Shi Hao charged forward like a ferocious tiger, bathed in holy light, leaving behind a trail of afterimages as he lunged into battle.
“Thunder Rumbles Across the Heavens!” The creature clad in rusted armor, wielding the Thunder Emperor’s Treasure Spell, unleashed its most devastating strike—a forbidden technique of the Thunder Emperor.
In the past, Shi Hao had used this very technique to slay a True God across realms, shaking the grasslands of Fire Province and startling even the Celestial Immortal Academy.
*Sizzle!*
Bolts of lightning intertwined, drawing in the black mist from the sky and the distant clouds, summoning the most primal thunder elements of the world to manifest a heavenly tribulation.
The already dim surroundings grew even darker as leaden clouds rolled in, shrouding the land in night. Amidst the crackling arcs of blinding lightning that tore through the void, it was as if the apocalypse had descended.
Shi Hao’s blood boiled with battle fervor, his fighting spirit soaring to the heavens. Having just beheaded a creature adorned with reincarnation runes, he now faced the wielder of the Thunder Emperor’s technique without fear.
He soared into the sky, standing firm in the dark void as lightning crisscrossed around him. With one hand forming a seal and striking upward, and the other slamming downward toward the creature below, he chose to confront the attack head-on rather than evade.
In truth, evasion was impossible—the Thunder Emperor’s technique, once unleashed, covered too vast an area.
However, this was no ordinary thunderstorm, lacking the conditions to unleash the technique’s full terrifying might. Thus, Shi Hao struck with overwhelming force and precision.
*Boom!*
The ominous black mist could not fully replace the clouds, which still gathered in the distance. Shi Hao’s palm strike shook heaven and earth, causing the void itself to collapse.
Yet, a colossal silver beam of lightning descended—a concentrated force of thunder elements.
Runes of thunder flickered across Shi Hao’s body, dispersing the lightning. The force of his downward strike intensified, infused with the profound mysteries of his own Treasure Spell, crashing toward the creature below.
*Thud!*
The creature had no escape. Mystical patterns spread through the void like a radiant spiderweb, sealing all paths. Forced to endure the blow, it coughed blood and was sent flying.
“Slash!”
Shi Hao roared, his eyes transforming into martial divine symbols—like two true dragons lunging forth—capturing every movement of his foe and predicting its next action.
*Whoosh!*
The most intricate patterns condensed in Shi Hao’s palm, merging Heaven’s Script with Reincarnation Runes, intertwined with a third divine pattern.
The power radiating from this strike was overwhelming, causing Shi Hao’s entire arm to blaze like a golden holy sword, illuminating the heavens.
With a mighty swing, the wielder of the Thunder Emperor’s Treasure Spell—already grievously wounded—found its movements predicted and its defenses shattered.
*Thud!*
The creature was decapitated, its head exploding midair into a rain of blood, while its headless corpse crumpled to the ground.
“Too brutal—another one slain?!” Cao Yusheng and the others gasped in shock. What kind of technique was this, to be so ruthlessly efficient?
In truth, even Shi Hao himself had yet to fully comprehend this newly evolved Supreme Technique. Still in its infancy, it remained unrefined.
So far, he had discovered that it could merge with Reincarnation and Heaven’s Script, amplifying his power exponentially—an astonishing revelation.
He wondered—was this purely a technique of raw strength, or could it truly enhance other Supreme Techniques? Only time would reveal its full potential.
Once fully matured, this invincible technique’s power would multiply, possibly even unlocking unknown, extraordinary abilities.
“Only one and a half left!” the little rabbit cheered, its crimson eyes wide with excitement as it bounced around. Victory over the ominous and eerie forces seemed within reach.
The creature wielding Heaven’s Hand unleashed streaks of white light, attacking recklessly, while the half-dead, shattered humanoid Kun Peng struggled to its feet and joined the assault.
“End this!”
Shi Hao roared, his body radiating light as he executed a heaven-shaking technique. One hand summoned the dissipating thunderclouds above, while the other struck forward.
He, too, unleashed the Thunder Emperor’s Treasure Spell, harnessing the residual thunder elements left by his fallen foe—effectively combining their power.
*Boom!*
A torrent of lightning descended as Shi Hao raised his other hand, hurling thunderbolts at the two creatures.
*Crack!*
Both adversaries were charred black, their bodies convulsing with electricity as they were sent flying, though not yet dead.
“Slay!”
Shi Hao flapped his massive Kun Peng wings, chasing them down. With a burst of speed, he pierced through them using his innate Supreme Technique.
Silence fell. The stone path was stained with blood—not black, but vibrant red, brimming with vitality unlike before.
“Success! We’ve taken that step!” the Divine Striking Stone cackled.
“I… witnessed a miracle,” Cao Yusheng murmured, his mind adrift. Throughout history, countless peerless beings had perished in failure—yet today, he had seen it with his own eyes.
“Peerless brilliance!” the little rabbit praised, blinking its large eyes—a rare compliment.
“But why hasn’t the black mist dispersed?” Qing Yi’s joy quickly turned to caution as she noticed the anomaly.
Indeed, Shi Hao sensed it too—an eerie presence lingered.
The lantern in the void remained, unextinguished.
The black mist thickened, oppressive and terrifying, like the fog before an abyss—soon to part and reveal a monstrous truth.
*Rustle…*
Suddenly, the scattered flesh on the ground reassembled. The four slain creatures merged into one—Kun Peng wings unfurled, lightning coiling around its body, Reincarnation Runes etched into its flesh, Heaven’s Light fused with its arms, and a new, unfamiliar pattern forming across its form.
“What?!” Shi Hao’s blood ran cold. This creature now bore the third Supreme Technique—one he had only just unlocked.
The speed of this mimicry was horrifying. Had all his secrets been laid bare?
What unseen force was at work here, capable of deciphering all Treasure Techniques? The thought alone sent chills down his spine.
“Die!”
Shi Hao lunged, fighting with everything he had, determined to obliterate this abomination and erase all traces—hoping to safeguard his techniques.
Yet he feared it was futile. Even if he slew this creature, the mysterious force had likely already gleaned everything.
*Crash!*
Their clash warped the void, distorting space as runes and laws intertwined in a breathtaking display.
Battered and bloodied, Shi Hao endured hundreds of exchanges before finally striking down the eerie being. Without hesitation, he summoned Dao Flames—three thousand intertwining strands—incinerating it to ashes.
He then turned his efforts to purging the black mist and slashing at the ancient lantern in the void.
*Hum…*
The lantern chimed softly, its wick reflecting the battle like a mirror. It then shot into the distance, attempting to flee.
“Success! Even the eerie forces are retreating!” the little rabbit cheered.
But Shi Hao’s expression darkened. His worst fear was unfolding—his secrets were being carried away.
Ignoring his injuries, he gave chase, determined to uncover the source of this anomaly and shatter the lantern.
“So, you haven’t truly discerned everything—you need the lantern to carry back what you’ve witnessed,” he muttered.
Earlier suspicions of illusions faded. Now, it was clear—some unseen force was at work, capable of terrifying deeds.
“Throughout history, has it drawn out the strongest techniques of every prodigy, only to take them away?” he wondered.
“Die!”
Shi Hao brandished his Void Battle Halberd, leaping skyward to cleave the lantern apart.
It emitted an eerie glow, spinning rapidly as its wick brightened, illuminating Shi Hao’s body as if rendering him transparent.
Even the dormant flames deep within him were revealed.
But the lantern shuddered, dimming abruptly before darting away—as if sensing danger.
*Whoosh!*
A fist-sized cluster of flames, composed of countless symbols, shot from Shi Hao’s body, overtaking the lantern.
*Crack!*
The lantern shattered into dust.
The flames then swept across the battlefield, incinerating every remnant of black mist, leaving nothing behind.
“What just happened?”
“Is it over? Will there be no more ominous events?”
Cao Yusheng and Qing Yi caught up, their faces filled with awe.
The flames returned to Shi Hao’s body, vanishing without a trace.
“There… is still a disturbance!” Shi Hao sensed an even more sinister presence than before—one that chilled him to the bone.
After a brief hesitation, he pressed forward, arriving beyond the three-thousand-stone path to find a massive black rift in the void—a chasm like a gaping maw.
Was this the source of the anomaly?
Standing before it, Shi Hao shuddered. Despite his immense strength, he felt as if plunged into an icy abyss—a cold that seeped into his very soul.
The danger was palpable, yet his curiosity drove him closer, if only to peer into the rift.
Too many questions plagued him—what lay within? What was the true nature of this eerie force?
“Be careful!”
His companions called out, rushing to catch up.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Hao stepped forward, gazing into the abyss.
In an instant, his face paled. What he saw reminded him of an ancient legend, filling him with dread.
“Fall back! Now! Don’t look at it!” Shi Hao bellowed, desperation in his voice as he barred the others from approaching.
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