Chapter 84: The Eight Great Clans

"Vermilion Bird Patriarch?" Qian Kun's lips curled into a faint smile as he narrowed his eyes at the woman in the fiery red brocade robe, whose noble bearing was unmistakable. "There's no need for us to keep probing each other. Show me your strongest attack!"

Qian Kun had already realized that Geisleson and the others were far behind him in their comprehension and fusion of laws. They only managed to reach the Asura level due to their innate advantages and the aid of sovereign artifacts, but even so, they were not among the top at this stage. Hoping to gain some insight into the mysteries of fusing laws by sparring with them was proving rather ineffective. Instead, he thought he might as well fight with all his strength—perhaps that would bring him some inspiration.

"Very well, then try to withstand a soul attack from me!" The Vermilion Bird Patriarch nodded lightly. As she spoke, flames blazed in her eyes, which then condensed into the form of a miniature, illusory Vermilion Bird divine beast. In a flash, it darted toward Qian Kun and plunged directly into his body.

Qian Kun's entire body trembled slightly, but his expression remained calm as he faced the Vermilion Bird Patriarch. After a few breaths, he couldn't help but grin. "Your soul attack is indeed formidable, but it's still far inferior to Mo Si's."

"Mo Si?" The Vermilion Bird Patriarch's delicate brows knitted together. Suddenly, as if recalling something, her beautiful eyes widened. "Mo Si of Miluo Island? You've fought him?"

Qian Kun nodded with a smile. "That's right! When it comes to the soul, his achievements are second only to those of a perfected Highgod."

"Enough. Even though I have a sovereign artifact, it seems I still can't do anything to you." The Vermilion Bird Patriarch shook her head in resignation and withdrew.

"White Tiger Patriarch, are you not going to take a shot? I would like to witness your strongest attack as well," Qian Kun turned to the White Tiger Patriarch, who seemed reluctant to act.

The White Tiger Patriarch managed a helpless smile and flew over. "Qian Kun, in terms of strength, I'm not as powerful as my elder brother, elder sister, or second brother. I cultivate the laws of wind, and I have little talent for the soul—only my speed and attack are noteworthy. Still, even my attacking sovereign artifact likely can't do a thing to you!"

"Then don't use your sovereign artifact. Use your Highgod artifact. I won't use any weapon either. It's just a friendly match—no need to get hostile over it," Qian Kun said with a gentle laugh.

No need to get hostile? The White Tiger Patriarch felt speechless. You, challenging all four of us patriarchs, are slapping the faces of the Four Divine Beast Clans, and you call that non-hostile? Even Geisleson in the distance couldn't help but twitch at those words.

Nevertheless, since Qian Kun had made such a request, the White Tiger Patriarch could not refuse. In the past, the Four Divine Beast Clans might not have cared about a powerhouse of Qian Kun's level, but now that they had declined, they could not afford to offend him lightly.

Their exchange was as brief as it was swift. Without a doubt, while the White Tiger Patriarch's attacks were fierce, he still couldn't do a thing to Qian Kun. In terms of the laws of wind, the White Tiger Patriarch had only fused seven profound mysteries. If not for his attacking sovereign artifact, he would be among the weakest of the Asura-level powerhouses.

After sparring with the Four Divine Beast Patriarchs, Qian Kun lost all interest in challenging other high-level members of their clans and took his leave.

This series of duels was kept strictly confidential by the patriarchs' own orders and was not spread outside—even within the Four Divine Beast Clans, it became a taboo topic, rarely spoken of. After all, the fact that none of the four patriarchs could do anything to Qian Kun was quite humiliating.

Afterward, Qian Kun proceeded according to his plan, moving on to challenge the sworn enemies of the Four Divine Beast Clans—the patriarchs of the Eight Great Clans. These eight varied in strength; even the weakest was on par with the Divine Beast Patriarchs, and the strongest were the true apex within the Asura level. Seven of them were envoys of the Sovereign, and the last was the most powerful among them.

Yet, challenging the patriarchs of the Eight Great Clans was no simple matter. With Qian Kun's modest reputation, it was difficult even to gain an audience with them. Thus, he had no choice but to demonstrate his strength in battle, compelling the patriarchs to show themselves.

The first clan he challenged was the Reynars family. That battle was fierce. Though the Reynars Patriarch wielded an attacking sovereign artifact and ultimately unleashed a drop of Destruction Sovereign's power, he was still decisively slain by Qian Kun.

Though using the power of the Sovereign would greatly amplify one's abilities, the Reynars Patriarch was facing Qian Kun. Even with the Sovereign's power, he could not withstand Qian Kun's full onslaught.

Even at the moment of his death, the Reynars Patriarch could not believe that Qian Kun's soul attack could be so overwhelming. Not even the Sovereign's power could shield him from the might of Qian Kun's will-infused soul strike. In his final moment, the Reynars Patriarch even wondered if Qian Kun had already reached perfection—a soul attack of that caliber could only be executed by a perfected Highgod.

This battle shook the Eight Great Clans to their core. The other seven patriarchs were all secretly alarmed.

As Qian Kun continued his challenges, the clans' anxiety grew. Was this powerhouse intent on eradicating them all, one by one?

Thus, faced with the mounting pressure, when Qian Kun went to challenge the second clan, the Dern family, he merely defeated their patriarch without killing him. But by the time he arrived at the third, the Edric family, all six remaining patriarchs had already gathered.

Hovering in the sky above the Edric family, the seven patriarchs stood in a line. Qian Kun couldn't help but smile. "What, do you intend to join forces against me?"

"Hmph! So what if we do? You killed Reynars and made enemies of the Eight Great Clans. No matter how strong you are, do you really think you're a perfected Highgod, capable of fighting all seven of us at once?" The patriarch of the Winner family, hailing from the Wind Divine Plane, sneered.

Qian Kun only shrugged and smiled. "Well then, give it a try. Who knows, you might manage to kill me."

"Attack!" At Qian Kun's taunting words, the seven patriarchs' tempers flared. The Bolin Patriarch, who led them, gave the command in a deep, cold voice.

As he spoke, white wings of light unfurled from Bolin's back, and the holy white power of the Fate Sovereign enveloped him. Bolin stared icily at Qian Kun, and a semi-transparent white arrow instantly shot through the air toward him.

At the same time, the other six unleashed their strongest soul attacks, each fueled by the power of their respective Sovereigns.

"You're ruthless indeed!" Qian Kun's expression changed as he hurriedly dodged, but was still struck by two of the soul attacks.

His body shuddered. Momentarily dazed, he saw the Winner Patriarch flick his right hand, sending a blue-green scimitar shooting toward him. Wherever the blade passed, the space of the Infernal Realm split as easily as paper.

Hiss... Qian Kun, regaining his senses, saw the scimitar already before his eyes. He hastily raised his hand, its golden glow meeting the blade head-on. The impact sent him flying back, a bloody line splitting his palm, blood gushing forth.

"What? He blocked a sovereign artifact with his bare hand, and his palm wasn't severed—just wounded?" the Winner Patriarch exclaimed.

The other six were equally stunned. Bolin, the leader, stared at Qian Kun in disbelief. "He...he didn't even use the Sovereign's power? Without the Sovereign's power, how could he withstand the soul attacks unleashed by me and Edric together? Could it be, he really is a perfected Highgod?"

"Heh, now this is getting interesting," Qian Kun laughed, his divine power quickly healing the wound in his palm. Yet to Bolin and the other patriarchs, that laugh sent chills straight to their hearts.