Injury

Injury . . .

As the auras of his three opponents and the formidable demonic beast loomed before him, Zi Daoyang couldn't ignore the looming possibility of defeat. Yet, surrender was far from his mind.

After all, he was Zi Daoyang, the heir to the Violet Emperor, and he held the coveted first position in the Immortal Ascension Rankings. Was he really about to back down from this battle?

With unwavering pride that befitted someone at the pinnacle of the rankings, Zi Daoyang made his decision. He saw himself as the strongest in the City of Ancient Emperors, and he had upheld that belief since arriving at the Underworld Mountains. Instead of relying on immortal-ranked weapons to subdue Little Rascal, he chose to confront it with his own strength. For the most potent figure in the city, breaking the rule of using immortal-ranked weapons to handle a mere demonic beast was a matter of pride.

This was not foolishness but a manifestation of his unwavering pride as the strongest.

Throughout history, the most exceptional geniuses at the peak had always held a distinct, unshakable pride.

As Qing'er, Nanfeng Yunxi, and Little Rascal took up their positions, encircling Zi Daoyang, Qin Wentian's colossal form dominated the battlefield, asserting control over its every aspect.

"FIGHT!" Zi Daoyang's roar sent violet light cascading from the skies, forming a colossal palm imprint aimed at Little Rascal. Unperturbed, Little Rascal responded with a fierce paw swipe, its immense talons gleaming with formidable runic power as they pierced through the palm imprint, shattering it into fragments.

A lotus blossomed, casting a radiant protective shield over Zi Daoyang. Qing'er's expression remained as cool as ice as she extended a finger, conjuring a multitude of ethereal swords that sliced through the air.

In response, Zi Daoyang waved his hand, and his divine constellation radiated with dazzling brilliance as he invoked the Thousand Autumns Emperor Art once more. Qing'er's attack collided with an invisible barrier, only to rebound upon her.

"Ordinary attacks are ineffective against Zi Daoyang. His Thousand Autumns Emperor Art can return all strikes to their source," Nanfeng Yunxi explained, her presence exuding an air of divine perfection. Behind her, the phantom of an ancient phoenix cried out, while a brilliant red aura surged into the sky, erupting into blazing beams of light that assailed Zi Daoyang. The intense flames converged into fiery projectiles, consuming all in their path before crashing into Zi Daoyang.

Zi Daoyang's expression shifted as he conjured a massive violet shield that radiated indestructibility. The fiery projectiles transformed into countless phoenix swords, each with the potential to rend anything asunder. The shield gradually turned red-hot from the relentless onslaught before finally shattering with a deafening boom.

"Witness the power of these attacks; they are truly fearsome. Those phoenix swords carry a fire energy capable of scorching the heavens and the power to cleave through all. With this display, Nanfeng Yunxi has asserted herself as virtually unbeatable in the City of Ancient Emperors," spectators marveled.

Zi Daoyang pushed his Ultimate Violet Saint Immortal Art to its limits, seemingly drawing power from the heavens themselves. Enveloped in a column of violet light, he stretched out his hand, manifesting a formidable violet palm that bore down upon Nanfeng Yunxi's fiery flames. Their fierce clash unfolded, and the colossal violet palm relentlessly pushed onward.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian's God's Hand once again held the terrifying heavenly hammer, delivering an earth-shaking strike. The celestial constellation above unleashed its radiant light, amplifying the hammer's crushing pressure. Zi Daoyang's other hand shot skyward to intercept the hammer blow.

A resounding boom echoed as their attacks collided, causing the earth to tremble violently. The sheer power behind their strikes was staggeringly immense.

Above them, countless figures of suppression descended, their collective might aimed squarely at Zi Daoyang. They radiated beams of light, coalescing into a dazzling suppression array. As Zi Daoyang tilted his head upward, he could feel an overwhelming pressure gathering above him.

Xiao Lengyue's voice pierced the chaos, her tone laced with frost as she sensed Zi Daoyang's dire predicament. The convergence of these four formidable experts was proving to be an insurmountable challenge for him. With multiple experts in tow, she charged forward, determined to aid Zi Daoyang. However, her intentions were swiftly thwarted when Qin Wentian's colossal sword bore down upon her, slicing through the fabric of space itself. Xiao Lengyue, her countenance frozen in shock, retreated with a burst of explosive speed. Qin Wentian's imposing figure, like that of a war deity, intended to keep them all away from Zi Daoyang. There would be no interference allowed.

In the midst of this chaotic battle, Zi Daoyang unleashed a fierce roar and ascended into the heavens, only to be met once more by the relentless descent of Qin Wentian's heavenly hammer. It descended with an overwhelming might, akin to the judgment of a battle god, slamming into Zi Daoyang and forcing him back to his original position. Although Zi Daoyang remained unscathed, he found himself ensnared within an inescapable web. Every move was countered, and he was now cornered.

Nanfeng Yunxi pressed forward, commanding a legion of ten thousand ancient phoenixes that surged forth, their power capable of shaking the very foundations of heaven and earth.

Qing'er unleashed her Immortal Slaying Diagram, targeting Zi Daoyang. Meanwhile, Little Rascal, the lightning-fast powerhouse, surged forward for close combat, its paw swiping out with astonishing strength and speed.

The diagram of suppression, formed from the radiant lines of the suppression figures, solidified. Zi Daoyang felt the crushing weight of his constellation energy as the diagram's radiance enveloped him, as if he were shouldering the heavens themselves. A sense of helplessness crept over him, growing stronger with each passing moment.

"Zi Daoyang is on the brink of defeat. It won't be long now," whispered the onlookers. Despite his unparalleled individual prowess, facing the combined might of these four experts left him struggling.

"If this continues, it's over for me," Zi Daoyang acknowledged his dire situation. He was caught within the relentless attacks of four experts. The crushing force of Qin Wentian's heavenly hammer was suppressing his combat capabilities. If this stalemate persisted, he would be at an extreme disadvantage.

Zi Daoyang's violet eyes blazed with determination as he focused on Little Rascal's massive form. Without hesitation, he abandoned his defensive stance and charged toward the beast, targeting its vital points.

A thunderous boom echoed as Nanfeng Yunxi's attack struck him. Although enveloped in layers of violet light, Zi Daoyang groaned in pain. Qing'er's strike landed simultaneously, slashing through his defenses and tearing away the protective layers. Yet, in that critical moment, Zi Daoyang pushed aside all concern. He thrust his palms forward, filling the sky with runes as he reached out.

Another deafening explosion ensued as Little Rascal's assault shattered. Zi Daoyang's violet palm clamped down, drawing forth a swirling vortex of darkness that voraciously absorbed the energy from within Little Rascal's body.

"RELEASE HIM!" Qin Wentian's heavenly hammer descended once more. Zi Daoyang raised his hand to block but watched helplessly as his palm imprint shattered beneath the hammer's relentless force. The fearsome impact of the hammer struck Zi Daoyang, causing him to cough up blood. Yet, even in his weakened state, he refused to release his grip on Little Rascal. With a defiant glare at Qin Wentian, his eyes blazed with a fierce light.

As the battle raged on, Zi Daoyang's condition deteriorated further. He couldn't suppress the pain, and his body convulsed, expelling more crimson streams of blood. It was evident that his injuries were far from trivial.

A deafening roar of anguish echoed through the battlefield as Little Rascal, wracked with pain, emitted a sound that seemed to shake the very heavens. Qin Wentian's complexion paled, and he replaced his mighty heavenly hammer with a divine, ethereal sword that shimmered with celestial radiance. His sword-bearing finger thrust downward, aimed directly at Zi Daoyang.

In that moment, terror coursed through Zi Daoyang's veins. A force of absolute annihilation surged forth, seemingly breaking the barriers of immortality itself, shaking the entire vicinity. The finger strike, an unstoppable harbinger of death, raced toward Zi Daoyang. With no other recourse, he summoned the last reserves of his strength, relinquishing his grip on Little Rascal. Both his palms surged upward as a violet deity manifested in front of him, prepared to bear the brunt of the impending blow.

Puchi! A brilliant, blinding light erupted. Qin Wentian's God's Hand disintegrated under Zi Daoyang's counterattack. However, at the same moment, Qin Wentian's sword-finger pierced into Zi Daoyang's defense. It tore through the violet deity, its relentless sword energy relentlessly ravaging Zi Daoyang's weakened defenses.

Driven by the rebound force, Zi Daoyang was sent hurtling backward in a desperate retreat. The earth quaked as deep fissures scarred the ground, and a gaping cavity marred Zi Daoyang's body. Blood spilled onto the ground as the grievous wound bore the marks of Qin Wentian's lingering sword might.

Returning to his normal size, Qin Wentian's God's Hand dissipated, but his aura continued to surge. His body was infused with the God Hand's power, enabling him to execute a single sword strike from the Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay. Though not as transcendent as before, this strike had elevated him to the pinnacle just below immortality.

His attack had inflicted severe wounds upon Zi Daoyang, the reigning champion of the Immortal Ascension Rankings.

"Break through!" The Violet Sect members pressed forward relentlessly, clashing with the Qin Sect's defenders. A ferocious battle ensued, and many combatants bore the brunt of injuries. Zi Daoyang produced a pill and swallowed it, his violet eyes burning with fury as they remained locked on Qin Wentian. This battle marked the first time he had faced such a significant disadvantage in the City of Ancient Emperors.

However, at this critical juncture, a formidable aura emanated from the distance, exuding a potent might that drew the attention of all present. All eyes turned to witness the approaching figure, their gazes narrowing with anticipation.

Zi Daoyang, unsurprised by the newcomer, identified him immediately—it was Mo Xie, who had been slowly advancing towards them. Zi Daoyang's countenance remained cold as he voiced his realization, "I had initially believed victory was guaranteed for me. Little did I know I'd be injured here, providing you with an unexpected advantage."

Zi Daoyang had anticipated Mo Xie's arrival, waiting for the opportune moment. Mo Xie was known for his ruthless tactics and his willingness to employ underhanded methods to achieve his goals. He represented a potent threat, and now, with both the Violet Sect and Qin Sect members fatigued and depleted, Mo Xie and his Evil Palace cohorts undoubtedly held a significant advantage!