Chen Tian stood on Tian Wuzi's vine wall. Tian Wuzi looked at Chen Tian, a hint of panic in his eyes, and said faintly, "Where are my guards? What did you do to them?"
Tian Wuzi knew their fate but still asked, just in case someone survived. He was no match for Chen Tian; at best, it would be a draw. To kill him, they would need to attack together. Even with one more person, Tian Wuzi was confident he could defeat Chen Tian.
Chen Tian's voice was as cold as an ice cave, his words like a bleak wind, "They've gone to see Yama. You're next. Give up."
As Chen Tian finished speaking, his figure vanished. In a flash, he was in front of Tian Wuzi. Tian Wuzi hadn't expected Chen Tian's speed to be even faster than that morning. Was this fellow hiding his strength? But why?
While Tian Wuzi was still contemplating, he had no choice but to dodge Chen Tian's attack. Chen Tian's palms struck the ground, leaving two deep handprints with cracks beside them. Seeing such power, Tian Wuzi realized how fortunate he was not to have met the attack head-on. A cold glint appeared in his eyes, and his aura erupted. Black energy flowed from his body, coalescing around him, forming a black armor that enveloped Tian Wuzi. He was now at his peak, his most powerful state. Even the Chen Tian from that morning hadn't forced him into this form. It could be said that Chen Tian now possessed the same strength as Tian Wuzi.
Tian Wuzi dared not underestimate Chen Tian and went all out. He still had trump cards. If used properly, killing Chen Tian would be no problem. Tian Wuzi never considered the possibility of losing or dying. In his eyes, Chen Tian had merely used a secret technique to boost his strength, and once it wore off, he would be at their mercy.
Tian Wuzi took a step forward, and several afterimages attacked Chen Tian from all sides. Chen Tian watched the afterimages, a smile curling his lips. Playing with afterimages against him? Chen Tian spun his body, extending his arms. With a series of thuds, the countless afterimages rushed towards Chen Tian, only to be shattered into mist by his arms. Meanwhile, Tian Wuzi himself suddenly appeared behind Chen Tian, bringing down his palm like a knife. The black energy formed a short blade, incredibly sharp, as if possessing the might of a dragon-slaying saber. Just as it was about to strike Chen Tian's back, a light shield appeared around Chen Tian, dotted with starlight that enveloped his entire body. The strike hit the protective shield, causing no damage, merely a collision.
Chen Tian spun around and threw a punch. Tian Wuzi dodged, and the punch missed. Tian Wuzi appeared behind Chen Tian and swung his legs, aiming for Chen Tian's head. Chen Tian swung his arms in a crisscross motion, effortlessly deflecting Tian Wuzi's kicks. In an instant, he grabbed both of Tian Wuzi's legs and slammed him to the ground.
Tian Wuzi's figure hit the ground with a thunderous crash, creating a large crater. As Chen Tian held him, Tian Wuzi's black energy transformed into countless blade-like projectiles, attacking Chen Tian. Chen Tian flinched, and quickly let go. If he continued holding Tian Wuzi, he would be the one to get injured.
Chen Tian's release allowed Tian Wuzi to break free. The black blades flew towards Chen Tian, who gathered his starlight power into a shield, blocking in front of him. The continuous slashes caused the starlight shield to shake a few times.
Chen Tian and Tian Wuzi exchanged fierce glances. Chen Tian said angrily, "It seems none of you from the Tian Ji Pavilion are good people, colluding with evil spirits. Traitors to humanity."
"So what? In this world, the strong reign supreme. The strong fear nothing. Power represents ambition. With power, one can fulfill their desires and wishes. I see nothing wrong with that."
Tian Wuzi was surprised that Chen Tian knew the origin of the energy. It seemed Chen Tian's background was extraordinary. At least, few in the Tian Ji Pavilion knew about evil spirits. Chen Tian had sensed the presence of evil spirits within the energy blades earlier.
Chen Tian guessed that Tian Wuzi had fused the evil spirit energy with the Tian Ji destiny and his own cultivation techniques. This way, he could reduce the chance of assimilation and use his technique's devouring ability to enhance himself by consuming others' destiny and fortune.
Tian Wuzi was indeed a genius. However, the chance of assimilation was only reduced, not eliminated. The more Tian Wuzi used his cultivation technique and devoured more, the faster he would be assimilated.
Chen Tian's arm glowed, his starlight wrist blade deploying. He swung his arms twice. Under the starlight, Chen Tian's strength was no weaker than Tian Wuzi's. As long as Chen Tian paid attention to his opponent, defeating Tian Wuzi wouldn't be difficult.
Seeing Chen Tian reveal his weapon and the armor on his body, Tian Wuzi suddenly thought of something and was slightly shocked. "I didn't expect you to have the Starfall Physique. It seems you can contend with me at night because of your physique's abilities. When morning comes, without the starlight, let's see how you fight me."
Tian Wuzi immediately devised a plan to counter Chen Tian: delay until daytime, when Chen Tian's strength would vanish. Daytime was Chen Tian's weakest moment.
Chen Tian knew Tian Wuzi's intentions but, unfortunately for Tian Wuzi, Chen Tian wouldn't give him the time to delay. With a step, two extreme blade-lights descended. Before Tian Wuzi could react, he was forced back by the blade-lights.
Blood flowed from Tian Wuzi's arms as he shouted, "Has your strength increased this much?"
The Starfall Physique could indeed amplify the user's combat power at night under starlight, but this was an excessive increase!
Chen Tian's current strength was enough to crush him.
Tian Wuzi had no idea that Chen Tian had been condensing his Starfall Physique while fighting. From the moment night fell, Chen Tian's Starfall Physique had been slowly improving and had now reached seventy percent, with only three percent left to complete.
With seventy percent of the Starfall Physique, combined with Chen Tian's combat experience and skills at night, it was normal for him to crush Tian Wuzi.
Chen Tian swung his arms, two dazzling lights crossing. Just as Tian Wuzi made a move, two slashes appeared on his neck.
To his death, Tian Wuzi never imagined he would die here. He hadn't yet fulfilled his ambitions and desires.
"Good... good, how unwilling!"
As Tian Wuzi uttered his last words, a sinister voice echoed from the depths of his heart: "Let me assimilate you. I will avenge you. I will give you immense power. I will help you achieve your ambitions and desires. Assimilate with me."
After this voice finished, Tian Wuzi cried out in agony.
"Ah!"
A gruesome pain, his body slowly shattering, bones being stripped away, his entire being entangled by black, sinister, and ominous energy that enveloped the surrounding hundred miles.
Under the influence of the energy, Chen Tian's vine labyrinth withered, the ground cracked, and trees collapsed. Lava flowed.
Chen Tian looked at Tian Wuzi in this state and said, "It seems he's been completely assimilated. But it's just as I expected. I hope it's not a high-level evil general. This clone won't be a match for a high-level evil general."
Tian Wuzi seemed to have transformed into someone else, like a demon under the moon. His body underwent changes; this was no longer Tian Wuzi.