’How can a mere mortal, someone who hasn’t devoured and fused with Earth Immortal Cells, who hasn’t even formed a Soul, possess such strength?!’

"It seems this is your limit. Still, to be able to reach this level is quite impressive."

Yi Beidou’s voice remained placid.

The Ninth Layer of Reverse Chaos was beyond the limits of his control. While the Penglai Flame would prevent him from dying to the backlash, he was still certain to suffer immense damage afterward.

But it didn’t matter. All these Ancient Ones had trump cards up their sleeves, and he was no different. In his dual Tribulation Star state, his own preparations were more than enough to deal with the backlash.

’To compete with people like these, the Eighth Layer of Reverse Chaos really isn’t enough.’

Upon hearing Yi Beidou’s words, the Duke of Destruction felt his hair stand on end, completely unable to accept the reality before his eyes.

"How are you doing this?! I have thirteen lifetimes of Cultivation! I’ve refined Earth Immortal Cells and possess the organs of Deities! You’re just a mere mortal! What right do you have to fight me?!"

The Duke of Destruction roared hysterically.

"Earth Immortal Cells? They are indeed miraculous. But even if you laid them before me, I would never devour them, much less allow them to become the core of my being."

"I have always believed that my own body and will can shatter all obstacles and achieve the impossible. I don’t rely on things that aren’t inherently mine."

"Even if there is no path ahead, I will forge one. Even if heaven and earth stand in my way, I will cleave them apart with my own fists."

"Perhaps that is the difference between you and me."

Yi Beidou spoke calmly, but his voice rang like a great bell, resounding in everyone’s hearts.

FWOOM!!

The amplification of the Demon Flame from the Ninth Layer of Reverse Chaos erupted completely. A pillar of fire shot twenty meters into the sky, even overshadowing the Duke of Destruction’s Hellfire Monarch.

Tails of flame curled as the magnetic field and his aura condensed, forming the shape of an even more massive throne.

Yi Beidou had reached this point relying solely on his own power. Just as he said, even if vast quantities of Earth Immortal Cells were laid before him, he would only use them as a reference to explore their essential mysteries, never devouring them to strengthen himself.

He valued his own purity above all else.

If he lacked the will to shatter all obstacles with his own power, how could he ever be worthy of creating miracles or challenging the peak of human potential?

The Demon Lord’s presence ebbed and flowed, his Bloodfire Throne a testament to his undeniable, kingly aura.

At that moment, the Duke of Destruction’s pupils shrank and his mouth fell slightly agape. He felt as if the figure of Yi Beidou before him was growing ever taller, like the true ruler of all creation.

VMMMM!!

As Yi Beidou’s voice faded, the Ring of the Dominator on the Duke of Destruction’s finger began to vibrate violently. Its shape distorted, its light flickered, and it seemed to want to fly right off the Duke’s finger.

If his magnetic field weren’t binding it firmly in place, the damned thing would have already flown toward Yi Beidou.

’What is this?!!’

The Duke of Destruction looked dazed, as if he had been struck another heavy blow.

"It seems your treasure has taken a liking to me."

Yi Beidou’s voice rang in the Duke of Destruction’s ear, and the next moment, a terrifying, howling gale swept over him.

The Ring of the Dominator would naturally be drawn to a true dominator.

The Duke of Destruction was merely a wielder of the Spirit Treasure, not its true master.

Some Spirit Treasures choose their masters. Some even require their owner to possess specific traits to be used properly and unleash their full might.

BOOM!!

This time, with his aura suppressed by his opponent and his Spirit Treasure turning against him, the Duke of Destruction could no longer fight Yi Beidou on even ground.

A single palm strike sent the Duke of Destruction flying backward, his body erupting in a bloody mist.

Yi Beidou stood firm in the center of the battlefield, having truly become its master.

With a single step, he charged again toward the Duke of Destruction, who had just crashed through a wall.

"How is this possible?!"

In a basement somewhere in Jun City, the Eye of the Sun whispered, his face twitching.

At this very moment, he observed through the Eye of Omniscience that the various factions from all over the city were about to arrive. Yet, not only had the Duke of Destruction failed to turn the tables, he could barely save himself.

The situation in Jun City had spiraled completely out of control.

It was time to consider activating their other plans.

BAM!!

He slammed his fist into the ground, and spiderweb-like cracks spread out.

’Yi Beidou!!’

The Eye of the Sun gritted his teeth, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Pale, Rose, Star Curse Master... have you arrived yet? Including the two carrying the Spiritual Talismans, everyone retreat to my position at once!!"

The Eye of the Sun shouted to all the Illuminati members in Jun City through his golden earrings.

Reinforcements were on their way, but the Duke of Destruction couldn’t even save himself. If they let the situation continue, the Illuminati’s defeat was certain.

Not only would they lose the two Spiritual Talismans, but they also risked being completely eliminated.

Under these circumstances, they could only activate their backup plan.

That was for all members to gather, for him to deactivate the Eye of Omniscience, and for him to throw his own abilities and Immortal Soul into the fight.

At that point, with their ample preparations and two experts who had condensed a Soul, they might have a chance to hold onto the Spiritual Talismans and force a retreat.

But even if this plan succeeded, it would come at a great cost. It was truly a last resort.

But now, they had no other choice.

Besides, it would not be an easy task for the organization’s members on the main battlefield to retreat safely.

「Elsewhere in the city.」

The Golden Pharaoh was leading the charge and had already neared the main battlefield. He would arrive in a few dozen breaths.

Just then, in the direction of the main battlefield, a crimson Demon Flame erupted toward the sky, forming the shape of a massive throne. It had completely suppressed the manifestation of the Flame Monarch that the Duke of Destruction had condensed.

Even from several kilometers away, he could still feel the incredibly pure, immense, kingly aura emanating from the Demon Flame Throne—an aura that seemed capable of dominating all things, of mastering one’s own fate. It was enough to make his spirit waver.

’A blood-red flame? An ominous and tyrannical aura, yet one that has the bearing of a king? It’s even suppressing the Duke of Destruction, who is using his Full Immortal Soul Understanding... I’ve never heard of such a person. Who in the world are they?’

’The most terrifying part is... I can’t sense the characteristic aura of Earth Immortal Cells or a Soul? What is going on?!’

The Golden Pharaoh’s expression turned grave.

He had lived for many years and knew the experts from the various Secret Organizations inside and out, but he couldn’t recall ever encountering such a presence.

Moreover, no matter what kind of being they were, unleashing this level of power would inevitably require the use of Earth Immortal Cells and would reveal a corresponding aura.

But that Bloodfire Throne showed no such fluctuations at all.

In other words, the Duke of Destruction’s Full Immortal Soul Understanding was being suppressed by an expert who wasn’t even using the power of Earth Immortal Cells?!

’Could it be that one of the Sleepers has made a move?!’

As for the idea that this person was a mere mortal, someone with no Earth Immortal Cells whatsoever, the thought never even crossed the Golden Pharaoh’s mind.

That was simply impossible.

Only a Sleeper could accomplish such a feat without actively drawing on the power of their Earth Immortal Cells. This was because their internal Earth Immortal Cells would have already reached a terrifying threshold, and their body’s very essence would have undergone a massive sublimation. Furthermore, such an individual would have to be an extremely powerful existence even among the Sleepers.

The other factions had similar reactions and came to a similar conclusion.

"A Sleeper?!"

Everyone’s heart sank, and some even began to consider retreating.

Directly confronting a Sleeper who could suppress a Full Immortal Soul Understanding without even using Earth Immortal Cells did not seem like a wise choice.

Even Yi Beidou himself had no idea that he had been mistaken for a Sleeper by all the other factions.

’So I look back, and it turns out the Sleeper was me all along?’

Of course, there were some who could recognize the aura of that Bloodfire Throne.

The members of the God-Sealing Alliance.

Their leader was none other than the Death Order Walker, Carlos.

Back at Kunca Mansion, when Yi Beidou had struck Zeno with the Demon-Suppressing Seven-Star Needle, Carlos had personally tried to remove the needles and suffered a quiet defeat in the process.

At that time, he had come into contact with the aura of Yi Beidou’s Demon Flame. He had regarded the incident as a humiliation and deeply seared that aura into his memory.

And now, he was seeing that same Demon Flame, that same aura. There was no mistaking it.

But it was for this very reason that his mind went completely blank.

’What am I seeing?’

’That Demon Flame is completely suppressing an Ancient One using Full Immortal Soul Understanding?!’

’A terrifying being like that... even our leaders would have to give it their all!’