Chapter 985: Break to Build

Everyone watching on the surrounding sea was utterly stunned by this sight, including Xu Yang, the leader of the Glory team.

Xu Yang had encountered countless cultivators who boasted of their warrior spirit, yet he had never witnessed the likes of Uzumaki Goro. It must be said that the moment Uzumaki Goro self-destructed his eyes, Xu Yang's usually calm mind stirred, as if he had grasped something profound from Uzumaki Goro's singular spirit.

Admittedly, Uzumaki Goro's cultivation and combat methods were overly extreme. Yet, his desperate, all-or-nothing approach allowed him to unleash an ultimate power that far exceeded any opponent at his cultivation level. Perhaps, when individuals choose extreme methods to demonstrate their strength, they unlock their true and most formidable potential.

All along, Xu Yang had been discreetly researching his future path of cultivation. To some extent, he had already mastered the path of primal power to its zenith, thanks to his nearly flawless Innate Vital Energy. Yet, he never forgot the old man's earlier admonition. The true ultimate of primal power was a realm even he had never reached. Although Xu Yang had now cultivated Innate Vital Energy to the Grand Perfection realm, allowing for endless reincarnation, he knew there was more. Despite this, the pinnacle Xu Yang could currently achieve was the simultaneous activation of nine Qi vortexes. While this had already established an unprecedented, supreme glory, reaching the absolute peak of the primal power realm, a level untouched by others, Xu Yang constantly pondered how to activate the legendary tenth Qi vortex.

The challenge lay in the human body's limit of only nine major acupoints capable of forming Qi vortexes. In other words, even if one wished to open a tenth Qi vortex, its location remained an unsolvable mystery. Yet, Xu Yang never abandoned this line of thought, especially after witnessing the astonishing potential Uzumaki Goro unleashed in that instant.

Inexplicably, Xu Yang seemed to receive a profound insight, subtly implanting within his deepest consciousness the idea of "destruction leading to creation." Perhaps, the true location for miracles is often the very place everyone unconsciously overlooks.

Admittedly, from the moment Uzumaki Goro destroyed his own eyes, Xu Yang instinctively held him in high regard. At the very least, the spirit he embodied was worthy of study and admiration by every dedicated cultivator. You could oppose him, even consider him an unyielding enemy, but you had to respect him.

Crimson blood quickly cascaded across Uzumaki Goro's face, yet his unrestrained laughter grew even more audacious. Simultaneously, a tremendously violent blood-red vortex spontaneously formed in the ocean directly beneath him. The scarlet hue within this vortex originated partly from his exceptionally pure bloodline aura and partly from the unique cultivation technique he was employing. According to Xu Yang's assessment, Uzumaki Goro's self-inflicted blindness was akin to activating a forbidden cultivation technique that had lain dormant within him for years. This technique could likely only be used once in a lifetime, demanding the permanent sacrifice of sight. Yet, the power gained in exchange would be unfathomable.

Indeed, the moment the purple vortex swelled to its peak, a terrifying totem, resembling the King of the Underworld, materialized behind Uzumaki Goro. This totem was incredibly grotesque, yet the aura it exuded reached its absolute zenith. A shadowy silhouette, like a black monarch, completely enveloped Uzumaki Goro's form in dark energy. Possessing dark, devouring magic, it cast an intimidating presence over everything nearby. Even Ling Yao, standing before Uzumaki Goro, felt no impulse to make a move. In truth, Ling Yao, like Uzumaki Goro, possessed a formidable warrior spirit. Having declared she would grant her opponent the opportunity to unleash their strongest attack, she would never exploit such a moment. Furthermore, the emergence of this Hades-like black totem piqued Ling Yao's interest in Uzumaki Goro's ultimate arcane technique. She was eager to witness what astonishing abilities this individual, arrogant enough to unhesitatingly blind himself, truly possessed.

“My worshipper, by summoning me in this manner, do you seek some form of cooperation?”

The Hades's voice, deep and hoarse, gradually emerged, quickly spreading across the vast surrounding sea and echoing in the minds of every observer. The voice was immensely profound. At that moment, Uzumaki Goro finally spoke slowly, “I seek powerful strength in exchange, Lord Hades! Grant me the true glory of a warrior!”

Finally, the steel blade in Uzumaki Goro's hand, the one he cherished above all else, violently shattered, its surface covered in grotesque cracks. After losing his eyes and eternal sight, this treasured steel blade had become the single most cherished item in Uzumaki Goro's possession. But at this very moment, his sole reliance also crumbled, leaving Uzumaki Goro with no anchor for his life. In this extreme state bordering on despair, his inner grief, indignation, and every complex emotion coalesced into a singular furnace of resolve. This surge of emotion seamlessly merged with the power granted by the Hades-like totem behind him.

In that instant, a completely black blade, forged from pure Hades power, began to coalesce behind Uzumaki Goro. The blade itself measured two meters in length, and every inch of its dark, gleaming surface radiated terrifying fluctuations capable of devouring all.

“My heavens! Look! That black blade is horrifying! It's radiating a suffocating aura. What kind of power is this? To think Uzumaki Goro is merely the Third Heavenly King of the Executioner Legion, yet he harbors such astonishing secrets.”

Xu Yang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calmly observing the spectacle. Suddenly, he turned his head to look at Xi Huang, now his sword servant, standing beside him.

“What is Uzumaki Goro's true identity? I want the unvarnished truth.”