In the midst of the tempering ordeal, Clark felt his muscles and limbs tearing apart.
His body began rebuilding itself in darkness and obscurity.
But in that darkness, a giant serpent appeared. Clark didn't know who it was.
Yet that serpent spoke with a terrifying voice:
• "Human, how dare you attempt to steal my body???"
Clark was astonished, but he was in immense pain. Nothing remained in his mind except perseverance.
Suddenly, the giant serpent struck Clark's chest, making him scream a cry he had never uttered in his entire life.
His body was being torn apart now, and this serpent was attacking him. He didn't understand what was happening. How could this serpent reach here?
But the only logical explanation was that this was solely the serpent's will.
Clark felt not only physical pain but also spiritual agony. His soul was being mercilessly shredded.
Yet, at the final strike...
The World manifested! The soul fusion was complete, and now the World protected Clark.
The serpent shrieked in shock:
• "Whaaaaaaaaaaat???! A supreme existence!"
Instantly, the World seized the diamond serpent and crushed its head.
The body began to rise, merging with Clark as the final step of the tempering process.
Suddenly, everything turned white.
Half of Clark's face was flesh without skin; he had reached the second stage.
Clark promptly declared:
• "I am nearing the end. I will hold back my screams. Until the final stage, but that stage shows no mercy."
The giant serpent's hide surged into Clark.
A red light flashed at the moment of fusion.
Clark immediately exclaimed:
• "What is this power?!"
He couldn't endure it and screamed from the unbearable pain.
Clark's body, which was being consumed...
The serpent's hide was trying to devour Clark. He didn't understand what that hide was doing.
But he laughed and said:
• "Ke ke ke ke. In the end, I will die because of my arrogance. Perhaps if I hadn't been proud and had just given him the room, none of this would have happened. But because of arrogance, perhaps I am suffering due to what I brought upon myself."
• "Truly, a merciless, harsh world."
Clark closed his eyes.
It was as if he closed them for just a second.
He soon awoke lying on the ground.
He lifted his body and began looking around for his master. Clark asked him:
• "Did I go to the afterlife or what?"
The master replied with a laugh:
• "Unfortunately, no. You were tempering your body for a full day. Unfortunately, a whole day passed without benefit."
• "But I have brought you a gift that will help you with tempering and learning. I cannot teach you anything; you must discover it yourself with this person. If you don't discover something new, you will lose. Do you understand, Clark?"
Clark nodded in understanding.
The master promptly snapped his fingers,
and a beautiful, familiar girl emerged. Clark knew who she was.
It was Qing Xue again, but she was looking away, not directly at Clark.
Disgusted, Clark asked:
• "Are you sure she can keep up with me in combat?"
The master laughed and replied:
• "She can even kill you if she wishes! For Qing Xue is an assassin!!!"
Qing Xue spoke:
• "I apologize for interrupting, Master, but could you please ask Lord Zou Long to wear modest clothing?"
Clark looked down.
He was completely naked, but his body shone intensely as if made of diamond.
Clark didn't care. The master gave him his usual black attire.
Clark's blond hair fluttered behind him,
his eyes reflecting years of combat experience.
He stood before Qing Xue,
who had drawn a blue sword whose coldness was terrifying. Clark, from his spot, could feel the chill of its blade.
Moreover, her intent to kill showed seriousness, not playfulness.
Clark thought to himself: This is what I want, not play.
Suddenly, Qing Xue charged.
She was terrifying, and her speed was immense.
Perhaps even surpassing the speed of sound. He saw her everywhere because his eyes and reality itself couldn't comprehend such frightening speed.
A barrage of intense strikes rained down on Clark, who blocked them with his sword enveloped in black fire and a demonic aura.
Yet, superficial wounds multiplied on Clark's body.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't match such insane speed.
But Clark summoned the World, which had now turned gray and black, its helmet still golden and its eyes dark red.
The World focused on Qing Xue from all directions.
Clark soon pinpointed her location. He shouted loudly, "World, stop time!"
But time didn't stop; instead, a demonic seal appeared on Clark's chest and the World.
Clark screamed in agony:
• "What's happening? A great embodiment like the World is being suppressed!"
The master quickly approached:
• "This is a lesson for you. You will fight people who can suppress your powers. Ever since you obtained the World, you became arrogant about your ability to stop time."
• "And now I have shown you a demonic tool called 'Demon Shackles,' capable of suppressing embodiment abilities."
• "Don't be angry, Zou Long, but if you keep relying on a single ability, you will die."
• "So, don't set limits for yourself. Advance, and then you will learn the technique I want you to master."
Qing Xue spoke:
• "Since the Master doesn't intend to tell you, I will inform you of the technique the Master wants you to learn."
• "It's called 'Rampant Sound Steps'."
• "It's a movement technique. If you master it, you will be able to keep up with Long Tianba."
Clark nodded in understanding. He raised his sword, signaling the second round.
Qing Xue charged again.
Her speed began to increase.
But Clark noticed something: she wasn't running but hovering above the ground more than running.
Each strike of her legs made her faster and increased her momentum.
Moreover, her speed grew with every push.
He tried to experiment, but Clark attempted something else.
He used Shadow Qi.
Then he began to surge forward,
striking the ground swiftly with his right foot.
Because the surge starts with the right foot and balance with the left.
The master and Qing Xue were stunned,
but Clark hadn't mastered the technique. He crashed into the walls.
It seemed he couldn't control his surges.
But if he understood the basics, learning wouldn't be difficult.
The terrifying part was Clark's frenzied surge. As if he had become a shadow, he merged with his shadow and surged forward.
He didn't feel it himself, but anyone who saw it understood what was happening.
Qing Xue clapped for Clark,
saying to him:
• "You truly are a talent that appears once every million years!"
But the master was harsh as he interrupted Qing Xue and said:
• "What's the use if you understand but can't control your speed?"
• "What will you do during the confrontation? Will you make everyone laugh with your collisions, you fool?"
But Qing Xue told Clark:
• "Don't worry, you are close to mastering it. As long as we train together, I guarantee you will become as fast as me."
Qing Xue smiled at Clark, her rosy cheeks prominent.
Clark felt embarrassed, but he stood up and continued training with Qing Xue.
Yet, in the midst of Clark's training...
A secret meeting was taking place among the ancestors of the Black Cloud Sect.
Ancestor Mo Xian spoke:
• "It seems my grandson has clashed with Tai Fei's disciple."
The five of them laughed, and one said:
• "Of course, your grandson Long Tianba will crush him. He is supported by the Tyrant Dragon constellation."
Mo Xian quickly retorted:
• "Don't underestimate him, Hai Zun. That child is also supported by the World constellation, and his tempering foundation in the King Realm means he possesses a solid foundation."
Suddenly, one of them slammed his tea cup on the table, as if demanding attention.
It was the strongest ancestor, on the threshold of the Immortal Realm,
named Nie Tianhun. He said arrogantly:
• "I heard he is training in seclusion, preparing for battle."
• "Therefore, I am considering giving Long Tianba a special tool. We want to crush Zou Long brutally without any resistance."
• "It would be a disgrace to our disciples if they were defeated by a village boy named Zou Long."
Everyone promptly responded:
• "Yes! How could a village boy like him defeat our mighty disciples?"
But Mo Xian knew his grandson's nature and that he would not approve of such deceit.
Humanity was always rejecting. They reject everyone, surrounded by ideas of pride and arrogance.
But arrogance was always weak against overwhelming power!!
To be continued...