It must be these invisible threads! Ryu thought to himself. Since the majority of his Qi was already being used to prevent the intruding Qi from entering farther into his body, he had to release everything used to trap the three assailants to perform the first stance of the Eternal Phoenix, Phoenix’s Brilliant Flames. Ryu exploded into a scorching fireball, like a human torch, and slowly but steadily the invading Qi threads were destroyed. Directing the flames upwards, the invisible cross above Ryu was also obliterated.
During this time the hold he had over the three assailants under the Baleful White Claw was undone and they immediately attacked Ryu. Even at the cost of harming themselves, they still struck at the flames surrounding him. Ignoring their burnt flesh, they continued forward with their attacks. The only thing Ryu could do was stop Phoenix’s Brilliant Flames and attempt to subdue them again.
Knowing that these three would charge at him in a suicidal manner, Ryu put his hands on the ground and a large stone dragon formed in front of him. The dragon charged forward with a roar and the assailants expectedly ignored the potential damage that could occur and didn’t attempt to dodge. Just before the dragon collided with them, it split into three streaks of light and formed into coffins that sealed them completely.
Anyone who saw this would be dumbfounded because the transformation was simply too fast. Due to one of the Seven Lost Professions, True Alchemy, Ryu was able to transmute the stone dragon to something that could restrain them. Just like Enchanting, True Alchemy follows the same hierarchy of tiers. The first tier allows the users to do simple transmutation such as transforming water into gas. If you master the first tier, you will be able to concoct basic pills without equipment. The second tier, the Brown Tier, allows the user to transmute objects of larger sizes at much faster speed. It also allows you to even transmute basic Qi based attacks.
Increasing the sensitivity of his aura, Ryu sensed that they were under control from the same skill that attempted to control him as well. Ryu’s aura is already covering a few kilometers but he still couldn’t find where his opponent was. The only conclusion Ryu could reach was that this was a specialization due to its long range and the hidden opponent’s skill in hiding is much higher than his.
Since it’s just threads that’s binding these three, Ryu inhaled a deep breath and blew out white flames. These flames didn’t look deadly and if one doesn’t look closely, it would appear as if nothing came out of Ryu’s mouth. Yet these simple white flames continued to burn away at the threads without additional help from Ryu. The threads were connected to the victims as well but it only continued onwards until it reached the cross shaped items above them thanks to Ryu’s control. This was the Unending Incineration stance from the Eternal Phoenix, this white flame won’t be put out unless all of it is extinguished at once.
The white flames burnt the three odd cross shaped items that controlled the three assailants to nothingness. Looking around Ryu still couldn’t find the real mastermind behind the body controlling attack. The only explanation he could think of is that an expert is hiding in the shadows! People who are proficient in shadow Qi based skills could hide completely in the shadow which could escape his aura detection. With a stomp, the coffins sank into the ground and shot away from its current location.
Gathering Qi in his hands, Ryu released it in the air and let it explode like fireworks. This illuminated the areas around him, erasing all shadows nearby. Ryu instantly noticed a figure behind a tree emerging abruptly so Ryu launched a couple of Qi dragons with a punch. Three raging dragons composed of golden Qi flew towards their target with such fury that it sounded like the air was been ripped apart.
Bang! The collision occurred and the dragons unexpectedly got ripped apart. Black threads filled with intense ominous Qi flew towards Ryu from the point of impact. Not waiting to be caught, Ryu’s body started swaying while running away. Before long, there were a dozen images of Ryu running around with streaks of lightning emitted. This was the Hundred Phantoms stance from the Merciless Tiger. Coupled with lightning Elemental Mutation, it was almost impossible to catch or even discern the real Ryu. Unfortunately for Ryu, he wasn’t proficient enough to unleash hundreds of afterimages and was caught by a few threads after a sudden increase in their speed. This time the threads were much stronger and more persistent. Perhaps it’s because it is no longer invisible or that Ryu’s the only target now. The foreign Qi from the black threads immediately tried to flow downwards in his Qi reservoirs and Ryu’s efforts at preventing it were futile.
“This Qi… peak King Domain?” Alarmed, tapped into all four Qi reservoirs and their combined might roared out. Spinning into the air, Ryu countless Qi blades flew out and carved countless slashes to his surroundings. The threads attached to him were instantly shredded.
More threads came at Ryu and Ryu decided to face them head on. The enemy’s Qi was of higher level than before for some reason. The threads coiled around each other and formed into a thick rope the size of a tree trunk. Cladding himself with a sharp sword Qi, Ryu shot forth with unstoppable might that would frighten all King Domain cultivators. Ryu had transformed into what looked like a simplistic white blade and clashed with the incoming dark threads. Ryu had reached the One with the Sword phase where the sword is just an extension of his body. This was an abstraction of the Cataclysmic White Tiger. Instead of transforming into a rampant apparition of a tiger that would cause mass destruction, Ryu chose a blade that would better suit his needs.
The white blade cut through the combined black threads like it was paper. Although Ryu met resistance, he still wasn’t hindered by much. As he got closer to the source, he felt his opponents Qi increase dramatically and even more threads came at him! All of the sudden Ryu’s blade could go no farther.
“Emperor Domain Qi? What’s going on?” Ryu said in shock to himself. The opponents Qi keeps fluctuating upwards. The pressure of a Qi from one domain higher is completely overwhelming Ryu who only achieved entry King Domain. If it wasn’t for his profound technique, he would have been shredded by these threads. Having no other choice, Ryu has activated the Superman Mode. It is a berserk-like skill that raises his cultivation up by a few levels temporary while releasing all the Qi within one of his reservoirs. His level instantly shot up to level 69, the peak of King Domain.
The white blade formed by Ryu’s body swiftly gained new life and charged forward once again faster than before. The black threads were not simply cut anymore, they were vaporized upon contact. This attack from Ryu can no longer be stopped by anyone in the King Domain. The opponent’s Qi was only slightly stronger now but Ryu had the upper hand when it comes to quantity of Qi and technique.
“Impudence!” A retreating voice could be heard as Ryu slammed into the targeted area. A perfectly straight line was carved out up till the point of impact. However, there was nothing but a lifeless beast in its place. Instantly he chased after where the source of the voice was.
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He channeled all his Qi into his legs and performed the last stance of the Merciless Tiger, the Vanishing White Flash. With all his Qi released and using the profound unranked agility skill, it would be hard even for an expert that’s a domain higher to escape from Ryu. The downside of this skill was that it only allows the user to run in a straight line proficiently. It also can’t be used in the air but Ryu’s experimenting with creating his own road in the sky.
Ryu’s silhouette followed by a breeze of dust from inhuman running speed caught up in a flash. A white intimidating tiger paw slammed down into the ground against the retreating figure covered in darkness.
“What?” Ryu said in surprise. It turned out to be another dead beast. The opponent was too well-versed in the shadow arts, Ryu didn’t even notice when he or she escaped. Was it possible that this was a work of a beast? Beasts are able to take human form and communicate like a human once they reach the Emperor Domain. Since they grew up in the harsh wilderness where the strong survives, their hiding abilities have been honed after countless generations. Noticing that in such a dark night where the moonlight is obstructed by clouds, he was at a huge disadvantage. There were a few beasts around him and one of them could potentially be the perpetuator!
Ryu did not have any more thoughts of pursuit. Even if he could find the culprit, he can’t really resist the attacks from a higher domain without going into Superman Mode that lasts around three minutes now thanks to his recent revelations and progression with martial skills. Even so, the opponent has clearly shown how proficient they are at running away. It would be pointless to pursue this endeavor.
Ryu decided to leave from his current situation as fast as he could while there’s time left in the Superman Mode. To be safe, Ryu sunk under the earth. Using all the strength he could muster from his profound Qi reservoirs and using shaman arts to receive help from nature, Ryu left the scene rapidly.
A pair of glimmering purple eyes could be seen near the shadows where Ryu disappeared into the earth.
“Proficient in the earth element as well. He was clearly in the early King Domain but how did he resist my Marionette Subjugation?” It whispered in shock. This was a normal reaction, Ryu’s current cultivation is only in the early King Domain. Judging by that alone, anyone in mid King Domain would be confident enough to take him on. An Emperor Domain cultivator would never think in a million years that they would have trouble with someone from the King Domain. The gap was enormous, like comparing the size of an elephant to a mouse. This gap was much greater than all previous gaps between domains because an essence was formed! This was the first domain where the Qi reservoir transforms and undergo significant deviations and advancements.
“Never mind that, he even managed to catch up to me. Who is he? And that last burst of strength, was he hiding his true power all along? He did manage to cure the Thousand Year Old Plague for that brat Cro-La…” Suddenly the unknown figure spat out blood in the darkness.
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered silencing him myself. How many years did I waste just now?” A hint of frustration combined with bitterness could be heard in this voice.
“This kid is not simple. I have to get rid of him before he ruins my plans but I don’t have enough strength for another attempt… should I poison him? No that wouldn’t work…” More coughs followed.
“If he’s really in the Emperor Domain than who can perform such a task?” Even more coughs, the blood that got spat out are completely black. This mysterious figure completely overestimated Ryu who only managed to reach peak King Domain for a few minutes thanks to the Superman Mode.
“Looks like I’ll have to find a way to buy the services of the Death Origin Organization again. The sum… will be hard to collect though…” The mysterious figure said before slowly disappearing.
The Death Origin Organization was where Alexis worked at. It is an infamous organization that stands as one of the eighteen pillars of the Dark Continent! Although the Dark Continent is the sworn enemy to the rest of the world, various people still use their services to fulfill their own selfish goals. This was an issue on all but the most powerful continents. The Heaven Continent which is considered the weakest by all definitely couldn’t regulate the illicit dealings that the Dark Continent offers. There are very few powers that could deal with them on this continent but the Heaven Continent is just too vast to govern. On a decent flying mount that flies over five hundred kilometers per hour, it would still take nearly a year just to cross it!
At the edge of the Heaven Continent, three figures stood on top of a terrifying being that could instantly be recognized as the enemy of mankind. It was covered with threatening red shiny scales the size of buildings. Its body was stocky with muscular limbs that could tear apart mountains. Each foot contained three digits that had deadly hoary claws longer than a kilometer. Overall it had a serpentine-like figure with a huge set of wings that made it look like a flying fortress.
One figure appeared to be a young woman with purplish hair with a tint of red. Another was a young man whose hair was completely red and spiked up. The last figure was an old man wearing monocles. The clothes they wore were foreign to the Heaven Continent.
“Wow what level of barrier is this? Even Apocalypia’s breathe can’t dent it.” The boy asked.
“Young master Zenos, this barrier is at least in the Silver Tier and it spans the whole continent. Even your father, Blood Lord Sauran, would have difficulties getting past this barrier. Breaking it would be out of the question.” The old man replied promptly. The boy turned out to be Zenos, the only son of the Blood Lord. They had left the Dark Continent a few weeks ago yet somehow despite over a million kilometers in distance, they arrived at the Heaven Continent. This speed was definitely impossible without the help of some sacred treasure.
“What did you say Hugans? Silver Tier Enchantment? Around the whole continent? How can this continent be considered the weakest?” Zenos exclaimed with enthusiasm. He was too excited to stand still and looked as if he would jump down from the mighty being he stands upon.
“The ancestors of each continent had legendary strength that couldn’t be compared to their descendants today. This barrier before you is already weakened by the passage of millions of years and is still this strong.” Hugans replied.
“Amazing, amazing! How did our troops manage to get in during the last Great War then?” Zenos asked curiously.
“This barrier would indiscriminately kill all beings above Sovereign Domain, basically it denies entry to beings that have gone through Rebirth. During the last Great War, the Devouring Ghost Sect borrowed an enormous fortune to release one Deity Level being past this grand barrier. Unexpectedly they met their demise at the hands of a single swordsman. This is how the Devouring Ghost Sect have fallen to their dire straits these days as the weakest of the eighteen supreme powers.” Hugans explained.