Fuzhang continued, "The reason I've been able to survive so long isn't because I'm any stronger than the other great lords, but because I'm more cautious."
Luohou lowered his head. "Yes, I understand, Master!"
Fuzhang nodded. "Qiantuo, greet the inhabitants of this world. We xuluo need to be polite, respectful guests."
"Yes, Master!"
Qiantuo stepped forward and shouted, "You inhabitants of the world, listen up! You've been surrounded by the xuluo, so if you don't want to die, surrender immediately! King of this world, if you surrender now and hand over your world's energy immediately, I'll consider allowing you to live on!"
Qiantuo's shout caused an impact like a tsunami broaching the shore. Lightning crackled over the skies of the Zongming world, and the sound wave enveloped it entirely. If the lightning were to strike, it felt as though the Zongming world would be pierced through.
Li Zongming had noticed the unwelcome guests the moment they arrived at the scene. Before the lightning could strike the barrier surrounding the Zongming world, he stepped forward and out beyond its boundaries.
Six-colored light surrounded him and morphed into a solid shield that stopped the lightning cold.
At the same time, he sent a request for assistance to Zhang Lie, who was currently investigating Red Comet's growth.
Red Comet had been given a boost during the evolution of the world, and its carapace had taken on a golden sheen as a result. Its attributes had improved dramatically, and it gave Zhang Lie a hint as to what lay beyond disaster-grade.
If Red Comet were able to advance into a post-disaster-grade lifeform, then Zhang Lie could very well obtain even more advanced gene fragments.
"The evolution of the world simply provided an opportunity for Red Comet to consolidate its experience. Genetic lifeforms need to fight and gain experience through combat in order to grow—there's no way around it."
Red Comet had participated in all manner of battles during its travels with Zhang Lie, giving it the means to take advantage of the opportunity. Otherwise, it might have taken Red Comet many more years to advance.
"It's time to start planning out a post-disaster-grade farm..."
Just then, Zhang Lie sensed a disturbance that spread across the world, followed by an urgent communication from Li Zongming.
"Something's wrong! The xuluo are back, and they're right outside the world's boundaries!"
Zhang Lie had expected that the xuluo wouldn't be willing to give up on a rare prize like this recently ascended superior world. He was right about to head out when Red Comet pointed at itself.
Zhang Lie understood its intent. "You want to participate, too?"
Red Comet nodded. It too understood the need to gain experience to unlock its true potential and ascend into a higher form of life.
"In that case, let's go together."
Beyond the boundaries of the world, Li Zongming was panting as he tried to defend against Qiantuo's attack.
Qiantuo sneered. "So you're the king of the world that killed Pozhi? You don't look like anything exceptional—hardly comparable to the ancient superior kings."
Qiantuo's speech was interspersed with crackling lightning. Li Zongming hurriedly manipulated the world's energy into a screen that could defend against those attacks. contemporary romance
Fuzhang said, "Pozhi arrived at this world during the merger process. This king didn't participate in the battle; it's clear that what killed Pozhi wasn't the king himself, but rather something unique about this world."
Qiantuo yelled out, "King of this world, you have no hope of taking down three xuluo lords on your own. Hand over the world's energy, and we'll allow a fraction of your citizens to leave."
Li Zongming called back, "I, Li Zongming, am not so cowardly as to take such an offer! Don't think that you're superior to us just because you're from an ancient superior world. Even if I have to die, I'll take pieces of you with me!"
"You overestimate your own abilities, fool!" Luohou cried out. The suns and moons he carried in his four arms shot out blinding rays of light straight at Li Zongming.
Qiantuo roared. His sound waves combined with crackling lightning and Luohou's attack into a devastating strength that could annihilate the world.
Li Zongming's eyes widened. He was confident he would be able to block the blow, but there was no chance at all that he would be able to shield the entire world as well. Just as he was at a loss, space shattered around him, forming a black hole. A fish rushed out of it, sending a huge wave soaring into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging into the air.
Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The waves roared through space like galloping steeds, like a rampaging sea, interfering with the xuluo lords' attack and dissipating it in an explosion of energy that sent the xuluo fighters flying away. The only ones who withstood the force of the explosion were the three great lords of the xuluo.
By then, clouds had gathered over the skies of the Zongming world. Flashes of light could be seen over the horizon. The disaster-grade five-colored dragon and Li Zongming's sunbird, sensing something amiss, flew toward where the battle was taking place.
Zhang Lie's pale-blue waves rippled with spatial fluctuations. They devoured the beams of light, sound waves, and lightning that the xuluo lords shot his way, growing into a tsunami that threatened to wipe out the entire xuluo army.
Fuzhang made his move then. His pitch-black palms grew larger and wider, until they were the size of the entire Zongming world. They covered the entire battlefield like a wall, shielding the xuluo behind from all harm.
The palms emitted an unusual suction force that absorbed the pale-blue genetic energy entirely.
Fuzhang took a deep breath, and his palms shrunk to their usual size. Clasping them behind his back, he commented, "You must be the one who killed Pozhi."
Zhang Lie and Red Comet stepped out from the black hole from which they had teleported to the scene. Before him were three massive xuluo, each the size of the Zongming world.
Zhang Lie laughed. "The xuluo sent three of their great lords over—they truly think highly of us, don't they?"
"Zhang Lie, you're here!" Li Zongming breathed a sigh of relief, as though Zhang Lie were his savior—and indeed, he was.
Zhang Lie asked, "Can you take on one of them, father-in-law?"
"If it's only to delay them, certainly..."
"Very well. Red Comet, you'll deal with the one with four arms. I'll deal with this one with big palms. Father-in-law, you'll handle the last one! We'll deal with this rabble quickly. I'm planning on having dinner with Qianqian, after all..."
done.co