Chapter 1157 - 526: Master of Dragon Elephant (Part 2)

Finally, the skeleton army stopped a thousand zhang away from the Dragon Elephant’s leg bone, forming a huge encirclement. Not a single skeleton dared to step forward, as the lingering aura of "Heaven Opening" Fist Intent and the Law of Death on the battlefield still made them shiver from the depths of their souls.

Deathly Silence.

Oppressive silence.

At this moment, at the forefront of the skeleton army, an unusually massive skeleton emerged.

Standing ten zhang tall, resembling an upright bear, its entire body was composed of heavy lead-gray bones, each adorned with menacing bone spikes. In its skull burned a dark red Soul Fire, like two wheels of blood moon, filled with brutality and arrogance.

Its aura was at Bone Forging Realm Perfection, just one step away from igniting Soul Fire!

"I am the ’Tyrant’, the first War General under the former king."

It uttered a deep thunderous mental fluctuation, resounding within the core will of every skeleton. "New king, you have defeated the king, and according to the ancient contract of the ’Tomb Guardian’, we recognize your status. But..."

Its tone shifted, and the dark red Soul Fire surged aggressively.

"Skeleton Domain No. 73 has never followed the weak! The throne is not only a symbol of power but also represents the qualification to lead us...to live!"

"The centennial period of the Bone Demon Abyss is approaching; the old king was helpless, wanting to use us as sacrifices to prolong his existence. What plans do you, new king, have? If the same path of sacrifice is taken, I, the ’Tyrant’, will be the first to refuse!"

"Refuse!"

"Refuse!"

Its words instantly ignited a flame in the hearts of countless skeletons. Fear of death and hatred for the old king’s sacrificial policies transformed into doubt and challenge towards the new king. For a moment, a tsunami-like mental impact surged towards Xu Ran.

This was both a show of force and a test.

If Xu Ran showed even a hint of hesitation or weakness, this group of defiant skeletons would immediately turn into thugs, tear him to pieces, and then fall back into the cycle of internal slaughter to vie for the king’s throne.

The Bone Crow in mid-air was so frightened its Soul Fire flickered wildly; it didn’t expect this ’Tyrant’ to be so bold as to openly challenge the new king.

Yet faced with a mental storm strong enough to collapse mountains, Xu Ran stood as firmly as a reef rooted in place, motionless.

He didn’t even glance at the shouting ’Tyrant’ but slowly raised his right hand.

It was...a quite ordinary arm seemingly carved from common black stone. It neither shined nor emitted any powerful aura, so restrained that it seemed capable of absorbing all the surrounding light.

"Qualification?"

Xu Ran finally spoke, his voice steady yet clear in reaching the core will of every life. His tone carried no anger, no killing intent, only an indifference as vast as the ancient void.

"In this Skeleton Domain, strength is the sole qualification."

As his words concluded, he moved.

He didn’t rush towards the ’Tyrant’, but lightly pressed that mysterious black hand onto the ground, onto the largest remaining piece of the skeleton king after being blasted to pieces.

That piece of remains, as large as a hill, was half the skeleton king’s chest bone, still suffused with pure death aura and a trace of stubborn Law Imprint, its hardness far surpassing metal.

Buzz—!

At the instant Xu Ran’s palm touched that piece of remains, an incredible scene unfolded!

There was no earthshaking explosion, no energy overflow.

That mysterious black palm seemed to transform into a bottomless black hole, an ultimate furnace!

"Great Dao Furnace!"

Xu Ran silently incanted, activating the new ability of his right arm.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

That indestructible king’s remains imbued with Burning Fire Realm Law began to melt visibly beneath Xu Ran’s palm like ice and snow under a scorching sun!

It did not turn into powder but was decomposed and refined into streams of the most primal, pure flowing light, all of which were swallowed by that mysterious black arm!

The Law of Death’s imprint wailed and struggled but was nonetheless forcefully disassembled and ground by an even more domineering, primal "Gui Xu" power, transformed into the most original "pieces of the Dao".

The entire process was eerily quiet.

Yet this silence was more shocking and terrifying than any roar or explosion!

The previously shouting ’Tyrant’, suddenly, its dark red Soul Fire froze. It could clearly feel the Burning Fire Realm Law it so intensely desired and feared within the king’s remains being "erased" in a way it utterly couldn’t comprehend!

This was not destruction but..."Unity"! A return to the primal state at the world’s inception!

What terrifying power was this?!

In just a few breaths, the hill-sized king’s remains completely vanished.

Xu Ran slowly withdrew his hand.

Suspended in his palm was a fist-sized, softly luminescent milky-white energy cluster. This was the "Bone Essence", refined to its utmost purity by the "Great Dao Furnace".

At the center of the energy cluster was a wisp of nearly invisible black breath, the purified "Fragment of the Death Dao".

Every skeleton being present could feel the madness in their Soul Fire. They sensed that the energy contained within this cluster was a supreme creation capable of propelling any one of them into a leap in their life’s level!

Xu Ran’s gaze finally settled on the ’Tyrant’.

"Do you crave strength?"

The ’Tyrant’s will core shuddered violently.

In the next instant, Xu Ran flicked his finger.

Whoosh!

The pure source energy cluster, along with that wisp of the Death Dao Fragment, transformed into a stream of light, instantly merging into the ’Tyrant’s massive body!

"Roar—!"

The ’Tyrant’ let out a roar interwoven with agony and ecstasy.

An irresistible massive energy exploded within it. Its lead-gray bones shattered inch by inch, and under the refining of purer essence, they instantly reformed!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Its bones metamorphosed into jade at a miraculous pace! And that wisp of the Death Dao Fragment was like a key, opening for it a doorway to a whole new world!

Boom!

A blaze of dark red flame suddenly rose from its skull!

Soul Fire!

The mark of the Burning Fire Realm!

Under the stunned gaze of countless skeleton beings, the ’Tyrant’, in just this brief moment, crossed the chasm from Bone Forging Realm Perfection to step into the Burning Fire Realm coveted by countless lives!

Though just entered, its aura unstable, it undeniably held the power of the Burning Fire Realm!

Deathly silence enveloped the scene.

All skeletons stood in stupefaction at the ’Tyrant’ with soaring aura, then turned their gaze to the figure beneath the giant bone who had withdrawn his hand.

Fear!

An unprecedented fear gripped each wisp of their Soul Fire!

To kill a Burning Fire Realm king with a single punch represents supreme destructive force.

And to create a new Burning Fire Realm in the blink of an eye...

Signifies...Creation god-like authority!

He not only can strip you of power, but also bestow it upon you! In this domain where devouring and evolving is the sole creed, such power more than any slaughter makes one submit!

"Thud!"

The ’Tyrant’, with its aura finally stabilizing, had its two blood moon-like Soul Fires completely replaced by reverence and fervor. Its towering body heavily kneeled on one knee, head deeply bowed.

"Tyrant...greets Master of Dragon Elephant!"

"My lord’s strength, unparalleled through ages! I am willing to be my lord’s spear, breaking through thorns, fighting till death!"

Its submission came from the heart. For it saw a path to heaven it had never dared even dream of!

"Greetings, Master of Dragon Elephant!"

"We are willing to die for our lord!"

A tsunami of submission finally sounded. This time there was no doubt or defiance, only pure fervor and worship.