Chapter 73: The Power of Heaven and Earth

Humbert’s face darkened at the sight, and just as he was about to retreat behind Bernas, a dazzling white light flared before his eyes. At the same moment, Bernas’s urgent voice rang in his ears, “Humbert, be careful!”

A searing pain, as if scorched by flames, consumed Humbert’s head in an instant, reducing it to nothingness and revealing a godhead that glowed with a faint green light.

Sword in hand, dressed in white robes with flowing white hair, Qiankun appeared nearby. With a casual gesture, he collected Humbert’s godhead and space ring, then glanced up at the ashen-faced Bernas and grinned. “Mr. Bernas, is it? What brings you to Dragonblood Castle?”

“Ogavin, didn’t you say he studied the laws of earth?” Bernas’s expression darkened further at these words. Unable to contain his irritation, he sent a telepathic message to Ogavin.

Ogavin, equally taken aback by the white-robed Qiankun, snapped out of his surprise and replied quickly, “I don’t know! The one I met before did train in the earth laws, but this one… could it be his light god avatar?”

“Idiot—you don’t even know how many divine avatars he possesses,” Bernas snapped back telepathically, watching Qiankun coldly as he produced a timeworn bronze spear stained with traces of blood. Yet, as soon as Bernas gripped the weapon, he seemed to transform into an invincible deity.

A low hum radiated from the spear, its aura tearing through the very fabric of space. Clearly, this was a powerful high-tier artifact.

“A high-tier artifact?” Qiankun arched an eyebrow, his smile undiminished. “Mr. Bernas, are you sure you want to fight me?”

Bernas didn’t waste words. In a blur, he shot across the sky like a phantom, thrusting the ancient spear at Qiankun. Space seemed to freeze; only the spear, unstoppable, moved.

“What a disappointing choice,” Qiankun’s smile faded, his gaze growing cold. Facing the devastating spear, his silver-white divine sword erupted in a blinding light. The brilliant sword beam distorted the space around it as it met the spear with a crisp clang.

A thunderous explosion shattered the air, the tremors so violent that space itself seemed to collapse. Both Bernas and Qiankun were blasted backward by the force.

“What? Is he truly this strong?” Bernas stared in disbelief at Qiankun.

Qiankun merely sneered, shaking his head at Bernas. “So what if you have a high-tier artifact? Your strength is hardly impressive.”

“Attack together, kill him!” Bernas transmitted urgently to Gatenby and Ogavin.

Shaken by Qiankun’s overwhelming power, both Gatenby and Ogavin had already considered fleeing. Ogavin especially, having witnessed Qiankun’s might, was now painfully aware of the vast gulf between them. Yet Bernas’s command cut off any thought of retreat. Disobeying him would spell their doom even if they made it back alive.

Meeting each other’s gaze, Gatenby and Ogavin could only grit their teeth and charge.

At the same time, Bernas split into two: his lightning god avatar and earth god avatar joined Gatenby and Ogavin, surrounding Qiankun.

In the face of their pincer attack, Qiankun remained unhurried, focusing all his efforts on blocking the spear strikes from Bernas’s lightning god avatar. He ignored the attacks from Gatenby, Ogavin, and Bernas’s earth avatar. Though their blows struck his white robe, it only trembled slightly; none could pierce it.

“How can this be?” Bernas, Gatenby, and Ogavin stared in shock. Bernas was the first to recover, his face turning grim. “His white robe is a special artifact!”

At that moment, a figure clad in yellow appeared behind Ogavin, swinging a black greatsword with ease. The ethereal yellow sword shadow slipped into Ogavin’s body, and in an instant, Ogavin’s eyes lost their spark.

“No! That’s his earth god avatar—such powerful soul attacks, he killed Ogavin in a single blow!” Bernas’s face changed again as he shot a message to Gatenby: “Gatenby, run!”

Bernas and Gatenby hastily withdrew, vanishing into the distance. Qiankun, his two avatars merging into one, merely smiled faintly, making no move to pursue. After all, going too far might provoke Adkins—a troublesome foe. Without his true body present, Qiankun had little confidence facing a top highgod like Adkins.

Bernas and his party had arrived with great fanfare, but departed in disgrace. The hidden onlookers were left in awe. Qiankun’s power was overwhelming: facing four opponents, he not only triumphed, but killed two midgods—an extraordinary feat.

“Lord Qiankun, you are truly incredible!” Within Dragonblood Castle, Linley, Olivia, Desleigh, and the other sanctuary experts stared at Qiankun with burning admiration. Though all midgods, Bernas and his companions seemed like children before Qiankun. It was not their weakness, but his absolute strength.

…

In the imperial palace of the O’Brien Empire, the autumn wind whistled, rustling the robes of Bernas and Gatenby. The two stood side by side, heads lowered, not daring to meet the gaze of Adkins seated above.

Adkins’s face was grim. He held a goblet of wine as red as blood, his eyes razor-sharp as he swept his gaze over the pair.

“Four of you against a single midgod—not only did you lose, but two were killed. Most impressive,” Adkins said icily.

He turned to Bernas. “Bernas, you’re a strong midgod, and you wield a high-tier artifact. Yet you still couldn’t beat this midgod. Does he also have a high-tier artifact?”

“No. His weapon is formidable, but from its power, it’s merely a mid-tier artifact. Still, his strength is outrageous,” Bernas replied solemnly. “His light god avatar is already extremely powerful, and his earth avatar’s soul attacks are just as deadly—he killed both Humbert and Ogavin in a single move.”

Adkins narrowed his eyes, silent for a moment before speaking. “Such power can only come from the fusion of profound laws—two, perhaps even three. With that level of mastery, he’s not far from breaking through to highgod. If he does, with his fused insights, he’ll likely surpass even me. At that point, he’ll be a grave threat.”

“Lord Adkins, you mean—?” Bernas ventured.

“Isn’t it obvious? Before he becomes a highgod, we must kill him and remove this threat,” Adkins said, rising abruptly. His eyes were icy, his whole being radiating murderous intent.

Bernas and Gatenby’s eyes lit up, gazing at Adkins with burning anticipation. With Adkins himself taking action, could there be any doubt about Qiankun’s fate? No matter how strong Qiankun was, he was still only a midgod—how could he possibly stand against a highgod? Especially one as formidable as Adkins.

Night had fallen over Dragonblood Castle. A grand celebration was underway, laughter and revelry filling the hall.

“Hmm?” Sitting at the seat of honor, drinking with Linley and the others, Qiankun’s smile abruptly froze as he sensed something. Frowning, he looked outside, narrowed his eyes in thought, then transformed into a streak of light and departed Dragonblood Castle.