“The Emperor’s divine ability! This is… the legendary Pangu’s Giant Body!”
In the common perception, Pangu’s Giant Body was a divine ability one might only witness once in a lifetime.
Reflected in the countless Sky Mirrors, Emperor Jiajing’s form grew, expanding until he towered over the landscape like a mountain, a colossal figure reminiscent of Pangu himself, the creator of heaven and earth.
“Terrifying! How can Empress Yao Guang possibly defeat him? Jiajing is already the strongest man in the world. Now, empowered by Pangu’s Giant Body… She must be mad! Or suicidal! Is the Great Ci Dynasty, barely a year old, about to fall?”
The world doubted Yao Guang’s chances. Fan Li, too, was lost in thought. He suspected Yao Guang would use a portion of Xirang. Otherwise, she wouldn't dare challenge Jiajing within his own territory. But even with Xirang, her chances of victory were slim. What was she planning?
As Fan Li had predicted, Yao Guang produced a small wooden box, holding it in her palm.
“What is it? A spirit treasure? Or a pill? She’s like an ant before Jiajing. What can she possibly do?”
The world, watching through the Sky Mirrors, was filled with questions.
Jiajing himself, looking down at Yao Guang, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, also seemed puzzled. But he remained patient, confident, his expression unreadable. He would defeat this woman who dared challenge him, and he would do it decisively, publicly, for all the world to see. Anything less would be an insult to his authority, a blemish on his reputation as the world’s strongest.
The wooden box opened, revealing its contents, reflected in the Sky Mirrors: a handful of dirt. The world was disappointed.
“Dirt? Is that… just dirt? Unless we are truly ignorant, surely there are no spirit treasures or pills that look ?”
Jiajing, too, seemed surprised. His colossal form, however, magnified even the slightest change in his expression.
Yao Guang saw it. The world saw it. It seemed even Jiajing didn’t recognize Xirang.
“This is called Xirang,” Yao Guang explained, to Fan Li’s surprise. “With this divine earth, I can utilize the Emperor’s divine ability even outside my own territory.”
The words had barely left her lips when Jiajing’s face, momentarily stunned, twisted in anger. He had been tricked. But it was too late. Yao Guang scattered the Xirang at her feet, channeling its power. A torrent of white energy surged into her body.
Jiajing recognized it instantly – the power of a kingdom’s destiny!
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“Pangu’s Giant Body! She’s using Pangu’s Giant Body! Within the Great Ming’s territory! What is this Xirang? How can it grant such power?!”
Fan Li marveled at Yao Guang’s cunning. To utilize Pangu’s Giant Body within the Great Ming, it was a bold and shocking display of power, far more effective than any proclamation of benevolent rule. After today, no one would underestimate Great Ci. Yao Guang’s prestige would rival Jiajing’s. Of course, that was assuming she survived.
“Thank you for your patience, Emperor Jiajing. Shall we continue?” Yao Guang’s voice, though still gentle, now carried a note of challenge. She stood before Jiajing, her form now equal to his, a giant among giants.
“Good… very good… excellent…” Jiajing’s voice, however, was laced with anger. He, the Emperor, had been made a fool of. He, like the rest of the world, had assumed Yao Guang was suicidal. Yet, she had clearly anticipated his reaction, turning his arrogance against him.
The battle resumed. This time, the Vermilion Bird didn’t even participate. Even the fifty thousand Ming soldiers huddled within the city walls, trembling. Only the Sky Mirrors remained, faithfully reflecting the clash of titans.
Jiajing, wielding the Sun and Moon Scripture, and Yao Guang, wielding the Holy Yin Scripture.
The sun and moon shone brightly, their combined light banishing the Sea of Bitterness that had previously extinguished the Vermilion Bird’s flames.
But in the next instant, green grass sprouted beneath Yao Guang’s feet, blossoming into a field of vibrant flowers. Two Bodhi trees materialized, one withered, one flourishing, a symbolic representation of the cycle of life and death.
The sun and moon’s light couldn’t touch them. The flowers continued to bloom, the grass to grow, the Bodhi trees to cycle through life and death.
“This technique is called ‘Other Shore.’ What do you think, Emperor Jiajing?” Yao Guang asked.
Jiajing didn't respond, but his grim expression revealed the pressure he was under.
“A stalemate? They’re evenly matched? Incredible!” The two Emperors, their divine abilities clashing, were at an impasse.
But Fan Li understood. For Yao Guang, a stalemate was a victory. Jiajing, renowned as the world’s strongest, to be held at bay, it was a defeat.
And Jiajing understood this as well. His face darkened, a stark contrast to Yao Guang’s unwavering smile.
“Roar!” With a furious bellow that shook the heavens, Jiajing’s aura exploded. The sun and moon shone even brighter, their light intensifying. He raised his right hand, clenching his fist, as if grasping the very essence of the sun and moon, their power coalescing within his palm. He struck, his fist at Yao Guang, a blow that seemed capable of shattering the world itself.
A sound like shattering glass echoed through the air. Reflected in the Sky Mirrors, the flowers withered, the grass turned brown, the Bodhi trees crumbled into dust.
“Cough!” Yao Guang was injured. A faint blush colored her jade-like skin, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Yet, she continued to smile. “Impressive. My ‘Other Shore’ has never been broken so quickly. But Emperor Jiajing, I suspect you, too, have paid a price.”
The world watched in astonishment. They had assumed Yao Guang was defeated. But it seemed Jiajing’s victory hadn’t come cheaply. The sun and moon above him vanished, his face as pale as parchment. The force of his attack had clearly taken a toll.
“You… have lost. I am still… stronger,” Jiajing declared, his words, however, lacking conviction, a desperate attempt to salvage his pride.
The world, watching through the Sky Mirrors, shared Fan Li’s skepticism. “Is this truly the end? The Other Shore is broken. Yao Guang has indeed lost. But Jiajing’s victory was a pyrrhic one. She was only slightly weaker. If she had allies, she could have killed him within his own territory. And what about the Five Kingdoms Alliance? If the Emperors of Wei, Han, and Wu had joined the battle…”
Jiajing, though he couldn't hear their words, understood the implications. His reputation as the invincible Emperor, the strongest man in the world, had been shattered. And it was all because of Xirang.