Chapter 504: Got You

The tsunami-like pressure swept forth. The ground cracked inch by inch, and the outer factory building that Celicia had just cleaved in half continued to crumble under the tremors. Pieces of rubble fell one after another—yet the moment they approached King Yintuo, they were crushed into dust by an invisible force.

Seeing this, both Muen and Celicia grew solemn.

They understood—this time, King Yintuo was serious!

But before they could act, both were shocked to find that King Yintuo had vanished on the spot!

Only half a breath after he disappeared did an explosive roar ring out, shaking the entire space.

“So fast!”

Up until now, King Yintuo had always overwhelmed them with slow, oppressive strength, never moving from that meditation mat. Muen hadn’t considered that his speed could be so terrifying.

No—Muen snapped awake. As someone who, step by step, had climbed from a martial artist to the exalted Crowned One realm and attained a near-divine body, King Yintuo’s speed should have been a fundamental attribute!

Even as an avatar, his speed and strength alone completely crushed both him and Celicia!

Not to mention—the deep-sea-like oppressive force around him continued to restrict Muen. According to Celicia, this was the “Domain” belonging to a Crowned One. Because the avatar was weaker, it was merely a fledgling version. If it were a true Domain, neither of them would be able to move at all.

Earlier, Celicia had manipulated King Yintuo with subtle timing, and King Yintuo had used several palm strikes to lure them.

But perhaps none of this was “feinting”—maybe that was simply the limit of what they could force from him at that time!

“Damn it!”

The premonition of death roared in his skull. In that instant when he lost sight of King Yintuo, Muen followed pure instinct and crossed both blades before himself.

Boom—

Almost simultaneously, King Yintuo appeared in front of him.

His pupils were still lifeless, reflecting nothing at all.

Yet from within them, Muen sensed a chilling indifference... and killing intent.

King Yintuo extended a hand toward him.

It was not a fist.

His five fingers were curled at different angles—forming an extremely strange gesture, almost comical.

But when that hand reached forward, Muen suddenly sensed that the space around him was being twisted.

Crack crack crack—

Glass-shattering sounds erupted again and again.

It was the sound of space breaking under unbearable force.

But it was not only space that was being twisted and shattered—Muen’s body was, too.

Agonizing pain assaulted his nerves. He couldn’t help coughing up blood mixed with torn flesh. His expression contorted, and bloodshot veins spread instantly across his eyes.

It felt as if the strange grasping gesture was wringing and crushing his internal organs, mixing them together into pulp.

Muen swung his blades through the pain—but the blade-light was also twisted apart.

His physical body was strong, but his internal organs were still fragile due to the difference in level.

That was his weakness.

King Yintuo remained expressionless, as though watching an ant struggling before death.

Clang—

In that instant, the sharp slice of an air-piercing sound overtook Muen’s groan.

The razor-cold slender sword stabbed again from an extremely tricky angle, and the silver-white figure stepped out of the shadows like a witch bringing death.

But King Yintuo seemed to have expected it. His other hand was already waiting there.

Two thick, weathered fingers clamped the slender sword tightly.

Sword-gleam burst forth again, carving a bleeding line along his forearm, but he didn’t care. He gradually suppressed the trembling blade, refusing to allow its wielder to unleash a second strike.

He turned his head toward Celicia, as if wanting to see what this Third Princess—whose reputation was already astonishing yet who still hid her true depths—would do in such a desperate moment.

But Celicia was not looking at him.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on Muen, whose expression was twisted in pain.

She said nothing, but the frost crystallizing in her eyes seemed to deepen by another degree.

She withdrew her gaze and flicked the blade gently.

“Falling Rain.”

Her cold voice drowned out all other noise in an instant.

All sound vanished.

King Yintuo’s pupils contracted slightly, as though he sensed something. The hand making the strange gesture tightened suddenly and smashed downward.

“Pff—”

Muen spat another mouthful of blood. His internal organs were completely shattered by that strike.

His body shot out like a sandbag, smashing into the wall. Dust billowed, burying his limp figure.

Freed from holding Muen, King Yintuo used both hands, intending to fully suppress the sword and snuff out the girl’s next technique before it formed.

Unfortunately—

It was too late.

A misty drizzle began to fall.

Soft and hazy, like a spring morning fog.

But within that mist—was killing intent.

Because every drop of rain...was a sword-gleam.

Celicia took a deep breath. The slender sword in her hand flipped sharply.

The rain fell.

Hazy drizzle—yet a raging tide!

King Yintuo’s fledgling “Domain” was torn open instantly. Though its suppression slowed many of the strikes, the countless rain-blades still carved wound after wound across his body.

His tattered robe shredded completely into fluttering scraps.

His gaunt but powerful body was exposed—and the mighty Crowned One was, for once, disheveled.

“You advanced?”

King Yintuo looked at Celicia.

Though his eyes had long been blind from years of ascetic cultivation, through his lifeless pupils, he could see a world built from gray lines.

And now, within that gray world, the brilliant flame representing Celicia burned far more fiercely than before.

The flame had doubled in size.

“For the sake of your lover, you forcibly broke through your realm. Was it worth it?”

King Yintuo asked.

“Two things.”

Celicia replied without slowing. She charged with a fierceness even greater than before.

“First—he is not my lover. He is my fiancé.”

“Second—it wasn’t forced. It was natural.”

Clang—

Sword-shadows moved like wind.

After ascending to Fifth Tier, Celicia’s strikes became even sharper. From being fully suppressed and forced to rely on tricks, she gradually reached the point where she could actually confront King Yintuo head-on.

Though still at a disadvantage, as time passed, Celicia seemed to adapt to her new realm. Her sword-gleam grew stronger, and King Yintuo became the one forced into defense.

However—once she reached her peak, her strength suddenly began to decline.

King Yintuo saw her condition clearly and said:

“In the end, you only just broke through. Add to that your earlier consumption—how long do you think you can fight me directly?”

“I don’t need to fight you for long.”

Even though she was being forced toward defeat, Celicia’s lips curved into a strange arc.

“You haven’t noticed yet?”

“Noticed what?”

King Yintuo frowned.

“Noticed that... I’m not the main attacker at all.”

The moment she finished speaking, Celicia gathered her strength ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) again and launched another fierce offensive.

King Yintuo seemed to realize something and turned sharply.

Boom!

The already crumbling wall shattered completely. A figure burst out like a cannonball.

“Wha—”

For the first time, true shock appeared on King Yintuo’s face.

Muen Campbell?

Impossible.

He knew the boy healed quickly—but just now, he had directly crushed all of Muen’s internal organs, including his heart.

With everything inside smashed into paste, how could he still be alive? Bounding around? This was a duke’s son? This was a human being?

But at this moment, there was no time to think.

Blinding blade-light tore through the dust and slashed toward his vital point.

King Yintuo narrowly dodged.

At the same time, taking Celicia’s sword head-on, he freed one hand and struck Muen with brutal force.

Thud.

Muen’s abdomen was pierced through entirely. Blood poured out like water.

But the expression beneath his mask still showed an excited, feral grin.

“I...”

Muen clamped down hard on King Yintuo’s arm, his voice hoarse.

“I’ve got you, King Yintuo!”

Deep within his pupils, beneath the turning black sun, black flames with white outer fire rose into the air!