45: A single foot can shatter the heavens! Is this the kind of damage a fighter could inflict?

"I respectfully invite the Hall of Souls Protector to descend!"

Yun Shan's crazed roar echoed through the sky.

He had been thoroughly enraged by Li Daoxuan's "slap from across the void." He was even willing to burn his blood essence to summon his greatest backer and completely erase this Revered Master and disciple pair who didn't know the height of the heavens.

Following his roar, the sky suddenly turned dark.

A cold, evil, and terrifying aura, seemingly from the depths of the Nine Underworlds, began to slowly coalesce within the clouds.

"The wind is tight, shall we blow?"

Looking at the thickening black mist in the sky, Xiao Chen subconsciously recalled the first principle of "The Way of Hiding" taught by his Revered Master—if you can't win, run.

However.

The white-clothed phantom behind him didn't even lift an eyelid.

Li Daoxuan's voice remained lazy, as if even if the sky fell, it wouldn't hit his head.

"Why run?"

"It's just a loach that hasn't even hatched yet, look at how scared you are."

"Disciple."

Li Daoxuan paused, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

"Do you still remember the 'Fire-poker Technique' I taught you two days ago?"

Xiao Chen was stunned.

Fire-poker Technique?

Didn't Revered Master say that was his unique skill for clearing the chimney?

"Use it."

Li Daoxuan's voice left no room for doubt.

"Don't hold back."

"Let these hicks who haven't seen the world see what art really is."

"Yes... Revered Master!"

Although Xiao Chen was full of questions, he had always obeyed his Revered Master's orders unconditionally.

He took a deep breath, no longer looking at the terrifying black mist gathering in the sky, but instead immersing his entire mind into the weapon in his hand.

He did not draw the sword.

Instead, he reached back and gripped the rusty iron sword... along with its tattered cloth scabbard.

"Buzz—"

A strange scene occurred.

In that instant, the iron sword and the scabbard seemed to merge into one.

The originally rust-covered blade vanished, replaced by a massive Heavy Ruler that was pitch-black, broad, and heavy—even wider than a door!

There were no ornate patterns on the ruler's body, only an ancient and weathered texture, as if it carried the weight of eternity.

This was exactly the... Heavy Ruler form manifested after the first layer of the Seal on the extreme dao imperial weapon, the [immortal slaying sword], was undone!

"What... what kind of weapon is that?!"

The guests below watched in dumbfounded amazement.

One second it was a fire-poker, and the next it turned into a giant ruler taller than a person?

Was this kid a magician?

Even Yun Shan, in mid-air, was momentarily stunned by this sudden turn of events.

But he immediately sneered.

"Hmph! Just putting on a show!"

"No matter how big the weapon is, it doesn't change the fact that you are just a Foundation Establishment ant!"

"Before absolute strength, everything is an illusion!"

"Cloudy Smoke Covering the Sun!"

Yun Shan didn't wait for the Hall of Souls Protector to arrive; he wanted to personally crush this boy who dared to provoke him!

He formed hand Seals, and his surging Dou Qi (spiritual energy) soared into the sky, transforming into a giant green hand a thousand feet large. It blotted out the sun, carrying terrifying power capable of shattering mountains as it slammed down toward Xiao Chen's head!

He used ten percent of his power for this strike!

He wanted everyone to see how terrifying the wrath of a Dou Zong expert was!

However.

Faced with a strike that would make even those at the Nascent Soul Stage turn pale.

There was no trace of fear on Xiao Chen's face.

He held the massive black Heavy Ruler high with both hands, the spiritual energy in his body circulating frantically at an unprecedented speed.

"Revered Master said this move is called..."

In his eyes, there seemed to be two clumps of golden flames burning.

"Flame!"

"Splitting!"

"Devouring!"

"Wave!"

"Ruler!"

Boom—!!!

As the final word "Ruler" fell.

Xiao Chen swung the black Heavy Ruler in his hands forward!

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

There wasn't even a sound.

There was only a... a crimson flame ruler glow, seemingly capable of burning through the sky, which flashed out from the massive ruler!

That glow was too fast.

Extremely fast.

It was like a red line dividing heaven and earth. Wherever it passed, even space was carved with a pitch-black rift.

The sun-blotting giant green hand, executed with Yun Shan's full power, was like fragile tofu before this red line.

"Puchi."

A soft sound.

The giant green hand was sliced neatly down the middle, then exploded violently, turning into a rain of green light.

However.

It wasn't over yet!

After splitting the giant hand, the crimson glow didn't lose any of its power, continuing forward with an invincible momentum!

Its target was the highest and most magnificent main peak of the Yunlan Sect!

"No—!!!"

Yun Shan's eyes nearly split as he let out a terrified roar.

He wanted to stop it.

But he found that under the lock of that ruler glow, his body couldn't even move an inch!

He could only watch helplessly as... that red line.

Gently.

Sliced across the summit of the Yunlan Sect's main peak.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

"Ka—Kacha—"

A tooth-aching sound of cracking rang out.

Under the horrified gazes of the tens of thousands present.

On the Yunlan Sect's main peak, which had stood for thousands of years and symbolized supreme glory, a red crack appeared at the summit, so neat it was hair-raising.

The crack rapidly expanded, spreading downwards!

"Rumble—!!!!"

A world-shaking boom erupted, as if the heavens were collapsing.

Half a mountain peak!

An entire half of the mountain peak slowly slid along that smooth cut and then collapsed with a roar!

Dust soared into the sky, blotting out the sun and moon!

Countless palaces and pavilions were turned into ruins in an instant!

Rubble flew everywhere, like the end of the world had arrived!

One strike.

Just one strike.

Split the full-power blow of a Dou Zong!

Severed the main peak of the Yunlan Sect!

The entire field was deathly silent.

A pin drop could be heard.

Everyone was like they had been hit with a freezing spell, staring blankly at the main peak that had now become a "slope," their minds completely blank.

"This... this..."

A guest pointed a trembling finger at the youth holding the giant ruler in mid-air, his voice wavering.

"Is this f*cking... the kind of damage a Foundation Establishment Stage can deal?!"

"You call this a Fighter (Qi Refining/Foundation Establishment)??!"

In the sky.

The dust slowly dissipated.

Yun Shan's hair was disheveled, his robes torn, a trace of blood hung from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with indescribable terror and absurdity.

He stared fixedly at Xiao Chen, then at the black Heavy Ruler in his hand that emitted an ominous aura.

His Dao Heart... at this moment, shattered.

"This power..."

"This aura..."

"You... who exactly are you?!"

"This is f*cking... even if it were a full-power blow from a Dou Huang (Nascent Soul Stage), it could never have such terrifying destructive power!!"

Yun Shan roared like he was mad.

The cultivation he was proud of, his dignity as a Dou Zong expert, were crushed and trampled before this strike!

Xiao Chen did not answer.

He only slowly retracted the Heavy Ruler, looking at the "masterpiece" he had created, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly.

Then.

He turned to look at the white-clothed phantom behind him that was about to dissipate, and asked somewhat guiltily:

"Um... Revered Master."

"I seem to... have failed to control my strength again."

"I shouldn't have to pay for this mountain... right?"