163: Pushing to the limit

The wind blades sliced through the air, emitting faint whistles, but upon touching the poisonous mist barrier, they vanished silently as if they had never existed, like ice meeting fire, merely twisting slightly before disappearing.

The poisonous mist, like maggots clinging to bone, pressed closer, and the toxicity permeating the air made Han Fei's every breath incredibly difficult; his throat felt constricted, and his chest was as if weighed down by a thousand jin stone.

At the same time, the potent venom silently spread within his body, causing his consciousness to blur, and the world before his eyes began to spin, as if he could plummet into an endless abyss at any moment.

Just at the brink of life and death, Han Fei made an almost instinctive decision.

He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, and in an instant, a strong surge of pain, like an electric current, coursed through his entire body, stimulating his nerves and forcing his consciousness back to a fragile state of clarity.

Using this brief moment of lucidity, he clenched his jaw, exerting the last vestiges of his strength to rush towards a protruding rock wall nearby.

The rock wall, as hard as iron, emitted a dull roar upon impact and then cracked open a long, narrow rift; Han Fei seized the opportunity to squeeze into this cramped space, finally escaping the poisonous mist's encirclement for a time.

However, this was not a safe haven.

All around was pitch black, where one could not see their hand in front of their face, with only a minuscule amount of starlight filtering through the rock rift, casting a few dim rays of light, bringing a glimmer of life to this place of despair.

Han Fei leaned against the cold rock wall, gasping for air, each breath pulling at his full body's wounds, his muscles feeling as if pricked by a myriad of needles, the pain unbearable, as if the entire Universe hummed in his ears, threatening to completely engulf him.

Just as he tried to calm his rapid breathing and prepare for his next move, the Thunder Eagle Demon General's deafening roar echoed from afar.

Following closely was the bone-chilling approach of the Ice Wolf Demon General, even the other side of the rock wall gradually covered with a thin layer of frost.

Han Fei knew clearly in his heart that these Demon Generals would not easily let him go, and the temperature in this small area was rapidly dropping; if he did not leave in time, even this small refuge would likely become his frozen tomb.

He gritted his teeth, forcing himself back from the edge of his blurred consciousness, taking a deep breath of cold and thin air; his lungs burned fiercely from this effort, attempting to ignite the last spark of demonic power in the depths of his Soul to achieve the almost impossible escape—teleportation.

But fate seemed determined to oppose him; at this moment of life and death, the colossal body of the Earth Armor Demon General, like a giant beast from the Netherworld, abruptly appeared, its fist carrying power capable of shaking mountains and rivers, smashing down fiercely; the rock rift seemed to bear immense force at this moment, collapsing with a roar, and Han Fei's body was pushed by this irresistible force, completely exposed to unknown danger.

In a flash, the surrounding air seemed to solidify; Han Fei knew clearly in his heart that there was no place to hide in the world at this moment.

His heart beat like a drum, each pulse shaking his Bloodline, and in his ears was the sound of rushing blood, intertwined with the call from the end of the world; the scene before him was exceptionally clear, every broken stone, every ray of light was endowed with an unprecedentedly clear outline.

The everyday fears, physical pain, and Mental Energy fatigue seemed to be dispelled by this sudden, resolute emotion, leaving only a pure and intense will—to fight to the last moment.

Han Fei mobilized all his remaining vitality, with a burst of power beyond himself, leaping out from the rapidly closing rock rift, his palms clasped together, ancient incantations softly chanted from his lips, and streams of demonic power awakened within him, struggling to converge into a final burst of light.

His eyes gleamed with determination and defiance; even if he foresaw a dark outcome, he would prove his existence to this world in his own way.

"Void Rift!"

Han Fei's voice pierced through the wind and the crashing of stones, deep yet full of power, as if a challenge issued to capricious fate.

As he spoke, a dark and profound opening suddenly tore open in the Void Realm, the rift like a crack in the primordial Universe, exuding a terrifying Aura that threatened to devour all things.

The surrounding space-time rippled, and even the usually unrestrained Demon Generals felt a slight sluggishness; their movements seemed to be bound by some indescribable force at this moment.

Seizing this fleeting interval, Han Fei did not hesitate for a moment, almost using all his strength to rush towards the other side of the unknown rift, intending to use this sudden spatial power to buy himself a moment of respite, even if it was just to temporarily repel the Demon Generals.

But the Dragon Soul Demon General clearly would not give up easily; it roared, flapping its wings, surrounded by a fierce storm of demonic power, driving the other Demon Generals to rush at Han Fei regardless of the consequences, vowing to completely capture this human who dared to resist.

Han Fei's pupils trembled slightly, a barely perceptible hint of despair flashing through his heart; his body's exhaustion had reached its limit, and any effort seemed futile.

His breathing was rapid, each inhaled breath like a sharp knife scraping his throat; his vision blurred, and the figures of the Demon Generals began to twist, transforming into grotesque dark shadows, as if foretelling the impending dark abyss.

Just as life and death hung by a thread, a never-before-felt warm power surged from the depths of Han Fei's heart, a latent energy he had long hidden, almost forgotten even by himself, silently enveloped him, like a gentle spring breeze brushing across his cheek, soft and full of vitality.

This power was deep and delicate, like a mother's embrace, warm and reassuring; it gently touched every corner of Han Fei's Soul, as if countless imperceptible feathers softly brushed across his heart's lake, carrying away all fatigue and fear, allowing him to find a moment of peace at the brink of collapse.

Before Han Fei's eyes, light and shadow began to blur and merge, that last flicker of clarity gradually fading, like the last star in the night sky disappearing behind the clouds.

However, in this receding consciousness, a voice echoed like an ancient vow, unwavering, piercing through physical pain and Soul struggles: "I will not give up... I will never sink into this Chaos... My will shall shine eternal like the Starfall!"

On this border between waking and dreaming, Han Fei felt as if he was in a rift in time, every second stretching into eternity.

His body, ravaged to its limits by continuous battle, the soreness of his muscles and the groans of his bones intertwined into a tragic battle song, a hymn of perseverance and defiance.

Although his physical strength was almost exhausted, sweat and blood mixed, dripping down his resolute chin, blooming into dark red flowers on the ground, the belief imprinted deep within his Soul, like an underground fire, burned fiercely, illuminating the path forward in the darkness.

The outlines of the Demon Generals gradually solidified in his blurred vision, like giants emerging from a nightmare; the Aura they exuded was cold and majestic, like a snow-capped mountain covered by ten thousand feet of ice, filling the air with a suffocating pressure.

Dragon Soul Demon General, that terrifying existence standing at the forefront, its massive body's shadow alone was enough to envelop the entire battlefield. His eyes were like black holes, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet exuding a cold indifference that withered all things. That gaze seemed to have already pronounced Han Fei's fate, foretelling the arrival of the end.

"I cannot be defeated here... I must become stronger!"

Han Fei roared silently in his heart. Although this voice did not escape his lips, it was more deafening than any shout.

He used all his strength to painstakingly get up from the muddy ground, his knees trembling, yet stubbornly supporting him to prevent himself from falling.

In his eyes, the flame that was about to extinguish rekindled, gleaming with unyielding and challenging light.

Clearly aware that the threat of death was imminent, the Demon Generals' Killing Intent was like a tangible, sharp blade, pointing directly at his heart.

Han Fei desperately tried to awaken the last shred of power within him, but the once active magical energy was now like a dried-up spring, unable to squeeze out even a single drop.

Despair, like a venomous snake, tried to coil around his will, urging him to give up resistance.

"Never! I cannot let all of this end here..."

Han Fei's heart surged, an unwilling tide of fury rising within him.

His hands clenched into fists, as if to compress all emotions, all despair and hope, into these fists, transforming them into something tangible.

At this critical juncture of life and death, he closed his eyes and focused his mind, attempting to concentrate his Mental Energy to the extreme. Even the smallest fragments of magical power, he would gather them, preparing to unleash that final strike that might reverse the situation.

"Void Rift..."

Han Fei's hoarse and trembling voice echoed in the shattered space, like an ancient incantation, carrying the last trace of defiance and determination.

He gritted his teeth, and an unprecedented light burst forth from the depths of his Soul. In a near-suicidal manner, he forcibly tore open the deepest darkness of the Universe, creating a profound and unfathomable rift in the Void Realm, hoping to use this chasm to trap the terrifying Demon Generals.

But this desperate effort appeared pale and powerless before the overwhelming Aura gathered by the Demon Generals. The rift, opened with such painstaking effort, only lasted for a fleeting moment before it vanished into nothingness amidst the Dragon Soul Demon General's deafening roar. Fragmented spatial aftershocks scattered, like brief meteors in the night sky, witnessing a desperate battle.

As the Void Rift disappeared, the figures of the Demon Generals again clearly loomed over Han Fei. Their footsteps carried an undeniable declaration of victory.

The Dragon Soul Demon General's lips curled into a cruel sneer. He gently flapped his massive Dragon wings, stirring up a gale powerful enough to shake mountains and rivers. The wind, mixed with coldness and disdain, seemed to want to push Han Fei into an abyss of eternal damnation.

In a flash, the Thunder Eagle Demon General had already struck first. The sky seemed to be torn apart by its will, and a blinding bolt of lightning descended with a roar from the Nine Heavens, aiming directly at the isolated and helpless Han Fei.

Although Han Fei was utterly exhausted, he still clung to his remaining will, desperately dodging. But fate did not seem to be on his side; the lightning still grazed his left arm. Instantly, excruciating pain surged like a tide, sweeping through his entire body.

His left arm felt as if it had been scorched by flames. After the pain came a deadening numbness, and his entire arm hung limply, no longer obeying its master's will.

The Ice Wolf Demon General pursued the advantage, its icy cold Qi, like a lurking venomous snake, silently coiled around Han Fei's ankles. In an instant, solid ice spread like vines, firmly freezing his legs.

The cold Qi rapidly permeated every inch of his skin. Han Fei's entire body was solidified in a vast expanse of icy blue. His movements became slow and clumsy, each breath like a struggle for oxygen in the Arctic. What surged within his chest was not only cold Qi but a mixture of helplessness and despair, even his heartbeat seemed suppressed by this power, becoming sluggish and faint.

"I... can... still..."

These few words were Han Fei's last whisper, uttered with the last vestiges of his life's strength, a challenge to his own limits.

He willed his stiff body, attempting to break free from this icy shackle, but the cold, like sharp claws from the abyss, bit by bit devoured his consciousness. His thoughts gradually blurred, like mist slowly dissipating over a winter lake, the edges of his awareness becoming indistinct.

Just then, the Blazing Lion Demon General joined this cruel hunt. His massive maw opened like the gates of Hell, spewing forth raging flames. Those flames contained terrifying high temperatures capable of melting metal, like an enraged fire Dragon, rushing towards the almost immobile Han Fei.

In that scorching crimson, a trace of helplessness and unwillingness appeared in Han Fei's eyes. He could feel the heat wave, capable of incinerating everything, relentlessly approaching, each moment narrowing the distance to death. It was not merely the touch of fire, but more like the Netherworld's summons to the living, foretelling the arrival of the final judgment.

"I cannot... I cannot fall here..."

In Han Fei's heart, like the last lighthouse submerged by a sea of despair, a faint but firm cry for help was emitted.

However, the raging flames around him were like merciless giant waves, eroding his last line of defense inch by inch. That glimmer of clear will seemed so small and helpless before the raging inferno, and was finally completely swallowed by the surging sea of fire.

The flames, like hungry beasts, instantly engulfed his entire body. His skin rapidly curled and carbonized under the high temperature capable of melting metal. Pain, like a myriad of poisonous needles, fiercely pierced every corner of his body, every nerve trembling in this extreme agony, emitting a silent wail.

"Ah--!"

A heart-wrenching scream burst from Han Fei's throat. It was a lament that transcended the limits of the physical body, a cry of unwillingness, indignation, and the most direct accusation against the injustice of fate.

His voice struggled in this vast sea of fire, yet it was like a pebble thrown into an abyss, instantly swallowed by the angry flames, disappearing into the boundless sky, leaving only an echo that lingered in the Void Realm for a long time.

In that purgatorial flame, Han Fei's body slowly melted until it vanished, leaving only a scorched imprint, proving that he had once walked this world. Along with his cries, everything was swallowed by this deadly silence; it seemed even time was unwilling to remember his name.

The arrogant Dragon Soul Demon General watched with cold eyes, a sneer of disdain playing on his lips. His deep eyes gleamed with an icy indifference. With the extinguishing of Han Fei's life, there was no longer any power on this battlefield that could hinder his and his Demon Army's advance. The scales of victory had already tipped.

The surrounding world gradually returned to calm, and the Demon Generals' Killing Intent also dissipated.

In the air, apart from the pungent smell of scorched earth, there was no trace of Han Fei's existence to be found.

The fierce battle scars of the past were being erased bit by bit by merciless time. Only on that scorched patch of ground did the cruelty of the battle and the coldness of fate vaguely reveal themselves.

But beneath this seemingly desperate scorched earth, something seemed to be stirring quietly—a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation of power, Han Fei's unwilling will in the face of death.

Although his physical body had turned to ashes, deep within his Soul, the spark of unwillingness to yield still burned. That longing for freedom and justice, like a seed, stubbornly sought an opportunity to break through the darkness.

Han Fei's life trajectory had reached a pause here, but his indomitable spirit left an imperceptible yet eternal mark in this silent Universe.

Just as Han Fei's breath was about to fade, the Luna Fairy Spirit's figure appeared.

She clapped softly and said with a smile, "To have persisted until now before falling, you truly exceeded my expectations."

As soon as she finished speaking, Han Fei's consciousness was suddenly pulled back from the hazy edge, as if dragged from a dark abyss by an invisible force.

He stood there stunned, the surrounding scene instantly transforming from a cruel battlefield to a tranquil and peaceful one, as if the fierce battle he had just experienced was merely an illusory nightmare.

He looked down at his hands, perfectly intact, without any wounds.

The pain and despair from earlier seemed to have vanished. His body was no longer tired, as if he had never experienced that life-and-death struggle.

"I... didn't die?" Han Fei murmured to himself, his tone filled with incredible shock and doubt.

Just then, a light voice came from behind, interrupting his thoughts.

"That's right, you didn't die."

The Luna Fairy Spirit's figure emerged from a hazy glow. Her posture was elegant, and her face held a gentle and serene smile. She clapped softly, her gaze filled with appreciation and amusement.

Han Fei turned around and saw the Luna Fairy Spirit's picturesque figure, still somewhat bewildered. He had not fully recovered from the mental shock he had just experienced, and his mind was full of questions.

"What... what's going on?" Han Fei tried to clear his thoughts, but everything before him was too surreal. He couldn't connect the battle he had just fought with the current scene.

The Luna Fairy Spirit smiled and shook her head, gently waving her arm. The surrounding scene changed again. The cruel battlefield disappeared, replaced by a vibrant forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the ground, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers, as if welcoming Han Fei's arrival.

"This is the Mental World I created," the Luna Fairy Spirit explained. "Everything you just experienced was merely a simulated battle within this world. You didn't truly die; your consciousness was merely pushed to its limit."

Han Fei froze for a moment, then suddenly understood. He knew that what he had experienced was not reality, but the genuine pain, fear, and despair still lingered in his heart.

"Mental World..." Han Fei murmured, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

It turned out that everything he had experienced was merely a Trial on the Mental Energy level, and not a real life-and-death struggle.