Chapter 987 - 442: Mutation! (Part 2)
She gazed at the back of Xu Ran, who stood in front of everyone, facing the terrifying giant claw alone. Her heart was filled with worry and an indescribable bitterness.
What exactly has Junior Brother experienced?
Why does he possess such powerful strength?
Why would he attract such terrifying enemies?
"Hide behind me."
Xu Ran's cold voice interrupted Xu Qinghan's thoughts.
His voice was not loud, yet carried an undeniable will.
The ancient and heavy black long sword in his hand emitted a deep hum!
On the sword's surface, the abyss that seemed to contain the darkness of the cosmos began to flow!
A sword intent equally terrifying, yet filled with the meaning of annihilation and end, soared to the sky!
Confronting the destructive aura emitted by the giant claw, it defiantly faced off!
"So it's you, the rat."
Xu Ran lifted his head, those strange eyes fixedly staring at the giant claw continuously reaching out from the rift, his voice chilling to the extreme.
"Back then, outside the 'Gate of the Ruins', you managed to escape a trace of soul."
"I never expected you not only wouldn't hide and linger on, but dare to track my aura and pursue me here."
"It seems you truly don't wish to 'exist' anymore!"
The words dropped!
The sword rose!
No earth-shaking sword light!
Nor a sword qi tearing through the heavens!
Xu Ran simply swung a sword towards the protruding giant claw!
This strike!
Seemingly ordinary!
Yet it felt as if it severed cause and effect, tore through time and space!
Containing a terrifying law called "End"!
Slash—
An imperceptible black crack silently appeared in the void before the giant claw.
Then that enormous claw, capable of crushing stars, along with the dark green fire of doom burning on it, upon touching the black crack—
Suddenly!
It solidified!
Following!
Like weathered rock!
Inch by inch!
It fractured!
Collapsed!
Dissipated!
The entire process remained silent!
As if that heaven-destroying claw had never existed!
"Ah—!!!"
A scream filled with pain, rage, and disbelief, crazily echoed from the depths of the space rift!
"No!! Impossible!!!"
"How could your 'End Sword Intent' have refined to such a point?!"
"This has already touched 'that' level!!"
"Who exactly are you?! You are far more than just the heir of Gui Xu!!"
The roar was filled with terror and unwillingness!
Unable to accept that such a full force attack was erased so effortlessly!
"Who I am, is not for mere remnants like you, who don't even have the qualification to step into the 'Gate', to know."
Xu Ran stood with his sword, his black clothes fluttering, his tone icy and domineering.
"Since you've come, then stay completely."
Killing intent surged in his eyes!
He took a step forward!
Aimed directly at the deep, terrifying, and unknown-connective giant space rift!
Actively!
He rushed to kill!
"No!!!"
A more terrified roar came from the rift's depths!
And the sound of something struggling violently, trying to escape but being firmly locked by an invisible force!
Rumble!
The entire space rift began to twist and tremble fiercely!
From it erupted an even more terrifying energy storm!
As if two unimaginable existences were engaging in a life-and-death battle beyond comprehension at the other end of the rift!
At the gate of Kao Mountain Sect.
Xu Qinghan and others watched dazedly at the figure resolutely rushing into the rift, at the violently twisting, seemingly about to collapse rift, and the terrifying fluctuations faintly emanating from it that made their souls tremble!
Everyone's hearts leapt to their throats!
Junior Brother (Xu Ran) actually chased and killed him inside?!
What kind of terrifying place connects to the other end of the rift?
What exactly was that terrifying existence that almost destroyed the Southern Celestial Stars with just one claw?
Can Junior Brother (Xu Ran) win?
Endless worry, like a tide, drowned Xu Qinghan.
She instinctively tightened her grip on the Spirit Sword, her knuckles whitening from the pressure.
At this moment, she wished with all her heart to have even the slightest bit of power, so she could stand by his side!
Instead of helplessly watching him face the unknown, endless terror alone, as she is now!
Time passed, every minute and second agonizingly drawn out.
The tremors of the space rift, sometimes intense, sometimes calm.
The Energy fluctuations emitted from it caused constant lament in the Heaven and Earth Laws of the Southern Celestial Stars!
Even ancient existences from distant Star Domains cast their gaze here again, only this time they were more cautious, filled with profound apprehension.
They could not see the battle within the rift.
But they could feel that the level of Power within far exceeded their understanding!
"That is forbidden Power!"
"Who is fighting the remnant consciousness of the legendary 'Source of Filth'?"
"Has Gui Xu truly returned?"
Countless speculations echoed across different ancient stars, different secluded places.
And in Kao Mountain Sect.
The seconds felt like years for Xu Qinghan and the others.
Finally!
It was unclear how much time had passed!
Perhaps the time it takes for incense to burn, perhaps an hour, maybe even longer!
Boom!!!
An unprecedentedly violent explosion suddenly erupted from the depths of the space rift!
The entire rift expanded as if billions of suns were thrown into it!
Instantly expanding! Then rapidly contracting!
Finally, transforming into a tiny singularity entirely!
Disappeared!
Along with the suffocating evil aura, also vanished without a trace!
Tranquility returned once more to the world.
Only the shattered sect gate and the surrounding chaos proved that all that transpired was not a mere illusion.
Everyone's gaze fixated unwaveringly on the spot where the rift had vanished!
Hearts suspended!
Breaths held!
Where is Senior Brother (Xu Ran)?
How is he?
Did he win?
Just as everyone's hearts sank to the bottom, fearing the worst may have occurred—
Buzz!
A figure silently appeared in the original position.
Still clad in the black robe, still wielding the ancient long sword.
Only his complexion seemed even paler than before.
At the corner of his mouth, there seemed to be an almost imperceptible trace of blood?
Though it was extremely faint, Xu Qinghan, who had been fixated on him, keenly caught it!
"Senior Brother!"
Xu Qinghan exclaimed in shock, and without thinking, rushed forward!
However, Xu Ran raised his hand to stop her.
He gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his movements calm, and the coldness in his eyes seemed to have returned partially.
As if the earth-shattering battle before was merely dealing with a slightly troublesome insect for him.
"It's nothing."
He spoke blandly, his voice devoid of emotion.
His gaze swept again over Kao Mountain Sect, over those familiar yet strange mountain ranges, finally settling deep within Kao Mountain Sect, at the somewhat dilapidated cave he once lived in.
In his eyes, a complex emotion flashed.
Like reminiscing, like melancholy, yet also a certain indescribable fatigue.
He had returned.
Returned to this place he once called "home."
But things have changed.
He is no longer who he once was.
After enduring endless ages, crossing Corpse Mountain Blood Sea, bearing unimaginable burdens.
Upon return, uncertain if he could find that sense of belonging he once had?
He slowly withdrew his gaze, taking a final look at Xu Qinghan, a thousand unspoken words seemed hidden deep in his eyes, yet ultimately only transformed into two words.
"Wait for me."
After speaking.
He did not linger.
His figure flickered, as if melding into nothingness.
Silently disappearing from the spot.
Leaving only the members of Kao Mountain Sect, exchanging glances, still immersed in the colossal shock and post-catastrophe bewilderment.
And Xu Qinghan's stunned outstretched hand, and in her eyes, the rekindled, resolute light of waiting.
She knew, Senior Brother hadn't truly left.
He just needed some time.
She would wait.
No matter how long.