"You’re pretty tough to kill. I didn’t expect you to make it out of that Secret Realm alive!" the black monster said casually, looking at the floating Shen Haoran.

"Hmph. As long as you’re still alive, how could I possibly die?" Shen Haoran said coldly.

"Oh? From the sound of it, you want to take my life? I wonder where you get such confidence. Is it your Spirit General strength? Or perhaps that pathetic Secret Technique of yours!" the black monster sneered upon hearing Shen Haoran’s words. Then, a terrifying aura erupted from its body, crushing down toward Shen Haoran!

The sudden, terrifying pressure bore down on Shen Haoran from above, instantly knocking him dozens of meters downward from mid-air.

WHOOSH... The Vermilion Bird Wings on his back flapped desperately, forcing his falling body to a stop. The power gap between the two was just too vast. One was a Spirit General, the other a Spirit Emperor—a world of difference!

Looking down at Shen Haoran below, the black monster laughed in disdain. "Is this what you’re relying on? In that case, I won’t be polite about taking the life you’ve so generously delivered to me! HAHA!"

The black monster roared with laughter, its shrill, grating voice spreading out and making one’s hair stand on end.

Shen Haoran took a deep breath, staring coldly at the black monster, his face devoid of expression.

’Elder Yan, today, let us—master and disciple—join forces and utterly obliterate this beast!’ Shen Haoran’s gaze hardened as he spoke softly in his heart.

The moment Shen Haoran’s thought faded, an incomparably powerful Spiritual Thought erupted from within his body. With this burst of Spiritual Thought, Shen Haoran’s power instantly skyrocketed. In a single moment, he broke through from a Tier Nine Spirit General directly to a Tier Nine Spirit Aspect, after which his aura slowly stabilized.

Elder Yan’s Spiritual Thought Power had actually boosted Shen Haoran by two entire Great Realms. Now, the pressure the black monster exerted on him was rendered completely useless!

The black monster watched Shen Haoran’s power surge, its brow twitching. It then muttered, "I didn’t expect him to have this trick up his sleeve. This power... such strong Spiritual Thought. It seems he’s hiding a powerful Spiritual Thought Body inside him!"

At this thought, the black monster licked its lips. ’Shen Haoran’s life, the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, and a powerful Spiritual Thought Body... If I devour all of these, I’ll probably grow to an unbelievable level! This Shen Haoran has really done me a huge favor.’

"Is that all you’ve got?" the black monster said disdainfully, lifting its chin. It paid no mind to Shen Haoran’s explosive increase in power.

"All I’ve got? Then watch closely!" The corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth twitched up, and he slowly began to form a Seal Technique with his hands.

"Heaven-Dominating Tribulation!"

A thunderous shout echoed out. Immediately after, visible ripples of Spiritual Power surged outward from Shen Haoran, violently dispersing the surrounding clouds and mist.

A formidable pressure erupted in mid-air and spread across the entire Five Elements Sect. The disciples who were cleaning up the remaining Primordial Beasts within the sect all looked up in shock, their gazes fixed on Shen Haoran in the sky.

"This... This aura has actually reached the Spirit Emperor Level! Is that really Shen Haoran?" the disciples exclaimed in disbelief.

Elder Huo also stared at Shen Haoran in alarm. This aura now matched that of the black monster. However, he couldn’t determine which of the two was stronger. That was something that could likely only be known after they fought.

WHOOSH...

Waves of Spiritual Power rippled through the air as Shen Haoran’s body slowly ascended once more, finally stopping in front of the black monster. They were less than two steps apart. Shen Haoran’s aura was now actually beginning to press back against the black monster’s.

Feeling the pressure coming from Shen Haoran, the black monster’s expression slowly darkened. This aura had indeed caught up to its own.

Shen Haoran looked at the black monster, which was now just inches away, and said indifferently, "Are you satisfied now?"

Hearing this, the black monster snorted coldly and opened its mouth in a cruel grin. "Hmph, you really think you’re hot stuff now? Power boosted by Secret Techniques and external items is worthless before me. Three moves. All I need is three moves to impale you on my Bone Spikes. When that time comes..."

BAM—

However, before the black monster could finish its sentence, a dull thud rang out. Shen Haoran’s knee shot up, becoming a blur as it viciously slammed into the black monster’s chin. The immense force was unleashed in an instant, flinging the monster’s body into the air as black blood, mixed with two shattered teeth, flew from its mouth.

Shen Haoran’s figure flickered. The moment the black monster was sent flying backward, he appeared in front of it. Clasping his hands together, he swung them like a club toward the black monster’s head!

POW!

Another dull thud. The black monster had no time to react. Its body shot down from the sky like a cannonball, finally crashing onto the ground with a thunderous boom. In that instant, shattered rock flew and dust billowed. Under the force of the impact, the ground fractured and split apart, inch by inch, a testament to the terrifying power of Shen Haoran’s strike! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Watching the black monster smash into the earth, Shen Haoran’s expression hardened. He transformed into a streak of light and shot downward. His Qilin Arm instantly expanded, its crimson patterns glowing as black flames wreathed it. He brought it crashing down on the black monster!

BOOM!

A Heaven-Shaking boom erupted, and the entire ground seemed to tremble. Countless fragments of rock, carrying scorching Powerful Qi, shot outward. A massive crater had appeared where the black monster was. Around the crater, a web of shocking cracks spread across the land. The power of this single punch was terrifying!

Shen Haoran’s Qilin Arm was buried deep in the earth, at the very center of the crater and its cracks. However, the black monster was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Haoran slowly pulled his Qilin Arm from the ground, his expression as cold as ever. He cast his gaze forward and said flatly, "Three moves are up. It seems you’re not all that special after all."

The moment Shen Haoran finished speaking, a black figure slowly materialized in the empty space before him. It was, of course, the black monster.

The black monster looked rather battered. Two of its cyan tusks were broken, and a trickle of black blood hung from the corner of its mouth. The black Bone Spikes on its knees and elbows were covered in cracks, and one was snapped off completely. With just three strikes, Shen Haoran had injured the evolved black monster!

"Ptooey!"

The black monster spat out a mouthful of blood and foam, its voice chilling to the bone. "It seems I really did underestimate you. Next, this great one will play with you properly. I hope you don’t disappoint me!"

"Hmph. Bring it on!" Shen Haoran snorted, his powerful aura flaring up once more...

[PS: I was on the train all day today and finally got home, so I can now write in peace! I’ll get myself back in the groove tomorrow. If there’s no notice about going premium the day after tomorrow, Xiezi (the author) will be back with a small Chapter burst—at least five Chapters! If there is a notice, I’ll do a huge burst—at least ten Chapters! Consider it my apology for the unstable updates recently! Also, thanks again to all my bros who have been supporting me!]