The First Annihilation Sword lacked any trace of fireworks—it appeared to be a simple, unadorned strike.
Yet when combined with the Path of Ripples, its impact was earth-shattering. The entire Xueying Domain churned into a massive vortex, its core centered on that single spear! Dongbo Xueying, leveraging his speed advantage, charged straight toward Zhe Qu Yong and thrust his spear. Though Zhe Qu Yong sensed immense danger, he remained confident in his own strength. Lowering his head, he rammed forward like a meteor crashing down.
**BOOM—**
The spinning spear tip caved in Zhe Qu Yong’s skull. Though his golden robes prevented penetration, the terrifying force seeped through, collapsing his head inward before swiftly annihilating his neck.
Yet his massive body twisted and retreated, his head regenerating instantly. His small eyes widened in shock as he stared at Dongbo Xueying, nodding slightly. “I concede. Your spearplay… I submit wholeheartedly.” Though his vitality was immense, he estimated that enduring another eight or ten strikes would mean certain death.
—
The spectators erupted in gasps.
“He won?”
“The First Annihilation Sword isn’t even his strongest move—he has an even deadlier spear technique!”
“This makes him fourth in rank now!”
The crowd buzzed with disbelief. Zhe Qu Yong’s strength was widely acknowledged, yet he had been defeated, earning Dongbo Xueying the awe of countless True God disciples. Even the outer hall elders brightened with approval.
However, Ancestor Tianyu, the Swordmaster, the Pavilion Masters, and those inner and outer hall elders and disciples who had studied the *Thirteen Annihilation Swords* noticed something deeper—Dongbo Xueying’s subsequent, more explosive spear technique was fundamentally rooted in the *First Annihilation Sword*, fused with other profound laws!
Only those of sufficient insight or familiarity with the *Thirteen Annihilation Swords* could discern this.
The Pavilion Masters, with their superior perception, saw even more.
“He actually modified the *First Annihilation Sword*? Merged it with the Path of Ripples?” one Pavilion Master exclaimed.
“The *First Annihilation Sword* is already flawless. Most True God Sovereigns are fortunate just to master it—modifying it is unthinkable! Yet Dongbo Xueying not only altered it but integrated the Path of Ripples seamlessly. This… this is extraordinary.”
“He has indeed reshaped the *First Annihilation Sword*!”
Their eyes were sharp.
They recognized that Dongbo Xueying’s spearplay wasn’t merely a fusion of techniques—he had refined the *First Annihilation Sword* itself in subtle ways, optimizing its synergy with the Path of Ripples.
Merely supplementing the technique would have been impressive, but not shocking.
But modifying it? That meant Dongbo Xueying had grasped the original intent behind Ancestor Tianyu’s creation—and dared to improve upon it, enhancing its power!
“To modify the *First Annihilation Sword* and succeed…” The white-haired Swordmaster seated at the highest throne mused, “At his age, with more time, he might even master the *Second Annihilation Sword* at the Sovereign level.”
In the entire history of the Voidsky Palace, only one had ever achieved that feat.
Ancestor Tianyu chuckled, nodding approvingly. “Hah! As expected of someone from the same cosmos as you and the Demon Ancestor. Among the current True God disciples, only Dongbo Xueying and the top-ranked Rainblade Swordsman have modified cosmic-level techniques—but the latter has trained far longer. His comprehension pales in comparison.”
“Indeed. In terms of potential, Dongbo Xueying stands first among this generation,” the Swordmaster agreed.
Potential was measured by three factors: strength, age, and past achievements.
Dongbo Xueying’s mastery of profound laws rivaled only Rainblade Swordsman’s—yet his cultivation time was drastically shorter, and he had only recently arrived in the Sacred World from his home universe.
—
Only the dozen strongest figures in Voidsky Palace could perceive the modifications to the *First Annihilation Sword*.
Disciples and elders familiar with the *Thirteen Annihilation Swords* could only tell that the technique was rooted in the *First Annihilation Sword*. As for the refinements? In the heat of battle, none possessed the acuity to dissect the *Ninth Chapter of the Ripple Dao*, isolate the Path of Ripples, and identify the subtle alterations to the *First Annihilation Sword*.
Such insight demanded transcendent comprehension.
—
**”Hmph.”**
The nine lofty Pavilion Masters, along with Ancestor Tianyu and the Swordmaster, were clearly engaged in discussion—their approving expressions unmistakable. This irked one golden-robed disciple.
“Just for defeating that fool Zhe Qu Yong, the Pavilion Masters praise him so?” The second-ranked, green-browed and gaunt ‘Golden Needle Fiend’ shot a cold glare at Dongbo Xueying, his emerald eyes gleaming. “Then I’ll crush him beneath my feet! Let’s see if they still sing his praises!” Unversed in the *Thirteen Annihilation Swords*, he failed to grasp the spear technique’s profundity—let alone realize the Pavilion Masters’ admiration stemmed from Dongbo Xueying’s modification of a cosmic-level art.
Golden Needle Fiend—once titled ‘Golden Needle Ancestor’—had been forced to adopt a more sinister moniker, a testament to his unyielding arrogance and madness.
Fortunately, Voidsky Palace embraced all, tolerating even the most ruthless cultivators so long as they obeyed its laws.
**”Whoosh.”**
Golden Needle Fiend soared into the arena.
“Dongbo Xueying, your arrogance knows no bounds, challenging golden-robed disciples one after another. Let me show you how far you still have to go!” His voice boomed across the battlefield.
Dongbo Xueying, hovering midair in golden robes, blinked in surprise.
*Arrogance?*
He had never gloated after victories, and his challenges were within the rules. How was this arrogance?
New to Voidsky Palace, Dongbo Xueying had only basic intelligence on Golden Needle Fiend’s strength—not his temperament.
“Senior Brother Golden Needle wishes to spar? I welcome the opportunity.” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “After you.”
“Then allow me to enlighten you.” Golden Needle Fiend’s smirk remained, his confidence unshaken. The top-ranked Rainblade Swordsman and he stood far above the other golden-robed disciples—the former for modifying a cosmic-level art to forge his own killing move, the latter for being a terrifying Ancient Cultivator.
**”Go.”**
Golden Needle Fiend struck instantly. The black horn on his forehead flared.
**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**
A hundred black streaks of light materialized in the sky, hurtling toward Dongbo Xueying with blinding speed—the fastest projectile attack he had ever faced from a True God Sovereign. Each streak reached him almost instantaneously.
Instinctively, Dongbo Xueying phased into the Voidworld, his spear whirling as the Xueying Domain unfurled.
Yet the black streaks barely slowed, retaining 80-90% of their force as they pierced the Voidworld.
**CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!**
Dongbo Xueying’s spear couldn’t intercept them all—each streak was too swift, too precise. They hammered into his body relentlessly.
His golden robes held firm.
As a Voidwalker, his body dispersed the impacts into the void, leaving only residual force to brush his flesh—insignificant against his Void God-level physique.
“Truly, the pinnacle of Ancient Cultivators is formidable,” Dongbo Xueying marveled.
Ancient Cultivators’ abilities were wildly diverse, some defying reason. Golden Needle Fiend hadn’t even unleashed his full power—just his innate gifts—yet he had already landed hits.
“Junior Brother Dongbo Xueying, with skills like these, you’d best train harder,” Golden Needle Fiend sneered, his emerald eyes locking onto the hidden figure in the Voidworld.
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