Under Sarl's terrifying onslaught, like a raging storm, Saya had long since lost the ability to speak. He could only stare wide-eyed.
Watching helplessly as a terrifying vortex that twisted the void rapidly expanded before his eyes, growing larger and larger.
Blackness swiftly engulfed his vision. His body froze, his mind going blank.
Am I really about to… die?
Just as Saya braced himself for death's arrival, the darkness before him was suddenly torn apart by a blinding flash.
"BOOM!"
A massive, thunderous roar reverberated across the battlefield. Accompanying the sound, a figure stumbled backward, wobbling, staggering.
With each step he retreated, a shower of white-gold sparks scattered from his body, mingled with traces of blood.
The terrifying impact created invisible ripples radiating outward from his body. The void behind him rippled with layers of distortion. The sheer horror and power of that strike were evident.
Saya stood frozen in place, staring at the towering figure blocking his path, his expression blank.
"Lu… Lu Sheng..."
"No..."
In the distance, the two guides' faces paled. They tried to rush over to assist, but it seemed already too late.
Finally, the white-gold figure halted its retreat. Everyone could now see his form clearly.
He still bore the appearance of a handsome young man, enveloped from head to toe in a magnificent, dazzling white-gold radiance.
Yet now he appeared somewhat battered.
A massive, gruesome hole gaped at his chest.
The edges of the wound were raw and mangled, faintly revealing the bones and organs within. The youth stared fixedly at the wound on his chest, head bowed, utterly still. His aura had weakened considerably; the injury seemed severe.
"Lu Sheng!"
Below, Saya's eyes instantly reddened.
He clutched the mangled Tang Dun tightly, tears streaming down his cheeks. Pain and guilt consumed his heart entirely, leaving him as helpless as a child.
Seeing Lu Sheng in this state, the two guides and the remaining human martial artists felt their hearts sink heavily. Their eyes brimmed with worry, beneath which lay waves of thick despair churning, ready to surge forth at any moment.
Meanwhile, on the side of the beasts, the traitorous martial artists wore expressions of wild elation, completely shedding their earlier fear, nearly ready to celebrate their triumph.
"Hahahaha—"
Sarl roared with laughter, his expression brimming with triumph. Cruelty and satisfaction lit his face as orange flames surged around him, rising in waves.
"Dodge? You could dodge before! Why aren't you dodging now? Before me, you're nothing but a slippery little clown! I can crush you completely in one blow!"
Sarl spoke with a chilling tone, his face once again twisted with contempt, seemingly utterly dismissive of Lu Sheng's actions.
"To abandon your greatest advantage for a mere Level 11, thereby sealing your own fate—what a fool. I doubt even the great Lord of Oblivion would favor such a foolish follower as you."
Sarl's final words seemed directed at himself, a fleeting glint of envy flashing in his eyes as he spoke.
"It is over."
With that, Sarl raised his hand once more. Five streams of galactic Laws reappeared around him. The force of the Laws channeled vast cosmic energies, forming an unprecedented, terrifying pressure that rapidly took shape.
One blow. Sarl intended to wipe out every last trace.
"Damn it, you bastard! Come at me if you've got the guts!"
Below, red-eyed Saya charged forward recklessly, throwing himself in front of Lu Sheng.
But Sarl casually swept him aside.
Sarl didn't intend to kill him immediately; he wanted him to witness something unfold.
In the distance, the expressions of the two guides shifted. Exchanging a glance, they seemed to make a resolute decision, their eyes hardening as they prepared to act.
Just as Sarl's fatal strike was about to land, and the two guides were poised to seize their chance...
A sudden, light cough echoed, shattering the tense atmosphere.
"Cough cough cough."
Lu Sheng, who had been staring fixedly at the gaping hole in his chest, spoke up abruptly, slowly lifting his head.
"Truly worthy of one who has grasped the fusion of the Five Paths' rule energies."
Lu Sheng gently traced the edges of the gaping wound on his chest, his expression filled with admiration as he spoke softly, word by word.
"Impressive. So close to killing me."
With that, the expression on Lu Sheng's face returned to calm.
The gruesome wound on his chest rapidly healed within the blink of an eye. Granulation tissue proliferated, closing the gap at an astonishing speed.
In an instant, it was restored to its original state. Even the waning aura surrounding him surged back, making him appear as though he had never been injured at all.
This bizarre display stunned everyone present. Even Sarl's gaze faltered for a moment before he blurted out,
"How is this possible?!""