Boom!!!
The collision between the two bloody staffs detonated like thunder across the endless desert.
A violent shockwave erupted outward, sending mountains of golden sand spiraling into the sky. The atmosphere distorted from the sheer pressure released by the clash.
Yang Kai and Xuan Yuan separated instantly.
Both slid backward across the desert while their staffs dragged against the sand, carving deep trenches behind them.
Neither side gained advantage.
Neither side retreated.
Then—
Both vanished again.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The desert exploded continuously as their figures collided at monstrous speeds.
Their movements had already surpassed what ordinary Regulars could even perceive.
The staffs became crimson-black blurs tearing through the air.
Every strike carried enough force to shatter stone mountains.
Every collision distorted the surrounding atmosphere.
Yang Kai swung downward viciously.
Xuan Yuan blocked.
Clang!!!
The impact generated a deafening metallic scream.
Before the rebound force could settle, Yang Kai twisted his body and launched a kick toward Xuan Yuan's ribs.
But Xuan Yuan reacted instantly.
Bang!
His elbow intercepted the kick directly.
The collision alone cracked the desert beneath them.
Then Xuan Yuan retaliated immediately.
His staff spun once before thrusting forward like a dragon piercing the heavens.
Yang Kai barely tilted his head sideways.
The staff grazed his cheek.
Blood splattered into the air.
Without hesitation, Yang Kai counterattacked with Tai Chi.
His spiritual energy rotated violently around his body as he redirected Xuan Yuan's momentum and attempted to throw him off balance.
But—
Nothing happened.
Xuan Yuan's body remained unmoving like an ancient mountain.
Yang Kai's pupils contracted slightly.
"Hah…"
"So even my techniques are useless against myself."
Suddenly—
Boom!!!
Xuan Yuan's fist slammed directly into Yang Kai's abdomen.
Yang Kai coughed blood instantly as his body shot backward across hundreds of meters of desert.
The sand exploded behind him continuously before he forcefully stabilized himself using his staff.
Blood dripped slowly from his lips.
But instead of fear—
He grinned.
Excitement burned within his eyes.
"This is fucking amazing."
His crimson-black spiritual energy erupted outward violently.
At the same moment, Xuan Yuan's aura surged as well.
The two terrifying energies collided between heaven and earth.
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Even the desert itself trembled faintly.
Then—
Both charged again.
Boom!!!
Their staffs collided midair.
This time, neither retreated.
The two began exchanging blows directly at point-blank range.
Clang! Bang! Boom!
Staffs collided.
Fists struck flesh.
Knees shattered sand dunes.
Elbows cracked the air itself.
The battle became increasingly brutal.
Yang Kai's shoulder exploded open from a direct strike.
Xuan Yuan's forehead split apart from Yang Kai's staff.
Blood covered both of their bodies.
Yet neither stopped.
Neither hesitated.
Because both understood one thing—
Only one of them would continue walking through this desert.
Suddenly Xuan Yuan twisted his staff unnaturally and struck Yang Kai directly across the jaw.
Crack.
Yang Kai's body spun violently before crashing into the desert.
Before he could recover—
Xuan Yuan descended from above like a falling meteor.
Boom!!!
The staff smashed downward.
Yang Kai rolled away barely in time.
The impact created a massive crater dozens of meters wide.
Golden sand erupted everywhere.
Yang Kai breathed heavily now.
His muscles screamed in pain.
His arms trembled from the repeated collisions.
Yet Xuan Yuan remained expressionless.
Cold.
Perfect.
Like an invincible reflection impossible to surpass.
Yang Kai wiped blood from his mouth while laughing harshly.
"Hahaha…"
"You really are a fucking monster."
For the first time—
Xuan Yuan finally spoke.
His voice was calm and ancient.
"You are weak."
Yang Kai's grin slowly faded.
Then—
Xuan Yuan's spiritual energy suddenly began rising.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
A terrifying pressure descended upon the desert.
Yang Kai's eyes widened slightly.
"What…"
Crimson-black energy erupted around Xuan Yuan like a heavenly storm.
The surrounding sand began floating upward uncontrollably.
Boom!!!
A violent spiritual explosion detonated outward from his body.
The pressure multiplied instantly.
Yang Kai's instincts screamed danger.
Then—
A cold voice echoed through the desert.
"F-Rank 4 Star."
Yang Kai's expression darkened immediately.
"What the fuck…"
He could clearly sense the difference now.
The gap between 3 Star and 4 Star wasn't minor.
It was overwhelming.
Before Yang Kai could even fully process it—
Xuan Yuan vanished.
Too fast.
Yang Kai's eyes barely caught a blur before—
Boom!!!
A horrifying punch slammed directly into his ribs.
Crack.
Several bones shattered instantly.
Yang Kai vomited blood violently as his body blasted across the desert like a broken cannonball.
He skipped across the sand repeatedly before crashing into a massive dune.
The entire dune collapsed from the impact.
Pain exploded throughout his body.
But before he could even stand—
Boom!!!
Another strike descended.
Xuan Yuan appeared above him midair and smashed the bloody staff downward mercilessly.
Yang Kai barely raised his own staff in time.
Clang!!!
The impact forced both of his knees into the sand.
The ground beneath him shattered instantly.
Blood flowed from Yang Kai's arms.
His muscles trembled violently.
The pressure was unbearable now.
Xuan Yuan looked down at him emotionlessly.
"You cannot defeat me."
Boom!!!
Another strike descended.
Yang Kai blocked again.
Crack.
This time his wrists almost gave out completely.
Yang Kai's breathing became ragged.
Blood continuously dripped from his mouth onto the burning sand.
Yet despite everything—
His eyes still burned fiercely.
Not fear.
Not despair.
But madness.
The madness of someone who refused to kneel.
Even before his own former self.
Boom!!!
Another devastating strike descended from above.
Yang Kai barely managed to raise his staff in time.
Clang!!!
The impact blasted apart the desert beneath him.
His knees sank deeper into the burning sand while blood burst from his mouth violently.
His arms had already gone numb.
Every bone in his body screamed in agony.
Yet Xuan Yuan showed no mercy.
His expression remained completely cold as he continued attacking relentlessly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each strike grew heavier than the last.
Yang Kai blocked desperately again and again, but his body was already reaching its limits.
Crack.
His left shoulder partially dislocated.
Crack.
Several more ribs shattered.
His vision blurred heavily.
The desert around him began spinning.
Still—
Xuan Yuan attacked.
Like an emotionless executioner.
Boom!!!
Another strike slammed downward.
Yang Kai's arms trembled violently while holding the staff above his head.
His muscles tore apart from the pressure.
Blood dripped continuously from his fingertips.
His consciousness started fading little by little.
The blazing sky became blurry.
The roaring desert wind sounded distant.
His body felt heavier with every passing second.
Then—
Boom!!!
Xuan Yuan's kick smashed directly into Yang Kai's chest.
Yang Kai's entire body flew backward violently before crashing across the sand repeatedly.
He rolled several times before finally stopping motionless.
The bloody staff slipped from his grasp.
Silence returned briefly to the desert.
Yang Kai laid there half-buried in golden sand.
His breathing was weak.
Blood covered almost every inch of his body.
His vision darkened slowly.
He could barely move even a finger now.
Far away—
Xuan Yuan calmly walked toward him step by step.
Like death itself approaching.
Yang Kai tried to stand.
But his body refused.
His eyelids felt unbearably heavy.
"…Fuck…"
His voice came out weak and broken.
So this was defeat.
To lose against his own former self.
How ironic.
Xuan Yuan finally stopped before him.
The bloody staff slowly rose into the air.
Ready to finish him.
Yang Kai's fading eyes stared blankly upward.
His consciousness continued sinking deeper into darkness.
Then—
A voice echoed within his mind.
A familiar voice.
"You really giving up already?"
Yang Kai's pupils trembled faintly.
The voice continued.
"You just told me you'd do something for me."
It was—
The original Yang Kai.
The ugly boy from Earth.
The broken soul who had committed suicide.
His voice carried neither anger nor hatred.
Only disappointment.
"Well… I can't force you to do anything."
"So it's fine."
"You can come join me if you want."
Silence lingered briefly.
Then the voice changed slightly.
Colder.
Sharper.
"Or…"
"…show me what you've got."
Something inside Yang Kai snapped.
His blurry eyes widened suddenly.
A terrifying fury exploded within his chest.
"Hah…"
"Hahah…"
A distorted grin slowly formed on his blood-covered face.
Then—
He laughed.
A deep, furious laugh.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
The atmosphere around him changed instantly.
Xuan Yuan's descending staff paused slightly.
Yang Kai slowly grabbed the burning sand beneath him and forced himself upward.
His shattered body trembled violently.
Blood dripped continuously from his wounds.
Yet—
He stood.
The crimson-black spiritual energy around him began fluctuating wildly.
But this time—
Something else mixed within it.
Death Qi.
Pure black Death Qi leaked slowly from his body like smoke from the abyss itself.
Yang Kai lowered his head while laughing darkly.
"That's right…"
"I don't fucking lose."
Boom!!!
A horrifying wave of Death Qi erupted outward from his body.
The surrounding golden sand instantly withered into gray ash wherever the energy touched.
Even the atmosphere became cold.
Oppressively cold.
Yang Kai slowly raised his head.
His crimson-black eyes now carried traces of blackness within them.
The Death Qi inside his body had begun circulating completely.
Instead of using ordinary spiritual energy—
He started using Death Qi itself as power.
The sensation was overwhelming.
Violent.
Destructive.
His broken body actually began stabilizing under the surge of dark energy.
Far ahead, Xuan Yuan silently observed him.
Then—
For the first time—
A faint change appeared in Xuan Yuan's eyes.
Interest.
Boom!!!
Yang Kai suddenly kicked off the ground.
The desert exploded beneath his feet.
His speed increased drastically.
In a blink—
He appeared directly before Xuan Yuan.
Clang!!!
The staffs collided violently.
But this time—
Xuan Yuan was pushed backward several meters.
Yang Kai grinned savagely.
Black Death Qi spiraled around his bloody staff like demonic flames.
"Hahaha!!"
"Come then!!"
"Let's see which version of us is superior!!"
Boom!!!
The desert exploded once more as the two terrifying figures clashed again beneath the blazing heavens.