Dust rolled through the shattered crater.
The Golden Core cultivator forced himself upright, his body trembling under the strain. Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his mouth, dark against his chin, but the wild grin on his face had returned.
"So you think you've won already?"
His voice was hoarse, strained from the damage his body had taken, yet the arrogance within it had not faded in the slightest.
Golden qi erupted from his body once more.
Even with the poison spreading through his meridians like wildfire, the power of a **Golden Core cultivator** was still terrifying.
"You forced me into this state…"
He lifted his spear slowly, the weapon trembling as immense energy coursed through it.
"…so don't complain about what happens next."
The spear began to vibrate.
Golden light surged along its length like molten metal being poured through a mold, glowing brighter with every passing second.
Then—
The cultivator slammed the spear into the ground.
"**Heaven Shattering Spear Art — Earth Piercer!**"
The earth beneath the lizard exploded.
Hundreds of golden spears erupted from the ground like a forest of blades, each one infused with the overwhelming power of a Golden Core cultivator.
They shot upward from every direction.
Piercing.
Trapping.
Killing.
The lizard's golden eyes narrowed.
Lightning exploded around his body.
BOOM!
He launched upward just as the first wave of spears burst from the ground beneath him.
Several spears grazed his scales, sparks flying violently as the golden weapons scraped against the hardened surface of his body.
One spear struck his side directly—
CLANG!
The weapon bent slightly before shattering apart under the overwhelming density of his physique.
But the attack wasn't over.
The cultivator raised his hand.
The golden spears twisted unnaturally in midair, bending like living things before turning back toward the lizard once again, guided by the cultivator's will.
The lizard's wings spread wide.
Wind howled violently.
He spun once—
And a massive storm vortex erupted outward from his body.
Lightning and wind fused together into a spiraling barrier of raw elemental force.
Every incoming spear slammed into the vortex and was either deflected away or shattered completely by the raging storm.
Still—
Several broke through.
One pierced his wing.
Another stabbed into the thick scales near his shoulder.
Blood sprayed through the air.
The lizard didn't even flinch.
Below, the cultivator laughed.
Though the laughter turned into a violent cough halfway through as blood spattered onto the shattered ground.
"You think you're the only one who can endure pain?"
He raised the spear again.
Golden runes ignited along its shaft, ancient symbols burning with terrifying brilliance.
His aura surged one final time despite the poison raging violently through his veins.
"Let's see if that body of yours can handle this!"
The sky darkened.
Golden light began condensing above the spear tip, gathering together into a massive phantom spear nearly fifty meters long.
The pressure alone crushed the surrounding earth deeper into the crater.
Even the storm winds slowed under the weight of the technique.
High above—
The fox watched.
Her ears flattened slightly against her head.
"…That's a killing technique."
Her eyes flicked toward the lizard.
"Little White…"
The phantom spear finished forming.
The cultivator thrust forward.
"**Heaven Shattering Spear — Divine Judgment!**"
The gigantic golden spear tore through the sky like a falling star, aimed directly at the lizard.
The air screamed.
Lightning split apart.
Clouds vaporized in its path.
For a brief moment—
The storm dragon and the divine spear faced each other in midair.
The lizard's golden eyes gleamed.
Lightning crawled across his black horns.
Wind gathered.
Storm serpents formed once more around his body, coiling through the raging currents.
And he thought quietly:
*Good.*
*Now he's using everything.*
Then he roared—
And charged straight toward the descending spear.
The sky **detonated**.
The moment the lizard collided with the descending golden spear, the heavens themselves seemed to shatter apart.
Lightning and golden light erupted outward like colliding suns.
The shockwave flattened forests for miles.
Wind howled violently as storm serpents tore through the golden qi surrounding the massive spear.
For a brief moment—
The two forces **locked**.
Golden Core power against a raging storm dragon.
Lightning cracked across the sky.
The spear trembled under the immense pressure.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion tore the sky apart.
A massive sphere of storm and golden qi erupted outward, swallowing everything in blinding light.
Far below, the fox shielded her eyes with an arm as the shockwave blasted past her position.
"…That idiot…"
Her tail flicked behind her.
"He actually clashed with it head-on."
But high above the battlefield—
Hidden within the blinding explosion—
The Golden Core cultivator **moved**.
His eyes were cold now.
No arrogance.
No excitement.
Only calculation.
*This creature is dangerous.*
*More dangerous than I anticipated.*
The poison within his body was spreading faster the longer the fight continued.
Even suppressing it with his Golden Core qi was becoming increasingly difficult.
*If I stay… I may die.*
*If I retreat… I can purge the poison later.*
*And when I return…*
His gaze flashed with chilling killing intent.
*I will dissect that creature piece by piece.*
Without hesitation—
He activated a movement technique.
His body blurred.
Golden qi wrapped tightly around him as he shot away from the explosion like a comet, fleeing toward the distant horizon at terrifying speed.
But—
A voice echoed through the storm.
Calm.
Cold.
"Running."
The cultivator's eyes widened.
Through the fading lightning—
A massive silhouette burst from the collapsing explosion.
The lizard.
His scales were scorched.
Blood ran down his side.
Lightning still crawled across his body like living veins of power.
But his golden eyes were locked directly onto the fleeing cultivator.
Unblinking.
The cultivator's pupils shrank.
*He saw through it.*
Behind him—
Wind exploded.
The lizard's wings snapped open.
Lightning surged violently around his body as wind gathered beneath him.
The storm itself seemed to bend to his command.
Then—
BOOM!
He vanished from his position, launching forward at terrifying speed.
Wind and lightning fused behind him like the blazing tail of a raging comet.
The distance between them began shrinking **rapidly**.
The cultivator cursed under his breath.
"This damned monster—"
But before he could finish—
A thunderous roar tore through the sky behind him.
Storm serpents erupted from the clouds ahead of him, blocking his escape path.
Wind twisted violently.
Lightning crawled across the sky like cracks spreading through glass.
The lizard's voice rumbled through the storm.
Low.
Cold.
"You can't escape."
Lightning gathered once more within his maw as he closed the distance.
"You tried to kill me."
The storm intensified.
Wind pressure crushed downward from every direction.
"And now…"
The lizard's golden eyes gleamed with terrifying calm.
"You die."