"This talisman is the 'Lesser Pseudo-God Tier Defensive Talisman,' and this bead is the 'Pseudo-Water God Bead,' a medium-grade treasure within the Pseudo-God realm. Simply inject Divine Power into it to activate the 'Water Curtain Sutra.' The Divine Power stored within can still be used once!"
Bai Yijun finished speaking slowly, then glanced at Ye Chen, handing him the talisman and the 'Pseudo-Water God Bead,' murmuring, "I've always been reluctant to use these. Activating the 'Water Curtain Sutra' each time requires an immense amount of Divine Power. You can use it when confronting that beast later!"
"With the defense of the 'Water Curtain Sutra,' it is enough to withstand attacks from a mid-tier Pseudo-God expert, and it can even greatly weaken the assaults of a high-tier Pseudo-God! Each activation only lasts for 3 seconds. Once those three seconds pass, immediately use this 'Lesser Pseudo-God Tier Defensive Talisman.' This talisman can last for 5 seconds and can weaken the majority of attacks from a mid-stage Pseudo-God. With the armor you're wearing, you should just barely be able to withstand what remains!"
Bai Yijun's expression grew grave. "Strive to retrieve the White Snow Divine Sword within those three seconds!"
Ye Chen accepted without ceremony, slipping it into his robes. "Let's go!"
Bai Yijun hesitated, fixing him with a steady gaze, then suddenly snatched the Pseudo-God Realm Invisibility Talisman from his palm, gritting her teeth. "I'll go!" Without waiting for Ye Chen's reply, she rushed ahead toward the ninth level, crushing the invisibility rune the moment she entered.
Ye Chen turned to watch as Bai Yijun's figure vanished into thin air before his eyes. He paused for a moment, then quickly followed, knowing from the data he had reviewed that most invisibility talismans, regardless of tier, generally last around ten minutes.
Ye Chen carefully entered, positioning himself at the staircase landing, crouching down to conceal his form in the darkness, leaving only his eyes peering into the ninth level...
It was a stretch of utter blackness.
Ye Chen frowned slightly, then after a moment's contemplation, flicked his finger, sending a thread of scorching firelight shooting out, bathing the tower chamber in a sudden illumination.
A cold wind swept through the silent tower.
The beast was coiled in its original spot, entirely wrapped in shackles as thick as a man's arm. As the firelight flared, it slowly opened one metallic-sheened eyelid, revealing a crimson, vicious eye fixed upon Ye Chen outside the tower door.
Ye Chen felt a bead of cold sweat trace down his forehead, recognizing it as a normal physiological reaction to immense pressure—a reaction that would cease once his spiritual attainment reached a higher level. Facing the beast's stare, however, he felt no great panic; previous incidents had convinced him that this creature could not leave the ninth level!
Ye Chen remained still, scrutinizing the beast for a few moments. Seeing it still coiled and unmoving, his certainty deepened. Clenching his fists, he wasted no more time. His figure blurred into motion, instantly activating Superman Mode: Lightning!
"Water Curtain Sutra!"
Ye Chen flipped his hand, clutching the 'Pseudo-Water God Bead.' He communicated with his consciousness, activating the protective barrier within. The pearl-sized, sea-blue orb radiated a gentle glow, illuminating his face and dyeing even his eyebrows a vivid azure. A rich wave of Divine Power erupted from the tiny bead, forming a blue light-screen that enveloped Ye Chen entirely, shaping itself into an elliptical sphere providing 360-degree comprehensive protection.
This fingernail-sized 'Pseudo-Water God Bead' contained a staggering one hundred and eighty million micro-gears, twelve major intelligent optical brains, and a central system coordinating it all—an object of extremely high sophistication, translating to trillions if measured in Ghost Stones!
Outside this blue light barrier, resplendent verses and poetic scriptures flowed, manifesting technology derived from the Epic Civilization, suffused with a sacred aura.
The instant the barrier activated, Ye Chen's figure shot forward like a beam of light toward the beast, immediately engaging Superman Mode: Ant! The blood and cells within him seemed to surge to life, unleashing unprecedented strength!
Wind roared past his ears.
Ye Chen raised his fist, his eyes filled with chilling murderous intent and a flicker of madness, driving it down toward the beast!
"Roar!" The beast let out a low growl, mobilizing its vast internal Divine Power. A sharp horn coalesced atop its scaled head, piercing the sky as it angled sharply to meet Ye Chen head-on!
Boom!
The sharp golden horn struck the 'Water Curtain Sutra' and melted away like ice and snow, shattering instantly. Ye Chen's fist, solid as a mountain, slammed heavily onto the creature's skull!
The searing flames from the Divine Flame Armor surged upward, engulfing his fist, transforming into countless sharp spikes that speared into the beast's body.
All this happened in an instant. In the next moment, Ye Chen's body was repelled like a cannonball, slamming violently into the tower wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Hoo! Hoo!
In this darkness, whose breath was that ragged?
Ye Chen stared intently at the beast, gritting his blood-smeared teeth, hair flying loose, and roared as he charged forward again.
Through that single exchange, he confirmed that the beast's raw physical power was definitely around the 3-million mark. Even with his Superman Mode active, his strength only reached 1.2 million. Even employing the 'Meteorite Mystery' to double his attack power, he could only manage 2.4 million levels of force.
Crash~~~
The beast's body shuddered slightly under the impact of Ye Chen's full-force blow. Every bone seemed on the verge of shattering. That last punch, combined with the speed of Superman Mode: Lightning, meant the actual attack far exceeded 2.4 million levels, inflicting compounded injury upon the beast!
Under normal circumstances, even if Ye Chen's power were ten million, he would have been instantly annihilated by this beast. The creature only needed to release a mere wisp of Divine Power to penetrate his body and shatter his consciousness.
But now, with the weakening effect of the 'Water Curtain Sutra,' all of the beast's Divine Power attacks were unable to penetrate the barrier and harm Ye Chen.
These three seconds of combat were a pure test of brute force!
Whoosh!
The beast let out a low growl, blood vessels bulging ferociously in its crimson eyes as it fixed its gaze on Ye Chen. Bracing its four limbs, its body shot out like a soaring dragon, charging toward him.
As it moved, Ye Chen's eyes darted down, spotting a streak of snowy white light where it had previously been coiled—it was the White Snow Divine Sword!
The tower walls were constructed of extremely hard, precious specialty metals. The beast had no place to hide the sword except to swallow it.
Destroy it?
The White Snow Divine Sword was a supreme weapon of the peak Demigod tier. It would take immense effort for the beast to even break it, a cost it was unwilling to pay while still injured.
As for swallowing it, there was no question. Although its digestive functions were strong, it would not dare consume a peak Demigod tier metal material. Not unless it was one of the exceedingly rare 'Gold-Swallowing Savage Beasts' from the legendary Demon Realm civilization!
Such beasts were born already possessing Demigod strength, reaching the Pseudo-God realm upon maturity, and though extremely few in number, every member of their clan was a powerhouse!
Ye Chen instantly realized Bai Yijun must have been hiding near the beast all along. Knowing the mission was complete, his figure flickered as he dashed toward the dark door.
Just then—
Clatter!
The beast's movement was like light, its speed far exceeding Ye Chen's. It swept its hoof down, aiming for Ye Chen’s back!
Thud!
Ye Chen's entire body jolted, as if struck by a massive transport truck from behind. His heart felt like it was about to punch through his chest, his mind buzzed, and his vision blurred and swayed.
The next instant, he shot out through the door like a projectile, smashing violently against a wall...
"No—" A desolate cry echoed out. From an unknown corner in the darkness, a figure slowly materialized: beast-skin high-heeled boots, a jet-black battle skirt, a white blouse, and a mass of black hair streaming out behind her, a few strands blown astray by the wind, brushing against her exquisitely pale cheek.
Her face was etched with despair and heartache. The autumn-water-like clarity in her eyes held glistening teardrops. The heavy thud as the beast's hoof struck Ye Chen had struck her heart like a massive hammer.
Her gaze drifted to the beast suspended mid-air. A fierce hatred sparked in her eyes. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and her expression suddenly settled into a frightening calm.
She inhaled deeply.
Slowly, she bent down and picked up the White Snow Divine Sword from the floor. The moment her fair, slender hand grasped the hilt, the sword let out a resonant cry, as if recognizing its owner, emitting a joyous, spectral white light that illuminated Bai Yijun’s face.
Her bearing was cold, like frost.
An ancient, eternal voice, like the chanting of all gods and buddhas in unison, which had been silent for countless ages, once more echoed through the entire cosmos, softly intoned from this woman’s lips:
"When I desire to tread the heavens... all living beings shall be my stepping stones..."
"When I desire to slaughter the heavens... all living beings shall be my blades..."
"When I desire to defy the heavens... all living beings shall be my defiance..."
...
Ancient and mysterious light once again shone forth in this silent, dark tower. The cool white light engulfed the entire thousand-zhang floor and enveloped the beast hanging in the air...
After a long, long while...
When the white light retracted like a whale settling into the water, a single white figure stood suspended in mid-air, holding a snow-white longsword. The frost-like sheen on the blade reflected off her form. A breeze, coming from an unknown source, gently caressed her clothing...
Before her, the beast was rigid. Its eyes were wide open, but the pupils were now a dull, lifeless gray. Its body, vast as a mountain, began to fall, seemingly slowly, yet in reality, with incredible speed.
It landed heavily on the ground.
Boom!
The entire tower floor trembled slightly, and the thread of scorching firelight illuminating the chamber dimmed, then slowly extinguished.
Darkness swallowed the surroundings, enveloping the woman in white. Only she and her sword still emitted a brilliant white glow.