It was like a comet crashing into the moon — the colossal head of the Earth Dragon that lunged at Jiang Li exploded outright. The aftermath tore through everything in its path, a beam of pure destruction slicing through layers of rock and earth like a laser.
Stone, soil, even the beasts buried within — all were shredded into dust.
Above ground, the earth caved in. Cracks snaked outward for nearly eight kilometers, forming a terrifying rift that split the land in two.
The force of that single blow shattered everyone's imagination.
"Rumble—!!"
The sound came belatedly — waves of thunderous tremors rippling across the landscape. Within a radius of tens of kilometers, the ground itself was trembling.
"So terrifying!!"
"Is this the true power… of the world's strongest man?"
The councilors and war gods hovering midair widened their eyes. All they had seen was a blinding crimson flash tearing open a chasm so deep it seemed bottomless.
No one could even tell who had struck that blow.
"Look!"
"The life energy is fading— they've killed one of the Beast Emperors!"
"Unbelievable!"
Across the battlefield, cheers erupted as readings from the ancient-ruin detectors confirmed it.
Only Liu He and Wild Beast exchanged a stunned glance — disbelief mirrored in each other's eyes.
Then—
Another deafening roar tore through the air above the lake.
"Aaaarrghhhh!!!"
The cry was shrill, filled with grief and unwilling rage.
"Look again!"
"The Tentacle Beast Emperor's life force is vanishing!"
"They're too strong!"
The monster's shell — once thought indestructible — was now split apart under Hong's repeated domain-infused strikes. Its monstrous tentacles, once thrashing with infinite power, slowed… then fell limp, sinking into the depths and stirring up waves of sand and mud.
Almost simultaneously with the death of the Tentacle Beast Emperor, Hong's figure shot downward again like a meteor, slamming straight into another Earth Dragon.
"The lake's rising again!"
"Wait— that's…!"
"The Ninefold Thunder Blade!!"
Every sword-wielding war god in the air froze.
A dazzling blue arc, like a half-moon of lightning, burst from the lake — a slash that seemed to cleave heaven and earth itself.
One blade.
Yet it split the entire lake in half!
A canyon of roaring water opened up beneath the sky, reflecting in the stunned eyes of thousands.
Some warriors even felt enlightenment dawning in that instant.
"So fast!"
"Utterly extreme speed—!"
"Though it looked like one cut… it was actually countless layers of force combined!"
Wang Tong's eyes shone with sudden understanding. His comprehension of the Ninefold Thunder Blade had just deepened.
Then—
Blood surged to the surface like a fountain, dyeing half the lake crimson.
Everyone — even the beings beyond War God level — held their breath. Their blood seemed to stop flowing.
Four Beast Emperors… and three were dead.
Even ignoring what mysteries the ruins beneath the lake held — just the corpses alone were treasures beyond price!
"Huuh…"
A streak of lightning rose into the sky.
Thor emerged — white robes soaked in blood, gasping heavily as he hovered midair. His face was pale, but his gaze burned with ferocity. Yet beneath it… a flicker of frustration.
I used up my Origin Energy… and my attack power still only matches that kid's?
"What kind of monster is this guy? How the hell did he train?"
Beast Emperors were physical monsters far beyond humans.
But humans mastered techniques — like Thor's Ninefold Thunder Blade, merging muscle power with hidden energy into one supreme slash. Even a Planet-level rank 9 might not block it… and yet this Jiang Li had kept pace with him.
"Boom!"
Moments later, Jiang Li rose from the lake as well, a red sword gleaming in his hand.
His combat suit was drenched in blood, but his aura was unshaken — calm, luminous, his body surrounded by faint azure-gold light.
When he hovered there, gazing down from above… no one dared meet his eyes.
"After this battle," Jia Yi whispered, trembling, "the world's third rank… might change hands."
Judging by what they'd seen — both Thor and Jiang Li had slain a Beast Emperor each.
In fact… Thor might have spent more energy doing so.
But Thor's name had loomed over the world for too long. None dared speak aloud how terrifying Jiang Li's strength had become.
Then—
"Boom!!"
Another explosion of water — Hong shot up again, blazing like a comet.
"Lucky," he muttered, breathing heavily. "Those four Beast Emperors had just advanced — they were still weak."
Even among Beast Emperors, strength varied — just like human Planet-levels.
News of the battle spread like a hurricane across the globe.
For the first time in human history — Beast Emperors were slain.
Not just one… but four.
Soon, after a brief rest, the three of them dove back into the lake to recover the corpses.
When the monstrous bodies were hauled ashore, everyone finally saw their true scale — the Tentacle Beast over 2,000 meters long, each limb over 1,500 meters and thirty meters thick — as tall as a six-story building!
Its gigantic shell had a gaping hole, its head shredded into pulp.
Even SSS-grade materials couldn't compare to a Beast Emperor's defense — and yet Hong had shattered it head-on!
The power of the world's strongest… was truly beyond comprehension.
Then came Thor, dragging up the colossal serpent's head — neatly severed.
His Ninefold Thunder Blade had literally decapitated a Beast Emperor!
Its power was no weaker than Hong's.
Finally, Jiang Li and Hong together hauled up the two Earth Dragons.
One was smaller — a clean hole bored through its skull.
The other…
Its head was gone.
And the remaining half-body — its bones and flesh — were crushed and twisted, like concrete churned in a mixer.
The sight left every witness frozen.
Even the superpowers of the world could no longer contain their greed.
Even Hanxia (China) burned with desire for the Beast Emperor corpses.
"Beast Emperor remains… they're priceless!"
Jia Yi stepped forward, bowing respectfully."First Elder, Second Elder — our Hanxia Nation wishes to collaborate in studying these remains."
"The HR Alliance as well!" added the foreign delegates. "We'll purchase a share — or at least research access!"
After all, much of humanity's weaponry and gene serums came from dissecting powerful monsters' remains.
"Agreed," Hong said with a nod — then turned to Jiang Li.
"But these two Earth Dragon Emperors were killed by him. You'll need his permission."
"What—?!"
Everyone froze.
He… killed more than the world's strongest?
Impossible.
Yet there the proof lay — at their feet.