Inside the core, there was nothing. It was completely empty, devoid of any presence.
Since entering the chaotic world, Cheng Lin had diligently kept her focus locked onto the core. At this moment, as all the liquid metals converged back into the core, it opened up, revealing nothing but emptiness.
"So much energy gathering in the core cannot simply disappear into thin air," Cheng Lin pondered, raising her gaze towards the sky. In these times, nobody follows the conventional path. Perhaps the target doesn't burst forth from the cracked core, but instead seeps out directly from the shell?
And true to her speculation, her suspicions were confirmed! The seemingly empty core was merely a diversion, a distraction from the true 'target' that now loomed high above the scorched earth, observing from a superior vantage point.
It was a colossal being! The scorched area where Blockhead Song and the others stood covered roughly the size of India. However, the size of this liquid metal figure in the sky surpassed even that. Its mere descent from the heavens could cause a cataclysmic event of apocalyptic proportions.
However, before the actual battle commenced, Shadow Thane quickly handed Blockhead Song a precious artifact.
The Shadow Holy Land!
It was the only known artifact capable of harnessing lingering obsessions. It allowed its user to temporarily wield the powers of the person from whom the obsession originated. However, if the obsession was too strong, it would overpower the user, causing them to temporarily transform into the person associated with the obsession while losing control to it.
"Friend Soul Reaping, are you ready?" Blockhead Song called out after receiving this formidable artifact.
"Here I come," replied the Soul Reaping Great Emperor with a hearty laugh.
He reached out his hand and pulled an entire landmass out from the void.
This land was saturated with an ancient aura, carrying the remnants of battles fought by supreme powerhouses. Even after countless millennia, the lingering sword intent, the momentum, and the residual spells from those clashes persisted.
Although the combatants had long departed, the intertwining of two distinct supreme Dao laws continued to resonate here. According to legend, this was the very site where the Holy Man waged his final battle, leaving behind the remnants of his unwavering determination.
"Very well, in this round, we shall bring our objective to its conclusion," Blockhead Song declared solemnly. In the next moment, the land, which the Soul Reaping Great Emperor had brought forth, erupted into a furious blaze of obsessions. The lingering obsessions left behind by the Holy Man were once again activated by the power of the 'Liquid Metal Ball.'
Throughout history, the Holy Man had always been considered the most suitable candidate to confront the Liquid Metal Ball. A surge of fiery determination, propelled by the Holy Man's relentless obsession, surged towards the Shadow Holy Land.
In the blink of an eye, countless flames of obsession transformed within the embrace of the Shadow Holy Land, shrouding Blockhead Song in an ethereal inferno. Within the engulfing flames, Blockhead Song's figure vanished, replaced by an indescribably potent aura that emanated an overwhelming presence.
Boom~
The flames dissipated...
A scholarly-robed man emerged from the void, emanating an aura of mastery and grandeur. His presence alone invoked an inexplicable sense of awe and admiration among those who beheld him. There was no need for introductions or displays of power; his mere existence left everyone astounded by his mastery.
"We have succeeded," the Soul Reaping Great Emperor exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across his face. His tireless efforts to excavate an entire continent and bring it into the battlefield were finally paying off.
Now, it was time for the epic battle between the Holy Man and the Liquid Metal Ball to be reignited. In the ancient conflict for control over the Heavenly Way, the final moments of their battle were shrouded in mystery. Today, there was a chance to witness the resplendence of that long-gone confrontation.
Above the embodiment of the Holy Man's obsession, a group of holy apes swiftly arranged themselves in formation, gathering behind the embodiment. Silently, they opened the scriptures of the Holy Man and began reciting:
"When I was born, I was amazing!"
"When I studied, I was amazing!"
"When I entered the Way, I was amazing!"
"When I cultivated, I was amazing!"
"The path I established is amazing!"
"Amazing, amazing, amazing~"
As the chants reverberated through the air, the righteous qi of heaven and earth converged, bolstering the Holy Man's state.
In the void, the number of holy apes continued to multiply, one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, …
A mighty chorus of true holy apes descended upon the scene. Their mere presence exerted immense pressure on their enemies.
In the vastness of the void, the liquid metal giant's attention was captivated by the embodiment of the Holy Man's obsession. The embodiment of the Holy Man's obsession raised its head, locking eyes with the towering figure of the liquid metal giant. Within the eyes of the giant, emotions resembling anger and hatred flickered.
"Roar!" The colossal being, composed entirely of liquid metal, bellowed with immense power, abandoning its levitation and descending from above. Its intention was clear, to crush all living beings on the ground below.
In response, the embodiment of the Holy Man raised his hand and flung the scripture he held. In an instant, the scripture expanded, its pages flipping open to reveal a pitch-black 'space gate'. Within the book resided a golden house, containing an expansive world within its confines.
The spatial door hovered in front of the embodiment of the Holy Man, while its projection materialized beside the liquid metal giant. Rolling up his sleeves, clenching his fist, the embodiment of the Holy Man assumed a stance of readiness. Simultaneously, countless scholarly texts emerged, wrapping themselves around the Holy Man's fist. This was the iron fist of words, a manifestation of the power of knowledge.
With the iron fist wielding the force of knowledge, the Holy Man lunged forward and struck the 'space gate' before him. In the blink of an eye, a colossal fist materialized from the spatial door beside the liquid metal giant, delivering a thunderous blow to its face.
With an iron fist wielding the power of knowledge, the blow landed heavily on the giant's face, causing splashes of liquid metal to fly as its face shattered. The Holy Man's mastery of spatial abilities was truly awe-inspiring!
Without pausing after his initial attack, the Holy Man swiftly continued his assault. His fists relentlessly pounded into the 'Scriptural Space Gate,' resembling a barrage on a sandbag. Like a fierce storm, his fists repeatedly struck the space gate, each impact amplified and unleashed upon the colossal head of the liquid metal giant.
Though the liquid metal ball attempted to evade, the projection of the space gate followed it relentlessly. Its massive form was unable to escape the grasp of this seemingly insignificant spatial portal.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The iron fists of knowledge and the power of written words carried the voice of the Holy Man, teaching profound lessons to the liquid metal giant.
Each punch not only physically struck the giant's body but also educated its spirit, embodying the indomitable Way of Ruism.
Shadow Thane, Soul Reaping Great Emperor, and Cheng Lin were completely unable to intervene. The envisioned epic battle between the Holy Man's mental construct and the liquid metal giant failed to materialize. From beginning to end, it was a one-sided domination by the Holy Man's obsession.
The lingering thought in everyone's mind, except for Cheng Lin who knew the truth, was, "How could it be that the Holy Man actually lost in the Vying of the Heavenly Way?"
Those who have never witnessed the power of a Holy Man can hardly fathom the extent of his strength. Even the renowned 'Old Heavenly Emperor' considered on par with the Holy Man, pales in comparison when it comes to prowess in battle. Such is the might of the Holy Man, treading a unique path and ushering in an era of prosperity for Ruism.
As the battle unfolded, there were no surprising twists, no desperate counterattacks, and no thrilling recaps. From the moment the embodiment of the Holy Man's obsession appeared, launching an overwhelming strike against the colossal liquid metal giant, to the relentless onslaught of knowledge-infused iron fists that shattered it into oblivion, the climax was reached. The entire process was a thrilling and exhilarating experience.
Remarkably, throughout the entire battle, the embodiment of the Holy Man's determination never resorted to a secondary formation or attack.
And so...
The gigantic body of the liquid metal giant was pulverized by the unyielding blows of the Holy Man's iron fists, reducing it to nothingness.
"It's over," Cheng Lin murmured softly.
The embodiment of the Holy Man's obsession withdrew its final punch, and the floating scriptures simultaneously returned to the hands of the Holy Man. The fervent flames of obsession dissipated. The embodiment of the Holy Man's determination faded away, revealing the weary figure of Blockhead Song within.
"Ha~" Blockhead Song let out a heavy sigh and lay down on the ground. He felt as if his body had been completely drained.
"It's over," Blockhead Song said as he sat up.