106 To break the barrier.
"Whatever..."
He murmured as he set his sights back onto the all-encompassing net.
*SHING*
"Break this, then return to the human sect..."
His eyes shined gold as he gazed at the barrier between him and the outside world. He knew that he wouldn't be able to break this barrier with his cultivation; it was obvious!
"I need to be at my crippled peak to even view the barrier, hm..."
His gaze wandered around him as he caught sight of the draconic thunderbolt blade that he obtained. He paused as he looked at its sheen, where a smile began to surface.
"Oh..?"
*GRASP*
His fists clutched at the razor-sharp handle like it was blunt; his aura seethed!
"Right, the Ancient Fist Arts encompass all."
Although he has never used a sword in his life, the moment he picked up this item the posture of swordsman erupted! His gaze sharpened, and an ancient nature began to waft out of his stance.
"Fist."
He knew that he was crippled, so even with his recovery, he can only use half of his latent power!
Thus, there was only one way to solve this...
"Third form..."
His breath was firm and his aura unmoving, for he was going to shatter this void's barrier!
*RUMBLE*
A tearing sensation exploded from his forehead as Su Min felt a sudden surge of old power pulsate within him. An odd-looking lock emerged from his forehead, glistening with a transcendent presence.
It gave the aura of a paramount treasure, a treasure that, if seen, would make cultivators go mad to obtain!
Su Min's vision blurred as he sensed the ancient energy around him. He could feel that some sort of caged boundary within him was trembling from the presence of that lock on his forehead.
"Ancient Existence..."
No hesitation shone as he grumbled out the final verse.
*SHIINGG*
The lock shimmered, then with a pop, a rune emerged and forced it to unlock! Su MIn's entire vision changed at this moment; it was a change that brought a drastic surge of power to writhe!
"Hoh..."
Su Min eyes widened as he looked around. Everything seemed to become so simple in his eyes, so minute...
*PSST*
All around him, for 996 metres, it shook! It was a shake that defied description, a shake that seemed to move space itself!
"Form a sword strike with all the energy I can control!"
He lifted the shaking sword in his grasp as his eyes began to glow a blinding glare. A haze of golden fog erupted into view from this glare, a haze of gold that stretched out in all directions!
"This will probably do..."
A light smirk was on his face as a terrifying quantity of ancient energy emerged and strung around his sword. He compressed the energy without care, causing a solidified golden aura to encompass the blade in his grasp!
This was all the energy in a 996-metre radius, compressed to the length and width of his sword!
*CRACK*
Just holding the sword brought striking thunderous cracks to develop in the space around him. These cracks would only emerge when 2nd realm energy is used!
Su Min's stern eyes reaped with determination as he took a step forward and appeared before the sealing net!
*TEAR*
Space tore in a straight line as a kilometre long gnash in space formed from his simple movement!
"This third form wasn't really made to be used like this... But who cares."
A nonchalant expression was on his face as he turned his head up and brought the sword up with him. His congealed gold aura froze as all sound seemed to get revoked; his stare seemed to replace the world...
"Fall."
His spoke a simple word as his muscles convulsed with all the power he could muster. The sword, heavier than a mountain, reacted.
*WHOOSH*
A crashing rumble ruptured all as his sword swept down. Though, the entire world seemed to follow his swords gait as it splintered the void.
The void turned to gold.
*ROARR*
The net shook as it seemed to go berserk. It was unknown whether it was alive, but from this strike, it was scared out of its whits!
*SLASH*
A single, irrevocable slash emerged from the void that had just been lit in a perpetual gold. It gave the impression that a God had just slashed his sword at this realm; like all life was meant to part beneath this slash.
The golden slash took the entire height of the void, yet it seemed to be slimmer than a grain of sand!
Time stilled as the void tore in two when the slash passed by. Its speed was slow, but it felt faster than anything in this world. The net-like barrier shimmered as it reacted to the danger, causing thick energy to form and wrap around the golden slash.
Yet, this seemed to be pointless.
*SQUEAL*
A desolate cry emerged from the barrier as the slash collided with it head on! A startling collection of thuds and pops ricocheted out of the barrier. It began to warp and contort!
Though, it didn't split!
"Break!"
Su Min's eyes grew ferocious as he leapt forward with a thunderous bang! His body shimmered with even more ancient energy as he brought his fist back!
"Fist, Second Form!"
A trace of blood littered his throat as Su Min felt a mighty rejection force bellow in his mind. However, he ignored it!
"Golden Eclipse!"
Strands upon strands of glowing gold gathered around his fist. A searing heat fumed and a light golden fire lit itself on his hand!
*PSST*
The slash, still scraping and jolting against the barrier, trembled as if it could think. Su Min smiled, and without remorse, he threw a punch that could destroy the world!
*ROARR*
The radiant golden flame transformed as it got propelled off of his fist! Its size multiplied without reason, and combined with the 9th step force behind it, it took the size of the entire void!
It was as if everything had just been drowned in a sea of golden flames, flames that originated from a law that transcended all!
"Combine! Split and sear!"
Su Min's hoarse roar thundered in the void as the sea of flames encompassed the shimmering slash! The barrier shook as it felt an even greater force erupt from the slash; a slash that was now alight in concentrated flame!
*SSSS*
The net of the barrier charred as if it were on a grill, and with this, the barrier contorted even more!
Su Min, floating behind the incomprehensible sight, shook as he coughed out a gallon of golden blood. His face was pale and his eyes dim, and without him even realising, the lock atop his forehead had resealed itself...
"I gave it my all..."
The blood that dripped from his mouth was absorbed by his jacket. The jacket seemed to wriggle as it cried in joy, though Su Min didn't pay any attention to it.
*PSSST*
Fluctuations of disastrous power flung itself everywhere; just this was alone enough to slay a 7th step cultivator!
*BANGGG*
The barrier shimmered more and more, and as Su Min coughed out more blood, he noticed that his attack was beginning to recede.
"Ah..."
Unwillingness etched his expression as he watched the burning flames get fanned out one by one; the slash was even starting to crackle under the unrelenting pressure.
Su Min didn't say a word as he just watched it dim and dim... Its luminous light dying. Decaying.
"..."
He knew that he wasn't going to break the barrier.
