Chapter 1193: Strong Physical Body

The Demon Emperor's move, known as the Golden Wing Divine Slash, is a devastating weapon he created by refining his own wings. Compared to a human's sword qi or hand blades, this attack is far more potent because it's augmented by his actual wings, making it exceptionally solid, powerful, and terrifying. This is precisely why, at the same combat level, both fierce beasts and the demon race often surpass humans: they possess formidable physical bodies and various innate skills inherent to their bloodlines.

Zu An, clearly sensing the terrifying power behind the strike, promptly teleported to the side. Yet, the blade's intent seemed to have locked onto him. What began as a vertical slash seamlessly shifted into a horizontal cut as he moved, a fluid transition without any hesitation or abruptness. Zu An moved swiftly, but the golden long blade pursued him just as quickly, remaining close behind him. Where the blade passed, it didn't just cleave through trees; it effortlessly sliced off entire mountaintops. The onlookers were utterly astonished, realizing the terrifying power of that single strike.

Only Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen remained unperturbed, as they could effortlessly achieve such a feat themselves. Yu Yanluo clenched her hands, consumed by worry. Knowing they were both supreme powerhouses, she couldn't help but ask for their opinions: "Will Ah Zu be alright? At this rate, he'll be hit by that blade eventually." Even with Zu An's formidable physique, a hit from such a terrifying blade would surely cleave him in two. Moreover, the killing intent accompanying the blade's momentum would likely shatter his internal organs to dust and instantly evaporate all his blood, leaving no chance for recovery.

Yan Xuehen replied, "There's no need to worry. While Zu An may appear to be in trouble, he's actually using the surrounding mountains to diminish the power of the Golden Wing Divine Slash." Yun Jianyue also nodded. "Precisely. The first push is strong, the second weakens, and the third fails. Just watch; that boy will start his counterattack soon."

At that moment, Crown Prince Golden Crow, hovering in mid-air and frustrated that he couldn't land a hit, remarked coldly, "Is all you know how to do run?" At this point, Zu An decided enough was enough and burst out laughing. "Do you think creating a 40-meter long blade is impressive? I'll show you what it means to conquer a vast area with a single point—the power of physics!"

As he spoke, a luminous finger slowly extended, moving to meet the golden long blade. The Mystic Finger!

A hint of derision flickered in Crown Prince Golden Crow's eyes. Was this man insane, attempting to block his Golden Wing Divine Slash with just one finger? With murderous intent in his gaze, he guided the blade's light downwards, intending to start at Zu An's finger and cleave him into pieces. However, that finger, as if by magic, moved later but arrived first, lightly tapping a specific spot on the side of the golden blade. Instantly, the formidable long blade developed numerous cracks, and in the next second, it shattered completely, dispersing into shimmering golden flecks.

Most onlookers' eyes nearly bulged out. They had expected Zu An to be cleaved in two, but the situation had instantly reversed. Even Yu Yanluo, who had immense faith in Zu An, was astonished and quickly turned to the two grandmasters beside her. "How did he do that?" Yun Jianyue's face also lit up with a peculiar expression. "Crown Prince Golden Crow's Golden Wing Divine Slash isn't perfectly executed; it lacks the power of his father's, and it has a flaw. However, even a Grandmaster would struggle to spot it in such a short time. This young man is truly remarkable."

Yan Xuehen scoffed, "If he can survive my full-strength attack, what's so surprising about him discerning this flaw?" While her words seemed a bit self-aggrandizing, she was genuinely surprised, believing such a feat should be beyond Zu An's current cultivation level. What they didn't realize was that despite his relatively short cultivation period, Zu An had endured countless life-or-death struggles. He hadn't just faced Grandmasters like them; he had even encountered far more terrifying beings—though he was often on the losing side. Yet, as the saying goes, "a long illness makes a good doctor," and his combat awareness had evolved to an entirely different plane. Furthermore, having used the Flame Blade himself, he was intimately familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of such long blades. His accumulated combat experience, combined with his knowledge of physics from his previous life, enabled him to pinpoint the precise weak spot of the massive blade and shatter it with a single strike.

Crown Prince Golden Crow's expression was grim. He hadn't just wanted to win; he had aimed for a decisive, spectacular victory, which was why he had unleashed such a grand and imposing attack. Now, however, he realized that this insignificant "ant," whom he had previously dismissed, possessed genuine skill.

"No matter his ability, he's still merely a frail human!" He resolved to overwhelm his opponent completely using the demon race's formidable physical strength. The moment he finished speaking, he vanished.

Golden Crow Streamer!

Zu An's heart tensed. He swiftly employed the Great Wind movement technique, shifting dozens of meters sideways, though his clothes were still torn in several places by the opponent's sharp claws. "Huh?" Crown Prince Golden Crow was perplexed. Logically, even if his previous strike hadn't severely wounded the opponent, there should have been at least some blood. Why were only his clothes torn? He didn't bother to ponder, instead transforming into countless phantoms and assailing his opponent from all directions, granting him no respite. He intended to tear him into a bloody pulp to sate his anger.

His speed was incredible; many at the foot of the mountain couldn't even clearly see his phantoms, only occasionally catching a glimpse of a golden streak of light, leaving them utterly astounded. "Truly worthy of being the next Demon Emperor," Elder Bai and Elder Qing muttered, trembling, unsure if their tremors stemmed from excitement or fear. "Such cultivation and talent are simply astounding."

Little Bai quickly asked, "Grandpa, can Young Master Zu still hold out?" Having traveled with him, she had developed a fondness for this human. He was handsome, charming, and the way he had just caught the sword with his fingers was undeniably cool. In contrast, Crown Prince Golden Crow was overbearing and far more unlikable. Moreover, since Zu An was the clan leader's male consort, he was considered one of their own, prompting her to instinctively side with him.

"It's difficult," Elder Bai sighed, shaking his head. Little Bai pouted, clearly displeased with the answer. Remembering how her grandfather's earlier judgment had been disproven, she didn't put much faith in him. She quietly edged closer to Yun Jianyue and Yan Xuehen, subtly straining her ears to catch their analysis. Hadn't the clan leader just been seeking their opinions? These two women seemed delicate and gentle; could they possibly have a significant background?

At this point, Yun Jianyue remarked with a sigh, "The Golden Crow Streamer truly lives up to its formidable reputation. If the Demon Emperor were to use this technique against us, our chances of survival would be slim." Yan Xuehen nodded gravely. "Indeed, against the Demon Emperor himself, we'd likely need to strike preemptively just to secure a sliver of hope."

Little Bai's eyes widened, staring at them as if they were delusional. She had expected them to offer profound insights into the battle, but instead, they were spewing utter nonsense. How terrifying was the Demon Emperor? He had subjugated countless demon tribes for centuries and could annihilate foes with a mere glance. At that time, perhaps only the human emperor could truly rival him. And yet, these two delicate women, who seemed to be struggling to catch their breath, were fantasizing about fighting the Demon Emperor? What were they thinking, talking such madness! She quickly moved further away from the two women, as if idiocy were contagious.

Meanwhile, the situation in the arena shifted. To counter the Golden Crow Streamer, Zu An deployed the Sunflower Phantom Movement Technique, his green robes dissolving into phantoms that constantly intertwined and clashed with the golden light. "He can actually keep pace with my movement technique?" Crown Prince Golden Crow was utterly astonished.

Yun Jianyue let out a surprised "Oh?" "His movement technique seems to be the signature skill of the vanished Sunflower Sect, a martial art whose last known practitioner was rumored to be in the imperial palace. But wait, isn't it said that cultivating this technique requires self-castration? Could he have..." Yan Xuehen's face flushed. "Of course not. What are you implying?" When he had previously healed her, their skin had touched, and she couldn't have missed any significant physical changes in him.

"Yu Yanluo's words would carry weight; you haven't personally experienced it," Yun Jianyue scoffed, also finding her own conjecture amusing. "On closer inspection, while this movement technique bears some resemblance to the Sunflower Sect's, it's clearly far more advanced. It seems to contain countless profound mysteries, though Zu An's current cultivation is too shallow to fully unleash its power." As they discussed cultivation, Yan Xuehen gradually regained her usual Grandmaster composure. "Indeed, when I fought him previously, this movement technique was truly astounding. Even I was almost fooled by his illusions several times. I wonder what senior master taught him such an incredible skill."

Dull thudding sounds echoed from the mountaintop, like heavy hammers striking drums. Only a select few could discern that these were the sounds of fists repeatedly striking flesh. Crown Prince Golden Crow intended to overpower Zu An with his demon race's formidable physique. To his surprise, Zu An showed no fear, and later even stopped dodging, opting for a reckless strategy of trading blows. Crown Prince Golden Crow sneered inwardly, "Comparing physical strength with us demons? Let's see how many of my blows you can withstand!"

The two exchanged blow after blow, and soon, sprays of blood mist began to fill the air. After half an hour of relentlessly trading blows, the bruised and swollen Crown Prince Golden Crow slowly came to a realization: "Wait, why isn't this kid's aura weakening at all?" On the contrary, he felt his own body growing heavier.