Welcome our new Patron: Hiiro12374! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 910: A Single Strike Changes the Heavens - Final' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
------------------------------------------------------
Though Ye Wen could recognize Er Ming just from his aura, no one else in this era knew who he was. After all, the once-mighty Titan Ape had died, and now Er Ming stood here in human form.
However, Ye Wen felt somewhat exasperated.
Did he not even try to conceal his identity while stealing something? It truly was fitting for someone as simple-minded as Er Ming.
On the other hand, the current Hao Tian Sect was a secluded sect, and no one knew what the current vice-patriarch looked like. Perhaps this was why Er Ming dared to show his true face here.
Still, Er Ming was ultimately just a divine official without a god position. Ye Wen was certain that he wouldn't dare use power surpassing the 99th level.
But Er Ming's mind was always a bit slow, and Ye Wen didn't want to take any risks. If he exposed himself, it would be troublesome. Thus, Ye Wen decided to first probe with words.
"I know you're strong, but let me make one thing clear—I'm a 99th-level Supreme Douluo. If we really fight and I lose control, well, I might be fine, but you… you're in Star Luo Imperial City. You might not be so lucky."
While Ye Wen spoke, guests who lacked confidence in their own strength quickly fled the scene. Meanwhile, powerful soul force fluctuations began rising throughout Star Luo Imperial City.
Though he had shed his beast form, Er Ming still couldn't match Da Ming's thoughtful nature. He completely ignored Ye Wen's words and glared at him dangerously.
The next moment, Er Ming attacked—
As one of the top five spirit beasts in Douluo 1.0, Er Ming's strength, speed, and defense were among the most elite.
Without even revealing his soul rings, Er Ming surged forward like a streak of black light, his massive arm striking directly at Ye Wen's face.
A flicker of helplessness passed through Ye Wen's eyes—he truly disliked fighting.
Er Ming knew how strong Supreme Douluos were among humans, but with Tang San's help, both he and Da Ming had ascended to godhood at level 100. Though they lacked god positions, their divine bodies and soul power alone were enough to crush all opponents.
But now, Er Ming was puzzled. He clearly threw a punch at this human, so why did he feel a sharp pain in his cheek before being uncontrollably flung sideways?
Since he hadn't used his full strength, the pain was only momentary, and his right cheek swelled slightly.
"What kind of technique was that?" Er Ming asked.
Though Er Ming wasn't very intelligent in combat, he clearly felt that his hand had struck something, and at the same time, he had been attacked.
However, Ye Wen found it strange. Even though Er Ming originated as a spirit beast, how could he be foolish enough to ask such a question?
Soul masters rarely revealed more than their cultivation level during battles—no one would willingly expose their soul skills unless they were asking for trouble.
Seeing Ye Wen ignore him, Er Ming, who had been maintaining a stern expression, smirked disdainfully.
"Unwilling to talk?
It doesn't matter.
But since you managed to hurt me, it's time for me to get serious.
Prepare to feel despair!"
In an instant, an overwhelmingly terrifying surge of soul power swept through the area, making the scene resemble a raging storm that sent chills down everyone's spines.
At this moment, Ye Wen finally saw Er Ming's soul rings.
Six black, three red.
In this era, where there were no means to extend the years of soul rings, anyone with even basic knowledge of soul masters could tell that someone with this configuration was connected to gods.
Now, Er Ming's soul power fluctuations finally reached the 99th-level limit, infinitely close to level 100.
This realm had a name—Quasi-God.
Ye Wen remained as calm as ever, shielding himself with his soul power.
He couldn't understand why Er Ming had to unleash a burst of energy to display his strength before starting the fight.
After a brief moment of thought, Ye Wen realized it made sense. After all, a Titan Ape was essentially just a gorilla.
When bullying the weak, they might casually swat them away, but when facing a strong or threatening opponent, they'd beat their chests to intimidate their foe.
Ye Wen inwardly sighed. Why were all the spirit beasts transformed by Tang San so untamed? Xiao Wu was arrogant and overbearing, while Er Ming was all brawn and no brain, constantly itching for a fight.
Suddenly, Ye Wen felt his body grow heavier.
He instantly understood—it was the Titan Ape's signature move, the Gravity Domain.
Beasts generally aimed for a single lethal strike without unnecessary flair. Since Er Ming had decided to fight, he wouldn't give Ye Wen much time to react.
"Die!"
In his Spirit Attachment state, Er Ming was now covered in thick stone armor-like true-body armor. His already massive arms had swollen to twice their size, resembling inflated balloons.
Just as Ye Wen planned to dodge Er Ming's physical attack using spatial manipulation, a sudden attack came from the auction house's dome.
Er Ming, who had been fully focused on killing Ye Wen, was caught off guard by this unexpected assault.
"Lord Tian Xing, are you alright?"
A middle-aged voice sounded beside Ye Wen.
The newcomer was a Titled Douluo, but he piqued Ye Wen's interest—a rare occurrence.
In the Douluo Continent of ten thousand years ago, martial souls were relatively standard. However, in this version of the continent, all sorts of bizarre martial souls had emerged.
The martial soul of this Titled Douluo who had just ambushed Er Ming was the "Heavenfiend Lonestar."
From the intelligence Ye Wen had gathered, this man's martial soul had awakened automatically on the night of his birth, when a particularly bright star shone in the sky. His mother had died from childbirth complications, and by the age of eight, his entire family had perished.
Because of this, this Titled Douluo was known as Huang Jinxu, the "Heavenfiend Lonestar."
This type of martial soul was so unusual that it hadn't even appeared in Ye Wen's original world.
However, now was clearly not the time to dwell on such matters.
Though Er Ming had been ambushed, his defensive capabilities in his full-body true-body armor state were on par with his immense strength.
"Bastard! You'll die!" Er Ming, climbing to his feet, intended to crush the annoying fly that had just attacked him.
"I'll deal with you later. First, let me handle this nuisance. Also, inform the Titled Douluos arriving next not to head to the battlefield outside Star Luo City. This guy is also a Supreme Douluo."
Ye Wen spoke indifferently, then vanished from the spot along with Er Ming, who had lunged toward the Heavenfiend Lonestar Douluo with murderous intent.
The Heavenfiend Lonestar Douluo froze momentarily, then broke into a cold sweat. Though the feeling of imminent death had lasted only a split second, he now deeply regretted his reckless decision to intervene.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow