“Boom!!!”
Just as they were about to rush toward the crater’s edge, a deafening explosion of battle energy suddenly echoed from above. The violent shockwave burst forth like crashing waves against rocks, instantly scattering the thick smoke rising from the crater.
Countless shards of stone rained down like hail, stinging their skin with sharp pain.
Zhang Wen and Xie Luo had no choice but to crouch low, waiting for a moment until the aftershock of the battle energy passed before continuing forward.
Closer! The situation at the crater’s edge gradually unfolded before them. Explosive smoke billowed like mist, floating in the air.
Zhang Wen, leading Xiao Xi, Luo Fulei, Maryan, and Xie Luo, quickened their pace, finally surging forward in one breath and reaching the crater’s rim. At this place, life and death were left entirely to fate.
This was the fiercest battleground for the title of Southern Realm’s Overlord!
Just then, a sudden gust of wind swept all the smoke away. The scene revealed sent a shockwave through Zhang Wen, Xie Luo, and Luo Fulei. Their steps halted abruptly. No one had expected such a sight—
Before the massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, lay a field of fallen bodies. All were members of teams competing for the title of Southern Realm’s Overlord. Their intertwined forms, in uncertain states of life or death, sent chills down one’s spine.
Among them were no shortage of Saint and Transcendent experts. Which team could possess such power to annihilate all others?
Zhang Wen had originally thought that stronger teams might gain an advantage, but he never imagined anyone capable of wiping out every other team, not even sparing Transcendent experts.
Which team, which person, possessed such terrifying strength?
Zhang Wen’s gaze followed the trail of fallen bodies forward until he saw a lone blue-clad figure standing proudly at the forefront. His left and right hands tightly gripped the throats of Batengping and Batuli. Behind him rose the smoke column of the volcano, making him appear like an invincible giant from myth, exuding an overwhelming, monstrous aura.
“How is this possible…” Xie Luo, Luo Fulei, and Maryan all knew Anthony’s strength. Though he had Saint-tier power, he should never have reached the level of Transcendents. Yet now, he had actually subdued both Batengping and Batuli!
Looking around Anthony, all of Batengping’s former team members lay sprawled on the ground, clearly struck down by the residual waves of battle energy. Even the four Saint-tier experts Zhang Wen had previously spared were scattered in strange positions in different directions. Around them lingered the aftershocks of released battle energy.
“What… what happened here?” Xie Luo, shocked, looked at Anthony and took a couple of steps forward, his voice trembling with disbelief.
“Haha, so you weaklings finally arrived?” A flash of madness flickered in Anthony’s eyes. A brief glow of battle energy flared from each hand, and Zhang Wen and the others clearly heard a dull explosion. At such close range, with his hands gripping their throats while unleashing battle energy, even Batengping and Batuli were…
Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head in regret. He had held some respect for Batengping, but now it was too late.
“As you can see, all the competing teams are here, except for you… Oh, and Omega and Agate haven’t arrived yet? If they’re not here by now, they’ve probably been disqualified!” Anthony spread his arms wide, laughing maniacally to the sky. “Now no one can stop me! I am the strongest king! I am the new Southern Realm Overlord! No one here can rival me!!”
“Boom!!!”
Just as they were about to reach the crater, a deafening explosion of combat energy erupted from above once again. The intense residual energy waves burst forth like waves crashing against rocks, instantly dispersing the thick smoke billowing from the crater.
Countless pieces of rubble rained down, stinging their skin painfully.
Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo had no choice but to crouch down, waiting for the residual waves of the combat energy explosion to pass before continuing their advance.
Closer! The situation at the crater gradually revealed itself. The smoke and dust from the explosion rolled like a thick fog, floating ominously.
Zhang Wen, along with Xiao Xi, Luo Fulei, Marian, and Xiu Luo, quickened their pace and finally managed to charge up to the crater in one breath. At this point, life and death were truly a matter of luck.
The most intense battleground for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord was right here!
At that very moment, a sudden gust of wind swept away all the smoke and dust. The scene that emerged shocked Zhang Wen, Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and the others to their core. Their steps came to an abrupt halt. No one had expected such a sight—
Before the massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, lay a field of bodies. All of them were members of the squads vying for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. Their twisted forms, lifeless or barely alive, sent a chill down everyone’s spine.
Among these bodies were numerous Saint-tier and Super-tier experts. Which squad could possibly possess such strength to annihilate all the others?
Zhang Wen had anticipated that a powerful squad might gain the upper hand, but he never imagined that one squad could wipe out all the others. Even the Super-tier experts hadn’t escaped.
What kind of squad, what kind of person, could have such power?
Zhang Wen’s gaze followed the trail of bodies until it landed on a blue figure standing proudly at the forefront. In his left and right hands, he held the throats of Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli. Behind him, a massive column of volcanic smoke rose, making him appear like an invincible giant from myth, his aura overwhelmingly powerful.
“How is this possible…” Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and Marian all knew and understood Anthony’s strength. Though he was at the Saint-tier, he could never have reached the Super-tier. Yet now, he had simultaneously subdued Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli!!
Looking around Anthony, the members of Ba Tengping’s squad lay scattered on the ground, clearly severely injured by the residual waves of combat energy. Even the four Saint-tier experts Zhang Wen had previously released were sprawled in various directions, their bodies twisted in bizarre positions. Around them, the remnants of combat energy explosions lingered.
“What… what is going on?” Xiu Luo stared at Anthony in shock, taking two steps forward, his voice trembling with disbelief.
“Haha, you trash finally showed up?” Anthony’s eyes flashed with madness. The combat energy in his hands flickered briefly, and Zhang Wen and the others heard the muffled sound of an explosion. At such close range, with their throats in his grip, even Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli…
Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head in regret. He had held some respect for Ba Tengping, but now it was all over.
“As you can see, all the competing squads are here, except for you… oh, and Omega and Agate haven’t arrived yet? If they’re not here by now, they’re probably disqualified!” Anthony spread his arms wide, laughing maniacally at the sky. “Now, no one can stop me! I am the strongest king! I am the new overlord of the Southern Realm! No one here is my match!!”
As Anthony’s laughter echoed, massive pillars of combat energy erupted from his body, like blooming flowers, illuminating the dark crater with a surreal light, as if some unseen monster was about to emerge from the depths of the abyss.
His overwhelming aura spiraled like a hurricane, shooting into the sky. The thick volcanic smoke formed a bizarre spiral vortex above Anthony’s head, resembling a black hole opening into another dimension.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, the entire crater was enveloped by his terrifying, destructive combat energy. At this moment, Anthony’s strength felt infinitely close to that of Lei Miao, a level that approached the realm of a king!
“No wonder he could single-handedly take down everyone else!” In an instant, Zhang Wen understood Anthony’s strategy. He must have led his squad to provoke the other squads that had reached the crater, inciting them to fight each other. Then, during the chaos, he struck, subduing or killing the most threatening Super-tier experts. Meanwhile, his Saint-tier squad members targeted the Saint-tier members of the other squads.
With the most dangerous opponents eliminated, the remaining members stood no chance, leading to a one-sided slaughter.
Anthony’s methods were ruthless, his schemes deep. He had hidden his true nature so well that no one had seen through his facade.
But was this mass slaughter his own doing, or was it under the orders of Hassan? With one-third of the empire’s strongest here, their loss would be a devastating blow to the empire.
Even if Anthony ultimately claimed victory, would the empire really allow someone who had wiped out so many of its strongest to become the Southern Realm’s overlord?
For a moment, Zhang Wen was utterly perplexed.
But there was no time for further contemplation. With a maniacal laugh, Anthony clenched his fists, his aura fierce and his combat energy swirling like a vortex of stars as he strode toward Zhang Wen.
“No one can stop me! Not even the king! Zhang Wen, now it’s your turn!”
With each step, the ground trembled. The crimson lava flowing from the crater surged and churned, releasing a strong sulfuric stench, staining the entire space a bloody red. It was unclear whether it was the glow of Anthony’s combat energy or the ominous sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
The immense pressure and psychic energy locked onto Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo, making it impossible for them to evade.
In the next moment, the blue-clad Anthony accelerated like a roaring train, charging forward with murderous intent.
Zhang Wen’s heart sank. With his keen intuition, he knew Anthony was truly intent on killing him. Moreover, the strength Anthony was displaying now was undoubtedly on par with Lei Miao. Zhang Wen remembered that the last time he had managed to drive Lei Miao away, it had taken the combined efforts of the “Three Super-tiers” to make him retreat temporarily. Now, facing such a formidable enemy alone, how long could he last?
This was undoubtedly a dire crisis!
Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and Luo Fulei’s breaths nearly stopped. Each of them knew it was futile, but they had no choice but to push their combat energy to the limit.
Life and death hung in the balance!!
No one wanted to end up like the bodies lying on the ground!
To survive, they had to kill their enemy!
As the combat energy swirling around Anthony grew increasingly intense, like a speeding comet, Zhang Wen gritted his teeth, channeling all his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique.
At the critical moment, “Boom!” A violent burst of flame erupted from the volcano, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Thick clouds of smoke surged from the crater, filling the air with a pungent, acrid smell.
Was the volcano about to erupt?
Everyone froze, even Anthony couldn’t help but pause, turning to look at the crater.
If the volcano truly erupted, no one, including Anthony, would escape. After all, human strength could not contend with the forces of nature. Even Super-tier experts could not defy natural laws.
Under everyone’s gaze, deep blue lightning bolts erupted from the crater, crackling with thunder.
This unexpected event stunned everyone, including Anthony and Zhang Wen. How could lightning emerge from a volcano?
In the next moment, a voice filled with a playful, mocking tone suddenly rang out from the crater: “Anthony? You said no one is your match, not even the king?” The voice carried a hint of ridicule, and a brilliant blue light surged from the crater, as if an icy aurora had emerged.
In an instant, a figure bathed in blue lightning stepped out of the crater. With each step, a blue lightning bolt erupted beneath his feet, the power of his combat energy lifting him as if he were floating in mid-air.
The Empire’s Venomous Fang—Lei Miao!!
No one had guessed that Lei Miao would be hiding inside the crater, just as no one had anticipated that Anthony could defeat all the competing squads. But at this most unexpected moment, Lei Miao had appeared!
Even Zhang Wen hadn’t expected Lei Miao to make his entrance in such a manner, almost forgetting his existence entirely.
Xiu Luo silently assessed the situation. If Zhang Wen was a bit of a freak, and Anthony was somewhat unhinged, then Lei Miao was undoubtedly a full-blown lunatic. In comparison, Zhang Wen seemed the most reasonable, though he was also the weakest of the three, a fact that was indisputable.
Now… what should they do?
As Zhang Wen and the others hesitated, Lei Miao’s eyes suddenly flashed with excitement.
“I heard you were having quite the killing spree up there. I couldn’t wait to test your strength myself!” His long, elegant fingers spread as he removed the white gloves he was wearing and tossed them to the ground. At the same time, his figure fully emerged from the crater, his feet touching solid ground.
“Anthony, if you want to claim the Southern Realm’s overlord, you’ll have to defeat me first. Because I’ve been here all along, and I also have the right to compete for the title.” Lei Miao spoke as he strode toward Anthony, surrounded by swirling lightning and deep blue combat energy vortices.
Lei Miao had joined this final battle solely to seek out legendary-level opponents. For someone as battle-crazed as him, nothing else mattered. Unfortunately, after observing the strong competitors, none had piqued his interest. If it weren’t for the final “plan,” Lei Miao might have lost patience waiting.
With his Super-tier peak strength, approaching the level of a king, it was no challenge for him to reach the crater ahead of everyone else. To wait for the “person” he was anticipating, he had leaped into the crater first, waiting on a protruding rock wall. His formidable combat energy and psychic power allowed him to withstand the scorching heat of the volcano.
Hearing that Anthony had swept through all the strong competitors at the crater had already made him itch for a fight. When he heard Anthony’s arrogant declaration that even the king was no match for him, Lei Miao could no longer hold back.
Such an arrogant opponent, even if his strength was artificially enhanced, was still intriguing enough to warrant a test.
Lei Miao, being utterly unrestrained here, acted almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind. His right fist clenched, and endless combat energy and lightning seemed to converge in his hand, like a surging ionosphere, crackling with bright white arcs. In the next moment, a lightning sphere, shifting from blue to purple, shot from his palm, heading straight for Anthony.
Lei Miao’s attack wasn’t particularly fast, but its power was undeniable. Just the sound of the highly compressed combat energy within the lightning sphere, tearing through space, was enough to imagine the destructive force it would unleash upon impact. Moreover, Anthony could clearly see countless silver snake-like arcs dancing between Lei Miao and the lightning sphere, indicating that the sphere could be remotely controlled, leaving no chance for escape.
“I… I won’t lose to you!” Even Anthony himself felt a lack of confidence. His current strength was entirely due to ancient elixirs, while Lei Miao’s power was genuine, a testament to his own formidable strength!
But there was no turning back now. If he didn’t fight with everything he had, he would die!
Anthony could not allow himself to fail at the final stage of his ascent to power! He could not bear the thought of defeat! Losing would not only cost him his position but also his life!
“Ahhh!!! I’ll fight to the end!!”
Like an aurora erupting, Anthony unleashed all the combat energy he could muster, creating a towering pillar of light that illuminated the dark sky. The entire volcano trembled under the immense pressure, the ground shaking slightly, and the lava spewing and flowing at several times its normal speed.
In the next moment, all the combat energy suddenly condensed back into Anthony’s body, transforming through some mysterious process, and finally erupted from his mouth.
“Roar! Wolf’s Devouring Prison!”
A massive wolf head formed of combat energy, surrounded by countless tiny ions, shot forward. The air couldn’t keep up with the speed of the light wolf, compressing and exploding with a deafening roar.
In the blink of an eye, Lei Miao’s lightning sphere collided with Anthony’s light wolf.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Or perhaps it had stopped for a long time.
The only one who moved was Zhang Wen, who quickly pushed everyone to the ground.
A few seconds later, Lei Miao’s lightning sphere suddenly flared with intense light, while Anthony’s light wolf let out a mournful howl before disintegrating.
“Boom!!! Crash!!!”
The deafening explosion of combat energy reverberated through the sky and earth. When the shockwaves and smoke finally dissipated, Zhang Wen shook off the half-inch layer of rubble and dust covering him, spitting out the acrid taste of volcanic ash from his mouth and nose, and barely managed to open his eyes to look ahead. His eyes widened in shock.
The intense explosion had altered the crater’s landscape. The circular crater had collapsed halfway, forming a relatively flat semicircle. Flames and spattering red lava were everywhere, with thick black smoke mingling with faint green vapors, creating a scene that resembled hell on earth.
“Your instantaneous power is impressive, but unfortunately… strength gained through drugs can never last.” Lei Miao spoke with a smile on his face, though his eyes showed no trace of amusement, his expression still radiant.
Standing a dozen meters away, Anthony’s face twitched. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. His body fell heavily to the ground like a log.
The victor was the Empire’s Venomous Fang, Lei Miao!
One lunatic, Anthony, had fallen, but an even more insane Lei Miao had risen. For Zhang Wen, this was hardly good news.
Lei Miao, the smiling tiger, would be a blessing if he didn’t come after you. How could you dare to challenge him for the Southern Realm’s overlord position?
Zhang Wen glanced at Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, and Marian beside him. Everyone shook their heads helplessly. Facing an enemy like Lei Miao, they had all lost confidence. Now, they only hoped to escape unscathed, without being casually killed by him.
Was it time to give up here?
Zhang Wen looked at his companions, then at Lei Miao, who stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the crater, staring at the sky as if lost in thought. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him. From the first time he had met Lei Miao, all the impressions, legends, and events surrounding him came together, and Zhang Wen felt as if he had grasped something.
Lei Miao’s personality would never be interested in the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. So, what could have drawn him here?
A strong opponent! Of course, an opponent so powerful as to be absurd. Someone like the king.
But in this Southern Realm overlord competition, who could possibly interest him?
No one! All the competing squads, except for Omega, Grotto, and Agate, were here. How could Lei Miao be interested in them?
No! No!!
Zhang Wen suddenly realized that there were still strong opponents. Not all the strongest were here. At least two absolutely formidable opponents who could pique Lei Miao’s interest had not yet appeared.
The Arbitration Committee, the Northern Realm’s overlord, Messiah.
The Arbitration Committee, the king!
Was it one of these two? Which one was Lei Miao seeking? Why had he joined the Southern Realm overlord competition so recklessly? What was he after…
As Zhang Wen pondered intensely, the area around the crater fell into an eerie silence. Lei Miao stood with his head tilted toward the sky, as if turned to stone. Xiu Luo and Xiao Xi stood guard beside Zhang Wen, not daring to breathe. The pressure Lei Miao exuded was even more terrifying than Anthony’s had been. No one dared to make a sound.
Unnoticed by anyone, among the pile of what should have been lifeless competitors behind Zhang Wen, one “corpse” stirred. Slowly, a tall and robust figure rose.
A scar ran from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. His eyes, filled with gloom and cunning, fixed on Zhang Wen.
On Zhang Wen’s carotid artery.
The killing machine, Gao Long!
He had been hiding for a long time, enduring for the sake of the Black Baron’s plan.
Now, he could finally taste blood…
Like the wings of death, he silently closed in on Zhang Wen.
Violent pressure spiraled upward like a hurricane, piercing the clouds. It carried the black smoke from the volcano, forming a strange spiral vortex above Anthony’s head, as if opening a black hole into another dimension.
Hundreds of meters in every direction, the entire crater was enveloped in Anthony’s terrifying, destructive battle energy. At this moment, Anthony’s strength felt to Zhang Wen as if it had nearly reached the level of Leimu—a realm rivaling kings!
“No wonder he could wipe out everyone else alone!” In an instant, Zhang Wen understood Anthony’s strategy. He must have first led his team to provoke other teams that had reached the crater into battle. Then, he assigned tasks and struck at the most chaotic moment, subduing or killing the most threatening Transcendent experts. Meanwhile, his team’s Saint-tier members targeted the opposing teams’ Saint-tier fighters.
Eliminating all significant threats, the remaining competitors had no resistance left, leading to a one-sided massacre.
Anthony’s methods were ruthless, his schemes deep. He had hidden so well that no one detected his disguise.
But whether this brutality was his own style or instigated by Hassan remained unknown. A third of the Empire’s strongest were gathered here. If they perished, it would be a devastating loss to the Empire.
Even if Anthony ultimately claimed first place, would the Empire truly allow someone who slaughtered so many of its elite warriors to become the Southern Realm Overlord?
For a moment, Zhang Wen felt deeply perplexed.
“Boom!!!”
Just as they were about to reach the crater, an ear-splitting explosion of combat energy erupted from above once again. The intense residual energy waves burst forth like waves crashing against rocks, instantly dispersing the thick smoke billowing from the crater.
Countless pieces of rubble rained down, causing sharp pain as they struck the skin.
Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo had no choice but to crouch down, waiting for the residual waves of this combat energy explosion to pass before continuing their advance.
Closer! The situation at the crater gradually revealed itself. The aftermath of the explosion was filled with rolling dust, floating like a dense fog.
Zhang Wen, along with Xiao Xi, Luo Fulei, Marian, and Xiu Luo, sped up and finally charged up to the crater in one breath. Reaching this place truly meant that life and death were now a matter of luck.
The most intense battleground for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord was right here!
At that very moment, a sudden gust of wind swept away all the dust, revealing a scene that shocked Zhang Wen, Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and the others. Their footsteps came to an abrupt halt. No one had expected such a sight—
In front of the massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, the ground was littered with bodies. All of them were members of the squads vying for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. Seeing their entangled bodies, their fates uncertain, sent a chill down everyone’s spine.
Among these people were many Saint-tier and Super-tier experts. Which squad could possibly have the strength to annihilate all the other teams?
Zhang Wen had expected that a strong squad might gain the upper hand, but he never imagined that any squad could wipe out all the others. Even the Super-tier experts hadn’t escaped.
What kind of squad, what kind of person, could possess such strength?
Zhang Wen’s gaze followed the trail of bodies until it landed on a blue figure standing proudly at the forefront. His left and right hands were gripping the throats of Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli, respectively. Behind him, a massive column of volcanic smoke rose, making him look like an invincible giant from myth, his aura overwhelmingly powerful.
“How is this possible…” Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and Marian all knew and understood Anthony’s strength. Although he was at the Saint-tier, he could never have reached the Super-tier. Yet now, he had simultaneously subdued Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli!!
Looking around Anthony, the members who had followed Ba Tengping were all lying on the ground, evidently severely injured by the residual waves of combat energy. Even the four Saint-tier experts Zhang Wen had previously released were lying in various bizarre positions in different directions. Around them, the aftermath of combat energy explosions filled the air.
“What… what is going on?” Xiu Luo stared at Anthony in shock, taking a couple of steps forward, his voice trembling with surprise.
“Haha, you trash are only arriving now?” Anthony’s eyes flashed with madness, and the combat energy in his hands flickered briefly. Zhang Wen and the others heard a clear, muffled explosion. At such close range, with their throats gripped and combat energy exploding, even Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli…
Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head in regret. He had some fondness for Ba Tengping, but now it was too late.
“As you can see, all the competing squads are here, except for you… oh, and Omega and Agate haven’t arrived? If they’re not here by now, they’ve probably been disqualified!” Anthony spread his arms and laughed maniacally: “Now, no one can stop me! I am the strongest king! I am the new Southern Realm overlord! No one here is my match!!”
As Anthony’s laughter echoed, massive pillars of combat energy erupted from his body, like blooming flowers, illuminating the dark crater with a bizarre light, as if some unseen monster was about to emerge from the depths of the abyss.
His ferocious aura swirled like a hurricane, shooting straight into the sky. The rolling black volcanic smoke formed a strange spiral vortex above Anthony’s head, as if a black hole to another dimension had opened.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, the entire crater was enveloped by his terrifying, destructive combat energy. At this moment, Anthony’s strength felt to Zhang Wen as if it was infinitely close to that of Lei Miao. That was a level approaching the King’s realm!
“No wonder he could single-handedly take down everyone else!” In an instant, Zhang Wen understood Anthony’s method. He must have first incited the squads that had reached the crater to fight each other. Then, he assigned tasks and struck during the chaos, subduing or killing the most threatening Super-tier experts. His squad’s Saint-tier members also targeted the Saint-tier members of other squads.
With the most threatening opponents eliminated, the remaining members had no ability to resist, leading to a one-sided massacre.
Anthony’s methods were ruthless, his schemes deep. He had hidden his true nature so well that no one had seen through his disguise.
It was unclear whether this slaughter was his own doing or if he was acting under Hassan’s orders. One-third of the empire’s strongest were here. If they were to fall, it would be a tremendous loss for the empire.
Even if Anthony ultimately claimed victory, would the empire really allow someone who had wiped out so many of its strongest seeds to become the Southern Realm overlord?
For a moment, Zhang Wen felt utterly perplexed.
But there was no time for further contemplation. Anthony, with his maniacal laughter, clenched his fists and strode toward Zhang Wen, his aura fierce and his combat energy dazzling.
“No one can stop me! Not even the King! Zhang Wen, now it’s your turn!”
With each step, the ground trembled. The crimson lava flowing from the crater surged and churned, releasing a strong sulfurous stench, painting the entire space in a blood-red hue. It was unclear whether it was the glow of Anthony’s combat energy or the ominous sign of an impending volcanic eruption.
The immense pressure and psychic energy locked onto Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo, making it impossible for them to evade.
In the next moment, the blue-clad Anthony suddenly accelerated, charging forward like a roaring train, filled with murderous intent.
Zhang Wen’s heart sank. With his keen intuition, he knew that Anthony truly intended to kill, and the strength Anthony was displaying now was undoubtedly on par with Lei Miao. Zhang Wen remembered that the last time he had driven Lei Miao away, it had taken the combined efforts of the “Three Super-tiers” to make him retreat temporarily. Now, facing such a formidable enemy alone, how long could he, a pseudo-Super-tier, hold out?
This was undoubtedly a dire and critical situation!
Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and Luo Fulei’s breaths almost stopped. Each of them knew it was futile, but they had no choice but to fully unleash and elevate their combat energy.
Life and death hung in the balance!!
No one wanted to end up like those lying on the ground!
To survive, they had to kill the enemy!
As the combat energy surrounding Anthony grew increasingly intense, like a speeding comet hurtling toward them, Zhang Wen gritted his teeth and activated all his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique.
At the critical moment, “Boom!” A violent burst of flame erupted from the volcano, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Thick clouds of smoke billowed from the crater, filling the air with a scorching, acrid stench.
Was the volcano about to erupt?
Everyone froze, even Anthony couldn’t help but stop and turn to look at the crater.
If the volcano were to erupt, no one, including Anthony, could escape. After all, human strength could not contend with the forces of nature. Even Super-tier experts could not defy natural laws.
Under everyone’s gaze, deep blue lightning bolts erupted from the crater, accompanied by thunderous cracks.
This unexpected event stunned everyone, including Anthony and Zhang Wen. How could lightning emerge from the crater?
In the next moment, a voice filled with a playful, mocking tone suddenly rang out from the crater: “Anthony? You said no one is your match, not even the King?” Amid the mocking tone, a brilliant blue light surged, as if an icy aurora was emerging from the crater.
In an instant, a figure bathed in blue lightning and sparks stepped out of the crater. With each step, a blue lightning bolt erupted beneath his feet, the combat energy lifting his body as if he were floating in mid-air.
The Empire’s Venomous Fang—Lei Miao!!
No one had guessed that Lei Miao would be hiding inside the crater, just as no one had guessed that Anthony could defeat all the competing squads. But at this most unexpected moment, Lei Miao had appeared!
Even Zhang Wen hadn’t anticipated Lei Miao’s entrance in such a manner, almost forgetting his existence.
Xiu Luo silently assessed the situation. If Zhang Wen was a bit of a freak, and Anthony was somewhat neurotic, then Lei Miao was undoubtedly a madman. In comparison, Zhang Wen seemed the most approachable, though he was also the weakest of the three, a fact beyond dispute.
Now… what should they do?
As Zhang Wen and the others hesitated over the sudden turn of events, Lei Miao’s eyes suddenly flashed with excitement.
“I heard you were having a blast killing up there. I couldn’t wait to test your strength!” His long, elegant fingers spread out as he removed the white gloves he was wearing and tossed them to the ground. Simultaneously, his figure fully emerged from the crater, his feet touching solid ground.
“Anthony, if you want to claim the Southern Realm overlord, you’ll have to defeat me first. Because I’ve been here all along, and I also have the right to compete for the Southern Realm overlord.” As Lei Miao spoke, he strode toward Anthony, surrounded by swirling lightning and deep blue combat energy vortices.
Lei Miao’s participation in this final battle was solely to seek out legendary-level opponents. For someone as battle-crazed as him, this was more important than anything else. Unfortunately, after observing the strong competitors, none had piqued his interest. If it weren’t for the final “plan,” Lei Miao might have lost patience waiting.
With his Super-tier peak strength, approaching the King’s level, it was no challenge for him to reach the crater ahead of everyone else. To wait for the “person” he was anticipating, he had leaped into the crater first, waiting on a protruding rock wall. His formidable combat energy and psychic power allowed him to withstand the scorching heat of the volcano.
Hearing that Anthony had swept through all the strong competitors at the crater had already made him itch for a fight. When he heard Anthony’s arrogant claim that even the King was no match for him, Lei Miao finally couldn’t resist making his move.
Such an arrogant opponent, even if his strength was drug-induced, was still intriguing enough to warrant a test of skills.
Lei Miao, being utterly unrestrained here, acted almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind. Clenching his right fist, endless combat energy and lightning seemed to converge in his hand, like a surging ionosphere, sparking bright white arcs. In the next moment, a lightning ball, shifting from blue to purple, shot straight toward Anthony from his palm.
Lei Miao’s attack wasn’t particularly fast, but its power was undeniable. Just the sight of the highly compressed combat energy within the lightning ball, tearing through space with its roar, was enough to imagine the destructive force of its explosion. Moreover, Anthony clearly saw countless silver snake-like arcs dancing between Lei Miao and the lightning ball, indicating that the ball could be controlled remotely, leaving no chance for escape.
“I… I won’t lose to you!” Even Anthony himself felt a lack of confidence. His current level was entirely due to ancient stimulants, while his opponent was relying on pure, unadulterated strength!
But there was no turning back now. If he didn’t fight with everything he had, he would die!
Anthony could not allow himself to fail at the final stage of his ascent to power! He couldn’t afford to lose! Not just his position, but his life was at stake!
“Ahhh!!! I’ll fight with everything I’ve got!!”
Like an aurora erupting, Anthony unleashed all the combat energy he could muster in one go, releasing a towering pillar of combat energy. Even the dark sky was illuminated. The entire volcano trembled under the immense pressure, the crust shaking slightly, the lava spurting and flowing at several times its usual speed.
In the next moment, all the combat energy suddenly contracted into Anthony’s body, then transformed through some mysterious process, finally erupting from his mouth.
“Roar! Wolf’s Devouring Prison!”
A massive wolf head formed of combat energy, surrounded by countless tiny ions, shot forth. The air couldn’t keep up with the wolf’s speed, compressing and exploding with a deafening roar.
In an instant, Lei Miao’s lightning ball collided with Anthony’s wolf.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Or perhaps it had stopped for a long time.
The only one who seemed to move was Zhang Wen, who quickly pushed everyone to the ground.
A few seconds later, Lei Miao’s lightning ball suddenly flared with intense light, while Anthony’s wolf howled in agony as it disintegrated.
“Boom!!! Crash!!!”
The violent explosion of combat energy echoed through the heavens and earth. When the shockwaves and dust finally settled, Zhang Wen shook off the half-inch layer of rubble and ash covering him, spat out the charred volcanic ash from his mouth and nose, and barely managed to open his eyes to look ahead. His eyes widened in shock.
The massive explosion had altered the crater’s terrain. The circular crater had collapsed on one side, becoming a relatively flat semicircle. Flames and spurts of red lava were everywhere, with black and green smoke swirling, making the scene look like a living hell.
“Your instantaneous power isn’t bad, but unfortunately… strength gained through drugs can’t last.” Lei Miao spoke with a smile on his face, though his eyes showed no trace of amusement.
Standing a dozen meters away, Anthony’s face twitched. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. His body fell heavily to the ground like a log.
The victor was the Empire’s Venomous Fang, Lei Miao!
One madman, Anthony, had fallen, but an even more insane Lei Miao had risen. For Zhang Wen, this was hardly good news.
Lei Miao, the smiling tiger, not causing trouble for you was already a blessing from your ancestors. How could you dare to challenge him for the Southern Realm overlord position?
Zhang Wen glanced at Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and the others. Everyone shook their heads helplessly. Facing an enemy like Lei Miao, everyone had lost confidence. Now, they only hoped to escape unscathed, not to be casually killed by him.
Was it time to concede here?
Zhang Wen looked at his companions, then at Lei Miao, who stood with his hands behind his back at the crater’s edge, staring at the sky as if lost in thought. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him. From the first time he had met Lei Miao, combining all the impressions, legends, and events surrounding him, Zhang Wen felt as if he had grasped something.
Lei Miao’s personality would never be interested in the position of the Southern Realm overlord. So, what could have drawn him here?
A strong opponent! Of course, an opponent of absurd strength. Someone like the King.
But in this Southern Realm overlord competition, what opponent could possibly interest him?
None! All the competing squads, except for Omega, Grotto, and Agate, were here. How could Lei Miao be interested in them?
No! No!!
Zhang Wen suddenly realized that there were still strong opponents. Not all the strongest were here. At least two absolutely formidable opponents who could pique Lei Miao’s interest hadn’t appeared.
The Arbitration Committee, the Northern Realm overlord, Messiah.
The Arbitration Committee, the King!
Was it one of these two powerhouses? Which one was Lei Miao targeting? Why had he joined the Southern Realm overlord competition so recklessly? What was he after…
As Zhang Wen pondered with all his might, the entire crater area fell into a deathly silence. Lei Miao, looking up at the sky, seemed to have turned into a statue. Xiu Luo and Xiao Xi stood guard beside Zhang Wen, not daring to breathe. The pressure Lei Miao exuded was even more terrifying than Anthony’s earlier presence. No one dared to make a sound.
Unnoticed by everyone, not far behind Zhang Wen, among a pile of what should have been corpses of competitors, one “corpse” stirred. Slowly, a tall and robust figure rose.
His face bore a shocking scar from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. His eyes, filled with gloom and cunning, were fixed on Zhang Wen.
Fixed on Zhang Wen’s carotid artery.
The killing machine, Gao Long!
He had been hiding for a long time, enduring for the sake of Black Baron’s plan.
Now, he could finally taste the flavor of blood…
Like the wings of death, he silently pounced on Zhang Wen.
“No one can stop me! Not even kings! Zhang Wen, now it’s your turn!”
Each step he took made the ground tremble. Red-hot magma surged from the crater, releasing a strong stench of sulfur. The entire space was dyed blood-red, whether from Anthony’s battle energy or an omen of an imminent eruption.
Huge pressure and mental locking pinned Zhang Wen, Xie Luo, and the others, making escape impossible.
In the next moment, the blue-clothed Anthony suddenly accelerated, charging forward like a roaring train, brimming with murderous intent.
Zhang Wen’s heart sank. His keen intuition told him Anthony truly intended to kill. Moreover, Anthony’s current strength was undoubtedly at Leimu’s level. Zhang Wen remembered that last time he drove Leimu away, it was only possible by uniting the “Three Transcendents.” Now, facing such a formidable opponent as a pseudo-Transcendent, how long could he hold out?
This was undoubtedly a dire crisis!
Xie Luo, Xiao Xi, Maryan, and Luo Fulei held their breath. Knowing their efforts might be futile, they still activated their battle energy to the fullest.
Life and death hinged on this moment!
No one wanted to end up like the fallen on the ground!
To survive, they had to kill the enemy!
As Anthony’s surrounding battle energy flared brighter, rushing forward like a speeding comet, Zhang Wen clenched his teeth, channeling all his battle energy and Spring Water Technique.
At this critical moment, “Boom!” A violent flame erupted from the volcano, shaking the ground like an earthquake. A massive cloud of scorching smoke gushed from the crater, making the air smell burnt and acrid.
Was the volcano about to erupt?
Everyone’s expressions froze. Even Anthony couldn’t help but stop and turn toward the crater.
If the volcano truly erupted, no one, not even Anthony, could escape. After all, human power couldn’t rival nature’s might. Even Transcendent experts couldn’t defy natural laws.
As everyone stared, deep blue lightning bolts erupted from the crater, crackling with thunder.
This unexpected development startled everyone, including Anthony and Zhang Wen. Why would lightning emerge from a volcano?
The next moment, a voice, filled with a carefree smirk, suddenly echoed from the crater: “Anthony? You say no one rivals you, not even kings can stop you?” With a hint of mockery, blue light surged, as if a cold aurora flowed from the crater.
In an instant, a figure fully enveloped in blue lightning and electric sparks stepped out of the crater, one step at a time. With each step, a blue bolt exploded beneath his feet, the battle energy lifting his body as if he floated midair.
The Empire’s Poison Fang—Leimu!!
No one had guessed Leimu would be hiding inside the crater, just as no one had anticipated Anthony defeating all competitors. Yet at this most unexpected moment, Leimu appeared!
Even Zhang Wen hadn’t expected Leimu to make such an entrance, almost forgetting his existence entirely.
Xie Luo inwardly assessed: if Zhang Wen was a bit eccentric, and Anthony somewhat neurotic, then Leimu was undoubtedly a madman. Compared to them, Zhang Wen was the most approachable, though undeniably the weakest among the three.
Now… what to do?
As Zhang Wen and his companions hesitated over the sudden turn of events, Leimu’s eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement.
“I heard you were having a grand time up here, killing everyone. I’ve been eager to test your strength!” He elegantly opened his fingers, removing the white gloves on his hands and tossing them to the ground. At the same time, his figure fully emerged from the crater, his feet firmly planting on solid ground.
“Anthony, if you want to claim the title of Southern Realm Overlord, you still need to defeat me. Because I arrived here long ago and have every right to compete for the title.” As Leimu spoke, he strode toward Anthony, accompanied by waves of crackling lightning and deep blue battle energy vortexes.
Leimu’s participation in this final round was entirely driven by his desire to battle legendary-level experts. For someone obsessed with martial prowess like him, this was more important than anything else. Disappointed by the competitors’ lack of challenge, he might have lost patience waiting, had it not been for his “final plan.”
With his Transcendent peak strength, nearly reaching the level of kings, arriving at the crater ahead of everyone was no challenge. To wait for his desired “opponent,” he jumped into the crater early, waiting on a protruding rock ledge. Using his formidable battle energy and mental power, he endured the volcano’s scorching heat.
Hearing that Anthony had arrived at the crater and swept through all experts had already stirred his excitement. When Anthony arrogantly claimed even kings couldn’t stop him, Leimu could no longer resist the urge to fight.
Such a bold opponent, even if his strength came from drugs, was intriguing enough to warrant a test.
Leimu acted without hesitation. With a mere thought, he clenched his right fist. Endless battle energy and lightning converged in his hand, like surging ion layers, crackling with brilliant white arcs. The next moment, a lightning sphere, shifting from blue to purple, flew from his palm straight toward Anthony.
Though not particularly fast, Leimu’s strike was undeniably powerful. The spatial-shredding roar from the highly compressed battle energy within the lightning sphere alone hinted at its explosive devastation. Moreover, Anthony clearly saw countless silver snake-like arcs dancing between Leimu and the lightning sphere, obviously allowing him to control the sphere. Escape was no longer an option.
“I… I won’t lose to you!” Even Anthony felt his confidence wavering. His current strength was entirely due to ancient potions, while his opponent was a genuine powerhouse, relying solely on his natural might!
Yet retreat was impossible now. Not fighting meant death!
Anthony refused to fail at the final stage of seizing ultimate power! He couldn’t bear the cost of defeat! Losing wasn’t just about power—it would cost him his life!
“AAAHHHH!!! I’ll give it all!!!”
Like an aurora erupting, Anthony unleashed every ounce of battle energy within him, exploding a towering pillar of light into the sky. Even the dark heavens turned white. The entire volcano trembled under the immense pressure of battle energy, the crust quaking slightly, magma spurting and flowing at several times its normal speed.
The next moment, all the battle energy abruptly retracted into Anthony’s body, undergoing some mysterious transformation. Finally, it erupted from his mouth.
“ROAR! Wolf Devouring Hell!”
A massive wolf’s head, formed entirely of battle energy, roared forth with countless tiny electric ions. The air couldn’t keep up with the wolf’s speed, compressing and exploding with a thunderous boom.
In an instant, Leimu’s lightning sphere collided with Anthony’s energy wolf.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Or perhaps it had paused for much longer.
The only one still moving seemed to be Zhang Wen. At top speed, he pushed everyone to the ground.
A few seconds later, Leimu’s lightning sphere suddenly flared brighter, while Anthony’s energy wolf howled pitifully before disintegrating.
“RUMBLE!!! BOOM!!!”
“Boom!!!”
Just as they were about to reach the crater, a deafening explosion of combat energy erupted from above once again. The intense residual energy waves burst forth like waves crashing against rocks, instantly dispersing the thick smoke billowing from the crater.
Countless pieces of rubble rained down like a storm, causing sharp pain as they struck the skin.
Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo had no choice but to crouch down, waiting for the residual waves of this combat energy burst to pass before they could continue forward.
Closer! The situation at the crater gradually revealed itself. The aftermath of the explosion was filled with rolling dust, floating like a dense fog.
Zhang Wen, along with Xiao Xi, Luo Fulei, Marian, and Xiu Luo, quickened their pace and finally managed to charge up to the crater in one breath. Reaching this place truly meant that life and death were now a matter of luck.
The most intense battleground for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord was right here!
At that very moment, a sudden gust of wind swept through, clearing away all the dust. The scene that emerged shocked Zhang Wen, Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and the others to their core. Their steps came to an abrupt halt. No one had expected to see such a sight—
In front of the massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, the ground was littered with bodies. All of them were members of the squads vying for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. Seeing their entangled forms, their fates uncertain, sent a chill through everyone’s hearts.
Among these people were many Saint-tier and Super-tier experts. Which squad could possibly have the strength to annihilate all the other teams?
Zhang Wen had initially thought that a powerful squad might gain the upper hand, but he never imagined that any squad could wipe out all the others. Even the Super-tier experts hadn’t escaped.
What kind of squad, what kind of person, could possess such strength?
Zhang Wen’s gaze followed the trail of bodies until it landed on a blue figure standing proudly at the forefront. In his left and right hands, he held the throats of Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli. Behind him, a massive column of volcanic smoke rose, making him appear like an invincible giant from myth, his aura overwhelmingly powerful.
“How is this possible…” Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and Marian all knew and understood Anthony’s strength. While he was at the Saint-tier level, he could never have reached the Super-tier. But now, the fact was that he had simultaneously subdued Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli!!
Looking around Anthony, the members who had followed Ba Tengping were all lying on the ground, clearly severely injured by the residual waves of combat energy. Even the four Saint-tier experts Zhang Wen had previously released were lying in various bizarre positions in different directions. Around them, the residual waves of combat energy explosions filled the air.
“What… what is going on?” Xiu Luo stared at Anthony in shock, taking two steps forward, his voice trembling with surprise.
“Haha, you trash finally showed up?” A hint of madness flashed in Anthony’s eyes as combat energy briefly flickered in his hands. Zhang Wen and the others heard a muffled explosion. At such close range, with his hands gripping their throats and releasing combat energy, even Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli…
Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head in regret. He had some fondness for Ba Tengping, but it was a pity.
“As you can see, all the competing squads are here, except for you… oh, and Omega and Agate haven’t arrived? If they’re not here by now, they’ve probably been disqualified!” Anthony spread his arms wide, laughing maniacally at the sky: “Now, no one can stop me! I am the strongest king! I am the new overlord of the Southern Realm! No one here is my match!!”
As Anthony’s laughter echoed, massive pillars of combat energy erupted from his body, like blooming flowers, illuminating the dark crater with a bizarre, otherworldly light, as if some unseen monster was about to emerge from the depths of the abyss.
His overwhelming aura spiraled up like a hurricane, shooting into the sky. The thick volcanic smoke formed a strange spiral vortex above Anthony’s head, as if a black hole to another dimension had opened.
Within a radius of hundreds of meters, the entire crater was enveloped by his terrifying, destructive combat energy. At this moment, Anthony’s strength felt to Zhang Wen as if it was infinitely close to that of Lei Miao’s level. It was a realm that approached that of a king!
“No wonder he could single-handedly take down everyone else!” In an instant, Zhang Wen understood Anthony’s method. He must have first incited the squads that reached the crater to fight each other. Then, he assigned tasks to his team, striking at the most chaotic moment to subdue or kill the most threatening Super-tier experts. His Saint-tier team members also targeted the Saint-tier experts of other squads.
With the most threatening opponents eliminated, the remaining members had no ability to resist, leading to a one-sided slaughter.
Anthony’s methods were ruthless, his schemes deep. He had hidden his true nature so well that no one had seen through his facade.
It was unclear whether this massacre was his own doing or if he had been instructed by Hassan. One-third of the empire’s strongest were here, and if they were to fall, it would be a tremendous loss for the empire.
Even if Anthony ultimately claimed first place, would the empire truly allow someone who had wiped out so many of its strongest seeds to become the Southern Realm’s overlord?
For a moment, Zhang Wen felt utterly perplexed.
But there was no time for further contemplation. With a maniacal laugh, Anthony clenched his fists, his overwhelming aura and dazzling combat energy swirling around him as he strode toward Zhang Wen.
“No one can stop me! Not even the king! Zhang Wen, now it’s your turn!”
With each step, the ground trembled. The crimson lava flowing from the crater surged and churned, releasing a strong sulfuric stench, painting the entire space in a blood-red hue. It was unclear whether this was due to Anthony’s combat energy or the ominous signs of an impending volcanic eruption.
The immense pressure and psychic energy locked onto Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo, making it impossible for them to evade.
In the next moment, the blue-clad figure of Anthony suddenly accelerated, charging forward like a roaring train, filled with murderous intent.
Zhang Wen’s heart sank. With his keen intuition, he knew that Anthony had truly decided to kill, and the strength Anthony was displaying now was undoubtedly on par with Lei Miao’s level. Zhang Wen remembered that the last time he had managed to drive Lei Miao away, it was only by gathering the “Three Super-tiers” that he had temporarily forced him to retreat. Now, facing such a formidable enemy alone as a pseudo-Super-tier, how long could he last?!
This was an undeniably dire situation!
Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and Luo Fulei’s breaths nearly stopped. Each of them, knowing it was futile, still had to push their combat energy to the limit.
Life and death hung in the balance!!
No one wanted to end up like those lying on the ground!
To survive, they had to kill the enemy!
As the combat energy surrounding Anthony grew increasingly intense, like a speeding comet, Zhang Wen gritted his teeth, channeling all his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique.
At the critical moment, “Boom!” A violent burst of flame erupted from the volcano, shaking the ground like an earthquake. Thick clouds of smoke and ash surged from the crater, filling the air with a pungent, acrid smell.
Was the volcano about to erupt?
Everyone froze, even Anthony couldn’t help but pause and turn to look at the crater.
If the volcano truly erupted, no one, including Anthony, could escape. After all, human strength could not contend with the forces of nature. Even Super-tier experts could not defy natural laws.
As everyone watched, deep blue lightning bolts began to erupt from the crater, accompanied by thunderous cracks.
This unexpected event left everyone, including Anthony and Zhang Wen, momentarily stunned. How could lightning be coming from inside the crater?
In the next moment, a voice filled with a playful, mocking tone suddenly rang out from the crater: “Anthony? You said no one is your match, not even the king?” As the voice spoke, a brilliant blue light surged, as if an icy aurora was emerging from the crater.
In an instant, a figure bathed in blue lightning and sparks stepped out of the crater. With each step, a blue lightning bolt erupted beneath his feet, the combat energy lifting his body as if he were floating in mid-air.
The Empire’s Venom Fang—Lei Miao!!
No one had guessed that Lei Miao would be hiding inside the crater, just as no one had guessed that Anthony could defeat all the competing squads. But at this most unexpected moment, Lei Miao had appeared!
Even Zhang Wen hadn’t anticipated Lei Miao making such an entrance, almost forgetting his existence.
Xiu Luo silently assessed the situation. If Zhang Wen was a bit of a freak, and Anthony was somewhat unhinged, then Lei Miao was undoubtedly a full-blown madman. In comparison, Zhang Wen seemed the most reasonable, though he was also the weakest of the three, a fact that was indisputable.
Now… what should they do?
As Zhang Wen and the others hesitated, Lei Miao’s eyes suddenly flashed with excitement.
“I heard you were having a great time killing up here. I couldn’t wait to test your strength!” He extended his slender, elegant fingers, removing the white gloves he wore and tossing them to the ground. At the same time, his body fully emerged from the crater, his feet touching solid ground.
“Anthony, if you want to claim the Southern Realm’s overlord, you’ll have to defeat me first. Because I’ve been here all along, and I also have the right to compete for the Southern Realm’s overlord.” As Lei Miao spoke, he strode toward Anthony, surrounded by swirling lightning and deep blue combat energy vortices.
Lei Miao had joined this final competition solely to seek out legendary-level opponents. For someone as battle-crazed as him, this was more important than anything else. Unfortunately, after observing the strongest among the competing squads, none had piqued his interest. If it weren’t for the final “plan,” Lei Miao might have lost patience waiting.
With his Super-tier peak strength, infinitely close to that of a king, it was no challenge for him to reach the crater ahead of everyone else. To wait for the “person” he was anticipating, he had leaped into the crater first, waiting on a protruding rock ledge. His formidable combat energy and psychic power allowed him to withstand the scorching heat of the volcano.
Hearing that Anthony had swept through all the strongest at the crater had already made him itch for a fight. When he heard Anthony’s arrogant claims, even dismissing the king, Lei Miao could no longer hold back.
Such an arrogant opponent, even if his strength was artificially enhanced, was still intriguing enough to warrant a test.
Lei Miao, with nothing to hold him back, acted almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind. Clenching his right fist, endless combat energy and lightning seemed to converge in his hand, like a surging ionosphere, crackling with bright white arcs. In the next moment, a lightning ball, shifting from blue to purple, shot from his palm, heading straight for Anthony.
Lei Miao’s attack wasn’t particularly fast, but its power was undeniable. Just the sound of the highly compressed combat energy within the lightning ball, tearing through space, was enough to imagine the destructive force of its explosion. Moreover, Anthony could clearly see countless silver arcs of lightning dancing between Lei Miao and the lightning ball, indicating that the ball could be controlled remotely, leaving no chance for escape.
“I… I won’t lose to you!” Even Anthony himself felt a lack of confidence. His current level of strength was entirely due to ancient elixirs, while his opponent was a true powerhouse, relying solely on his own strength!
But at this moment, there was no turning back. If he didn’t fight with everything he had, he would die!
Anthony could not allow himself to fail at the final stage of his ascent to power! He could not bear the thought of defeat! Losing would not only mean losing power but also his life!
“Ahhh!!! I’ll fight to the end!!”
Like an aurora erupting, Anthony unleashed all the combat energy he could muster, releasing a towering pillar of light. Even the dark sky was illuminated. The entire volcano trembled under the immense pressure of his combat energy, the ground shaking slightly, the lava spurting and flowing at several times its normal speed.
In the next moment, all the combat energy suddenly condensed back into Anthony’s body, undergoing some mysterious transformation before being expelled from his mouth.
“Roar! Wolf’s Devouring Prison!”
A massive wolf’s head formed of combat energy, surrounded by countless tiny ions, shot forward. The air couldn’t keep up with the speed of the light wolf, compressing and exploding with a deafening roar.
In an instant, Lei Miao’s lightning ball collided with Anthony’s light wolf.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Or perhaps it had stopped for a long time.
The only one who seemed to move was Zhang Wen, who quickly pushed everyone to the ground.
A few seconds later, Lei Miao’s lightning ball suddenly flared with intense light, while Anthony’s light wolf let out a pitiful howl as it disintegrated.
“Boom!!! Crash!!!”
The intense explosion of combat energy echoed through the heavens and earth. When the shockwaves and dust finally settled, Zhang Wen shook off the half-inch layer of rubble and ash covering him, spat out the acrid taste of volcanic ash from his mouth and nose, and barely managed to open his eyes to look ahead. His eyes widened in shock.
The massive explosion had altered the crater’s terrain. The circular crater had collapsed on one side, forming a relatively flat semicircle. Flames and spurts of red lava were everywhere, with thick black smoke mingling with faint green vapors, creating a scene that resembled hell on earth.
“Your instantaneous power isn’t bad, but unfortunately… strength gained through drugs can’t last.” Lei Miao smiled as he spoke, though there was no trace of warmth in his eyes.
Standing a dozen meters away, Anthony’s face twitched. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. His body fell heavily to the ground like a log.
The victor was the Empire’s Venom Fang, Lei Miao!
One madman, Anthony, had fallen, but an even more insane Lei Miao had risen. For Zhang Wen, this was hardly good news.
Lei Miao, the smiling tiger, was someone you prayed wouldn’t come after you. How could you dare to challenge him for the Southern Realm’s overlord?
Zhang Wen glanced at Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, and Marian. They all shook their heads helplessly. Facing an enemy like Lei Miao, everyone had lost confidence. Now, they only hoped to escape with their lives, not to be casually killed by him.
Was it time to concede here?
Zhang Wen looked at his companions, then at Lei Miao, who stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky as if lost in thought. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. From the first time he had met Lei Miao, all the impressions, legends, and events surrounding him came together, and Zhang Wen felt as if he had grasped something.
Lei Miao’s personality would never be interested in the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. So, what could have drawn him here?
A strong opponent! Of course, an opponent so strong as to be absurd. Someone like the king.
But in this competition for the Southern Realm’s overlord, what opponent could possibly interest him?
None! All the competing squads, except for Omega, Glo, and Agate, were here. How could Lei Miao be interested in them?
No! No!!
Zhang Wen suddenly realized that there were still strong opponents, not all of them were here. At least two absolutely formidable opponents who could pique Lei Miao’s interest had not appeared.
The Arbitration Committee, the Northern Realm’s overlord, Messiah.
The Arbitration Committee, the king.
Was it one of these two powerhouses? Which one was Lei Miao seeking? Why had he joined the Southern Realm’s overlord competition so recklessly? What was he after…
As Zhang Wen pondered deeply, the entire crater area fell into a deathly silence. Lei Miao looked up at the sky as if turned to stone. Xiu Luo and Xiao Xi stood guard beside Zhang Wen, not daring to breathe. The pressure Lei Miao exuded was even more terrifying than Anthony’s had been. No one dared to make a sound.
Unnoticed by everyone, not far behind Zhang Wen, among the pile of what should have been corpses of the competitors, one “corpse” stirred. Slowly, a tall and robust figure rose.
His face bore a shocking scar from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. His eyes, filled with gloom and cunning, were fixed on Zhang Wen.
Fixed on Zhang Wen’s carotid artery.
The killing machine, Gao Long!
He had been hiding for a long time, enduring for the sake of Black Baron’s plan.
Now, he could finally taste the flavor of blood…
Like the wings of death, he silently closed in on Zhang Wen.
“Boom!!!”
Just as they were about to reach the crater, a deafening explosion of combat energy erupted from above once again. The intense residual energy waves burst forth like waves crashing against rocks, instantly dispersing the thick smoke billowing from the crater.
Countless pieces of shattered rock rained down, causing a stinging pain on their skin.
Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo had no choice but to crouch down, waiting for the residual waves of this combat energy explosion to pass before continuing their advance.
Closer! The situation at the crater gradually revealed itself. The smoke and dust from the explosion rolled like a thick fog, floating ominously.
Zhang Wen, along with Xiao Xi, Luo Fulei, Marian, and Xiu Luo, quickened their pace and finally managed to charge up to the crater in one breath. At this point, life and death were truly a matter of luck.
The most intense battleground for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord was right here!
Just at that moment, a sudden gust of wind swept away all the smoke and dust. The scene that emerged made Zhang Wen, Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and the others all shudder in their hearts. Their footsteps came to an abrupt halt. No one had expected such a sight—
In front of the massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, the ground was littered with bodies. All of them were members of the squads vying for the position of the Southern Realm’s overlord. Seeing their entangled bodies, their fates unknown, sent a chill through everyone’s hearts.
Among these people were numerous Saint-tier and Super-tier experts. Which squad could possibly have the strength to annihilate all the other teams?
Originally, Zhang Wen had thought that the stronger squads might have an advantage, but he never imagined that one could wipe out all the other squads. Not even the Super-tier experts had escaped.
What kind of squad, what kind of person, could possess such strength?
Zhang Wen’s gaze followed the trail of bodies until it landed on a blue figure standing proudly at the forefront. His left and right hands were gripping the throats of Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli, while behind him, a massive column of volcanic smoke rose, making him appear like an invincible giant from myth, his aura overwhelmingly powerful.
“How is this possible…” Xiu Luo, Luo Fulei, and Marian all knew and understood Anthony’s strength. Although he was at the Saint-tier, he could never have reached the Super-tier. But now, the fact was that he had simultaneously subdued Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli!!
Looking around Anthony, the members who had previously followed Ba Tengping were all lying on the ground, evidently severely injured by the residual waves of combat energy. Even the four Saint-tier experts Zhang Wen had previously released were lying in various bizarre positions in different directions. Around them, the residual waves of combat energy explosions were still present.
“What… what is going on?” Xiu Luo looked at Anthony in shock, taking two steps forward, his voice trembling with surprise.
“Haha, you trash finally showed up?” Anthony’s eyes flashed with madness, and the combat energy in his hands flickered briefly. Zhang Wen and the others heard a clear, muffled explosion. At such close range, with combat energy bursting from their throats, even Ba Tengping and Ba Tuli…
Zhang Wen couldn’t help but shake his head in regret. He had some fondness for Ba Tengping, but it was a pity.
“As you can see, all the competing squads are here, except for you… oh, and Omega and Agate haven’t arrived? If they’re not here by now, they’ve probably been disqualified!” Anthony spread his arms and laughed maniacally at the sky: “Now, no one can stop me! I am the strongest king! I am the new Southern Realm overlord! No one here is my match!!”
As Anthony’s maniacal laughter echoed, massive pillars of combat energy erupted from his body, like blooming flowers, even illuminating the dark crater with a bizarre light, as if some unseen monster was about to emerge from the depths of the abyss.
His violent aura swirled like a hurricane, shooting straight into the sky. Along with the rolling black volcanic smoke, it formed a strange spiral vortex above Anthony’s head, like a black hole opening into another dimension.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, the entire crater was enveloped by his terrifying, destructive combat energy. At this moment, Anthony’s strength felt to Zhang Wen as if it was infinitely close to that of Lei Miao. That was a level approaching the King!
“No wonder he could single-handedly take down everyone else!” In an instant, Zhang Wen understood Anthony’s method. He must have first incited the squads that had reached the crater to fight each other. Then, after assigning tasks, he struck during the most chaotic moment, subduing or killing the most threatening Super-tier experts. Meanwhile, the Saint-tier members of his squad targeted the Saint-tier members of the other squads.
With the most threatening opponents eliminated, the remaining people had no ability to resist, turning the situation into a one-sided massacre.
Anthony’s methods were ruthless, his schemes deep. He had hidden his true nature so well that no one had seen through his disguise.
It was unclear whether this mass slaughter was his own doing or if he was following Hassan’s orders. One-third of the empire’s strongest were here, and if they were to fall, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous loss for the empire.
Even if Anthony ultimately won first place, would the empire really allow someone who had wiped out so many of its strongest seeds to become the Southern Realm overlord?
For a moment, Zhang Wen felt utterly confused.
But there was no time for further contemplation. Anthony, with his maniacal laughter, clenched his fists and strode toward Zhang Wen, carrying a fierce aura and dazzling combat energy vortices.
“No one can stop me! Not even the King! Zhang Wen, now it’s your turn!”
With each step he took, the ground trembled. The crimson lava flowing from the crater surged and churned, releasing a strong sulfurous stench, dyeing the entire space blood-red. It was unclear whether it was the glow of Anthony’s combat energy or the ominous sign of the volcano’s impending eruption.
The immense pressure and psychic energy locked onto Zhang Wen and Xiu Luo, making it impossible for them to evade.
In the next moment, the blue-clad Anthony suddenly accelerated, charging forward like a roaring train, filled with murderous intent.
Zhang Wen’s heart sank. With his keen intuition, he knew that Anthony truly intended to kill, and the strength Anthony was displaying now was undoubtedly on par with Lei Miao. Zhang Wen still remembered how he had managed to scare off Lei Miao last time only by gathering the “Three Super-tiers” to force him to retreat temporarily. Now, facing such a formidable enemy alone as a pseudo-Super-tier, how long could he hold out?!
This was undeniably a dire situation with little room for optimism!
Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and Luo Fulei’s breaths almost stopped. Each of them, knowing it was futile, had no choice but to fully unleash and elevate their combat energy.
Life and death hung in the balance!!
No one wanted to end up like those lying on the ground!
To survive, they had to kill the enemy!
As the combat energy surrounding Anthony grew increasingly intense, like a speeding comet hurtling toward them, Zhang Wen gritted his teeth, mobilizing all his combat energy and the Spring Water Technique.
At the critical moment, “Boom!” A violent burst of flame erupted from the volcano, and the ground shook as if in an earthquake. Massive clouds of scorching smoke billowed from the crater, making the air acrid and suffocating.
Was the volcano about to erupt?
Everyone froze, even Anthony couldn’t help but pause and turn to look at the crater.
If the volcano were to erupt, no one, including Anthony, could escape. After all, human strength could not contend with the forces of nature. Even Super-tier experts could not defy natural laws.
Under everyone’s gaze, deep blue lightning bolts erupted from the crater, accompanied by thunderous roars.
This unexpected turn of events left everyone, including Anthony and Zhang Wen, momentarily stunned. How could lightning emerge from the crater?
In the next moment, a voice tinged with a playful, mocking tone suddenly rang out from the crater: “Anthony? You said no one is your match, not even the King?” Amid the mocking tone, a brilliant blue light surged, as if an icy aurora was emerging from the crater.
In an instant, a figure bathed in blue lightning and sparks stepped out of the crater. With each step, a blue lightning bolt erupted beneath his feet, and the power of combat energy lifted his body as if he were floating in mid-air.
The Empire’s Venom Fang—Lei Miao!!
No one had guessed that Lei Miao would be hiding inside the crater, just as no one had guessed that Anthony could defeat all the competing squads. But at this most unexpected moment, Lei Miao had appeared!
Even Zhang Wen hadn’t anticipated Lei Miao making his entrance in such a manner, almost forgetting his existence.
Xiu Luo silently assessed the situation. If Zhang Wen was a bit of a small anomaly, and Anthony was somewhat neurotic, then Lei Miao was undoubtedly a full-blown lunatic. In comparison, Zhang Wen seemed the most approachable, though he was also the weakest of the three, a fact beyond dispute.
Now… what should they do?
Just as Zhang Wen and the others hesitated over the sudden turn of events, Lei Miao’s eyes suddenly flashed with excitement.
“I heard you were having a great time killing up there. I couldn’t wait to test your strength!” His long, elegant fingers spread out as he removed the white gloves he was wearing and tossed them to the ground. At the same time, his figure fully emerged from the crater, his feet landing on solid ground.
“Anthony, if you want to compete for the Southern Realm overlord, you’ll have to defeat me first. Because I’ve been here all along, and I also have the right to compete for the Southern Realm overlord.” As Lei Miao spoke, he strode toward Anthony, surrounded by crackling lightning and deep blue combat energy vortices.
Lei Miao’s participation in this final battle was entirely for the purpose of finding a legendary-level opponent to fight. For someone as battle-crazed as him, this was more important than anything else. Unfortunately, after observing the strongest among the competing squads, none had piqued his interest. If it weren’t for the final “that plan,” Lei Miao might have lost the patience to wait any longer.
With his Super-tier peak strength, infinitely close to the King, it was no difficult task for him to reach the crater ahead of everyone else. In order to wait for the “person” he wanted to face, he had jumped into the crater first, waiting on a protruding rock wall. Relying on his formidable combat energy and psychic energy, he withstood the scorching heat of the volcano.
Hearing that Anthony had arrived at the crater and swept through all the strongest had already made him itch with anticipation. When he heard Anthony’s arrogant declaration that even the King was no match for him, Lei Miao finally couldn’t resist making his move.
Such an arrogant opponent, even if his strength was drug-induced, was still quite interesting and worth a fight.
Lei Miao, being completely unrestrained here, acted almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind. His right fist clenched, and endless combat energy and lightning seemed to converge in his hand, like a surging ionosphere, erupting with bright white arcs. In the next moment, a lightning ball that shifted from blue to purple flew from his palm, heading straight for Anthony.
Lei Miao’s attack wasn’t particularly fast, but its power was undeniable. Just the sound of the highly compressed combat energy within the lightning ball, tearing through space, was enough to imagine the destructive force of its explosion. Moreover, Anthony clearly saw countless silver snake-like arcs dancing between Lei Miao and the lightning ball, indicating that the ball could be remotely controlled, leaving no chance for escape.
“I… I won’t lose to you!” Even Anthony himself felt a lack of confidence. His current level of strength was entirely due to ancient stimulants, while his opponent was a true powerhouse, relying solely on his own formidable strength!
But at this moment, there was no turning back. If he didn’t fight with everything he had, he would only meet his end!
Anthony absolutely could not allow himself to fail at the final stage of his ascent to the pinnacle of power! He could not bear the thought of failure! Losing would not only mean losing power but also his life!
“Ahhh!!! I’ll fight with everything I have!!”
Like an aurora erupting, Anthony unleashed all the combat energy he could muster in one go, creating a towering pillar of combat energy light. Even the dark sky was illuminated to a blinding white. The entire volcano was shaken by the immense pressure of his combat energy, the ground trembling slightly, and the lava spewing and flowing at several times its normal speed.
In the next moment, all the combat energy suddenly contracted into Anthony’s body, then transformed through some mysterious process, finally erupting from his mouth.
“Roar! Wolf’s Devouring Prison!”
A massive wolf head formed of combat energy, surrounded by countless tiny ions, shot forth. The air couldn’t keep up with the wolf’s speed, compressed and exploding with a deafening roar.
In an instant, Lei Miao’s lightning ball collided with Anthony’s wolf head.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Or perhaps it had stopped for a long time.
The only one who seemed to move was Zhang Wen, who quickly pressed everyone to the ground.
A few seconds later, Lei Miao’s lightning ball suddenly flared with intense light, while Anthony’s wolf head let out a mournful howl as it disintegrated.
“Boom!!! Crash!!!”
The intense sound of combat energy explosions echoed through the heavens and earth for a long time. When the shockwaves and smoke finally dissipated, Zhang Wen shook off the half-inch layer of rubble and dust covering him, spat out the charred volcanic ash from his mouth and nose, and barely managed to open his eyes to look ahead. His eyes widened in shock.
The massive explosion had altered the terrain of the crater. The circular crater had collapsed halfway, becoming a relatively flat semicircle. Flames and spurts of red lava were everywhere, with billowing black smoke mixed with greenish fumes, making the scene resemble a living hell.
“Your instantaneous power isn’t bad, but unfortunately… strength gained through drugs can never last.” Lei Miao spoke with a smile on his face, though his eyes showed no trace of amusement, still radiating a brilliant light.
Standing a dozen meters away from him, Anthony’s face twitched. He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, no words came out. His body fell heavily to the ground like a log.
The victor was the Empire’s Venom Fang, Lei Miao!
One lunatic, Anthony, had fallen, but in his place rose an even more insane Lei Miao. For Zhang Wen, this was hardly good news.
Lei Miao, the smiling tiger, would be a blessing if he didn’t come after you. How could you dare to challenge him for the Southern Realm overlord position?
Zhang Wen glanced at Xiu Luo, Xiao Xi, Marian, and the others beside him. Everyone shook their heads helplessly. Facing an enemy like Lei Miao, they had all lost confidence. Now, they only hoped to escape unscathed, not to be casually killed by him.
Was it time to give up here?
Zhang Wen looked at his companions, then at Lei Miao, who stood with his hands behind his back in front of the crater, staring at the sky as if lost in thought. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. From the first time he had met Lei Miao, combining all the impressions, legends, and events surrounding him, Zhang Wen felt as if he had grasped something.
Lei Miao’s personality would never be interested in the position of the Southern Realm overlord. So, what could have attracted him here?
A strong opponent! Of course, an opponent strong to the point of absurdity. Someone like the King.
But in this Southern Realm overlord competition, what opponent could possibly interest him?
None! All the competing squads, except for Omega, Glow, and Agate, were here. How could Lei Miao be interested in them?
No! No!!
Zhang Wen suddenly realized that there were still strong opponents. Not all the strongest were here. At least two absolutely formidable opponents who could pique Lei Miao’s interest had not appeared.
The Arbitration Committee, the Northern Realm overlord, Messiah.
The Arbitration Committee, the King.
Was it one of these two powerhouses? Which one was the opponent Lei Miao sought? Why had he joined the Southern Realm overlord competition so recklessly? What was he after…
As Zhang Wen pondered with all his might, the area around the crater fell into complete silence. Lei Miao, looking up at the sky, seemed to have turned into a statue. Xiu Luo and Xiao Xi stood guard beside Zhang Wen, not daring to breathe. The pressure Lei Miao exuded was even more terrifying than Anthony’s earlier presence. No one dared to make a sound.
Unnoticed by everyone, not far behind Zhang Wen, among a pile of what should have been corpses of the competitors, one “corpse” moved. Slowly, a tall and burly figure rose.
His face bore a shocking scar from the corner of his eye to the corner of his mouth. His eyes, filled with gloom and cunning, were fixed on Zhang Wen.
Fixed on Zhang Wen’s carotid artery.
The killing machine, Gao Long!
He had been hiding for a long time, enduring for the sake of Black Baron’s plan.
Now, it was finally time to taste blood…
Like the wings of death, he quietly pounced on Zhang Wen.
“Your instantaneous power is impressive, but unfortunately… strength gained through drugs can’t last.” Leimu smiled, though his eyes held no mirth, his smile still dazzling.
A dozen meters away, Anthony’s face twitched. He opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately uttered not a word. His body fell heavily, like a log.
The victor was the Empire’s Poison Fang, Leimu!
A somewhat neurotic Anthony had fallen, but the even crazier Leimu stood triumphant. For Zhang Wen, this was hardly good news.
Leimu, the smiling tiger, was trouble enough without seeking him out. Who would dare challenge him for the title of Southern Realm Overlord?
Zhang Wen glanced at Xie Luo, Xiao Xi, and Maryan beside him. Everyone shook their heads helplessly. Facing an enemy like Leimu, no one felt confident anymore. Now, they could only hope to escape unscathed, avoiding being casually killed.
Would they have to forfeit here?
Looking at his companions, then at Leimu standing with his hands behind his back at the crater’s edge, gazing at the sky as if lost in thought, a sudden thought flashed through Zhang Wen’s mind. From the moment he first met Leimu, combining all the impressions, legends, and events connected to him, Zhang Wen suddenly felt as if he had grasped something.
Leimu’s personality definitely held no interest in the title of Southern Realm Overlord. So what could possibly attract him here?
Strong enemies! Naturally, an enemy powerful beyond reason—someone like a King.
So what enemy in this Southern Realm Overlord competition could possibly interest him?
None! All the competing teams, except Omega, Groo, and Agate, were already here. How could he find any of them interesting?
No! No!!
Suddenly, Zhang Wen realized there were still other strong enemies. Not all were present. At least two formidable opponents, capable of drawing Leimu’s interest, had yet to appear.
The Arbitration Committee, the Northern Realm Overlord, Misyah.
The Arbitration Committee, the King!
Was it one of these two mighty figures that Leimu sought? Which opponent did he desire? What was his true purpose in recklessly joining the Southern Realm Overlord finals?
As Zhang Wen intensely pondered, an almost deathly silence enveloped the entire crater. Leimu, gazing at the sky, seemed petrified like a statue. Xie Luo and Xiao Xi stood beside Zhang Wen, too afraid to breathe. Leimu’s pressure was even more terrifying than Anthony’s. No one dared make a sound.
No one noticed that, not far behind Zhang Wen, among a pile of what should have been corpses, one “corpse” stirred slightly. Slowly, a tall, muscular figure began to rise.
A shocking scar ran from the corner of his eye to his mouth. His eyes, dark and cunning, fixed on Zhang Wen.
Fixing on Zhang Wen’s neck artery.
The killing machine, Gaolong!
He had hidden for a long time, patiently enduring for Lord Hei’s plan.
Now, finally, he could savor the taste of blood…
Like the wings of Death, silently descending upon Zhang Wen.
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