"How can your body possibly be this strong?!" Ray’s voice exploded across the battlefield as he staggered backward slightly, his crimson spear trembling faintly within his grasp.

The disbelief on his face was impossible to hide anymore. Ever since the battle had begun, he had maintained absolute confidence in himself, especially after revealing the terrifying power of his Pseudo Cosmic Path.

He had expected fear. He had expected hesitation. He had expected the surrounding geniuses to look at him with awe and despair.

And they did.

Every participant standing on the eighth layer had already realized how monstrous Ray’s comprehension truly was. Even Jonathan and Julie, two individuals acknowledged as monsters among monsters, had turned serious the moment Ray revealed traces of the Pseudo Cosmic Path.

Yet the person standing directly before him now had completely shattered all of Ray’s expectations.

Max had not retreated.

He had not used some profound defensive treasure.

He had not relied on any mysterious heaven defying shield or ancient protective art.

Instead, he had blocked the terrifying spear strike of a Pseudo Cosmic Path with nothing except his own flesh and blood.

The sight alone felt absurd beyond reason.

Ray could still clearly remember the moment his spear collided against Max’s body. He had felt the terrifying resistance behind those bare hands. It was as though his spear had not struck flesh at all but had instead smashed against an indestructible divine mountain.

What horrified him even more was what happened afterward.

The injuries.

The torn flesh.

The shattered skin.

All of it had regenerated instantly before everyone’s eyes.

That was what truly shook Ray to his core.

The surrounding participants were equally speechless. Many of them were still staring blankly at Max as though they could no longer understand what kind of existence he truly was. The expressions of the geniuses nearby had long since changed from shock to genuine fear.

Meanwhile, Max slowly loosened his grip on the crimson spear before calmly taking a step backward. Fresh blood still dripped from his fingers, yet his expression remained completely relaxed. In fact, the excitement within his eyes only seemed to grow stronger.

"That attack..." Max said honestly while slowly flexing his slightly bloodstained fingers, "might be the strongest strike I have ever received from someone of my generation."

His voice carried no mockery.

No arrogance.

Only genuine excitement.

Then his gaze locked directly onto Ray once more.

The smile on his face widened further as seven colored lightning exploded violently around his body, illuminating the entire battlefield with dazzling brilliance.

"So come on..." Max said while lightning crackled around him like divine punishment descending from the heavens. "Show me more of this so called Pseudo Cosmic Path, Ray Willer."

The moment those words entered Ray’s ears, the entire battlefield seemed to freeze briefly.

Ray’s expression stiffened.

Then slowly, his face darkened completely.

Humiliation surged through him like burning poison.

A deep and unbearable humiliation.

He had revealed the terrifying power of the Pseudo Cosmic Path before countless geniuses. He had shaken the entire eighth layer with his overwhelming comprehension. Everyone present understood how terrifying his future potential truly was.

Yet Max was not looking at him with fear.

Instead, Max was looking at him with excitement.

That was what Ray could not accept.

The way Max spoke.

The anticipation burning within his eyes.

It felt as though Max was not fighting for survival at all.

Instead, it felt as though Max was simply enjoying the opportunity to experience the power of the Pseudo Cosmic Path firsthand.

As though Ray himself had become nothing more than a tool for Max’s growth.

That realization instantly ignited the rage buried deep within Ray’s heart.

"You..." Ray growled as his fingers tightened violently around the crimson spear. Veins bulged across his arm while terrifying spear energy exploded outward uncontrollably. "You’ll regret saying those words."

Boom!!!

A far more terrifying pressure erupted from Ray’s body.

The sharpness surrounding him instantly intensified to an astonishing degree as scarlet spear energy swept violently across the entire battlefield. The surrounding participants immediately retreated farther away, their expressions changing drastically as the atmosphere became incomparably dangerous.

"You want to see more of my Pseudo Cosmic Path?" Ray’s bloodshot eyes burned with fury.

"Fine..."

The crimson spear suddenly emitted a piercing shrill cry that echoed across the eighth layer.

"I’ll show you enough to make you despair!"

Boom!!!

Ray vanished instantly.

The next moment, a terrifying scarlet spear light descended directly toward Max from above like heavenly judgment itself. The speed was so overwhelming that many ordinary participants could not even follow the attack with their eyes.

"Crimson Heaven Piercer!"

Boom!!!

The spear strike tore through the air like a falling scarlet meteor while terrifying sharpness exploded outward from every direction simultaneously. The surrounding space distorted violently under the pressure alone.

However, Max did not retreat.

He did not dodge.

Instead, he simply raised his bare hand once more.

Boom!!!

His palm collided directly against the descending spear attack.

The violent impact caused the entire platform to tremble violently while terrifying shockwaves exploded outward in every direction. Deep cracks spread across the battlefield beneath Max’s feet as blood immediately burst from his palm.

Yet despite the horrifying force behind the attack—

He blocked it.

Using nothing but the power of the three Divine Veins.

Ray’s expression twisted violently.

Without giving Max even a single moment to breathe, he attacked again.

Boom!!!

The crimson spear swept horizontally across the battlefield while scarlet light sliced through the surrounding space like a divine blade.

"Blood Severing Sky!"

Max calmly crossed both arms before his chest.

Boom!!!

The spear strike slammed into him violently.

Crack marks instantly spread across Max’s arms while blood exploded outward from the impact. The sheer force behind the attack pushed him backward across the platform.

Yet immediately afterward—

The Vein of Vitality erupted.

The crack marks healed instantly.

Fresh flesh regenerated before everyone’s eyes.

The surrounding participants stared numbly at the unbelievable sight.

"He blocked it again..."

"He’s using his body like a weapon..."

Ray’s eyes grew increasingly furious.

Then he attacked again.

And again.

And again.

Boom!!!

Boom!!!

Boom!!!

Terrifying spear attacks continuously exploded across the eighth layer one after another. Every strike carried overwhelming sharpness fused together with the terrifying pressure of the Pseudo Cosmic Path itself. The surrounding tower walls began cracking apart while violent shockwaves swept across the battlefield endlessly.