As Shen Haoran’s aura erupted, its formidable power sent ripples spreading out in all directions.

When the ripples of Powerful Qi passed through the black monster, they automatically parted and dispersed. The creature slowly straightened, wisps of black gas rising from its body. As the black gas swirled, the sharp, fractured Bone Spikes began to mend. The one that had been broken off suddenly jutted out again. Within a few breaths, the black monster’s injuries had completely healed.

The black monster strode slowly toward Shen Haoran, its aura intensifying with every step. By the time it stood before him, their auras had reached the same level. Between them, black gas and Black Flames constantly eroded one another, each trying to devour the other.

Sensing the creature’s aura, Shen Haoran’s expression grew solemn. ’The black monster is finally getting serious. This is going to be a brutal fight!’

Shen Haoran took a deep breath, sank into a low stance, and assumed a combat-ready posture. ’No matter how strong this thing is, I have to wipe it from the face of the earth today!’

The black monster and Shen Haoran faced off. A moment later, they both vanished. In the next instant, they reappeared in the center of the area, their two figures colliding with the force of crashing meteorites! 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

BOOM!

The two formidable auras collided, letting out a heaven-shattering bang. A violent gale of Spiritual Power instantly blasted outward, ripping up all the bluestone slabs on the ground in its path. For a moment, shattered stone flew everywhere as the ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered.

Both Shen Haoran and the black monster shuddered from the impact, diverting the force of the other’s blow into the earth. The stone slabs under their feet were instantly pulverized. The two of them were locked in a stalemate.

Seeing this, a cold sneer touched the black monster’s lips. It swept its other arm toward Shen Haoran as the Bone Spike on its elbow abruptly extended, glinting with a cold light. The sharp Powerful Qi tore through the air, arriving before Shen Haoran’s face in an instant!

Shen Haoran watched the approaching black Bone Spike and snorted. Black Flame churned in his hand, instantly materializing the Black Flame Giant Ruler to block in front of him.

CLANG!

The crisp clang of metal on metal rang out. The black Bone Spike struck the body of the Black Flame Giant Ruler, and the immense force sent a numbing shock up Shen Haoran’s arm.

With its strike parried, the black monster flicked the Bone Spike at its elbow upward, tossing the Black Flame Giant Ruler into the air. With the massive ruler gone, Shen Haoran was left completely exposed before the creature.

The black monster sneered, and a Bone Spike abruptly shot out from the bone armor on its chest, aiming straight for Shen Haoran’s heart!

The black monster’s sudden change of tactics took Shen Haoran by surprise. Seeing the Bone Spike mere inches away, he could only just manage to concentrate the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian swirling around him at his chest, forming a localized Black Flame Armor!

SSSSSS...

The instant the Black Flame Armor formed, the black Bone Spike stabbed into it. A series of hisses erupted as the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian and the black gas coating the Bone Spike began to corrode one another.

"Hmph!"

Seeing this, Shen Haoran snorted. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian inside him surged, creeping up the black Bone Spike toward the monster. Under the corrosive power of the Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, the Bone Spike began to crack and splinter!

At the same time, Shen Haoran’s Black Flame Giant Ruler was free. He slammed it toward the black monster’s head, the scorching blast of Powerful Qi scattering the black gas around the creature!

The black monster sensed the oppressive aura from above and its brow furrowed. It shot backward in a hasty retreat. The Black Flame Giant Ruler slammed into empty air, and its residual Powerful Qi blasted the ground, carving a deep trench where the creature had just been standing.

’Trying to run?’ A cold sneer played on Shen Haoran’s lips as he watched the monster retreat. "Wave Splitting Slash!" A blinding light flashed across the body of the massive ruler. A wave of flame, condensed from Fire Spirit Black Obsidian, detached from the Black Flame Giant Ruler and shot toward the monster like a bolt of lightning!

The retreating monster clearly hadn’t expected this move from Shen Haoran. It had no choice but to cross its arms in front of its body and take the flaming wave head-on!

BOOM...

With a deafening explosion, the wave of flame slammed into the black monster. The creature was thrown back by the tremendous impact, its feet carving a long trench in the ground!

The black monster stomped down hard, forcing its backward momentum to a halt. It then beckoned to Shen Haoran before shooting straight up into the sky, quickly vanishing from sight.

’An aerial battle? Fine, I’ll humor you!’ Shen Haoran shouted coldly. The Vermilion Bird Wings erupted from his back. With a single beat of his wings, he launched into the air, soaring straight into the nine heavens!

Empowered by the Vermilion Bird Wings, Shen Haoran’s speed was slightly faster than the monster’s. In just a few breaths, he caught up. The next moment, they collided again. The Black Ruler and the black Bone Spikes clashed frenetically, sending out countless sparks. A fierce battle in the sky was now underway!

On the ground below, the onlookers couldn’t make out their movements at all. They could only feel the constant shockwaves in the air and see the visible ripples of Powerful Qi.

"What an intense battle!" within the Five Elements Sect, the disciples listened to the ceaseless roaring, their voices filled with shock. A battle of this magnitude was completely beyond their comprehension!

BOOM!

Another violent roar echoed as Shen Haoran and the black monster were both blasted backward. The immense recoil left their arms trembling uncontrollably.

"Celestial Demon Slash!" The black monster suppressed the roiling energy in its body. It crossed the Bone Spikes on its elbows and slashed toward Shen Haoran!

Following the monster’s roar, two cross-shaped blasts of impossibly dark energy erupted from the Bone Spikes, and the entire world seemed to dim. They then shot toward Shen Haoran like lightning, the sharp Powerful Qi seemingly tearing space itself apart!

Shen Haoran also sensed the dangerous aura emanating from the cross-shaped attack. He immediately threw the Black Flame Giant Ruler, which transformed into a streak of light aimed straight at the attack’s center!

BANG!

With a muffled bang, the Black Flame Giant Ruler struck the center of the cross-shaped blast and exploded violently! However, it seemed to have no effect. The dark energy cross continued its charge toward Shen Haoran, completely unstoppable!

"Nine Dragon Stomp!" Shen Haoran roared upon seeing this, the aura beneath his feet slowly condensing.

"First step, the aura forms! Second step, the edge emerges! Third step, the enemy breaks! Fourth step, mountains and rivers quake!" Shen Haoran growled. In an instant, he had taken four steps! Borrowing the power of Elder Yan and the Heaven-Dominating Tribulation, Shen Haoran had directly executed the first four steps of the Nine Dragon Stomp!

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...

A storm of Spiritual Power began to rage beneath Shen Haoran’s feet. A moment later, it coalesced into a gigantic dragon made of pure Spiritual Power.

ROAR!

A dragon’s cry rang out, shaking the heavens. Then, the Spiritual Power dragon charged toward the impossibly dark, cross-shaped attack, moving with the speed of lightning!

In the blink of an eye, the cross of dark energy and the Spiritual Power dragon collided violently. A terrifying storm of Spiritual Power instantly erupted outward...