Chapter 833: First Battle Against a Saintly Sovereign
The news that Xiao Ze had boldly challenged Maha Tian, the patriarch of the Maha Ancient Clan, spread like wildfire across the Grand Thousand World.
Countless communication jade slips shattered as factions scrambled to relay the explosive development. This was not just a confrontation between two individuals it was a clash involving two top tier powers.
While Source Realm hadn't yet fully established itself as a premier faction, Xiao Ze's other identity as the Demon Slayer King of the Grand Thousand Palace elevated the stakes immeasurably.
The announcement shook the leaders of countless superpowers.
A Brewing Storm
In Tianluo Continent, where Source Realm had risen as a burgeoning power, numerous factions maintained a constant presence. The realm's rapid rise as a holy land of alchemy, coupled with Xiao Ze's status as a legendary alchemist, attracted significant attention.
Upon hearing the news of the impending battle, spiritual incarnations of Heavenly Sovereigns began to materialize across Tianluo Continent.
These incarnations were mere projections, but their presence signaled the importance of this confrontation. After confirming the details, they soared skyward, following Xiao Ze and Maha Tian toward a desolate continent chosen as the battleground.
Mandala, dressed in her signature black robe, watched the scene unfold with mixed emotions.
"How many factions across history could command this level of attention in merely a year or two?" she murmured, marveling at the waves Source Realm had created under Xiao Ze's leadership.
Still, she couldn't help but worry.
The Desolate Battlefield
Not far from Tianluo Continent lay a barren wasteland the Cangling Continent, a ruin of ancient wars. During the primordial era, the continent had been ravaged by the extraterrestrial demon invasion, its life force utterly extinguished.
Even after countless eras of cleansing by powerful cultivators, the land remained polluted by residual demonic energy, making it uninhabitable.
This forsaken land now served as the perfect battlefield for Xiao Ze and Maha Tian's confrontation.
The Gathering of Heavenly Sovereigns
Beyond the wasteland, the spiritual incarnations of numerous Heavenly Sovereigns gathered in the void, their auras rippling faintly as they gazed toward the continent's core.
Though far removed from the battlefield, none dared to approach closer. A battle at this level between a Saintly Sovereign and an unprecedented challenger could unleash devastation that even their distant projections couldn't withstand.
They whispered among themselves, speculating on the outcome.
"The Demon Slayer King may be talented, but there's no way he can defeat a Saintly Sovereign," one said, shaking his head.
"True," another agreed. "The gap between Saintly and Heavenly Sovereigns is insurmountable. This is a battle he can't win."
Yet, despite their doubts, none could hide their fascination.
A Clash Begins
In the heart of the desolate continent, Xiao Ze came to a stop, his aura calm and composed. He turned to face Maha Tian, his expression unyielding.
"Patriarch Maha Tian, I suggest you withdraw. Source Realm has no need for your so called 'protection,'" Xiao Ze said with a faint smile.
Maha Tian narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with cold arrogance.
"Demon Slayer King, if you cede Source Realm now, I may overlook your offense against a Saintly Sovereign."
"Offense?" Xiao Ze chuckled softly. "Maha Tian, surely you didn't think I was joking when I challenged you?"
Before Maha Tian could respond, Xiao Ze raised his fist, unleashing a casual punch.
A shockwave erupted from the strike, tearing through the void and sending tremors through the earth.
Maha Tian's expression shifted as he sensed the sheer force contained in the attack. He waved his sleeve, dispersing the blow, but his gaze grew more solemn.
"A Saintly Physique?" Maha Tian muttered in disbelief.
Xiao Ze said nothing, clenching his fist again. The motion seemed to seize control of the very fabric of space, and an oppressive pressure radiated outward, converging on Maha Tian.
Even the incarnations of distant Heavenly Sovereigns felt the weight of Xiao Ze's strength.
Maha Tian's Counterattack
Maha Tian's eyes gleamed coldly as he steadied himself.
"Impressive. You've mastered a Saintly Physique. But if you believe that alone makes you my equal, you are gravely mistaken!"
His voice reverberated like thunder, and a vast wave of energy surged forth. The overwhelming might of his Saintly Sovereign cultivation rippled across the battlefield, distorting the heavens.
Beyond the continent, the observing incarnations of Heavenly Sovereigns tensed.
"It's starting," one murmured as Maha Tian's aura swept outward.
Strength Meets Strength
Xiao Ze's response was swift. With a faint smile, he leaped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant without relying on spatial techniques. His Saintly Physique alone propelled him at unimaginable speed.
His fist, glowing with blinding purple gold light, struck toward Maha Tian with enough force to shatter mountains and divide oceans.
Maha Tian's expression darkened as he waved his sleeve again, summoning two streams of black and white energy. The energies spiraled like dragons, their combined roar shaking the heavens.
BOOM!
The collision of purple gold and black white energies unleashed a cataclysmic shockwave. The sky was split into two distinct halves one dominated by Xiao Ze's radiant light, the other by Maha Tian's ominous hues.
The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, forming deep chasms that stretched for tens of thousands of miles.
Equal Grounds
To the astonishment of the onlookers, Xiao Ze didn't falter.
He stood tall amidst the destruction, his purple gold aura unyielding. Every movement exuded unrelenting power, his Saintly Physique allowing him to meet Maha Tian blow for blow.
"Impossible," one of the Heavenly Sovereign projections muttered. "A Heavenly Sovereign matching a Saintly Sovereign…?"
"No," another replied, their voice trembling. "It's his Saintly Physique. That's not just any Heavenly Sovereign it's the Demon Slayer King!"
On the battlefield, Maha Tian's face twisted into a scowl.
"Your strength is remarkable, but you have much to learn about the true power of a Saintly Sovereign!"
As the two clashed, the world held its breath, captivated by the first battle between Xiao Ze and a Saintly Sovereign.
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