P.S.: Happy New Year, fellow readers! I'm taking a leave today — this is the only chapter. A leave notice will be posted shortly, so please keep an eye out.
In that instant, Zhuang Pan realized that the spiritual essence of his pagoda had suffered severe damage!
This pagoda was a low-grade Dao Source Realm artifact, one he had refined and nurtured for many years using a secret method involving his vital blood and divine consciousness, binding it intimately to himself. While that refinement method could dramatically amplify the pagoda's power, the trade-off was that any damage to the pagoda would inevitably result in varying degrees of backlash against its master!
And right now, he was suffering the full brunt of that backlash…
His internal source power churned violently, teetering on the edge of running wild. He had no strength to suppress it, which was why he had been forced to spit out that arrow of blood.
Crack, crack, crack…
The arcs of lightning still crackled across the pagoda's surface for a good while before gradually dissipating.
The pagoda appeared undamaged on the outside, but its spiritual essence had been gutted, and Zhuang Pan could sense that the interior had actually sustained considerable damage — numerous cracks had formed within. Repairing it would require sourcing special materials and investing a tremendous amount of time.
Reeling from this blow, Zhuang Pan felt his blood and qi surge yet again, and fresh blood kept tricking from the corners of his mouth.
"Vice City Lord!" The guard who had previously come to report rushed forward in alarm upon seeing this.
Zhuang Pan clutched his chest, his face a deathly gray. His breathing was ragged, his expression dark as he stared at Yang Kai not far away, his eyes overflowing with shock and disbelief.
He simply could not fathom what grade that bead-like artifact was — to unleash such devastating power in a single strike, enough that even his own Dao Source Realm artifact couldn't withstand it!
If that blow had landed on him directly, would he still be alive?
Had he known that the bead was an Emperor Treasure, he might have found some measure of resignation.
Zhuang Pan was ultimately a Dao Source Realm cultivator, and Yang Kai had no intention of wasting any more time with him. That was why he had brought out one of his two Emperor Treasures — the Nirvana Thunder Bead — from the very first exchange.
Back when he had first obtained the Nirvana Thunder Bead, he had been at the Void Return Stage only. Though he could activate it, his cultivation was far too low to unleash its full power.
In the years since, he had used it on multiple occasions, and each time, as his strength grew, the Nirvana Thunder Bead's destructive force grew with it.
Now that he had reached the Dao Source Realm, he could harness the power of heaven and earth's laws. Even though he still couldn't draw out an Emperor Treasure's full might, it was more than enough to overwhelm any Dao Source Realm artifact.
When the two collided, which was superior was obvious at a glance.
"Vice City Lord Zhuang, I'd advise you to restrain yourself! If you dare try to stop me again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!" Yang Kai's gaze was cold as he fixed it on Zhuang Pan, his voice low and sharp.
Zhuang Pan's face was ashen. He opened his mouth, but didn't even dare utter a single pleasantry.
He could clearly tell that Yang Kai wasn't bluffing — he truly intended to follow through. In other words, if Zhuang Pan obstructed him even one step further, he might genuinely perish here.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! What a bold mouth on you, friend." Suddenly, hearty laughter drifted in from outside, followed by two figures — one thin, one fat — who darted into the hall.
At the same time, a rich aroma of wine permeated the grand hall.
Yang Kai frowned upon seeing this and cast a sidelong glance at the newcomers.
He recognized both of them. The short, stout one was none other than the eccentric Vice City Lord, Zuijiuweng. The moment he stepped into the hall, his eyes swept the room, and his eyelids twitched — but he quickly composed himself, unhooking the large gourd from his waist and taking a long, hearty swig, as though trying to steady his nerves.
The slightly leaner warrior was none other than Maple Leaf City's City Lord, Duan Yuanshan!
He was also the only Dao Source Realm Second Layer powerhouse in all of Maple Leaf City.
Yang Kai had seen Duan Yuanshan many times before, so he was by no means a stranger.
Right now, Duan Yuanshan's sharp, spirited eyes studied Yang Kai with keen interest as he laughed heartily: "When did Maple Leaf City gain another Dao Source Realm cultivator? What a joyous occasion!"
He seemed to have absolutely no intention of holding Yang Kai accountable for injuring Zhuang Pan. Instead, he wore an expression of genuine satisfaction.
It was hardly surprising that the two had appeared here so suddenly — this was the City Lord's Manor, after all, and Duan Yuanshan and Zuijiuweng normally resided right here. The violent clash of artifacts between Yang Kai and Zhuang Pan moments ago had released tremendous waves of energy. How could they possibly have gone unnoticed?
So both had rushed over without a second thought.
"Greetings, City Lord. Greetings, Vice City Lord." Yang Kai gave a slight frown and cupped his fists in salute.
Zuijiuweng flashed a broad grin, reached up to wipe the wine dribbling from the corner of his mouth, and returned the gesture with a lazy wave, saying nothing further. He merely ambled over to a spot beside one of the hall's pillars, slumped down with an air of indolence, and lifted his gourd for another long drink.
Duan Yuanshan, however, chuckled warmly: "No need for such formalities, friend. Hmm — I don't believe I've caught your name?"