At the same moment, Zhang Yuxi formed a rapid hand seal and pointed sharply at Ryan.
The giant sword in the air responded instantly, rising high before crashing down like a falling mountain.
As it descended, a massive white sword-shaped energy wave burst forth from the blade, surging forward with overwhelming momentum, like scalding steam erupting from a boiling cauldron.
Both sides unleashed their strongest trump cards at the same time.
A deafening explosion tore through the night as the power of Mountain Splitting erupted in full.
The instant Ryan's hand smashed into the ground, the earth within a ten-by-ten-meter radius convulsed violently.
Thick cracks spiderwebbed across the land, tearing open like wounds before everyone's eyes.
In the next heartbeat, blazing magma surged upward from the fissures, accompanied by rolling black smoke and roaring flames that swallowed the area whole.
The temperature soared in an instant, turning the battlefield into a blazing furnace.
Even the members of the Red Scorpion Mercenary Corps, who were watching from a distance, felt a wave of scorching heat rush toward them.
Their faces burned, their scalps tingled, and instinctively they staggered backward, shock and awe written across their faces.
The massive greatsword that had been slashing down toward Ryan was intercepted head-on by the erupting flames.
The violent magma collided with the sword's sword-energy, producing a terrifying clash of forces. The greatsword trembled violently in midair, as if it were screaming under the pressure.
Far away, Zhang Yuxi, who was still maintaining the hand seals, suddenly turned pale.
His body shook uncontrollably, and a streak of blood slid down from the corner of his mouth.
As the magma and flames intensified, the once-fearsome blade now looked like a charred mountain of slag, its metallic luster completely extinguished.
Eventually, the giant sword could no longer endure it.
With a dull, muffled sound, it crashed to the ground, instantly engulfed by roaring flames. In the next moment, it shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into the sea of fire as if it had never existed.
The instant the greatsword broke apart, Zhang Yuxi spat out a mouthful of blood and dropped to his knees. His internal organs had suffered severe damage, and disbelief filled his face as his eyes lost focus.
"Impossible… this is impossible…" he murmured weakly, despair and confusion flooding his expression. "Why would I lose… why…"
"It's over," Ryan said calmly as he walked toward him in heavy steps.
Zhang Yuxi slowly lifted his head, terror flooding his eyes. Unwillingness and hatred twisted his features as he shouted hoarsely, "No! You can't kill me! I am a silver-robed warrior of the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps, a core member! If you kill me, you'll be declaring war on the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps. You'll be hunted endlessly!"
"The Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps?" Ryan sneered, his gaze icy and resolute. "A mercenary group that wears the skin of justice while doing filthy deeds in the shadows? Don't worry. Sooner or later, I'll uproot it completely."
These words were not empty bravado. With the God of War System backing him, Ryan knew that, given time, even a behemoth like the Wolf Sky Mercenary Corps could be crushed beneath his feet. Zhang Yuxi's threat meant nothing to him.
Endless pursuit? One comes, he kills one. Ten come, he kills ten. If they dared to send an army, then he would simply harvest experience in bulk.
Seeing that his threats had failed, Zhang Yuxi's composure finally shattered. Panic seized him, and he crawled backward on the ground, his body trembling violently as he begged, "No… don't kill me… please…"
Ryan's expression did not change as he advanced step by step, his killing intent cold and unwavering.
Realizing there was no escape, Zhang Yuxi's eyes suddenly turned vicious. "Damn you..."
With a snarl, he reached into his robes and pulled out a small, round, pitch-black object. Its surface was smooth and exquisitely crafted, radiating a faint yet terrifying aura.
It was an Aura Bomb.
Once detonated, it could unleash the full power of a fifth-rank monster in a single explosion. Such an item was extremely expensive and consumed upon use, far beyond what ordinary cultivators could afford. Yet its destructive power made it a fearsome trump card, capable of allowing even an ordinary Elite to kill an Upper Exalt by leaping realms.
The moment Ryan saw the object, his heart skipped a beat.
Although he did not know what it was at first glance, its shape reminded him eerily of plastic explosives from his previous life. As it made his instincts scream danger, without hesitation, he activated Sky Eye Technique.
The information flooded into his mind.
Name: Aura Bomb.
Description: A disposable weapon created by compressing the core energy of a rank-five or higher monster into a special container.
Effect: Once detonated, it releases power equivalent to a fifth-rank monster (Level-50) within a five-meter radius.
"Damn it!"
Ryan acted instantly. If Zhang Yuxi managed to detonate the Aura Bomb, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Wind Blade!"
A white streak of light sliced through the air. In the split second Zhang Yuxi's fingers touched the Aura Bomb, his arm was severed cleanly. Blood sprayed as the black sphere slipped from his grasp and rolled across the ground.
Ryan did not pause. Another Wind Blade flashed out, cutting straight through Zhang Yuxi's neck.
*Slash*
Zhang Yuxi's head flew off, his eyes still wide with unwillingness and terror.
*Ding! You killed a 9-star Upper Elite.
*Ding!
*Ding!
Even as his headless body collapsed, his gaze remained fixed on the Aura Bomb lying nearby, as if he could not accept that his final gamble had failed.
Ryan let out a long breath and carefully picked up the Aura Bomb, a chill running through him.
"Thank goodness that I acted on my instincts. Or else, I might already be on his way to the underworld."
At last, the battlefield fell silent.
The fight itself had not lasted long, but the danger within it was immense.
Had Zhang Yuxi not underestimated Ryan and allowed his subordinates to be killed one by one, the outcome might have been far less certain.
Six Upper Elites, including a near-Exalt powerhouse, were a terrifying force. Even with powerful finishing techniques, Ryan would likely have paid a heavy price to win.
But there were no regrets in this world. Underestimating the enemy had sealed their fate, and encountering Ryan, who possessed a system-level advantage, could only be called their misfortune.
As Zhang Yuxi's death notification rang out, Ryan's cultivation surged once more, advancing to the peak of the nine-star Upper Elite.
Clenching his fists, Ryan smiled faintly and shook his head. "Just one level and I will enter the Exalt realm. Killing really is the fastest way to level up."