’I’ll have to ask Iz for advice when she gets back.’

The two were about a hundred meters apart, a distance that was almost meaningless at their level.

’Instant White Flash.’

During the stalemate, Lu Cang launched a sudden attack.

SWISH!

But his opponent tilted his head at the same moment, dodging the Instant White Flash and closing the distance in a flash.

Lu Cang had plenty of experience in close-quarters combat.

’I can see his movements clearly.’

He generated the Magic directly!

And at the same time—’Source·Inner Stabbing Void Crystal.’

’He’ll put up his Qi Shield to defend against my attacks. If I use Inner Stabbing Void Crystal right then, it can strike directly from inside the Shield!’

"Interesting!"

’This isn’t the Tier Three, Level 50 Void Stab that Xu Zhou used.’

’It’s a Tier Four, Level 301 Magic.’

The Void Crystal pierced his flesh!

In the next instant, it transformed, becoming a dark Spell that imprinted itself upon his body!

’Source·Bone-Penetrating Erosion (Tier Four) (Level 301).’

’Sacrifice—100,000 souls.’

SWISH!

Dark Curses scrawled themselves all over his bare torso!

BOOM!

To land that attack, Lu Cang hadn’t defended at all, letting his Substitute be destroyed.

But he could feel his opponent’s power diminishing.

’It’s working.’

’That means the previous Weaken attempts were just being blocked.’

’As long as I hit his body directly, my Dark Element Weaken Magic will be effective.’

’So, this is the secret to defeating you.’

BANG!

Another one of his bodies was shattered.

Another Source·Inner Stabbing Void Crystal erupted inside his opponent’s body.

This was all thanks to the Root Magic, Source·All Laws.

’Otherwise, even if Inner Stabbing Void Crystal attacked from inside his Shield, it would still be useless against his monstrously tough body.’

’The Qi Shield could still block Magic from the outside.’

’Only Inner Stabbing Void Crystal could strike from within, but the power of that one spell alone was nowhere near enough to damage his solid physique.’

’But with the modifications from the Source...’

’I can penetrate his defenses directly and land a blow!’

This was precisely why Lu Cang had been so interested in Xu Zhou’s spell.

The spell itself wasn’t very lethal—it was basically just a stronger version of Earth Spike.

’But in my hands, it’s a completely different story.’

’Source·Shadow Weaving Net.’

PFFT!

The Void Crystal instantly transformed into countless fine threads of shadow, trussing him up from the inside!

The Shadow Weaving Net wasn’t made of physical threads, but of shadows...

Physical attacks couldn’t break it.

’A Mage’s true strength isn’t offensive power, but their versatile and flexible methods to control the scene...’

The moment the Shadow Weaving Net bound his opponent’s body,

Lu Cang unleashed another Source-enhanced spell!

It still used Inner Stabbing Void Crystal to erupt inside the man’s Shield!

’Cold Penetrating Deep Water Ball (Tier Three).’

This was the Ascended version of Eternal Frozen Deep Lake.

It directly turned the Extremely Cold Lake Water into an orb that enveloped the enemy!

Now, not only was Kai Jia’s entire body entangled in the net of shadows, but he was also covered in an extremely thick layer of Ice.

"Vile tricks!"

Kai Jia’s body trembled!

He tried to shatter the net and the frigid water, and to dispel the Curses seeping into his body.

BANG!

But with a violent shudder,

the spells instantly shattered, only to repair themselves in the blink of an eye!

’Heh...’

’Shatter them?’

’You can shatter Magic, but can you shatter my Source?’

’After the Magic shattered, its essence remained on his body, as the core of Source·All Laws.’

’The spell’s Rebirth was completed almost at the very same moment it was broken!’

SNAP—

The black net covered Kai Jia’s body once more.

WHOOSH—

At the same time, Lu Cang’s other Magic completely enveloped Kai Jia!

Kai Jia moved. His Speed was still incredible.

But he no longer had that explosive quickness from before.

’My Instant White Flash can keep up with him now!’

And then—

’Source·Penetrating Thunder Burst (Tier Four).’

’Sacrifice—100,000 souls.’

BOOM!

Lu Cang’s strongest single-target, close-range burst Magic was still Penetrating Thunder Burst!

BOOM!

Penetrating Thunder Burst detonated on Kai Jia’s skin!

Blasting out violet and crimson Thunder!

Convergence Burst was the strongest Magic for sacrificing a massive number of souls.

But other, non-Death Spells could also have their Power boosted by sacrificing souls; their upper limit and bonus just weren’t as high.

Before hitting that limit, however, a Tier Four spell that consumed the same Sacrifice was indeed more powerful than the Tier Two Convergence Burst!

BOOM!

Penetrating Thunder Burst!

Penetrating Thunder Burst!

Penetrating Thunder Burst!

Every so often, Lu Cang would transform the Ice Water Ball into a Penetrating Thunder Burst, pummeling Kai Jia relentlessly!

’This battlefield is just too advantageous for me...’

’If it weren’t for this battlefield filled with corpses, I might really have trouble defeating him.’

WHOOSH—

But suddenly, the man, his face obscured by the shadows, brandished his War Axe and took a stance.

"Stop running around!"

"Tricks of this level are useless!"

"HAAAA—"

"AHHHHH!"

A colossal aura erupted from within him!

BOOM!

A shockwave instantly exploded outward!

Corpses filled the sky, sent flying away from him as the epicenter, clearing out every body within a one-kilometer radius.

SWISH!

Before Lu Cang could even react!

BOOM!

He saw a slash ascend into the sky in the distance, carrying with it a maelstrom of corpses!

’The distance?’

’No, the scene before me has already changed.’

He snapped back to his senses!

The scene before his eyes changed again!

BANG!

It changed again!

’Wait—’

’I was just attacked! That must have triggered the Death Exchange Technique, swapping me to another pre-selected corpse location!’

SWISH—

SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!

But his perspective was shifting rapidly, again and again—

Lu Cang immediately sensed the danger!

He instantly formed connections with the surrounding corpses, designating more of them as Substitutes for the exchange!

’His Speed increased!’

’To the point where I can’t even track him?’

BOOM!

Lu Cang felt the Shield around him shatter. The Death Exchange Technique triggered, and his perspective instantly shifted.

And in almost the same instant...

Kai Jia closed in again at an imperceptible speed, "killing" him and forcing another swap to a Substitute!

BOOM!

A flurry of slashes!

Lu Cang swapped to a distant location, only to see that a massive storm had formed where he had just been!

’Combat Skill—Giant Blade Storm.’

In that direction, countless corpses were being shredded!

’I obviously can’t swap back there. The exchange just lets me avoid damage, it doesn’t make me immune to it.’

’If my real body gets hit, I’ll still be killed instantly.’

’He wasn’t using his full strength before.’

SWISH!

Finally, he caught a glimpse of his opponent in his peripheral vision. The incredible speed finally seemed to slow down a little in his eyes.

’This is my Extreme Intent at work.’

It allowed Lu Cang to quickly adapt to Kai Jia’s battle rhythm.

’But this speed...’

BANG!

Another one of his bodies was destroyed!

This time, Lu Cang moved directly to a corpse 100 kilometers away.

’Just as I thought. He can’t chase me down instantly anymore!’

With a single thought,

Lu Cang immediately established connections with even more corpses in every direction, designating every body within a 100-kilometer radius as a potential Substitute.

’If he comes after me, the next swap will take me another 100 kilometers away.’

Looking out, however, he saw a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood that truly seemed to have no end.

’Just how many Demons, how many people, did he kill?’

SWISH!

"Since the day I was born, I have lived for battle!"

"Even on my laziest of days, I’ve fought a hundred battles of life and death!"

SWISH!

Lu Cang saw a fast-moving shadow approaching him from the far distance!

’Since birth?’

’Is that an exaggeration, or is it true?’

’If it’s true, did he choose his class as an infant?’

’No, I can’t judge the experiences of a god from a mortal’s perspective.’

"I have never!! known a single defeat!"

BANG!

The corpse Lu Cang was inhabiting shattered once more.

Lu Cang reappeared at a distant location, another hundred kilometers away.

’I really have this battlefield to thank.’

The more time passed, the clearer it became. His opponent’s body hadn’t fully recovered, and the Source was still on him.

’On... his body?’

’No, it’s just flowing on the surface. It hasn’t actually penetrated his body. It’s like his body is immune to all Magic. The spells can’t get inside; they can only detonate on his skin.’

’But why? Why can’t my Source, my Magic, break into his body?’

’Flesh... and its relationship with Magic.’

"Is that it..."

"Then it looks like today will be your first defeat."

...

(The remaining Chapters will be posted at noon.)