184: Chapter 184 Standoff

Cold rain began to fall.

The sky grew somber.

Li's gaze slowly swept across the familiar faces below.

Without exception, they were all members of Calamity's First Squad, and Luo Gao had been their leader back then.

She ignored their foul language and asked for a single name:

"Where is Rui?"

The ferocity on Luo Gao's face faltered for a moment before he burst into hysterical laughter.

"Rui? Hahaha! You mean that stupid woman? That idiot who was still muttering your name until the moment she died?!"

"The very night after you died, we took care of her! Hahaha! We used that dagger you gave her to pierce her heart!"

"Who would have thought, who would have thought there really was a fool so devoted to you!"

Luo Gao's voice was filled with vicious mockery and delight.

Rui.

The girl who always quietly followed behind her, helping her with chores, and who had nothing but pure admiration and trust for her.

So, even she...

Li slowly closed her eyes.

When she opened them again, all the turmoil in her eyes had subsided, leaving only a trace of resolute killing intent.

She turned slightly, casting her gaze toward the third-floor balcony of the stronghold behind her, and her red lips parted slightly:

"Let me handle the coming battle alone."

Qi Yun looked at the figure in the rain and slowly nodded.

"Hahaha! Do you really think we're still the same group of people who could only follow behind you back then?" Luo Gao laughed wildly.

"You want to handle all of us alone? Li, do you think you're still that invincible 'Natural Disaster' from years ago?!"

The sinister man with the dagger sneered.

"It seems your brain has rotted over these past few years!"

"Heehee, alone is even better... we can 'take our time' playing with you..."

Li turned a deaf ear to their mockery.

She simply, slowly, raised both hands.

With her movement, the wind and rain between heaven and earth suddenly intensified!

In the sky, dark clouds rolled and collided frantically, and silver lightning snakes darted and flickered within the cloud layers.

The wild laughter on Luo Gao's face vanished instantly, replaced by gravity.

He was all too familiar with this scene! This was the precursor to Li taking action in earnest!

Despite their outward disdain, they knew Li's terrifying strength better than anyone.

"Don't just fucking stand there! Everyone, attack together!"

Luo Gao roared at the top of his lungs, and with a 'boom,' dark red flames erupted around him, making him look like a fire demon god.

A fire dragon circled around him, growing stronger, before finally charging toward Li.

"Do it!"

The others also knew how fearsome Li was; without another word, they immediately launched their attacks at Li in the sky!

However, facing this overwhelming, terrifying assault capable of instantly annihilating a small faction—

Li remained motionless, still sensing the power between heaven and earth.

And all the attacks vanished without a trace when they reached the Absolute Domain in front of Li.

"Wind."

Li softly uttered a single word.

Extreme air pressure control!

In the next moment, everyone from Calamity was deathly bound by the pressure formed by the flowing air.

"Ugh!"

"I... I can't move!"

"Luo Gao, what do we do?!"

Exclamations rose one after another; they hadn't expected that Li had not only not weakened, but had even become stronger.

A hint of regret instantly surfaced in many of their hearts.

With just the first movement of raising her hand, she had seized everyone's ability to act with absolute control!

"Rain."

Li's cool voice rang out again, like a pronouncement of judgment.

The raindrops in the sky suddenly accelerated!

Every single drop of rain was imbued with unimaginable speed!

They tore through the air, seemingly able to pierce through anything, as they smashed toward them.

"Shield!!"

"Defend!!"

The lethal sense of crisis made everyone lose their wits!

They desperately pushed their energy, propping up all sorts of protective measures.

"Voom—!"

The flames on Luo Gao's body condensed frantically, turning into a thick, scorching, almost solid giant fire shield over his head, the flames churning in an attempt to evaporate the rain.

The others also showed their prowess with energy shields, metal barriers...

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

"Ah—!"

The sounds of shields shattering, flesh being pierced, and deathbed screams instantly merged into one!

In just a few seconds, the number of standing members was slashed by a third!

Just as everyone's defenses were being suppressed and exhausted to their limits by these terrifying 'Rain Arrows'—

"Thunder."

Li's third voice rang out.

Boom-crack-crack—!!!

In the depths of the rolling dark clouds in the sky, the thunderous power accumulated to its peak suddenly erupted!

Hundreds of blazing white lightning pythons wove into a net of destruction, indiscriminately and comprehensively bombarding the figures below who were struggling to hold on amidst the Rain Arrows!

The light illuminated every face filled with terror and despair.

"No—!!"

Luo Gao let out a desperate roar, his giant fire shield expanding again in an attempt to withstand it.

The others also made their final struggles.

However, in the face of the power of heaven and earth, individual struggles appeared so small and laughable.

"Boom!!!"

At this moment, they finally recalled Li's terror—the Natural Disaster who had led them to gain a foothold in the Land of Beginning.

Even though long years had passed, to Li, they were still just ants.

The first lightning python fell, followed by the second, the third... the lightning was like a storm, never ceasing!

The lightning raged for a full ten-plus seconds.

Li stood in the void like a deity in charge of heavenly punishment.

Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning were all weapons in her hands; where her will went, Calamity followed.

This was not a battle.

This was a one-sided, cold, and efficient cleanup.

Below had turned into a scorched earth of deathly silence.

Only one figure, though already in a wretched state, was half-kneeling on the ground.

It was Luo Gao.

The others had already turned to dust.

"It seems you haven't become much stronger."

A voice full of disdain rang out just as the final bolt of lightning was about to fall.

A final trace of madness and cunning flashed in Rock's eyes as he used his last bit of strength to bite down on a pre-prepared dark red crystal embedded in his tooth!

"Voom—!"

A dark red light carrying spatial fluctuations instantly enveloped his entire body!

In the next moment, Rock's figure, along with that dark red light, vanished from the spot into thin air!

Li's brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

A Teleportation Crystal? You were actually willing to give such a thing to Rock.

...

Central area of the Land of Beginning, Calamity Headquarters.

Inside the top-floor council hall.

Over a dozen people stood in the hall, waiting for news from Rock; the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Suddenly, in the open space in the center of the hall, space underwent a violent, twisting fluctuation!

A figure, drenched, scorched all over, and wretched to the extreme, smashed heavily onto the dark red carpet with a 'thud,' letting out a groan of pain.

"Rock?!"

"How did you end up in this state?!"

"Where are the others?!"

The people in the hall immediately gathered around, asking questions all at once.

Rock slumped on the ground, panting heavily:

"Li... she has become even stronger."

Everyone was startled. She had become even more powerful?

Li's original strength was already terrifying enough, and now you're telling me she's become even stronger??

"However, I saw them carrying a bomb."

"A bomb?"

"Yun Lin."

Upon hearing the name Yun Lin, everyone's eyes widened. That woman who caused the Third Great War of the Land of Beginning?!!!