The field, a composite of Yin energy and vital essence, spun naturally, possessing a subtle, twisting force capable of disrupting the bodily functions of any martial artist.
The moment Bei Mingce entered the field, he realized something was gravely wrong; his expression instantly shifted.
Suspended within the domain, Bei Mingce was caught in an involuntary rotation—now head down, now curled into a ball—unable to maintain any semblance of a stable stance.
Shi Yan, the architect of the domain, remained utterly unaffected. He first observed Bei Mingce with detached indifference, then suddenly moved.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!
Shi Yan unleashed the full power of his body, surging towards Bei Mingce like a coiling dragon. His arms stretched out, grabbing Bei Mingce firmly at the waist, delivering a sharp, iron-hard knee strike.
He focused his Finger Gun Art, his five digits hooked like talons, stabbing viciously into Bei Mingce’s midsection.
Clink-clink.
A crisp sound echoed from Bei Mingce's waist.
Beneath his cyan robe, Bei Mingce wore a fitted armor resembling fish scales, colored an icy, crystalline blue and exuding an astonishing chill.
The assault from the Finger Gun Art failed to pierce the ice-blue armor; it only punched numerous finger-sized holes into Bei Mingce’s outer garment.
Though spinning helplessly in the field, Bei Mingce was inwardly horrified and couldn't help but once again spur the Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul within him.
Under the activation of the Extreme Cold Ice Flame, the ice-blue armor suddenly spread to cover his entire body.
In an instant, even Bei Mingce’s cheeks were sheathed in the fish-scale-like crystalline armor.
This armor was clearly a marvelous mystic treasure; not only did it possess formidable defensive power, but it also harmonized perfectly with Bei Mingce’s Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul attribute, complementing it seamlessly.
As the Martial Soul was channeled, vast amounts of cold energy flooded the armor, causing it to seem activated, as relentless, chilling frost began to spill outwards uncontrollably.
When Shi Yan struck with the Finger Gun Art, not only could he not penetrate the armor, but the terrifying cold emanating from it seeped into his fingers, causing them to grow increasingly stiff.
Still caught within the domain, Bei Mingce continued to spin rapidly, entirely unable to plant his feet, forced to passively endure Shi Yan’s relentless bombardment.
However, protected by the crystalline armor, Bei Mingce remained unconcerned, constantly seeking an opening to counterattack.
Unacceptable.
A sliver of cold light flickered in Shi Yan’s eyes. He drew a deep breath within the field, finally mobilizing the negative energy within his body, instantly entering a state of berserk rampage.
A violent, bloodthirsty, malevolent aura suddenly erupted from him. Shi Yan, his face grim, was enveloped in a pale, swirling mist.
Di Yalan’s delicate body shook violently. She stared at Shi Yan in the field with disbelief and shrieked, “Ding Yan!”
Mu Yudie’s pretty face changed subtly, her beautiful eyes locking onto Shi Yan with an expression of profound complexity.
Once Shi Yan went berserk, all the negative power surged out, condensing into thick white fog, covering him in an aura of savagery, bloodlust, and madness.
This state was so sinister and bizarre that both Di Yalan and Mu Yudie recognized the young man from the Shi family instantly—he was the Ding Yan who had left them.
“How can it be him?” Mu Yudie shook her head forcefully, her expression complicated, murmuring, “Impossible… it shouldn’t be possible. Their appearances are completely different. Ding Yan was just a martial artist of unknown origin; how could he be the young master of the Shi family? Impossible…”
Mu Yudie refused to accept, unwilling to accept, this reality.
“Shi Yan is Ding Yan!”
Di Yalan had shared intimacy with Shi Yan; she was too familiar with his berserk state. Regardless of how his appearance might change, the aura Shi Yan emitted after entering the rampage was utterly unique.
Mu Yudie froze, staring blankly at Shi Yan, feeling as if a vessel of five flavors had been overturned within her, churning with every possible emotion.
Di Yalan’s beautiful eyes shone; her high chest rose and fell beautifully with her rapid breathing. Gazing intently at Shi Yan, she suddenly grew worried, urgently saying, “Xiao Die, Bei Mingce fighting Ding Yan—this, how can this be right? I don’t want either of them to be harmed.”
Mu Yudie took several breaths and gradually calmed down, shaking her head with resignation. “Can you stop them?”
Di Yalan paused, stunned for a moment, before replying, “We have to try something.”
“You don’t understand Bei Mingce,” Mu Yudie sighed. “He will absolutely not allow anyone to covet what he desires. Earlier, Ding Yan spoke such nonsense, and now Bei Mingce definitely won't let Ding Yan off. Alas, even if Ding Yan is the Shi family's young master, he cannot win against Bei Mingce. The Shi family and the Bei Ming family still have a significant gap in strength.”
“No! I have to stop them!” Di Yalan cried out with resolute conviction, her voice sharp, “Ding Yan, stop! Young Master Bei Mingce, stop fighting!”
Shi Yan clearly heard Di Yalan’s shouts, but he coldly ignored them.
Strands of negative energy were urged forth from his acupoints, causing his power to surge. He suddenly activated the "Life Seal" within the domain. Seven streaks of strange, flashing hand seals in his right hand rapidly materialized, crashing down upon Bei Mingce in quick succession.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Bei Mingce’s chest was struck seven times by the Life Seals. Shi Yan violently blasted him clear out of the domain, sending him flying fifty meters away.
Pfft!
Bei Mingce spat a mouthful of blood, ribs cracking beneath his chest. The light on the ice-blue armor dimmed significantly; even it could not withstand the sheer ferocity of Shi Yan’s attack with the Life Seal.
Upon landing, Bei Mingce scrambled back to his feet, his face pale, two thin streams of blood clinging to the corners of his mouth.
“Ding Yan!” Di Yalan suddenly cried out again, “Stop fighting! Both of you, stop!”
Bei Mingce stood up with a ferocious expression, gripping the Sky-Rending Sword. He wiped the blood from his mouth, glaring at Shi Yan with venomous hatred. “Shi Yan, I will not only kill you, but I will also annihilate your entire Shi family!”
“You?” Shi Yan’s killing intent soared. His gaze was sharp and cruel as he licked his lips. “You are not worthy.”
“Ding Yan!” Di Yalan shrieked once more.
Mu Yudie also grew anxious, letting out a sharp reprimand, “Ding Yan, you should understand the might of the Bei Ming family. In Tianyun City, making an enemy of the Bei Ming family benefits you none!”
Shi Yan took a breath, turned his head to glance at the two women, his gaze indifferent, showing not a trace of emotion. “I do not know you people.”
With that, Shi Yan began to walk step by step toward Bei Mingce.
With every step he took, the space beside him warped. As he moved, the domain centered around him continued to emit its strange, killing torsion.
As long as he remained within the domain, Shi Yan was unafraid of Bei Mingce’s Instantaneous Movement Martial Soul; once Bei Mingce entered, Shi Yan was confident he could deal with him slowly.
—Bei Mingce had learned his lesson.
Seeing Shi Yan approach step by step, his face suddenly grew cold. Yet, he did not utilize his Instantaneous Movement Martial Soul to charge forward; instead, he sat down right where he was.
The Sky-Rending Sword shot out abruptly.
Bathed in intense crimson and icy blue light, the Sky-Rending Sword seemed to carry the power of creation and destruction as it cleaved downward from directly above Shi Yan’s head.
Whoosh.
The Sky-Rending Sword struck the domain, producing an abnormal sound within the field, after which the sword fell into the magnetic vortex.
Crimson and icy-blue sword light violently erupted!
Inside the domain, the sword light shot everywhere, amplified by the shearing force. The sharp radiance contained peerless sword qi, terrifying beyond measure.
Sizzle-sizzle-sizzle-sizzle-sizzle!
Numerous sword tracks immediately appeared on Shi Yan’s body.
The sword light exploding from the Sky-Rending Sword, much like Mu Hui’s Nether Spirit Saber, was incomparably sharp; it actually managed to breach Shi Yan’s Petrification Martial Soul.
Spirit-grade weapons are indeed extraordinary.
Shi Yan’s heart constricted. Bleeding profusely, he flashed out of the domain, feeling a searing pain across his body.
He had suffered dozens of cuts from the sword radiance of Bei Mingce’s Sky-Rending Sword, each wound a full centimeter deep.
Instantaneous Movement.
Bei Mingce instantly materialized beside Shi Yan, delivering a bare-knuckle punch augmented by the Extreme Cold Ice Flame Martial Soul directly into Shi Yan’s back.
Bang!
Shi Yan was sent tumbling ten meters in a messy rush, spurting out another mouthful of blood.
Before he could stabilize, Shi Yan frantically channeled his Yin energy, swiftly reforming the Yin Wall around himself with maximum speed.
Once the Yin Wall appeared, Shi Yan dared to look up, only to find that Bei Mingce was indeed right in front of him, holding the Extreme Cold Ice Flame and staring coldly.
If Shi Yan had not conjured the Yin Wall as fast as he did, Bei Mingce would have unhesitatingly covered his entire body with the Extreme Cold Ice Flame, freezing him solid instantly, and then cruelly dismembering him.
“Return!”
Bei Mingce grunted and reached out. The Sky-Rending Sword, trapped in the center of the domain, suddenly shot back, returning to his hand like a streak of flowing light.
Gripping the Sky-Rending Sword, Bei Mingce’s face was grim, and he grinned menacingly. “Let’s see how you plan to fight me now!”
Shi Yan’s face darkened; he realized that the Magnetic Impasse Field seemed effective only against intelligent life forms and could not restrain the Sky-Rending Sword.
If he hid within the Magnetic Impasse Field, Bei Mingce could still command the sword to enter, unleashing bursts of radiant energy against him within the field.
If he stayed outside the field, Bei Mingce could use his Instantaneous Movement Martial Soul to approach ghost-like and strike when he was least prepared.
Troublesome.
Bei Mingce, with his dual Martial Souls, formidable strength, mystic treasures—the offensive Sky-Rending Sword and the defensive Ice Armor—seemed utterly without flaw.
“Young Master Ce, please don’t kill him! He is a friend of mine!” Di Yalan cried out suddenly, having sensed Shi Yan’s perilous situation.
“Young Master Ce, could you spare his life for my sake?” Mu Yudie hesitated for a moment, sighing inwardly, before raising her voice to intercede.
Bei Mingce’s expression remained unmoved. He shook his head lightly. “If this were any other matter, I would certainly grant your request. If Shi Yan hadn't displayed such terrifying power today, I would have agreed as well. But now, it is impossible. He only possesses the cultivation of the Human Rank, yet he wields secret arts and possesses the ability to threaten my life. If he lives, the Shi family might someday rise above my Bei Ming family. Therefore, he must die!”
After stating this, Bei Mingce wasted no more time. The Sky-Rending Sword in his hand shot out again, cleaving down toward Shi Yan’s head.
The sword carried unparalleled sword qi, dragging a ten-meter blade radiance, appearing as if it would cleave heaven and earth as it plummeted like a meteor.
The sword light exploded outwards, enveloping Shi Yan from all directions, completely sealing off space.
“Ding Yan!” Di Yalan shrieked mournfully.
“Alas…” Mu Yudie shook her head gently, a deep sense of helplessness etched on her face, a fleeting trace of pain flashing in her eyes.
“Life and Death Seal.”
Three archaic characters suddenly emanated from Shi Yan’s mouth.
Beneath the sky-filling sword radiance, Shi Yan’s expression was resolute; there was not a hint of fear in his eyes.
Under the gaze of Mu Yudie and Di Yalan, Shi Yan’s right hand began to swell continuously, while his left hand grew increasingly thin, as if reduced to skin and bone.
Simultaneously, two distinctly different, terrifying auras suddenly burst forth from Shi Yan’s two arms…
ps: Second update delivered. Calling for monthly tickets—loudly, fiercely, and hoarsely calling for monthly tickets! V