Chapter 4588
The youngest sister’s brother watched nervously from a distance, his face pale with worry. Around them, other cultivators stood frozen, unwilling to step forward. None dared to challenge the authority of the group under the ancient tree, let alone involve themselves in this escalating conflict.
Under the ancient tree, Bai Cheng leaned back with a casual air, watching the scene unfold with growing interest. His white robes fluttered lightly in the breeze, his posture exuding the arrogance and poise of the dragon clan. Yet, when the dozen cultivators surged toward Kai, his expression faltered, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Kai moved.
In an instant, his figure blurred like a phantom, weaving effortlessly among his attackers. The sound of blows landing reverberated in rapid succession.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One after another, the Mahayana Realm cultivators were sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground beneath the ancient tree. Dust clouded the air, mingling with groans of pain.
More than a dozen first- and second-grade Mahayana cultivators—powerhouses in their own right—had been utterly overpowered. And it wasn’t just defeat; it was absolute domination.
The youngest sister’s brother stared in stunned silence. The other onlookers were equally shocked, their disbelief palpable.
“How…?” stammered the snake-eyed man as he struggled to his feet. His gaze was fixed on Kai, equal parts fear and astonishment. He could tell that Kai hadn’t even used his full strength. If he had, they would all be dead.
“How is this possible?” he muttered. “He’s just a ninth-grade Tribulation Realm cultivator, and we’re in the Mahayana Realm. Even if we’re only first and second grade, our combined power should rival fourth-grade Mahayana cultivators. How did he…?”
Kai stepped forward, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Weren’t you the one boasting about making me live a life worse than death?” His tone was light, almost mocking.
The snake-eyed man’s confidence shattered. He turned instinctively toward Bai Cheng, seeking guidance.
Bai Cheng’s expression had turned grave. His narrowed eyes sparkled with a mix of caution and intrigue as he observed Kai.
“Continue,” Bai Cheng commanded, his voice calm but filled with authority.
The snake-eyed man hesitated, his brows furrowing. He knew how this would end, but Bai Cheng’s words left no room for disobedience. Gritting his teeth, he waved his hand.
“Everyone, attack together! I refuse to believe he can keep this up against all of us!”
With a roar, the cultivators charged again, their auras surging as they unleashed their combined strength.
Kai’s gaze turned icy. “Shameless,” he spat, his voice laced with contempt. Without hesitation, he clenched his fists and stepped forward.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With each punch, the air crackled like thunder. Kai’s strikes were precise, devastating, and unstoppable. The cultivators had no chance to retaliate, their attacks nullified before they could even land.
The scene was a blur of motion, and when it cleared, the dozen cultivators lay crumpled beneath the ancient tree once more, groaning in defeat.
Kai stood tall, his figure radiating an unshakable aura of dominance. He turned his gaze toward Bai Cheng, his eyes glinting with challenge.
“Well?” Kai’s voice cut through the silence.
Bai Cheng remained seated, his expression unreadable. For the first time, the arrogance of the so-called dragon clan seemed to waver.
Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, Kai struck again.
This time, he held nothing back.
The dozen Mahayana cultivators were sent flying, their bodies crashing heavily to the ground. Blood sprayed from the mouth of the snake-eyed man as he struggled to breathe, his eyes wide with sheer terror. The others were no better, groaning in pain, their injuries severe enough to prevent them from standing.
Kai exhaled softly, his expression calm, almost indifferent. The power he had used was unmistakably that of a beastman—carefully calculated to conceal his human identity. If he had unleashed his full strength, none of them would have survived.
A suffocating silence fell over the clearing.
Thousands of cultivators stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock, awe, and disbelief. This was a place where strength dictated respect, and for years, no one had dared challenge the dominance of those beneath the ancient tree.
Yet now, a single Tribulation Realm cultivator had dismantled their power in an instant.
The eldest sister’s brother rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he had just witnessed. Slowly, a glimmer of excitement and hope crept into his expression. He stared at Kai, his face lighting up as if seeing a savior for the first time.
For years, the prisoners here had lived under oppression, hopelessly bound by fear. But Kai’s overwhelming display of strength had ignited a spark within them—a possibility that escape, or at least defiance, might not be impossible.
“This guy… he’s not ordinary. There’s more to him than meets the eye,” the eldest sister’s brother muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and anticipation.
The cultivators around him murmured among themselves. No one dared to approach the ancient tree anymore, let alone confront Kai.
It was unheard of—a dozen first- and second-grade Mahayana Realm cultivators brought down by a single ninth-grade Tribulation Realm monk. It wasn’t just shocking—it was incomprehensible.
“This kid… he’s something else,” someone whispered in the crowd, their voice carrying a mix of fear and admiration.
Meanwhile, high above the scene, Captain Zhou stood outside the shimmering light curtain of the formation that encased the prison.
Dressed in his guard uniform, his sharp eyes scanned the chaos with a calm, calculating gaze. Captain Zhou was the overseer of this prison, responsible for maintaining order and ensuring no disturbances threatened its security.
Fighting was common here; prisoners venting their frustrations through brawls was nothing new. Unless someone was killed, he rarely intervened. But this…
Captain Zhou’s brow furrowed slightly.
“This kid isn’t simple,” he murmured to himself.
Though his expression remained neutral, a flicker of curiosity lit his eyes as he continued to observe the scene.
Kai’s power was too precise, too controlled for a mere Tribulation Realm cultivator. There was a hidden depth to him—something Captain Zhou intended to uncover.
For now, though, he simply watched, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.