Chapter 705 - 698: Furnace

Chapter 705: Chapter 698: Furnace

’Not bad... that’s some power...’

’To think someone at the same level could actually push me back...’

’Is every random True Realm Life I’m matched with this strong?’

Zhou Yuanjue’s expression turned slightly grim as he slowly lowered the hands he had used to block.

The name Debaka used in the Dream Realm was his real name; he didn’t use his title of Demon. Therefore, although Zhou Yuanjue had some Data on Demons, he had no idea the man before him was the legendary Demon. He simply thought he had been randomly matched with a powerful opponent.

It made him feel that the True Realm was truly full of hidden masters.

Across from him, Demon Debaka was slightly stunned to see Zhou Yuanjue take his blow completely unharmed. But soon, that shock was replaced by intense excitement and a will to fight.

"You... are an opponent worthy of my full strength."

Demon Debaka sent this message to Zhou Yuanjue.

"Is that so? Then let me see what you’ve really got."

A faint smile touched Zhou Yuanjue’s lips upon hearing this.

"That guy?! He’s completely unscathed?"

"He took a direct hit from an attack of that magnitude?"

"Who in the world is he?!"

"..."

The spectators outside the arena broke into an uproar when they saw this, a sense of disbelief washing over them.

"That little guy... he’s actually fine?"

Modin and Si Enli’s faces also showed deep astonishment.

"Could he not be from our batch of candidates from Bernard City? That doesn’t make sense. Is there really someone with this much potential in this group?"

Modin said, puzzled.

"Not one of the Bernard City candidates? But that doesn’t add up. If he wasn’t from this batch, with his level of strength, there’s no way he’d be matched against the Demon in his first fight."

Si Enli found it strange as well.

"Perhaps he’s one of those potential ’seeds’ we overlooked? After all, the civilization potential assessments aren’t always that reliable."

Modin said.

"We’ll have to investigate thoroughly when we get back. The analysis data for the candidates who arrived in the last few days hasn’t come in yet, right?"

Si Enli said.

"Looks like we’re in for a real surprise this time. I wonder how far this kid can go."

Modin said.

"He should be able to force out the Demon’s true strength, but I doubt he can actually win."

Si Enli guessed, since the last blow wasn’t the Demon’s full power.

BOOM!!

Just then, the situation on the battlefield changed once more.

Debaka seemed to instantly increase his power output. The rate at which his many roots, plunged into the void, absorbed power from the True Realm instantly rose to the absolute limit he could withstand.

Just as he said, he would use his greatest strength to defeat Zhou Yuanjue.

THUMP THUMP!! THUMP THUMP!!

Under the massive infusion of Energy, his body began to transform again.

RIIIP!!

His superficial skin was suddenly torn apart by violently bulging muscle tissue, and a new body molted from the old skin.

He stood nearly eight meters tall, his entire body composed of countless, clearly visible black-purple muscle fibers. Each fiber was like a conduit, with shimmering black-purple light flowing within.

In an instant, Debaka seemed to have transformed into a true "Demon."

Demon Form.

He drew upon his body’s maximum potential, pushing the physique that had clawed its way out of Purgatory to its absolute limits.

Speed, power, defense, technique!!

BOOM!!

His figure vanished again in a flash, reappearing before Zhou Yuanjue at an even greater speed.

A rising uppercut slammed into Zhou Yuanjue’s body.

A massive Energy Pillar erupted, the impact launching Zhou Yuanjue into the air.

HSSH!!

Debaka took a sharp, deep breath. Then, his six pairs of eyes—twelve in total—squirmed independently, locking onto every change around Zhou Yuanjue as he violently threw out two massive fists.

Dark Star Explosion!!

Supported by his Talent-enhanced vision and formidable technique, all his attacks converged on a single point on Zhou Yuanjue’s body, all his Power stacking onto that one spot.

Sacred Lotus·Qiluo Rebirth!!

In an instant, Zhou Yuanjue crossed his arms to block in front of his chest again. The Sacred Lotus-shaped Jade Radiance enveloping him intensified as he combined the abilities of Qi Luo and Sacred Lotus, pushing the Energy dissipation rate of his Sacred Lotus Rebirth to its peak.

This was also the strongest defensive stance Zhou Yuanjue currently possessed.

The majority of the Energy from Debaka’s fierce assault was dissipated by Qiluo Rebirth. This relieved the pressure on Zhou Yuanjue’s physical body to the greatest extent, allowing him to withstand the onslaught.

"Hm? This is different from the basic Sacred Lotus form. Has it been modified? It seems to be enhanced in the direction of Defense Power. No wonder he could take Debaka’s attack without a scratch. Interesting."

Modin nodded.

"Still, it won’t be enough to block the Demon’s attacks."

Si Enli shook her head.

Sure enough, under Debaka’s onslaught, with all his power focused on a single point in a continuous barrage, the countless overlapping attacks were too much for even Qiluo Rebirth to completely dissipate.

CRACK!

A crack seemed to appear on the jade-like Sacred Lotus surrounding Zhou Yuanjue, as if it were about to collapse.

However, Zhou Yuanjue wasn’t flustered.

’Hmm... so this is the current limit of Qiluo Rebirth’s Defense Power?’

’Without the replenishment from Energy Crystals, the upper limit is indeed much lower, and its endurance has dropped as well.’

Zhou Yuanjue thought to himself. In the Dream Realm battlefield, the Energy Crystals he had prepared beforehand were unusable. This deprived him of one of his greatest advantages. In reality, with the replenishment from Energy Crystals, he should have had no problem resisting his opponent’s attacks like this for an hour or so.

’As I thought, I’m still not suited for defense.’

Zhou Yuanjue shook his head slightly.

Then, just as everyone thought Zhou Yuanjue’s defense was about to be broken, his body began to change.

THUMP-THUMP!! THUMP-THUMP!! THUMP-THUMP!!

Countless muffled thuds resounded from within his body, as if numerous Energy Cores had begun to operate inside him.

The Sacred Lotus form around him changed simultaneously. Its petals opened slightly, and on the lotus platform, within nine lotus-seed-pod-like structures, nine Lotus Seeds throbbed violently.

Furnace Structure, Nine Great Furnaces, activate!!

VMMMM!!

He felt a boundless, immense power pouring into his body from the Nine Great Furnaces. The instantaneous, forceful release caused this Energy to slightly exceed its limits.

’Let me see just how much Power I have after integrating the Furnace Structure.’

BAM!!

Zhou Yuanjue instantly focused the immense Energy into his arm. It swelled to more than three times its original size, becoming, faintly, as large as the Demon’s fist.

Zhou Yuanjue suddenly dropped his Qiluo Rebirth defense. The jade-like energy gathered at the tip of his fist, and he punched out violently.

Sacred Lotus, Bloom!!

BOOM!!

A tremendous flash of light instantly overwhelmed everyone’s vision.

Modin’s and Si Enli’s pupils contracted instantly.

’He doesn’t just specialize in defense?!’