Chen Tian flicked his wrist, and a heaven-shattering force surged from his arm. Xie Kai was flung away, spinning three hundred and sixty degrees in the air. He traveled tens of meters before he managed to stabilize himself. A trace of fear flickered in Xie Kai's eyes. He remembered the might of the youth before him thousands of years ago, how he had single-handedly suppressed the entire evil spirit army.
Now, he felt that same oppressive aura emanating from him again. The feeling of impending death sent a chill through Xie Kai's entire body. Chen Tian shook his head and said, "You haven't improved at all. Thousands of years have passed, even sealed for millennia, you could have cultivated. You're weaker now than before."
"No, rather than saying you're weaker, it's that I've become stronger."
Chen Tian sighed and took a step. Unbeknownst to Xie Kai, Chen Tian had appeared behind him. Xie Kai hadn't reacted, he hadn't even sensed Chen Tian's presence. Such speed. By the time Xie Kai tried to defend, it was too late.
Chen Tian's fist swung out, striking Xie Kai's back. With a thud, the armor dented. An air-punched shadow pierced through Xie Kai's entire body. Xie Kai's figure retreated uncontrollably, crashing to the ground. The earth cracked, forming a crater hundreds of meters deep, with Xie Kai lying at its center.
Xie Kai erupted from the crater, his back armor showing cracks. A small fist imprint marred his abdomen. He couldn't believe he hadn't defended against Chen Tian's punch. His armor, which had withstood Chen Tian without defeat thousands of years ago, was almost shattered by a single blow today.
"You, you, your strength, your strength has increased again, damn it. I shouldn't have made a contract with you back then, damn Heavenly Dao, damn you."
Xie Kai's ferocity surged. Black energy spewed from his body, engulfing the sky and forming a black orb that trapped Chen Tian. Chen Tian and Xie Kai locked eyes. Nine-colored light emanated from Chen Tian's back, clashing instantly with the black energy. The two forces struggled for dominance.
"Nine-Colored Domain, open!"
Chen Tian roared. The nine-colored light immediately occupied half the area. Domain against domain, each occupying half. Chen Tian and Xie Kai moved simultaneously. Within their domains, their strength would increase by at least thirty percent. Their clash was so fast that their figures were invisible, only the sound of impact could be heard.
When Chen Tian and Xie Kai reappeared, Xie Kai's armor was covered in fist and palm imprints, a wreck. Chen Tian wasn't unscathed either; his clothes were tattered, and blood flowed from his arm. Chen Tian hadn't used his full strength, not even thirty percent.
It wasn't that Chen Tian didn't want to, but that he didn't dare. Xie Kai's face contorted with despair as cracks filled his armor. Then, the armor exploded. Blood spurted from the corner of his mouth. Xie Kai's life-bound armor had shattered, and he suffered a backlash.
With the backlash, Xie Kai's domain collapsed. Chen Tian and Xie Kai stood in the sky. Xie Kai's aura weakened by the second. Chen Tian sighed and shook his head, "Why couldn't you have just stayed peacefully? You had to break the seal and come seeking death."
Chen Tian wouldn't let this opportunity pass. He brought his palm down with speed like light, thunder, shadow, and wind. Xie Kai cried out in terror, "My lord, save me, save me."
"Presumptuous."
A voice boomed, and a wave of sound swept out. Chen Tian's palm was blocked by a shield of sound waves. Chen Tian's expression grew solemn. The newcomer's strength was not simple.
He had struck with fifty percent of his power, a strength comparable to his peak state thousands of years ago. For a mere voice to halt his attack meant the newcomer was extraordinary.
However, Chen Tian was not someone others could prevent from killing whom he wished. He increased his power by a fraction. Xie Kai, who thought he had narrowly escaped, was instantly reduced to dust and scattered by the wind.
"Boy, you court death."
A figure appeared, moving with astonishing speed. Chen Tian could only perceive a streak of light. He crossed his arms, and the light slammed into him. After several collisions, Chen Tian was forced back hundreds of meters. As he stabilized himself, the opponent's appearance came into view.
The opponent looked identical to other evil spirits, but their aura was different. Compared to other evil spirits, this one possessed a noble and divine quality to its evil energy. Chen Tian activated his divine pupils, and information flooded his mind.
Chen Tian spoke, "Ancient Evil General, I didn't expect you to come here personally. Have you abandoned the universe?"
"Oh, boy, I didn't think you'd know my origins. What impact does my appearance here have? I am the Ancient Evil General, Xie Ling. I bid you go to hell."
"Just as I suspected, you were sent by a traitor, weren't you? I'm truly curious who it is, to command an Ancient Evil General. A human scumbag."
Chen Tian belittled him completely. Xie Ling did not reply. As an Ancient Evil General, he knew Chen Tian was trying to trick him into revealing information, and he wouldn't fall for it.
Xie Ling took a step, his movements creating a series of sounds. In one second, Chen Tian was pushed back hundreds of meters again. Chen Tian's expression remained calm as he said, "You won't speak? Then I'll capture you and question you later."
Chen Tian had noticed the opponent long ago. He hadn't used his full strength in his fight with Xie Kai precisely because he was waiting for this moment. Chen Tian's figure flickered, and he moved rapidly, seemingly fighting the air. His palms struck out, and Chen Tian's hands collided with Xie Ling's, sending waves of energy spreading behind them.
Chen Tian increased his force, and both of them retreated. Xie Ling's expression showed approval. "Not bad. You can contend with thirty percent of my strength. Kid, if you were born in the Sacred God Realm, you'd be a genius prodigy of the human race."
"But alas, my lord has ordered your demise today, so you cannot live."
Black energy enveloped Xie Ling, forming armor and weapons of pure aura. Ancient Evil Generals were far more powerful than ordinary ones. Firstly, their evil energy could transform into any weapon or armor, comparable to human-made weaponry. Secondly, their bloodline suppressed ordinary evil generals. Ancient Evil Generals were said to be the offspring of ancient evil gods, and their bloodline held significant dominion over other evil generals.
Evil Generals were categorized: Ancient Evil General, High-Rank Evil General, Upper-Rank Evil General, Middle-Rank Evil General, Lower-Rank Evil General, and Ordinary Evil General. This hierarchy also reflected their combat effectiveness, with Ancient Evil Generals dominating all below them.
Chen Tian activated his 'The more he fights, the stronger he becomes' effect and unleashed all the skills he could use. He dared not be careless against an Ancient Evil General. His divine pupils could only discern a fraction of the opponent's abilities and methods, knowing only their identity and name.
The gap in their levels was too vast. Chen Tian could only barely contend.