Chapter Thirty-Nine: An Easy Victory

“Heh, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige you…” Mus only sneered, yet his movements flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water, evading Sun Bo’s attacks at the very last instant.

With a gentle wave of his hand, wisps of spectral underworld fire unfurled, surrounding Sun Bo from every direction. In an instant, he was encircled by black flames that could melt steel and devour even a cultivator’s spiritual energy. Though this was a tangible fire, it had long since transcended the realm of ordinary flames.

A harsh hissing filled the air. Caught off guard, Sun Bo saw the black fire closing in within a yard of him, and before he realized it, a corner of his long robe had already been burned through, leaving a small hole.

Taking a loss in their very first exchange infuriated the usually arrogant Sun Bo. In terms of cultivation, he was no weaker than his opponent, but Mus’s black fire was far too strange—it could even consume spiritual energy, making it truly terrifying!

At that moment, Xiao Chong, Ao Yun, Kuang Lie, Gala, and the others emerged from the pavilion. Dozens of the most outstanding youths of the Imperial Capital gathered at the martial arena, retreating to the sides to quietly observe the duel.

“Hearts Ablaze to Burn the Heavens!” Gala intoned softly, his demeanor relaxed, betraying not a hint of tension.

In the next instant, five black flames erupted with a thunderous roar. The flames, initially no larger than candlelight, suddenly surged to nearly half a meter high. Even before they reached Sun Bo, a corner of his robe caught fire.

Face grim, Sun Bo tore off the burning piece and quickly circulated his spiritual energy.

“Wall of Sighs!”

As his voice fell, ripples of spiritual power appeared around him, spreading like waves across a pond, forming a shield.

Now the five black flames, capable of incinerating all things, swept toward Sun Bo. To Mus’s surprise, his invincible black fire could not penetrate the rippling shields.

Whenever a black flame neared, Sun Bo would simply raise his hand and lightly tap the shield, sending shimmering ripples outward and dispersing the flame.

Witnessing this, not only did the onlookers from the Tianwu Empire breathe a sigh of relief, but even Sun Bo, protected within the barrier, allowed himself a rare smile.

“Since your flames are useless against me, it’s my turn now!”

“Rampage of the Myriad Beasts!”

At his command, dozens, even hundreds, of beastly shadows materialized around him. These phantom beasts roared and bared their fangs, their thunderous cries making the very waters of the nearby lake tremble.

“Go—”

The hundred beast phantoms howled and charged. Though many were reduced to ash by the black underworld fire, even more broke through the encirclement of five flames, surging toward Mus.

“Black Lotus Blossoms!”

Just as the beast phantoms passed through the flames, Mus’s voice sounded quietly from behind.

A strange and sinister change unfolded—the five black flames instantly transformed into lotus shapes, and from them flew dozens of palm-sized black lotus fire blossoms.

Roars and bellows filled the air. In the blink of an eye, the beast phantoms were incinerated by the black lotuses, dissolving into wisps of green smoke that vanished into the void.

“Hahaha… Do you think the faint glow of fireflies can compete with the brilliance of the full moon?” Mus laughed. But before his laughter faded, a chill of mortal danger swept over him.

“Did you not know that after the Rampage of the Myriad Beasts comes the ‘Beast King’s Roar’?” Enveloped by rippling spiritual shields, Sun Bo shot through the storm of black lotuses like a meteor.

With a thunderous roar, Sun Bo’s right hand transformed into a giant, fur-covered beast’s paw and struck down at Mus.

At the same moment, the black fire lotuses responded to Mus’s command. Some launched attacks at Sun Bo, while others gathered into a black barrier before him.

“Break for me—”

The protective shield around Sun Bo, now untended, began to falter under the relentless assault of black fire. With a savage snarl, Sun Bo poured his wild spiritual energy into the massive beast’s paw, smashing it down upon the lotus-formed barrier.

A ripping sound echoed—the beast’s paw tore through the barrier almost without resistance, landing squarely upon Mus’s chest.

Blood spurted from Mus’s mouth as he was hurled backwards like a severed kite, crashing to the ground.

Meanwhile, Sun Bo’s left hand, still in beast form, was quickly engulfed by the black fire and began to burn.

“Wall of Sighs!”

With no other choice and nearly exhausted, Sun Bo mustered his last reserves of power. The rippling shields flickered into existence, sweeping away the ferocious black flames from his arm.

“Well! Mus, are you done for? Don’t tell me you’re finished already? If you’re defeated so easily, it’ll be such a disappointment…” Before the youths of the Tianwu Empire could cheer, disciples of the Holy Land burst into mocking laughter, mercilessly ridiculing Mus.

“Ah… it does hurt. It’s been a long time since anyone could injure me. You’re not bad…” Amid the jeers, the battered Mus slowly stood up.

Without a gesture, the black flames scattered across the arena flew of their own accord, merging back into Mus’s body.

A powerful surge followed—his aura leaping from the mid-stage of Innate Realm to the peak, then to perfection. With the black fire merging into his body, his presence skyrocketed, even carrying a trace of the aura of a Spirit King.

“Mus truly is formidable. Though still only at mid-innate stage, with the underworld fire infused, I doubt anyone beneath Spirit King could defeat him now.”

“Haha… The people from Heaven-Shrouding City are in trouble now. They’ve truly provoked Mus’s wrath…” The Holy Land disciples joked without restraint, ignoring the ashen-faced Sun Bo, Ao Yun, and the others.

“Fight me again!” Consumed by rage, Sun Bo ignored his fatigue and strode forward.

“You… are not up to it,” Mus said calmly, wagging a finger. “Let me be frank. Though I’m only mid-innate, beneath Spirit King, no one can best me. You have talent; why not join our Holy Land?”

At this, the ever-proud Sun Bo was incensed. He stepped forward.

“Beast King’s Roar!”

This time, both his arms transformed into massive beast paws, and a torrent of wild spiritual energy surged toward Mus.

“Stubborn,” Mus said softly, and with a casual wave, black lotus flames blossomed in the air.

The next moment, sizzling sounds filled the air—the beast paws were quickly engulfed by black fire, while Mus’s figure drifted lightly back over three yards.

By now, even an ordinary bystander could see—the gulf between the two was as vast as heaven and earth.