"…What?!" Su Ming finally spoke, as if his brain had stopped working for a moment.
"Did you just say this person wants to kill you and is also hunting Law Body owners?!" Jiang Ruiyan asked, placing a hand on her forehead.
Wu Ruoxian frowned, then memories from the past flashed, making her eyes shine with understanding.
The puzzle pieces began to fall into place one by one.
She understood now!
That's why she hadn't heard Zhang Yong's name in her past life.
Huo Qiangda, according to her past life, was one of the future Emperors—
the Emperor of Savage Strength!
This Emperor was rumored that he had never been defeated since the day he was born. Even before cultivating, he hadn't lost once.
His greatest feat was the "Genius Massacre" he carried out in this very world—the Heavenly Border Realm
And now she understood.
Zhang Yong became famous in this timeline because she taught him alchemy.
If she hadn't taught him, he wouldn't have become this famous
Therefore, she hadn't heard of him in her past life.
If all these clues are correct, then Zhang Yong is destined to die here at Huo Qiangda's hands.
No one knows about this.
Currently, none of these events have happened yet, so the future can be changed.
'I can't let him die here, no matter what,' Wu Ruoxian thought resolutely.
Even Liu Yan, who had been scolding Zhang Yong moments ago, seemed to have lost the will to continue.
"Oh, great, just great!" Su Ming waved his hands in the air. "As if our lives weren't already complicated enough! Do we now have to deal with a maniac who hunts Law Body owners?!"
Zhang Yong added, "Extra info: he possesses the Law Body of Strength."
Everyone's shock increased upon hearing that.
Wu Ruoxian, still analyzing the situation, looked at Zhang Yong with eyes full of seriousness. If she didn't do something, he would end up dead.
Even with all his skills and cunning, he couldn't possibly survive against a monster like Huo Qiangda. She had to intervene.
"It doesn't matter. You all don't need to worry. Just leave. He's after me. He'll let you go. Leave while I hold him off." He turned his head, looking toward the horizon where pillars of dust and smoke rose as the terrifying sound approached.
Liu Yan gasped in anger, "Have you completely lost your mind? You say that as if you're simply going to sacrifice yourself!"
Zhang Yong smiled a mocking smile, but his eyes remained calm. "I know I can't defeat him. But I can buy time for everyone. I'm the only one who can hold him off."
Wu Ruoxian's eyes narrowed in anger. She then took a step forward, saying in a cold voice, "If you think I'll stand idly by and let you die, you're a fool."
They all felt the pressure increasing as Huo Qiangda approached. The air began to vibrate, and a violent aura pressed down on the area.
Zhang Yong chuckled lightly but didn't respond. The truth was, he wasn't sure what could be done against a monster like Huo Qiangda, but he knew one thing… running wasn't an option.
Before he could reply, an explosive sound boomed on the horizon, and a massive figure suddenly emerged from the cloud of smoke and dust.
Huo Qiangda had arrived.
He stood there, his height exceeding two meters. The air around him was completely dark, and his exhaled breath was like that of a charging bull. He grinned a savage smile, as if looking at his prey.
"I found you, Zhang Yong."
A shiver ran through everyone's bodies. The pressure emanating from him was immense.
"Yeah, I've been waiting for you too. Guys, move quickly!" Immediately, Zhang Yong rushed toward Huo Qiangda.
He shot forward with his body like a launched arrow, while huo Qiangda's expression turned mocking as he raised his giant hand to crush his opponent with one strike.
BOOM
A violent wave of wind and debris erupted as his fist struck the ground, shattering rocks and spreading cracks in all directions. But Zhang Yong wasn't there.
Amidst the dust, Zhang Yong was directly above him and threw a punch toward Huo Qiangda with force!
But before his fist could reach his opponent's face, Huo Qiangda suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing with ferocity. He then moved his hand with astonishing speed and caught Zhang Yong's fist mid-air.
"Weak," he said it in a quiet voice, but it carried a tone of absolute contempt.
In the next moment, his lips twisted into a savage smile, then he swung his other hand, throwing Zhang Yong toward the ground like a ragdoll!
BOOM
The ground surface shattered, cracks spreading from the point where Zhang Yong's body impacted, while dust billowed into the air.
Inside the crater, Zhang Yong was lying on his back, pain coursing through his entire body, but he hadn't lost consciousness. He tasted blood in his mouth but forced himself to stand up, his hands trembling as he pushed off the ground.
"Oh? You can still get up?" Huo Qiangda said with an amused smile, tilting his head to the side. "I admit you're tougher than I expected. But this changes nothing."
Zhang Yong didn't reply. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
He struck all four limbs against the ground, and his entire body rose from the earth.
In an instant, an explosive noise rang out as Huo Qiangda focused power in his foot, leaping toward Zhang Yong with insane speed.
His fist descended like a meteor striking the earth, aiming directly at his opponent's head!
Zhang Yong raised his fist, and the two punches met with horrifying force as compressed air exploded around them.
BOOM
The sound of the collision echoed in the sky. A massive shockwave blasted outward, scattering stones and sand in every direction. The earth shook under the blow's impact, and new cracks shot out from it like a rapidly expanding spiderweb.
Zhang Yong retreated ten steps backward, his arm trembling from the intense impact, while Huo Qiangda remained standing firmly in place as if nothing had happened. His savage smile didn't change; it even widened.
"Yes! This is the excitement! This is a man's fight!" Huo Qiangda shouted with enthusiasm.
In the next moment, his body disappeared from sight for an instant!
Zhang Yong immediately activated the Heavenly Eyes, but too late. By the time he detected Huo Qiangda's location, he had already appeared beside him.
A powerful punch headed toward Zhang Yong's ribs. Zhang Yong immediately felt several ribs break as he was sent flying through the air, brutally smashing through a number of trees.
When there were no more trees to crash into, his body fell, dragging across the ground and leaving a wide trail behind him.
Zhang Yong coughed up blood from his mouth and gasped violently. His lungs were burning. If he didn't possess the bones of a Spirit Beast instead of a human body's bones, he would have already perished.
Suddenly, complex glowing talismans appeared in the air, and dozens of lightning arrows shot directly toward Huo Qiangda.
But Huo Qiangda didn't retreat. His violent aura exploded in the air.
BOOM!
The lightning talisman arrows exploded on the spot, leaving many craters.
Amid the thick dust, a red coiled aura appeared, looking like a red turtle shell made of spiritual energy.
That shell lowered calmly, revealing Huo Qiangda.
Zhang Yong's eyes lit up at that. "That… the Blood Turtle Spectral Form!" Zhang Yong's heart stopped for a moment.
But this also gave Zhang Yong a glimpse of the type of beasts he possessed: reptiles.
"Everyone, advance!" Liu Yan shouted loudly, giving the command.
Everyone moved very quickly, each wielding their weapon.
Su Ming swung his sword and unleashed the Golden Dawn Sword Intent in the form of golden rays toward Huo Qiangda.
Huo Qiangda raised his bare hand and, without retreating, shattered the golden rays with his naked fist.
The tremendous force of the blow created energy ripples that tore up the earth beneath him!
Su Ming didn't stop. He moved with agility and attacked Huo Qiangda directly.
Summer Thunder Duel!
Lightning flashes began to dance around his sword, and he struck with immense ferocity!
But Huo Qiangda was no easy opponent. He smiled as he stepped forward, his body exuding an aura of absolute suppression, then exploded his aura with a single palm strike.
BOOOOM
Huo Qiangda's palm struck Su Ming's chest directly. Su Ming felt a heavy pressure on his chest, sending him flying far away.
Liu Yan appeared quickly from behind, a huge glowing talisman between her fingers!
Great Wind and Thunder!
A giant black and green lightning ball rapidly formed in the sky, crackling with sparks before shooting toward Huo Qiangda at high speed.
But Qiangda was prepared. The turtle shell rose around his body, completely blocking the strike. The lightning exploded on the surface of the spiritual shell, but the damage was minimal.
Then, Long Yuliang jumped into the air and struck the ground with her heavy sword.
Earth's Fury!
Her spiritual pressure suddenly intensified, causing the earth to shake violently before a huge wave of spiritual energy erupted under Huo Qiangda's feet!
BOOM
Rocks exploded and gravel flew as smoke covered the area. But within the thick smoke, two eyes glowed with excitement.
"Oh, great! Finally, I feel something!"
A red arrow pierced through the smoke, heading directly toward Long Yuliang.
But before he could attack, a fire dragon emerged from nowhere, crawling toward him at immense speed.
Crimson Dragon's Path!
This was Long Yuliang's attack, but she didn't have time to watch the result. Huo Qiangda immediately pierced through her attack and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air.
But at the moment he was about to crush her neck, five purple thunder swords suddenly glowed around him!
Five Thunder Swords!
Su Ming launched the attack, while Jiang Ruiyan moved quickly, immediately taking out five rings of five different colors: red, blue, green, yellow, and black.
Five Elements Rings!
Immediately, the five rings shot toward Huo Qiangda and locked around his five body parts:
both arms, both legs, and the neck.
"Huh?" For a moment, Huo Qiangda couldn't move, giving Long Yuliang the chance to escape.
At the same time, the purple thunder swords shot toward Huo Qiangda.
Zhang Yong watched in shock. He had told them to leave. Why were they fighting now?
Suddenly, Wu Ruoxian appeared beside him, lifted him, and made him lean on her shoulder. "Come on, we have to leave."
"No, the others won't hold out against him." Zhang Yong refused to move.
Wu Ruoxian looked at Zhang Yong with a sharp gaze, then whispered in a cold voice, "Fool… Do you think they're fighting because they want to defeat him?"
Zhang Yong looked at her with suspicious eyes but didn't answer.
Wu Ruoxian continued, "They're fighting to buy us time! If we don't leave now, all their efforts will be meaningless!"
But at that moment, a massive shockwave exploded from Huo Qiangda's location, pushing everyone back.
The Five Elements Rings that surrounded him flew into the air and shattered, while his red aura reappeared, stronger than before.
"Enough fooling around!" he roared like thunder, then stomped the ground with force, causing it to crack completely.
Immediately, the red aura coiled around his body and took the shape of a tiger with a scorpion's tail.
Scorpion-Sand Tiger Spectral Form!
Zhang Yong's eyes widened 'Didn't he have the reptile type?! If not, then...'
Wu Ruoxian confirmed, "This is the advantage of the Law Body of Strength. It makes him the most exceptional on this path. Therefore, instead of one type, he can absorb all types without conflict. He's simply undefeatable. That's why fighting is useless."
In the next moment, his body suddenly moved, leaving behind a series of afterimages.
He appeared directly in front of Su Ming, who barely managed to raise his sword. But Huo Qiangda gave him no chance, striking him with his crimson-energy-coated claw directly in the chest!
BOOM
Su Ming's body shot out like an arrow, crashing through many trees before falling motionless to the ground.
"Su Ming!" Liu Yan screamed in anger and quickly cast another talisman. But before she could complete it, Huo Qiangda appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye, grabbing her neck with one hand and lifting her off the ground.
"I've had enough of this," he said coldly before slowly tightening his grip, trying to crush her neck.
But before he could, a sharp light like a beam shot directly toward his right eye, taking the form of a flaming bird!
He was forced to let go of Liu Yan and retreat backward, barely dodging the attack.
Long Yuliang appeared, panting heavily. Her sword had already dropped from its weight after using her skill. But she knew this attack wasn't enough to stop him.
Huo Qiangda looked at her with a cold gaze, then suddenly raised his hand. In an instant, energy gathered around him, and the veins on his body glowed before he shot forward with insane speed!
BOOM!
In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Jiang Ruiyan and struck her with his palm directly in the stomach.
Her eyes widened in shock. She felt as if a mountain had hit her.
Her body flew through the air before crashing violently onto the ground, falling motionless.
"Yuliang!" Liu Yan screamed, but before she could move, Huo Qiangda appeared in front of her again and threw a powerful punch directly to the head.
Her entire body rose into the air and was sent flying as well.
Jiang Ruiyang froze for a second before initiating her attack. But Huo Qiangda appeared and struck directly at the middle of her body. Fortunately, she was wearing armor underneath, but the blow shattered it slightly and sent her flying away.
Zhang Yong was watching what was happening with wide eyes, his heart beating wildly. All his comrades...
In an instant, he found himself on the ground, where Wu Ruoxian had thrown him without warning.
"Run! I'll buy you time!" she said coldly before heading directly toward Huo Qiangda.
But at that same moment, Huo Qiangda moved with speed.
Immediately, Wu Ruoxian crossed her arms, and a golden circle appeared in front of her.
Zen Defense!
Immediately, Huo Qiangda's punch collided with the golden shield.
The recoil made him retreat two steps, while Wu Ruoxian retreated many large steps.
Three Patterns of Flashing Thunder!
Lightning sparks ran along Wu Ruoxian's arm as she attacked ferociously.
BOOM!
Lightning surged in all directions with Wu Ruoxian's strikes, forming deadly flashes.
But the latter didn't retreat. Instead, he took a step forward, breaking through the sparks with the absolute strength of his body.
"Weak..." he muttered coldly before swinging his crimson-energy-coated claw, intending to crush her in an instant.
However, Wu Ruoxian immediately disappeared and appeared behind him.
Flashing Step!
Asura Body!
Wu Ruoxian's silver hair turned into flames. Her hand shot forward at an unimaginable speed, trying to pierce his weak point before he could defend.
Yet Huo Qiangda's body suddenly shook, as if he had anticipated the attack, before turning and grabbing her hand with force.
"You think you're fast?" he smiled mockingly before swinging her through the air, violently smashing her body against the ground!
Zhang Yong was watching the scene with wide eyes, his fists clenched so tight that blood almost dripped from his fingers. He couldn't move. He couldn't accept it.
Zhang Yong raised his hand and took a healing pill, but his bones weren't repaired!
(Danger! Rampant Qi still remains in the host's body. Healing will result in permanent injuries.)
'I won't accept this lose , i will kill him'
Zhang Yong raised his hand and began chanting, "It rises slowly above the world, and fires launch from the heart of heaven, where ashes and embers scatter on the earth, calmness pervaded by bright light, standing above all and igniting the dark universe, the absolute motion of the great solar flame—Holy Blaze."
A blazing ball of golden-yellow flame gathered in front of Zhang Yong's palm, and he prepared to attack. But immediately, Huo Qiangda shattered it, punched Zhang Yong's face, and sent him flying away.
Zhang Yong's body began to tumble with the ground until he stopped face down.
Blood flowed from his nose. Nevertheless, Zhang Yong raised his hand and head and chanted again.
"In the deep darkness, where nightmares creep and stars die, where screams vanish into the void—"
However, before he could finish, Zhang Yong received a kick that sent him high into the sky. Then Huo Qiangda jumped and kicked him mid-air, sending him back to the ground once more.
BOOM!
Zhang Yong's body crashed violently onto the ground, leaving a deep crater while rocks and debris scattered in every direction.
He couldn't move for a moment. Pain wracked his entire body, and his head spun. He felt hot blood seeping from his mouth as a red haze covered his vision.
He slowly raised his head. Everyone's bodies were strewn about, completely exhausted. Everyone had completely lost consciousness.
'Why....this bastard....why'
Zhang Yong looked toward everyone and immediately tried to push himself off the ground. He was exhausted.
'I couldn't protect anyone.....damn it'
When Zhang Yong lost his village, he blamed himself for not being there to protect those he cherished.
And now, when he was present, when he had become stronger than he was even back then…
He was still weak.
He would still lose everything.
No! He couldn't allow this!
Zhang Yong lifted his body so he could kneel on his knees as Huo Qiangda approached him.
"I thought you were qualified to be my rival. But unfortunately, a person without a dream like you will never defeat someone with great ambition like me. In the future, I will become an Emperor on the Path of Strength."
Zhang Yong looked at him, but the light in his eyes had vanished. His eyes now seemed devoid of life. "You want to kill me, right? Fine, you can. I won't resist. But let everyone else go. Keep them alive."
Huo Qiangda smiled when he looked at Zhang Yong. "Thank you for the offer. But what's fun in that?"
Zhang Yong's eyes widened intensely. This damned... "You!..."
Huo Qiangda's gaze became even crueler. "I think keeping you alive is better. After that, I'll kill every single one of your friends here in front of you. After that, you'll hate me. I want you to hate me. There's nothing better than that. There's nothing better than a person who has lost everything! You'll get angry and become stronger for revenge, then you'll be my perfect rival!"
The pupils of Zhang Yong's eyes contracted to the size of pinheads. His breathing became difficult.
Losing everyone!....No!
(Danger! Heart Demons have begun devouring you!)
(Pious Heart ability's resistance has been raised!)
(Danger! It has been detected that the Beastly Instinct has been activated. The ability conflicts with the Pious Heart!)
(Danger! Heart Demons have become stronger!)
(Warning!!! Extreme pressure on the Pious Heart!)
(The Pious Heart and the Beastly Instinct have been sacrificed!)
(Warning, emergence of a cursed ability!)
(Ferocious Heart: Your power will increase greatly, but Heart Demons will follow you wherever you go until the day you die!)
A smile appeared on Zhang Yong's face as he clutched his chest. "Kill them!....Hehehe"
Zhang Yong looked at Huo Qiangda with suppressed rage, but his smile split his face. "You're lucky... you're really lucky!.... You can do whatever you want because you're strong... You can kill whoever you want because you're strong!
You are free and unbound, you are truly strong!.... You were born with this strength, you are truly lucky, while I had to break myself to get what I wanted... I want to be like you, I envy you, I want it so badly, my heart hurts when I see someone stronger than me, I want to become like them, I want to surpass them, I want everything they have!"
Huo Qiangda laughed loudly when he saw the distorted smile on Zhang Yong's face. "Oh? You want to become like me? But you're a nobody, just a worm writhing in the mud."
Zhang Yong let out a long, distorted laugh. "Hehehe, you said people like me without dreams can't defeat you! And what's wrong with not having a dream!!"
All I wanted is a good life, a warm family, and the safety of everyone close to me! What's wrong with that!!!!!
Why must I have a grand dream to live? Why must I exert all my effort for something others get on a silver platter?
Why! Why! Why! Why!
[Will you let them be slaughtered? Let them die? I thought you cared about them, and here you are leaving them here to die , and you know what? You should let them die , you're better than being with him , join this man and kill them too , hehehe then stab yourself and die!]
I'll kill him. I won't let him live. Everyone better than me will die. Everyone richer than me will die. Everyone stronger than me will die!