Mo Xinming bellowed, the muffled sound soaring into the heavens, shaking the wilderness in all directions. The disturbed vacuum fluctuations instantly annihilated the white clouds overhead; the wind died, the air was swallowed, and within a radius of dozens of miles, utter silence reigned—save for... the void.

“Ugh…” Lin Luo suddenly felt a suffocating pressure in his chest, something being violently drawn out of his body. It was… the air.

Damn it. Lin Luo instantly understood. Mo Xinming was creating a massive vacuum zone, turning this entire region spanning dozens of miles into a vacuum, including all living creatures within it.

His gaze involuntarily dropped below. He saw countless flowers and trees on the ground rapidly withering, their moisture and air completely drained, vanishing swiftly. All around, monstrous beasts and animals frequently collapsed, their bodies instantly shrinking into piles of desiccated flesh and bone. Even the mountains and rivers were gradually turning into desert.

An absolute vacuum, an absolute zone of death. This was the true might of Mo Xinming’s full-power Rule Force—the Domain of Nothingness.

“I don’t believe you can survive this! Come over here for a fight to the death!” Mo Xinming threw his arms wide and roared at the sky. Huge bolts of vacuum energy spun rapidly around his body. Now, even an ordinary eye could witness the absolute void that rendered all life impossible.

After the roar, Mo Xinming’s lips curled into a cold, merciless smile. In an instant, he flashed before Lin Luo and punched out.

No sound, no breath, not even a discernible airflow from the punch—it seemed utterly devoid of power… Anyone thinking that way was surely an idiot.

Lin Luo’s expression drastically changed. He could feel the void emanating from the opponent’s attack. If struck, everything inside him would be instantly drained.

Layer upon layer of white mist materialized before Lin Luo. The defensive barrier, created in an instant, shattered after only a moment under the assault of the void. But that split second was enough for Lin Luo to react. Enduring the physical discomfort, the Blade of Verdant Wind slashed forward once more… String of the South Wind.

Innumerable wind arrows, cloaked in specks of black flame, coalesced into a colossal, swirling vortex of black and white, creating the only sound in heaven and earth, swearing to pierce the enemy.

“That won’t be enough!” Mo Xinming roared, raising his right hand and slamming it down—a blow like Mount Tai crushing down.

Hummm…

A dull, oppressive sound. Under Mo Xinming’s attack, the black-and-white tornado was completely scattered. Even the Flame of Annihilation vanished under the influence of the void.

Even if the Realm is high, if the Strength is insufficient, it is useless.

“Ugh…” Lin Luo frowned tightly. He had expected the hastily executed move to be ineffective; that wasn't the main issue. What concerned him was that more and more air was being drawn from his body, bringing him close to suffocation. This situation was not sustainable.

While the Destructive Black Flame could effectively harm the enemy, it offered no self-protection under these circumstances. He could only barely use his Creation Domain to conjure a little wind for his use, but… the difference between ten percent and one hundred percent was an insurmountable gulf; it was simply not enough supply for the demand.

While shocked, Lin Luo couldn't help but feel fortunate. Mo Xinming’s Domain of Nothingness possessed such terrifying power. Thankfully, he was the first person Mo Xinming targeted. Anyone else encountering this would likely be in grave danger.

The Blade of Verdant Wind swung forward, and black flames instantly erupted along the edge. Tactics were now useless. Facing absolute power, he could only suppress it with greater strength—he had to kill the opponent before the air inside his body was completely drained. It had to be a swift battle.

“Good, I’ve been waiting for this!” Seeing Lin Luo charge at him, Mo Xinming laughed heartily, smashing a vacuum-infused fist toward Lin Luo.

Space fractured, all things annihilated, yet only the black flame remained constant, confronting the vacuum beam.

The black flame and the white vacuum beam twisted together, devoid of any moisture; both participants exerted their full power. The all-consuming Destructive Black Flame radiated a faint, eerie black light, yet its intense heat paradoxically brought a feeling of cold, returning everything to nothingness as the vacuum beam surged forth—the absolute void annihilating heaven and earth.

The Destructive Black Flame surged straight ahead, breaking through the bounds of the vacuum to burn toward the enemy’s body.

The vacuum beam destroyed the black flame, shooting toward Lin Luo’s body like a laser.

The spectacle of battle, however grand, emitted almost no sound. That was only natural, as within this dozen-mile radius, everything had been subjected to Mo Xinming’s Domain of Nothingness, becoming a death zone of near-perfect vacuum. The silent battle continued.

Lin Luo’s Destructive Black Flame, in terms of Realm, was slightly superior—it was the third evolution of power derived from points and lines, while Mo Xinming’s Domain of Nothingness was the second evolution derived from Qi. Three is greater than two—that is common sense.

But the current battle could not be judged by common sense. No matter how high the Realm, the Strength Lin Luo possessed was comparatively too small. Even if he could break through the opponent’s ability, he could not suppress him—the comparison between ten percent and one hundred percent was the difference between heaven and earth.

Of course, the gap in strength was not insurmountable. In the short term, Lin Luo could not suppress Mo Xinming, and conversely, Mo Xinming could not defeat him temporarily. This silent tug-of-war depended on who could hold out the longest.

In a contest of endurance, Lin Luo held an absolute disadvantage. This wasn't to say his endurance was lacking, but in this near-absolute vacuum, the air and moisture required by his body had become critically scarce. His Creation could not keep pace with the stripping power of the Domain of Nothingness.

Gradually, Lin Luo felt the Blade of Verdant Wind in his hand growing heavier… No, the Blade of Verdant Wind had always been as light as a feather; this sensation of weight shouldn't be possible. It could only mean his own strength was diminishing.

“Haha, you’re almost done, aren't you? Die!” Seeing Lin Luo’s attacks slow, Mo Xinming laughed proudly, intensifying his assault with sharper vacuum beams shot out frequently.

The white mist generated by the Creation Domain was instantly blown apart. Now, even delaying the enemy’s attacks was impossible. Lin Luo could do nothing but retreat slightly, swinging his black-flamed blade, finally shattering the incoming vacuum beam.

“Lin Luo, a new Chant. I will provide the wind.”

Léi’s soul-like projection appeared behind Lin Luo. Seeing his pained expression, she spoke softly.

“I wish I could, but right now… we don't have time to sing the Chant…” Swish. As he spoke, Lin Luo had already swung several times, knocking away the vacuum beams directed at him.

But after these few strikes, his body felt even heavier. Not only that, but he glanced down instinctively and could clearly see both his arms were thin as withered branches… a massive loss of bodily moisture.

Damn it… this battlefield is cheating.

The absolute vacuum imposed immense pressure on Lin Luo. If they were in a normal environment, he was confident he could cut down Mo Xinming, but now…

If this continued, defeat was certain.

Lin Luo gritted his teeth, using Creation to generate moisture and air, while simultaneously delving his Perception Domain deep into the earth to analyze the world’s rules. His attacks did not cease, warding off the opponent’s vacuum beams.

Attempting three things at once, though Lin Luo could barely manage it, placed an overwhelming burden on his spirit. After less than five seconds, his mind felt as if it were being scorched, causing agonizing pain.

But there was no other choice now, unless he could temporarily escape this vacuum zone… which was clearly impossible. In his current state, he couldn't possibly evade Mo Xinming’s pursuit. If his movements lagged even slightly, he would inevitably be pierced by a vacuum beam.

“Come forth, Ice Spirit! Come forth, Wind Spirit, Ice Burst!”

Just then, a young girl’s voice suddenly echoed in the previously silent heavens and earth. Her golden hair streamed behind her, her black dress fluttered, and her pretty face could not conceal an excitement bordering on frenzy… The Dark Gospel, Evangeline, the strongest reinforcement, had arrived!

The moment the incantation sounded, a chilling cold suddenly permeated the absolute vacuum. Even the vacuum and black flames could not block the predatory chill. In a flash, a massive icicle materialized where Mo Xinming stood.

Clang.

The Domain of Nothingness insulated the icicle, producing a crisp sound.

“It’s you, woman!” Mo Xinming’s gaze swept over like a sharp blade, fixing coldly on Evangeline’s figure, the murderous intent in his eyes rapidly swelling. If there was anyone he hated most in this world, it was undoubtedly Evangeline.

The first time they met, Evangeline had beaten him miserably, forcing him to flee using his only means of survival. The second time, she had nearly killed him. Those two memories were like barbs embedded in his heart, fueling his rage constantly.

“Good, very good! I’ll kill you too!” Mo Xinming’s features twisted into an almost grotesque mask. He casually unleashed several vacuum beams, shooting straight toward Evangeline.

“Hmph.” Evangeline snorted coldly, placing her slender palm in front of her, from which a white ice dragon surged forth. But after less than a moment of contact, the vacuum beam pierced right through it. The girl quickly flashed back to evade.

“Oh, oh…” Evangeline made a slightly surprised sound, then grinned, “You’ve certainly grown stronger. No longer the weakling you were; you’ve evolved into a medium-sized shark, I see.”

“What did you say?” Seeing the opponent forced to retreat by his attack, the gloom of many days seemed to vanish instantly, and Mo Xinming burst into laughter. But upon hearing Evangeline’s condescending words, the smile on his face froze like ice, releasing boundless killing intent. “You dare look down on me even now?”

“Because you are inherently weak,” Evangeline stated matter-of-factly.

“You… seeking death!” Mo Xinming roared, accelerating toward the young woman, his vacuum-covered palm slamming down as if to crush her into dust.

“Don’t be careless, his ability is Vacuum, the Domain of Nothingness,” Lin Luo reminded Evangeline via mental link.

“The Domain of Nothingness? Ah, that is a bit troublesome,” Evangeline responded faintly. Though she said this, her smile never faltered, nor did she make any evasive move. She simply endured Mo Xinming’s blow head-on, only to instantly shatter into fragments.

“Haha, daring to look down on me! This is your end!” Having landed the strike, Mo Xinming threw his head back, roaring in triumph. But before his laughter finished, a cold voice sounded from behind him.

“Little brat, you celebrate too soon.”

“Huh?” Before Mo Xinming could react, he felt an unimaginably heavy impact strike his back, the force driving straight through his Domain of Nothingness.

Blood sprayed from his mouth, and Mo Xinming vanished from the spot at high speed. Although his body had suffered a heavy blow, he was, after all, a powerhouse at the one-hundred-percent Rule level; such an attack was insufficient to kill him, or even severely wound him.

Stopping dozens of meters away in the void, Mo Xinming finally saw clearly that what he had just smashed apart was not Evangeline, but her cloak.

Hundreds of bats flew in the air, swiftly returning to Evangeline’s back, coalescing once more into the black cloak.

“Damn woman, I’ll take your life!” Realizing he’d been tricked, Mo Xinming was consumed by hatred. He ignored Lin Luo entirely, roaring as he charged at Evangeline.

The two quickly engaged. Both were one-hundred-percent Rule-level powerhouses; in terms of both Realm and Strength, they were nearly equal. Mo Xinming’s advantage was the vacuum zone, giving him geographical superiority, but this meant nothing to Evangeline, who possessed immortality.

The Devouring Rule converted all power to her use; Mo Xinming’s vacuum stripping had no effect on her whatsoever.

Meanwhile, seeing Evangeline engaged with Mo Xinming and holding her own without giving ground, Lin Luo finally felt relief. He then joined Léi in chanting the new Chant together…

“Allowing none to approach, allowing none to touch, Sage enveloped by the Gentle Wind, no matter who. Absolutely no approach, absolutely no touch. Contractual Synced, Contractual Executed, we forbid touching… Armor of Wind.”

The sudden tempest instantly enveloped Lin Luo. The wind was violent yet gentle, wrapping tightly around his body like flowing water, bringing both warmth and an overwhelming sense of security.

Although Mo Xinming’s Domain of Nothingness had sucked away all the air and moisture in the region, even affecting Lin Luo, there was one person completely unaffected: Léi.

As the Sorrowful Sacred Tree of Verdant Wind, she was wind itself, soaring through heaven and earth; she required no external wind for power. As long as the Sacred Tree of Sorrow lived, the wind would never extinguish.

Through the wind swirling around him, Lin Luo instantly restored his body. At this moment, the stripping effect of the Domain of Nothingness was reduced to a minimum; almost all the void was blocked outside the Armor of Wind.

Because the wind… was flowing.

Endlessly.

“Let us sing together once more, the Song of You and I.”

Raising the Blade of Verdant Wind with both hands, the massive wind began to dance joyfully again. Where the blade pointed, countless wind arrows, coated in the Destructive Black Flame, shot forward…

String of the South Wind V