Almost there, just hang in a little longer

At this moment, Huang Jiuyou had no patience for those who disturbed him. His very first strike brimmed with overwhelming power.

"Towering Waves!"

Demonic energy surged into colossal tidal waves, as if capable of annihilating everything in their path.

Lei Shi's feet crackled with lightning, boosting his speed as he leaped into the air to evade. Feng Chengkai scrambled to dodge as well, but his reflexes were no match for Lei Shi's, leaving him grazed by the attack.

Gritting his teeth, Feng Chengkai gathered demonic energy in his palm.

"Crescent Moon Blade!"

A razor-sharp wind slash tore through Huang Jiuyou's towering waves, hurtling straight toward him.

Huang Jiuyou smirked disdainfully. "Pathetic trick."

With a casual flick of his fingers, he crushed the wind blade, then pointed upward.

The towering waves instantly reversed direction, surging skyward to engulf Lei Shi.

Even with his speed, Lei Shi couldn't escape this time—he plummeted like a downed aircraft.

Huang Jiuyou's finger then pointed downward, sending the waves crashing back to earth with even greater force.

Feng Chengkai took the full brunt of the impact.

"You're simply not strong enough," Huang Jiuyou sneered.

A brief exchange was all it took to confirm their inadequacy.

Lei Shi staggered to his feet. "What nonsense are you spouting? I'm still standing!"

Feng Chengkai added, "We didn't come here to be looked down upon."

Having come this far, retreat was no longer an option.

Lei Shi and Feng Chengkai unleashed their full power.

But without Su Luo, their attacks barely scratched Huang Jiuyou. Defeating him? A pipe dream.

After a grueling battle, Feng Chengkai finally gasped, "Su Luo, are you done yet?"

"Almost, just hold on a little longer."

"If we hold on any longer, I might not make it," Lei Shi choked out as Huang Jiuyou seized him by the throat.

Feng Chengkai rushed to help, but Huang Jiuyou hurled Lei Shi straight at him before charging toward Su Luo with murderous intent.

He'd nearly forgotten—Su Luo was the strongest among them.

Best to eliminate him first.

"Su Luo of the former Heavenly Demon Sect, don't think you're invincible just because you inherited the Demon God's legacy. Behold—Dark Dragon Claw!"

Demonic energy swirled violently around Huang Jiuyou's arm, forming a massive whirlwind claw resembling a dragon's talon.

The colossal claw descended, poised to crush Su Luo in its grasp.

Su Luo merely glanced at it before dropping all pretenses.

A single step forward brought him face-to-face with Huang Jiuyou. He caught the Dark Dragon Claw mid-air with one hand.

Huang Jiuyou's charge came to an abrupt halt, frozen in place.

Sweat beaded on Huang Jiuyou's forehead. He'd poured everything into that strike—how could it be stopped so effortlessly?

With a sharp tug, Su Luo ripped Huang Jiuyou's arm clean off, dispersing the claw's demonic energy instantly.

He tossed the severed limb aside carelessly—it could still be reattached if done quickly.

But would Huang Jiuyou get the chance?

Though stunned by Su Luo's strength, Huang Jiuyou refused to yield. Without hesitation, he lashed out with a kick.

Predictably, Su Luo tore that off too.

Drawing on his combat experience, Huang Jiuyou regenerated limbs from demonic energy and attacked again.

He still believed victory was within reach.

"You really don't know when to quit."

A casual wave of Su Luo's hand bisected Huang Jiuyou at the waist.

Now he stayed down.

"Impossible! How are you this strong?!" Huang Jiuyou lay on the ground, voice trembling with disbelief.

Feng Chengkai and Lei Shi were equally dumbfounded.

Su Luo offered a simple explanation: "This is my secret technique. Being strong is just normal for me."

Normal? Far from it.

"I'm not finished yet!" Refusing to accept defeat, Huang Jiuyou began channeling the altar's demonic essence into himself.

His severed body reconnected, healing at a visible rate.

"Such exhilarating power... I can feel my breakthrough approaching!"

Ecstasy washed over Huang Jiuyou—his years of sacrifice were finally bearing fruit.

And what a magnificent harvest it was.

Until a voice shattered his delusions.

"Oh? Then let me show you what death feels like."

Su Luo raised a hand, condensing a sphere of demonic energy that rapidly expanded into a massive orb.

Even in his enhanced state, Huang Jiuyou paled at the sight.

"W-wait! Let me break through first, then we can fight!"

Only a fool would make such a plea—and Huang Jiuyou was clearly panicking.

Su Luo had already finished preparing. He casually lobbed the orb downward.

Huang Jiuyou tried to dodge.

But it was futile.

[Gaze Binding Art]

Huang Jiuyou couldn't comprehend why he couldn't move.

Realizing escape was impossible, he reached out to deflect the orb.

The moment his hand made contact, it disintegrated.

All he could do was watch as the orb inched closer, grinding his body to dust particle by particle.

"No! You can't kill me! I'm on the verge of reaching the Great Ascension realm—the pinnacle of cultivation! I can't die like this!"

His lifelong dream was within grasp, only to be snatched away by this incomprehensible foe.

Unacceptable!

But his screams changed nothing. The orb consumed him mercilessly.

Not even ashes remained.

"Done."

Su Luo dusted off his hands.

Feng Chengkai and Lei Shi stood frozen, their minds struggling to process what they'd witnessed.

"Hey... aren't you a little too overpowered?"

"Did we even need to come along?"

They exchanged wry smiles.

In hindsight, Su Luo could've handled this alone.

Su Luo simply said, "Let's stick to the plan. Time to refine this demonic essence."

The altar had been activated by Huang Jiuyou, flooding the area with demonic energy. If left unrefined, it would dissipate.

Feng Chengkai snapped out of his daze and immediately sat to meditate, absorbing the energy. Lei Shi followed suit.

As for Su Luo? He passed.

This energy wasn't exactly beneficial to one's health.

With no pressing need to boost his cultivation, he saw no reason to bother with such trivial gains.

Leaving the two to their absorption, Su Luo stepped outside.

The battlefield had quieted.

Jiang Ningshu and Little Yu had knocked out everyone still standing—those who'd been particularly unruly wouldn't live to see dawn.

Spotting Su Luo, Little Yu asked, "All settled?"

"Yep. Smooth as ever."

"These opponents were disappointingly weak. Hardly satisfying," Jiang Ningshu remarked.

After finally getting to fight, she'd hoped for more of a challenge.

If every battle was this dull, she might lose interest altogether.

"Want to spar with me instead?"

"Let's do it."

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Ningshu immediately engaged Su Luo.

When inspiration struck, one shouldn't waste it.

The clash that followed was impossible to ignore—the entire city looked up in awe.

Many who recognized Su Luo were stunned.

Since when was he this strong?

That black-robed woman was no pushover either.

After an extended duel, Jiang Ningshu finally disengaged.

Her fleeting burst of enthusiasm had been satisfied.