The sixteen guards formed a battle formation, moving as one.
Each guard could instantly become the core of the formation, shifting seamlessly between roles, unleashing relentless killing strikes!
Against such foes, one had to meet them head-on. Any hesitation or attempt to retreat and assess their strength would only invite suppression. Under their unbroken onslaught, defeat could come in the blink of an eye!
*”Hum!”*
The Illusory Realm of the Void spread out, constantly enveloping the sixteen guards before him. Strictly speaking, this group of guards fighting Dongbo Xueying was the weakest—precisely because of the interference from the Illusory Realm. They could only unleash fifty to sixty percent of the power displayed by the other four groups.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Within the hazy mist and countless miniature spatial pockets, nine white-robed youths emerged from nine separate micro-spaces.
Nine avatars!
*”Combined strike!”*
*”Hunyuan’s First Strike—Smokecloud Surge!”*
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
Nine palms struck simultaneously from the miniature spaces, churning the mist into a terrifying vortex. At its center lay an abyss of absolute stillness, colliding head-on with the guards’ blades, staffs, and hammers. In the instant of impact, the guards cycled through three different attacks, yet they were still forced back.
The nine avatars within the miniature spaces also staggered a step from the recoil.
*”Hmm?”*
The Hunter, the Black Monarch, and the Swordfiend Overlord, despite being locked in their own life-and-death battles, observed the other fights.
*”A direct clash, yet he doesn’t falter at all?”*
They were astonished.
They knew full well that the combined attacks of these guards were on par with the peak of a Cosmos God’s Ultimate Realm!
*”Does Emperor Feixue possess a supreme treasure?”*
*”How can he unleash such combat power?”*
…
Each of the nine avatars fully unleashed the might of Hunyuan’s First Strike. Without formation enhancements, their combined power was already formidable. Over the past few millennia, Dongbo Xueying had completely refined the *Redcloud Combat Arts*, with the combined-attack technique being his most painstaking effort—tailored specifically for his nine avatars to maximize their synergy.
Originally, each strike already brushed the threshold of the third-tier Cosmos God realm. With nine avatars executing it in unison, amplified by the combined-attack technique, their power rivaled that of an Overlord.
*”Not enough. These guards’ defenses are formidable. I need to rely on ‘Piercing the Void’—this move is best suited for breaking formations.”*
After the initial palm strikes, the nine avatars immediately followed with fists.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
Nine fists struck simultaneously, each executing the *New Redcloud Combat Arts*’ *Piercing the Void* technique. Faint ripples formed a swirling vortex, each ripple composed of countless fractures, through which wisps of Hunyuan energy seeped. When the vortex clashed with the guards’ formation, its power concentrated into the slenderest guard—the one whose blade was the most vicious.
*”Such ferocious attacks. I refuse to believe your body is equally strong.”* Dongbo Xueying gritted his teeth.
*”BANG!”*
The slender guard’s body exploded, armor fragments scattering as he perished instantly. In truth, most of these guards had weaker physiques—otherwise, if they were flawless, the twelfth trial would be impossibly difficult!
With one guard dead, the formation swiftly adjusted, maintaining cohesion.
*”Kill!”*
*”Shift formation, attack!”*
The guards grew even more frenzied. Though their strikes were powerful enough to wound Dongbo Xueying lightly, even the Great Elder Pusheng had endured over a dozen blows before being expelled. With his robust physique, Dongbo Xueying could withstand at least a hundred strikes—and with nine avatars, killing him became exponentially harder.
Moreover, losing a guard undeniably weakened the formation.
*”BANG!” “BANG!” “BANG!”*
Hidden within their miniature spaces, the nine Dongbo Xueyings struck out with fists, executing their combined technique.
*New Redcloud Combat Arts—Piercing the Void!*
Nine avatars, united in attack!
This technique countered formations perfectly. After the first guard fell, Dongbo Xueying endured several more assaults before obliterating five more in succession. The guards’ resistance crumbled, making him the first to decisively turn the tide.
…
The Swordfiend Overlord was the only one unscathed.
During the eleventh trial, he had suffered minor injuries from the sheer number of crimson fish. Now, facing only sixteen foes in a formation, his peerless swordsmanship allowed him to defend flawlessly. In close combat, he was unmatched—slowly but surely dismantling the guards through sheer skill.
Though less efficient than Dongbo Xueying, he remained unharmed.
…
Yet, the Swordfiend Overlord’s flawless defense didn’t mean the guards were weak.
Their attacks were relentless—one misstep, and it was over. Only his impeccable defense allowed him to prevail. No one else could replicate this feat.
The Great Elder Pusheng was the first expelled.
The Hunter, too, reached his limit. Despite his body’s shifting evasion, the relentless assaults finally overwhelmed him, leaving him grievously wounded.
*”Hmm?”* The Hunter glanced at the remaining three.
The Swordfiend Overlord’s close-combat supremacy was expected.
But the Black Monarch had unveiled a hidden trump—five shadow clones, between which his true form flickered effortlessly, turning the battle in his favor.
*”No wonder he dared return to the Heartstar Palace—his strength has grown.”* The Hunter sighed inwardly.
*”And Emperor Feixue… Nine avatars with such combined power? Without a doubt, another Overlord has emerged.”*
*Whoosh.*
An intangible force enveloped the Hunter, whisking him away. His journey in the Heartstar Palace had ended.
…
Dongbo Xueying eliminated his guards first, followed by the Swordfiend Overlord, then the Black Monarch.
The three stood on their respective cloud paths, gazing at one another.
*”Black Monarch, I never expected you to conceal such a shadow-clone technique until now,”* remarked the Swordfiend Overlord.
*”My secrets pale next to Brother Feixue’s. His frontal assault rivals ours, while his defensive and area-control abilities surpass us. Truly impressive,”* the Black Monarch praised.
And why not?
Dongbo Xueying’s strongest strike was undeniably Overlord-tier. His survival, control, and Illusory Realm techniques all reached the third-tier Cosmos God threshold. Among Overlords, he was exceptionally well-rounded.
*”Whoosh.”*
The intangible force descended once more, enveloping all three.
As the scenery warped around them, anticipation swelled in their hearts.
Success. The twelfth trial was conquered—now, the grand reward awaited.
…
The Heartstar Palace’s main gates had long sealed shut. Outside, a crowd had gathered—Fire Demon Overlord, Slaughter Sky Great Elder, and even the recovering Great Elder Pusheng, shrouded in a temporal field. None dared act rashly, for standing guard were avatars of invincible beings like Emperor Xia and the Infinite City Lord.
With so many wounded upon expulsion, their presence deterred ambushes.
*”Whoosh.”* The Hunter materialized outside.
*”You too?”* Great Elder Pusheng chuckled. *”Is the Black Monarch still inside?”*
*”What of Emperor Feixue?”* pressed the Bonehowl Great Monarch.
*”Don’t wait. The Black Monarch is cunning, with his shadow clones. As for Emperor Feixue… his frontal combat rivals ours, while his survival and control surpass us,”* the Hunter said, shaking his head. *”Among our group, he might well be the strongest.”*
*”What?”* The Bonehowl Great Monarch gaped.
*”That powerful?”* Great Elder Pusheng was stunned, immediately contacting the Swordfiend Overlord for confirmation.
Others from various ancient kingdoms murmured in shock.
*”Emperor Feixue—Overlord-tier? The strongest among them?”*
*”Is this true?”*
*”He cleared the twelfth trial. What else need be said? From what I saw before my expulsion, he was the first to slay all his foes,”* the Hunter countered.
Soon after, the Swordfiend Overlord and the Black Monarch, besieged by inquiries from allies, confirmed the news. Even Dongbo Xueying found himself bombarded with messages—including congratulations from the Skyrend Great Elder for conquering the twelfth trial.
With no way to conceal the truth, it spread like wildfire.
The world soon knew: the Swordfiend Overlord, the Black Monarch, and Emperor Feixue had triumphed over the twelfth trial.
Emperor Feixue’s status as an Overlord was universally acknowledged, his name echoing across the Heartstar Continent’s factions.
…
Among Cosmos Gods, word traveled swiftly. A new Overlord had risen.
Naturally, the news reached the Southcloud Nation.
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