Chapter 289: Fierce Battle
Seeing Shen Daoxing’s stubborn insistence on attacking, Wei Zhi merely smiled, his expression filled with disdain.
"Kid, you have far too little respect for masters of the Earth Profound Realm. True, you’re impressive—not even Yang Ye of the Great Sui was a match for you. But at the end of the day, you’re still just in the Spirit Transformation Realm."
As he finished speaking.
A hazy, indistinct sound of the Dao seemed to rise between heaven and earth. The sound grew steadily louder; though it came from far away, it felt as if it were circling right beside them, resounding deep within their souls.
Suddenly, a brilliant blue light erupted from Wei Zhi’s body, and his aura surged.
In a mere instant, Wei Zhi’s figure vanished, replaced by a hazy, colossal silhouette that towered between heaven and earth.
With flowing robes and the bearing of an immortal, he looked like an Exiled Immortal descending upon the world.
The murmuring sound of the Dao from before was coming from his mouth.
Before this giant, Shen Daoxing appeared minuscule, his own brilliance dimmed, like a mere ant.
CLANG!
A muffled sound of metal striking metal rang out.
The Great Ming Demon Sparrow struck down.
The colossal giant just casually extended a hand and blocked it.
The seven-colored light on the Great Ming Demon Sparrow suddenly dissipated. The sword’s blade trembled slightly, and with a WHOOSH, it was sent flying backward.
"Heaven and Earth!"
It was a supreme technique comprehended by Earth Profound Realm cultivators through their connection to the universe.
A blinding light filled Shen Daoxing’s vision. The enormous Wei Zhi was moving; a massive, jade-like hand swiped across the sky toward him.
He hastily retreated.
A massive trench had appeared right where he had been standing.
Wei Zhi looked down on Shen Daoxing like a god in the heavens gazing down upon the ants of the mortal world.
"Do you see it now? This is the true gap between the Spirit Transformation and Earth Profound Realms. This is the power of an Earth Profound master."
Wei Zhi spoke, his expression cold and emotionless. "Fine. Since you refuse to leave, I’ll help you. I’ll cripple your legs so you can never again set foot in Tianze."
Wasting no more words, Wei Zhi suddenly thrust out his massive hand, bringing it down on Shen Daoxing like a crashing mountain.
At that moment, He Yong, who had been unconscious on the ground, shook his head and came to.
He first saw Wei Zhi’s immense figure and froze. "Teacher?"
Then, looking around, he saw Wei Zhi’s menacing palm and, beneath it, Shen Daoxing.
Alarmed, He Yong blurred into motion, positioning himself in front of Shen Daoxing. "Teacher, what are you doing? Yang just saved my sister’s life!"
Wei Zhi’s colossal palm froze in mid-air. An indifferent voice drifted down from above. "Third Prince, please step aside. This man is an outsider with ulterior motives. He is not to be trusted, and he certainly cannot be allowed any association with the princess. He must be removed."
"Yang isn’t that kind of person!"
He Yong shouted, resolutely blocking Shen Daoxing without yielding an inch.
High above, Wei Zhi’s enormous head shook with indifference. "What kind of person he is doesn’t matter. For the princess’s safety, and as a precaution, he must be removed. Third Prince, step aside, or I will be forced to use violence."
"How dare you! I am a Prince! You dare to move against me?"
He Yong roared, his expression suddenly turning serious.
Yet, from high above, Wei Zhi’s expression remained cold. "My apologies, Third Prince, but this is an order from the Eldest Prince. Rest assured, I won’t take his life. He did save the princess, after all. I am simply going to cripple his legs to ensure he can never enter Tianze again."
"What! Big Brother? This is his order?"
Startled, He Yong froze on the spot.
The next moment, an unseen force seemed to grab him, lifting him up and flinging him away in a wide arc with a WHOOSH.
At the same time, Wei Zhi’s mountain-sized hand slammed down, crashing toward Shen Daoxing with unstoppable force.
BOOM!
A deafening sound.
Wei Zhi’s mountain-like hand completely covered Shen Daoxing, and the entire ground trembled from the impact.
"Yang!"
He Yong cried out in alarm, staring blankly ahead in utter disbelief. "Yang... Yang!"
But just then, beneath Wei Zhi’s mountain-like hand, a pinprick of white light suddenly appeared.
The white light grew brighter and brighter.
BANG!
An explosive sound, like a thunderclap on a clear day.
A flash of black light shot through the night sky, leaving a trail of crackling arcs in its wake. Suddenly, the surrounding space began to warp, twisting and contorting.
Without warning.
The wrist of Wei Zhi’s mountain-sized hand shattered, vanishing as if erased from existence. A brilliant white light then erupted from beneath where the hand had been. A dazzling beam shot skyward, standing tall between heaven and earth and illuminating the entire night sky.
The light stung He Yong’s eyes, and he instinctively shielded them with his hand. He waited for the brilliance to recede.
He quickly lowered his hand to look, his face lighting up with joy.
On the shattered training grounds, a pure-white, mountain-sized jade Dharma Seal had appeared. Shen Daoxing stood calmly atop it, his white robes fluttering and his expression serene. His entire aura had transformed.
He gripped the Great Ming Demon Sparrow, his indifferent gaze fixed on Wei Zhi’s head, which was now level with him.
Although Shen Daoxing’s physical form was minuscule compared to Wei Zhi’s Golden Dharma Aspect, his aura was no less powerful. He seemed like a supreme being from time immemorial.
"Oh?"
Wei Zhi glanced at Shen Daoxing in astonishment, surprised he had survived the palm strike. ’He has a few tricks up his sleeve.’
But soon he shook his head, his indifferent expression returning. "But that’s as far as you’ll go."
As he spoke, Wei Zhi’s giant form began to glow. His severed wrist trembled amidst a dazzling light, and the hand that had vanished reappeared, fully restored.
He then raised his arm and grasped at the air. A profound Duster, shimmering with golden, iridescent light, materialized in his hand.
"All who are beneath the Earth Profound Realm are ants. An ant is an ant, after all. No matter what tricks you pull, you’re just a slightly more troublesome one."
Wei Zhi’s giant form spoke with indifference. He then gave Shen Daoxing a cool look and swung the Duster with cold detachment, as if casually crushing an ant.
Opposite him, Shen Daoxing also began to move. He leaped lightly into the sky and simply beckoned with his hand. The giant Dharma Seal beneath his feet stirred, flying up into his grasp.
The giant Dharma Seal was the size of a small mountain, but Shen Daoxing lifted it with his slender arm as if it were nothing—a perfect demonstration of Lifting Heavy as Light.
Then, Shen Daoxing’s small body swung the giant Dharma Seal—many times his own size—and brought it crashing down.
BOOM!
The Venerable Dharma Seal landed on the golden Duster.
A brilliant white light flared.
Wei Zhi paid it no mind, merely pressing down slightly with the Duster in his hand.
The next moment, however, his expression froze as he realized something was wrong. A desolate, ancient power capable of annihilating everything washed over him.