Bzzzz—
Sensing the dire situation, lightning flickered in Chu Feng's eyes. His Lightning Armor and Lightning Wings materialized simultaneously, accompanied by a blinding radiance of electricity.
In an instant, his aura surged from the second rank Half Ancestor to the fourth rank Half Ancestor.
Whoosh—
With his cultivation boosted, Chu Feng made no attempt to dodge or evade. Instead, he clenched his five fingers into a fist and slammed it forward with ferocious force.
He intended to meet Li Rui's attack head-on with his own strength—a clash of raw power.
BOOM—
A deafening explosion shook heaven and earth. The force of Chu Feng's punch not only shattered Li Rui's incoming attack but also sent Li Rui stumbling backward, shock clearly written across his face.
Li Rui was stunned—utterly stunned. After all, he was a seventh rank Half Ancestor. In his estimation, even with the Lightning Armor, Lightning Wings, and an ability to fight three ranks above his level, Chu Feng should have been capable of holding his own against an ordinary seventh rank Half Ancestor at best. He should have been nowhere near Li Rui's equal.
But the reality before him was clearly not what he had expected. Chu Feng wasn't merely capable of fighting a seventh rank Half Ancestor—his power had already surpassed that of an ordinary one.
"It seems I underestimated you." After his initial surprise, an amused smile spread across Li Rui's face, as though he was growing even more eager for the battle ahead.
"Why are you attacking me? We don't seem to have any grievance with each other," Chu Feng asked coldly. Even if a fight was inevitable, he wanted to understand the reason. Li Rui's identity was, after all, somewhat special—he was Xu Yiyi's senior martial brother.
"Xu Yiyi? Is it because of her?" Chu Feng's gaze shifted slightly as he spoke the name.
"Sharp. It is indeed because of Junior Sister Yiyi, though none of us truly knows the reason why."
"But everyone can see that Junior Sister Yiyi holds you in very high regard."
"She values you even more than she does any of us—her own senior and junior martial siblings," Li Rui said.
"You're overthinking it. Xu Yiyi is friendly toward me, but only because I once helped her. Perhaps she feels grateful, but she doesn't have feelings for me. At most, we're just friends," Chu Feng explained.
"I understand what you're saying. But there is a possibility she could come to like you, and I intend to snuff that possibility out before it ever takes root," Li Rui declared.
"So it seems you're determined to kill me." Chu Feng narrowed his eyes, a cold light flickering within them.
"I know your Spirit Guardian is formidable—you even slew the Red Lizard. If this place didn't prevent the summoning of Spirit Guardians, I wouldn't dare make a move against you."
"Besides, this place is fraught with danger. If you die in here, no one would think twice about it."
"So this—right here—is the perfect opportunity for me to kill you."
BANG—
The moment Li Rui finished speaking, a muffled explosion rang out from his body, and waves of pale yellow energy surged outward from within him.
His long hair whipped upward, quickly standing on end and swaying from side to side, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.
Bathed in that pale yellow glow, his entire figure seemed to take on a yellowish hue.
Moreover, faint patterns could be seen flowing within the energy flames.
But most importantly, his aura had risen—from seventh rank Half Ancestor to eighth rank Half Ancestor.
"A God-given Divine Power?" Chu Feng immediately recognized that Li Rui's pale yellow aura was a God-given Divine Power.
It was this power that had elevated Li Rui's cultivation by a full rank—and dramatically enhanced his combat strength as well.
CLANG—
Without warning, Li Rui twisted his wrist, and a dark black saber materialized in his hand.
It was a Half Ancestral Weapon. With Li Rui already at such formidable strength, equipping this weapon made him truly terrifying. The surrounding space began to crack and disintegrate, crumbling and flowing along with the pale yellow energy that radiated from him.
"Heh…" Seeing this, Chu Feng suddenly laughed. He could see clearly that Li Rui was not merely intent on killing him—he intended to leave absolutely no chance of survival.
"I, Li Rui, have never done anything without being certain of the outcome. Today, since I've made my move, you will die."
SHING—
Li Rui struck. The massive black saber arced straight toward Chu Feng with devastating speed.
The blade hadn't even arrived yet, but the rolling waves of oppressive force were already whipping Chu Feng's hair into chaos, sending his robes snapping wildly, and warping his very features.
CLANG—