181: Nemesis meet again, the hunt begins

After thirty years of secluded cultivation, breaking through and then establishing himself, Liu Qingtian touched the threshold of the Black Hole Level. He felt his state was better than ever before; the gloom of the Karma curse had completely dissipated, replaced by a confidence in controlling power and seeing the path ahead.

He needed real combat, resources, and further tempering in this vast Star Sea to fully integrate that sliver of Black Hole Level comprehension. Staying in the Immortal King's Dao field, though safe, was like a greenhouse, preventing his true metamorphosis.

He bid farewell to the Palace-Attired Woman, who did not stop him, merely advising him that Luo Jiuxuan might still be searching for him.

Liu Qingtian naturally knew this, but he was fearless. The improvement in strength brought not only power but also a change in mindset. If he always cowered, his Dao Heart would be tarnished, so how could he ascend to the Peak?

He left that great world and once again stepped into the boundless Star Sea. This time, his goal was clear: to head to an ancient Star Domain called the “Chaos Borderland.” It was the edge of the known Star Sea, where Laws were chaotic and spacetime was fragile. It was said to hide Chaos Secret Realms left over from the beginning of creation, where Opportunity and danger coexisted.

He rode his demonic light, traversing through the stars, feeling the power within him like a slumbering giant beast, his heart surging. In just three days, he had crossed countless Star Domains and was already not far from the Chaos Borderland.

However, just as he passed through a dead silent Star Domain, where only a few aging red giant stars slowly burned—

The Void Realm ahead rippled silently, like water into which a stone had been thrown.

A figure, solidifying from the Void Realm, quietly blocked his path.

Ink-black clothes, waterfall-like black hair, still handsome, with eyes as indifferent as ancient ice. The black halberd in his hand, which seemed capable of burying all heavens—the burying netherworld—exuded a deathly stillness that made one's Soul tremble.

Luo Jiuxuan!

He was actually... here! As if he had long calculated Liu Qingtian's route and was waiting here!

Liu Qingtian's demonic light abruptly halted, and the surging Qi around him instantly retracted, like a startled Vicious Beast, staring intently at the figure ahead. His heart pounded uncontrollably, not entirely from fear, but also from a sense of being locked by fate, and... a hint of uncontrollable Battle Intent!

After thirty years of secluded cultivation, he was no longer the weakling who could only flee desperately!

Luo Jiuxuan's gaze fell upon Liu Qingtian. Unlike the previous indifference, as if looking at dust or a dead object, this time, a faint light actually... lit up in the depths of his seemingly unchanging ancient eyes.

It was an extremely subtle change, yet it was like a flame ignited in endless darkness, full of inquiry, scrutiny, and a hint of... interest, as if a hunter had finally found prey worth taking seriously!

He scrutinized Liu Qingtian from head to toe, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate all disguises and directly perceive his Origin of power.

“Thirty years unseen...” Luo Jiuxuan spoke, his voice still flat, but with less of the previous absolute condescension and more of an equal... confirmation, “You, indeed, did not disappoint me.”

His gaze lingered particularly on the force field around Liu Qingtian, which subtly caused space to collapse—a sign of touching the threshold of Black Hole Level combat power!

“Star Shattering Realm Middle Stage, touching the Black Hole Level...” Luo Jiuxuan said slowly, his tone betraying no emotion, “It seems the curse of the Karma Reverse Blade, far from destroying you, became your whetstone.”

Blood light flickered in Liu Qingtian's Demonic Pupils, and his Wither and Flourish Star Annihilation Domain silently unfolded around him. Though not fully unleashed, it already dimmed the light in the surrounding Star Domain. He coldly retorted, “Thanks to you, if not for your relentless pursuit, I would not be where I am today.”

Luo Jiuxuan paid no mind to the sarcasm in Liu Qingtian's words; his attention was completely drawn to Liu Qingtian's current state. He could feel that this once “ant” now possessed the potential to threaten him! Although still far inferior to him, the speed of his growth, and the Origin that fused various strange powers, made it impossible for even him to fully see through.

“Very good.” Luo Jiuxuan nodded, the light in his eyes intensifying. “Such a you is finally worthy... of becoming my last whetstone before I ascend to the Star River Realm.”

He slowly raised the burying netherworld in his hand, its tip pointing at Liu Qingtian. A more condensed and terrifying Power of Annihilation killing intent than thirty years ago, like an invisible tide, instantly filled the entire Star Domain! Under the shroud of this killing intent, the light of those aging red giant stars seemed about to completely extinguish!

“Let me see if your progress over these thirty years can... satisfy me.”

Before his words finished, Luo Jiuxuan moved!

He didn't use any flashy Divine Ability; with just a simple step, his figure seemed to transcend the limits of time and space, appearing directly before Liu Qingtian! The burying netherworld in his hand, carrying the deathly stillness of annihilating all Laws, thrust straight towards Liu Qingtian's glabella!

Fast! Faster than thought!

Ruthless! Ruthless enough for a single fatal blow!

Liu Qingtian's hair stood on end, his demonic Soul wildly warning him! He was already fully on guard, and the moment Luo Jiuxuan moved, he also pushed his speed to the extreme, operating the nascent form of the spacetime Dao Law to its limit. His figure retreated rapidly like a phantom, while simultaneously clenching his hands in front of his chest!

“Wither and Flourish Cycle, Annihilation Star Shield!”

Buzz!

The dark Annihilation Domain compressed to its extreme, forming a massive shield in front of him, covered with patterns of stellar birth and death! On the shield, the meaning of life and death, Wither and Flourish, rotated, attempting to dissolve and disperse the terrifying penetrating power!

Boom!!!

The tip of the burying netherworld struck the Annihilation Star Shield!

There was no deafening roar, only a chilling sound of matter being annihilated! The stellar patterns on the shield, centered on the point of impact, rapidly darkened and became deathly still, then disintegrated layer by layer like weathered sand sculptures!

It only lasted less than a breath!

Crack!

The Annihilation Star Shield completely shattered!

But this one breath of resistance bought Liu Qingtian precious reaction time! Using the rebound force, his figure slid sideways like a fish, narrowly avoiding the direct thrust of the halberd tip. However, the Annihilation Qi carried by the halberd blade still cut a deep, bone-visible gash on his cheek, and demonic blood instantly gushed out!

“Good reaction.” Luo Jiuxuan's tone remained flat. With a flick of his wrist, the burying netherworld changed from a thrust to a sweep, and a crescent-shaped black halberd glow, like the scythe of death, slashed across his waist! Wherever it passed, space was neatly cut open, leaving black cracks that would not heal for a long time!

Liu Qingtian's pupils contracted; he dared not take it head-on again! Myriad World Roots surged out from behind him, coiling around the halberd glow like countless tentacles, attempting to devour and deflect it! At the same time, he clenched his right fist, integrating that sliver of Black Hole Level comprehension he had just touched into his Fist Intent, and punched towards the side of the halberd glow!

“Devouring Heaven and Earth, Black Hole Fist Intent!”

At the point of his fist, space was extremely distorted, seemingly forming a miniature gravitational singularity, emitting a terrifying suction force that devoured everything!

Tear—!

The Myriad World Roots, upon contact with the halberd glow, were mostly severed by the extreme Power of Annihilation! But it still weakened some of its power! And Liu Qingtian's punch, imbued with Black Hole Fist Intent, also heavily struck the side of the halberd glow!

Boom!

The fist force and halberd glow collided fiercely. The miniature gravitational singularity frantically devoured the Power of Annihilation, but was then forcibly burst by an even stronger power! Liu Qingtian was sent flying again, his right fist bleeding, bones groaning under the unbearable pressure, but he ultimately... blocked this attack!

Luo Jiuxuan looked at Liu Qingtian's bleeding demonic fist and the increasingly solidified force field around him that caused spatial distortion, the light in his eyes growing even brighter.

“Indeed... he has touched that level.” He muttered to himself, as if confirming a certain conjecture.

He no longer rushed to attack, the burying netherworld pointed obliquely at the starry sky, watching Liu Qingtian, who had stabilized his figure, as if appreciating a gradually forming work of art.

“You are worthy of me being slightly... more serious.”

The next moment, Luo Jiuxuan's Chaos Annihilation Dao Domain began to expand with unprecedented intensity! Within the Dao Domain, Chaos Qi surged, and the Power of Annihilation roared, as if to transform this entire Star Domain into the primordial Chaos and the ultimate return to nothingness!

The real hunt officially began now!

Liu Qingtian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, the flames of war burning fiercely in his Demonic Pupils. He knew this would be the most difficult and dangerous battle since his debut.

But he was fearless.

“Come on, Luo Jiuxuan! Let me see how hard... your whetstone truly is!”