Chapter 629 - 622: Decline
Nine azure dragons materialized in the void, their bodies stretching over a hundred meters long. A single dragon’s head was larger than Rainbow’s entire body. The fundamental nature of this power was completely different from a simple magnetic field attack.
BOOM!!
The dragons’ bodies coiled as their tails swept out, slamming into the building. The entire structure shuddered violently, as if struck by a physical object.
This proved that at this very moment, Zhou Qian’s power had transcended the illusory and manifested in reality.
The nine dragons struck as one—this was Zhou Qian’s strongest attack. Boosted by the Secret Technique, the renowned Donghua East District Guardian, a pillar of his nation, unleashed a power worthy of his title.
"Oh?"
Surrounded by the nine azure dragons, Rainbow’s brow twitched slightly, a hint of surprise on his face.
’Dangerous fellows, indeed. Merely at the Peak of the First Generation, yet in a final, all-out gambit, his energy realm and level have actually been elevated to the King Level... Is this a special "Divine Soul" formed from the fusion of Spirit and the Power of Nature?’
’But with just this much power, you’re still...’
A smile touched the corners of Rainbow’s lips.
Then, the nine azure dragons opened their massive jaws and simultaneously charged toward his body.
BOOM!!!
The terrifying power created a massive explosion in the air. The entire roof of the conference hall was blown away by the immense shockwave, and a cloud of dust and debris billowed up, obscuring everything.
’So strong!!’
’That’s not Saint Awakening Level power!! Defender Zhou’s attack just now definitely reached the King Level!’
Through the blurry images on their screens, all the conference attendees witnessed the events unfold.
’An attack on the King Level... Even an Ancestral Incarnation would be injured if it didn’t use any defensive moves or abilities and just took it head-on, right?’
With grim expressions, they all stared at their screens, desperate to know what was happening.
However, before the dust could even settle, a ray of light swept across the scene.
BOOM!!
The immense heat caused the air to explode, and the resulting shockwave of violent airflow instantly blew away all the surrounding dust.
On their screens, they could clearly see Zhou Qian’s withered body, hunched over and gasping for breath, blood streaming from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. And in the air...
Rainbow was covered in Scorching Sun Scale Armor, the crown on his head was still dazzling, and his terrifying eyes held the look of a cat toying with a mouse.
Despite an attack that had reached the King Level, he was actually completely unharmed. Everything about him was exactly the same as it was before the attack.
’Completely unharmed!!’
Everyone watching the screens stared, their mouths agape and their expressions frozen, at the figure who seemed as invincible as a Divine Spirit.
The image was seared into their minds, an indelible mark.
’Not even a scratch... What a pity...’
Zhou Qian struggled to lift his head and look at the unscathed Rainbow, a look of regret on his face.
’It seems Ancient True Kings, especially those at the Ancestral Level, are just absurdly strong.’
"And so, I say you are all far too naive. No matter how hard an ant struggles, how could it possibly shake Divine Beings?"
"Alright, it seems your performance ends here, though I must say your little show was quite amusing."
"However, daring to raise your fist to a Celestial Monarch is an act of supreme treason. This king has always been clear about rewards and punishments."
"So..."
Rainbow slowly extended his palm toward Zhou Qian.
"I bestow your sentence: The Branding!"
BOOM!!!
Suddenly, countless points of light pierced through Zhou Qian’s hunched form, followed by a violent explosion.
The countless Scorching Suns—which Rainbow had channeled into Zhou Qian’s body through the True Realm—erupted violently. They formed a pillar of fire that shot to the sky, engulfing Zhou Qian’s body.
’The Branding...!’
’This is all I can do... As for the rest... everyone... you must not give up hope...’
Zhou Qian opened his mouth, as if to say something, but no words came out. His final thoughts became a lingering regret, scattering into the heavens and earth along with the terrifying pillar of fire and his body, which had turned to ash.
The pillar of fire slowly vanished, and the ashes of Zhou Qian’s body scattered in the air. Thanks to Rainbow’s "deliberate arrangement," the entire scene was perfectly captured by the screens still standing in the ruined conference room.
Everyone watching fell into a deep silence.
"Everyone."
Rainbow walked step by step until he stood before the screen. He smiled at the hundred or so people watching him and spoke.
"The King of the Far East has returned. You now have two choices before you."
"Submit, or end up like this man—reduced to ash."
...
...
「The next day.」
The Rebellion broke out on the borders of Bosha Country. The incarnation of Ancestor Tuo descended upon the land, and the Giant Spirit Snake King, one of the Venerable Sanxiang, fell in battle.
In Beisha Country, the incarnation of Primordial Cosmos descended. The Four Pillars confronted it but were no match. To cover the retreat of the other three, the Central Pillar used a Secret Technique and died in battle...
「One week later.」
Spirit Guardians from all over the world used Ancestral Power to achieve breakthroughs. Wielding their Clan Ancestral Artifacts, they finally managed to slow the advance of the Ancestral Incarnations, leading to a temporary stalemate.
But the Spirit Guardians’ power was also limited; they couldn’t completely halt the movements of the Ancestral Incarnations. The longer this dragged on, the more advantageous it became for the Celestial Demons.
The Celestial Demon Race had finally bared its fangs to humanity.
Although the Ancestral Incarnations only possessed power at the Ancient True King Level, to human experts, who on average had not even broken through to the King Level, they were like Divine Beings.
Many of humanity’s strongest experts had died in battle, yet they failed to slow the Ancestral Incarnations’ advance. In the end, it took the intervention of the Spirit Guardians to stabilize the situation.
This state of affairs forced all of humanity’s top individual powers to recognize reality, and the burning passion in their hearts began to cool.
Just as the Celestial Demons had said, ordinary humans were, after all, just ordinary humans. Their power was simply too weak.
The sudden appearance of that peerless, heaven-sent genius had brought them a ray of miraculous light, making them believe that they, too, could create miracles.
But the truth was, not everyone could be Zhou Yuanjue.
Humanity, after all, has its limits.
This pessimistic and somber mood spread throughout the world and across all of Human Society. The hope in people’s hearts was being steadily eroded, while despair accumulated, drop by drop.
Once this despair reached a certain point, the entire world and Human Society itself would collapse because of it.
Without confidence, determination, and courage, humanity was like a tiger without its claws and fangs—defenseless.
What would become of humanity?