In an instant, a blood-red palm halted mid-air.
Shi Tianjue narrowed his eyes. "Master? Whose disciple are you?"
To him, anyone capable of making the proud and arrogant Hong Qianye willingly submit had to be someone with immense power—someone far above ordinary cultivators.
Judging by the Divine Ability Hong Qianye had just displayed, Shi Tianjue grew increasingly cautious. For Hong Qianye to command such techniques, his master couldn't possibly be an average figure.
If this so-called master truly had a formidable background, Shi Tianjue would need to tread carefully.
Swish!
Ye Junlin casually flicked aside his sunflower seeds and appeared beside Hong Qianye. "I'm his master."
"Huh?"
Shi Tianjue frowned. "You? You're his master?"
From his perception, Ye Junlin was merely a Transformation Stage cultivator—a realm so common in the Central Region it wasn't worth mentioning.
"Hong Qianye… I didn't expect you to fall this low. A Transformation Stage cultivator as your master?"
"How pathetic."
Shi Tianjue sneered with contempt.
Hong Qianye flushed with shame, his face nearly turning red enough to bleed. He didn't even know why he'd blurted that out earlier.
Despite Ye Junlin's constant scolding and arrogance, the man had saved his life—and now, he was standing up for him again. But this was dangerous.
"Are you looking down on me?" Ye Junlin asked calmly, raising an eyebrow.
"An ant can never comprehend the vastness of the sky," Shi Tianjue said coldly. "If I were at my peak, I could drown you with a single spit."
Now that he'd become an Immortal, his confidence was absolute. Everyone else was beneath him.
He only spared words for Hong Qianye because they had once been peers. Anyone else wasn't worth his time.
"Forget about me—just run!" Hong Qianye urged, panic etched across his face.
But Ye Junlin calmly pointed at the crimson figure looming in the sky. "What's there to fear? Just watch your master handle this."
Hong Qianye froze.
"Arrogant!"
Shi Tianjue roared and raised his colossal palm to strike.
The wind howled. The sky trembled.
A crushing pressure filled the air.
"…It's over," Hong Qianye muttered, despair clouding his eyes.
[Ding! The system has detected an early Unity Stage enemy attacking the host. Passive skill 'Meet Strength with Strength' activated. Host's cultivation elevated to mid Unity Stage!]
A crisp system notification echoed in Ye Junlin's mind.
He smirked as an overwhelming power surged through him—the unmistakable aura of a mid Unity Stage cultivator.
Boom! Boom!
Thunderous explosions shook the heavens.
"What?!"
Shi Tianjue staggered back in shock. His blood-red palm was nearly shattered.
A terrifying force had almost torn apart the foundation of his Undying Blood Body!
"You're not in the Transformation Stage! You're a Unity Stage cultivator!"
He was stunned.
But no one was more shocked than Hong Qianye.
He had truly believed Ye Junlin was just a low-level cultivator. But now? A Unity Stage expert masquerading as a Transformation Stage junior?
"No wonder this bastard always picked fights with me… he had Unity Stage strength all along. Thank goodness I never went all out," Hong Qianye thought nervously.
Then, under countless stunned gazes…
The dark-robed youth soared into the air like a shooting star. His silver hair fluttered like threads of starlight, his features sharp and composed, his aura divine and oppressive.
"So this is the Unity Stage… it's leagues beyond the Transformation Stage," Ye Junlin murmured, feeling unstoppable.
"Hmph! Unity Stage or not, I'll show you real power!" Shi Tianjue shouted.
He fused mind and spirit, activating the full strength of his Undying Blood Body.
Blood-red fists filled the sky, falling like a storm of meteors.
"Human King Seal!"
Ye Junlin's voice echoed like divine thunder.
Behind him, a colossal phantom of a king manifested—majestic, towering, like a celestial ruler overseeing the world.
The ancient seal unleashed a torrent of divine power that tore through the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shi Tianjue's massive form took the brunt of it—his arms shredded, his blood evaporating into mist.
"Impossible!"
Shi Tianjue stared in disbelief.
Even he—a monster among the Demonic Path—trembled before that power.
Ye Junlin smirked.
The Human King Seal, tempered through endless combat, had already reached perfection. Though it hadn't killed Shi Tianjue, the fact it could injure him proved how terrifying Ye Junlin had become.
Sizzle…
In the next moment, flesh began regenerating from the stumps of Shi Tianjue's arms.
"See? You can't kill me!" he roared.
Ye Junlin stayed composed. "How about this, then?"
He slowly raised his hand, voice echoing like divine decree:
"Great Void Technique."
This Divine Ability had also reached perfection.
A massive vortex spun into existence in the sky, radiating divine might and despair.
"One finger seals the world."
"Two fingers shatter mountains and rivers."
"Three fingers erase all life."
"Four fingers… break the heavens!"
Boom!!!
Four colossal golden fingers descended from the sky like divine pillars.
"What in the hell is this?!"
Shi Tianjue's expression twisted in fear. He summoned a river of blood to resist.
Boom!!!
The bloody sea churned—but was instantly crushed.
The four golden fingers slammed into the blood-red giant!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens.
Cracks split the giant's body. Shi Tianjue emerged, his hair in disarray, blood spilling from his mouth, eyes filled with horror.
"Who… are you?!"
He couldn't believe it. In this forsaken Arid Province, he had run into such a terrifying monster?
Even his Undying Blood Body had been destroyed.
Was this real?
Had the world changed so drastically while he'd been in seclusion?
Hong Qianye stood dumbfounded.
No wonder Ye Junlin always acted so arrogant—he had never seen Hong Qianye as a threat. If they'd fought seriously before, he would've been crushed.
The realization filled him with dread.
He had to tread carefully from now on.
"I am Ye Junlin, Master of the Xuantian Sect and head of Mysterious Peak," Ye Junlin said casually, flicking his fingers.
Shi Tianjue's heart sank.
He had studied every sect in the Arid Province. Xuantian Sect existed, but it was utterly mediocre.
So how could such a terrifying figure be based there?
This made no sense!
"Ye Junlin! I won't forget this!!" Shi Tianjue roared in rage.
"Blood Escape Technique!"
Swish—
His blood ignited, transforming him into a beam of crimson light tearing through the void.
"He's running!" Hong Qianye shouted.
He knew Shi Tianjue's temperament—if allowed to escape, he'd definitely return stronger and more dangerous.
"Hmph. You think you can run?" Ye Junlin snorted.
The Great Void Technique activated once more, instantly cutting off Shi Tianjue's escape route.
"You—?!"
Shi Tianjue's eyes widened. His secret technique… intercepted?
"Die."
Ye Junlin's voice turned cold as he raised his hand and unleashed a powerful seal.
"No!!!"
Shi Tianjue's final scream echoed across the sky before his body exploded—his soul completely wiped from existence.
The Blood Demon of the Central Region had been annihilated.
"…Shi Tianjue is really dead," Hong Qianye muttered.
He had once been one of the most feared figures of their generation—and now, Ye Junlin had personally ended his reign. It was hard not to feel some sorrow.
"So mighty! The Celestial Being has slain the demon!"
Tears streamed down Emperor Wei's cheeks.
A thunderous cheer erupted.
Everyone dropped to their knees, bowing in awe before the silver-haired youth.
Ye Junlin suddenly remembered something and muttered, "Hey, system. Where's my reward? Don't make me ask twice."
This so-called "professional" system always lagged at the worst moments.
[Ding! Alright, alright! Here's your reward, handsome host!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You've obtained…]
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