240: Guidance

"Kill!" Yang Kang let out a battle cry and was the first to attack! He gripped the blood-colored battle axe with both hands, raising it high above his head as the blood-red energy throughout his body surged frantically toward the axe's edge! The battle axe glowed brilliantly with red light, and a massive, near-solid blood-colored axe shadow, several meters long and wide, appeared out of thin air. Carrying a tragic aura capable of tearing through everything and slaughtering all living beings, it slashed down toward Comrade Zhang Lei's head! This was one of his strongest killing moves—Blood Seal Slash!

Facing this terrifying strike capable of splitting a tank, Comrade Zhang Lei's eyes flickered slightly, a flash of appreciative brilliance passing through them. He didn't dodge or evade; instead, he casually raised his right hand, and the divine fire covering his arm suddenly brightened!

"Buzz—!"

Under everyone's disbelieving gazes, Comrade Zhang Lei's palm, wrapped in golden-red flames, actually struck second but arrived first, grabbing that solid blood-colored axe blade with incomparable precision! His five fingers closed like iron pincers!

"Break!"

With a soft shout, the divine fire in his palm suddenly erupted! Like the scorching sun melting snow, that powerful blood-colored axe shadow couldn't hold out for even a second before shattering inch by inch in the blinding firelight, turning into a sky full of drifting blood-colored light spots and vanishing into nothingness!

Catching an ultimate move with bare hands?! The entire field instantly fell into a dead silence, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard!

Having succeeded in one strike, Comrade Zhang Lei remained still until he moved, and when he did, he was like a thunderclap! Firelight flashed beneath his feet, his figure blurred, and he appeared in front of Yang Kang in an instant. Comrade Zhang Lei did not use the fire qilin spear; instead, he intended to engage in close-quarters combat with this Berserker using pure physical techniques!

"Bang bang bang! Qiang!" Fist shadows and the axe blade instantly intertwined! Comrade Zhang Lei's fists, palms, elbows, and knees were all the most lethal weapons, entwined with scorching divine fire. Every collision with the blood-colored battle axe erupted in a deafening roar and flying sparks! He intentionally controlled his power and speed, acting like a patient mentor, guiding Yang Kang to stimulate the Berserker's potential step by step.

Yang Kang also sensed Comrade Zhang Lei's intention. Aside from the gratitude in his heart, his fighting spirit rose even higher. The characteristics of his Berserker Superpower were fully displayed at this moment—the braver he fought, the stronger he became! If it were a life-and-death struggle, Yang Kang could even recover his physical stamina after slaying an enemy.

Under the immense pressure given by Comrade Zhang Lei, the blood qi within his body flowed incessantly. His strength and speed even showed faint signs of improvement during the battle. He swung his battle axe with increasing madness and dominance, as the blood-colored axe light enveloped Comrade Zhang Lei like a storm. Although he felt like he was walking with a mountain on his back under the continuous suppression of the divine fire domain—his whole body hot enough to burn and his Superpower consumption massive—this battle, walking on the edge of his limits, allowed his understanding of his own Superpower to deepen at an unprecedented speed.

Lu Qinian, Governor Wu, and the others watching below were all knowledgeable people. They had long seen that Comrade Zhang Lei was not using his full strength and was more like "feeding moves" to Yang Kang. Moreover, the entire process appeared effortless and calm. This level of ease and control made their hearts feel even more solemn.

After more than a hundred rounds of such intense fighting, although Yang Kang fought more bravely as the battle progressed, the consumption of his physical strength and Superpower by the divine fire domain was too great. His movements finally began to slow down, his breathing sounded like a bellows, and the blood light around his body clearly dimmed; he was at the end of his rope.

Seeing that Yang Kang had exhausted his stamina, Comrade Zhang Lei no longer held back. His figure suddenly retreated ten meters, and he slammed his hands together in front of his chest!

"Whoosh—!"

A massive Fire God phantom, over ten meters tall, majestic and holy, and composed entirely of golden-red divine fire, suddenly condensed and appeared behind him! The phantom's face was blurred, yet it radiated a terrifying divine might capable of incinerating the eight wildernesses!

"Fire God's Rage—!"

Comrade Zhang Lei let out a violent roar, like a celestial decree! Centered on the Fire God phantom, a visible wave of golden-red flame, scorching to the extreme, erupted in a perfect ring, spreading rapidly in all directions like a tsunami! Wherever the air wave passed, the air was ignited, making crackling explosions!

Bearing the brunt of the attack, Yang Kang only felt an irresistible wave of destructive energy rushing at him! The black-red battle armor on his body was like paper, shattering and melting the moment it touched the air wave! He was like a man hit head-on by a high-speed train; he spat out a mouthful of blood and his body flew backward uncontrollably, falling directly out of the arena boundary and slamming heavily onto the ground. The blood-colored runes and demonic horns on his body quickly receded, returning him to his original form.

This strike, resembling a divine punishment descending upon the world, completely ignited the entire field! After a brief silence, deafening screams, cheers, and incredulous gasps erupted like a mountain landslide or a tsunami! All the soldiers and Evolvers looked at the figure on the stage, who was like a Fire God, with fanatical and awe-filled eyes!

Comrade Zhang Lei dissipated the Fire God phantom and the surrounding flames. He walked slowly to Yang Kang, who was temporarily unable to get up from the shock, knelt down, and extended his palm. A soft and life-filled water-blue healing light flowed out, covering Yang Kang's body and quickly repairing his internal organ tremors and physical exhaustion.

Under the effect of the water therapy technique, Yang Kang quickly recovered some strength. He struggled to stand up, ignoring the lingering soreness in his body, and solemnly cupped his hands toward Comrade Zhang Lei with a deep bow. His tone was full of gratitude and admiration: "Thank you for your meticulous guidance, Officer! Yang Kang has benefited immensely and gained much insight! I will never forget this kindness of guidance!"

"No need for such formality. Since we are colleagues and comrades-in-arms, we are just learning from each other; there's no need to speak of guidance." Comrade Zhang Lei smiled faintly and reached out to help him up. He then turned and walked toward Lu Qinian, Governor Wu, and the others who had been closely following the match.

"Comrade Zhang Lei!" Lu Qinian quickly stepped forward to meet him, his face full of admiration as he praised from the bottom of his heart: "Seeing it with my own eyes today, I now know that the name 'ice fire divine lord' is well-deserved! This display of divine fire magic and your effortless methods are simply world-shaking, like the descent of heavenly might. It has truly opened our eyes!"

"General Lu overpraises me; it was just a small trick, not worth mentioning." Comrade Zhang Lei's expression was calm. He was already accustomed to such praise, and it caused little stir in his heart.

"Comrade Zhang Lei," Governor Wu spoke at the right time, steering the conversation toward official business, "this is not the place for a talk. We have already prepared a meeting room. Why don't we move there to discuss the specifics of our cooperation in detail? What do you think?"

"That suits me perfectly. Governor Wu, please; General Lu, please." Comrade Zhang Lei followed the suggestion and nodded in agreement...