97: One shot that shocked the world, the gamble came to an end.

Yun Hao's voice still echoed outside the Star Gazing Hall, his entire being, along with the long spear in his hand, transformed into a gray, hazy stream of light that tore through the Void Realm! There was no earth-shattering Aura explosion, only an ultimate 'break' intent, as if even if there were countless Laws and Heavenly Gods and Demons ahead, he would break through them with one spear!

The Heavenly Mandate Rank Puppet wielding the giant sword had purple flames flickering in its eye sockets. It raised its giant sword, drawing in the surrounding Void Realm energy, transforming it into a hundred-zhang-long destructive sword Qi that, with an unstoppable Heavenly Mandate Rank might, fiercely cleaved down! Where the sword Qi passed, space let out a pained groan under the unbearable pressure.

Facing this strike capable of easily shattering stars, the spear light Yun Hao transformed into did not dodge or evade, its speed even increasing by three points, directly crashing into it!

"Seeking death!" Purple Nightmare's sneer at the corner of his mouth grew thicker.

However, the next instant, the smile on his Face completely froze!

The anticipated scene of the spear light shattering did not occur. The destructive sword Qi, imbued with Heavenly Mandate Rank power, upon contact with the gray spear tip, actually crumbled like fragile glass, starting from the point of contact and cracking inch by inch! It wasn't defeated, but its intrinsic Law structure was forcibly disintegrated and annihilated from the most fundamental level by that pure 'annihilation' intent!

The spear light's momentum remained undiminished, as if it had not pierced through a powerful attack, but merely a phantom.

In one-thousandth of a second, the gray spear tip had already landed on the core of the giant sword Puppet's chest.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The giant sword Puppet's sword-raising motion stiffened, the purple flames in its eye sockets flickered violently, filled with unbelievable horror. The purple light armor on its body, which was strong enough to withstand the full bombardment of a Legendary Peak expert, did not even cause a ripple before silently dissolving the instant the spear tip touched it.

"Break."

Yun Hao's cold voice was like the final judgment.

Boom!

The giant sword Puppet's enormous body, starting from its chest core, instantly disintegrated and collapsed like ice and snow thrown into a scorching sun, transforming into the purest purple energy particles, scattering into the Void Realm. There was no explosion, no wreckage, only the gradually dissipating Heavenly Mandate Rank pressure, proving that it had once existed.

One spear!

It was truly just one spear!

A powerful Puppet, comparable to a Heavenly Mandate Rank First Stage, thus vanished into thin air!

Silence!

Dead silence!

Although Nie Li and Yun Qiao had confidence in Yun Hao, they never expected it to be so clean and decisive, so overwhelming! That was a Heavenly Mandate Rank! It couldn't even withstand one spear?! The two looked at Yun Hao's back, filled with shock and excitement.

The composure and sneer on Purple Nightmare's Face had long vanished without a trace, replaced by a ghost-like horror and stupor. He stared intently at Yun Hao, then suddenly looked at Yun Feng, whose expression remained calm, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word. His understanding, under this one spear, was completely subverted!

Yun Hao slowly retracted his spear, the astonishing sharpness around him contained. He didn't even look at the dissipated Puppet, his gaze turning to the remaining two Puppets, finally landing on Purple Nightmare, his tone flat: "Next, who's up?"

A plain tone, yet carrying unparalleled dominance and confidence!

Purple Nightmare shivered, suddenly snapping back to reality, his Face alternating between green and pale. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes extremely complex, with shock, anger, disbelief, and a deep sense of frustration and... a hint of fear.

He understood. He had kicked an iron plate, no, he had kicked an unshakeable divine mountain! This guy, who seemingly only had Legendary Peak strength, his true combat power had definitely reached the Heavenly Mandate Rank, and he was absolutely not an ordinary Heavenly Mandate Rank First Stage! And the woman next to him and that steady young man, perhaps they also... that unfathomable Court Master Yun, his subordinates were actually so terrifying?!

How could this gamble continue? The remaining two Puppets would probably meet the same fate! Let alone three moves, they might not even withstand one!

Continue to gamble? That would purely be inviting humiliation, plus offering three precious Heavenly Mandate Rank Puppets and ten years of freedom.

Admit defeat? Hand over the star map fragment of the void origin core? This price also made him extremely pained.

Purple Nightmare struggled internally, his expression constantly changing.

Court Master Yun finally spoke again, his voice still flat, but carrying an invisible pressure: "What, Your Excellency Purple Nightmare, are you planning to personally step in and try out these few unworthy subordinates of mine?"

Purple Nightmare trembled all over, looking at Court Master Yun's bottomless eyes, a chill shot up from his feet to the crown of his head. Personally step in? What a joke! If his subordinates were this strong, how terrifying must the main person be? The Eye of Nirvana's throne being split by a single finger was probably not an exaggeration!

Weighing the pros and cons, Face and inner substance, ultimately, tangible benefits and freedom were more important.

Purple Nightmare took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the stormy waves in his heart, and forced a smile uglier than crying, cupping his hands towards Court Master Yun: "Court... Court Master Yun, your subordinates... truly hide Dragon and crouching tiger, I admire you, I admire you! It is I... who failed to recognize a great talent."

With extreme heartache, he took out an ancient bone fragment from his Huai, shimmering with Chaos colors and covered in profound patterns, and, supported by Soul Power, sent it to Court Master Yun.

"This is... the star map fragment of the void origin core. I lost the bet, it belongs to Your Excellency." His voice carried a hint of imperceptible tremor.

Court Master Yun casually took it, his Divine Sense swept over it, confirmed it was correct, and put it away, saying faintly: "Thank you for the concession."

Purple Nightmare's mouth twitched. Not wanting to stay a moment longer, he cupped his hands again: "Farewell!" After speaking, he didn't even dare to look at Nie Li and the other two, rolled up his sleeves, put away the remaining two Puppets, and his figure, like a startled rabbit, instantly transformed into a purple light, fleeing in a hurry at several times the speed he arrived, disappearing into the depths of the Void Realm.

Outside the Star Gazing Hall, peace was restored once more.

Nie Li and Yun Qiao finally completely relaxed and gathered around Yun Hao.

"Big Brother, you were too fierce just now!" Yun Qiao's eyes were full of adoring stars.

Nie Li also exclaimed: "One spear to destroy a Heavenly Mandate Rank... Yun Hao, your strength, I'm afraid it has already surpassed an ordinary Heavenly Mandate Rank First Stage, hasn't it?"

Yun Hao shook his head, looking at Court Master Yun: "It is the Chaos Origin and the profound combat techniques bestowed by Court Master. I have only initially mastered them. Without Court Master, I would never be a match for that Heavenly Mandate Rank Puppet."

Court Master Yun smiled slightly, not saying much. He looked in the direction Purple Nightmare had fled, his gaze profound.

"Illusory Silence Star Sea... void origin core..." He caressed the bone fragment in his hand, "This endless Void Realm is becoming more and more interesting."

After this battle, the Cloud Court's prestige will spread to more distant, unknown Star Domains in a more domineering and incredible way. And new adventures and challenges, it seems, have quietly begun with the arrival of this star map fragment.