The Dragon's Beard Shears swelled to over three meters in size as they soared through the air, blazing with golden light toward the colossal figure of Zhang Yi at Ji Xia's command.
These shears were a treasure Ji Xia had discovered in the treasury of the Vulture King's palace. Even the powerful Sun Spirit Eye couldn't see through them back then. Only after Ji Xia exchanged resources with the Divine Tree for the Profound Mirror did he begin to comprehend their mysteries.
In the days that followed, Ji Xia nurtured the Dragon's Beard Shears with spiritual energy and fed them with his blood, accumulating just enough power for a single use. He had sensed the terrifying potential within the shears—a power far more overwhelming than what had emerged from the golden brilliance of the national decree in the past.
Though the shears would require time to recharge, for Ji Xia, now was the moment to strike. He needed to end the lives of these three arrogant, noisy experts who underestimated him.
Ji Xia had intended to save the shears for a dire situation, as nurturing them drained not only his spiritual energy but also his essence blood—a significant toll even for someone with Ji Xia's robust physique. But he hadn't anticipated encountering Zhang Yi so soon after leaving Tai Cang.
Zhang Yi was immensely powerful, bearing four spiritual imprints on his Spirit Wheel, making him a true fourth-tier Spirit Art master. Even the brief glimpses of his spiritual energy when dealing with Zhao Wu and the others had left Ji Xia on edge. Then Zhang Yi revealed his bloodline, transforming into a towering white ape, further amplifying his aura.
Faced with Zhang Yi's strength, Ji Xia knew that even if Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi stayed neutral, he stood no chance of survival. Resolving to take decisive action, Ji Xia unleashed the Dragon's Beard Shears, aiming to slice all three to death.
Zhang Yi had been preparing to crush Ji Xia underfoot when the sight of the shears emerging from Ji Xia's sleeve sent an overwhelming sense of dread through his heart.
Now, with Ji Xia's left hand pointing forward, the enormous shears streaked through the air like a beam of light. Their blades, once smooth, now bore hardened bloodstains, forming macabre patterns that accentuated their deadly aura.
Zhang Yi's fur bristled. A primordial warning filled him with the certainty that countless powerful beings had perished under these shears.
As the shears approached, Zhang Yi's towering frame braced itself. His Spirit Wheel's highest spiritual imprint flared to life, conjuring a surge of spiritual energy that coiled around his arms, making them even more massive.
"Divine Art of the Ape Spirit!" Zhang Yi roared, his veins bulging as his arms stretched skyward, as if to hoist a mountain. A fierce wind erupted from his movement, uprooting trees and shattering the earth beneath him.
The Dragon's Beard Shears struck with precision. As their massive blades closed, they easily severed through the divine technique, scattering its spiritual energy into the air, where it was greedily absorbed by the shears.
Zhang Yi spat blood, staining his once-pristine white fur. His enormous simian eyes, which had been filled with arrogance, now brimmed with fear.
"What is this treasure? If it touches me, I'll die instantly!"
Knowing he was no match, Zhang Yi shrank back into his human form, bloodied and disheveled. His once-lofty demeanor was gone, replaced by the desperation of prey cornered by a predator.
Desperately, he sought a way out, his gaze landing on the stunned Ji Xiu and Lu Yuqi.
The two, frozen under the oppressive aura of the shears, could do nothing but watch as Zhang Yi moved to place them between himself and the deadly weapon.
"That bastard intends to use us as shields!" Ji Xiu fumed, his fury ignited. He activated his Spirit Wheel, channeling his bloodline's innate sigil.
With a muffled explosion, his arm's sigil shattered, painting the air with a crimson rune.
"Blood Sigil Sacrifice!"
This desperate move, unique to the Ji clan, sacrificed their bloodline sigil to gain a temporary surge in spiritual energy. The cost, however, was devastating—the sigil would be permanently destroyed, weakening the user significantly.
"Zhang Yi, you vile scum! You won't get away with this!"
Ji Xiu, his spiritual energy momentarily surging, disrupted the shears' suppressive force. He prepared to flee but was suddenly struck by a more powerful force from behind.
Startled, Ji Xiu turned to see Lu Yuqi holding a glowing jade talisman.
"Brother Ji Xiu, I don't want to die," she said coldly, discarding the talisman that had bound Ji Xiu in place.
Zhang Yi, watching from behind her, gave an approving nod.
Summoning what little dignity he had left, Ji Xiu collided with the shears, his body reduced to a rain of blood.
"What a waste," Lu Yuqi muttered as she prepared to escape, only to find herself face-to-face with Fan Zhu.
"Where are you going, dear sister?" Fan Zhu sneered, his sigil glowing brightly behind his ear. "Shall I give you a chance to tear off my mouth?"
Ji Xia watched the chaos unfold, a sly smile curling on his lips. The boundless wilderness was cruel and savage, but it also brimmed with secrets and possibilities—a place where despair and fascination walked hand in hand.