A bright blue beam of light tore through the boundary. The mighty shockwave, crackling with dense electric arcs, pierced across the domain in an utterly domineering manner. With constant sizzling, arborescent lightning branched across the sky. The two Southern Sect Voidwalkers snapped their heads up, utter astonishment surfacing in their glazed, vacant eyes.
With a sharp crack, fractures spread across the crystal orb held in the hand of one of the Voidwalkers.
His expression changed drastically, replaced by immense heartache. This crystal orb was a level-eight item known as "Small Thousand Worlds."
It could reflect the surroundings within a three-hundred-meter radius into the orb, generating a dream-like domain. Founded upon dreams, this domain was completely unreachable even to the Void profession.
Moreover, it was not merely a simple dreamscape; it was enveloped by a restriction generated by the crystal orb. Voidwalkers below level eight could not break the restriction even if they managed to find this place.
Items with such functionality were extraordinarily rare, and thus exceedingly precious.
Now that cracks had appeared, even if it wasn't completely destroyed, its quality would plummet. There might not even be a second one in the entire Spirit Realm, so how could he not feel heartbroken?
The dream domain dissolved, and everyone tumbled back into the real world.
The four evil faction Dominators, as well as Fu Qingyang, all turned their heads toward the direction from which the railgun beam had blasted.
A figure clad entirely in glowing blue light, continuously radiating electric arcs, entered their vision.
Though carbonized black veins covered his face, his pupils had turned bright blue, and an exaggerated branch of lightning marked his forehead, they still recognized Yuanshi Tianzun immediately.
*A level-nine aura... Did he gather the complete Thunder God Set?* Astonishment flashed through Fu Qingyang's eyes before fading into cool composure.
In contrast, the evil faction Dominators looked as though they had actually been struck by lightning. Their bodies froze stiff, their faces a mixture of shock, confusion, and dread.
Hadn't Yuanshi Tianzun just advanced to Dominator!
When did he come to possess such terrifying power?
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the Snake Breeder, clearly the leader of the group, growled in a low voice, "Retreat!"
He leaped into the air, carrying the other Defiled Evil Spirit as they fled on the wind.
The two Voidwalkers activated their Dream Leap ability, but across the surrounding dozen li, there was not a single dream to be found.
"Too late," Zhang Yuanqing said, raising his hand and snapping his fingers with a crisp snap. "Thunderstorm!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Pillars of thunder as thick as water vats descended from above, accompanied by countless ferocious branches of lightning, turning the entire area into a lightning pool spurting with plasma.
The electromagnetic pulse generated by the lightning strikes instantly fried all the circuits and electronic devices across the industrial park.
Unable to escape into a dream, the two Voidwalkers stood side by side, ceaselessly nullifying the descending thunder pillars and the branching lightning that saturated the space.
Yet the terrifying thunder was inexhaustible. Even giving their all, they could only nullify a small portion around them, powerless to fully quell this dreadful thunderstorm.
As for the Snake Breeder and the other Defiled Evil Spirit, insulating keratin proliferated across their bodies, blocking out the electricity and heat.
Next, the two summoned illusory ritual altars, commencing prayers to bestow Fortune Blessings upon themselves.
Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing drew back his right arm, condensing a dazzling thunder spear, and hurled it forcefully toward the strongest opponent, the Snake Breeder.
Bone tissue proliferated over the Snake Breeder's hands, forming insulating gauntlets. He caught the thunder spear with his bare grip, driven backward continuously under the suppression of its tremendous kinetic energy.
Even though the power level of the Thunder God Set reached level nine, it was impossible to instantly kill a veteran level-eight Dominator with a single strike.
Just then, as he gripped the spearhead and was forced back step after step, a warning flared in the Snake Breeder's mind.
He sensed danger approaching from behind—an ability granted to him by a specialized gu insect.
Without a second thought, thick keratin proliferated across his back, waist, buttocks, neck, and the back of his head, forming an all-around protective armor.
Zhang Yuanqing's true body canceled Night Roam and emerged right behind him. Holding a thirty-centimeter-long hand cannon, he pulled the trigger against the back of the man's head.
"Boom!"
Purple lightning condensed and spat forth a sphere of ball lightning. The tremendous recoil jerked Zhang Yuanqing's wrist sharply upward.
The ball lightning blasted squarely into the back of his head. Plasma splashed everywhere, cracks spiderwebbed across the keratin plating, and blood splattered out.
Most crucially, the attack from behind caused a brief stun. Unable to maintain his grip on the thunder spear, he watched helplessly as it pierced right through his chest. Electric currents flooded his internal organs, heavily carbonizing them.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Pillars of thunder and branching lightning reeking of destruction struck him one after another.
The Snake Breeder's body locked up, completely paralyzed on the spot.
Stowing the Thunderstorm Cannon, Zhang Yuanqing whipped out the Purple Thunder Hammer and smashed it ruthlessly against the cracked keratin at the back of the Snake Breeder's head.
Meanwhile, the clone Zhang Yuanqing executed a Flash of Lightning, appearing in front of the Snake Breeder. Clenching an orb of thunder in his palm, he slammed it straight into the charred wound in the man's chest.
The Snake Breeder's head and chest exploded at the same time.
His astral body quickly detached from the flesh, trying to flee. But the thunderstorm blanketed the entire area, and the silvery-white lightning and thunder pillars swiftly tore the spirit to shreds.
Under the combined assault of the true body and the clone, a level-eight Dominator returned to the Spirit Realm with virtually no ability to resist.
The clone Zhang Yuanqing condensed another thunder spear and flung it. In a flash of lightning, one of the Voidwalkers struggling against the thunderstorm was run through the chest by the spear.
The Voidwalker's body rapidly carbonized, his primordial spirit detaching from the physical form.
After hurling the thunder spear, the clone's body rapidly carbonized and collapsed, returning to the Yata no Kagami without leaving a single parting word.
The set's duration had already expired moments ago. He had forcibly condensed the lightning power into a spear to take down a Voidwalker for his master, perishing in the process from the lightning's backlash.
Zhang Yuanqing did not immediately put away the thunder set. A miniature sun rose behind his head, and a blazing sun mark appeared between his brows. Like a resplendent golden god of war, he flew toward the last Voidwalker.
The Voidwalker fled in panic. Under the shining sunlight, skills and items were rendered unusable. He watched in despair as Yuanshi Tianzun closed in, and his head was severed by a two-sided dagger of black and white.
Darkness welled up in Zhang Yuanqing's eye sockets as he devoured the two primordial spirits trying to escape.
He turned toward the other battlefield. Fu Qingyang had decapitated the final Defiled Evil Spirit—an equally swift, decisive one-hit kill.
"Tsk, Defiled Evil Spirits can be refined into yin corpses too. Boss is being so wasteful," Zhang Yuanqing muttered, feeling a pang of regret.
By this time, ordinary mortals in the industrial park had gathered the courage to drift in this direction. The innate urge to watch drama overcame their fear of death, driving them to spectate a clash of immortals.
Zhang Yuanqing and Fu Qingyang exchanged a glance and walked over to the dumbstruck Elder Gaofeng and Elder Ganlu. Zhang Yuanqing smiled and asked,
"Has the duration on the Coward's Quilt run out?"
Still steeped in shock, Elder Gaofeng asked incredulously, "Wh-what kind of cheat did you turn on?"
Having watched the entire battle unfold, he found it somewhat impossible to accept Yuanshi Tianzun's rate of growth.
He really had become "Lord Tianzun" now.
"A cheat where you die if you don't level up," Zhang Yuanqing replied in a teasing, self-deprecating tone.
Fu Qingyang spoke up, "The quilt's defense duration still has half an hour left. Cast an illusion over them. If people take photos of them like this and post them online, the Five Elements Alliance can't afford that embarrassment."
Elder Gaofeng nodded repeatedly.
Elder Ganlu, who was getting up in years yet exceptionally beautiful, relaxed slightly.
*Taking photos would be great; making the headlines would be hilarious! 'Shocking! Fierce battle erupts in a Hang City industrial park; onlookers photograph two men and a woman sharing a giant quilt!'* Zhang Yuanqing only regretted that his phone had been fried by the electromagnetic pulse during the battle just now.
Otherwise, he definitely would have snapped a photo and posted it on the forum.
He conjured an illusion to conceal everyone's presence, while simultaneously manipulating the emotions of the crowd in the park to instill fear and unease, keeping them from approaching.
During the wait, Zhang Yuanqing said,
"Boss, we made it out of the ruins with a full haul. I completed the Thunder God Set."
*The sole-heir Knight and the President got demigod-tier items!* he added in his thoughts.
He believed Fu Qingyang would understand. After all, he and Fu Qingyang had discussed and studied the contents of the Holy See's treasury more than once.
Fu Qingyang removed his cloak, sheathed the Golden Dragon Sword, and nodded.
"Before entering the dungeon, leave one piece of the set outside. That way, they won't be sealed. The four-piece set effect should be enough for you.
"As for the spirits of those two Voidwalkers, remember to refine them into spirit servants as soon as possible. If you lack materials, just ask me."
A level-nine set would certainly be sealed upon entering a dungeon.
Breaking it up would circumvent the Spirit Realm's seal while retaining a portion of the set's power.
Yuanshi currently had one Dominator-level yin corpse and three Dominator-level spirit servants. Factoring in himself, an A-rank dungeon should pose no problem for him.
*Huh, Boss's emotions contain joy, but also a hint of sourness. Heheh, he's envious of my fortuitous encounter!* Just as this thought surfaced in Zhang Yuanqing's mind, he saw Fu Qingyang's face darken.
The two exchanged a look, then quietly averted their gazes and cleared their minds of stray thoughts.
After a dozen seconds, Fu Qingyang said gravely,
"I plan to enter a dungeon again. I won't come out until I advance to level nine."
A level-eight Dominator was formidable, but could not play a decisive role in the final battle.
Only a level-nine Dominator could tip the balance of the battlefield at crucial moments.
The proud Money Prince would never admit that he had been stimulated by his trusted lackey.
*Don't, Boss, you need to know your limits! Clear stray thoughts, clear stray thoughts...* Zhang Yuanqing said worriedly,
"But the clash between the two factions is growing fiercer. If you aren't holding the fort in Songhai, what happens if something like this occurs again?"
Fu Qingyang was now the official organization's number one expert in East China.
If another Dominator-hunting incident arose, he would inevitably have to lead the charge.
Fu Qingyang replied indifferently, "I have my ways, but I will need your cooperation."
He didn't explain what the cooperation entailed, instead analyzing, "The solo dungeons of the White Tiger Cohort aren't enough for both of us to share. Go straight to the Association of God of Beauty."
*Enter the Association of God of Beauty's guild dungeon right now? I'm afraid my waist won't hold up!* Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself.
The White Tiger Cohort's dungeons weren't enough for both of them to share? Elder Gaofeng and Elder Ganlu looked at each other, seeing only bewilderment in each other's eyes.
When had leveling up become so easy?
When had guild dungeons become something one could just clear whenever they felt like it?
They realized the reason behind Fu Qingyang and Yuanshi Tianzun's meteoric rise in power.
These two were emulating the Grand Marshal.
Then again, one was the Money Prince who had wielded rule power back in the Saint realm, and the other was Yuanshi Tianzun, hailed as possessing demigod potential. They were indeed qualified to emulate the Grand Marshal.
Chapter 918