Chapter 151: Failure
Golden secret patterns flickered in and out of existence across the surrounding void. Combined with the world projection's suppression, this rendered Chi Ying, a Rank 2 Earl (Domain Lord), completely immobile.
Even Jiang Zhe, who was feigning death on the ground, felt like he was stuck in a quagmire. Given his current comprehension of space laws, he estimated he could manifest fewer than ten thousand spatial avatars here — a stark contrast to the blood Luo world, where Domain Lord projections were as inconsequential as air to him.
Now, however, the combined might of world projection and spatial lockdown produced terrifying suppression.
Suddenly, a ragged figure appeared out of thin air in front of Chi Ying, moving almost instantaneously. Golden patterns crisscrossed his exposed skin.
The "Mad World Lord" had returned.
"Flesh... eat... must eat..."
He muttered these primal urges repeatedly. Reaching out with a filthy hand adorned with silver knuckles, he slowly thrust it toward Chi Ying's chest, intent on ripping out her heart.
"Move! Move, damn it, MOVE!"
Chi Ying's face grew frantic as she struggled desperately, but she could only watch helplessly as the madman's hand drew closer.
Death loomed, its countdown already begun.
"Sigh, look what you've dragged me into," Chi Ying glanced at Jiang Zhe, whose neck she was still gripping. Then she let out a resigned sigh.
"In the end, I have only myself to blame. I never should've been tempted by that nearly mature demon blood plant. Facing a deranged Marquis like this... no matter how we respond, with our current strength, death is inevitable."
"At least you're unconscious — you'll die quickly. Meanwhile, I have to watch as my life core is sealed and my heart ripped out."
The silver knuckles nearly touched her robes. Suddenly, a crazed light surged in Chi Ying's eyes.
"Even in death, I won't let you have it easy!"
Though her body was bound by the world projection, she could still use her willpower to ignite her life core.
"That's enough. This ends here."
A calm voice interrupted her suicidal move. At the same time, a strand of spiritual power invaded her life core, using illusionist techniques to shatter her self-destructing resolve.
Of course, as a price for attacking her soul directly, whoever did it had to endure a 140-fold Domain Lord Rank 2 soul backlash.
"Tsk."
A playful click of the tongue drew Chi Ying's gaze back to the "pig teammate" she was holding.
Suddenly, her grip lightened. A towering figure now stood between her and the madman. The filthy hand already inches from her chest was firmly caught by an armored hand covered in tiny scales.
"Die!"
Chi Ying heard a low roar explode by her ear. Her eyes widened at the towering figure before her, her heart seized by the terrifying aura he suddenly unleashed.
At that moment, Jiang Zhe went all out.
His 1810-fold life gene level made him comparable to a 1.8x peak Domain Lord Rank 9.
Then—
Innate secret technique: [Divine Power]!
10x amplification — unleashed!
Dark purple patterns spread from the diamond imprint on Jiang Zhe's chest, crawling across his skin beneath the heavy treasure armor.
Next, a layer of black energy armor surfaced and fused into his body, providing a powerful physical amplification.
[Mysterious Crystal Ninefold Body], Fifth Refinement!
9x physical amplification — unleashed!
That totaled... 90 times. Yes, 90 times, as outrageous as it sounded. Because innate secret techniques and body amplification secret arts didn't conflict, they stacked perfectly.
So:
1.8x Domain Lord Rank 9 strength × 90 = 162x Domain Lord Rank 9 strength!
For comparison, the "Mad World Lord" only possessed close to 10x World Lord Rank 3 strength.
With this overwhelming power, Jiang Zhe seized the madman's hand with one grip. His other hand shot out with blinding speed, plunging into the madman's chest.
The strike carried the profound essence of the Ninefold Fist, cleanly piercing through. Jiang Zhe grabbed the life core and crushed it in his fist.
The life core shattered, and the madman's vitality rapidly faded.
The entire kill happened so swiftly, this self-lobotomized World Lord, driven by mere instincts, didn't even have time to mount a defense.
His inner world collapsed, the world projection disintegrated, and various items clattered out around them.
Jiang Zhe then pulled out a crystallized heart from the madman's chest and casually flung the demon corpse aside.
In an instant, the deadly crisis that had left Chi Ying feeling utterly powerless was resolved.
Chi Ying stared blankly, as if in a dream.
Was this... really just a Viscount (Universe Level)?
A peak Viscount crossing two major ranks to instantly kill a low-rank Marquis?
The elegant Chi Ying nearly cursed aloud.
Was the current generation of cultivators in this universe truly this insane?
Had her inherited memories become obsolete?
Jiang Zhe examined the crystal heart in his hand and let out a soft chuckle.
"A Marquis heart?"
He broke off two shards. One fused into his chest armor. The other he popped into his mouth.
As before, it melted instantly, splitting into two strange energies — one blood-red, one black.
The blood-red energy, suffused with demonic power, spread through his body. The black energy, full of chaotic will, charged straight for his mind.
Compared to an Earl's heart, the Marquis heart's sinister, frenzied chaotic will was even more ferocious.
Unfortunately for it, it slammed into an iron wall — Jiang Zhe's Sovereign-level will easily crushed and erased it.
As for the blood-red energy — or more accurately, this "demonic power," which was akin to the "Blood Luo Power"— it diffused through his body, triggering all 181 of his "stars" to flare brightly in resistance.
A short tug-of-war ensued, ending like before. The foreign power was promptly expelled from his body.
Jiang Zhe sighed inwardly.
Still the same problem — incompatible attributes. His body instinctively rejected this foreign force.
He couldn't help but lament Luo Feng's ridiculous fortune again.
Metal-type gene energy, a metal-space star beast, metal-space blood Luo crystal, metal beast god — everything lined up perfectly for that kid.
As he grumbled internally, Jiang Zhe spat out a blood-red bolt that struck the rock wall, causing an explosion.
The blast startled Chi Ying back to her senses.
She quietly stepped back, putting what she thought was a safe distance between them. Her eyes wary, she gripped her dark-gold dagger and readied her energy.
But recalling that shocking scene just now, her arm went limp. The dagger fell, half its blade embedding into the ground.
Once, she believed her strength was roughly on par with Jiang Zhe — perhaps even superior since she was an Earl (Domain Lord). She thought she could reach her peak faster by consuming Earl hearts, take the lead in their cooperation, and eventually make Jiang Zhe submit to her will.
Now it all seemed laughably naïve. They simply weren't on the same level.
Jiang Zhe, hearing her movements, turned around. He reached out to retrieve the dagger with a playful glint in his eyes.
Chi Ying recoiled again in fright.
Jiang Zhe teased, "Girl, did you really just take half a step back?"
"You... you can't kill me. I—"
She didn't finish. Jiang Zhe cut her off with a grin.
"I know. If you die, the source blood in your heart returns to the original blood pool, eventually giving rise to another pureblood demon. I wouldn't gain anything. Killing you is pointless."
"Hmph. As long as you remember that." Chi Ying quickly distanced herself, saying, "Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
Truthfully, she wanted to slip away without a word. But she didn't have the strength to be so bold, so she made herself offer a polite exit line.
Jiang Zhe's lips curled into a faint smile. Instead of answering, he used his mental power to pluck a mature blood-gold mushroom from the bronze tree above, waved it at her, then stored it in his world ring.
"This is mine. Any objections?"
Despicable!
She'd clearly been the one to lead them here — shouldn't she get a share?
But Chi Ying didn't dare voice her anger.
Her eyes couldn't help drifting to the partially eaten Marquis heart in Jiang Zhe's hand, saliva nearly pooling at her lips.
Suddenly, the crystal heart transformed into a streak of red light and flew toward her.
Eyes wide, she caught it, then looked blankly at Jiang Zhe, unsure of his intentions.
"Where do you think you're going? Our cooperation isn't over yet," Jiang Zhe said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Chi Ying muttered, "Cooperation? With your power, you still need me?"
Jiang Zhe replied, "You know that a gold-space Marquis heart is useless to me. Let's change our arrangement: you reveal the secrets in your inherited memories, and I'll hunt demon Marquises for you. I can even help you grow stronger — if you're willing to listen."
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