The clashes between Jin and that woman intensified.
Jin became faster, adapting to her fluid movements and dodges.
But despite her combat intent, Clark noticed something: she wasn't aiming for his vital points. She wasn't trying to sever his arms or inflict serious injuries.
Furthermore, on the palace's watchtower, someone was observing. It seemed to be that woman's assistant.
Clark thought to himself:
"It seems I'll be joining this fight too... but before that..."
A theory had been brewing in Clark's mind for some time: Could he channel Qi into the ground to propel himself upwards, granting him a powerful leap? Clark wanted to make a dramatic landing right on that observer. He might crush him, but Clark didn't care; he wanted to test the theory.
The idea crystallized in his mind: If he could push his Qi into the solid earth and have it rebound through his body, it would grant him an explosive force, maybe even allowing him to jump 20 meters.
He said, "Keke, we won't know if we don't try, right?"
He instantly released his Qi, adopting a forward stance to crash onto the watchtower's roof.
BOOM!
He leapt with a force that exceeded his expectations, perhaps because the Qi of the King Class was immensely powerful.
Clark, gripping his sword in his left hand, saw the man on the roof notice his approach and immediately draw his weapon—a slender, pointed blade. But that blade wouldn't be enough to block Clark's incoming strike. Clark flipped mid-air, adding even more force to his attack, aiming to split both the sword and its wielder with a single blow.
The two swords collided, and Clark's power was overwhelming.
Laughing like a madman, Clark taunted, "So you blocked that, huh? Well then! Let's see how you handle THIS!"
Demonic Qi surged forth. From the very beginning, Clark hadn't enhanced his sword or used Qi to amplify his strength. The raw force was so immense that the watchtower couldn't withstand it and completely shattered.
Clark jumped back, saying, "Hahahaha! Looks like I used a bit too much force. Now, come on out!"
The strange man emerged, pushing rubble aside, and looked at his broken blade. "You seem like a savage beast! But no matter, I enjoy facing opponents like you."
Clark retorted, "You've got a big mouth! But your sword is shattered. Fine, we'll settle this with our fists."
Clark threw his now-sheathed sword aside. "Don't think my fists are any less ferocious than my sword."
The man replied, "I expect nothing less. I can tell you yearn for a hand-to-hand fight."
But suddenly, a powerful punch struck the man's face, sending him flying three meters back. He quickly kicked off the air to regain his balance.
"How is he this fast?!" the man thought.
But then... Clark stopped time.
He dashed forward at an illusory speed, closing the distance instantly. Time resumed flowing right in the middle of his attack, leaving the man shocked at how Clark had appeared beside him.
Clark laughed. "Bite down on your teeth and endure the pain from my fist!"
BOOM!!!
He used his "Nurak" fist technique, which utterly crushed the man, killing him!
Speaking with a disappointed tone, Clark said, "I expected you to be extraordinarily strong, but it seems the opposite was true. You couldn't even handle my power! Hahaha!"
Clark quickly grabbed the corpse, and with the veins in his arm bulging, he threw it right into the middle of the fight between Jin and the woman.
"Enough playing around, you two!" he declared.
He immediately stepped in front of the woman and said, "Jin! Was it you who killed the Emperor? And now you're destroying the palace?!"
Jin looked on in shock. He betrayed me that quickly?! That scum!
The woman addressed Clark, "Who are you?"
Clark used his sword's scabbard to lift her chin. "Truthfully, I'm still figuring that out myself. But I expect you, my lady, know a great deal. So, why don't you tell us about yourself?"
The woman replied, "I am Maria di Archiduke, from the Eastern Blood Tower."
"Very well, Lady Maria. So, what's the reason for your fight with Jin?"
She answered, "I was sent to confirm the Emperor's corpse, but he prevented me from doing so."
"Oh? So, Jin, you stopped her, is that right?"
Jin thought to himself, He's trying to shift the balance! He wants to win her to his side by using me as a scapegoat. That means he won't hesitate to kill me if it serves his purpose with her. Or is this a gamble? I've absorbed the corpse of the man Clark killed. The 'Corrupted Saint's Refinement' allows me to absorb souls and massively increase my power. That man was undoubtedly a 'Refiner'. I've trained for this.
He opened his status screen to check the new skill he had been training.
A strange alert appeared: "Your purple star constellation is watching you!"
He thought, Let it watch. You're about to witness something you've never seen before.
New Skill: "Authority of Heaven and Earth" - Grants the ability to manipulate weights and centers of gravity, and allows flight.
Alert!!! "The Shining Emperor bestows upon you the blessing of Light Lances."
Jin laughed inwardly. So you want a fight? You'll get one.
Suddenly, everyone looked on in astonishment. Clark and Maria were both shocked. Jin was floating in front of them with immense pride! Several luminous swords, shrouded in a demonic aura, materialized and shot towards Clark.
BOOM!!!
One of them pierced Clark's shoulder. "Damn! The damage is terrifyingly strong!"
As the dust settled, it was clear Jin had already absorbed the corpse and sealed his meridians. His eyes had turned pitch black and demonic, terrifying and frightening.
Jin laughed. "You've grown arrogant! Did you think you were stronger than me? Let me tell you something: I always come back! Hehehe!"
BOOM! A giant aura erupted, blowing dust in all directions. Everyone stared at Jin, who had become insanely powerful. His voice echoed horrifically, like a demon exiled from the demon world because of its strength.
Laughing, he said, "The refinement is complete! Now, let me show you the extent of my power!"
He soared madly into the sky and began breaking through stages:
·Birth Stage: He reached its peak in an instant.
·Peak Adolescence Stage.
·King Stage: Second Layer.
He broke through consecutively. Even Clark hadn't achieved this! So this is the power of Demonic Refinement!
In the blink of an eye, Clark didn't even see the blow that hit him in the face, sending him flying far away. But he quickly steadied himself using the Dragon's Authority.
Jin laughed. "So, let's begin round two!"
Maria came to Clark's side. "I'll fight with you. He's dangerous."
Clark refused, "No. This is a matter between men. Women have no place intervening here."
He tore off his upper garment, becoming bare-chested. He surged forward with immense power, his bare fists ready. "Come on, Jin! Give me a great fight, not child's play!"
"Of course you'll see a great fight! It'll be the last thing your eyes ever see!"
Clark jumped powerfully, using the King's "Nurak" fist. It clashed with Jin's fist, which was imbued with the King of Chaos's power. But Clark was repelled because Jin's body had been refined using the body of a Venerable One who was at the peak of the Mortal World.
Jin, forced back, had his fist broken, but he didn't care. He made the weight of an entire mountain press down on Clark's back, slamming him into the ground with crushing force.
Clark laughed. "Did you forget? I haven't even used Qi reinforcement yet!"
He immediately stood up, shattering Jin's technique, and said in a deadly tone, "You still have a long way to go, Jin."
Jin retorted, "Hehehe! Then try to dodge this barrage!"
A rapid series of attacks shot forth. Clark dodged continuously, but three strikes managed to pierce his shoulder, hand, and foot. Clark became a mass of wounds.
Jin landed in front of him, grabbing Clark by the hair. "See?! Didn't I tell you I surpass you in power, you fool?! Don't compare yourself to your elders!"
Clark replied, "Great! Up your ass... Time, stop!"
A powerful sound resonated, and time stopped. Clark had manipulated events to bring Jin close. He instantly landed a series of blows on Jin with his Dragon Authority and Qi-enhanced body. Then time resumed.
Jin suffered multiple fractures in his ribs, shoulder, and leg. He was sent flying by the force of the blows, not even fully comprehending what had hit him, and crashed to the ground.
Clark tried to advance to finish him, but his body had weakened, and he too collapsed on the ground.
To be continued...