Chapter 132: Ancient Demons
And within Mark's body, the most abundant solar particleswere surging!
These particles could be expelled as Heat Vision or radiated from his body, transforming him into—a sunamong men!
A voice came from the end of the light, ancient and deep.
"Incredibly powerful indeed."
In this sun-drenched place, a patch of shadow stubbornly appeared once more.
That shadow was as thick as ink, like an abyss that light could never penetrate.
It crawled slowly on the ground, condensing, and finally transformed into a dragon-shaped disc, pushed out from the shadows by an invisible black hand.
Shendu!
The eyes of that coiled dragon statue were now glowing with an eerie red light!
Mark's smile deepened.
"You dare appear directly before me?"
He looked down at the dragon-shaped disc, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Should I call you foolish, or commend your courage?"
Before his voice had even faded—
Mark moved!
In an instant, his figure vanished from where he stood!
Speaking just now was merely to distract Shendu and the helpers he brought along.
He didn't believe for a second that an old schemer like Shendu, who had lived for a thousand years, would appear before him in his most vulnerable state.
He must have brought help and intended to use himself as bait to ambush Mark!
Hmph, watch me play dumb and counter-ambush him!
"What the fuck?!"
Shendu's eyes erupted with red light!
What is wrong with this guy? He has no martial honor at all! How can he just launch a sneak attack like that!
His coiled dragon disc retreated frantically, but that figure's speed was too fast—so fast that even his telekinesis couldn't react in time!
"Big brother, help me!"
Shendu shouted toward the area behind Mark!
"An elder never breaks his word—"
A deep voice came from the void, calm and majestic.
"One only needs to wait a moment..."
Terrifying gravity converged instantly!
That gravitational force surged from all directions, weaving into an invisible giant net, and the center of that entanglement—
Was precisely Mark!
The attack he swung out was pulled to a halt by that terrifying gravity!
Mark's brow furrowed.
He recognized this voice.
Jiu Lang.
One of the eight great demons—the Moon Demon.
Jiu Lang, master of gravity and repulsion.
At his peak, he was capable of crushing black holes with his bare hands!
Although the gravity of a black hole couldn't kill a Viltrum, being at the very center of one was still a life-and-death crisis, even for a Viltrum!
And without a doubt—
With the Dark Energy surging now, this was the pinnacle of Jiu Lang's power!
"This feeling is truly magnificent..."
The voice rang out again, carrying the excitement of something lost and regained.
"Even the soul lost in that place of dead silence has returned.
I am awake once more, once again the Lord of the Moons across the heavens!"
The gravity grew stronger and stronger!
Mark's body was pinned firmly in mid-air, unable to move!
"My younger brother—"
Jiu Lang's voice came from the void, carrying the authority of an elder brother.
"Go and take back everything that belongs to you! Let us eight great demons descend upon the world once more!"
His voice became increasingly high-pitched.
"In this struggle between good and evil, the victory will surely be ours!"
Shendu's voice was no longer raspy; instead, it was full of vigor and vitality.
"Of course, elder brother."
His coiled dragon disc moved slowly through the gravitational field, approaching the talisman display case.
"We shall finally stand atop this earth once again!"
His voice carried an indescribable emotion.
"I, Shendu, guarantee it!!!"
He belonged to the younger generation among the eight great demons.
With his once-shattered intellect now fully restored, he had finally reclaimed his past innocence.
The feeling was truly hard to describe.
The way he was before, he really was like a demon.
No etiquette, no shame, no morality, none of the things he once loved—he was nothing more than a dead, empty shell!
But now, with his intellect returned, those things he loved and adhered to—everything had come back!
"Even if you truly are the eight immortals reincarnate—"
He glanced back at the youth bound by gravity, the man who was like a blazing sun.
"We will surely strike you down!"
He roared at Mark!
"We brothers and sisters will surely become the lords of the world once more!"
He condensed one shadow soldier after another, resisting the solar light radiating from Mark's body as he drew closer to the talisman display case.
"To live freely beneath these heavens!"
Mark hovered in mid-air, feeling that terrifying gravity.
"Damn it, how did Jiu Lang's power recover to its peak?"
He looked at the equally gritted-teeth Jiu Lang opposite him—though he still couldn't see the other's figure, the pressure of that power was even stronger than described in the legends!
Only now did he understand how terrifying the other's mechanics were.
Gravity and repulsion.
Just hearing it made it sound many levels higher than things like water, fire, wind, or earth!
It would be one thing if the mechanics were strong, but now the other's stats were also terrifyingly high!
As the head of the eight great demons, the Dark Energyempowerment he was receiving now was unimaginably vast, even stronger than his original peak!
With all the methods of a demon sorcerer gathered and his intellect complete, a casual strike really was a miniature black hole!
And now, all of Jiu Lang's concentration was focused on Mark's body.
He wasn't having an easy time either.
He felt as though he wasn't restraining a person, but a living sun.
Just by restraining him for this short while, his mana was almost exhausted.
But fortunately, he only needed to hold on for a little longer.
"Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao—"
An old and urgent voice rang out.
"Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao!"
The frequency became faster and more urgent!
At the entrance, Uncle had rushed in at some unknown point!
He held a pufferfish in his hand, his body wreathed in magical light, and a blinding pillar of white light shot from his ritual tool, aimed straight for the center of Jiu Lang's back!
Jiu Lang's attack suddenly faltered!
The gravitational field flickered for an instant!
Mark didn't hesitate for a second!
A Viltrumite Hand Chop lunged straight for Shendu's face!
His speed was at its limit, breaking free from the restraint the moment the gravitational field slackened!
That palm strike carried the sound of breaking wind, chopping straight toward Shendu's coiled dragon disc—at the same time, he dispersed all the shadow soldiers that were nearing the Talisman!
Shendu's pupils dilated!
He mobilized all his telekinesis to block in front of him, forming an invisible shield!
But the power of Mark's palm strike was too great, so great that his shield shattered after holding for only a second!
Chapter 133: Don't Let Him Come into Contact with magic!
Seeing that palm about to strike the disc—
A hurricane fell from the sky, accompanied by thunder, smashing down fiercely!
Wind and thunder intertwined!
Then, another towering water column surged from the ground, converging into a water dragon, crashing straight into Mark's palm!
Wind, thunder, water!
The three forces hit Mark's arm simultaneously, successfully interrupting his attack prelude!
Mark took a step back and steadied himself.
He looked up.
The storage room's ceiling had been blown away.
No, the entire top floor of Section 13 had been blasted open by some terrifying power!
Moonlight shone in through the huge hole, illuminating what was suspended in mid-air—
Three figures.
One was shrouded in hurricane and thunder, with a hideous face and air currents surging wildly around them.
One was held up by a water column, skin glowing with a faint blue luster, eyes cold as the deep sea.
And another was slowly stepping out of the void, with an illusory bright moon behind him, gravity and repulsion flowing around him.
Demon of Wind · Hsiu.
Demon of Water · Bai Sha.
Demon of the Moon · Jiu Lang.
Three demons descended simultaneously!
"The other eight demons..."
Mark's voice was low.
"Have they all been released?"
He hadn't expected that through his arrival, the Dark Energy could actually be empowered to this extent!
In that instant of the attack pause—
A mountain of flesh suddenly smashed onto Mark!
That power was terrifying to the extreme, heavy to the extreme, as if the entire sky had collapsed, smashing onto his shoulders alone!
That mountain of flesh pierced through the surface, smashing all the way down from underground, crashing through several floors, and finally smashing onto Mark!
It had shrunk its size, but ensured extreme weight and mass—
It was exactly the Demon of the Mountain · Bao Ngor!
This was the weight of all the mountains in the entire land of Huaxia combined!
Not a bit lighter than an asteroid!
Mark was smashed until his legs bent slightly, the ground beneath his feet instantly cracked, and the cracks spread in all directions!
He grit his teeth and held up the mountain of flesh with both hands; for a moment, he actually found it difficult to stand up!
Damn it!
How could this be the situation?!
When Jackie Chan fought these eight great demons, was it like this?
You call this their prime?!
Don't you know what you looked like in your prime?!
Mark felt like he was being set up by the Dark Energy.
Giving him the treatment reserved for the eight immortalsall by himself, isn't that inappropriate?
"Brother, go quickly and take back your power."
Bao Ngor shouted to the Holy Master.
Her voice came from deep within the mountain of flesh, muffled and resonant, yet carrying the authority of an elder sister.
"Thank you, Big Sister!"
The Holy Master—no, it should be said to Shendu.
He didn't hesitate for a moment, summoning a Shadow Soldier to directly take down all the remaining Talisman in the display case!
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig—
Twelve Talisman, all suspended above the Coiled Dragon Disc!
Light flickered, illuminating the entire storage room!
As the Rat Talisman fell—
Dead objects turned into living things.
The Coiled Dragon Disc began to tremble, expand, and grow!
Dragon scales, dragon claws, dragon tail, dragon horns—every part was rapidly taking shape!
The giant dragon stood on the earth once more!
"Is this the feeling of standing once again?"
Shendu laughed loudly, spreading his arms!
Fire intertwined around him, celebrating the return of this favorite of fire!
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!"
He took a deep breath, feeling the freedom he had been away from for a thousand years.
The other demons also slowly descended from the sky.
Hsiu, Bai Sha, Jiu Lang, Bao Ngor, Tso Lan, Lei Bao, Finn—
Seven great demons, plus the newly resurrected Holy Master, all eight great demons gathered!
Tso Lan—the Demon of Lightning, with electric light intertwined all over his body, crackling and popping.
Di Kui—the Demon of Earth, controlling the power of the earth, surrounded by soil and stone.
Finn—the Demon of the Sky, a pair of huge bat wings spread behind his back, obscuring the moonlight.
They stood together, looking at the youth pinned under Bao Ngor, the culprit who caused the Yin and Yang Qi to run wild.
"This is that Immortal King?"
Hsiu tilted his head, sizing up Mark.
"He doesn't look like much."
"Don't be careless."
Jiu Lang's voice came from the void, still calm.
"During that moment I bound him just now, my mana was almost exhausted."
Bai Sha didn't speak, just looked at Mark coldly, the water around her body slowly rotating.
Mark was pinned under that mountain of flesh, motionless.
But Bao Ngor's expression suddenly changed.
Continuous booming sounds rang out.
It felt like a mountain range was vibrating, as if countless asteroids were smashing onto the mountains!
Shendu's face darkened.
He had felt Mark's attacks up close countless times, though none had ever truly landed on him.
But that sense of world-destroying power was something he would never misremember.
That wasn't a fake power obtained by relying on Talisman, Dark Energy, or any magic amplification.
It was a physical strength pure to the extreme, enough to tear the earth and shatter mountains.
This kind of power was a terrifying existence that even ancient demons had to be wary of.
It was absolute violence that ignored all defenses and crushed all laws.
"Big Sister, get up quickly!"
Shendu shouted out, panic appearing in his tone for the first time.
"Too late~"
A nonchalant voice came from within Bao Ngor's body.
The next second, a huge gap suddenly burst open in her belly, which was as hard as a mountain range!
A golden light flashed around Mark, and he soared straight up from the breach.
His arms shook slightly, and the soil and stone debris on him fell away, his posture as composed as if he were merely brushing off a bit of dust.
Bao Ngor looked down at the deep hole in her abdomen, her pupils shrinking violently, her mind filled with nothing but unbelievable shock.
Her body was originally a mountain space of its own, enough to swallow all the soil and stone in the world and accommodate the weight of the entire earth.
But this human in front of her had actually hammered through her body with his bare hands in just over ten seconds, as easily as piercing through a thin piece of paper.
With the frantic empowerment of the dense evil energy, this wound wasn't enough to make her perish on the spot.
But her strength being heavily damaged and her vitality being greatly injured was already a certainty.
"Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao, Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao!"
Uncle tightened his grip on the Pufferfish Staff and hurriedly chanted the spell.
Just now, when the eight great demons descended together, he had wanted to take action to resist.
But the demons completely ignored his existence, their aura so arrogant that they acted as if they were the only ones in the world.
Seeing Mark break free now, Uncle didn't hesitate to instantly launch his attack.
A solid light pillar of Noble Qi magic blasted straight toward the injured Bao Ngor!
Intending to finish her off while she was down!
But the light pillar had only shot out halfway when it was forcibly distorted and wound around by an invisible force, finally being completely annihilated in mid-air.
Jiu Lang slowly turned his wrist, his cold gaze directed at Mark, his tone carrying the arrogance of an ancient demon:
"A powerful body, but it's just powerful, nothing more."
"You don't have the slightest bit of magical power. Relying on this physical body alone, you will never be able to defeat a true demon!"
As the words fell, he immediately commanded with the authority of an elder:
"I will go kill that human who can use magic; the seven of you join forces to trap him!"
"As long as he doesn't receive magic empowerment, he will never have the qualification to face us head-on!"
Chapter 134: The eight immortals
"I just want to get the twelve talismans!"
Mark's voice was low and cold, like thunder rolling out of an abyss, shaking the entire space until it trembled slightly.
"Why bother? Why do you guys have to stand in my way?!"
Before his voice had even faded, the ground beneath his feet violently exploded.
Without any wasted movement or charging preamble, with just a single lunge, his entire being transformed into a streak of light that tore through the air. His target was heart-stoppingly clear—the weakest demon, the Sky Demon, Sky Demon Sky Demon!
Sky Demon didn't even have time to let out a roar of shock and fury; he only felt a blur before his eyes as that figure closed in on him.
The Viltrumite Hand Chop, carrying unrivaled power, hacked down ruthlessly!
"Squelch—!"
A piercing tearing sound suddenly rang out. Those bat wings Finn was so proud of, capable of soaring through the nine heavens, were as fragile as thin paper before absolute strength, and were brutally torn off by Mark!
Scalding black blood splattered into mid-air as Finn let out an agonizing wail of extreme misery, the sound sharp enough to pierce eardrums.
Mark didn't even spare him a glance, his body suddenly spinning as he dodged as easily as if strolling through a garden.
Behind him, a gale-force water column, sky-burning flames, and mountain-crushing savage lightning—four terrifying elemental attacks—were fired simultaneously, their power enough to level a small mountain.
But in Mark's eyes, the movements of these guys were far, far too slow!
As slow as a snail crawling, as slow as a movie being played in reverse at double speed.
In the next second, two blindingly white beams of Heat Vision violently erupted from his eyes, clashing fiercely with the laser eyes shot from Shendu's eyes!
The golden dragon-breath laser and the sun-like Heat Vision were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, an energy storm sweeping out frantically.
But in just an instant, the victor was decided!
The Heat Vision, with a momentum of absolute crushing dominance, forcibly broke through the laser's obstruction and bore down on Shendu!
"How can eyes gathered from mere lightning power compare to the fire of the sun?!"
Mark's voice carried unconcealed contempt. "Even your dragon flame won't do!"
Shendu's pupils shrank, and for the first time, an emotion called fear rose in his heart.
But in the next second, Mark actually deactivated his Heat Vision, allowing the laser eyes to slam hard against his physical body!
No defense, no dodging—purely tanking it with his physical body!
Smoke and dust filled the air as energy exploded, yet that figure remained motionless, not even a corner of his clothes damaged in the slightest.
"Boom—!"
Mark stomped his foot, his figure instantly vanishing from the spot. With a piercing hand strike, he arrived before Shendu in a flash!
He looked down from above, his eyes as cold as eternal frozen iron.
"This is the third time I'm chopping you, and this time, it's a guaranteed hit!"
"Missing the first two times really made me lose face!"
The moment his voice fell, Mark's right arm tensed, his muscle lines bulging explosively. A savage hand chop, carrying the momentum of splitting heaven and earth, whipped into Shendu's neck!
"Bang—!"
With a deafening dull thud, Shendu's massive and hard dragon body was actually knocked onto its side by this blow. He crashed heavily into the ground, creating a huge deep pit with flying stones and rolling dust.
Having landed the hit, Mark moved again, turning into a black shadow. He soared and maneuvered once more, easily dodging the desperate, frenzied attacks rushing in from the other demons.
On the other side, Finn was still rolling on the ground in pain, wailing incessantly.
But he didn't even have time to wail.
In the next second, his entire being was easily lifted up by Mark with one hand, like holding a helpless little chick.
Mark's eyes were indifferent as he directly used Finn's body as a shield in front of him, tanking the violent attacks pouring in from the other demons!
Fire, water, gale, and lightning all slammed into Sky Demon, making this Sky Demon scream repeatedly, wishing he were dead.
"This guy... what's the deal with him?!"
The Water Demon Baiuza floated in mid-air, her water-blue pupils filled with disbelief, and even carrying a trace of hard-to-detect panic.
This human before them was the one who should be called a true demon!
Using their brother's body to block their own attacks.
Decisive in killing, cold-blooded and ruthless, cruel to the extreme—he didn't seem like a human at all!
"It seems my brothers and sisters have encountered a problem. As their elder, I must go help them quickly."
The Moon Demon Tso Lan floated in mid-air, his long robes fluttering. He looked at Uncle not far away, his tone so gloomy it could drip water.
"A demon elder at full strength? It really makes Uncle a bit scared..."
Uncle tightly clutched a dried pufferfish and gecko in his hands. His withered face showed no fear; although his mouth said he was scared, his old eyes didn't flinch at all, shining with brilliance and a resolute fighting spirit.
"Oh? So you've seen me at my peak?"
Tso Lan's narrow eyes squinted slightly, and a terrifying pressure slowly diffused from within his body, as if the air itself were frozen.
"Then feel it properly—the gap between the peak you imagined and my current strength!"
"Dance, human mage!"
As the last word fell, Tso Lan slammed his hands together!
Terrifying gravity gathered frantically in his palms, condensing into an invisible, intangible, and ethereal magnetic sphere.
But under that crushing pressure of the extreme, this gravitational core actually burst forth with a strange and cold blue glow!
"Forward Rotation!"
Tso Lan chanted in a low voice, like intoning a magic curse from ancient times.
A massive amount of gravity was forcibly compressed, twisted, rotated, and condensed, turning into an extremely concentrated gravitational ball capable of swallowing everything.
It was another form of a black hole—not an extreme collapse, but an extreme inward-pulling gravitational projectile!
Once it exploded, everything within a hundred-mile radius would be completely torn to shreds!
"Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao! Yu Mo Gwai Gwai Fai Di Zao!"
Uncle's face was solemn as he directly threw away the pufferfish and gecko in his hands.
He suddenly pulled out fifteen yellowed talismans from inside his clothes!
He spread them all out in front of him, infusing them with spiritual power as the runes flickered.
"Defense Scrolls! Attack Scrolls!"
This was the ultimate technique of the Grand Mage from a thousand years ago!
Uncle originally couldn't activate them directly, but under the frantic empowerment of extreme Noble Qi, not only could he use them easily, he could even repeatedly activate them countless times in a short period!
This was the world's number one Grand Mage, empowered by the Noble Qi of Heaven and Earth!
"Boom—!"
The gravity ball collided fiercely with the energy scrolls and Defense Scrolls. A majestic energy explosion violently erupted, with blinding light and airwaves sweeping in all directions. The entire space trembled violently, as if it would collapse at any moment.
"Interesting, human! But that's all it is!"
Tso Lan's movements didn't pause for a moment, his gaze becoming increasingly cold and brutal.
In the next second, gravity and repulsion gathered frantically within his body simultaneously!
"Maximum Technique..."
Tso Lan whispered four words, his tone calm yet carrying a suffocating despair.
Gravity and repulsion frantically intertwined, collided, compressed, and exploded. The power of this attack was ten times that of the previous one!
If it weren't for the magic barrier forcibly neutralizing it, this single blow would be enough to level an entire city!
This was Tso Lan's trump card!
It was the ultimate strike formed by gathering all the power capable of moving the moon and controlling the tides of the ocean, named—Maximum Technique!
Uncle's face changed drastically, his pupils shrinking.
No time to charge, no time to prepare—this attack would definitely hit!
This was the combat awareness of an elder, the power of an elder that crushed everything!
"I told you not to deal with him alone, Uncle!"
A familiar shout suddenly rang out.
A figure suddenly jumped down from the ventilation duct above, his movements agile and neat. Who else could it be but Jackie Chan!
And in his hand, he tightly clutched a small, pure white flower bud!
That's right, it was exactly He Xiangu's Lotus Bud!
At this moment, it was as if the Noble Qi of Heaven and Earth had all favored Jackie Chan.
After all, he was the one destined to be the Lord of Noble Qi in this world!
Chapter 135: Prosperity for All
Jackie Chan's aura suddenly shifted, as if He Xiangu herself had possessed him. A sacred and majestic divinity radiated from his body, making it hard to look at him directly.
The lotus bud in his hand could actually counteract Tso Lan's gravity!
The bud slowly unfurled in the air, petals fluttering and spiritual energy condensing, transforming into an illusory sword of light in mid-air!
"My goodness!"
Jackie Chan exclaimed in wonder while looking at the phantom sword formed from the lotus bud in his hand.
It was indeed in the shape of a sword, but the light flickered unsteadily and appeared somewhat fragile; clearly, it was incomplete.
But in the next second!
Seven brilliant phantoms suddenly descended from the air!
They were the other seven Immortal items used to deal with the eight great demons!
"Good, are these the tools Uncle just prepared to deal with the eight great demons?"
Uncle looked shocked. "But these haven't been empowered by Qi Magic yet, how could they go directly to Jackie's hands?!"
Jackie Chan's pupils also shrank, his face full of disbelief.
But there was no time to think.
In the next second, the eight items simultaneously burst with dazzling divine light, all turning into ethereal colors and merging completely into one before Jackie Chan!
A sacred sword, brilliant to the extreme and shining like blue sky and white clouds, slowly took shape!
Noble Qi of the Heavens flowed along the blade, sacred and inviolable!
The phantoms of the eight immortals appeared together behind Jackie Chan, majestic and vast, spanning from ancient times to the present!
Your Uncle Jackie is no longer lacking anything!
The next moment, Jackie Chan gripped the divine sword tightly and, without a hint of hesitation, leaped up and slashed fiercely toward Tso Lan!
No one knew why an ordinary archaeologist's swordsmanship would be so superb and perfected.
But there was no doubt—
Tso Lan facing Jackie Chan, who was empowered by the eight immortals, was like a little girl bumping into a giant—he had no power to fight back!
Your Uncle Jackie is a tough guy who dared to challenge Shendu directly just by growing twenty centimeters taller!
Moreover, at this moment, he was possessed by the eight immortals and bolstered by Noble Qi!
"No... you are the Master of Noble Qi!?"
Tso Lan finally panicked, his expression changing drastically, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.
Looking at Jackie Chan's current sacred and invincible state, he was absolutely certain that the person before him was the protagonist of Noble Qi, born of destiny to suppress the darkness!
Then... who exactly was that guy who just swept through everything?!
Tso Lan turned his head stiffly and looked behind him.
With just one glance, he was completely stunned, his whole body turning cold.
He saw Mark stepping heavily on Shendu's head, pinning the once-unrivaled dragon firmly to the ground, unable to move.
On the other side, the Thunder Demon Tso Lan was punched in the chest by him, flying backward like a broken sack, crashing heavily into a wall and fainting.
The Earth Demon Dai Gui's incredibly hard horns were actually torn out by the roots by Mark!
One broken horn was stabbed deep into the belly of the Wind Demon Hsiu;
The other broken horn was nailed firmly into Finn's belly.
The two great demons wailed incessantly, blood dripping everywhere, a miserable sight.
As for the Water Demon Baiza, her body was formless and intangible, making her the most troublesome.
But at this moment, she was being frantically roasted by the Heat Vision shooting from Mark's eyes. Water vapor steamed up as she let out shrill screams, her form constantly collapsing and twisting.
One punch per demon, one kick per pair!
The eight great demons at their peak were like chickens and dogs before him!
!!!
Are you kidding me?!
We are currently at the peak of our peak!
You alone dare to fight seven?!
"Who else is there—!!!"
Mark threw his head back and roared, his voice shaking the heavens and his domineering aura soaring, an invincible momentum frantically sweeping in all directions!
Refreshing!
It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying fight!
As expected, these demons born of heaven and earth are great to fight!
Their vitality is tenacious; no matter how you hit them, they won't die. The more I fight, the more excited I get, hahahaha!
The demons were on the verge of collapse.
Reasonably, after their immortal nature was revealed, it should have been the enemy who collapsed!
But Mark didn't collapse at all; instead, he became more and more excited. His fighting spirit burned like a raging fire, and he fought harder and stronger as the battle went on!
Originally, the seven great demons were cursing in their hearts, wondering if this guy had a mental problem.
It wasn't until the next moment that they suddenly woke up—
Holy crap, I'm the idiot!
When Shendu's heart was pierced by Mark's hand-knife, his dragon body twitching violently as his life force rapidly drained away.
He finally understood what kind of ghost this guy before him was!
This guy... isn't human at all!
He is a god of war who crawled out of hell!
A monster who finds joy in slaughter and feeds on battle!
At this moment, an absurdly ridiculous desire even sprouted in Shendu's heart—
He was actually longing for Mark to receive magicempowerment.
They had originally wanted to fight a war of attrition to wear this human out.
As it turned out, the more they fought, the more tired Shendu and the others became, and the weaker their auras grew.
While the monster before them showed no sign of fatigue at all; his strength seemed infinite, and he grew braver with every strike!
In the world, only the painful wails of the demons and Mark's hearty, extreme laughter remained.
"You are very strong, human."
"Although I'm not sure exactly what you are, you do have the scent of a human on you."
Shendu, lying on the ground, suddenly spoke, his voice low and calm.
His spiritual essence had returned, his power was completely back to its peak, and his thinking had become incredibly clear.
"I admit your guess was correct, but is that of any use?"
"Are you going to take the Talisman out of your body and give them to me now, or should I tear you into twelve pieces to see if the Talisman will fly out on their own?"
Mark stepped heavily on the top of Shendu's head, the force so great it almost crushed the dragon's head into the ground.
He had come here this time solely to get the twelve talismans.
Besides that, he sought nothing else.
"No need, these Talisman can all be given to you."
"They were just a small part of power utilization anyway."
"I only hope that before I die, you will answer my question one more time."
Shendu's posture was extremely composed at this moment, without any struggle or resentment.
It was as if the one being stepped on wasn't the dignified Fire Demon, but merely an inconsequential shell.
Mark frowned.
Could it be that after these guys regained their spiritual essence, they were all so willing to accept defeat?
If that were the case, he truly felt a bit of admiration.
But admiration was one thing; his vigilance was never lowered.
"Fine, take the Talisman out and give them to me first."
Mark reached out his hand directly toward Shendu, his eyes cold as knives.
He felt that this old schemer was definitely stalling for time.
After all, how could a demon who had lived for thousands of years give up his lifelong power so easily?
"Here, take them. Really, you didn't think I was someone who goes back on his word, did you!"
Shendu directly pulled out the twelve talismans from his chest.
The Talisman were linked together, surrounded by a golden halo. With a light flick from him, they flew steadily toward Mark.
Mark reached out and caught them. The twelve talismanslanded in his palm, warm and heavy, with power faintly flowing within them.
For a moment, he was also a bit stunned.
But he did not hesitate in the slightest.
Chapter 136: This Must Be Inheritance!
He detached a piece of resilient thread from his battle suit.
He strung the twelve talismans together, making them into a necklace, and hung it directly around his neck.
The Talisman pressed tightly against his chest as a vast, ancient power slowly seeped into his body.
"Alright, you've gotten everything you should. It's my turn to ask a question."
Shendu's form did not change in the slightest at this moment.
Clad in Dark Energy, even if he had lost the power of the twelve talismans, he was still the Fire Demon.
His power remained overwhelming, and his bloodline remained noble.
He would not revert to being a cold stone statue.
"Since you're being so cooperative, ask quickly."
Mark continued to step on Shendu, his tone impatient.
He was actually a bit confused right now.
This guy just gave up like that?
No, there's definitely something wrong.
He could only try to guess from the questions that followed.
"You aren't from this world, are you?"
Shendu spoke slowly, his words striking like a bolt from the blue.
!!!
Holy shit, I didn't slip up or reveal my identity, how did you guess? Are you using cheats?!
Mark's eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracting violently.
He even considered crushing Shendu's head with a single stomp in the next second.
The moment his secret was exposed, his killing intent almost overflowed.
"Stop, stop, stop! Most people could guess that, okay?!"
"Don't look like you're about to slay a dragon."
Shendu hurried to clap his hands in surrender, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"It's not like there aren't aliens in this world; it's quite normal for there to be a visitor from another world."
"Seeing that expression of yours, at least I can confirm it now."
Shendu nodded with satisfaction, as if he had solved some eternal riddle.
"At least you aren't the protagonist of Noble Qi, and the power of Noble Qi will definitely never be bestowed upon you."
"The reason Noble Qi and Dark Energy are surging constantly is simply because your arrival broke the balance, and the world has begun to save itself."
While Shendu was sighing in a low voice, Jackie Chan, holding the precious sword, had already struck Tso Landown to the ground.
The sword's light was biting, and the Noble Qi was vast.
The power bestowed by the eight immortals was enough to crush any Lunar Magic.
"As the eldest, I have failed to protect my younger brothers and sisters. I deserve to die ten thousand deaths."
Tso Lan slumped weakly on the ground, his long silver-white hair disheveled, but there was no fear on his face.
There was only the loneliness and determination belonging to an elder.
"As the eldest brother, you should have guided them toward the correct path, rather than letting them destroy the stability of this world."
Jackie Chan pointed the sword at Tso Lan's neck, questioning him coldly.
His voice carried divinity, justice, and an unquestionable firmness.
"Heh heh..."
Tso Lan gave a low laugh, a sound that was desolate and crazed.
"Correct? What is 'correct'? The 'right track' of the world is only for people like you!"
"As you know, we are the eight great demons. As the eldest brother, I only need to ensure they are happy!"
"Whether the path is correct or not, I will tread it myself!"
"This is the responsibility of an elder brother!"
The moment those words fell.
Tso Lan suddenly lunged forward, neither dodging nor parrying, and forcefully slammed his own neck into the tip of the sword!
Puchi—!
The sharp divine sword instantly pierced through his neck.
Black blood gushed out, and the power of Lunar Gravityslowly dissipated.
Jackie Chan's eyes widened as he looked at this demon who had forced himself onto the sword, somewhat in disbelief.
He had never seen a demon so crazed and so resolute.
He would rather kill himself than be sealed or bow his head.
Tso Lan slowly turned his head to look at Shendu and the others, his gaze gentle and full of reluctance.
"My brothers and sisters, I shall go on ahead..."
"You must fulfill it—our dream!"
"I will follow shortly, Elder Brother..."
Watching Tso Lan's body gradually dissipate, Shendu shed tears, his voice choking as he spoke.
Those were the tears of a demon, scalding and desperate.
It was the sorrow of a thousand-year obsession being severed, the heart-wrenching pain of a shared bloodline.
The Dark Energy between heaven and earth suddenly surged.
As if seeing off this elder.
The collision between Noble Qi and Dark Energy reached its peak at this moment.
Meanwhile, Mark stood where he was, the twelve talismans hanging from his neck, watching it all with cold eyes.
He felt no sympathy, no sentiment, only the purest indifference.
To him,
The sorrow of demons was merely the after-echo following the end of a battle.
What he wanted was already in his hands.
As for the balance of this world, or the entanglement of Noble Qi and Dark Energy,
They were never within his scope of consideration.
He was merely a passerby.
A passerby who broke into this world to take what he wanted.
Shendu slowly raised his head, his tears already dried, his eyes turning cold and crazed once more.
He looked at Mark, at Jackie Chan, and at this worldshrouded in Noble Qi.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled into a strange and resolute smile.
It isn't over yet.
The dream will not be extinguished because of an elder brother's departure.
The will of demons will never perish!
"You have already become involved, Outsider."
"Then get involved properly, and fulfill the dream of us demons!"
"My power is not so easily taken!"
Shendu suddenly let out a deafening roar, the sound waves causing the entire ruins to collapse with a bang.
His body began to break apart, his originally massive dragon form constantly deconstructing within the Dark Energy, yet his power surged to an unprecedented peak.
Was it a self-destruction?
Mark wasn't sure.
But he still stood firmly atop Shendu, his expression calm.
Even if this guy really self-destructed, with the strength of his physical body, it was impossible to cause him much injury.
What Mark was more worried about was that this guy was trying to take the opportunity to escape for his life.
"Brothers and sisters! When the Dark Energy truly reaches its peak, we will surely return from the void once more!"
"At that time, I will properly apologize to you all!"
Shendu let out a final roar, his voice hoarse and resolute.
"What is there to apologize for? Brother, we have always been one."
"We share in glory and in ruin. If you are going to your death, we shall not live on alone!"
Bao Ngor, whose body had been torn apart by Mark's bare hands, responded slowly from within the Dark Energy with a voice that was gentle yet resolute.
The other demons also spoke up one after another to comfort Shendu, and immediately following that, each chose to commit suicide without hesitation.
Their bodies went limp on the ground, turning into a pervasive Dark Energy that slowly merged into the void.
This was a demonic ritual, and also their final loyalty.
"This is our resolve! Have you seen it, human?!"
"Don't think that only you have things like love and care!"
"The feelings between us siblings are far more sincere than your hypocritical emotions!"
"As long as it allows us to stand eternally upon the earth once more, even death is nothing to fear!"
Shendu was also on the verge of death.
Why did he still remain in this world?
He only wanted to issue the final declaration of his life to Mark.
Because he knew very well that even if the Dark Energyonce again took the dominant position, the newly born Fire Demon would no longer be him.
But would that really not be him?
Who knows.
A strange and desolate smile curled at the corner of Shendu's mouth.
"Fortunately, I fathered a son, human."
"Is this what they call inheritance?"
Shendu's life reached its absolute end, and the crazed red light in his eyes completely vanished.
His entire being turned into a pervasive Dark Energy, slowly scattering between heaven and earth.
"I will never fail your expectations! Father!"
A roar that shook the clouds crashed down from high above!
That voice was full of power, full of the pride and indignation belonging to the demonic bloodline!
The air seemed to solidify under this momentum.
All the remaining Dark Energy churned violently at this moment, as if responding to some ancient summons.
Chapter 136: Lord of Dark Energy
Mark looked up toward the roof.
He saw that figure.
A massive frame with wings on its back, surrounded by Dark Energy as thick as ink.
That was the successor to the demonic spirit, the final legacy of the Holy One, and the variable that should least be ignored in this battle between good and evil.
"Quite the calculation, Holy One!"
Mark's voice echoed in the darkness, carrying a sense of wonder at being outmaneuvered.
"So you didn't treat me as an enemy at all, but rather as an assistant?"
In the sky, the final demon flew proudly.
Demon Ox.
He had devoured all the demonic qi of the eight demons—the powers that originally belonged to Hsiu, Bai Sha, Tso Lan, Thunderstorm, Finn, Bao Ngor, Jiu Lang, and the Holy One were all converging within his single body!
Eight colors, eight attributes, and eight destructive powers flowed frantically within him, merging into one!
When the eight immortals first defeated the eight great demons of antiquity, although they sealed them away, a vast amount of their dissipated aura remained in the world.
Those auras wandered between mountains, rivers, and seas, lurking beneath the sun, moon, and stars, waiting for a thousand years just for this moment of awakening.
While these auras were not as powerful as the original bodies, they still possessed their abilities.
Converged together, they were enough to fuse into an omnipotent being comparable to the abilities of the eight great demons of antiquity!
"You killed my father!"
Demon Ox's finger pointed straight at Mark, his eyes burning with black flames, filled with nothing but hatred.
"Even though this was his plan all along, I will make you pay for his life!"
Under the surging Dark Energy, not only did the Holy One regain his clarity of mind, but even Demon Ox regained his.
The Holy One, having regained his clarity, realized that his son was his greatest hidden trump card!
The moment his intellect returned, the Holy One understood.
No matter how hard he tried, they could never completely defeat the Noble Qi.
Whether it was the eight great demons, the Shadowkhan, or any other existence representing Dark Energy—righteousness does not suppress evil, and evil does not suppress righteousness.
Yin and Yang circulate forever, without end.
This was a war without an end.
Round after round of victory, round after round of defeat, cycling repeatedly, never stopping.
The Holy One felt weary of it.
Even if they achieved a single victory, so what?
It would only be swallowed by the next defeat.
After regaining his clarity, even his thinking reached an unprecedented level.
This ancient deity was not satisfied with this.
Even if his current life dissipated, he wanted his offspring and his brothers and sisters to be able to truly stand free beneath this blue sky!
The rotation of Yin and Yang, victories time and again, defeats time and again—is this truly our fate?
It is through these processes that bonds are formed, regrets are born, and joy is created.
But all of this was merely a product under the control of Yin and Yang.
Are we, being like this, truly free?
The Holy One felt that he was not free.
It didn't matter if he wasn't free.
But why were his brothers and sisters, and even his son, not free?
The Holy One refused to accept this fate.
He would break this fate!
At the very moment this realization dawned, the Holy One saw the key to breaking the deadlock.
Who brought about the change?
Who caused the current constant collision between Noble Qi and Dark Energy?
Since he could cause change, he could affect this division between good and evil!
At this moment, the Holy One understood—Mark belonged neither to Noble Qi nor to Dark Energy.
He was an outsider from beyond the heavens.
An Extraterrestrial Demon!
How could the fate of this world be broken by the creatures of this world?
If there must be one person who could break fate, it had to be an Extraterrestrial Demon!
Mark Grayson was the one the Holy One had been waiting for to break fate!
He summoned his son.
With the empowerment of Dark Energy, he had completely returned to the peak state of an ancient demon sorcerer.
In just an instant, he divined where the dissipated auras of his brothers and sisters were located and found all the shadow maskss.
He gave all the coordinates to his son.
He sent Demon Ox to find these legacy items that represented the Dark Energy.
He wanted to create a true pinnacle of Dark Energy!
Using Mark's momentum, he would break through the limits of Dark Energy!
As long as this boundary was broken, fate would be shattered.
Only then could the creatures of this realm truly welcome freedom, and only then could he and his brothers and sisters truly stand upon this earth and under this sky!
"I will not let you down, Father..."
Demon Ox shed tears.
Now, he was no longer that demon of 'filial piety'.
Ancient love was awakened, so deep and so burning, like a volcano that had slept for a thousand years, erupting violently at this moment.
The corpses of the eight demons completely dissipated, turning into the purest Dark Energy and flooding into Demon Ox's body.
The shadow maskss were also spread out by Demon Ox, all the masks merging into one, turning into a Pure Black Mask!
That mask was as black as ink and as smooth as a mirror, reflecting all the shadows in the world.
Countless Shadowkhan began to appear and disappear throughout the world.
They devoured all shadows, carrying all the dark power to converge around Demon Ox!
The world suddenly darkened!
The sun was obscured, the moon was swallowed, and the stars were extinguished.
Only one color remained in the world—black.
"Dark Energy, bear witness!"
Demon Ox's voice boomed in the darkness like ancient thunder.
"This is a unique moment. The one who can truly speak for the Dark Energy is about to appear!"
He held the Pure Black Mask high, his voice growing more high-pitched.
"From this moment forth—"
He placed the mask on his face.
"I am the Lord of Dark Energy!"
The moment the black mask touched his cheeks, it turned into liquid darkness, flowing, spreading, and covering his skin!
Armor!
Pitch-black armor began from his face and spread to his entire body!
Pauldrons, breastplate, bracers, greaves—piece after piece condensed into shape, each one smooth as a mirror, reflecting endless darkness!
His originally dark green wings were shrouded in black, the wing membranes becoming as black as ink, and a dim luster flowed over the skeletal frame!
Only pure black remained—black to the extreme, black to the point of purity, black to the point that all light was swallowed!
All the power of Dark Energy in the world converged!
From mountains, rivers, and seas, from the sun, moon, and stars, from every shadow, from every inch of darkness—all the Dark Energy surged toward Demon Ox!
Darkness completely overwhelmed the light!
The world fell into true, ultimate darkness!
At this moment, Dark Energy suppressed Noble Qi.
This was the pinnacle of Dark Energy; in this round of the battle between good and evil, there was no doubt that Dark Energy had won!
Chapter 137: I Must Not Fall!
But what reaches its peak must decline.
The current Demon Ox would never be stronger; he was about to face his moment of decline.
But he didn't care in the slightest.
"Come."
His voice came from beneath the black armor, calm and composed.
"You have waited for a long time as well."
He raised his hand and pointed at Mark.
"I think you are looking forward to the current me!"
A longsword condensed in his hand.
The Dark Longsword!
The blade was as black as ink, with light of eight colors flowing along its edge.
It was the power of the eight demons, compressed, fused, and tempered into the purest weapon of slaughter!
He hovered beneath the black canopy, surrounded by Dark Energy, with the eight powers forming eight phantoms behind him.
He descended upon the world like the Grim Reaper, like an Emperor, like the incarnation of the Black Dragon!
An unprecedented supremacy from ancient times to the present!
"Gathering all the dark power into one body?"
Mark looked up at the figure, his voice carrying an indescribable emotion.
"It is indeed the peak of this world."
He vaguely guessed what was on Shendu's mind.
He was even a bit incredulous—the twelve talismans were not a tribute Shendu was forced to hand over, but the payment for hiring him!
Shendu had calculated everything; the rest depended on whether Mark had a conscience.
Shendu hadn't even fully trusted Mark's conscience; he had even reserved a final payment!
And this final payment was undoubtedly everything Demon Ox currently possessed!
I bet on your greed, and I bet on your evil.
I bet on your win, and even more on your loss.
Ancient demon, overlord of Fire, Shendu—truly a supreme grandmaster of the path of wisdom!
"You really calculated me to death, Shendu!"
Mark smiled.
In that smile, there was amazement, admiration, and an indescribable trace of—killing intent.
The solar particles on his body began to surge.
During the time he fought the Battle Beast, he had been wondering—could he also have a weapon?
He could actually control solar particles to shoot from his eyes and radiate from his body, so why couldn't he condense them?
As it turned out, Mark succeeded.
Although the success was quite crude.
The weapon formed by the solar particles in his hand was less a sword or a blade and more like a fire poker.
It was crooked, pitted, and had jagged edges; it didn't look like something that could kill anyone.
But even if it was a fire poker or a stirrer—it was still formed from gathered solar particles!
A weapon of supreme Yang and supreme hardness!
"Primordial Sword Dragon Transformation!"
Demon Ox was truly a descendant of Shendu's bloodline; his first move was a dragon-shaped killing technique!
Driven by pure Dark Energy, the power of that dragon-shaped killing technique was terrifyingly immense!
The darkness turned into a sword dragon, circling around Demon Ox, its scales grim and its sword intent awe-inspiring!
The sword dragon roared and charged at Mark!
The sword dragon was composed of pure blades, with black scales like ink and a chilling sword aura!
Every scale was a sharp blade, and every bone spike was a longsword, blotting out the sky and falling as a rain of swords to envelop Mark!
In the next second—a blazing red light broke through the darkness!
Mark held the fire poker, and with one strike, all evil retreated!
Wherever the rod swept, the Dark Energy surged like boiling water, evaporated, and dissipated!
The sword dragon crumbled into dust before him, and the rain of swords vanished into nothingness by his side!
He was charging upward!
The red cape fluttered constantly behind him, like a burning battle flag!
Demon Ox didn't hesitate for a moment, flapping the wings on his back and rushing toward Mark!
The black sword and the bright blade clashed repeatedly!
"Clang clang clang clang clang—!!!"
The sound of clashing metal exploded in the darkness, each collision sending sparks flying across the sky!
The power of the Mountain Demon gave him the brute strength to crush everything!
The speed of the Sky Demon made him as fast as lightning and as elusive as a ghost!
The powerful physical body naturally possessed by the true dragon bloodline allowed him to withstand Mark's attacks without falling!
All that power was compressed into this physical body, which was less than two meters tall.
Under various buffs, Demon Ox's physical body had reached a level where he could overturn mountains with his bare hands!
Another fierce attack!
"Crack—!"
The black sword in Demon Ox's hand snapped!
"Puff—!"
The solar particles in Mark's hand also dissipated completely!
Neither of them paused for a second, and in the next instant, they both threw punches directly at each other's faces!
"Bang—!!!"
The winds from their punches clashed repeatedly; neither of them showed any defensive posture!
At this moment, there was no defense, and certainly no "offense is the best defense"—there was only offense, pure offense!
Fist to flesh, bone to bone!
Mark landed a punch on Demon Ox's face, and Demon Oxsmashed a fist into Mark's chest!
Mark kicked Demon Ox in the abdomen, and Demon Oxslammed an elbow into Mark's shoulder!
Both had eyes red with fury, their hearts driven mad by the fight!
The sky shook!
The sky shrouded in black clouds rippled in layers, like a roaring sea.
The deep sea is black, and when it roars, foul water surges as if the vault of heaven were pouring down!
And at this moment, the sky was actually like that black sea surging upward—vibrating solely due to the attacks of these two beings!
Kill, kill, kill! Kill, kill, kill!!!
Mark fought with increasing bravery and ferocity!
After defeating the Battle Beast and with his body recovering until now, his strength had grown even greater!
A true Grand Regent-level existence!
Which was to say, Planetary-level!
Capable of shattering a planet with his strength alone!
And possessing a recovery power far exceeding that of a Grand Regent!
"Crack—!"
The armor on Demon Ox's face was shattered by Mark!
Mark's palm also split, a bit of blood flowing out, only to heal at an astonishing speed in the next second!
The stronger he became, the faster his wounds healed!
As for Demon Ox, although his physical body had reached a stage where he could trade blows with him, his own recovery speed was still too slow.
Demon Ox flew backward.
Mark's punch just now hadn't just shattered his face armor; it had also rattled his brain.
His brain sloshed in his skull, stars danced before his eyes, and his ears rang incessantly.
He felt like he was about to close his eyes.
He felt it; the Dark Energy had already begun to slowly recede.
Although it would still last for a long time, the peak had already passed.
The destiny of this world was truly terrifying—it actually imprisoned him, his father, and his uncles and aunts!
Let it be, let it be; I have already given my all.
But no matter how hard I try, the general trend of this world cannot be changed; this destiny is like a cage!
Demon Ox closed his eyes, intending to just fall to the ground and end his identity as the Lord of Dark Energy.
But just then—Shendu's final expression appeared in Demon Ox's eyes.
That old dragon's face was really ugly.
Even in his final moment, he smiled so hideously!
To leave me alone with such a heavy responsibility, how on earth am I supposed to break this destiny, Father!
Shendu's final smile echoed constantly in Demon Ox's mind.
Truly ugly, yet truly kind!
And it truly made Demon Ox... not dare to admit defeat!
"No—!"
His eyes snapped open!
"How can I fall?!"
"I cannot fall yet!"
His voice exploded in the darkness like a thunderclap!
"My uncles and aunts have died, placing all their hopes on me! If I fall now, their True Spirits will never be able to return from reincarnation!"
"If I fall now, I will never be able to break the destiny that imprisons us!"
He raised his head and let out a long howl to the sky!
"If I fall, my kin and I will never be able to stand freely upon this earth!"
"Aaaaaah—!"
"How can I, Demon Ox, fall—!"
"I, Demon Ox, will absolutely not fall—!!!"
Chapter 138: The Arbiter
In this moment, the Dark Energy that had begun to slowly recede was forcibly halted by that terrifying will!
The wheels of history never turn back!
The laws of the Heavenly Dao are even more so!
A mere will is so insignificant before the rotation of heaven and earth!
But at this very moment, and only at this moment—after the Noble Qi and Dark Energy of heaven and earth reached their peak, even heaven and earth would experience exhaustion!
Heavenly power has its limits!
But the human heart—strives for self-improvement without ceasing!
Even if he dies, even if he is isolated and without help, even if he has no more hidden cards left!
He, Demon Ox, will still be an arch-demon!!!
Arch-demons are the most radical, the most courageous in isolation, and the most reckless!!
His posture of falling toward the earth was abruptly halted.
Demon Ox flew up once more, standing beneath the black canopy like a pillar holding up the heavens!
The Dark Energy that was originally receding toward decay now returned to its position and surged toward an even greater peak, never to return!
He spread his hands, and the swirling Dark Energy in the sky stopped as if listening to his command.
Demon Ox opened his crimson eyes and chanted in a low voice:
"Dark Energy, return—!!!"
The Dark Energy filling the sky surged, converging toward a single person!
The majestic Dark Energy gathered once again within Demon Ox's physical body!
His injuries were healed, his shattered armor was repaired, and the aura on his body surged further!
That aura spread in all directions like a tide; wherever it passed, space itself trembled!
His strength was stronger than at his peak!
His speed was faster than at his peak!
His will was firmer than at his peak!
"I can still fight!"
Demon Ox pointed his finger at Mark!
His aura was at its zenith!
"Good!"
Mark hovered in mid-air, looking at the blood-soaked figure that still stood tall, and praised him from the bottom of his heart.
"Only with a spirit like yours is it possible to break the destiny of this world!"
His voice pierced through the darkness, clearly reaching Demon Ox's ears.
This wasn't mockery or polite talk; it was recognition from the heart.
A race imprisoned by destiny for a thousand years, a civilization repeatedly crushed by the cycle of Yin and Yang—in this last descendant, a will that made even heaven and earth tremble burst forth.
Heavenly power has its limits, but the human heart strives for self-improvement without ceasing.
Demon Ox is worthy of these words.
"Unfortunately—"
Mark shook his head, a curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
"I also have my own hidden cards."
He raised his hand.
twelve talismans flew out from his palm, circling around him like twelve stars orbiting the sun.
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
Twelve colors, twelve powers, and twelve beams of light flowed around him, reflecting each other.
The amplification of these twelve talismans was less the power of Shendu and more the innate divine abilities of a True Dragon and the spells of ancient demon sorcerers.
The rat talisman gives life to inanimate objects, the Ox Talisman grants immense strength, the tiger talismanbalances Yin and Yang, the Rabbit Talisman breaks speed limits, the Dragon Talisman unleashes explosive fire power, the Snake Talisman hides one's form and presence, the Horse Talisman heals all injuries and illnesses, the Sheep Talisman allows the soul to leave the body, the monkey talisman changes the form of all things, the Rooster Talisman controls the power of levitation, the dog talisman grants immortality, and the pig talisman shoots burning beams.
For these things, the stronger the user, the stronger the effect.
When Shendu used them, they were merely driven by demon power, and their potency was limited.
But Mark—without a doubt—is the most powerful user in this world today!
Viltrum royal blood!
solar particles!
A planetary-level physical body!
With the three combined to drive the twelve talismans—what would be the result?
The twelve beams of light grew brighter and more intense, eventually converging into a pillar of light that pierced the heavens and the earth, enveloping Mark entirely!
"I lack nothing now!"
Mark's voice came from the pillar of light, like thunder from the highest heavens.
Lasers surged from his eyes!
A fire dragon breathed out from his mouth!
The power of the twelve talismans surged wildly within his body, fusing with his Viltrum royal blood, resonating with his solar particles, and harmonizing with his planetary-level physical body!
His aura surged once again!
That aura was like a tsunami, a landslide, or the sky collapsing, spreading in all directions!
The dark clouds were torn apart!
The darkness was dispelled!
The entire night sky of San Francisco was illuminated by this pillar of light!
And heaven and earth—it seemed they were also enraged by Demon Ox's behavior of disrespecting the rotation of heaven and earth.
The rules in the unseen, the eternal Heavenly Dao, the destiny of Yin and Yang's flow—at this moment, they let out a silent roar.
The power of Noble Qi began to strip away from Jackie Chan and Uncle.
The Eight Immortals' Sword in Jackie Chan's hand dimmed.
The phantoms of the eight immortals behind him dissipated one by one.
He felt the power supporting him being pulled from his body, flying toward the sky.
The magic tools in Uncle's hands lost their luster.
The halo of Noble Qi wrapped around him faded away ring by ring.
His spellcasting ability, enhanced by Noble Qi, was rapidly receding.
That Noble Qi turned into streams of light, rising from them and converging into a brilliant river of light that streaked across the night sky—rushing toward Mark!
Rushing toward that outsider who did not belong to this world!
Rushing toward that Extraterrestrial Demon who had broken the balance of Yin and Yang!
Jackie Chan was stunned.
Uncle was stunned.
They watched as the Noble Qi was stripped from them, watched it fly toward Mark, and watched it flood into that man's body—for a moment, they were speechless.
Uncle looked down at the pufferfish in his hand; the light of Noble Qi that once wrapped around it had completely vanished.
He remained silent for a long time.
Then, he sighed softly, "Has the Noble Qi... chosen a new Master again?"
His voice was hoarse and tired, carrying an indescribable complexity of emotion.
All his life, he had been dealing with Noble Qi.
Studying it, using it, relying on it.
He thought he was the messenger of Noble Qi, thought Jackie Chan was the protagonist of Noble Qi, and thought this struggle between good and evil should be ended by them.
But now—the Noble Qi had abandoned them.
It chose that man.
"Or rather—"
Uncle looked up, a hint of realization flashing in his cloudy old eyes as he watched the figure surrounded by the twelve talismans and washed by the river of Noble Qi.
"It is that this heaven and earth now require an Arbiter."
He said in a low voice.
Not a messenger, not a protagonist, not a warrior.
An Arbiter.
An Arbiter who transcends good and evil, transcends Yin and Yang, and transcends destiny.
This struggle between good and evil has exceeded the limits this world can bear.
Dark Energy has broken past its peak, Noble Qi has also broken past its peak, and the imbalance of Yin and Yang has reached an irreversible point.
This world needs an existence that does not belong here to bring this war to an end.
It needs an existence strong enough, cold enough, and unreasonable enough—to judge everything.
Uncle put down the pufferfish in his hand and let out a long sigh.
"So that's how it is..."
He murmured.
"It turns out you are the one chosen by heaven and earth."
Chapter 139: A Half-Step Ahead of Heaven
In the darkness, Mark felt a few wisps of airflow, thin as silk yet incredibly thick, wrapping around his physical body.
Those airflows were dense and long, like silk spun by a silkworm, wrapping around him layer after layer.
Neither hurried nor slow, neither competing nor grabbing, yet they were pervasive and omnipresent.
In the eyes of Chi wizards like Uncle and Demon Ox, Mark's body now seemed to be enveloped in countless white mists.
Those mists were like flowing water, shrouding Mark's entire body like clouds and mist, constantly circulating.
They condensed into the shape of pauldrons on his shoulders, wove into the patterns of a breastplate on his chest, and trailed behind him like the hem of a robe—resembling armor, yet also like a gown.
Noble Qi of Heaven.
But it was by no means simple Noble Qi of Heaven.
Demon Ox was now the Lord of Black Qi; even Heaven and Earth could not defy the will of the Lord of Black Qiduring this period.
Dark Energy overwhelming Noble Qi was a fixed fate, a mandate of heaven, and a rule set by this world itself.
Once the rules were set, they could not be reneged upon.
Therefore, Heaven and Earth could not directly mobilize Noble Qi to deal with Demon Ox.
But Heaven and Earth could summon Noble Qi to bless Mark.
This was not the will of the Noble Qi, but the pure will of Heaven and Earth.
Noble Qi had no will; Noble Qi was merely power.
But Heaven and Earth had a will. Heaven and Earth wanted balance, they wanted to function, and they wanted this Cycle of Yin and Yang to continue.
At this moment, Mark represented that unbreakable destiny.
Mark looked down at the white airflow wrapped around him, feeling that gentle yet thick power.
"True, in this world today, only I, this Extraterrestrial Demon, possess the strongest power."
He raised his hand, letting those airflows circulate around his fingertips.
They were very obedient, like well-trained hounds, like loyal servants, like ministers kneeling at the feet of an emperor.
"But, O Heaven and Earth—"
Mark's voice suddenly turned cold.
"I have already received my payment."
"Are you trying to ruin my fine character?"
He raised his hand to feel the airflow wrapped around him; it was indeed the Qi of justice.
Pure, thick, without a hint of impurity.
With the blessing of this Qi, everything you did would be successful.
It would protect you, help you, bless you, double your strength, bestow luck upon you, and make you feel as if you were the chosen one of destiny.
But there was an absolute prerequisite—
This blessing was not your will.
It was the will of Heaven and Earth.
Heaven and Earth chose you, blessed you, and used you.
You thought you were the protagonist, the child of destiny, the ruler of this world—but in reality, you were nothing more than a tool of Heaven and Earth.
This was the shackle of destiny for all living beings.
Even the master of a certain Qi was still just a straw dog to Heaven and Earth.
"A mere world, and yet you want me to be your dog."
Mark let out a great roar.
"In your dreams."
He violently flicked his sleeves, and the Noble Qi on his body dispersed on its own.
The white airflows wrapped around him were all shaken off by this flick, like a flock of startled pigeons, scattering and fleeing, dissipating into the air.
He was no destiny, no Master of Noble Qi, and certainly no straw dog of this Heaven and Earth.
He was Mark Grayson.
The Viltrumite Emperor, Lord of Earth.
"He actually rejected the blessing of Noble Qi."
Demon Ox hovered opposite him, watching this scene with a flash of confusion in his eyes.
He did not know the full scope of Shendu's plan.
Nor did Mark truly understand Shendu's plan.
To be able to plot against Heaven and Earth to such an extent as an ancient demon, so much so that even Heaven and Earth could not comprehend the layout, was truly a flawless calculation.
What remained to be seen was whether he could be a half-step ahead of Heaven.
"I, blessed by pure Dark Energy and remaining at my peak—"
Demon Ox said in a deep voice, the Dark Energy surging around him like ink-colored flames.
"—am not someone you can defeat."
He was at his peak every single moment now.
As long as he and Mark were still fighting, the Dark Energywould not drop for a moment.
This was the grand trend.
A grand trend forced into existence by the eight great demons of old plus the rising star, Demon Ox.
"It doesn't matter."
Mark's voice boomed in the sky.
"Even if you can resurrect once more, so what?"
"Even if you are at your peak at every moment, so what?"
He clenched his fist, and solar particles converged frantically upon it, the golden light blinding.
"I have a punch of my own."
His figure shot out like a cannonball.
"I am a warrior—"
His fist tore through the air, tore through the black clouds, tore through the darkness.
"Disrespectful of Heaven and Earth, let alone mere Dark Energy."
Mark charged at Demon Ox once again.
So what if you've returned to your peak?
My stats are higher than yours.
At this moment, Mark also felt the adrenaline surging within his body.
A Viltrum's combat power is also related to their mood; the more excited, angry, or full of fighting spirit they are, the stronger their power becomes.
And now, Mark's mood was one of surging excitement.
He wanted to see just how many more times this Dark Energy could allow Demon Ox to return.
"You don't understand."
"The never-ending power of the Dark Energy in this Heaven and Earth."
Demon Ox roared, clashing with Mark once more.
Fist to flesh.
*Bang—*
Two fists collided, and airwaves surged.
Then, he discovered to his shock—
—that Mark's power had grown even stronger.
And it was climbing every single second.
Adrenaline constantly encouraged and increased the base stats of the Smart Atoms.
The Smart Atoms were operating frantically within Mark's body; they were singing, cheering, and dancing wildly.
Just be angry; I will turn your peak state into your normal state.
Then, you continue to be angry on top of that normal state, and I will continue to turn that state into your new normal.
*Bang bang bang.*
*Bang bang bang.*
Mark's fists almost left afterimages; every punch carried the scorching heat of solar particles, every punch was enough to shatter mountains, and every punch made Demon Ox's Dark Energy armor tremble incessantly.
Demon Ox could originally barely keep up with his speed and offset his power!
But under the ceaseless bombardment, the Dark Energyarmor on his body became increasingly and obviously shattered.
Cracks spread like spiderwebs, and fragments fell like autumn leaves.