After receiving that punch from Huo Qiangda, he was sent flying through the air.
Boom!
His body crashed forcefully onto the ground, leaving a trail of dust behind him. Amid the flying dust, it wasn't the physical pain that overwhelmed him, but that profound sense of helplessness.
Huo Qiangda tried to stand up, but the moment he lifted his head, he saw a shadow approaching at an unbelievable speed!
Another kick from Zhang Yong, stronger than the last, struck his chest directly!
"Cough!" Huo Qiangda spat out blood as he tumbled across the ground. This time, he couldn't get up immediately. His body screamed in pain, and an inner voice whispered to him that it was over.
He pressed against the ground with his trembling hands, trying to rise. His eyes were bloodshot with fury. His body shook, not just from pain, but from humiliation.
Huo Qiangda raised his head and smiled, one last time, letting out a soft laugh before struggling to his feet. "Zhang Yong... oh Zhang Yong, you truly are destined to be my rival. But I can't lose now. Not to you, and not to anyone else."
"Do you know what scares me the most? Discovering that I am merely ordinary, that I will leave no mark on this world. I refuse that. I will leave my imprint in history. And to do that, I will perform a feat worth writing about!"
Zhang Yong smiled coldly as he watched Huo Qiangda struggling to regain his balance. The bruises on his body spoke of the violence he had endured, yet there was a look in his eyes as if he was about to bet everything at this moment.
Zhang Yong let out a mocking laugh. "Survive first to achieve your ambition."
Huo Qiangda laughed again, his laughter tinged with a hint of madness. "You're right. You can't leave a mark in history if you die before achieving anything. But... what if I told you I would do the impossible to achieve it?"
"What are you thinking?" Zhang Yong said in a warning tone, but Huo Qiangda didn't respond.
Huo Qiangda raised an oval-shaped red gem in his hand. The stone was dazzling, glowing like a radiant ruby.
Zhang Yong's gaze narrowed for a moment before widening. "Wait, this is!... Huo Qiangda, you madman!"
Huo Qiangda opened his mouth and swallowed the core whole!
Immediately, clouds began to gather in the sky, and Zhang Yong couldn't believe what was happening!
That gem contained a sentient beast's will.
This was terrifying. If Huo Qiangda had swallowed the beast's blood, bones, and flesh, that would have truly been the Path of Power method. But what he did was the Path of Transformation method!
Why is that a problem? He possesses an innate Law Body, the Law of Strength, and the Law of Transformation is a completely different law. There's a reason why no Heavenly Law Body can pursue a law other than its own: it defies the will of Heaven.
"Madman!" he whispered to himself, but that word wasn't enough to describe the new situation forming before him.
The ground shook violently, and the sky began to darken with thick clouds. Winds howled in every direction as an invisible energy began to accumulate abnormally around Huo Qiangda, accelerating and rising like a storm.
The clouds in the sky began to transform into what looked like enormous eyes, staring down at the earth terrifyingly, with thunder rumbling above.
Suddenly, lightning exploded in the sky, and in a moment, the forces of nature rose to devour everything around Huo Qiangda.
The sky seemed to tear apart as if exploding, revealing nine lines of immense lightning. They were facing a Thunder Dragon Cataclysm, one of the mightiest natural phenomena capable of destroying entire territories.
Even when Zhang Yong reached the fourth level of the Heaven-Defying Body, he hadn't attracted such powerful thunder. But this... was something different.
A deafening explosion roared, and nine pillars of lightning, each tens of meters long, descended from the sky simultaneously! It was as if nine thunder dragons had descended to punish this mortal.
Zhang Yong, despite his strength, could only narrow his eyes slightly, retreating a few measured steps backward. Even he, with the support of the Heaven-Devouring Serpent Spirit, had no intention of facing this heavenly cataclysm head-on.
As for Huo Qiangda, his body was changing! Veins in his body expanded and bulged as if about to burst, while a savage, obscure energy flowed from within him. His muscles began to swell beyond reason, and a dark layer of black fur started covering parts of his skin, while enormous claws appeared on his hands!
But... this wasn't all!
Boom!
The first of the nine thunder dragons struck, nearly shattering his body completely!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Huo Qiangda's scream was horrifying, but he didn't fall. Instead, the glow of energy around him intensified, and he began to absorb the lightning into his body, as if forcibly merging it with his new power!
"Impossible..." Zhang Yong muttered, his eyes narrowing further.
What was happening was unprecedented! Usually, when someone faced a heavenly cataclysm, they either miraculously survived or were completely obliterated. But Huo Qiangda... was trying to steal the power of the cataclysm itself!
Just what kind of beast is this lunatic trying to merge with?
The second lightning bolt struck, then the third, then the fourth! Each strike was enough to destroy an entire army, but Huo Qiangda still stood firm, his body distorting and transforming with each bolt.
Zhang Yong, who had been watching silently, suddenly felt a cold sensation on his back. "If he survives this..."
But he didn't finish his thought, because the sky issued a new roar!
Booooooooooooom!
At that moment, the fifth lightning descended, but this time it wasn't just a single bolt. It was a giant lightning dragon, roaring powerfully as it descended directly onto Huo Qiangda's body!
"Cough!" The latter spat out blood, and his body crashed to the ground, shattering the rocks beneath him. His body was half-charred, smoke rising from it, but his eyes... still blazed!
"This isn't enough!" he shouted madly, forcing his shattered body to stand up again!
But this time, there was no time for talk, because the sixth lightning was on its way down!
The sixth lightning shook the earth, and yellow sparks exploded in the air as the bolt struck Huo Qiangda's body, his screams echoing loudly.
His skin cracked completely! Lines of deep purple light surged from within him, as if the heavenly lightning had become part of his very blood!
The rocks around him shattered, the ground split beneath his feet, while the air trembled with the terrifying energy emanating from his burning body!
By this time, the others couldn't remain unconscious. They were awake, yes, but shock had paralyzed them.
The seventh lightning descended!
But this time, it wasn't just one bolt, but dozens of lightning spears, each carrying indescribable power! They fell like heavenly rain, striking the ground mercilessly, destroying everything within tens of miles!
Explosion!!
The sky shook, and violent shockwaves rose to the horizon, shattering everything in their path! Even Zhang Yong was forced to retreat rapidly, using his energy to protect himself from the terrifying energy waves.
'Father!' A voice immediately sounded in Zhang Yong's mind.
'Kuro is here!... Kuro, get everyone out. If this bastard explodes, it'll be the end for all of us,' Zhang Yong ordered quickly.
As for Huo Qiangda, he was completely engulfed in lightning, his body almost vanishing under a force greater than anything he had faced before!
Yet despite that... despite all the pain, he didn't fall!
From within the storm, his form emerged again, but it was no longer human, at least in external appearance.
His bones protruded from under his charred skin, now covered by a layer of black fur glowing with purple lightning! His eyes had become sharp like a dangerous predator's.
"He's already merged with the beast's will!" Zhang Yong shouted in disbelief. This madman had done it!
But the ordeal wasn't over. The eighth lightning began to form.
A true lightning dragon!
The dragon's roar shook existence, and the sky unleashed its final wrath!
Booooom!!!
The eighth lightning struck directly above Huo Qiangda.
The eighth lightning fell like a devastating bomb. Shockwaves swept through the battle perimeter, shattering the earth and revealing its black depths.
Zhang Yong, despite the distance he had taken, had to raise his hand to shield his face from the tremendous pressure, while the lightning energy saturated the air with the smell of burning and death.
But amidst that chaos, amidst that destruction…
Huo Qiangda stood.
Or rather, what remained of him stood!
His body was broken to the point where it could no longer be called human. He had lost almost all his skin, leaving only charred muscles pulsing with electricity and bones that had become semi-metallic.
Sharp fangs grew in his mouth, while his eyes had completely transformed into two frightening coals of purple flame.
But before anyone could comprehend what was happening, a terrifying roar echoed—not from the earth… but from the sky!
The dark clouds thickened further, and whirlpools of lightning energy began to gather in the sky, but this wasn't just another heavenly cataclysm… it was the beginning of the final ordeal!
The clouds suddenly transformed into a massive image, resembling the head of a mythical heavenly lightning dragon, its size covering the entire sky!
Its mouth was open, lightning energy gathering within it, as if preparing to launch the final attack.
In a moment, the Heavenly Dragon released its final thunderbolt.
This type of lightning was different from all that came before—it wasn't just destructive energy, but a force stemming from the very laws of Heaven itself!
The heavenly lightning descended in the form of a massive beam, hundreds of meters wide, heading straight for Huo Qiangda!
Kuro had already risen high into the air with the group on her back.
"He's finished..." Zhang Yong muttered as he watched the heavenly light descend rapidly.
At the moment the heavenly lightning was about to strike Huo Qiangda's body, the latter suddenly raised his head, and an indescribable madness appeared in his eyes!
"If you want to erase me from this world…"
Huo Qiangda roared with a deafening voice, raising his hands to the sky as if preparing to receive the heavenly attack directly!
"Then try it!!!!"
Boooooooooooooooooom!!!!!!!
The heavenly light swept across the entire area, wiping out the earth and rocks, destroying everything within tens of kilometers!
To shield himself from the damage, Zhang Yong had to absorb the energy that was about to hit him through his scales. The scene was like the end of the world!
But… amidst that immense destruction… amidst that lightning storm that left nothing alive…
A single shadow stood!
Declaring that between Heaven and Earth, he alone is supreme.
The earth shattered beneath his feet, and waves of energy spread in all directions.
"…"
Zhang Yong said nothing. He knew he was witnessing something unprecedented: someone surviving this ordeal. Huo Qiangda, you are a true monster.
Silence hung for a few moments, as if the whole world had stopped breathing. The lightning storms had disappeared.
He slowly raised his head, his breaths heavy, but every exhalation of his was enough to make the air vibrate.
Then… he moved.
His first step alone was enough to make the earth tremble and the air quiver.
Zhang Yong looked sharply, his eyes narrowing as he tried to analyze the situation. 'He succeeded. He now possesses the Law of Strength and the power of the Path of Transformation. This means…'
But before he finished his thought, Huo Qiangda charged!
In a single moment, he vanished from his spot and appeared before Zhang Yong with a speed he shouldn't possess.
Zhang Yong raised his fists to block the punch, but he was pushed back forcefully, and a faint smoke appeared from the point of impact on his arms. The punch pierced the python's scales and burned Zhang Yong's skin to the point of penetration.
Zhang Yong, despite his shock, didn't allow his body to retreat further than necessary.
Huo Qiangda didn't stop. When Zhang Yong regained his focus, Huo Qiangda had already reappeared directly in front of him again!
Zhang Yong quickly raised his palms, but the next strike was stronger than the last; even his claws couldn't fully absorb the shock!
Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
Zhang Yong's claws shattered instantly as Huo Qiangda moved with force, plunging the claws of his hand into Zhang Yong's chest, piercing the black beetle robe and striking his chest powerfully.
Zhang Yong was thrown back rapidly, ignoring the sharp pain in his chest, but he didn't even have a moment to catch his breath because Huo Qiangda had disappeared again.
Zhang Yong felt heat behind him, and his instincts forced him to turn around.
After Zhang Yong's incomplete, partial fusion with the Martial spirit of the Heaven-Devouring Python, many of his abilities had risen: detection, vision, flexibility, defense, and among them, his instincts had heightened.
The python has a natural ability to detect prey through their heat, so warm-blooded animals aren't hard to spot.
Zhang Yong turned at the right moment, raising his arms to block the savage palm strike coming from behind!
Craaaaaaack!
His muscles spasmed under the immense pressure as he staggered back a few steps, but this time he didn't allow himself to be purely on the defensive.
Instead, he used the momentum transferred from the blow, spun in the air, and launched a swift spinning kick, aiming his heel at Huo Qiangda's head!
But the latter, without retreating, raised his arm covered in glowing black fur with lightning and threw a direct punch at Zhang Yong's leg!
The air shuddered from the collision, and the ground cracked beneath them as both were pushed back slightly. Yet the fight didn't stop for a moment.
Zhang Yong thrust his palm forward, targeting Huo Qiangda's head, but the latter leaned his head back at the last moment before retaliating with a swift low kick towards Zhang Yong's knee!
Zhang Yong jumped and struck Huo Qiangda's chest with both feet, creating some distance between them.
Huo Qiangda retreated only one step before charging forward again.
He planted his feet on the ground and raised his fists, taking a serious fighting stance. His expression was grave.
Bam!
He stomped the ground and charged forward with a low attack, aiming a swift punch at Zhang Yong's midsection.
Zhang Yong extended his arm to block the punch, lifted his leg, and kicked the ribs powerfully.
Craaaak!
A clean strike, but it wasn't enough.
Huo Qiangda reached out, grabbed Zhang Yong's foot, raised his elbow, and struck Zhang Yong's knee forcefully.
Zhang Yong's body stiffened from the sharp pain in his knee, but he stifled a groan.
At the moment Huo Qiangda grabbed his foot, Zhang Yong used the momentum, spun in the air, and executed a reverse kick with his free leg, aiming powerfully at Huo Qiangda's jaw!
But Huo Qiangda, as if expecting it, released Zhang Yong's foot at the right moment, leaning his head back to avoid the kick.
Then he bent at a low angle and struck with his fist directly towards Zhang Yong's stomach!
Huo Qiangda's fist sank into Zhang Yong's body like a cannon, forcing the latter back several steps.
But before he could regain his balance, Huo Qiangda pounced like a predator, his right fist heading towards the side of his face at an incredible speed!
But Zhang Yong wasn't weak. The moment he saw the attack, he raised his forearm to block the punch, but its force was enough to make his bones vibrate.
Zhang Yong gritted his teeth and stepped forward, striking with his elbow directly towards Huo Qiangda's ribcage!
Huo Qiangda retreated a step but advanced one simultaneously and struck directly towards Zhang Yong's face.
Zhang Yong raised his fist and blocked forcefully, but at that moment, Huo Qiangda grabbed his wrist, pulled him hard, and struck Zhang Yong's stomach with his knee.
Zhang Yong felt the force of the blow shake his body from the inside. He didn't stop. Instead, using the hand still held by Huo Qiangda, he launched himself with sudden momentum!
Zhang Yong headbutted Huo Qiangda's forehead directly! The strike was unexpected, making Huo Qiangda stagger back for a moment as he shook his head, but it wasn't enough to stop him.
Zhang Yong's face was bleeding slightly from the violent impact, but he paid no heed.
At the moment he freed his wrist, he pushed himself forward rapidly, exploiting the brief opening he had created.
He raised his hand, and the Dagger of Death appeared at that moment. He swung his wrist forcefully, aiming for Huo Qiangda's neck!
But at that moment, Huo Qiangda's eyes flashed fiercely.
In the blink of an eye, instead of retreating, he lunged forward, accepting the attack directly!
Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!
The blade of the Dagger of Death pierced his body, embedded deep in his shoulder, but… before Zhang Yong could pull away, Huo Qiangda gripped his arm with savage strength!
Huo Qiangda thrust his head forward, sank his fangs into Zhang Yong's shoulder, and tore the flesh of his shoulder forcefully.
Zhang Yong let out a scream. Zhang Yong's eyes contracted from the pain, but he didn't allow himself to fall.
Despite the shock hitting his body, he tightened his grip on the Dagger of Death embedded in Huo Qiangda's shoulder, then twisted his wrist powerfully, turning the blade inside the wound!
Craaaaaaaaaaack!!
Black blood exploded from Huo Qiangda's body, but he didn't retreat! Instead, he gripped Zhang Yong's arm tightly and raised his knee high.
He drove it directly into Zhang Yong's stomach with a force that cracked his ribs from the impact!
Zhang Yong's body lifted momentarily from the force of the blow, but in the next moment, he used the resulting force, twisted his body in the air, and aimed his foot directly at Huo Qiangda's temple!
Huo Qiangda pulled his head back, but Zhang Yong twisted his body and brought his other foot down on Huo Qiangda's head from above.
Huo Qiangda received the blow with a force that made the earth tremble under his feet, yet despite that tremendous strike, he showed no sign of retreat.
Immediately, Zhang Yong retreated, grabbing his shoulder and beginning to pant. His stamina had reached its limits. The scales began to disappear gradually. Zhang Yong couldn't use the full abilities of the Heaven-Devouring Python. It was still a borrowed spirit, unstable, and the fusion was partial.
How long had this battle lasted? Hours? Or perhaps days? He had completely lost his sense of time.
He raised his gaze and noticed Kuro hovering above the area. The others were indeed watching from above.
A calm smile appeared on his face. His spirit sea was completely dry now, and thus, he couldn't use the Origin Flame. His endurance had reached its limit: Death Qi Explosion, the Beast Heart, and the enhancement from the Heaven-Devouring Python's body. He had used almost all his cards. The levels of his physique had no combat utility.
From all appearances, this was the end for Zhang Yong.
Blood began to seep from Zhang Yong's head, covering his eyes until his vision became bloody. And his lungs burned fiercely.
Zhang Yong focused at the last moment on breathing, trying to control the pain gnawing at his body.
Suddenly, the golden scales disappeared from Zhang Yong's body, and there was a smiling expression on his face.
"It was meaningless. In the end, I couldn't defeat him. Luck had always favored me in every fight, but it seems my luck has run out here'
"Come at me... you genius," Zhang Yong smiled as he lunged forward. His speed was noticeably slow. But he had made his decision. If he was going to die, he would die fighting.
Yet Huo Qiangda charged towards him, wrapped his fingers around Zhang Yong's neck and lifted him with one hand. "This was a magnificent battle. Because you are my rival, because you exist, I was able to become strong. But also because you are my rival, you must die. Goodbye, Zhang Yong. Meeting you was enjoyable. This Huo Qiangda will carve your name into his memory."