Dongbo Xueying felt the overwhelming, savage power surging through his arms—far surpassing his previous strength—and nodded slightly to himself. Back in the Heart Realm Continent, his Hunyuan Body Refinement had already reached the early-stage Divine Emperor level (early-stage Huang level), though it was unstable. After arriving in this world, given his natural talent and the insights gained from studying the ancient texts of this world’s powerhouses, he swiftly pushed his strength back to the early-stage Divine Emperor level and stabilized it.
In fact, rebuilding his power under a different civilization had deepened his understanding of the Dao. He now had many insights into the mid-stage Divine Emperor realm and had even devised several versions of Hunyuan Body Refinement techniques that could barely unleash mid-stage Divine Emperor strength—though all remained unstable.
His path differed from the creators of *Boundless* and *Heaven and Earth*. The ancient texts of other powerhouses only served as supplementary inspiration for him. Creating his own path to the mid-stage Divine Emperor realm was exceedingly difficult. Unlike those with the bloodline of the Primordial Chaos Ancestral Gods, who could continuously grow stronger by unlocking their bloodline’s potential, he had to rely solely on himself, advancing step by step.
This unshakably solid foundation was precisely why ascenders in this world could fight above their weight class!
*”Though unstable, my body suffers constant damage. But it also regenerates continuously. With my Hunyuan Body Refinement, I can sustain this for half an hour.”* Dongbo Xueying mused. Even without combat, after half an hour, his body’s vitality would drop to just 30%—his life’s warning threshold. Due to this world’s resistance, he had yet to master teleportation or clone techniques. Without clones, he had to protect his sole incarnation in this world at all costs.
*”Half an hour is more than enough!”* His aura surged violently as he gripped his black spear with one hand and lunged toward the Master of the Demonheart Sect.
*”His aura has skyrocketed—far stronger than before. Has he reached the mid-stage Divine Emperor level?”* The Demonheart Master felt a deep unease. *”He’s an ascender. If he truly possesses mid-stage Divine Emperor strength, he could rival a late-stage Divine Emperor—perhaps even kill me!”*
*”No good—he’s coming!”* His eyelids twitched as Dongbo Xueying’s blurred figure shot toward him at terrifying speed.
*”You must be using some forbidden technique! It won’t last long!”* the Demonheart Master roared, studying Dongbo Xueying’s expression while raising both hands to block the incoming spear thrust.
*Swish!*
The Demonheart Master extended his palms, conjuring three layers of ice and three layers of flame—a bizarre defensive formation. This was the first time since their battle began that he had resorted to full defense. Previously, he had been the aggressor, while Dongbo Xueying had relied on evasive hit-and-run tactics. Now, the Demonheart Master dared not press the attack. Fear gripped him—one spear strike could cripple him; two or three, and he’d be dead.
If this ascender truly wielded mid-stage Divine Emperor power, it was entirely possible.
Hence, full defense!
*Thud!*
The spear pierced the outermost flame layer, its terrifying force penetrating all six barriers before breaching the Demonheart Master’s ice armor and invading his body. Even so, its power had weakened by 20%—a testament to the Demonheart Master’s formidable defensive technique.
*”Hmm?”* The Demonheart Master’s eyes widened as he felt a force three times stronger than before surge violently within him, converging and then—*exploding!*
Previously, he could endure it. But now, amplified threefold—
*”Gah!”* Blood and fragments of internal organs spewed from his mouth as cracks split his skin. He stared at Dongbo Xueying in horror. *”Mid-stage Divine Emperor… It’s true!”*
*”How—?!”*
*”Retreat!”* The Demonheart Master knew three such strikes wouldn’t kill him—but ten would. And in a life-or-death battle, ten strikes were nothing.
Faced with mortal peril, he turned and fled without hesitation, despite his grievous wounds.
*Whoosh!*
Frost energy billowed around him, attempting to slow Dongbo Xueying’s pursuit, while his body glowed dark red like a meteor streaking toward the distant airship where his three Divine Emperor subordinates and a host of Divine Lords waited. Surely, they could buy him some time.
*”You think you can escape?”* Dongbo Xueying’s figure blurred as he gave chase. Though his current Hunyuan Body Refinement primarily enhanced his arms, boosting strength rather than speed, his Voidbug Movement Art allowed him to slice through the frost’s hindrance—outpacing the Demonheart Master.
*”What?!”*
*”This—this can’t be!”*
*”Run!”*
*”Scatter!”*
The three Divine Emperors and Divine Lords aboard the airship had been spectating, assuming the battle had reached a stalemate—neither side able to overcome the other. They expected their leader to retreat and regroup with them.
But then—
Dongbo Xueying unleashed his true power. A single strike left the Demonheart Master severely wounded. The gap in their strength was undeniable. Though not as clean as his earlier execution of early-stage Divine Emperors, it was clear their leader wouldn’t last much longer.
*”Split up!”*
*”Flee!”*
The three early-stage Divine Emperors and Divine Lords scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions. None wished to die for a lost cause.
The Demonheart Master’s face darkened as he raced toward the ship. *”Rats abandoning a sinking ship.”* With his imminent fall, his underlings had no intention of sacrificing themselves to buy him time.
*”Boom—!”*
Dongbo Xueying’s spear descended like divine wrath.
Though still at a distance, space itself compressed violently around the Demonheart Master—*”Beautiful as a Painting.”* The technique sought to flatten him into two dimensions, erasing his very height to crush him outright. The Demonheart Master resisted desperately, but the spear’s power, amplified by Dongbo Xueying’s enhanced physique, pressed down through space with overwhelming force.
*”Crack! Crack! Crack!”* His body fissured, blood spraying as he was nearly flattened into a sheet of flesh.
Just as the collapsing space reached its limit, Dongbo Xueying followed up with *”Skyrend.”*
*”Bang!”*
The spear struck again, shattering the compressed space into oblivion—*annihilating the heavens themselves!*
*Boom! Boom! Boom!—*
The Demonheart Master felt his surroundings disintegrate. His body tore under the catastrophic force, his ice armor and desperate defensive techniques crumbling. In the explosion’s wake, he abandoned his lower half—everything below his waist reduced to pulp—while his upper body, shielded by his arms, barely survived.
Emerging from the devastation, his wounds healed rapidly, but his vitality had plummeted by half—irrecoverable in the short term.
In sheer terror, he produced a peculiar twig—a life-saving treasure bestowed upon him by the Willow Valley Master, his patron. Using it meant forfeiting his sole lifeline, as the proud Willow Valley Master would never grant another without monumental contributions. The Demonheart Master had clung to it even as his subordinates perished, but now—*he had no choice.*
*”Hummm!”*
The twig erupted with immense power, enveloping him.
*Whoosh!*
Transformed into a streak of emerald light, he shot across the sky at blinding speed—far outstripping Dongbo Xueying’s Voidbug Movement Art.
*”Running?”* Though outpaced, Dongbo Xueying pursued relentlessly, his figure a blur vanishing into the wilderness beyond Junshan City.
—
The onlookers in Junshan City stood dumbfounded, including Lord Yufeng Junshan himself. The battle’s abrupt escalation left them reeling.
In mere moments, Dongbo Xueying had overwhelmed the Demonheart Master—forcing him to flee grievously wounded after the first strike, then shattering his body with the next two. The Demonheart Master’s desperate escape via the mystical twig, followed by Dongbo Xueying’s pursuit into the untamed wilds, unfolded too swiftly to process.
The implications of what they’d just witnessed sent shivers down their spines, their legs trembling with awe and fear.
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