The patriarch brandished his sword, and a brilliant ray burst forth from his strike. The light was intense and mesmerizing, reflecting in the patriarch's eyes, which seemed to emanate a transcendent glow. The power of this strike was incomparably stronger than before, shaking the air around it and causing the very space to spin and distort under its influence.
*Boom!*
Once again, Lian was thrown backward by the impact of the strike, his body trembling and the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth as he coughed it up. Lian's internal organs were severely injured this time, suffering grave damage from the overwhelming power of that attack. He realized then that his broadsword couldn't withstand the terrifying power he was facing, and a thumb-sized hole opened up in its blade.
Lian understood that this was the power of the third and final stage of the Albedo clan's divine art, known as "Eyes of Ruin." Only a cultivator in the Meridian Transformation Realm possessed dense enough Qi to wield it, and it was exclusively reserved for the clan's patriarchs. In theory, "Eyes of Ruin" had the ability to attack the target's mind, exploring their memories, implanting false recollections, and creating illusions.
If the target had a weak mind or was weakened, they became more susceptible to the effects of this technique. Moreover, the cultivator who mastered this art could merge their soul force with their Qi, unleashing a devastating strike that would directly affect the opponent's Qi, weakening their defenses. "That's why ants should listen to fate and not fight. I gave you a chance before. Now you can die!" His voice echoed across the battlefield, filled with contempt and arrogance.
Lian threw his last remaining weapon aside, discarding it, and quickly grasped the one weapon he had left. Facing the patriarch's gaze, an idea crossed his mind, leading him to make the decision to block the attack head-on with his weapon.
The patriarch raised his sword, pointing it toward the sky, and instantly the heavens and earth trembled. A brilliant Sword Qi was released, radiating a terrifying pressure that could be felt even by the distant spectators.
In the shocked gazes of everyone, a sword materialized in the air, shining brightly and filling the sky with its dazzling light as it unleashed a devastating strike against Lian.
*Boom!*
Waves of Qi surged from the ground, causing violent tremors and making an earthquake. Dust rose into the air, obscuring the view of all present. Amidst this turbulence, a dreadful Sword Qi burst forth, forming a powerful energy wave that opened up a huge trench in the ground. The trench extended for tens of meters, bearing witness to the intensity of the strike.
The distant spectators remained dumbfounded, unable to divert their eyes from the scene before them. What they were witnessing had far surpassed the capabilities of an individual devoid of Qi and relying solely on their physical body. However, when the dust finally settled, they could hardly believe what they saw. In front of them stood two motionless figures facing each other with their weapons crossed.
Lian appeared wretched, his body covered in wounds, but his aura continued to emanate like that of a bloodthirsty demon. It was as if no one could bring him down. An incomparably powerful will radiated from him, capable of shaking the heavens themselves. This strength and determination were simply unbelievable.
The patriarch initially believed that all was over. However, as soon as his weapon met Lian's, his eyes lost their color, revealing an empty and lifeless gaze. On the other hand, Lian found it ridiculous that a mere mortal would attempt to use a soul strike against him. He simply awaited the impact of their souls, devouring the invasive energy emanating from the patriarch.
Despite his soul being damaged, it was still a divine soul that had been tempered by the heavens. Now, Lian possessed a bit of soul energy to use in his attacks. The patriarch, quickly regaining consciousness, hastily retreated and observed Lian with terror.
Behind Lian, a radiant aura began to manifest, growing increasingly intense and expansive with each step Lian took. Lian's frenzied aura continued to intensify, enveloping him completely. His garments billowed in the wind, his black hair danced around his face, and his eyes gleamed with a cold and macabre light.
"Accept the strike of an ant!" he roared, his voice resounding through the nine heavens like the roar of an enraged demon as the energy around him felt overwhelming.
Lian firmly planted his foot on the ground, and all the distant spectators felt the earth tremble as if a massive Demon Beast had trampled upon them. The ground beneath their feet cracked like ice about to break.
In a lightning-fast movement, Lian lunged forward like a cannonball, delivering a sword strike toward the patriarch. The latter, agile in his response, quickly blocked the attack.
*Boom!*
The force of the impact caused the earth to quake, and a shockwave rippled through the surroundings. The collision of their swords produced a deafening blast that echoed across the battlefield.
Lian's attack seemed ordinary at first glance, but the moment their swords met, the power contained within Lian's sword erupted like a volcano, sending him flying with an unstoppable force.
The patriarch was shocked to realize that this energy didn't come from a mere battle technique. instead, it was his own Soul Power! Lian used the patriarch's Soul Power against him. Or, to be more specific, he stole it during the previous attack and used that power now.
Crushed by the force of the impact, the patriarch was thrown backward, traveling dozens of meters before managing to stabilize himself. However, before he could recover, another strike came from the heavens, hitting him directly before he could react.
Horror overtook the patriarch as Lian's attacks continued to rain down with impressive speed and brutality. They were like an unrelenting storm, not giving him a moment to catch his breath.
*Bang!*
At this critical moment, the patriarch let out a roar of fury and rose up. Simultaneously, Shiny Reversal was activated, unleashing a deadly counterattack that surged toward Lian. The spectators, frightened, let out cries of surprise and fear.
*Boom!*
Explosions shook the skies, and the ground trembled violently. Within a radius of three hundred meters, sand and rocks were hurled in all directions, creating chaotic havoc.
*Thud!*
Unfortunately, an unlucky individual was struck by a flying rock hundreds of meters away. The rock pierced his leg, causing blood to gush out and eliciting cries of pain and alarm from those present.
Everyone quickly retreated, seeking an even greater distance. No one wanted to risk becoming the next unfortunate target.
The patriarch was about to breathe a sigh of relief when his pupils suddenly shrank. Amidst the debris, the ground cracked as a figure soared.
Lemir and the others watched in horror as the thunderous exchange unfolded. The patriarch, visibly injured, held his completely destroyed weapon while blood streamed frenziedly from his head. Despite his terrible state, one could still perceive an icy aura enveloping his body, showcasing his defensive resilience.
On the other hand, Lian resembled a corpse trampled by a demonic beast. His body was covered in dirt, blood, and fragments of his own organs. A large pool of blood formed on his chest. His appearance was extremely wretched, and it was hard to believe he was still alive.
Lian remained motionless, his vacant gaze emanating an intense red light. His figure resembled a god of war, leaving everyone in shock. They were fully aware of the patriarch's power and had witnessed his might before. However, now Lian had sent him flying and survived the devastating counterattack. This scene was truly terrifying.
"Young Lian is incredibly powerful!" exclaimed the people present with respect in their voices.
Everyone swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down their spines. The power displayed by Lian, even in the Muscle Transformation Realm, injured and without Qi, was no less inferior to that of the clan patriarch. The young cultivators bit their lips as they watched him. To them, Lian was the invincible god of war in their hearts.
He had been considered a failure by everyone, a mere insignificant. However, he emerged like a shooting star, shining brightly. Now, he fought like a monster from hell. Even those who had once idolized Wunu clenched their fists with determination, swearing to become experts like him.
The patriarch felt unparalleled pressure. This was absolutely impossible. How could such an extraordinary genius emerge in his own clan? Envy grew within him. As he observed an individual with greater potential than his own, a murderous intent swelled in his heart.
Lian stood firm in battle while images rapidly flashed through his mind. When he received the strike with the patriarch's soul power, he absorbed it all to keep fighting. Some fragments of memories surfaced along with this absorbed energy.
In a glimpse, Lian witnessed the patriarch giving orders to the advisors, commanding the death of his mother. He specifically emphasized that the elf accompanying Lianna should be spared, as he had plans for her.
Other memories quickly emerged. For a brief instant, he saw an elderly man, yet with an invincible aura of battle, brutally decimating demonic beasts. At one point, this man was attacked from behind, and the attacker clearly uttered the word "Patriarch."
Lian witnessed another dreadful scene: the patriarch torturing a man. The man's body was pierced by stakes, each part being slowly ripped off, while the patriarch laughed appreciatively in the background.
Surprisingly, the man emitted no screams. He remained strong and awaited a death that never came. The patriarch then whispered the name of a woman in his ears, revealing how he poisoned that woman and killed the man's son within her womb.
Tears of despair streamed down the man's face. The only thing that gave him strength was knowing that his beloved son and wife were alive. His once firm face, like a wall, was completely shattered, displaying an expression of indescribable pain.
Lian, seeing everything through the patriarch's eyes, could feel and experience the joy and pleasure the patriarch felt while plotting the deaths of his grandfather, father, and mother. These scenes awakened the worst within Lian, bringing forth memories of his parents being killed when he was Zeke and the destruction of his planet, along with his love and happiness.
Zeke and Lian shared similar fates. It was as if the heavens always prepared the worst for them. An unprecedented fury and hatred overflowed from within Lian, feeling that he always had to fight against the world to survive.
With a furious roar, echoing like thunder from the nine heavens, the world around shook. Everyone's eardrums trembled, and their hearts raced as divine fury seemed to manifest through the sound.