.
Qian Ye’s vast ocean whirlpool, without question, was a grand majestic phenomenon, at least two major tiers above Ji Rui’s.
A hidden intent to kill flickered in Ji Rui’s heart. He channeled more primal forces, and some of the arrow tips solidified from their shadowy forms, hidden among the multitude of green silhouettes, shooting towards Qian Ye from all directions!
At this moment, the sea was about to collapse, its edges clashing fiercely with the verdant glow, both eroding each other. Although the green light filled over a hundred meters and was nearly ten times the volume of the deep-sea vortex, upon collision, Ji Rui felt that the sea waves contained countless tiny, extremely sharp particles, like blades, slicing through the green light and instantly being engulfed by the waves.
As their domains clashed, Ji Rui’s face turned ashen. To consume eight parts of green light to counter one part of the sea waves, such a ratio made Ji Rui feel like weeping.
Though he could still win, the easy victory he had anticipated was no longer possible; he needed to exert his full strength.
Engaged in a deadlock, Qian Ye was at a disadvantage due to his lower cultivation. The whirlpool gradually thinned. However, his fist continued forward, cutting through the myriad green lights, never looking back!
Ji Rui did not hesitate, surging with more green light, and struck down with a palm.
Fist met palm, and a sudden boom echoed in the air. Qian Ye’s ocean vortex could no longer hold and dissipated. The green light fragmented, resembling tattered rags fluttering back and forth.
Qian Ye flew backward several dozen meters before landing, retreating a few more steps, grunting as a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
Ji Rui stood firm in the air, unmoving, not pursuing the advantage, but placing his hands behind his back, a dignified demeanor. However, Guan Zhongliu, standing nearby, noticed that Ji Rui’s right hand was trembling uncontrollably.
Ji Rui’s shock was indescribable. Just a moment ago, Qian Ye’s fist unleashed an unimaginable, horrifying force, almost shattering Ji Rui’s protective primal forces with a single blow!
Such power, Ji Rui had only seen in vampire marquises or arachnoid counts. A human, with their flesh and blood, should not possess such strength. Even without any primal forces, Qian Ye could easily slay a war captain with just his physical might.
Growing up in the Neutral Zone, Ji Rui understood how terrifying a naturally powerful body could be. Although he could suppress Qian Ye in terms of primal forces, it would require a grueling battle. With Qian Ye’s terrifying strength, capturing him would be immensely difficult, requiring meticulous planning. However, the city lord’s residence lacked such arrangements, and if Qian Ye escaped, the consequences would be dire.
However, Qian Ye did not flee as Ji Rui expected. Instead, he stood in place, staring coldly at Ji Rui, his aura continuously rising.
After a brief standoff, Qian Ye’s primal forces erupted, his aura soaring. The fourth vortex of primal forces blazed with light, already taking form!
Qian Ye clasped his hands towards Ji Rui and said, “Thank you, City Lord, for aiding me.”
Ji Rui, at a loss for words, awkwardly replied, “Not at all, not at all.”
Qian Ye was on the brink of a breakthrough, needing only to complete the condensation of his primal forces. During the confrontation with Ji Rui, he gave it his all, and under the dual pressure, his primal forces, like forged iron, rapidly purified and condensed, forming a new vortex.
Due to Qian Ye’s exceptionally robust body, the stabilization process that might take ordinary people months was completed in an instant. His aura surged without pause, reaching its peak in a breath.
Ji Rui’s mouth gaped wider and wider, eventually turning into a bitter smile, slowly lowering his right hand. Qian Ye at Level 12 might have been detained, but Qian Ye at Level 13, without thorough preparation, was out of reach.
Ji Rui landed and approached Qian Ye, who remained motionless, his gaze icy.
Seeing Qian Ye’s calm, Ji Rui’s heart skipped a beat. He retracted his primal forces, plastered on a smile, and asked, “General Qian Ye, what is the reason for your sudden intrusion into my inner courtyard? Has anyone in my city lord’s residence offended you?”
Qian Ye calmly replied, “I am looking for Honglian.”
Ji Rui’s eyelids twitched, and he said, “Honglian? She is a candidate for the Gao Hu people’s War Maiden. What does she have to do with me?”
Qian Ye kicked the artilleryman on the ground and said, “These people, acting on Honglian’s orders, tried to assassinate me in the street. According to him, Honglian is hiding in Madam He’s courtyard within the city lord’s residence.”
Ji Rui’s expression changed, and he stamped his foot, exclaiming, “How could that be possible? Someone, go check Madam He’s courtyard and see if Honglian is really there!”
Guan Zhongliu agreed and was about to head to the inner courtyard when Qian Ye reached out to stop him.
“I will go and check,” Qian Ye said coldly.
Guan Zhongliu, enraged, shook his shoulder and forcefully charged at Qian Ye, shouting, “How dare you! The city lord’s inner courtyard is no place for you!”
Qian Ye did not dodge. Stepping forward, there was a muffled thud as he collided with Guan Zhongliu head-on!
Their clash involved not just physical strength but also a raw collision of primal forces. Guan Zhongliu felt as if he had hit a massive boulder, with all his primal forces rebounding back, causing his internal organs to convulse. He staggered back, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed, unable to stand.
Ji Rui’s face paled. With his keen eyes, he saw that Guan Zhongliu was severely injured, and it would be incredibly difficult for him to make a breakthrough now.
“General Qian Ye, what is the meaning of this?” Ji Rui demanded angrily.
“City Lord Ji, I must ask, what is your meaning? Last time, you pursued my daughter Zhu Ji in the Black Forest. That matter was barely settled when Imperial Military personnel tried to kill and rob. Now, as soon as I entered your South Green City, I was attacked on the street, and the city guards attempted to cover for the perpetrators. Is it the case that whoever wants to kill me can simply hide in your city lord’s residence and get away scot-free?”
Ji Rui snorted, saying coldly, “The Imperial Military has nothing to do with me, and I knew nothing about the robbery. Based on this man’s one-sided account, you want to intrude into my inner courtyard and take someone. Where does this leave my dignity as the city lord?”
Qian Ye looked at Ji Rui, half-smiling, and said, “City Lord Ji, you certainly did not show me any respect just now. Do you think I owe you any respect?”
Ji Rui’s eyebrows furrowed, and he growled, “Are you determined to be the enemy of my South Green City?”
Qian Ye, unperturbed, replied, “City Lord Ji, you know my nature. If you don’t hand over Honglian today, I’m afraid I’ll have to consider you an enemy.”
Ji Rui, seething with anger, laughed sarcastically, “Very well, truly a hero in his youth! It seems I have underestimated you, Qian Ye. But, do you really think you can defeat me, Ji Rui?”
Qian Ye, after a quick glance at Ji Rui, smiled faintly and said, “City Lord Ji, even if I cannot defeat you now, do you believe you can break through to become a divine general within a year?”
Ji Rui’s heart jolted, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Can you break through within a year?”
“Whether I can or not is not important. But City Lord Ji, even if I cannot defeat you, it doesn’t mean I can’t kill you. And until you break through, your business in South Green City will come to a halt.”
Ji Rui’s face darkened, “Are you so confident you can kill me?”
Qian Ye replied, “If the City Lord truly doubts, let’s wait and see.”
Ji Rui’s expression fluctuated between dark and light, and after a moment, he stomped his foot, “Fine! Follow me. We will go to Madam He’s courtyard and see if Honglian is there. If not, what then?”
“Apologize and form an alliance with City Lord Ji.”
“Fine! Follow me!”
Ji Rui headed straight for the inner courtyard, and any servants who greeted him were shoved aside. Everyone knew he was in a foul mood and dared not approach.
They moved swiftly, arriving at Madam He’s door in no time. Two maidservants hurriedly blocked their way, asking, “Master, why have you come here suddenly?”
Ji Rui, in no mood for games, shouted, “Get out!” With a wave of his hand, the maidservants were flung against the courtyard wall, knocked unconscious.
Ji Rui climbed the steps, lifting his leg to kick the door. But with his leg in mid-air, he paused, turned, and said, “General Qian Ye, aren’t you afraid I’ve set a trap inside, ready to kill you?”
Qian Ye smiled and said, “By all means, try.”
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