The violent collision of primal energy shook the surroundings, sending nearby birds, beasts, fish, and insects scattering in fright, kicking up dust for miles.
Like a colossal yellow curtain, it soared into the sky!
Boom!
The sharp talons of the Zhen Zhen Poison Bird struck the golden light ahead. Two terrifying torrents of primal energy, imbued with the full might of two grandmasters, clashed fiercely.
The explosive impact was like a tempest, uprooting large trees and filling the void with swirling dust.
Martial cultivators nearby, sensing the terrifying surge of primal energy and the stampede of fleeing beasts, mistook it for the emergence of a treasure and rushed towards the commotion.
Suddenly, a wave of energy rolled outward.
"Pfft!"
An overwhelming tide of primal energy washed over them, making the internal organs of the approaching martial cultivators churn.
"Run!"
Terrified, they retreated rapidly, as if facing a monstrous beast or a bottomless abyss.
"Tz!"
As the primal energy dissipated and the dust settled, the figures of two individuals gradually emerged. Their robes were torn, their hair disheveled, and crimson blood stained their bodies.
"Cough, cough!"
Liu Ji slowly straightened his body, gazing at Wan Mizhai and snarling, "Wan Mizhai, in decades, you are the first to injure me, and you've managed to fight me to a draw twice!"
Liu Ji looked at the hunched, white-bearded elder. At such an age, his primal energy should have waned with his body's decline.
Yet, in Wan Mizhai, he felt a trace of fear. Such a potent reserve of primal energy, no less than his own.
"Cough, cough!"
Wan Mizhai spat out the blood clogging his chest, "I'm afraid I've disappointed you this time!"
Wan Mizhai said unhurriedly.
Liu Ji's face broke into a smile upon hearing this, "Indeed. This will be our final battle. I will remember you. You are quite formidable!"
As he spoke, he drew a black sword, about a foot long, and slowly began to polish it.
"This is a treasure my Sect Master acquired at great expense during his travels across a hundred nations. It contains the full might of a fourth-level grandmaster's strike!"
"Heh heh heh! You should consider yourself honored to die at the hands of a fourth-level grandmaster. You have no grievance!"
With that, he crushed the black treasure sword with his left hand!
Crack!
A bolt of blue lightning ripped through the void. A three-foot sword qi slowly ascended, its sharp edge slicing into Liu Ji's left hand, revealing deep, bone-cutting wounds!
"Hmph, hmph, hmph!"
Witnessing this, Liu Ji burst into maniacal laughter, "Your life!"
"Kill!"
The powerful sword qi rippled through the heavens and earth, tearing through the inky blackness. A ray of sunlight pierced through, transforming the formerly earthy brown ground into a desolate black, like a purgatory!
Liu Ji's hair stood on end, his heart pounding as he looked at the ground. This was poison. As his blood dripped and touched the dark earth!
Sizzle!
It instantly vaporized!
Wan Mizhai watched Liu Ji's actions quietly, channeling primal energy into a thick tome. The surrounding temperature plummeted instantly.
Four Zhen Zhen Poison Birds materialized from the dark luminescence, their sinister green eyes fixed on Liu Ji.
Swish!
The four Zhen Zhen Poison Birds charged towards the three-foot sword qi, one after another.
Hum!
The three-foot sword qi blazed with a dazzling light, flashing as it pierced through one Zhen Zhen Poison Bird.
Caw caw!
A tragic cry echoed. The martial cultivators fleeing in panic heard the screams from behind and fled even faster, no different from the wild beasts nearby.
The three-foot sword, shimmering with faint lightning, descended like Thor's spear, piercing towards the remaining three Zhen Zhen Poison Birds!
The three Zhen Zhen Poison Birds huddled together, shielding themselves with their wings, projecting a green barrier.
Roar~~
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
The three-foot sword qi heavily gouged through the green barrier. The three Zhen Zhen Poison Birds spread their sharp talons, firmly gripping the descending sword qi.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood erupted. The death of one Zhen Zhen Poison Bird had taken a considerable toll on him.
"Hahahaha, die!"
Liu Ji, seeing the weakened Wan Mizhai, swung his right fist, unleashing hundreds of fist shadows that rained down on Wan Mizhai.
The hundreds of fist shadows hammered down relentlessly, causing the black mist to dissipate slightly. The ground within the black space was pockmarked with craters of varying sizes, as if struck by meteors.
Shattered!
Coughs emanated from a massive crater!
"Cough, cough!"
Wan Mizhai slowly emerged from the crater, his steps heavy.
Crunch, crunch!
The three birds' claws left deep gouges on the three-foot sword qi. The sharp sword qi was already blunted by seven parts!
Bang!
Their claws shattered, and the poison birds cried out in agony!
The sword qi pierced through, and all three Zhen Zhen Poison Birds met their demise, but this also consumed the last of its power.
The three-foot sword qi stopped three feet from Wan Mizhai and then shattered with a bang!
"You're finished, now it's my turn!"
Wan Mizhai's eyes blazed with killing intent, a terrifying aura erupting from him, completely unlike his usual demeanor.
He opened his right hand, emitting a faint, eerie green primal energy that covered the thick tome.
Hum~~
The dissipating black mist suddenly surged, coalescing into the feathers of tens of thousands of Zhen Zhen Poison Birds. Each feather emanated boundless sword qi, obscuring the sun!
The violent primal energy caused Wan Mizhai's sleeves to flutter. He narrowed his eyes, then suddenly opened them, cold light flashing!
"Kill!"
Tens of thousands of feathers, gleaming coldly, charged like an army, with immense momentum. A dragon of sword rain roared and crashed towards Liu Ji.
Boom!
The surroundings, which had been quiet for a moment, once again erupted. From afar, the eerie green sword light resembled a descending Asura, dominating all directions.
"Excellent!"
Liu Ji, facing the sky-covering sword feathers, laughed wildly. What power could the weakened, drained Wan Mizhai possibly have to harm him!
His fists hammered, flying in all directions. Hundreds of fist shadows formed a net, intercepting the incoming sword feathers just three feet away.
Wan Mizhai clenched his right fist, and all the sword feathers fiercely bombarded a single point. Waves of energy rolled, and the sound was like thunder!
Tear!
A tiny crack appeared, and then a sword feather grazed Liu Ji's arm!
"What, out of strength?"
Liu Ji felt no pain from the graze of the sword feather, and began to mock Wan Mizhai, laughing maniacally!
"If that's the case, then die!"
As Liu Ji spoke, he strode forward. Suddenly, he felt blood surging in his throat. Then, his limbs grew weak, his primal energy refused to circulate, and he couldn't even feel himself breathing!
"You—what did you do?"
Liu Ji suddenly felt death approaching. This seemingly harmless sword feather must have been laced with potent poison!
"Zhen poison!"
Wan Mizhai retracted his tome and slowly approached Liu Ji, who was now defenseless.
"You—"
A stream of black blood trickled from Liu Ji's mouth. His body collapsed, convulsing violently. Black blood began to seep from his seven orifices.
"The Zhen poison, before entering the stomach, has already sealed the throat!"
"This poison used upon you does not dishonor your lifelong reputation!"