Rumble—rumble—rumble!
At first, neither side paid any attention to the dazzling sunset on the horizon.
But as the vast expanse of fiery clouds drew closer and closer, several people finally sensed that something was wrong. They looked into the distance and cried out in shock.
This was no sunset at all, it was clearly a rapidly descending sea of flames, carrying an overwhelming, scorching temperature.
Wherever the burning clouds passed, all vegetation withered, the earth cracked open, and the land turned red for thousands of miles. Waves of heat surged outward, causing the surrounding temperature to rise violently. The bleak Nether radiance cast by the pyramid in the sky was completely swept away, and the chilling atmosphere rapidly receded.
Before it even arrived, countless undead were already unable to endure it. They began to combust without flame, burning directly into piles of bone fragments. With a gust of wind, large clouds of ash scattered everywhere.
Euryale's expression changed drastically as she sensed a fatal threat. Her eyes turned vicious, and her unique gold-and-pink serpent pupils emerged as she prepared to petrify her opponent.
But it was already too late.
A blinding, resplendent blazing sun descended, like a scorching fire meteor crashing down.
Boom!
A heaven-shaking explosion echoed between heaven and earth. The blazing sun fell, and within several kilometers around the pyramid, everything instantly turned into a raging sea of fire.
With the sun on the horizon as its center, layers of brownish-red tidal waves of flame swept across the skies. Vast swathes of undead were drowned in this apocalyptic inferno, as destructive fire-elemental energy ran rampant.
Like surging ocean tides, it devoured everything in its path, unstoppable. Endless brilliance shone forth, infinite splendor blossomed, and divine solar radiance illuminated the world.
Quite a few Monarch-level undead that attempted to face the falling meteor were instantly heavily injured by that world-destroying might.
Even the phantom projection of the Khafre Pyramid was affected, becoming distorted and wavering, on the verge of collapsing.
From within the blazing sun, a graceful figure stepped forward, wrapped and concealed by roaring flames. Such a wildly magnificent presence was truly breathtaking.
Lu Jun was blasted away by the violent shockwaves, flying over a thousand meters before barely stopping himself. He narrowed his eyes, had his eyes not already been refined into transcendent powers, he would likely have gone blind under that blinding radiance.
When he saw the slender woman surrounded by the endless crimson sea of fire, he exclaimed in surprise, "Sis!"
That's right. This peerlessly domineering, sun-like Flame Empress was none other than his elder sister, Lu Mei.
Lu Mei was enveloped in blazing flames, outlining a crimson humanoid form like a Fire Element Spirit King. Arcane flame patterns traced her flawless face, exuding exotic charm and seductive beauty.
She stood high in the sky, dazzling beyond compare. A Fire Heaven-Seed surged within her, the power of the Heaven and Earth Tribulation Flame filling the cosmos.
The once gloomy, sinister Nether-lit sky had been completely replaced by scorched fire clouds. Sunlight poured down, casting boundless radiance. On the ground, a vast sea of flames burned mountains and boiled seas, forming a massive sunken pit of red crystalline, glass-like terrain that gleamed brilliantly under the light.
At this moment, Lu Mei made her shocking entrance. With Super-Tier Fire magic plus a Monarch-level Elemental Resentful Spirit, the power she unleashed rivaled that of a mid-level Monarch, placing her firmly at the pinnacle of the world's strongest.
Lu Mei's face was cold and gorgeous as she looked down at the battered Euryale within the sea of fire and declared with icy dominance, "Bullying with numbers? Let me see who dares touch him!"
During the few days when Lu Jun was refining Thought Stones to enhance himself, Lu Mei had not been idle either. She continuously communicated with the slumbering Flame Belle Jiang Feng, strengthening her grasp over the stars.
Finally, when her Wind Element barely reached Super-Tier, Jiang Feng awakened and even broke through to a level beyond an orthodox Monarch.
Without hesitation, she rushed over to provide support.
Several Egyptian undead Monarchs were unable to adapt to this surging blaze. Fire mages were simply too suppressive against this batch of undead.
Lu Mei said decisively to her younger brother, "I'll deal with the Khafre Pyramid. Focus on your battle with Euryale."
Hearing this, Lu Jun nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance. His sister had refined the Earth Flame Core, and her combat power had soared, now able to provide him with tremendous support.
Just like back in Bo City and later in Magic City, the siblings had fought side by side, growing together and standing out from the rest, today was no different!
Rumble—rumble—rumble!
The great battle reignited. Twelve cyan wings spread open behind Lu Mei, whipping up a storm that merged with the dense Heaven and Earth Tribulation Flames, forming brilliant blue-and-red plumes stretching several kilometers, like a proud phoenix spreading its wings and sweeping across the sky.
With her own strength alone, she blocked the mirage-like pyramid in the heavens.
On the ground, Apas realized this was the best opportunity. There was now a real chance to keep her elder sister Euryale here. She no longer held back, unleashing her full power as her eyes shone with radiance, suppressing several Medusa Snake-Scorpions.
With a single thought, Lu Jun summoned the four Monarchs, who thundered down and tightly surrounded Euryale. He said calmly, "Now there's no one left to interfere with our fight."
Euryale's expression turned ugly. She had already gone all out, mobilizing all her forces and allies, yet it was still not enough.
While the fierce battle raged on here, far away in southern Africa—
Above the Tai Bai Xin Metal vein, a black-gold divine sword hovered in the air. As it absorbed vast amounts of Xin Metal Qi, subtle changes occurred along the blade, streaks of white-gold patterns spreading across it.
The metal vein below fell silent, no longer able to squeeze out much sharp white energy, gradually drying up.
Finally, as the last wisp of white Qi rose and gathered within the mountain-sized divine sword in the sky—
The Tai'a Sword completely finished refining the Xin Metal. It grew even heavier and more massive, letting out resonant hums as if sensing that its master was engaged in a great battle. It grew excited, eager to join immediately.
Buzz—buzz—buzz!
The sword spirit drove the blade itself. The mountain-like divine sword surged into motion, tearing through the air and transforming into a towering pillar of white-gold light that shot into the sky, sweeping magnificently across countless cities and lands, its edge fully revealed, cold light illuminating thirty nations.
In an instant, metals within cities resonated, and large amounts of magical machinery malfunctioned.
"What on earth is happening?!"
"First a blazing sun wrapped in burning clouds flew past, and now a white-gold streak has torn across the sky. Why has there been so much commotion lately?"
Everyone looked up at the sky in disbelief.
In the wilderness near Cairo, Egypt, Lu Jun seemed to sense something. He suddenly turned toward the distance as a dazzling white-gold sword light descended, its sharp howl piercing the heavens.
"Hahaha, the Tai'a Sword has finally advanced."
Lu Jun laughed lightly in delight, staring at the three-foot black-gold sword light hovering around him. Threads of white-gold patterns interwove across its surface, and he could feel an unending surge of sharp Xin Metal energy pouring into his body.
Within his spiritual world, a dazzling, vast, surging white-gold river expanded violently. The Metal Element Star River shattered through another layer of restraint, the luminous membrane broke apart, cascading forward without end.
Breakthrough to High-Tier Level Three!
Enlightenment dawned in his heart. Taibai Divine Treasury · Taibai Primordial Magnetic Qi! This was the ultimate Metal Element magic effect, surpassing even the second-level Hundred Thousand Swords, pointing directly toward the fundamental profundity of the Metal Element.
[Taibai Primordial Magnetic Qi]—with a single thought, boundless metal qi surged between heaven and earth. Supreme in slaughter, nothing could withstand it. As long as even a trace of metallic essence existed, it would be detonated and restrained.
In addition, after the Tai'a Divine Sword refined the Taibai Xin Metal vein, it gained an unparalleled effect known as [Sword Sacrifice]!
From this point on, the Metal Element had refined three metals—Shock Metal, Dragon-Pattern Nether Metal, and Taibai Xin Metal—and now possessed three effects: [Adamant], [Calamity of Death], and [Sword Sacrifice].
The first two represented defensive solidity and slaughtering power respectively, while Sword Sacrifice was even more miraculous, fully unleashing the nature of Xin Metal—growing stronger with every setback.
[Sword Sacrifice] granted the Tai'a Sword self-repairing abilities. At the same time, as time passed, it absorbed freely drifting golden elements from the void. Every ten years, one layer of Sword Sacrifice would be added, doubling the power of the Metal Element!
This effect could also be gained through slaughter and tempering. For every enemy slain above one's own tier, one layer of Sword Sacrifice would be stacked.
At Lu Jun's current cultivation level, killing a Lesser Monarch would stack one layer. However, for the second layer he would need to slay a Mid-Level Monarch; the third layer required a Great Monarch; the fourth, a Supreme Monarch; the fifth, an Emperor!
And so on thereafter.
If Lu Jun's Tai'a Sword were to reach the maximum Sword Sacrifice stacks at this stage—cutting its way from Monarch-level all the way to Emperor-level, it would likely reach about seven layers. Beyond that would require a long accumulation of time.
"Insane… seven layers of Sword Sacrifice already mean a sevenfold Metal Element boost. Add the twofold amplification from Totem Magical Equipment, and the peak total becomes ninefold."
"Coupled with the Metal Element's uniquely high attack power, killing a Sub-Monarch with a single High-Tier spell would be no problem."
At this moment, Lu Jun's mind shook violently as he muttered to himself, realizing that the Metal Element, which had been relatively ordinary after reaching High-Tier—had finally risen completely. Most importantly, the Sword Sacrifice effect stacked infinitely.
Even if he were to forge a second divine weapon, or a third, the Tai'a Sword would still firmly occupy the throne of his number-one divine weapon.
Besides that, Lu Jun recalled another matter—[Divine Seal Benediction]. He had long hesitated over which of his eight elements should receive this once-in-a-lifetime precious enhancement.
Placing Divine Seal Benediction on an elemental system was clearly the most cost-effective choice. When paired with an Elemental Heaven-Seed, the peak amplification reached twenty-four times spell power.
Unfortunately, his Water Element was already occupied by the Water-Avoiding Pearl. A single magic element could only cultivate one grand path. If Divine Seal Benediction were placed on another element, its effect would not be as significant.
Now, however, this hesitation and concern could be completely dismissed.
Divine Seal Benediction would go to the Metal Element!
Base power doubled, multiplied by the Sword Sacrifice layers, the Metal Element only grew more invincible with time. Who knew how many times of amplification it could reach in the future?
Lu Jun gripped the Tai'a Divine Sword, delight surging through him. He looked down at Euryale and said with a cold laugh,
"Today, I'll use you to sacrifice the sword!"
As his words fell, Euryale's heart turned cold. A certain sharp, lethal aura locked firmly onto her brow. A powerful sense of danger surged up, and she suddenly no longer wanted to continue the battle.
"Wait!" she screeched. "We don't actually have any real hatred between us!"
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