A tremor ran through the surroundings as an invisible force tightened like a noose around the sky itself.
Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng exclaimed in shock, "The Power of the Universe? The World Cage...!"
Their voices were no longer steady proclamations of authority but involuntary gasps torn from the depths of their chests. The two men stared at the mysterious master as if they were beholding a myth step out of ancient scripture. Moments earlier, they had intended to step forward, to mediate, to salvage dignity and order before the situation spiraled beyond control.
Yet now, both of them instinctively retreated two full steps, robes rustling in undisguised alarm.
Perhaps the Great Master Li and the others were unaware of what had just descended upon them. Perhaps they still thought this was merely a clash of experts.
But how could Lei Bao Yu and Bu Kuang Feng, the former Great Masters, now Golden Provosts of the Elusive World of the Immortals, not recognize it?
The Power of the Universe transformed the Heaven and the Earth. The power of the Yin and Yang congealed. The Power of the Universe was in my hands. So, I'm the best in the world! No enemy can withstand me if I can freely use this power to deal with them.
This was the Power of the Universe!
The air grew dense, heavy as molten iron. The surroundings seemed to shrink, the horizon folding inward like a painted scroll being rolled shut by unseen hands. The sky above dimmed, not because clouds gathered, but because space itself appeared to thicken, compress, and solidify.
It was as though the world had quietly agreed to obey a single will.
And that will belonged to the mysterious master.
His expression remained calm, almost bored, as though he were merely stretching stiff limbs after a long slumber. Yet what radiated from him was not mere pressure, but it was dominion.
Li Jue Tian stood at the center of it all, his robes fluttering wildly though there was no wind. His eyes widened as he realized that every avenue of escape had vanished.
It seemed as if the skill set of the mysterious master had reached the peak of perfection as he dealt with Li Jue Tian.
There was no room for him to dodge to, and, Li Jue Tian didn't seem to have the strength to retaliate either.
This was obviously due to the 'The World Cage' maneuver of the Power of the Universe.
It was as if the world would be reduced into a cage. The opponent would become one's prisoner. And then, they could do whatever they pleased with their prisoner.
This was the effect of 'The World Cage'.
This explanation was somewhat exaggerated, but that's what it was.
The invisible pressure pressed down like a collapsing mountain range. The ground beneath Li Jue Tian's feet cracked in spiderweb patterns, yet he could not even shift his weight. His profound Xuan Qi, once surging like a raging tide, now felt like a pond sealed beneath thick ice. He tried to channel it, to force it outward, but it did not respond.
The mysterious master had attacked due to his infuriated state of mind and had shown a glimpse of his true strength. But it was obvious that the previous actions had barely served as a warm-up for him.
Lei Bao Yu swallowed hard.
"This… this is definitely beyond peak Saint level," He murmured under his breath.
Bu Kuang Feng's lips twitched into a strained smile.
"Good thing we didn't rush in to 'help,'" He whispered dryly. "Otherwise, we might be the ones experiencing this… hospitality."
The two exchanged a look that conveyed both horror and immense relief. They were inwardly alarmed, but fortunate. If they had stepped forward with righteous indignation moments ago, the party being 'pinned down and getting its face smacked' might very well have been the two of them instead.
Li Jue Tian finally understood despair.
It had taken him only a split second to realize that he couldn't even move a finger. His body refused him and his profound Xuan Qi betrayed him. His pride dissolved like frost beneath a blazing sun.
The mysterious master appeared before him without taking a visible step, crossing the distance as though space itself had courteously folded in half.
"Didn't you just say something rather impressive?" The mysterious master asked lightly, tilting his head. "I believe it involved killing this and crushing that."
Li Jue Tian opened his mouth, but no words emerged. Even his throat felt sealed.
The mysterious master reached out casually and grabbed him by the neck. The motion was so simple, so effortless, that it was almost insulting. With a single-handed lift, he raised Li Jue Tian off the ground like a misbehaving child. The sound of strained bone echoed faintly.
Then he pinned him to the ground.
The impact was not loud, yet the courtyard shook violently. Cracks raced outward in jagged lines. Before Li Jue Tian could even register the humiliation, the mysterious master's palm descended.
Smack!
A crisp sound echoed across the silent courtyard.
Smack! Smack!
Each strike was neither hurried nor viciously frantic. They were methodical, deliberate, almost instructional.
The mysterious master did not speak further; his expression remained indifferent, as if disciplining an unruly junior who had spoken out of turn.
Li Jue Tian's face swelled visibly, turning from pale to red to an alarming shade of purple. Yet he could not resist and only groaned in pain. He could not even blink in defiance.
The World Cage bound not only his limbs but his very existence.
The spectators watched in petrified silence and some even subconsciously touched their own cheeks, wincing in sympathy.
Bu Kuang Feng coughed lightly, trying to regain his composure. "Ahem. That… that seems thorough."
Lei Bao Yu nodded stiffly. "Indeed... Very thorough."
The mysterious master finally paused, flexing his fingers as if testing whether the exercise had loosened stiffness from his joints. He looked down at Li Jue Tian, whose once-dignified appearance had been reduced to a pitiful sight.
"Hm," He muttered. "That should suffice."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed Li Jue Tian aside. It seemed as if he had thrown trash. The battered body rolled across the cracked ground and came to a stop in a cloud of dust.
The suffocating pressure vanished in an instant.
The sky brightened and the air lightened.
Everyone inhaled sharply, as though they had been drowning and had finally broken the surface of water.
Only then did the crowd realize how tightly their hearts had been clenched.
The mysterious master stood upright, dusting his sleeves as though nothing remarkable had occurred. Then, he turned slowly, and his gaze settled on Jun Mo Xie.
The terrifying aura that had crushed saints and distorted heaven itself dissipated entirely. In its place was a warm, almost indulgent expression. His eyes softened, and he looked at Jun Mo Xie with approval and satisfaction, as though admiring a promising sapling that had grown straighter than expected.
"Well," He said lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips, "How do you like your master's performance?"
The contrast was staggering.
Moments ago, he had been an embodiment of universal suppression, a sovereign who caged the world with a thought. Now, he appeared like an elder amused by a junior's antics.
Jun Mo Xie raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Uhmm... Master, don't you think the scale is a little too big?"
"Oh?" The mysterious master chuckled, folding his hands behind his back. "Hahaha... really? But I think this is still too merciful."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
📢 Author's Note 📢
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Buymecoffee. There you'll find:
✅ Daily updates – never miss a day of new content
✅ Advanced chapters – read far ahead of public releases
✅ Exclusive perks & extras – only available to members
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
👉 Dive into more chapters today: buymeacoffee.com/myth_valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! 🔥📚✨