203: Chapter 203 The War Begins

"Leave the secret token behind, and I shall grant you the mercy of an intact corpse!"

An old, hoarse voice filled with icy killing intent echoed through the heavens and earth.

Wang Xiaopang was nearly suffocated by that terrifying Domain, his chubby face turning purple. "K... King Realm Peak?! We're in trouble!"

The Gray-Robed Old Man slowly lifted his eyelids, his murky gaze sweeping over the three of them, finally landing on Wang Xiaopang. His voice was as raspy as two grindstones rubbing together, yet it carried an indifference that seemed to pronounce judgment on all living fates.

"Hand over... the seven star secret token... and everything you know... about the clues to the undying medicine... This old man... can let you all... die... more quickly..."

His words were slow, yet they carried an absolute power. Every word was like a heavy hammer, striking at the trio's minds!

"I think you're dreaming!"

Xiao Ruobai suddenly looked up, without a trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, a raging battle fire burned within them. A rebellious arc curled at the corner of his mouth, and his voice was loud, carrying undisguised mockery as he directly interrupted the old man's high-and-mighty pronouncement!

As soon as these words were spoken, the world seemed to fall silent!

Even Wang Xiaopang, who was so nervous he was about to suffocate, was stunned. His chubby face twitched, and he almost fainted. "B... Big brother! You... take it easy!"

The Gray-Robed Old Man, Venerable Dry Bones, his murky eyes suddenly narrowed, as if a giant rock had been thrown into a pool of stagnant water that had sat for ten thousand years!

Having lived until now, when had anyone ever dared to speak to him like this? And a Junior at that!

"Seeking death!"

Venerable Dry Bones' hoarse voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of fury at being provoked by an ant! He said no more, his withered, skeletal right hand suddenly lifting and pressing down fiercely toward where the three were standing!

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, but the space within a hundred-zhang radius instantly solidified like an iron plate!

An unimaginably heavy force, as if gathering the weight of a thousand mountains and rivers, transformed into an invisible giant hand that covered the sky. Carrying a destructive aura that could crush everything, it crashed down!

"Well met!"

Facing this terrifying strike that could make an ordinary King Realm cultivator turn pale, Xiao Ruobai showed no fear. Instead, a Battle Intent as scorching as the blazing sun erupted from his eyes!

He had waited for such an opponent for far too long!

His previous battle with Yu Jizi, though a victory, had ultimately been unsatisfying.

This veteran King before him, who had refined himself for a thousand years, was the perfect whetstone to test his Breakthrough and temper his War God Dao!

"Baiyi!" Xiao Ruobai's voice was steady. "Leave this person to me! You protect Little Fatty, stay alert, and watch out for any lowlifes launching a sneak attack!"

Fang Hanyu's eyes flashed, instantly understanding Xiao Ruobai's intention.

He nodded slightly. Although the Primordial Sword was not fully unsheathed, that Chaos Sword Intent had already spread out like invisible water, firmly protecting Wang Xiaopang in the center. At the same time, his Divine Sense, like a most precise net, quietly scanned the restless undercurrents in the surroundings.

He understood that his big brother needed a hearty and dripping duel!

"Big brother! You... be careful!"

Wang Xiaopang's chubby face turned pale with nervousness, but he still shouted out in support. At the same time, he hurriedly pulled out several crumpled defensive Talismans and slapped them onto himself.

"Don't worry!"

Xiao Ruobai laughed heartily, his heroic spirit reaching the clouds.

He took a step forward, and the golden battle Qi around him erupted like a volcano, soaring into the sky! He seemed to transform into a sun walking the mortal world—scorching, domineering, and unstoppable!

"Junior, your courage is commendable, but... you are like a mantis trying to stop a carriage!"

The Gray-Robed Old Man, Venerable Dry Bones, a hint of surprise flashed in his murky eyes, which then turned into cold indifference.

He did not look down on him just because he was a Junior. Instead, because of Xiao Ruobai's pure and majestic Battle Intent, he became slightly serious. He slowly lifted his withered palm and made another seemingly casual press.

However, this press was completely different from when he blocked their path before!

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth seemed to be instantly drained, compressed, and refined! An invisible giant hand, more solid and heavy than before, as if cast from billions of catties of Profound Iron, descended with the terrifying power to crush stars and collapse the Void Realm!

Space let out an overburdened wail, and black cracks spread out from the giant hand as the center!

"Well met! Nine Tribulations of the War God—Army Breaker!"

Xiao Ruobai roared, advancing instead of retreating!

The Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd let out a heaven-shaking dragon roar, and the halberd's body shone with brilliant golden light. A golden halberd beam, refined to the extreme and seemingly capable of piercing through the heavens and earth, struck out like a comet hitting the moon, boldly stabbing toward the crushing invisible giant hand!

There was no trickery, no evasion—only the purest and most direct collision of power!

"BOOM—!!!!!"

A terrifying boom shook the universe! The golden halberd beam and the invisible giant hand collided fiercely! A destructive energy shockwave spread madly in a ring, once again leveling the already messy mountain range below by several zhang! Dust soared into the sky, blotting out the sun!

As the light dissipated, Xiao Ruobai's figure swayed slightly. He took half a step back, his arm holding the halberd slightly numb, but his eyes grew even brighter!

He had blocked it! With a cultivation that had only just entered the Heavenly Human Realm, he had forcefully withstood a wrathful strike from this veteran King Realm Peak!

"What?!"

Venerable Dry Bones' murky eyes suddenly contracted, revealing a look of disbelief for the first time! This strike of his, though not at full strength, had used seventy percent of his power—enough to easily kill an ordinary King Realm Early Stage!

Yet this Junior before him had only retreated half a step?! This Physical Body strength, this degree of battle Qi refinement—it was simply inconceivable!

"Take another halberd strike from me! Nine Tribulations of the War God—Immortal Slayer!"

Xiao Ruobai pressed his advantage, his Battle Intent boiling to the Peak!

His figure was like lightning as he took the initiative to attack! The Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd transformed into a sky full of golden halberd shadows, each containing a terrifying killing intent that could tear through the firmament and slaughter gods and immortals, enveloping Venerable Dry Bones like a violent storm!

"Humph! Arrogant Junior!"

Venerable Dry Bones was also provoked into true anger. Having lived for a thousand years, when had he ever been so actively attacked by a Junior?

He struck with both palms. His withered hands seemed to contain the power to move mountains and fill seas. Wherever the palm wind passed, space distorted and Laws wailed, shattering the sky full of halberd shadows one by one!

"Boom, boom, boom—!!!"

The two engaged in an earth-shaking close-quarters battle in the sky!

Golden light and gray shadows intertwined, halberd beams and palm winds collided. Every clash erupted with an ear-splitting boom and a destructive energy storm! The aftershocks of the battle turned the surrounding dozens of miles into a forbidden land!

Those hidden in the shadows nearby, who had originally intended to wait for an opportunity, were now all staring dumbfounded, their minds shaken!

"Is... is this War Asura a monster?! To face Venerable Dry Bones head-on at the Heavenly Human Realm without being defeated?"

"More than just not being defeated! Look at his offensive—it's like a mad demon! He's actually forcing Venerable Dry Bones to respond seriously!"

"What kind of Prodigy has been raised here!"

"Fortunately, I didn't act rashly just now..."

The whispers were filled with shock and lingering fear. The terrifying combat power Xiao Ruobai displayed had completely overturned their understanding of the gap between Realms!

Fang Hanyu protected Wang Xiaopang, calmly watching the battlefield while staying alert to the surroundings.

He could feel several powerful auras in the shadows fluctuating violently because of Xiao Ruobai's outburst, but they were all temporarily deterred.

Wang Xiaopang's mouth was wide open as he watched the dazzling display, muttering, "My goodness... Big brother is... too fierce..."