Eugene’s suspicions were not unfounded. That relic involved a Forbidden Domain, an Ancient City built on the Nether River, associated with a Prince. If he obtained the Prince’s blood, or any Holy Relic left there, Eugene’s power would surge in a short time, elevating his rank to that of a Duke, putting him on equal footing with the Duke of Rein.
He had been observing secretly. This group did not possess Marquis-level power. Kane was nowhere to be found, possibly having left with the Holy Relic. This team, he surmised, was only here to distract them.
The old fool, he really couldn’t sit still, Chu Yi thought.
Chu Yi, with his keen perception, had already cast a Retrospect status on himself. His Divine Hand glowed with a brilliant white light. Having swallowed many divine and demonic powers, his level had increased, causing his hand to shimmer with a flowing array of colors.
However, the opponent was concealed in the void, existing in another spatial dimension and making him undetectable. Chu Yi could see through causality and could create from nothingness.
Without hesitation, he spoke, his words manifesting as reality, "The assailant has shown a flaw, one I noticed early on. Now, my Divine Hand is gripping his throat, forcing him to kneel and beg for mercy, willing to offer everything."
Instantly, Divine Power was consumed, and a new rule emerged. Chu Yi held a silver-haired old man’s neck as if he were a little chick, while the latter knelt, prostrating himself.
The first to be shocked were the nobles who had been about to battle the Crown Flame Six-Tailed Fox. They paused their attack at this moment. In their minds, an image formed: the noble Lord Eugene, a Marquis, attacking by surprise. Yet this youth had countered him, subduing him with a turn of his hand and suppressing him on the spot.
Even more unbelievable to them was what followed. The usually aloof Marquis Eugene was actually kneeling and begging for mercy, willing to offer his lands, title, wife, and daughters, pleading for his life. Witnessing the Marquis’s disgraceful state as he begged the youth for mercy, the other nobles stood frozen.
Eugene, the one at the center of it all, kept begging, his thoughts twisted. Then, suddenly, he froze.
This... This was absolutely impossible! This youth was at most at the quasi-Marquis level. How could I, a veteran Marquis, be defeated so easily? And what was this about offering my wife and daughters, begging him for forgiveness?
Yet, as soon as this thought arose, he suddenly felt the youth’s power was unfathomable. He blamed himself for being careless; his failure to dodge had led to his capture. Just a moment ago, the youth’s perceptive eyes had seen through his attack direction. A hand wielding Ancient Void God Power had torn open the void, pulling him, bewildered, down and delivering several heavy blows. And in his current Desperate Realm, to survive, he was willing to offer his wife and daughters in exchange for his life. It all seemed completely reasonable.
Yet, something felt off.
Chu Yi sneered. Trying to escape? His eyes reflected a Twilight Light as he condensed a pea-sized bullet and swiftly shot it into the Marquis’s body.
Instantly, the already aged Marquis’s silver-gray hair turned significantly paler. His face seemed to age decades, becoming like wrinkled tree bark.
A Pale Fire, weak like a flickering candle flame, ignited Eugene’s body with a flick from Chu Yi. Not giving the Marquis a chance to release his Blood Energy, Chu Yi grabbed a rusty Short Spear and, with a well-aimed backstab, pierced his back. He was now suffering from a curse that even the gods couldn’t erase. A large amount of blood splattered out, and the wound refused to heal.
Accompanied by an exhilarating HISS of steam, and drawing on his previous experience, Chu Yi activated his Divine Hand. He reached in, tearing at ethereal strings, destroying the Marquis’s Life Chart and suppressing his title. The brilliant white light voraciously swallowed the colors flowing from the Life Chart.
Eugene, gravely injured, his white hair thinning, screamed madly. A horrifying Blood Energy erupted from him. Wild winds raged in the void, intertwining with a blood mist. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and several ferocious lightning bolts tore through them.
He had been hit by Chu Yi’s series of devastating attacks. First, his remaining lifespan was erased. Then, his Soul was roasted with Bone Fire. This was followed by the Blood Spear inflicting a bleeding debuff and suppressing his title, creating an opening. Finally, Chu Yi’s Divine Hand had plunged in, ready to deliver the fatal blow!
From start to finish, he never had a chance to release his Bloodline Power; the combination of attacks had nearly finished him.
Meanwhile, Bika was rampantly unleashing blazing fire. Its six furious dragon-like tails tore at the heavens, blocking the path and leaving the lesser nobles with no way to rescue the Marquis. Of course, faced with such a ferocious youth, they had never truly intended to rescue the Marquis. In fact, a few, unable to handle the scene, had already fled in panic.
"Oh my God!" John, still just a head, stared blankly. Another rumored Marquis, Lord Eugene—a major figure far removed from my circle—is being crushed by my recognized master, almost beaten to death! This Lord was an old Marquis... Never mind. Regardless of his past glories, he’s still dying at the Master’s hand. For the first time, John felt his decision to pledge loyalty to Chu Yi was incredibly wise. If it’s the Master, maybe he could even replace a Duke!
As for the maids, they paused, dumbfounded. We thought we were in a Desperate Realm, that fighting a Marquis would be an arduous battle! But in the blink of an eye, he was almost dismantled! The Young Master is truly fierce, as expected of the progeny of gods and demons! They stood there, dumbfounded. It seems... we’re of no help... After a moment of thought, they recovered their composure, resumed their dainty maid demeanors, and began cheering for their Young Master.
"I’ve had enough!" As his Blood Energy leaked, Eugene let out an unwilling low roar. He had lived for over three centuries! To be manipulated by a human youth in the end, and in front of everyone, to have offered his wife and daughters in a plea for his life—it was an utter humiliation!
Even if I survive this, I can’t remain in the Rein Duchy. Who knows how many nobles will secretly mock my cowardice, my abandoning of my wife and daughters! Even the servants will cast disdainful glances at me in secret! And it’s all because of this Beast Taming Youth! But what could I do? As a member of the Blood Race, Chu Yi had found the means to suppress me. That Deceit Beast combo... it left me powerless.
"Despicable human! Let us perish together! Let us go meet the Progenitor!" He gritted his teeth, his decision made. He stopped his title from healing his injuries and instead began to accumulate energy. His body started to expand.
In just one or two breaths, he detonated. The blood, permeated with void energy, exploded, causing this pocket of space to collapse. It destroyed all real matter, obliterating it into nothingness! However, because the detonation was so rapid, the void explosion’s blast radius was small, covering only about five meters and compressing into a miniature black hole.
At the same time, a ring shaped like a large eye, wrapped in a faint white light, escaped from the collapsing void and fled into the distance. Inside, it contained Eugene’s Soul, which had been scorched by the Nether Bone Fire. This ring was a Sacred Artifact of the void type, exceptionally rare, and had been passed down through Eugene’s family for generations.