The bluish-purple glow illuminated the surroundings. The earth and sky shared the same color, filled with an icy stillness and the aura of extinction. This was the Realm of Eternal Samsara.
“A spatial law divine ability?” muttered Nangong Longjian.
He curiously observed his surroundings. He could feel the power within him, along with his power of laws, being drained away. A look of surprise appeared on his face but he remained unfazed.
Opposite him, Li Xiaofei unhesitatingly activated Time Reversal. In an instant, he returned to the state he had been half an hour ago, perfect and unscathed.
At the same time, under the influence of the Realm of Eternal Samsara, his life level underwent a breakthrough for the first time, surpassing the Meteor level and advancing to the Asteroid level. It came with a tremendous surge in combat strength.
“Oh? You’ve completely restored your peak state... and even grown stronger,” muttered Nangong Longjian as a deeper interest flickered in his eyes.
He carefully examined Li Xiaofei before asking curiously, “You’ve given me quite the surprise. My instincts weren’t wrong, you’re hiding a great secret.”
Li Xiaofei did not respond. Instead, he retrieved a spare spear from the Secret Time Pavilion and dropped into a spear stance. After their previous clash, his comprehension of Three Spears of Storm and Cloud had deepened significantly. His aura was even more imposing now.
The power of Star Shatter and Void Annihilation, his first two spear techniques, had increased more than fourfold compared to the last time he had unleashed them. His spear intent became even more forceful and razor-sharp.
Nangong Longjian retrieved an identical dark-gold curved saber from his storage pouch. Using his body techniques in tandem with his saber techniques, he met both spear strikes head-on. But he was forced two steps back after taking these two blows.
“What a terrifying battle genius... Your rate of improvement is simply astonishing. At this pace, I fear I won’t be able to withstand your third strike, Demon Suppression,” said Nangong Longjian.
He sighed in admiration. Then, he laughed and continued, “Fortunately, I have my own trump card... Forbidden Art, Final Moment!”
As soon as he spoke, an overwhelming killing intent surged from Nangong Longjian’s body. This time, it was visibly crimson. It was as if an endless sea of blood was spilling from the darkness itself. His aura and oppressive force skyrocketed in an instant. His life level surged at an unimaginable rate.
Neutron Star, High Stage. Neutron Star, Completion. Neutron Star, Peak stage. Half-Step Supernova!
As his life level soared, Nangong Longjian’s body underwent a shocking and eerie transformation at a speed visible to the naked eye. His eyes turned into pools of blood. Dark red, metallic scales emerged on the surface of his body.
A pair of thick, coiling horns sprouted from his forehead. A single, blood-red crack, like molten lava, appeared across his skin. It radiated a terrifying and bizarre heat, resembling a dying Star that was unleashing its final burst of energy and scorching the very space around it.
Li Xiaofei did not hesitate. He thrust his spear forward and unleashed his third strike, Demon Suppression! Six divine dragons, shimmering in silver light, manifested from the tip of his spear.
He quickly used Six Dragons Seal and Demon Suppression.
Nangong Longjian swung his blade in a rapid, devastating slash in retaliation.
A terrifying explosion erupted within the Realm of Eternal Samsara. The collapse of the power of laws unleashed a violent energy shockwave, sweeping across the surroundings in a frenzy. It was as if the previous battle scene had been replayed on a grander scale.
Li Xiaofei lunged forward with his spear. The spear tip pierced Nangong Longjian’s chest effortlessly, meeting no resistance.
Bright red liquid spurted from his body, splattering onto the ground. At the same time, the dark-gold saber sliced through the air, aiming directly at Li Xiaofei’s neck.
The scene fell into an abrupt silence. Li Xiaofei glanced at the saber, hovering just above his skin. Then, he looked at the spear in his hand.
Only half remained. The part that had supposedly pierced Nangong Longjian’s body had actually been melted away by the scorching heat within his body. The crimson liquid dripping onto the ground wasn’t blood. It was molten metal. The remnants of his spear had been reduced to slag.
"You’ve lost again," said Nangong Longjian. At this moment, he was more monster than man. Even the breath he exhaled carried searing flames.
Li Xiaofei took a deep breath. He could feel the blade’s edge grazing the skin of his neck. Yet there was no disappointment or fear in his heart.
Yes. He had lost once more. Even when executing Demon Suppression at full force for the second time, he had failed to defeat Nangong Longjian in his Final Moment state.
Nangong Longjian’s strength had far exceeded what anyone had imagined. At the very least, he had never once revealed such a law-defying divine ability. in his previous two thousand life-and-death battles
The odds of victory were incredibly slim when fighting against such an arrogant yet reserved powerhouse. He was the strongest opponent Li Xiaofei had ever faced. A formidable foe, yet one worthy of respect.
"However..." Li Xiaofei countered, saying, "How long can your Final Moment actually last?"
Nangong Longjian replied, "The duration doesn’t matter. Even if it lasts only a second, it’s enough to kill you."
"Not enough." Li Xiaofei spoke with absolute confidence, "Because you can’t kill me at all."
"Oh?" Nangong Longjian’s curiosity deepened. "Then tell me, where does your confidence come from?"
Li Xiaofei remained unwavering as he said, "You can try. Try, and you’ll see."
Nangong Longjian pondered for a moment. In the end, he did not strike. Instead, he loosened his grip and let the dark-gold saber slip from his hand, allowing it to fall to the ground. Then, he slowly stepped back.
He continued retreating until he was ten meters away. A deep sigh escaped Nangong Longjian’s lips. He was filled with unmistakable regret.
"I’m going to die," said Nangong Longjian. His tone was unnervingly calm, as if he were speaking about something entirely unrelated to himself.
Nangong Longjian continued, "Have you ever heard of Eden?"
A flicker of emotion stirred in Li Xiaofei’s heart.
"Of course, I’ve heard of it," replied Li Xiaofei who did not deny it.
In fact, the existence of Eden was no secret within Chongque City. Many people knew about it. They knew it was a hidden and sinister organization. They also knew it was a primary target of government crackdowns.
However, Eden had infiltrated them too deeply and concealed itself too well. The average person had no means of coming into contact with it. Not only did it have numerous operatives lurking within Chongque City, it also had hundreds of secret bases across interstellar space. They possessed an immense sphere of influence.
Li Xiaofei had no idea why Nangong Longjian would bring up Eden at a time .
"They approached me. They wanted me to join them. I refused. So now, they want me dead," said Nangong Longjian.
The unnatural transformations on Nangong Longjian’s body gradually faded. His body returned to its previous state. He looked lean, sharp, and handsome as he sat cross-legged, suspended slightly above the ground.
"Do you know why?" asked Nangong Longjian, looking at Li Xiaofei.
There was something indescribable in his gaze. A fleeting expression, as though he were looking at an old friend he had not seen in a long time.
Li Xiaofei’s confusion only deepened.
"Why?" asked Li Xiaofei.
Nangong Longjian grinned and said, "Because, just like you, I’m from Earth! Hahaha!"
His laughter was filled with genuine amusement. On the surface, Li Xiaofei’s expression remained unchanged. But inside, his mind trembled violently.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," said Li Xiaofei in an emotionless voice.
Nangong Longjian did not press the issue. Instead, he said, "It doesn’t matter if you deny it. You can continue being Li Qingchen, and I won’t expose you. After all, trust is a rare luxury in this era."
Li Xiaofei stayed silent. He had no idea what Nangong Longjian was truly after.
Then, Nangong Longjian continued, "But let me warn you. After this battle, Eden will surely come for you. The moment they make contact, you will find yourself entangled in a colossal storm of trouble. Are you ready?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a single black fissure split down his body.