At the moment Pang Shixie collapsed, everyone on the battlefield seemed to forget the ongoing conflict.
The white-clad youth's expression no longer exuded the confidence and calm he had shown earlier. Instead, his face turned grim and ominous.
Clenching his fists tightly, he stared at Ji Xia with the intensity of a predator locking eyes on its prey.
Summons, Fragrant Bamboo, and the others stood frozen in place, their faces etched with astonishment.
They were astounded that Ji Xia, who had been the target of Pang Shixie's most powerful attack, managed to not only block it with a single sword strike but also kill him in the process.
They couldn't help but ask themselves: If I were in his place, facing that strike, what would have happened?
At best, they might have survived but with grievous injuries. They certainly couldn't have countered with such ease and decisiveness as Ji Xia had done.
In truth, they overestimated Ji Xia.
His ability to kill Pang Shixie in a single strike owed much to a combination of factors: his possession of the Jupiter Star Lord Avatar, his unceasing flow of spiritual energy, his formidable physical strength, and the overwhelming density of his energy reserves.
But the most crucial factor was that Ji Xia had just obtained the Jupiter Star Lord Avatar and learned the powerful Jupiter Star Prison Sword. At this very moment, his spirit, energy, and determination had reached unprecedented heights.
Pang Shixie's failure to unleash his ultimate attack immediately gave Ji Xia the chance to build his momentum using Wave Stomp, amplifying his presence step by step. Coupled with the overwhelming power of the Jupiter Star Prison Sword, Ji Xia was filled with unparalleled confidence.
The result? Ji Xia's Star-Piercing Slash shattered Pang Shixie's technique, destroyed the spiritual energy infused into his Venomous Scorpion Spear, invaded his body, obliterated his spirit wheel, and severed his lifeline.
At this moment, although Ji Xia maintained a composed exterior, he was secretly enduring tremendous strain.
The spiritual energy within him had been completely depleted by that single strike. Only the Jupiter Star Lord Avatar, glowing with radiant golden light, had supplied him with the torrent of energy needed to barely execute the technique.
For anyone else, even a Spirit Manifestation second-tier expert, it would have been impossible to wield such a technique without the support of the Jupiter Star Lord Avatar.
The white-clad youth stared at Ji Xia. Ji Xia stared back, neither of them saying a word.
Suddenly, the white-clad youth's grim face softened into a sinister smile. "What is your name?" he asked.
"Your energy feels fragmented. What race do you belong to?"
Ji Xia returned his smile with one of his own and replied, "I am Qin Ji. As for my race, there's no need for you to concern yourself."
The white-clad youth nodded. "Qin Ji? A fitting name."
"If I were to attack you now, what would you do?"
Ji Xia ignored the threat, his tone steady. "Now that Pang Shixie is dead, if I join forces with Brother Summons and the others, even if you're a Spirit Manifestation fourth-tier expert, I doubt you'd walk away unscathed."
The white-clad youth suddenly chuckled and turned to the four youths of the Great Talisman Kingdom. "Oh? Why do you think they would side with you to oppose me?"
Ji Xia remained silent, but the four exchanged uncertain glances.
Just then, the white-clad youth released a peculiar aura.
This aura surged into the surroundings, causing the energy within the air to ripple as it induced a transformation in his body.
His previously slender form began to swell as his veins bulged, his skin taking on a dark sheen. His entire physique grew larger by the second, his height surpassing three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in a matter of moments.
White fur sprouted all over his body, covering his now muscular and imposing frame. The fabric of his robes tore apart as his body expanded, revealing a torso brimming with terrifying power. However, his trousers remained intact, their material clearly of extraordinary quality.
"Contract Spirit Tribe!" exclaimed Summons, his voice tinged with shock.
In just a few breaths, the white-clad youth had transformed into a towering, white-furred ape. His massive form loomed over Ji Xia, his eyes filled with mockery.
Turning to the four youths of the Great Talisman Kingdom, he spoke again.
"I am Zhang Yi, heir of the Ape Spirit Division from the Contract Spirit Nation. I was merely passing through this region, intending to amuse myself without revealing my identity. But then, a mere ant dared to provoke me!"
"Tell me, esteemed talents of the Great Talisman Kingdom, will you stand against me?"
His voice brimmed with disdain as his gaze swept over the four.
Their faces flushed with humiliation, their gazes uncertain.
Zhang Yi sneered. "Think carefully. If I choose to leave, not even all five of you working together could stop me!"
"I've already committed your faces to memory. If you dare raise a hand against me today, I will slaughter your entire clans!"
"If you doubt me, try it. Then we'll see if the Great Talisman Kingdom dares to save you!"
The four youths, usually the pride of their kingdom, found themselves cowed by Zhang Yi's domineering words.
Even so, one of them, Summons, glanced at the precious herb not far away, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
Zhang Yi sneered. "I only wish to kill this insolent insect. Aid me in capturing Qin Ji, and I will share the herb with you!"
"You four may each take a leaf, while I will claim the three remaining leaves and the central flower core."
"If you refuse, then get lost!"
Hearing this, one of the youths furrowed his brow in dissatisfaction. "Share? You call that fair?"
Zhang Yi scoffed. "Dissatisfied? Consider those leaves a gift. Do you think I need your help to crush this insect?"
He paused before adding, "What I want is to crush his spirit—to teach him that in this world, strength is the only constant. Alliances? They crumble at the whim of the strong."
His tone, brimming with imperial arrogance, left the four youths fuming internally. Yet, they dared not defy him.
One by one, the youths took steps toward the herb. Each drew a small jade knife and carefully sliced off a leaf before concealing it.
Watching this, the woman among them frowned and spoke, "He helped us kill Pang Shixie. Now you would betray him. Is that not too heartless?"
One of the youths, Isshu, smirked. "Did he not kill Pang Shixie to save himself? He had no choice. His mistake was coming here at all."
Summons clenched his fists. "If not for me inviting him here, he wouldn't have been targeted by Zhang Yi!"
"You think that excuses him?" another youth shot back coldly. "This is his own fault. Don't blame us for your naivety!"