The star field possessed a powerful suppressive force. Ming Qi's current display of strength was likely only on par with his Xiantian realm combat power. This Flying Ant King wasn't truly formidable, at best remaining at the Xiantian level. However, as a native creature of the star field, it possessed a profound adaptability to the laws of the world, which was why Ming Qi's battle was so difficult.
The battle situation was now clear. If Ming Qi didn't have a powerful enough attack to instantly and severely injure the Flying Ant King, or even kill him outright, victory was essentially impossible. Therefore, he had to conserve his strength until he was certain of victory. A war of attrition that inflicted continuous damage was completely ineffective against the Flying Ant King.
Ming Qi continued to dodge and evade, while the Flying Ant King continuously launched fierce attacks. A steady stream of flying ants fell around him, their energy drained. The Flying Ant King remained in peak combat condition.
Soon, Ming Qi, still struggling to grasp the dynamics of power within the star field, was attacked from a tricky angle by the Flying Ant King. While not fatally wounded, he was still utterly bruised.
However, this was a testament to Ming Qi's resilience, greatly helping him adapt to combat within the star field.
There were countless star monsters, many more powerful than the Flying Ant King. Since Ming Qi intended to hone his skills within the star field, he would inevitably face them one day. If he couldn't quickly master more refined combat techniques, he would likely fall prey to one of these monsters before long.
Bang!
Ming Qi was once again hurled back by the Flying Ant King's immense force, sliding far across the ground.
This had happened for the umpteenth time. His entire body was covered in dust, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The Flying Ant King ahead of him remained unfazed, showing no signs of fatigue.
Ming Qi's eyes narrowed slightly, his hands subconsciously tightening around the hilt of the Fire Emperor Sword. The battle had raged for quite some time, and he had already discerned some of the Flying Ant King's strengths. If he seized the opportunity, he still had a good chance.
Although the Flying Ant King's attacks were swift, Ming Qi had discovered that, despite its remarkable adaptability to the star field and its ability to employ numerous techniques, its attack methods were remarkably simple: simply charging, followed by a stabbing blow with its bone blade.
Previous tests had proven that, given a certain level of power, the Fire Emperor Sword was more than capable of piercing the Flying Ant King's thick armor.
Thus, although Ming Qi was constantly at a disadvantage and taking the beating, his movements were methodical and precise, and he even managed to accurately dodge the Flying Ant King's attacks. Whenever a strike threatened to land, he would simply sidestep it.
Actual combat is the best whetstone. Ming Qi originally possessed the strength of a mid-stage Martial King. Though relegated to the initial Xiantian realm, his original combat experience and awareness remained. Thus, in this entirely defensive battle, he quickly elevated his Star Domain combat skills to a new level.
Half an hour later, the Flying Ant King's attacks were essentially no longer a threat to him.
Another attack followed. The Flying Ant King, failing to strike its target as usual, quickly retreated, flapping its wings as it retreated. However, at this moment, a blazing, bright sword energy suddenly appeared, almost instantly severing both of the Flying Ant King's wings.
The Flying Ant King, about to fly a distance to attack again, suddenly lost his balance and plummeted from the air.
As the Flying Ant King fell, a large number of surrounding ants swarmed towards him. Almost the moment he fell, fine threads shot out from his body. Upon contact with the surrounding ants, these threads immediately digested them, transforming them into energy to replenish the Flying Ant King. Ming Qi had finally found the perfect opportunity to sever the Flying Ant King's wings, rendering it unable to fly. How could he let it go? He immediately unleashed his Blood Shadow Step, drawing a blood-red shadow across the ground as he charged towards the Flying Ant King.
The Flying Ant King, possessing considerable intelligence, instantly determined Ming Qi would attack at this moment. He immediately raised his two bone-bladed, long legs and crossed them, moving towards Ming Qi.
Until now, the Flying Ant King had completely disregarded its prey. Therefore, while its wings were shorn, it chose to engage Ming Qi head-on. As long as it could hold out until its wings reactivated, it would be time to finish off this prey.
Ming Qi naturally didn't waste time at this point. Seeing the Flying Ant King charging head-on, he was delighted. This was exactly the outcome he had been aiming for. He wasn't afraid of your charge, but rather your inaction.
The Flying Ant King was also incredibly fast on the ground, but Ming Qi, now expending his energy and blood to activate his Blood Shadow Step, outpaced the Flying Ant King by a considerable margin. Within a few breaths, the two were face to face. A cold glint flashed in Ming Qi's eyes, and the Fire Emperor Sword in his hand instantly ignited with a blood-red aura, slicing directly at the Flying Ant King's head.
The Flying Ant King, who had originally intended to resist, suddenly seemed to sense a profound threat. It had no time to process what was happening. Instinctively driven by fear, it quickly raised its bone blade to block the blow.
The bone blade held immense power, and the Flying Ant King judged it indestructible.
And so it did. Ming Qi's strike didn't shatter the Flying Ant King's blade, but it did successfully push it back several meters.
Ming Qi struck with his sword, without pausing, and then followed with a second strike, even faster than the first.
The Flying Ant King was already shaken severely. Although the bone blades didn't shatter, the overwhelming force temporarily disrupted its control, allowing Ming Qi's second strike to strike the Flying Ant King's blades with equal precision.
Then, the third strike.
Ming Qi was like a fully wound pendulum, slashing furiously at the Flying Ant King's bone blades without stopping. After three strikes, a fourth, a fifth, with no sign of stopping.
When Ming Qi launched his tenth strike, a crisp crackling sound was heard from the Flying Ant King's bone blade under the Fire Emperor Sword.
The Flying Ant King's two front bone blades shattered, causing its massive body to twitch. The wings on its back hadn't fully activated when the bone blades were severed. The Flying Ant King's hopes of using the ant colony to restore to full strength were now impossible.
Ming Qi, ignoring the churning of his energy, once again channeled an immensely powerful force into the Fire Emperor Sword, stabbing it towards the Flying Ant King's massive head.
Without the protection of the bone blade, the Flying Ant King was completely confused and began to retreat frantically. However, Ming Qi's attack was premeditated. If he allowed the Flying Ant King to escape under such circumstances, it would be an unforgivable mistake.