Chapter 58: The Power of Permanence

[A might far grander than that of an Emanator erupted from you.]

[Without so much as a gesture, the towering Divine Fist—Lord Ravager—was struck as if by an invisible blow to the head, its colossal form staggering back a dozen steps before barely steadying itself.]

[The Vidyadhara were most familiar with this presence.]

[This was unmistakably the aura of the long-fallen Permanence Dragon!]

[Its effect on the Vidyadhara was especially pronounced.]

[Dan Heng's Draconic Abundance powers activated instantly. Azure waves swirled around him as draconic horns and a tail manifested—yet in the next second, he was forced to one knee, immobilized under the crushing weight of this kindred force.]

[Bailu, too, was pressed down, clutching her head as she crouched low.]

[The other Vidyadhara fared even worse. Like a mountain bearing down upon them, this power left no room for resistance—whether they were Elders, Pearlkeepers, or ordinary clansmen, all were forced prostrate.]

[The Path of Permanence held absolute dominance over the Vidyadhara.]

[Only Lingsha remained standing, stubbornly enduring the pressure even as blood trickled from her lips. She refused to fall, her gaze locked onto you in midair.]

[Your eyes swept past her indifferently, settling instead on Jing Yuan.]

["Still eager to fight? I wouldn't mind stretching my limbs."]

["I'll pass. These old bones still have retirement to look forward to." Jing Yuan replied with a strained laugh.]

[Repelling the Divine Fist with sheer presence alone—since when was that something an ordinary Emanator could do?]

[Unlike Jing Yuan's wariness, the Vidyadhara Elders and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were ecstatic.]

[At first, they had resisted being controlled through poison. But under your carrot-and-stick rule, they had been thoroughly subdued.]

[At their core, they worshipped strength. The more power you displayed, the more their thoughts of rebellion withered away.]

[Suddenly, two streaks of light—one azure, one crimson—streaked across the sky. It was the Cloud Knights' generals: Feixiao the Sky-Shattering and Huaiyan the Abyssal Torch, who had sensed the disturbance in the Scalegorge Waterscape after defeating Huyei.]

[Feixiao took one look at the scene and immediately identified you as the culprit.]

["So you're the mastermind," she snarled.]

[Perhaps due to absorbing Huyei's 'Crimson Moon,' Feixiao seemed unusually aggressive.]

[Veteran Huaiyan, however, noticed more. He could tell Jing Yuan had already clashed with you—and suffered for it. As Feixiao summoned her halberd, poised to strike, he urgently called out.]

["Wait! Don't act rashly!"]

[But Feixiao's blood was up, her mind clouded by the urge to destroy.]

["We'll interrogate him after I take him down!"]

[With that, she shot toward you like a bolt of lightning.]

[The tattoos on her bare back flared to life, glowing with radiant cyan light, further enhancing her already blinding speed.]

[Each general received a different blessing from the Hunt. Jing Yuan's took the form of the Divine Fist, while Feixiao's was Feihuang—the spirit of wind that granted her peerless velocity.]

[As the saying goes: In all martial arts, speed reigns supreme.]

[Under Feihuang's blessing, Feixiao's movements became a blur. Combined with the Crimson Moon's power, her physical prowess now surpassed even the limits of the Foxians.]

[Her combat strength had multiplied severalfold—no ordinary Emanator could hope to match her!]

[She merged her twin blades into a massive halberd, swinging it down at you with devastating force.]

[Countless cyan streaks lanced toward you, each a slash capable of cleaving stars apart.]

[Yet, faced with this cataclysmic onslaught, your expression remained unshaken.]

[What was 'Permanence'? That which neither fades nor perishes—that is Permanence!]

[A golden radiance enveloped you, as though plating your body in divine armor. Upon closer inspection, shimmering draconic scales had emerged across your skin, and a pair of majestic golden horns now crowned your head—symbols of supreme authority.]

Clang! Clang! Clang!

[Feixiao's halberd struck, but all it produced were sparks. Not even your clothing was torn.]

[Instead, a flicker of pain crossed Feixiao's face.]

[When she finally paused, panting, it became clear why: blood was dripping from her hands, seeping down the halberd's shaft.]

[The recoil had split her palms open.]

["Tired already? Need a break?" you 'kindly' offered.]

[To the proud Feixiao, those words were no different from mocking her weakness.]

[Her fury ignited instantly. The skies above the Scalegorge Waterscape—no, the entire ancient sea—darkened. Clear heavens turned storm-wracked in an instant, howling winds raging.]

[Vast amounts of Imaginary energy surged into Feixiao, cloaking her in a cyan aura.]

[A colossal storm formed around you like a prison as Feixiao channeled all its power into her halberd, striking with everything she had.]

Boom—!

[The dull reverberation shook the air.]

[A blow that could split planets in two landed squarely on you—and still, not a scratch marred your form.]

[Feixiao's eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, your draconic hand shot out, seizing the halberd's blade—and with a single crushing motion, snapped it in half.]

[Then, with a kick to her abdomen, you sent her flying like a cannonball into the ruins of the Scalegorge Waterscape.]

["Apologies. Treading over ants without crushing them requires… precision." Your tone was anything but apologetic.]

[Jing Yuan and Huaiyan watched you grimly. After a silent exchange, Huaiyan spoke: "What is your goal?"]

[You swept a hand through your hair, slicking it back into a domineering style.]

["The Vidyadhara throne has sat empty for too long. This intolerable interregnum ends now. From this day forth, I shall stand at the apex."]

[Jing Yuan and Huaiyan's expressions darkened further.]

[Your phrasing was eccentric, but your meaning was clear—and what stunned them more was your ambition.]

[You sought to unite all Vidyadhara across the Xianzhou Alliance under your rule!?]

[Yet the shrewd Jing Yuan wasn't convinced. His instincts warned him: after biding your time for so long, how could your ambitions end there?]