The tremendous impact sent a violent tremor through Shen Haoran. Before he could even catch his breath, the black monster raised its arm. The Bone Spike on its elbow glinted sharply as it shot toward Shen Haoran’s chest like a lightning bolt!

The Bone Spike hadn’t even arrived, but the razor-sharp gust of wind it generated had already torn Shen Haoran’s robes. Shen Haoran gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his body. He slammed his hands on the ground, his body skimming along the floor as he shot backward. The Bone Spike grazed past the tip of his nose!

CHINK...

With a soft sound, the black monster’s Bone Spike plunged deep into the green flagstones as easily as cutting through tofu, a testament to its incredible sharpness!

Scrambling to his feet, Shen Haoran watched the black monster with lingering fear. ’If I had been a second later,’ he thought, ’that Bone Spike would have impaled me!’

"Brother Shen! Are you all right?!" Seeing that Shen Haoran had escaped danger, Shui Ruolan and the others rushed over, their faces etched with anxiety as they asked.

"I’m fine. You all need to get out of here. Its target is me!" Shen Haoran said in a low voice, his expression grave as he stared at the black monster.

"No way! We’re staying to help you!" Long Mo said with a frown. The black monster’s power was completely beyond their comprehension; Shen Haoran couldn’t possibly handle it alone!

"There’s no need! That black qi curtain can devour Spiritual Power. Right now, only your and Long Zhen’s Celestial Fires can break through it. Take the others and get to safety! Don’t worry, I’m not looking to get myself killed. Once you’re gone, I have my own way to escape!" Shen Haoran took a deep breath, and the Spiritual Power in his body began to surge. He had to buy Long Mo and the others some time!

"But you—" Long Mo tried to say more, but Shen Haoran cut him off.

"Go, now!" Shen Haoran roared. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian within him suddenly flared, and in the next moment, he activated Heaven-Dominating Tribulation!

BANG...

With a heavy thud, Shen Haoran stomped on the ground and charged directly at the black monster. Facing an opponent two Great Realms above him, Shen Haoran had to strike first. Otherwise, if the monster made a move, he’d have no chance to retaliate. And if that happened, everyone present would die!

Seeing Shen Haoran risk his life to buy them time, tears welled up in Shui Ruolan’s beautiful eyes. Everyone present knew how powerful the black monster was. This time, Shen Haoran might not be coming back.

"Let’s go!" Long Mo took one last, deep look at Shen Haoran. He hardened his heart, grabbed Shui Ruolan, and ran toward the main gate. They couldn’t waste the time Shen Haoran was buying with his life!

Arriving at the gate, Long Mo and Long Zhen formed Hand Seals. The purple Void Purple Flame and the ghastly white Netherworld White Flame rose up, smashing against the black qi curtain. In the next instant, the two forces began to eat away at each other...

Meanwhile, back in the main hall, the black monster licked its green fangs, its arms hanging loosely at its sides. It paid no mind to Shen Haoran, who had unleashed his full power.

Using the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian fused with the Fire Spirit Pearl as a medium, the power of his Heaven-Dominating Tribulation had soared. Shen Haoran’s strength had now reached Spirit General Peak. Combined with his Qilin Arm and Vermilion Bird Wings, he could even fight a Spirit Marquis expert!

However, this was still nothing in the face of the black monster. The gap between them was simply too vast. But Shen Haoran’s goal wasn’t to fight it to the death; he just needed to hold it off until Long Mo, Shui Ruolan, and the others escaped.

The black monster had also seen through Shen Haoran’s intentions. But Shen Haoran was right about one thing: its target was him. As for the others, it was merely letting them live a little longer.

Shen Haoran’s speed was incredible. In the blink of an eye, he was above the black monster’s head. The crimson patterns on his Qilin Arm flared, and a surge of Primordial Power erupted as he smashed a fist down toward the black monster!

Faced with this ferocious punch, the black monster simply raised an arm with casual ease, blocking above its head. Shen Haoran’s Qilin Arm smashed right into its Bone Spike!

CLANG... A sound like striking metal rang out. A visible wave of Powerful Qi swept outward, instantly blasting the flagstones beneath the black monster’s feet to dust!

However, Shen Haoran’s punch, which could split mountains and shatter rock, only made the black monster’s body tremble slightly. That was it. He hadn’t even forced it back a single step. The difference in their strength was just too great!

After blocking Shen Haoran’s attack, the black monster grinned. A sense of crisis washed over Shen Haoran, and he immediately flapped his Vermilion Bird Wings, his body shooting backward in retreat!

SWISH!

In the next moment, a Bone Spike from the black monster’s knee pierced through the afterimage Shen Haoran had left behind. The residual Powerful Qi from the attack shot out and sliced a nearby Stone Pillar clean in two, leaving behind an incredibly smooth surface!

Watching the Stone Pillar crash to the ground, Shen Haoran broke out in a cold sweat. ’The monster’s attacks are just too powerful!’ he thought. ’And it seems its Bone Spikes can extend and retract at will... It’s a machine built for killing!’

Shen Haoran turned his head. The black monster was just staring at him, its mouth split in a grin, showing no intention of pursuing him. He glanced over at Long Mo and the others, who were desperately attacking the black curtain. Taking a deep breath, Shen Haoran resolved himself. ’No matter what, I have to hold it off until they escape!’

At that thought, Shen Haoran’s gaze hardened. With a flap of his Vermilion Bird Wings, he transformed into a black stream of light and shot toward the monster once more! This time, Shen Haoran held nothing back. His Qilin Arm moved in a seamless blur, and his fists rained down upon the black monster’s body!

But even under Shen Haoran’s ferocious assault, the black monster remained standing in place, completely unmoved. The difference in their strength was simply too great. To the monster, Shen Haoran’s attacks were nothing more than a tickle.

"Damn it!" Shen Haoran cursed under his breath. His gaze focused, and with a pull of his hands, he separated two streams of Spiritual Power with different attributes, then violently smashed them together! A terrifying storm of Energy began to form between his palms!

"Flame Sun Burst!"

Shen Haoran bellowed. A two-toned Energy Ball instantly condensed in his hands, and he viciously slammed it toward the black monster’s face!

This time, the black monster’s expression finally changed as it felt the Energy fluctuations from the Flame Sun Burst. It thrust its arm out, meeting the attack head-on with the Bone Spike on its elbow!

BOOM! In the next instant, a heaven-shaking explosion erupted. A violent wave of Energy radiated out from the point of impact, spreading like lightning and sending all the surrounding flagstones flying!

CRACK...

Immediately after, a crisp cracking sound was heard. Under the assault of the Flame Sun Burst, a fissure appeared on the black monster’s hard Bone Spike, which then shattered completely. The remaining Powerful Qi blasted the monster backward!

HUFF... HUFF...

Shen Haoran panted heavily, watching the black monster that had been knocked back several dozen paces. A cold smirk appeared on his lips. If even the Flame Sun Burst couldn’t do anything to the monster, Shen Haoran would have just had to run for his life.

A moment later, however, the smile vanished from Shen Haoran’s face. He felt a terrifying killing intent brewing within the black monster. In the next instant, it erupted!