The light was blinding, so brilliant it stole all color from the world and drove out every trace of Darkness.

The humanoid Dark Creature had nowhere to hide; its entire body was enveloped by the endless radiance of the Light Skill.

It had never imagined someone would burn their own Spiritual Power and embrace it, determined to take them both down together.

"ROAR! Damn you! You want to drag me down with you? But how can you possibly compete with the life force of my Dark Race? Ignorant, foolish, weak ant of the Human Race! In the end, you’ll be the one to die. You’ll burn through your very last drop of Spiritual Power and perish, hahaha..."

Though held fast by Jiang Jichen, its flesh seared with unending pain beneath the endless light of the Light Skill.

Yet, the humanoid Dark Creature just laughed maniacally.

"Besides, comparing your strength to that of us Dark Creatures? You insignificant human, are you looking for a beating? I can shatter you to pieces with a single tremor!"

The humanoid Dark Creature said arrogantly.

And its physical body was truly formidable. It was tall and powerful, its body covered in thick fur.

If not for the thick fur, those faintly glowing green eyes, and the black marking on its forehead, it would have been indistinguishable from a true human.

Moreover, Dark Creatures were indeed renowned for their formidable Physical Strength and tenacious Power of Life.

Jiang Jichen remained silent, continuously converting the Spiritual Power in his body into Bright Power to combat the Dark Power within the mighty Dark Creature. All the while, he watched it with a pitying gaze.

Of course, the process was agonizing for both of them.

Jiang Jichen was tightly hugging a furry, humanoid Dark Creature. The position was rather indecent and looked quite bizarre... hmm, almost intimate!

In reality, however, the process was incredibly perilous.

It was a duel between the Power of Light and Dark Power.

Whether it was Jiang Jichen’s Bright Power scorching the humanoid Dark Creature or the Dark Power corroding Jiang Jichen, both were sustaining damage. Their flesh was dissolving, their Life Force was draining away, and they were both enduring... unimaginable pain!

Logically, while the humanoid Dark Creature’s words were arrogant, they weren’t baseless.

After all, even setting aside the Dark Race’s advantages of immense Life Force and formidable physiques, the humanoid Dark Creature’s Cultivation Realm was far higher than Jiang Jichen’s.

Therefore, in this duel between the Power of Light and Dark Power, Jiang Jichen should have been the one to run out of power first.

But the humanoid Dark Creature saw the pity in Jiang Jichen’s eyes!

This enraged it. "Insignificant human," it roared, "watch me shatter you to pieces! Heh..."

The humanoid Dark Creature had originally planned to use its Dark Power to drain its opponent’s Bright Power, then seize his bloodline. But now, it was enraged and couldn’t wait any longer.

With a furious roar, it unleashed the Physical Strength that Dark Creatures prided themselves on, sending a shockwave crashing into Jiang Jichen.

The humanoid Dark Creature didn’t use its full strength—only fifty percent of its Physical Strength. It feared that if it shattered this insignificant human’s body, it would be unable to use the Bloodline Stealing Spiritual Technique!

After all, at its Realm, fifty percent of its Physical Strength was already immense—enough to annihilate most Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage Realm.

It could tell Jiang Jichen was unusual—likely what the humans called a genius Transcender. Fifty percent of its Physical Strength probably wouldn’t be enough to shatter him instantly.

However, when the power erupted, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean, causing no reaction at all.

The insignificant human before it didn’t budge an inch, still watching it with that same pitying gaze.

’How is this possible?’

’This has to be an illusion. I must have misjudged. I only used... hmm, less than thirty percent of my strength.’

’Let’s try again! Seventy percent of my Physical Strength this time!’

Still no movement. The man still had that same pitying gaze.

"Impossible! Again! Ninety percent power! Break him off me!"

The humanoid Dark Creature’s face darkened as it roared in fury.

Yet, aside from a slight tremor running through Jiang Jichen’s body, nothing changed.

The man... still wore that same pitying expression.

It was as if his eyes were saying, ’Look, what a truly pitiful Dark Creature.’

"I don’t believe it! Full power! Get off me, you wretched human!"

At that moment, the pitiful humanoid Dark Creature unleashed the full extent of its Physical Strength.

But the result was no different.

But it was a stubborn Dark Creature. It kept surging with power, trying to throw Jiang Jichen off.

"BREAK!"

"BREAK, I SAID!"

"AGAIN..."

"HUFF... PUFF... By the God of Darkness!"

Finally, after countless attempts, the pitiful and stubborn Dark Creature was completely exhausted, without a shred of strength left.

Just then, Jiang Jichen’s calm voice suddenly rang out. "You’re done, are you? Then, I suppose it’s my turn?"

Those words struck the humanoid Dark Creature’s ears like a hundred thousand bolts of heavenly lightning.

In that instant, it was crushed by the cruelty of reality.

"Hmph! So I can’t shake you off. What can you possibly do to me? My Dark Race possesses formidable bodies. The Physical Strength of a mere human can’t even dream of harming me!"

But the humanoid Dark Creature quickly regained its composure and spoke with renewed arrogance.

After all, the bodies of the Dark Race were truly formidable. At its Realm, it could stand there and let a Cultivator at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm bombard it and remain completely unharmed.

’And this insignificant human... Hmph. He’s only at the pathetic Innate Tenth Realm. How could he possibly budge me in the slightest?’

With that thought, the humanoid Dark Creature’s confidence instantly swelled again.

However, just as its confidence returned, it suddenly heard a sickening CRACKLE from within its own body.

That was... the sound of shattering bone!

"AARGH... Spare me!"

The sound of its bones being ground to dust finally forced a wretched scream from the Dark Creature.

Not even having its flesh melted away by the Power of Light had been this painful. This agony was beyond the limits of its endurance.

If its opponent kept squeezing any harder, it was afraid it would be crushed to pieces.

And so, facing the choice between life and death, the Dark Creature actually began to beg for mercy.

This took Jiang Jichen completely by surprise. In his experience, Dark Creatures always fought to the death; they would never beg for mercy or surrender.

’This pitiful and stubborn Dark Creature seems to be a bit different.’

In the end, Jiang Jichen let go. The humanoid Dark Creature collapsed to the ground like a boneless heap.

In truth, if it had been a simple battle of attrition between the Power of Light and Dark Power, the outcome would have been uncertain. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

But this Dark Creature, in its infinite wisdom, had insisted on competing with Jiang Jichen in Physical Strength and durability.

Though Dark Creatures were renowned for their innate Physical Strength and tough bodies, they could never be stronger than a Body Refiner—let alone a heaven-defying Body Refiner like Jiang Jichen.

Had the Dark Creature not exhausted its Physical Strength out of sheer stubbornness, it would not have been so easy for Jiang Jichen to crush its bones.

"Speak. What is the goal of your Dark Race?"

Seeing that the pitiful, stubborn Dark Creature had lost all ability to fight, Jiang Jichen ignored his own mangled flesh, corroded by the Dark Power, and asked the question calmly.