A truly powerful individual must inherently possess both offense and defense integrated, not necessarily requiring perfect synchronization, but at least a basic equilibrium. Pure offense without defense leads inevitably to the body collapsing under the strain of one's own ferocity, yet without offense, defense alone achieves nothing—it barely qualifies one even for the role of an MT.

The necessity of offense is self-evident; whether direct physical assault or unpredictable mental warfare, its entire purpose is the annihilation of the enemy. Defense, however, comprises different systems. As Lin Luo understood it, there were roughly three categories. The first, like Shige's, was meeting force with force—directly deploying one's own most savage power to obliterate the opponent's attack. This was termed the 'Overwhelming Assault' type.

The second category, like that shared by himself and Yiven, involved converting one form of energy into another, whether through consumption or creation. Simply put, this could be called the 'Transmutation' type.

The third type, which Lin Luo termed the 'Redirection' type, involved shunting all incoming power elsewhere. He hadn't encountered this type among opponents of his own rank, but among those he had encountered, Accelerator fit this description. Admittedly, his current level was too low for him to ascend to the level of ruling principles, yet within the power system Lin Luo currently grasped, only control over time, space, and vectors offered such an ability.

Naturally, Kuroko Shirai, as a spatial manipulator, held the potential to become a Redirection type, though with her current strength, she barely qualified as an 'Escape Artist'... a 'White Runner.'

However, Mo Xinming's defense did not fall into any of these three systems. Although superficially he appeared to be a Redirection type, to believe so would be a grave error.

In terms of the essence of the ability itself, Mo Xinming should belong to a fourth category—the 'Isolation' type.

He sealed all attacks outside his body. This wasn't redirection, nor was it annihilation or transmutation; it was the literal possession of an absolute defensive zone utterly unreachable by any attack... In a literal sense, it bore a slight resemblance to the King of Swords' Utopia, Avalon.

Of course, while both were forms of isolation, Avalon possessed a higher degree of mystery, and Lin Luo could not yet penetrate its essence. But he had come to understand somewhat the nature of Mo Xinming's ability.

"So that's the extent of your power? A truly absolute defense," Lin Luo commented, unsure whether his tone held admiration or sarcasm.

"Oh? You figured it out already?" Mo Xinming’s attack abruptly ceased, halting nearly a hundred meters before Lin Luo, as he replied dismissively, "Hmph, it’s nothing special. I never intended to hide it, nor did I plan to reveal it to you. But since you know, I'll tell you. Correct. My principle is the Domain of Nothingness."

The Domain of Nothingness, created by the secondary evolutionary power of Qi, manufactured an environment of absolute vacuum. Centered on Mo Xinming as the creator, it formed a circle of finite range. Anyone within that circle—air or energy—could not transmit from the outside. In a sense, it was true absolute defense.

Naturally, although nothing could pass through, since Mo Xinming created it, he could allow certain elements to flow within, such as oxygen and sound. Otherwise, suffocating without air, even he would perish.

"The Domain of Nothingness..." Lin Luo murmured, a headache beginning to bloom. Although he had clarified the essence of Mo Xinming’s power, the challenge he faced had become even more troublesome. An absolute vacuum where no force could penetrate meant he fundamentally couldn't harm him.

In terms of sheer durability, the Domain of Nothingness was inferior to Avalon, for Avalon could repel even time and space. The Domain, no matter how absolute its vacuum, could only interfere with energy; it could not escape the constraints of spacetime. Yet, Lin Luo still had no precise countermeasure, possessing no mastery over time or space abilities.

Then, he must try the Black Flame. He could only pin his hopes on annihilation now. If even the Black Flame of Destruction couldn't breach the opponent's vacuum, the situation would become truly perilous.

Boom.

The instant Mo Xinming charged forward, Lin Luo swept the Verdant Wind Blade in his hand, unleashing a white spiral that coiled outward.

Mo Xinming curled his lip in disdain, not bothering to look directly, "I already told you that thing is useless against me, did you not understand... Huh?" Before he could finish, a deep premonition shook his core, his instinct for survival screaming danger.

Driven by instinct, Mo Xinming did not hesitate for a second, instantly changing his direct charge trajectory and flashing lightning-fast to the right. The white spiral storm shot past him, and the sensation of danger vanished.

What the hell was that just now?

Mo Xinming was somewhat bewildered. His Domain of Nothingness was supposed to seal off all energy; no force could reach his body without his permission. Yet... the wind that his punch had effortlessly dispersed moments ago had actually made him feel threatened. How was this possible?

"You bastard... what trickery are you playing?" Mo Xinming glared venomously at Lin Luo, a palpable killing intent flashing in his eyes. This shift made him feel deeply humiliated.

Unlike Mo Xinming, Lin Luo was currently abnormally excited. Judging by the opponent's evasion of the Eastern Wind Ring, the Black Flame of Destruction had indeed managed to reach him.

Though initially uneasy, it seemed normal in retrospect. Both were in the same realm, advanced Spirit Rank. Although Mo Xinming's rule force was at one hundred percent, Lin Luo commanded two rules. Even ten percent of the Black Flame of Destruction had instantly catapulted him from initial to advanced Spirit Rank, suggesting the intensity of Destruction was not inferior to the Domain of Nothingness.

In terms of rule concentration, Mo Xinming surpassed Lin Luo, but in overall advancement, Lin Luo held the edge. After all, the Black Flame of Destruction was derived by Lin Luo reversing the function of the Creation Rule—a tertiary evolutionary power of point and line...

"Damn it, how can trash like you possibly threaten me!" Mo Xinming felt his pride wounded, roaring, and immediately charged at Lin Luo with a fresh surge of fury.

His fist shot out, projecting a white beam of vacuum light straight ahead.

Lin Luo dared not meet this head-on. The enemy's rule was at one hundred percent; his ten percent Creation could not possibly hold it back. Thus, he stuck to his previous tactic: hit-and-run.

This was the most common strategy for taking down bosses in games—simple, yet highly efficient.

Lin Luo understood Mo Xinming’s personality perfectly. He was that arrogant, self-aggrandizing, and condescending chunibyo patient—a Dragon Proud Son, in short. Once armed with power, he believed himself the center of the universe. Such a person could never tolerate defeat or tolerate anyone stronger than himself. Therefore, the plan was to provoke him until he lost his composure, then seize an opportunity for a fatal blow, giving him no time even to flee this world.

Vanishing instantly from his spot, the Eastern Wind Ring was swung in sequence, sending the white storm howling toward the enemy.

It’s back.

Sensing danger again, Mo Xinming’s eyes snapped wide open as he fully engaged his Inner Sight. He saw that the current wind looked