Of course, despite his greedy craving for more, Zhong Ming had no intention of being careless, much less suffering an unexpected defeat. Thus, when he sensed his opponent trying to strip away his Longxi Magical Robe, acupoints all over his body suddenly lit up. Specks of starlight poured out of them, merging into the surface of his robe.

This was the fruit of Zhong Ming’s Body Forging over the past few days. Star Heaven·Divine Monarch was no conventional Body Forging method. Relying on the scouring of the Power of the Stars, it not only strengthened the physical body, but also allowed cultivators of this lineage to open Star Acupoints and store the Power of the Stars within their bodies.

At this moment, Zhong Ming merged the two.

’This step... is surprisingly easy.’

The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without contention. Flowing water naturally has the property of accommodating everything. Since Zhong Ming also possessed the Dao Rhyme - Flow of Water, it was easy for him to merge the two as one.

The only thing that made Zhong Ming raise an eyebrow was that the Power of the Morning Star within him was related to the Sun. After it blended with his Water Flowing Magical Robe, the resulting Water Flowing Daoist Robe draped over him not only shimmered with a flowing, starlike radiance, but also flickered with rising flames.

"A Water and Fire Daoist Robe," Zhong Ming murmured. "The fusion isn’t perfect, but it will be enough."

"Hmph! Useless. All your struggles are futile before my eyes."

"These eyes of mine are invincible!"

Roaring with arrogant fury, Mingya frantically activated the Vaporization ability within him, trying to disperse the Magical Robe from Zhong Ming’s body.

But he failed.

He even felt a portion of his pride and joy, the Power of Vaporization, being incinerated as it tried to corrode the iridescent Magical Robe.

Even the giant pupil above his head felt a searing, stabbing pain from the flames burning on the Magical Robe.

"?!"

"How is this possible!"

This turn of events caused a look of terror to appear on Mingya’s face for the very first time.

He couldn’t understand why his Power of Vaporization had no effect on Zhong Ming. If Zhong Ming had the leisure to respond, he would have told him one thing: ’Counters are king, and super-effective damage is divine.’

During Zhong Ming’s Body Forging, the Power of the Morning Star that scoured his body was supplied primarily by his Candlelight Heart Eye.

And his Candlelight Heart Eye possessed both Breaking Evil Golden Light and Purifying Flame.

These two properties were a perfect counter to the Power of Evil Demons.

When used offensively, this counter was a deadly weapon. When used defensively, it was the strongest bastion.

Mingya’s abilities were strange and wondrous, but their foreign origin meant they were ultimately a type of Evil Power. This was why his corrosive Vaporization could do nothing against Zhong Ming, who was wreathed in the Flame of the Sun.

However, Zhong Ming had his entire focus on Youtan’s Power, using Mind Reading to interpret it as if it were a book. He had no mental capacity to spare for Mingya’s terror.

And this blatant disregard made the fury in Mingya’s heart all the more uncontrollable!

"I don’t believe it! Youtan’s Power is invincible!"

Unable to accept this, Mingya frantically channeled the Illusory Power within him, forcing it to corrode the Magical Robe on Zhong Ming’s body.

Longswords flashing with a dark, profound light, glinting blades, ringing bells, and iron hammers all bombarded Zhong Ming relentlessly.

RUMBLE...

Although this power was not one he had cultivated himself, the threat it posed was not small in the slightest. Zhong Ming’s Magical Robe was battered until it trembled without end, with sparks of flame and droplets of water constantly being shaken loose.

However, despite the ferocity of these attacks, the countering effect of the Breaking Evil Golden Light and Purifying Flame against Youtan’s Power was simply too strong.

Not to mention, Zhong Ming also possessed the Dao Rhyme of the Flow of Water, and the Magical Energy within his body was substantial.

With constant replenishment, although the Magical Robe on Zhong Ming’s body flickered unstably, his physical self remained completely unharmed.

This scene left the observing cultivators deeply shaken, their palms slick with cold sweat.

"So strong! Even an ability as bizarre as that can’t do a thing to him!"

"Mingya isn’t weak either. Only someone like Zhong Ming could withstand that kind of assault. Anyone else, even a True Inheritance disciple from a Major Sect, wouldn’t last three breaths."

Initially, this was the sentiment of the many onlookers regarding the battle between Zhong Ming and Mingya.

At this point, they felt the duel between Zhong Ming and Mingya had become a fifty-fifty toss-up.

But just as the ordinary cultivators were thinking this, a shocked voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"Have you all noticed? Zhong Ming hasn’t launched a single attack this entire time!"

"Huh?!"

"No, that can’t be right!"

"It’s true! He’s just letting Mingya attack!"

"HISS—"

When this conclusion was reached, everyone gasped in unison.

As cultivators, they knew very well the circumstances under which one would allow another to attack them freely.

One scenario is being restricted or bound, unable to attack even if one wanted to.

The other is when one’s strength so far exceeds their opponent’s that they feel nothing but disdain.

And in everyone’s eyes, Zhong Ming... was undoubtedly the latter.

"...To think Mingya can’t even break his defense while attacking freely... just how terrifying is Zhong Ming’s strength?"

The ordinary cultivators were horrified. Mingya, for his part, had naturally also noticed Zhong Ming’s contempt.

And this sent him into a complete rage.

"Bastard! How dare you show me such contempt!"

As he roared, he used his fury as fuel, causing the burning of his Holy Blood to intensify abruptly. Amidst this ultimate conflagration, a dark, spectral longsword wreathed in countless Ghost Faces and vengeful souls slowly took form within the giant pupil above his head.

Sensing the attributes of the longsword, Zhong Ming simply shook his head, at a complete loss for words.