As the surging power coursed through Han Zhi's body, every part of him trembled with a strange and electrifying energy. His eyes shone with excitement, the sensation of newfound strength filling him with an almost intoxicating exhilaration.
"So this is… power…" he muttered, unable to hide the faint tremor in his voice.
But the next moment, everything changed.
A violent pain tore through his mind and soul, far beyond anything he had ever experienced. It came without warning, shredding his consciousness as if it were nothing more than fragile threads.
"Ah—!"
The scream never came.
His mouth refused to open, his voice trapped within him as the torment deepened. Every passing moment felt endless, stretching into an unbearable eternity.
Han Zhi's body trembled as he struggled to remain standing, his vision blurring under the weight of the pain. Instinct screamed at him to escape, to flee from whatever was happening—
But when he turned—
His pupils shrank.
"…You—!"
Ji Fang stood behind him.
The Realm Lord's gaze was cold and absolute, his mere presence suffocating. Before Han Zhi could react, Ji Fang's body dissolved into a swirling mass of crimson mist.
In an instant, it surged forward.
"No—!"
The mist engulfed him completely, seeping into every part of his body without resistance.
Pain exploded.
Han Zhi's muscles convulsed violently, his limbs turning heavy as if weighed down by chains. His consciousness trembled as an alien presence forced its way into him.
"What… are you doing…?!" he struggled internally, his thoughts fragmenting.
Ji Fang's presence pressed against his very soul, cold and overwhelming.
"You should feel honored," a faint voice echoed within him.
Han Zhi's will resisted, but it was like pushing against an endless abyss.
As the crimson mist sank deeper, their powers clashed violently within him. His consciousness struggled desperately to hold on, but it was being eroded bit by bit.
"I… won't—!"
His thoughts flickered.
The force invading him grew stronger with each passing moment, crushing everything in its path. His sense of self wavered, like a flame about to be extinguished.
"Stop…!"
But there was no response.
Only silence—and overwhelming dominance.
The last fragments of his consciousness trembled before finally collapsing into darkness.
---
Time passed.
Slowly, Han Zhi's body stirred.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…It's done."
The voice was no longer his.
Ji Fang opened his eyes, now fully in control of the body he had claimed. The process had drained him, leaving his vessel weak for a brief moment, but that weakness quickly faded.
A new vitality surged through him.
"Not bad," he said, flexing his fingers slightly as he adjusted to the body.
Color gradually returned to his pale face, his expression regaining its composure as his strength stabilized.
He lifted his gaze toward the distance, observing the ongoing battle with growing interest.
"Oh?" A smile spread across his face. "It seems that girl has joined as well."
---
The battle raged on.
The clash between Mi Ling, Chang Jin, and the monk intensified, each of them pushing their abilities to the limit. The air trembled under the force of their techniques, the space itself distorting under the pressure.
Mi Ling stood at the center, her body clad in radiant seven-colored armor that shimmered with shifting hues. Energy gathered around her, forming a swirling vortex of power.
"Let's see how long you can last," she said, gripping her golden saber.
With a single motion, she struck.
The blade cut through the air, leaving behind trails of luminous energy. Each swing carried immense force, the seven-colored Qi amplifying both its reach and power.
Meanwhile, Chang Jin descended from above, his wings spread wide as golden energy surged around his fists.
"Don't think you can ignore me!" he shouted.
He struck downward with overwhelming force, the impact sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Without pause, he summoned countless divine spears, each one formed from condensed celestial energy.
"Go!"
The spears shot forward like a storm, tearing through the air toward the monk.
Evil Warding moved without hesitation.
His figure blurred as he avoided the incoming attacks, his movements precise and controlled. In the next instant, his palms glowed with a radiant lotus-colored light.
"You lack restraint," he said calmly.
With a forward thrust, his palms struck out.
Chang Jin reacted instantly, ascending into the sky to evade the attack. His wings beat heavily as he circled above, preparing his next strike.
At the same time, Mi Ling's eyes flashed.
"Got you."
Her figure split into three identical forms, each holding a golden saber.
"Try this."
The three figures moved at once, their blades slicing toward Evil Warding from different angles.
The battlefield lit up with streaks of golden light.
But Evil Warding remained composed.
"Stunning Palm."
A burst of golden radiance spread from his palms, disrupting the clones mid-attack.
Their movements faltered—
Then vanished.
Without wasting a moment, the monk turned his attention back to Chang Jin.
His fists ignited with golden Qi.
"Let me end this."
He struck.
The collision sent a violent shockwave across the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath them.
Chang Jin roared in response, lightning erupting around his body.
"Come!"
Golden lightning surged through his fists as he counterattacked, releasing a torrent of energy that filled the sky.
Evil Warding raised his hands.
"Thousand Lotus Palms."
Ethereal lotus flowers appeared around him, each one absorbing the incoming lightning and dispersing it into nothingness.
The clash reached its peak.
For a brief moment, everything fell still.
Then—
"The two of you have given me quite the surprise," the monk said calmly. "But it ends here."
He formed a Buddhist seal with his hands.
An ancient chant left his lips, each syllable resonating through the air like a divine decree.
The ground trembled.
A colossal Buddha statue manifested behind him, towering over everything with an overwhelming presence.
Chang Jin's expression changed. "…What is this?!"
Mi Ling's eyes narrowed. "Be careful!"
The statue slowly raised its hand.
The air distorted.
A terrifying pressure descended instantly, forcing both of them down.
"Damn it—!" Chang Jin struggled, his body trembling under the weight.
Mi Ling clenched her teeth, her armor flickering under the immense force.
Above them, a massive golden palm formed in the sky, stretching across the heavens like a divine judgment.
It descended slowly.
Relentlessly.
Under the watchful gaze of the Buddha, Chang Jin and Mi Ling stood trapped beneath it, unable to move.
The weight crushed down on them, suffocating any chance of resistance.
For the first time—
A sense of inevitable death loomed over them.