Wang Ruoxie glanced indifferently at the dozen or so corpses on the ground, then turned his gaze towards Xiahou Wei, who was in shock.

"Is this the strength of the experts from the Fire Cloud Kingdom? Really too weak."

Wang Ruoxie looked at Xiahou Wei with a mocking expression and sneered.

"Little beast, I heard before coming here that you obtained an Earth Essence Fruit at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion auction. I was considering sparing your life if you handed it over voluntarily."

Xiahou Wei stared coldly at Wang Ruoxie and said, "But now it seems you've already refined that Earth Essence Fruit, achieving a breakthrough from the Seventh Layer of the Innate Realm to the Ninth Layer in such a short time."

"As such, you've lost your last chance to live."

Upon hearing Xiahou Wei's words, Wang Ruoxie chuckled coldly and said, "You also said earlier that I was doomed to die, yet here I am, still alive and well."

"Little beast, do you truly think that by breaking through to the Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm, you can contend with me?"

Xiahou Wei glared at Wang Ruoxie and retorted sharply, "In my eyes, you're nothing more than an ant I can easily crush. Even if you're now at the Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm and your strength is at the level of Half-Step Meridian Passage Realm, you're still just a slightly stronger ant."

Wang Ruoxie, who could easily kill his dozen or so subordinates with Eighth or Ninth Layer Cultivation, already demonstrated power far beyond the usual Innate Realm, reaching the level of Half-Step Meridian Passage Realm.

However, no matter how strong an Innate Realm is, it is still an Innate Realm, and can never truly contend with someone at the Meridian Passage Realm.

"You think of me as an ant because your cultivation is higher than mine, yet to others with higher cultivation, you too are merely an ant."

Wang Ruoxie smiled faintly and replied, "Moreover, this ant is not one you can so easily crush at will."

"Arrogant fool, you escaped me last time, but now, I shall see how much your strength has truly grown for you to speak such boastful words."

Xiahou Wei shouted coldly, then raised his palm, striking directly at Wang Ruoxie.

Suddenly, a flaming True Essence erupted, transforming into a giant Red Rainbow Palm Seal, charging towards Wang Ruoxie with terrifying power.

"Destruction Technique, slash."

The sword in Wang Ruoxie's hand swiftly slashed out, instantly forming an extraordinarily sharp Sword Qi, meeting that Red Rainbow Palm Seal.

"Sizzle!"

The Destruction Technique, imbued with the Profound Technique of Destruction, made the Sword Qi even sharper, extraordinarily destructive, unstoppable. With a soft sound, it immediately pierced through the Red Rainbow Palm Seal, causing it to completely collapse.

"Heaven-Burning Palm."

Seeing his Red Rainbow Palm Seal easily destroyed by Wang Ruoxie, Xiahou Wei's expression shifted slightly, and he soared into the air.

In the next moment, he swung both palms simultaneously, launching an attack at Wang Ruoxie below.

Instantly, an enormous Red Flame Palm Seal, at least ten times larger than before, howled downward.

Though massive, the palm seal appeared almost tangible, even with its lines clearly visible, resembling an actual hand.

Moreover, this palm seal carried the terrifying power to incinerate everything in its path, capable of burning the heavens and boiling the sea.

Before the palm seal even landed, the ground below began cracking, and all surrounding vegetation was incinerated in an instant, showcasing the extent of the palm's terrifying power.

Evidently, Xiahou Wei had finally unleashed his full strength.

"Thunderous Wave Technique, break."

Wang Ruoxie slashed out with his sword once more, and immediately, endless Sword Qi like tidal waves surged towards the gigantic palm seal descending from the sky.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous explosion, the Sword Qi and the palm seal collided fiercely.

The endless Thunderous Wave Sword Qi was incinerated by the gigantic Red Flame Palm Seal, but the palm seal too was utterly shattered and dispersed.

"This little beast's strength... has become this strong?"

This scene made Xiahou Wei shudder slightly, a look of disbelief on his face.

He had poured almost all his strength into that palm. Even someone with the First Layer of the Meridian Passage Realm would find it hard to withstand.

Yet, this little beast with a mere Ninth Layer Cultivation of the Innate Realm had easily nullified it with a single sword strike.

"How is this possible?"

Xiahou Wei found it difficult to accept such a result.

In his eyes, someone once akin to an ant now suddenly possessed strength able to contend with him, leaving him unable to process the reality.

In the distant forest, those who had originally been hunting Demon Beasts in the mountains heard the commotion and gathered, utterly stunned by the scene before them.

What's going on? An Innate Realm standing against a Meridian Passage Realm?

Had they not witnessed it firsthand, they wouldn't believe anyone with a Ninth Layer Cultivation of the Innate Realm could contend with a Meridian Passage level expert, even if beaten to death.

Even if Xiahou Wei was only at the First Layer of the Meridian Passage Realm, that was still a genuine Meridian Passage Realm, with strength far surpassing the Innate Realm.

"My heavens... could this guy be the rumored peerless prodigy?"

Many felt a storm brewing in their hearts, incredulous expressions on their faces.

Rumor had it certain exceedingly talented geniuses could challenge others of higher cultivation effortlessly, leaping several smaller realms with ease.

But leaping a Great Realm to challenge higher cultivation? Almost unheard of over centuries, those achieving such feats were often dubbed peerless prodigies.

And this young man, possibly only eighteen or nineteen, clearly was such a prodigy.

"Now, try withstanding one of my sword strikes."

At this moment, Wang Ruoxie shouted coldly at Xiahou Wei, his form suddenly charging forward, arriving before him in an instant.

Brilliant sword light radiated, endless Sword Qi unleashed, ultimately forming a tangible giant sword descending from the sky, slashing towards Xiahou Wei.

"This can't be..."

Seeing the giant sword, Xiahou Wei's face turned pale with terror, fear written in his eyes.

"Am I seeing things? Can he truly transform True Essence into weapons?"

"Even those at the Late Stage of the Meridian Passage Realm could hardly achieve True Essence Transformation, yet he managed it at the Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm. It's incredible."

The onlookers cried out incessantly in shock.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous crash, the giant sword promptly struck Xiahou Wei.

"No..."

Facing impending doom, Xiahou Wei's eyes were filled with terror and despair.

Never had he imagined confronting such a monster, possessing mere Innate Realm cultivation, yet wielding terrifying techniques that even his Meridian Passage Realm couldn't touch.

Under the astounded gazes, Xiahou Wei's body was severed in two by the giant sword.

"Is he... truly just a peerless prodigy?"

For a long while, the crowd could not recover from their shock, eventually gulping in disbelief.

If he merely contended with a First Layer Meridian Passage at Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm, they might be shocked but could still accept it.

After all, such prodigies were rare but not nonexistent throughout the Eastern Domain.

But to perform True Essence Transformation and slay a Meridian Passage at the Innate Realm, was unheard of.

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