Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Cataclysm of Body Rupture (3)

Fang Ping invoked the Avatar of the Sea God, summoning the divine manifestation of heaven and earth, enveloping Jiang Feng within its embrace. His own body stood safely behind the Sea God, untouched, while the ruthless cruelty of the assassin surged from within him. He had encountered countless complex figures in his life, and now, confronting Jiang Feng, he needed only a glance to discern the truth.

He could not utter a sound; only Jiang Feng, facing him, could read the words from the movements of his lips. Fang Ping realized that even though Jiang Feng could wield merely thirty percent of his nether force, subduing him would not be easy. The man was slippery, and his mastery over the nether force was astonishingly refined—far beyond what Fang Ping’s Avatar of the Sea God could compare to.

Yet Fang Ping did not relax his vigilance. He mocked Jiang Feng with silent lip movements, while secretly preparing to shatter him in a single sentence.

“Jiang Feng, your cultivation, I am certain, is not entirely your own. Just moments ago you devoured a supreme dark nether artifact, proving you rely on nether arts that absorb others’ nether force and artifacts. This means you lack a profound understanding of the nether arts. The more nether force you possess, the greater your calamity. Especially your impending body explosion tribulation—you will truly understand what reincarnation and the laws of heaven mean. You cannot overcome this tribulation. You will be obliterated in an instant. Rather than let you perish in vain, let me show you the taste of my dagger before you die!”

Seeing Jiang Feng lingering indecisively within the watery prison, Fang Ping spoke again. Though no sound escaped, his taunts wounded Jiang Feng more than any insult could.

“Fang Ping, you aren’t even of the Fang Clan. I’ve already honored you by fighting you, yet you’re addicted to cursing. Believe me, if I want you dead, you’ll die!” Jiang Feng’s body trembled, vibrating again and again, his voice booming, “What is heaven? What is the Dao? You, a mere assassin, think you can glimpse such truths? Don’t make me laugh. Even if I face the body explosion tribulation—if I die, I’ll kill you before the calamity takes me!”

Thunder roared.

Jiang Feng, angered by Fang Ping’s words, was done speaking. Above his head, golden light erupted, and he thundered out eight syllables. Beams of nether force shot forth like silken ribbons, spreading to all directions, crossing the four corners of the world.

Eight Dragon Sonic Slaughter—impeccable.

Nether force surged.

Jiang Feng finally unleashed his full nether force. The tribulation looming over him was dire—a heavy calamity. To escape would be nearly impossible. Yet he sensed that Absolute, who had told him of this, might be hinting to him, urging him to unleash all his potential in this battle to survive the ordeal.

Absolute understood better than anyone: in combat, bad news can be more terrifying than weak strength.

The only reason Absolute would reveal such grim tidings was to make Jiang Feng understand the severity of the tribulation, and steel himself mentally.

As enlightenment dawned, Jiang Feng cast aside all hesitation. He ceased to fear the impending body explosion tribulation. He was curious to see just how terrifying the calamity would be, after having seized so much nether force.

He faced the coming disaster head-on, his heart bursting with boundless courage.

“Well done, boy. You truly deserve to possess nether soul power, seeing through my intentions so quickly.” Absolute murmured within the sea of consciousness, a glint flashing in his eyes.

As the mighty sonic dragons emerged, the Avatar of the Sea God was shaken, a breach torn open. The Sea God, majestic and imposing, instinctively raised his trident and thrust it downward with a roar. Breath surged as he intoned, “Born for battle!”

The force poured from the trident like a torrent, the primordial war god’s roar shattering the watery prison around Jiang Feng. Amidst the Sea God’s furious glare, all felt the overwhelming might descending.

The Avatar of the Sea God clashed with the Eight Dragons of Sonic Slaughter!

Two vast and distinct powers collided, producing a deafening explosion. After the blast, mist and waves rose, water traces flowed, and the world blurred—everything vague, impossible to see clearly. Jiang Feng and Fang Ping darted within, like streams of light, their forms insubstantial, yet everyone was certain: they were locked in fierce combat.

In that instant, the water force scattered by Jiang Feng reassembled within the Sea God. Blue radiance emanated from him, shooting skyward. Grasping his trident, he appeared as an instrument of divine punishment, ready to skewer the eight sonic dragons.

But the dragons moved faster. Formed from Jiang Feng’s nether force and furious roar, they soared upward, their tails entwining into a colossal fist, which punched through the void like a legendary ancient demon god’s earth-shattering blow.

Bang!

The fist struck the Sea God, whose blue skin flared with radiant marks, but to no avail. His body, condensed from blue water currents, shattered inch by inch under the demon god’s punch. The intricate arrays on his body broke apart, and Jiang Feng and Fang Ping, amid the chaotic airflow, forced their way out. Both moved like ghosts, eyes sharp as eagles, piercing as swords.

Compared to Fang Ping’s ghostly speed, Jiang Feng’s movement was pure and direct. As he flew, cracking sounds echoed through the air, as if a demon god had descended, murderous intent overwhelming. The aura of slaughter around him was like screaming, wailing ghosts forged in heaven.

His killing aura matched Fang Ping’s, neither yielding.

The wind howled, ghosts wept and gods wailed.

“Jiang Feng has been angered—he’s fallen for it. His mindset now will not let him overcome the body explosion tribulation.” Xuan Xingzi said, his voice filled with regret.

Duan Xingyun held his breath, eyes fixed on Jiang Feng. Unknowingly, his hands were drenched in cold sweat.

“Haha, Jiang Feng, you’ve fallen for it! Did you think this was all I could do? Let me show you why the Fang Clan chose me!” As Jiang Feng counterattacked, Fang Ping’s lips curled into a strange smile. His right hand danced, as if performing.

Absolute cried out, “Boy, run!”

“Run?!” Jiang Feng’s eyes blazed, power surging from him. “My strength is at its peak—I will crush him completely!”

As he spoke, Jiang Feng’s gaze flickered. Instantly, his feet crossed and slid, speed rising twofold. Never before had he used his nether force so wildly, and it thrilled him—he felt he could kill anyone in a flash.

“Boy, stop! You can’t defeat him now!” Absolute’s voice was tense. He could already see Jiang Feng’s nether force in chaos—one misstep and it would surge out of control, triggering the body explosion tribulation.

Thunder crashed.

From Fang Ping’s hand flew a dagger, shimmering with black light. Those who wondered why Fang Ping hadn’t used his dagger saw now—his previous nether arts had all been preparation for this killing blow.

“Heartless Dagger.”

Fang Ping spoke three words.

The Heartless Dagger struck out, lightning splitting the clouds, thunder exploding. In an instant it pierced Jiang Feng’s body—no one could react in time.

This thunder was no ordinary thunder. It drew upon immense power, and no one expected a single dagger could unleash such a mighty technique. They saw clearly: this strike lacked the intricate, obscure tricks of nether arts. It was simply a forceful throw powered by nether force.

Often, the simplest techniques are the most lethal.

The dagger pierced Jiang Feng, tearing a gaping hole. Blood sprayed from the wound like a volcanic eruption—a terrible sight.

“Jiang Feng’s body has been pierced!” Though he expected it, Xuan Xingzi was still shocked, speaking softly.

“Could it be? Defeated so easily?” Liu Tao and Wang Yu, heads of their clans, hadn’t processed what they saw. They’d expected the fierce duel to end in a spectacular nether art, but instead witnessed something entirely different.

Jiang Yuehai’s face was creased with disbelief and sorrow. In that moment, he desperately wished to rush in and rescue Jiang Feng, but realized that before Fang Ping unleashed the Heartless Dagger, Jiang Feng’s body had already triggered the explosion tribulation—else he would never have allowed the dagger to pierce him.

Fang Yichen and Fang Chuhan both breathed a sigh of relief. In their eyes, whatever the cost, Jiang Feng had to be eliminated. The boy’s potential was far too vast. If Jiang Yuehai reclaimed Jiang Feng for the Jiang Clan, their power would soar, and the Fang Clan would likely lose its top position among the four families.

Moreover, seeing Duan Xingyun’s concern for Jiang Feng, if Jiang Feng returned to the Jiang Clan, the Jiang Clan and the Langya Commerce Association would surely join forces. The Fang Clan would have an even harder time.

Jiang Feng felt no pain now; he was like a dead man, aware only of boundless darkness devouring him. This feeling was more helpless than the sand falls—more isolated, more forlorn.

He wanted to struggle, to roar, to utter even the faintest sound—but despairingly found his senses entirely isolated from the outside world. If any sense remained, it was hearing. He could clearly hear writhing sounds within his veins and flesh—more grating than teeth grinding. He knew that once the writhing ceased, his body would explode.

That was the body explosion tribulation.