595 Ancient Kingsâ Cage! The Emperor!
The tension in the air was palpable. Only those eyes that refused to move away confirmed the uneasiness in his heart.
As the spear tip penetrated the roaring flames, the once arm-thick white tiger spear expanded, its spearhead now spanning a colossal one hundred feet. The inferno reshaped it into a massive weapon. Surrounding it, the atmosphere crackled with energy, waves of flames dancing along the spearâs length.
The air twisted as the earth beneath fragmented further. The ground, scored deeply by the white tiger spear, fractured, becoming increasingly unstable.
Yet, in the face of such an attack, Qin Huai stood unwavering, using just a single finger to parry the combined assault of the seven ancient kings. His unflappable demeanor, those deep black eyes, radiated an aura of menace that set the kingâs pulse racing.
âHow⦠How is this even possible?â The white tiger ancient kingâs voice trembled with disbelief. He felt a premonition â the shadow of impending doom.
Boom!
A force, unseen yet unstoppable, surged forth, impaling the white tiger ancient king. And before anyone could react, Qin Huaiâs fist struck, sealing the ancient kingâs fate. Another bone fragment appeared in his hand, which he casually pocketed.
From a distance, the Nine Supremes king scoffed, âHeâs practically begging for death.â With a dismissive gesture, she sat in meditation. But in the blink of an eye, Qin Huai had closed the distance between them.
âStop him!â Cries rang out. âHow is he so fast?â
âEarth shield!â Wu Shanâs voice bellowed as he planted himself between Qin Huai and his target, summoning an immense barrier.
But to Qin Huai, it might as well have been paper. Without breaking stride, his fist connected.
Bang!
Wu Shanâs formidable frame, along with the earth shield, was obliterated. At the same time, the sky ignited as two ancient kings of the phoenix clan descended, a wall of flames attempting to stop Qin Huaiâs advance.
Yet, Qin Huai merely extended his hand skyward. Within moments, a spectral figure began to form in his grasp.
The phoenix kingsâ expressions contorted with horror as they slowed their descent, sensing impending peril. Reflected in their eyes was the haunting vision of Qin Huaiâs hand, morphing into the silhouette of a white tiger bone king.
âHow is this even possible?!â Gasps filled the air.
But fate had already sealed its course. The phoenix kings, unable to halt their rapid descent, collided with the phantom white tiger, shattering it to oblivion.
With a fluidity that defied belief, Qin Huaiâs body coiled, his right leg swinging out in a lethal arc reminiscent of a scorpionâs tail lash. The force of the strike tore through the two phoenix wings, scattering feathers across the sky.
Disoriented, the ancient phoenix kings plummeted earthwards. With another sweeping kick, Qin Huai sent forth torrents of blood that morphed into golden tigers and wolves, crashing into the fallen kings with explosive force.
The sequence of attacks was executed with such precision and speed that in mere moments, four ancient kings lay defeated â with the white tiger ancient king meeting his end twice.
Knowing that their revival relied on the kingâs bone, logic dictated that the white tiger ancient king should have been reborn from Qin Huaiâs arms, and not his hand. It appeared as though Qin Huai had control over the revival process.
Without hesitation, Qin Huaiâs fist lunged forward, obliterating the ancient king. In the aftermath, fragments of a skull began to coalesce into a human form at a pace that eclipsed the white tigerâs revival.
But to Qin Huai, this unique ability was merely an inconvenience. A single, powerful punch ended the new formâs resistance.
With a certain nonchalance, Qin Huai commented, âYour talent pales in comparison to that Fourth Generation Fairy. You can only revive three times.â
During his time in the black dragon world, he had used the power of the black coffin to redirect the white tiger ancient kingâs resurrection energy into his own hand. The repercussions this held for the white tiger ancient king remained a mystery to Qin Huai, but it was of no concern to him. He had simply used the king as a shield.
âDing! Current spirit bone fusion rate stands at 43%â
The surrounding landscape was dominated by fallen ancient kings, killed by Qin Huaiâs might. Surveying his surroundings, his gaze landed on the six ancient kings positioned half a mile away. Encircling him were over a hundred ancient kings, their intense scrutiny betraying their concerns.
âWhat makes this young one so strong?â one mused.
âHeâs a marvel. Had he been of my era, I might never have aspired for the king realm,â another admitted.
Yet, not one displayed fear. âIf we let this young man mature, our legacy might be jeopardized.â
âWhy should we be afraid? Weâve already met our ends. Itâs time to secure a future for our lineage,â another retorted.
The kingsâ collective decision was evident. âTogether, we strike.â
âKeep your distance from him. His vitality is overwhelming, and he possesses an exceptional physique.â
âWeâll overwhelm him!â
âIâll exhaust him to death here!â
As the ancient kings conversed, they adeptly evaded Qin Huaiâs oncoming blows. The moment their voices died down, an explosive aura emanated from them, radiating from hundreds of the ancient kings.
The immense power coalesced, casting colossal shadows of the six royal clans in the sky, making it appear as though six ancient kings loomed overhead, staring disdainfully at the diminutive figure of Qin Huai.
The ground miles around them began to give way, with dust and debris rising tumultuously, and ancient trees uprooted. The surrounding vitality was abruptly severed, and a dread power cascaded from the heavens.
Such was this force that the elders of the six royal clans, observing from a distance, found themselves immobilized.
âThe might of our ancestors is truly unparalleled,â an elder whispered, aghast.
âThough the ancient kings have passed, their combat prowess remains undiminished,â another elder chimed in, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
The royal elders knew they could invoke their own ancestral spirits, but in comparison to these ancient apparitions, theirs would merely be hollow imitations.
At the center of this overwhelming display, Qin Huai could feel the weight pressing him down, as if he were ensnared in a bog.
âFacing the united strength of over a hundred of us ancient kings is indeed a rare honor,â one of the ancient kings taunted. âYour demise at our hands will ensure your place in the annals of history.â
âIâd rather not,â Qin Huai responded dryly. âYou might curse my name in the afterlife. Who can say what powers linger after the death of someone at the king realm?â
An ancient kingâs laughter resonated. âCurse you? In death, past enmities often dissolve, and former foes may become allies. Besides, thereâs no true vendetta between us.â
Qin Huai, feeling trapped, contemplated revealing a power he had hoped to keep hidden: his emperorâs force. Knowing its revelation would send tremors through the world, so he hesitated briefly before finally acquiescing.
As he made his resolve, a staggering, oppressive force swiftly enveloped the gathering of kings. A hazy black screen gradually materialized above, casting its shadow over them.
In moments, the overwhelming pressure forced one ancient king to his knees. The cage that had entrapped Qin Huai disintegrated, and the massive projections of the six beasts in the heavens began to bow down.
Panic and disbelief surged among the kings. âHow can our cage be shattered? How can such power come from a single person?â
âWhy would a king ever bow?â
Disbelief was mirrored in every eye, even the ancient kings. All eyes locked onto Qin Huai, drawn inexorably to the depths of his obsidian gaze. Within those eyes, they found an answer that sent chills down their spines.
Only one entity could ever command such deference from kings: an emperor.
With hair rising as if charged with electricity and eyes blazing with black fire, Qin Huai spoke, his voice carrying an unfathomable depth of power. âBlack dragon world, black coffin! Everyone, let me borrow your royal bones.â