362: Start to ravage

On the arena stage, there was a deathly silence.

Everyone was still immersed in the lingering resonance of that heaven-cleaving slash—all things severed, even the firmament split asunder.

It was a strike that completely transcended the boundaries of cognition.

"His Heaven and Earth Law... it's actually five characters...?"

Below the stage, Chu Wujiu muttered to himself.

Ordinarily, the number of characters in a Heaven and Earth Law does not directly represent its power.

However, there are such rumors.

A five-character Heaven and Earth Law possesses the bearing of a Heavenly Emperor.

"A five-character Heaven and Earth Law, and for a mere member of the Human Race!"

Within the foreign race camp, exclamations of wonder rose one after another, but soon, some strange and sharp voices drowned out the amazement.

"Wait, something's not right!!"

An elderly foreign race member suddenly stood up, his voice trembling as he pointed at the green dharma idol phantom on the stage that had yet to fully dissipate. "That... that should be Lord Xuan Ye's Heaven and Earth Law!"

"I saw it once from a distance!"

"Although the appearance and details are slightly different, that Dao charm of destruction interwoven with vitality, that aura that severs everything... there's no mistake!"

"Impossible. How could a Heaven and Earth Law be used by someone else?"

"Wait, it really does seem wrong!"

Another observant foreign race member cried out, "Look at that human... he hasn't entered the Heaven and Earth Law!"

A Heaven and Earth Law is essentially an extension of the Cultivator themselves, a second body where "I am the Law, and the Law is me."

When used, the Cultivator's will merges with the dharma idol, moving as easily as one's own limbs.

Yet Qin Wangchuan was clearly standing independently outside of that "Indestructible Heaven-Slaying Monarch"!

In the center of the arena.

Xuan Ye stared fixedly at the blade mark that had split heaven and earth, only slowly turning toward Qin Wangchuan after a long while.

At first glance, he saw a wound that had suddenly appeared on Qin Wangchuan's arm.

It seemed to have been sliced by some Sharp Weapon; the wound was extremely thin and deep, with blood seeping out.

But it was quickly stanched.

Within his silver pupils, the initial shock had faded into a cold realization.

"So that's how it is..."

"Is it that technique from the 'Shen Tong Realm' book?"

"I originally agreed to the terms within it on a whim... I didn't expect it would lead to such Karma."

He paused, his gaze as sharp as a blade as it pierced toward Qin Wangchuan:

"However..."

"You shouldn't have missed that last slash."

Although that strike was powerful, what was truly lethal was the element of surprise amidst the shock.

If he wanted to kill him, that would have been the most perfect moment; there wouldn't be a second chance like that.

Unfortunately, this lethal blow was intentionally swung wide.

Hearing this, Qin Wangchuan smiled.

There was no triumph in that smile, only a nearly cruel sense of amusement.

"Shouldn't have missed?"

As he spoke, his body underwent extremely subtle changes.

Like a sword being unsheathed, a faint cold light leaked out.

A cold, hair-trigger aura of danger spread quietly like a venomous snake.

"At this point..."

Qin Wangchuan's voice was very soft. "You don't still naively think I'm going to give you a quick death, do you?"

Before his voice even faded—

Shua!

A fiery, lava-like crimson claw shadow erupted without warning from Qin Wangchuan's blind spot!

Before the wind from the claw could reach him, the scorching heatwave was already nearly licking the back of his neck!

It was Chi Li!

She had somehow managed to sneak into such close proximity and launch a brazen sneak attack!

Qin Wangchuan didn't even turn his head.

"Well then, let the ravaging begin."

He seemed to have already predicted the trajectory and timing of the claw shadow; with just a side-step, he let the sharp claws—capable of tearing through refined steel—pass right by the tip of his nose.

Simultaneously, his left leg whipped out like a lash in a lightning-fast side kick!

Bang!

Amidst a muffled thud, Chi Li's delicate body shuddered violently as she was kicked hard in the abdomen by a massive force. She flew backward like a broken kite, smashing through a section of the ruined arena's edge as dust filled the air.

Qin Wangchuan didn't even spare her a second glance.

He took a step forward.

Supreme Void Step.

His figure became illusory, trailing a residual image as he aimed straight for Xuan Ye!

Almost at the same instant Qin Wangchuan moved, Xuan Ye's body instinctively sank. He crossed his hands before his chest, forming an ancient gesture, and then struck out with a palm!

Though he had only seen it a few times, this strike would definitely not miss.

Puh!

The palm force landed solidly on Qin Wangchuan's lower abdomen.

But there was no joy in Xuan Ye's eyes; instead, his brow furrowed sharply!

The sensation was wrong.

Too light!

As expected—

The Qin Wangchuan he hit rippled like water and then... vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, the real Qin Wangchuan had appeared silently three feet behind him to the left.

As he raised the ancient longsword in his hand, his voice rang in Xuan Ye's ear, as casual as small talk:

"Even if you've seen through this footwork..."

"...what use is it?"

The sword light was about to fall!

However—

"Don't be too arrogant!!"

A roar erupted like a sudden clap of thunder!

Not far away, Yan Kui's mountain-like, burly figure had somehow already leaped high into the air.

His fists were clenched together, muscles bulging like Dragons. With the terrifying momentum of a falling meteor, he smashed down toward Qin Wangchuan's position!

Boom—!!!

The arena, already split in two, shook violently once more under this strike!

A crater formed instantly, with rubble flying and dust soaring into the sky!

But when the dust cleared slightly... a look of astonishment appeared on Yan Kui's rocky face.

The crater was empty.

"You're the first person I've seen who could see through this move on the first try."

"However, it's not enough."

The voice came from all directions.

Yan Kui looked up sharply.

Above the arena, at some point, more than a dozen "Qin Wangchuans" had appeared simultaneously!

They were in various poses—some standing with swords, others watching with arms crossed—but all their gazes fell upon Yan Kui with great interest.

One of the "Qin Wangchuans" tilted his head slightly, as if analyzing.

He raised a hand and pointed at Chi Li, who had just crawled out from the ruins with blood at the corner of her mouth and a venomous look in her eyes:

"She can perfectly hide her aura and killing intent to conduct lethal sneak attacks."

His gaze turned to Yan Kui:

"You likely judge the movement trajectory of my true body, and even predict its landing point, by sensing subtle vibrations in the ground."

Finally, his gaze—and the gazes of all the illusions—turned in unison toward Xuan Ye.

His voice was flat, yet it carried a judgment that was almost insulting:

"Finally..."

"Xuan Ye, was it?"

"It seems... you are unworthy of this five-character Heaven and Earth Law."

Hearing this, Xuan Ye didn't fly into a rage; instead, he laughed.

The trace of gloom born from his Heaven and Earth Law being stolen was swept away in an instant.

"Trying to provoke me?"

His silver pupils looked directly at the dozen or so phantoms in the air as he spoke clearly:

"Qin Wangchuan, you are quite a bit more cautious than I imagined."

"Cautious?"

The dozen or so Qin Wangchuans laughed simultaneously.

Their smiles were identical, carrying a heart-palpitating synchronicity.

"Don't misunderstand; this isn't caution."

"It's toying."

"Just like toying with ants; first observing how they crawl and struggle—then casually crushing them to death."

The voice paused slightly, carrying a hint of cold interest:

"Besides... what have you all been doing staring at these illusions this whole time?"

Xuan Ye's pupils suddenly constricted!

A chill surged from his tailbone straight to the top of his head!

The three of them looked up simultaneously—

They saw that Qin Wangchuan had somehow seated himself on a nearly transparent heavenly suspended silk, resting his chin on one hand, suspended directly above Xuan Ye.

He looked down with lowered eyes, his gaze calm.

Like a deity looking down upon ants.

Seeing the three of them finally find the right target, Qin Wangchuan nodded in satisfaction.

The corners of his lips curled slightly as he uttered a word so light it was airy, yet it caused the blood of Xuan Ye and the other two to nearly freeze:

"Mhm."

"A nice angle."

Looking at Qin Wangchuan suspended on the thread, the shock in Xuan Ye's eyes gradually settled, and a playful smile slowly curled at the corners of his mouth.

"I also think it's a nice angle."

As his voice fell, he pressed his hand down into the air.

"Dao-Breaking Art: Juque."