Chapter 4540
Luo Ta raised his hand to stop Zuo Tianzheng, his face calm and unreadable.
“A coward like him is of no consequence,” Luo Ta said dismissively, his deep voice carrying across the battlefield. “Let him run. It’s not him we’re here for.”
Zuo Tianzheng hesitated for a moment, clearly displeased, but he didn’t dare disobey Luo Ta’s command. He clenched his fists and stepped back reluctantly.
Kai, watching the exchange, smirked faintly. “It seems even your allies can’t be trusted, Zuo Tianzheng. Is this the mighty Demon Sealing League?”
Zuo Tianzheng’s face darkened at the taunt, his pride stung. But before he could respond, Luo Ta’s booming laughter echoed through the air.
“You have some nerve, boy,” Luo Ta said, his tone filled with both amusement and menace. “You’ve shown strength, but don’t think for a moment that you’ve impressed me.”
Kai raised the Dragon Slaying Sword, its blade still gleaming with energy. “Whether I impress you or not doesn’t matter. If you stand in my way, you’ll fall just like the others.”
The surrounding crowd fell silent, their attention fully fixed on the tense standoff.
Luo Ta’s grin widened, revealing sharp, predatory teeth. “Bold words. Let’s see if you can back them up.”
With that, Luo Ta stepped forward, each step shaking the ground beneath him. The very air seemed to ripple with his immense spiritual pressure, causing even seasoned warriors in the Xiao Dynasty to falter.
Kai held his ground, his grip tightening on the Dragon Slaying Sword. His aura flared in response, golden light radiating from his body, forming a protective barrier against Luo Ta’s oppressive energy.
“Stay back,” Kai said firmly, addressing the Xiao Dynasty warriors behind him. “This fight is mine.”
Xiao Yuanshan and the others hesitated but ultimately nodded, trusting Kai’s strength and resolve.
Luo Ta raised one massive hand, summoning a weapon from the void—a colossal black mace covered in ominous runes that pulsed with dark energy.
“Let’s test the strength of your resolve, boy,” Luo Ta said, lifting the mace effortlessly.
Kai didn’t respond. Instead, he stepped forward, the Dragon Slaying Sword humming with anticipation. The clash between these two titans was about to begin, and the world seemed to hold its breath.
The atmosphere was thick with tension as everyone stared at the plain-clothed man who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. His calm demeanor contrasted starkly with the chaos moments before.
Luo Ta’s grin faltered for the first time. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the newcomer. Though Mr. Shi exuded no visible aura, an invisible pressure began to weigh on everyone present.
“Who are you?” Luo Ta’s voice rumbled, his earlier confidence tinged with caution.
Mr. Shi clasped his hands behind his back, his expression serene. “Just a passing scholar,” he replied nonchalantly. “But it seems you’re causing quite the commotion here, Luo Ta.”
Luo Ta’s eyes flickered with suspicion. “You have no aura. Are you here to die alongside this boy?”
Mr. Shi chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Your arrogance blinds you. Strength isn’t always about what can be seen or measured.”
Kai, standing beside Mr. Shi, felt a surge of relief and admiration. He had always known Mr. Shi was powerful, but this was the first time he’d seen him confront such an overwhelming opponent.
“Master, this Luo Ta is incredibly strong. He destroyed Sect Master Zhou from a hundred miles away with just a punch,” Kai said, still wary.
Mr. Shi glanced at Kai and smiled warmly. “Strength, Kai, is not about brute force alone. Watch and learn.”
Turning back to Luo Ta, Mr. Shi’s gaze hardened slightly, and for the first time, a faint ripple of energy emanated from his body. Though subtle, it carried an unfathomable depth, like the stillness of an ocean concealing its boundless power.
Luo Ta instinctively took a step back, gripping his black mace tighter. “Enough talk!” he roared, swinging his colossal weapon toward Mr. Shi with the force of a collapsing mountain.
The spectators gasped as the ground beneath Luo Ta cracked and shattered from the sheer power of his swing.
But Mr. Shi remained motionless, his serene expression unchanged. Just as the mace was about to connect, he casually raised a single finger.
A dazzling white light erupted, and the mace stopped mid-swing, as if hitting an invisible wall. The force reverberated back toward Luo Ta, causing him to stagger several steps backward.
“Impossible!” Luo Ta growled, his face contorted in disbelief.
Mr. Shi sighed softly. “Strength like yours is nothing more than noise. True power lies in understanding balance.”
With a flick of his finger, an invisible force sent Luo Ta hurtling backward, crashing into the distant mountainside with an earth-shattering impact.
The entire battlefield fell silent, the air heavy with awe and shock.
Kai couldn’t help but stare, his heart pounding. “Master Shi… that was incredible!”
Xiao Yuanshan and the others from the Xiao Dynasty were left speechless, their earlier doubts about Mr. Shi’s strength completely dispelled.
Luo Ta emerged from the rubble, battered but still alive. His gaze was filled with both fury and fear. “You… who are you truly?”
Mr. Shi turned to leave, his tone calm yet firm. “I am someone you would do well not to provoke again.”
Looking at Kai, he added, “Your journey is just beginning, Kai. Focus, and never let arrogance cloud your path.”
As Mr. Shi’s figure disappeared into the void, the battlefield remained eerily quiet, the weight of his presence lingering long after he was gone.