Xie Yuan walked out of the village, clapping his hands in applause. "Not bad, to actually discover some special places. It seems you were still holding back during our previous fight."
"Xie Yuan?"
Ge Zi and Shu Zi murmured. The Xie Yuan before them looked completely different, and his aura had subtly shifted. This change was minute, yet both Ge Zi and Shu Zi noticed it.
Shu Zi exclaimed in shock, "Xie Yuan, you're not dead?"
"Oh, why should I die? It's you who should die!"
Xie Yuan sighed lamentingly, and in an instant, he was before Shu Zi. He extended his palm, this time a human hand. As his palm opened, Shu Zi was sent flying out, crashing through over a hundred trees before finally stopping.
"Cough, cough, cough, your strength."
Shu Zi's face was pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Xie Yuan's strength had suddenly become so immense. This was wrong, very wrong. Ge Zi noticed Xie Yuan's body. It was clearly a human body. Xie Yuan's body was no longer that of a Xie Ling clan member.
"Your body, what happened to make you change so drastically?"
Ge Zi asked with a look of confusion. Xie Yuan spoke without restraint, "If you want to know, you'll find out when you reach the center of this village. But I'm afraid you won't have the chance today, because you will all die here."
In the next second, Ge Zi was sent flying. Xie Yuan's power was simply too terrifying. His speed was beyond the perception of Ge Zi and Shu Zi. With just one strike, Ge Zi and Shu Zi became like defenseless lambs at his mercy. Ge Zi was blasted away, and Shu Zi moved behind him, blocking Ge Zi. Together, their figures retreated. As Shu Zi increased his power, Ge Zi's momentum finally stopped.
Shu Zi said, "Ge Zi, it seems we need to merge."
"No, that way your origin will not have a chance to fully integrate."
"But do you have any other options now? Only by merging our origins can we have the capital to resist."
Ge Zi did not respond to Shu Zi's words. Ge Zi knew that they were no match for Xie Yuan. Only by becoming one, truly merging, would they have a chance to defeat Xie Yuan. But doing so would prevent Shu Zi's origin from fully integrating, and it would be expelled independently.
This was something Ge Zi did not want to see. As Ge Zi was contemplating, Shu Zi had already engaged Xie Yuan in battle. Shu Zi believed Ge Zi would make the choice. Before that, Shu Zi needed to hold on for a while. Shu Zi charged directly at Xie Yuan. In Xie Yuan's eyes, such an action was undoubtedly suicidal.
He struck out with his palm, and the air formed a giant phantom palm that directly attacked. Shu Zi's body was slammed into the ground by the giant palm. A figure then shot up from the ground towards the sky. Shu Zi stood before Xie Yuan, covered in wounds. Xie Yuan praised, "You didn't die from a single blow? It seems you still have some strength. No wonder this world hasn't been destroyed after so many attacks. It seems you people are the core fighting force. If I can deal with all of you, this world will shatter, won't it?"
"You can try. I am willing to use my life to protect this world."
Shu Zi made a decision in his heart, a decision only he knew. He would not use this method unless it was absolutely necessary.
Xie Yuan shook his head, showing no interest. The current strength of Shu Zi and Ge Zi was no longer worth his notice. Having obtained more powerful strength, Xie Yuan intended to advance further. Xie Yuan raised his palm. The moment he raised it, Shu Zi's body was immobilized, as if being squeezed by something. Intense pain erupted. Shu Zi forcibly endured the pain, gritting his teeth and persevering. Several beams of light flashed, and Shu Zi regained his mobility.
Ge Zi flew to Shu Zi's side, looking concerned and speaking, "Can you hold on for another merge? The worst outcome of this merge is that you might not wake up. You need to think carefully."
"I've already made up my mind. Let's do it."
Shu Zi and Ge Zi stood close to each other, one on the left and the other on the right. They began to spin, and a multicolored tornado formed. This was a technique only Ge Zi and Shu Zi could perform: fusion. Shu Zi and Ge Zi understood each other implicitly, their tacit understanding almost irreplaceable. It was precisely because of this tacit understanding that their bodies and minds could completely merge.
The previous trinity was merely a fusion of origins, but this current fusion involved their bodies, origins, and consciousness. It could unleash power beyond miracles. Such a fusion came at a great cost. It was the first time they were performing it since Shu Zi and Ge Zi had researched it.
The multicolored tornado dissipated. The front of the face was Ge Zi's face, and the back of the head was Shu Zi's face. Seven-colored wings unfurled from the back, their light illuminating all heavens. Their bodies remained unchanged, with Ge Zi still in control.
Seeing Ge Zi's aura change, a change that matched Xie Yuan's, Xie Yuan felt a sliver of interest. He roared and charged at Ge Zi. Ge Zi, seeing Xie Yuan's attack, did not flinch. Light clashed against light, their speed and power directly opposing each other. A fierce collision unfolded in the sky.
Ge Zi thrust out his palm, and Xie Yuan clenched his fist and swung. Palm met fist, and the shockwaves spread, engulfing the sky. Cracks appeared in the sky, and the power of the Heavenly Dao flowed down, slowly repairing the fractured fissures around them. Ge Zi increased his power, and both Ge Zi and Xie Yuan took a step back simultaneously. Xie Yuan's lips curved upwards, and the mark on his brow deepened, though Ge Zi did not notice it.
Xie Yuan stuck out his tongue, and black wings unfurled from his back, dramatically increasing his speed. Ge Zi's light wings on his back shone, and in an instant, Xie Yuan appeared behind Ge Zi. Ge Zi turned his head, and an energy sword materialized in his hand, shooting out with a "咻" sound, piercing directly through Xie Yuan's body.
Xie Yuan's body was impaled, but Ge Zi did not underestimate him. Ge Zi knew this fellow was not injured. Indeed, the moment he was pierced by the sword, Xie Yuan's body seemed to cease to exist, and the sword passed through him directly.
Inflicting no damage, Xie Yuan's palm descended. Ge Zi's eyes narrowed, and a barrier suddenly materialized, covering his entire body. Xie Yuan's palm struck the barrier, which shook a few times before recovering. Xie Yuan was surprised by Ge Zi's formidable defense, but he said coldly, "I refuse to believe you can maintain this state for long."
"If I'm not mistaken, this state of yours was achieved by sacrificing another person's mind, body, and origin. The longer it lasts, the greater the burden on the other person."
"You don't need to worry about that."
Ge Zi showed no reaction to Xie Yuan seeing through his state. Shu Zi had already made the worst-case scenario plan. Ge Zi would not concern himself with Shu Zi's thoughts; his fighting strength was his ultimate power. He attacked with his full might.
Ge Zi's body spun, transforming into a drill. The barrier followed suit, spinning and drilling towards Xie Yuan. Seeing this, Xie Yuan immediately created distance. Ge Zi had turned defense into offense at such close range, and Xie Yuan dared not endure that move head-on. Although he would not be gravely injured, he still had a mission to complete.
Shu Zi and Ge Zi were merely an obstacle he encountered upon arriving here. It was a perfect opportunity to settle old and new scores together.
Ge Zi's body transformed into a drill and shot towards Xie Yuan. Xie Yuan opened his palm and fired a black energy cannon. The cannon directly engulfed the drill. When the cannon's blast dissipated, Ge Zi was sent flying. Ge Zi stabilized himself in the air. This guy's techniques had surpassed the scope of the Xie Ling clan, yet he still retained the abilities of the Xie Ling clan. Damn it.
What had Xie Yuan gone through to become like this? He was truly troublesome.
These were Ge Zi's thoughts. Seeing that Ge Zi was not attacking, Xie Yuan decided to take the initiative. In any case, only one of them would leave here alive. The two figures clashed, and the sky roared incessantly. Yet, the entire mountain village was as deserted as if no one existed.
This was truly bizarre!
The main reason was that all the humans and creatures in the village had been slaughtered by Xie Yuan and turned into nourishment. Ge Zi was unaware of this fact. Ge Zi and Xie Yuan's battle lasted for a full hundred seconds. Xie Yuan took one step back, while Ge Zi took three. The longer the fight went on, the more fatigued Ge Zi's body became.
Ge Zi had not had a proper rest in days. His physical fatigue was outweighing his mental state, which was starting to lag.
"It seems this is your limit. If this is all you have, then you will be buried here."
Xie Yuan slowly raised his arm, and energy began to gather on it.