Li Qiūzé watched as Guǐ Lǎo approached him, his aura intensifying. Though he didn't understand what was happening, he knew the most crucial task at hand was to eliminate Sū Xī. If Sū Xī were to live, the consequences would be endless. Thus, his eyes, now bloodshot and eerily captivating, fixed on Sū Xī as his own aura began to surge. He realized hiding his strength any longer was out of the question.
"You forced me," he declared, his power escalating. His eyes, engorged with blood, took on a demonic allure, appearing profoundly unnatural.
Guǐ Lǎo, witnessing Li Qiūzé's sudden transformation, gulped, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. Should he still engage in battle? This display of power suggested he wouldn't emerge unscathed, but rather injured. Doubt crept in, making him reconsider his aggressive stance. He felt it was imprudent to act rashly; impetuosity was not worth the cost. Even if these individuals were detestable, they shouldn't provoke him in such a manner.
However, before Guǐ Lǎo could voice his thoughts, he found himself unable to speak. His muscles stiffened as Li Qiūzé's figure enveloped him completely. Li Qiūzé's stern expression sent a shiver down Guǐ Lǎo's spine. Such immense power! He hadn't even been given a moment to react. Couldn't they at least talk things through?
"Wait, I..." Guǐ Lǎo attempted to de-escalate the situation, questioning if it was truly necessary to resort to violence without preamble. But his words were cut short as Li Qiūzé's attack descended. Countless fist shadows rained down, enshrouding him.
What? Li Qiūzé's assault was swift and relentless, sealing off all escape routes and offering no chance for respite. Overwhelmed by the rapid attacks, Guǐ Lǎo failed to block a single blow and was sent crashing to the ground. In that instant, he felt as though his bones were on the verge of shattering. The pain was a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time, leaving him unable to rise.
Seeing Guǐ Lǎo incapacitated, Li Qiūzé didn't relent. He charged forward again. Having decided to kill, he wouldn't falter now. Strike while the iron is hot, strike for the kill. This had always been his modus operandi, and Guǐ Lǎo was no easy adversary.
Lying on the ground, Guǐ Lǎo hadn't even caught his breath before Li Qiūzé's crimson form loomed over him once more. This time, Li Qiūzé’s attack was imbued with a faint azure glow, crackling with cold light, indicating its formidable nature. Guǐ Lǎo knew that if he couldn't evade this strike, even with his supposed immortality, he would suffer grievous harm. Gritting his teeth, he forced his body to move.
Just as Guǐ Lǎo dodged, Li Qiūzé's attack landed precisely where he had been moments before. But before Guǐ Lǎo could feel relieved, he noticed an unfathomable change in his surroundings. With that single strike, the ground for hundreds of miles around was instantly frozen, transforming everything into ice sculptures.
*Crack.*
The extreme cold caused many of the ice sculptures to shatter as a light breeze swept through the air. In mere moments, the ice formations around them fractured inch by inch, scattering across the ground like shattered ice. Witnessing this, Guǐ Lǎo's face turned ashen. If that attack had hit him, his life would surely be forfeit. He could endure blows, but not the cold. Therefore, for his own safety, he understood he couldn't afford to simply evade; he had to fight back to have any chance of survival. A desperate struggle was his only hope.
His gaze flickered towards Sū Xī, wondering why she hadn't recovered yet. After all, more allies meant a greater chance of survival. But as he looked in Sū Xī's direction, he saw that she hadn't dodged Li Qiūzé's attack. She stood frozen, a statue in place, her face etched with disbelief.
What? Guǐ Lǎo was bewildered by the situation, utterly confused as to how things had escalated so drastically. Everything had seemed so secure moments ago. Despite his confusion, he knew his immediate priority was survival. Acknowledging his inferiority in combat, he decided his only option was to escape. With a deep sigh, Guǐ Lǎo turned and fled rapidly. While his combat skills might be lacking, his evasion abilities were considerable. He transformed into a streak of light and shot away. Under his full-throttle escape, Li Qiūzé, even in his power armor, couldn't catch him immediately.
After a series of frantic maneuvers, Guǐ Lǎo had a realization. Sū Xī hadn't come alone; Tian Gāng Zhēnrén was also present. While Li Qiūzé was formidable, he couldn't possibly contend with Tian Gāng Zhēnrén. If Tian Gāng Zhēnrén could be alerted to his peril, he would surely come to his rescue.
Li Qiūzé observed Guǐ Lǎo's escape route without haste, following at a leisurely pace. After all, the entire imperial palace was now covered by his formation; Guǐ Lǎo's flight was futile, and he couldn't escape his grasp. Moreover, Guǐ Lǎo had lost his support.
Guǐ Lǎo soon discovered this truth. He had reached the pre-arranged rendezvous with Tian Gāng Zhēnrén, but instead of finding his ally, he found only empty ice. What? Where had they gone? Guǐ Lǎo stood there, unable to comprehend what had transpired. Everything he had done thus far was under Tian Gāng Zhēnrén's direction; why was Tian Gāng Zhēnrén now absent? Had Tian Gāng Zhēnrén fallen into danger or encountered a crisis in such a short time?
Seeing the shock on Guǐ Lǎo's face, Li Qiūzé sneered and said, "I advise you not to wait. Some things you wish for will never come to pass."
"What are you talking about?" Guǐ Lǎo asked Li Qiūzé, his voice laced with confusion. "Where did you send them?" Guǐ Lǎo was deeply panicked and sought a definitive answer. If Tian Gāng Zhēnrén and the others had been ambushed, his own fate would be dire, as his power paled in comparison to Tian Gāng Zhēnrén's. If even Tian Gāng Zhēnrén couldn't defeat Li Qiūzé, his own chances were slim.
Hearing Guǐ Lǎo's question, Li Qiūzé chuckled disdainfully. "The people you brought were mere trifles; why waste effort on them?" Li Qiūzé was unaware of who Guǐ Lǎo was expecting and assumed they were Guǐ Lǎo's reinforcements, luring him to this spot. However, Guǐ Lǎo was unaware that once his formation was activated, it would randomly transport individuals into spatial rifts. Therefore, no matter who Guǐ Lǎo had arranged to ambush him, they would not survive. For years, he had never heard of anyone on this planet capable of withstanding the tearing force of a spatial rift. Regardless of Guǐ Lǎo's struggles, his fate was sealed in death.
Soon, witnessing the futility of his situation, Guǐ Lǎo abandoned the idea of escape. Trapped within Li Qiūzé's formation, escape was impossible. If his magical power depleted, he would become a fish on a chopping block. Thus, rather than passively await death, he resolved to fight with all his might. A desperate gamble offered a sliver of hope. Fortune favors the bold.
Seeing that Guǐ Lǎo was no longer fleeing, a smile played on Li Qiūzé's lips. The mouse had stopped running, which presented him with an opportunity to attack. Otherwise, even if he eventually eliminated Guǐ Lǎo, it would take considerable time. Time was precious, and he couldn't afford delays. After all, a troublesome Sū Xī awaited him after dealing with Guǐ Lǎo.
With the unfolding events, Guǐ Lǎo harbored no intention of escaping. He unleashed his full power. Black holes began to materialize around his body, expanding outward. "Absolute Death!" Guǐ Lǎo roared, unleashing rings of dark energy that spread outwards. For him, the most crucial task was to complete his technique. This 'Absolute Death' was his ultimate move; anyone entering its domain would be consumed, as if falling into a spatial rift. Not only would their bodies be crushed into fragments, but their souls would be unable to escape. Those who perished within would ultimately transform into energy and be absorbed. He had originally learned this move during a battle with Tian Gāng Zhēnrén, intending to use it as a last resort against him. However, he later found Tian Gāng Zhēnrén too powerful and abandoned that plan. Yet, though he had abandoned the idea of confronting Tian Gāng Zhēnrén, it didn't mean he wouldn't face Li Qiūzé. The black holes emanating from Guǐ Lǎo rapidly swept towards Li Qiūzé, quickly engulfing and consuming him. Within the vortex, Li Qiūzé showed a hint of surprise, never expecting Guǐ Lǎo to possess such a formidable ability. Despite attempting various methods, he found himself unable to break free.