13. Celestial Evolution

Bai Zongnan twisted his body sideways, forcibly blocking his opponent’s kick, and then used the force of that blow to slide backward.

Swish!

The man in the azure robe pressed forward relentlessly. Another sweeping kick came flying; Bai Zongnan could only barely defend.

Clang!

The spear jabbed at Bai Zongnan’s waist. His body stiffened, and, losing his balance, he tumbled to the ground.

“You… you fought dirty!” Bai Zongnan struggled to sit up, clutching his abdomen, cursing furiously.

“Heh, all’s fair in war.”

“Fine! If that’s how you want it, then I’ll fight you with everything I’ve got!”

“Hahaha!”

Bai Zongnan threw his head back and let out a wild howl. Suddenly, his presence surged, a terrifying aura sweeping out in all directions, bearing down on the man in azure.

“Oh?” The man’s gaze sharpened, clearly sensing Bai Zongnan’s change. The corner of his mouth curled into a slight smile. “So you were hiding your strength. It seems I underestimated you. But at your level, you’re still no match for me.”

“You’re wrong!” Bai Zongnan roared. “I just didn’t think you worthy enough!”

Boom!

A tempest of energy exploded from Bai Zongnan, transforming into a violent gale that swept through the woods, making the trees shudder and sway. Yet Bai Zongnan stood firm, unmoved.

“Impossible!” The man’s eyes went wide. “How can this be?!”

In that moment, Bai Zongnan was like a figure wreathed in flames, his aura blazing and seething, as if he were being consumed by fire. A faint crimson radiance enveloped his entire body, making him appear as a demon lord reborn from the inferno.

His eyes shone with a terrifying metallic gleam, sharp enough to cleave through anything.

“Hah!”

Boom!

Bai Zongnan’s power erupted to its utmost. He leapt, his body like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, shooting straight at the man in azure.

With every step he took, the earth cracked beneath his feet, leaving clear pits behind. A murderous intent surged forth, suffocating in its intensity.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each step brought with it a deafening thunder, like drums of war and rolling thunder. His aura rose like smoke on the battlefield, his blood surging and crashing.

“Aaah!”

The man in azure let out a shrill scream as a wave of heat burst from Bai Zongnan, scorching his garments to ash and revealing his solid, bronze-toned flesh.

“Break!” Bai Zongnan’s fists crashed into the man’s chest, sending him flying several yards away.

Blood spurted from the man’s mouth as terror contorted his face. “Who—who are you?!”

“What does it matter to you?” Bai Zongnan sneered, striding toward the man.

Bang! Bang!

With every step, the ground shattered further. By the time Bai Zongnan reached the man, the earth beneath had been pulverized. His aura was fierce as a rainbow, and his eyes were awash with bloodlust.

“Kill!”

He threw a punch, the air splitting with a piercing sonic boom.

Crash! The man in azure was sent flying again, collapsing three meters away and vomiting blood.

“You…” He looked up at Bai Zongnan, a snarl twisting his features. “You’ll regret this!”

With that, he scrambled to his feet and staggered away in retreat.

“Hmph! Trying to flee?” Bai Zongnan’s figure flickered and, in a flash, he was upon the man again, landing another punch.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bones rang out. The man coughed blood, knocked to the ground, his body convulsing. “Tell me—who are you?” Bai Zongnan seized him by the collar, his voice a growl.

The man gasped for breath, struggling to speak. “You’ll—never get anything from me!”

“Then die!” Bai Zongnan snarled, driving his knee into the man’s skull.

Bang!

Blood gushed from the man’s mouth and nose, his brains splattering as his life ended.

“Hmph!” Bai Zongnan snorted, tossing the corpse aside.

Yet a deep frown furrowed his brow. The identity of this man remained a mystery, but one thing was clear: he was a pawn of Li Zhong. Even a mere underling of Li Zhong had reached such a level. If Bai Zongnan’s own strength did not improve rapidly, he would never be able to contend with Li Zhong.

“There’s no time left. If I delay any longer, I’ll surely die.”

“It seems there’s only one path forward.”

He took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the ground, closing his eyes and sinking his consciousness into his dantian.

Within his core, the phantom golden bead radiated a dazzling light, and a single drop of crystalline liquid, shaped like a water droplet, spun slowly within. Rich spiritual energy swirled around it, like living creatures merging into the drop.

With each cycle, the liquid condensed further, shrinking until it was as small as a broad bean.

The liquid was weightless, yet somehow heavier than a mountain.

The liquid true essence coursed through his dantian, then slowly dispersed, spreading throughout Bai Zongnan’s body, nourishing his muscles and meridians. His pores opened wide, greedily absorbing the pure energy.

With a flash, Bai Zongnan’s eyes opened, a gleam of joy within.

“I did it! I finally broke through! Martial Master, Level Two—I’ve finally advanced to Martial Master, Level Two!”

He clenched his fists in excitement, feeling the surge of newfound strength multiplying within him.

Level Two Martial Master!

A new realm entirely.

Ordinary practitioners, upon reaching the peak of the Warrior stage, found advancement nearly impossible. It could take years, even decades, to progress, and even the most gifted geniuses might require a century. Many would remain forever stuck, never breaking through.

This was the greatest flaw of the martial path.

But in this world, there existed another way—a celestial technique known as the Grand Emperor’s Divine Art.

This method was never meant for ordinary mortals.

It required absolute enlightenment, a detachment from the mundane. Thus, as one cultivated this art, their realm would rise without bottleneck—soaring endlessly.

Yet this art possessed a fatal flaw.

Once one broke into the Martial Master realm, advancement would cease. The practitioner would be trapped at this stage forever.

A Martial Master typically lived only two centuries. If unable to break through again, their life would burn out and end.

Bai Zongnan understood this well. By nature, he would never have chosen this path, but having already unraveled the mystery of his birth and completed the tasks of the first stage, he no longer feared the risks ahead.

Therefore…

“I must grow stronger, and quickly, or I’ll never survive long enough!” Bai Zongnan thought grimly, a ruthless light flickering in his eyes. “So be it… I’ll use that technique!”

He opened his palm, and a tongue of flame flickered to life in his hand. The fire was silver-white, pulsing with formidable energy, ready to erupt at any moment.

He placed the flame upon the corpse of the man in azure and retreated several yards before stopping.

The body was instantly reduced to ashes, a swirl of black mist drifting in the air. Moments later, a wisp of ghostly spirit materialized where the corpse had lain, glaring at Bai Zongnan with venomous hatred.

“Bai Zongnan, one day, you’ll pay for what you’ve done today!” the ghost howled.

Bai Zongnan threw back his head and laughed, wild and arrogant. He reached into the void and gripped the air—a chilling blade shimmered into existence and landed in his palm.

The blade quivered, singing with a cold, metallic resonance.

With a flash, the blade sliced through the ghost, cleaving it in two before it vanished.

“What a fine blade!” Bai Zongnan remarked with admiration.

Though not particularly precious, this weapon was one he’d acquired by chance on the battlefield. Such things must never be discarded lightly, lest they invite retribution from enemies. Thus, Bai Zongnan had kept it hidden on his person ever since, and now it had proven useful once again.

“It’s time to go.”