"This space that binds the enemy can expand and contract at will. This move is finally complete." A surge of elation welled up in Lin Lei's heart.
The sword's penetrating power was about the same as last time. The only addition was a binding, squeezing force! This would leave his opponent constrained and unable to move, too slow even to block his strike.
The Black Stone Prison dissipated, and Bei Bei immediately turned to look, rushing over with delight. "Boss, you've spent nearly half a year researching this move! Come on, let's see how powerful it is."
"Alright, let's test it." Lin Lei was somewhat eager as well.
"Don't hold back. My defense can make even High Gods at the Perfection stage tremble. Feel free to go all out." Bei Bei stood there proudly, even winking at Lin Lei.
Lin Lei knew full well about Bei Bei's astonishing defense and nodded. "Fine, but I won't use Dragonform for now. Try to block this strike with a weapon." As he spoke, the Shadow Scripture Sword materialized in his hand. Bei Bei flipped his wrist, and a dagger appeared in his own.
"Bring it." Bei Bei's eyes gleamed as he focused his attention on the Shadow Scripture Sword.
Whoosh!
The Shadow Scripture Sword turned transparent in an instant and thrust forward. Bei Bei's eyebrows shot up. He could clearly see 108 streams of earth-golden divine power erupting from around the Shadow Scripture Sword, surging toward him like 108 ancient dragons roaring to devour him. Before he could react, the earth elements between heaven and earth rapidly gathered, and the 108 streams of divine power merged into the earth elements in a flash, forming a sphere a full five meters in diameter that trapped him within.
"That binding force is really something." Bei Bei felt the intense squeeze.
This was a gravitational pull strong enough that even an ordinary Seven-Star Demon would struggle to resist it, pressing in from every direction. Even Bei Bei felt uncomfortable.
The Shadow Scripture Sword was invisible and formless.
But the spatial ripples it generated all washed over Bei Bei.
"Hm?" Bei Bei's divine sense clearly detected the Shadow Scripture Sword piercing toward him. He immediately tried to swing his arm to block with his Godspark Dagger. "This binding force really is troublesome." It felt as though ropes were binding his arm, slowing him down considerably.
Thud!
The sword struck Bei Bei square in the chest, and his body jolted violently.
"How was it, Bei Bei?" Lin Lei sheathed his sword with a smile.
"The binding force is definitely strong enough." Bei Bei nodded approvingly. "Not as terrifying as Bai Er's, but far stronger than a single-direction gravitational constraint."
Lin Lei had also noticed—Bei Bei's Godspark Dagger hadn't even come close to blocking his strike.
In a battle between experts, weapons typically clashed with weapons. Blocking with one's body instead was something very few could manage—most Commander-level fighters simply couldn't do it.
"But it's still not enough to do anything. It tickles." Bei Bei grinned. Lin Lei couldn't help but laugh. "Bei Bei, I wasn't using Dragonform! Once I Dragonform, my raw strength increases dramatically, and the power would be far greater. Of course... even then, it still wouldn't be enough to hurt you." Lin Lei was perfectly self-aware about that.
Bei Bei chuckled. "Just kidding. Boss, what are you going to call this move?"
"Trapping someone within a tiny world so they can't dodge and have to take the full blow... Hmm, I'll call it 'Inch of Land, Foot of Sky.'" Lin Lei settled on the name for his strongest sword technique to date.
Inch of Land, Foot of Sky!
Lin Lei considered that with Dragonform active, this strike of his would rank as mid-to-upper tier among Commander-level fighters. With the binding force added, it would rise to the upper tier. Pure destructive power alone might not match someone wielding a Sovereign artifact, but this technique made it nearly impossible for others to defend against.
Just like Uman—his wolf-tooth club smashed down with tremendous force, true, but Lin Lei could block with his weapon and barely hold on. If Uman had also possessed a technique like this, generating that powerful binding force that left Lin Lei no time to raise his guard, a single strike would probably have killed him.
"Bei Bei, we should head out and take a look now." Lin Lei said with a light smile.
The Plane Battlefield was, as ever, silent and bone-chilling.
No sunlight graced this place, no warmth—only the endless howling of freezing winds. Lin Lei and Bei Bei moved quietly across the battlefield. They had been traveling for a full seven days without encountering a single soul. Clearly, fewer and fewer people remained on the Plane Battlefield.
"Boss, look—there seems to be someone up ahead," Bei Bei said suddenly.
Lin Lei peered carefully forward. The figure was several miles away, and with the tall, wind-swept grass between them, he couldn't make out the person's features.
A moment later—
"It's him!" Lin Lei couldn't help but laugh.
"Hemmers, of all people." Bei Bei was also taken aback. They both vividly remembered that terrifying individual whose defense and offense were both monstrous, who also possessed a Sovereign artifact for soul defense. Hemmers had become a Chief Sovereign's Emissary back when he was still a Low God.
"Haha, it's you two! Don't run!" A booming laugh echoed from the distance.
Lin Lei and Bei Bei stood their ground.
"Bei Bei, stay on the sidelines for now. Let me have a spar with this big guy." Lin Lei's eyes burned with intensity, the battle-hungry blood in his veins boiling. "Hemmers is strong, sure, but his speed is mediocre and he has no ranged attacks. He's the perfect sparring partner to test my current strength."
"Sure." Bei Bei grinned. "But Boss, don't embarrass yourself. If you can't last more than a few moves, just run."
Both Lin Lei and Bei Bei had fought Hemmers before. If they wanted to escape, they were confident they could.
Standing three meters tall, his entire body looked as though it had been forged from steel. Wild golden hair, a broad upturned nose, and a wide tiger-like mouth! A pair of golden eyes fixed on the pair—this was none other than Hemmers. He scowled and snorted, "You two have some nerve. Last time I let you escape, and now you actually dare stand your ground when you see me?"
"Hemmers, I've made a little progress since last time. I'd appreciate your guidance." Lin Lei smiled.
"Guidance?" Hemmers rubbed his broad, upturned nose and bared a mouthful of golden teeth in a wide grin. "If I guide you, it'll cost you your lives."