Jiang Chen didn't know what the big man was planning, but considering how many times he'd already gotten the better of him, the man was almost certainly about to pull out his trump card.
"This brute has it in for me. Whatever divine ability he's got, whatever his background—if he's standing on this arena, he's my opponent. He wants me dead, so I can't let him live."
Jiang Chen's resolve hardened. His mind was already made up.
The big man flexed both arms, and his upper-body clothes shattered to rags, revealing a torso of copper-poured, iron-cast muscle that radiated raw power and hit the eye like a thunderbolt.
Jiang Chen scoffed. This was a battle between cultivators, not some street brawl between thugs. Stripping off and flexing was, frankly, laughable.
Still, he didn't dare let his guard down. The man's bizarre display couldn't be mere posturing.
Sure enough, the big man's fingers flickered through a rapid string of hand seals, and strange talismans materialized one after another from his palms, transforming into streams of sigils that sank into his muscles.
Then, across the entirety of his body, odd runes slowly surfaced—like countless tadpoles swimming just beneath his skin.
Once every sigil had settled into place, they fused together into a single cohesive whole.
Across the big man's entire upper body, a savage lion now appeared. It sat coiled and majestic, its great head held high, its gaze sweeping over everything with supreme arrogance.
Jiang Chen tracked the man's every movement. This sight stirred a faint sense of déjà vu.
"A totem—that's the power of a totem." In his memory, the scene from the Grand Ceremony of Myriad Manifestations immediately resurfaced—his battle with Xiang Qin.
In truth, this opponent bore an uncanny resemblance to Xiang Qin. They were practically cut from the same cloth, except this was a souped-up version.
Back then, though, his fight with Xiang Qin had started as hand-to-hand combat and eventually shifted to an intellectual contest. It had never reached the point of life or death.
But now, this opponent clearly intended to fight to the finish.
Jiang Chen knew something about totem power. It was a profoundly mysterious force. Once activated and summoned, a fighter's combat strength could surge dramatically.
What made it truly fearsome was that the user could also condense a Totem Dharma Form—its destructive force was even more staggering.
Very few factions on the Divine Abyss Continent possessed totems, but those that did invariably wielded combat power that far outstripped ordinary organizations.
Jiang Chen braced himself, battle intent boiling inside him. He genuinely wanted to see just how powerful this so-called totem force really was.
Seeing this, the Peacock Emperor furrowed his brow. "Totem power? This young man is actually summoning the power of a totem. How could he possibly be a rogue cultivator?"
"Your Majesty, what is this man's background?"
"Totem inheritances have always been shrouded in mystery. Many great sects keep secret totem lineages, making it nearly impossible to trace their origin. However, I am certain of one thing: this young man is undeniably the scion of a major sect or great power. And he has come here specifically for Pill King Zhen."
The Cloud Illuminated Emperor frowned. "Should we expose him, then?"
"Expose him? Unless you have ironclad evidence, speculation alone will never suffice. Besides, for Pill King Zhen, this is a rare opportunity for growth. If he loses this chance, won't he resent the both of us?" The Peacock Emperor's tone was leisurely.
The Cloud Illuminated Emperor started. "Your Majesty, the big man's own strength should be at least the peak of the ninth level of the Saint Realm. Combined with the power of a totem, he absolutely rivals an ordinary Emperor Realm powerhouse."
"We'll see. Pill King Zhen has a well-known talent for pulling off miracles. Perhaps this battle will be the one that makes his martial name resound?" The Peacock Emperor's smile remained as calm as ever.
Not everyone, however, shared his composure.
Over at the Panlong Great Clan, the Clan Master's face was tight with worry. "Pill King Zhen may be in real trouble this time."
Young Master Ji San studied the big man's bizarre actions with a furrowed brow, and something suddenly clicked. He blurted out, "That's totem power?"
The Clan Master nodded. "Totem power… What is this man's background? Could he be from Pill Fire City? After the Myriad Longevity Pill debacle, he might bear a grudge against Pill King Zhen and want him dead."
Young Master Ji San cursed under his breath. "Bastard. Fame really is a magnet for trouble."
…
As the totem power surged, the big man's aura was climbing at a terrifying rate.
Jiang Chen stared unblinking, silently gathering his own strength.
"Kid, forcing me to unleash my totem power—you should be proud of that," the big man snarled, his whole body unfurling as his iron-tower frame swelled even larger.
In the next instant, he gripped his spear with both hands and charged forward like an ancient demon god, the weapon thrusting straight at Jiang Chen's chest.
Once activated, totem power operated on a grand, sweeping scale. The big man's aura had skyrocketed to twice its previous level. His presence was overwhelming—utterly transformed from before.
The spear swept forward, compressing all surrounding air before its tip. A phantom lion materialized at the point—fanged, clawed, and lunging straight at Jiang Chen's face.
The force of the charge was like an ancient god descending. Without a proper counter, it could tear a mountain apart in an instant.
Jiang Chen didn't hesitate. He forewent a weapon entirely and instead pushed the Divine Demon Golden Body to its absolute limit while simultaneously channeling his bloodline power, rapidly condensing a dharma form.
His twin fists struck out, and a massive lizard reared skyward with a piercing roar, colliding head-on with the phantom lion without an ounce of backing down.
"What?!"
The sight left every onlooker dumbstruck.