Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Burning Spiritual Thought

Guan Zhi was no weakling. The moment Shen Haoran’s Black Flame Giant Ruler shot toward his face, flames erupted from his body, forming a Fire Curtain to block the attack.

BAM...

In the next instant, the Black Flame Giant Ruler, carrying a ferocious gale, viciously struck the Fire Curtain. The terrifying force shattered it instantly. Without losing any momentum, the ruler slammed into Guan Zhi!

Guan Zhi was sent flying backward like a cannonball. He scraped along the ground for dozens of meters before finally bleeding off the immense force of the blow!

"Damn it!"

Guan Zhi immediately scrambled back to his feet, but when he looked for Shen Haoran, he found that the man had vanished!

"Behind you!"

An indifferent voice spoke from behind Guan Zhi, making the hairs on his skin stand on end. When he whipped around, he was met with the sight of that same enormous Black Flame Giant Ruler!

BAM! With another sickening thud, Guan Zhi was sent flying once again!

Immediately after, Shen Haoran’s figure also vanished from where he stood.

The spectators then witnessed a shocking scene. Shen Haoran’s figure was nowhere to be seen on the Martial Arts Arena. All they could see was Guan Zhi being knocked around like a baseball, batted all over the place by Shen Haoran’s Black Flame Giant Ruler!

BAM... BAM... BAM...

On the arena floor, the constant thuds grated on the spectators’ nerves. They couldn’t help but tremble as they watched the wretched Guan Zhi.

"Damn it all!"

Back on the Martial Arts Arena, Guan Zhi was sent flying by Shen Haoran yet again. This time, however, he gritted his teeth and forced his body to twist in mid-air, narrowly dodging Shen Haoran’s follow-up strike. He tumbled a few times before struggling back to his feet.

Guan Zhi’s body had now become extremely ethereal, looking as if it might dissipate at any moment. Veins bulged on his face as he stared at Shen Haoran with venomous hatred.

Shen Haoran saw Guan Zhi break free but didn’t pursue. With a flick of his right hand, the Black Flame Giant Ruler slowly dissipated. He watched Guan Zhi with an air of indifference.

"Shen Haoran! I’m going to kill you!" Guan Zhi roared in a low, hoarse voice.

"You’ve already said that," Shen Haoran remarked coolly, his eyes on Guan Zhi’s unstable aura. ’Plenty of people have wanted me dead, but they’re all just talk. This Guan Zhi is no exception.’

"Hmph. You forced my hand!" Guan Zhi snorted, his entire aura suddenly retracting into his body.

’Hm?’ Seeing Guan Zhi conceal his aura, Shen Haoran raised an eyebrow. A faint sense of unease crept into his heart.

The spectators were baffled. "What’s with Guan Zhi? Has he given up?"

"No. It looks like he’s gathering power!"

"Gathering power?!" At these words, the crowd cried out and fixed their gazes back on Guan Zhi. Just then, Guan Zhi, who had been completely devoid of an aura, began to float slowly into the air. A faint but powerful pressure started to emanate from his body.

BOOM!

In the next instant, peach-colored flames violently erupted, dyeing Guan Zhi’s Spiritual Thought form the same color. A terrifying pressure from his Spiritual Thought radiated outward. Some of the weaker audience members felt a jolt in their minds as the pressure washed over them and fainted on the spot.

"This... Guan Zhi actually burned his Spiritual Thought Origin!"

Feeling that pressure, someone in the stands cried out in alarm.

"Burning his Spiritual Thought Origin... That Guan Zhi is insane! He’s dead set on killing Shen Haoran!"

Shen Haoran’s expression turned grim as he stared at Guan Zhi. As an Alchemist, Shen Haoran knew exactly what it meant to burn one’s Spiritual Thought Origin. It was a forbidden technique, similar in risk to his own Heaven-Dominating Tribulation Cultivation. Burning the origin granted immense power for a short time, but if mishandled, it would result in the complete annihilation of one’s soul. ’Is Guan Zhi really willing to pay such a price just to kill me?’

"Shen Haoran, how do you like this power? I told you I’d pay you back for what you did, a hundred times over! Now, suffer my wrath!" Guan Zhi’s blood-red eyes were locked on Shen Haoran, his sinister voice echoing across the arena.

HUUFF...

Watching the powered-up Guan Zhi, Shen Haoran took a deep breath. His expression turned serious as he settled into a combat stance. "Bring it on," he said coolly.

"Just for show!" Guan Zhi snorted. His figure flashed, and in the next instant, he was in front of Shen Haoran, two peach-colored flame daggers having appeared in his hands. He thrust them at Shen Haoran’s chest!

CLANG!

With a clang of metal on metal, the vanished Black Flame Giant Ruler reappeared, blocking Guan Zhi’s attack!

Guan Zhi grunted, transforming into a peach-colored whirlwind as he unleashed a flurry of frantic stabs at Shen Haoran.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!...

A continuous series of sharp clashes rang out. Shen Haoran swung the Black Flame Giant Ruler in a blur, its wide face forming an impenetrable defense. Even so, the immense force of the impacts was making his arms go numb.

CLANG!

After one final impact, the Black Flame Giant Ruler reached its limit and shattered. In that instant, Shen Haoran was left wide open.

Seeing his chance, Guan Zhi sneered. The peach-colored flame dagger transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot toward Shen Haoran’s chest.

Just as the flame dagger was about to pierce Shen Haoran’s chest, his Fire Spirit Black Obsidian flared, automatically forming a Fire Curtain that intercepted the blow. However, the tremendous force of the impact still sent Shen Haoran flying.

HUFF... HUFF...

Guan Zhi gasped for breath, coldly watching Shen Haoran sprawled on the ground. Burning his Spiritual Thought had given him a massive power boost, but the strain was immense. Now, his Spiritual Thought form was flickering, looking as though it could dissipate at any second.

COUGH...

Not far away, Shen Haoran coughed and slowly got to his feet. Guan Zhi’s attack had still inflicted significant damage, and his body had also started to look translucent.

Guan Zhi’s expression darkened when he saw Shen Haoran manage to get back up.

’He’s as tough as a cockroach,’ Guan Zhi thought. ’I can’t drag this on. Any further delay will be too disadvantageous for me!’

’In that case, let’s settle this in one final move!’ Having reached a decision, Guan Zhi took a deep breath. The flame daggers in his hands dissipated as the peach-colored flames began to gather, forming a fiery vortex above his head.

Gradually, a giant flame serpent coalesced, coiling above Guan Zhi and flicking its crimson tongue at Shen Haoran. A terrifying pressure burst forth from the serpent, striking fear into the hearts of the crowd.

Having manifested the giant flame serpent, Guan Zhi was now incredibly weak, but the venomous hatred in his gaze toward Shen Haoran had not lessened one bit.

When Shen Haoran saw the giant flame serpent, his eyes narrowed. He let out a slow breath and said softly, "So, it’s time to settle this? Let’s go, then."

As he spoke, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian within his body seemed to answer a call, surging out wildly. Above Shen Haoran’s head, it slowly coalesced into a massive Black Flame Giant Dragon.

ROAR!

With a world-shaking roar, the Black Flame Giant Dragon coiled in the air, its eyes filled with utter disdain as it stared down the peach-colored flame serpent.