Two weeks later, ensconced within a penthouse suite in a prestigious 5-star hotel, JacQuarius achieved the coveted Gold Rank. With this milestone reached, a surge of confidence permeated his being, bolstering his resolve against future adversaries.
Empowered by his newfound Gold Rank status, JacQuarius recognized it was time to neutralize a future looming threats.
He had recently Collaborated with the PSIA, they secured vital cultivation materials and acquired a potent artifact, amplifying their collective strength.
Notably, Tela's cultivation impediment found resolution through specialized materials, enhancing his musculature and augmenting his physical prowess.
Following rigorous training, they embarked on their new side mission, leaving no room for chance of another backdoor in their impending confrontation.
Arriving at the PSIA Headquarters, JacQuarius, Tela, and Kiyomi seamlessly breached the premises, eliminating PSIA Agents with extreme precision. Meanwhile, Jimmy patrolled outside, eliminating stragglers.
Kiyomi's newfound skill erected an impregnable barrier around the compound, entrapping potential escapees.
Despite the formidable presence of a PSIA Platinum Rank Cultivator absent on a clandestine mission, JacQuarius remained undeterred.
Their exceptional foundations distinguished them from the mass majority of normal cultivators, enabling them to navigate more rigorous challenges with unparalleled finesse.
In the hierarchy of cultivators, distinctions between self-formulated techniques, ancestral practices, and rare inheritances underscored disparities in strength. While low-tier cultivators relied on common techniques or familial legacies, mid to high-tier cultivators wielded potent inheritances, ranging from Gold to as high as Legend rank.
The chasm between low and high-tier cultivators was vast, with rare styles like Dragon overpowering common ones like Wolf.
Despite the odds, underdog victories remained elusive but not impossible. High-tier cultivators possessed the acumen and strength to rival lower-tier counterparts, exemplifying the potential for triumph through diligence and perseverance.
JacQuarius parted ways with Kiyomi and Tela, assigning them the task of eliminating remaining Silver and Gold Rank agents while he pursued the primary target.
Ascending the stairs, he immediately encountered a terrain skill that enveloped him in a mist-laden meadow.
Terrain Skill: Mistful Meadow!
Despite the obscured visibility, JacQuarius's keen draconic senses alerted him to an imminent threat.
Attuned to the subtle cues of his environment, JacQuarius discerned the presence of his assailant through auditory and olfactory perception.
As the assailant launched a surprise attack, JacQuarius's instinctive reaction enabled him to evade the cleaver's deadly arc.
"Damn nigga, no Hi or anything?"
"Well since you want to know, then I'm Yakazu Naromi, younger brother of the Platinum Rank Cultivator Xaowei Naromi! Now that you know who I am, enjoy the honor of dying to my all-powerful Six Knives Style!"
Engaging in a terse exchange with his adversary, JacQuarius's laughter in the face of danger irked Yakazu, who unleashed a barrage of throwing knives amidst the mist.
Swiftly maneuvering through the aerial assault, JacQuarius found himself confronted by Yakazu's formidable skill.
Six Knives Style: Santoku!
He couldn't dodge in time, taking a significant strike to his back!
Despite sustaining a grievous wound to his back, JacQuarius's demeanor remained resolute, relishing the prospect of a formidable opponent.
Prepared for the ensuing battle, he taunted Yakazu with unwavering confidence, poised to confront the onslaught with unparalleled resolve.
"Finally I've found someone who can pique my interest!"
Yakazu disregarded JacQuarius's remark, vanishing mid-sentence only to reappear behind him, cleaver poised for another strike at his head.
JacQuarius deftly evaded the assault, leaving behind a Wyrm spirit in his wake.
Its detonation caught Yakazu off guard, inflicting significant damage to his spirit and nearly causing him to lose consciousness.
The rarity of soul cultivation made such attacks unexpected for most cultivators, their souls typically lacking in defense due to limited cultivation in this realm.
In contrast, individuals like the Primordial Reaper, who mastered soul cultivation, possessed formidable soul defenses. JacQuarius, lacking Primordial Reaper's Soul inheritance, relied on basic soul cultivation, limiting his arsenal to common-level soul techniques.
Summoning five more Wyrm spirits, JacQuarius reached his limit, empowering his assault.
He then activated his horn artifact!
Sacred Roar!
The horn commanded them to materialize and absorb the surrounding mist, he seized the advantage, leaving Yakazu vulnerable and gasping for air.
With Yakazu reeling, JacQuarius capitalized on the moment, orchestrating the wyrms' detonation. The resulting explosion shattered the terrain, causing him to take a backlash and leaving him exposed to JacQuarius's relentless onslaught.
Terrain Skill: Draconic Dominion!
JacQuarius immediately activated his own terrain skill to take the advantage!
JacQuarius maintained his composure, entering a state of intense concentration. As he focused, his form became enveloped in an aura of potent Dragon Qi, its radiance illuminating his surroundings with a purplish hue.
Witnessing JacQuarius's formidable display, Yakazu recognized the gravity of the situation and responded by unleashing his ultimate skill.
He became well aware that the stakes had escalated to a life-or-death struggle, Yakazu braced himself for the impending clash of titans.
6 Knives Style: Blade Bonanza!
Six Knives materialized around JacQuarius, their ethereal presence flickering as they launched a relentless barrage of slashes and stabs, penetrating his defenses and inflicting wounds across his body.
Blood seeped from numerous gashes concentrated around his back and chest, evidence of the ferocity of the assault. Despite the searing pain coursing through his body, JacQuarius remained resolute, suppressing the agony as he focused on the battle at hand.
With each excruciating moment, the failed skill's backlash compounded the severity of his injuries, threatening to overwhelm him.
Yet, amidst the torment, JacQuarius refused to yield, his screams echoing in the tumult of battle as he endured the onslaught with unwavering determination.
After a tense thirty seconds elapsed, JacQuarius initiated the activation of his skill, a feat that exacted a heavy toll of 90% of his Dragon Qi, adding exhaustion to his already battered body.
Tenfold Draconic Style: Draconic Annihilation!
Crumpling to the ground, he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, his strength drained not only by the onslaught of knife wounds but also by the immense energy required for the skill's invocation.
With a staggering 90% depletion of his Dragon Qi, JacQuarius teetered on the precipice of exhaustion, his reserves nearly depleted. Only the sheer force of his will sustained the continued manifestation of his terrain skill, a testament to his indomitable spirit amidst the chaos.
From the depths of his being, an ancient Dragon Spirit emerged, emitting a primal roar that reverberated through the air. As the skies overhead shifted to a deep purple hue, the manifestation of JacQuarius's inner power heralded a turning point in the tumultuous confrontation.
As the skies churned with Draconic fury, Draconic Meteors plummeted earthward, each trajectory aimed unerringly at Yakazu, compelling him to hastily retract his ultimate skill.
Amidst the chaos, Yakazu found himself besieged, maneuvering desperately to evade the relentless bombardment while attempting to neutralize incoming threats.
In the midst of the onslaught, a disquieting notion took root in Yakazu's mind, prompting him to ponder the seemingly omniscient nature of the meteors.
Yet, amidst his musings, a sudden realization dawned upon him, drawing his attention to JacQuarius and the spectral presence of the Ancient Dragon Spirit.
Observing the ethereal guardian orchestrating the cataclysmic assault, Yakazu's futile attempts to assail the incorporeal entity underscored his vulnerability.
Despite his relentless aggression, Yakazu found himself thwarted at every turn, his assailant shielded by the spectral guardian's unwavering vigilance.
As the battle raged on, Yakazu's shock deepened, his every attempt to subdue JacQuarius rebuffed by the spectral entity's protective intervention.
In the face of this formidable defense, Yakazu grappled with the realization that victory might prove elusive in the presence of such formidable adversaries.
In a fleeting moment of clarity, Yakazu discerned a potential countermeasure against JacQuarius's skill, but his revelation came too late to alter the course of the battle.
Meanwhile, JacQuarius, poised in a position of advantage, met Yakazu's gaze with a malevolent smirk, signaling the impending climax of their confrontation.
With a deafening crash, a colossal meteor descended upon Yakazu, obliterating him utterly and leaving nothing in its wake but devastation!
The Ancient Dragon Spirit, having fulfilled its purpose, dissipated into the ether, its spectral presence fading from the battlefield.
Reverting to his original location within the compound's office room, JacQuarius was greeted by the concerned faces of Kiyomi, Tela, and Jimmy, who were extremely worried!
"Master, Are you ok!?!?!"
Despite his victorious demeanor, JacQuarius's body bore the scars of battle, his wounds serving as a testament to the ferocity of the encounter.
"Nigga...I....just whooped....A....Gold 7th layer's ass!" JacQuarius stated before falling unconscious.
As he succumbed to unconsciousness, JacQuarius reflected on the pivotal nature of the battle, recognizing it as a defining moment in his evolution as a cultivator.
The experience not only honed his combat prowess but also underscored the significance of his inheritance in confronting future challenges.
This encounter underscored the remarkable combat prowess of a high-tier lower-layer cultivator, demonstrating JacQuarius's ability to hold his own against opponents of higher cultivation levels.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the battle, JacQuarius found validation in his actions, recognizing the necessity of eliminating the looming threat posed by the PSIA.
Despite their outward facade, the organization wielded formidable power, making JacQuarius's victory nothing short of miraculous!
He only attacked them so early since they never told him anything about his family's bodies. They had raided the Yakuza's HeadQuarters, they definitely found them.
Interpreting their silence as evidence of sinister intentions, JacQuarius remained vigilant against the looming specter of future threats orchestrated by the clandestine organization.