Among the many martial arts possessed by the Supreme Heavenly Demon, there was one technique that Ryu Ryeon frequently used in his attacks. This technique involved channeling his own energy into a strike, turning the target into a medium through which the energy could flow. Once the energy source was severed, the energy remaining inside the target would linger for a few moments before detonating, injuring the opponent from the inside. This technique was known as Zeroth Heaven.
Within the Sakti Forbidden Realm, it was widely believed that only users of Ether Skills could manipulate their energy. However, the truth was a bit more nuanced. Any energy released outside the body would rapidly disperse. This meant that most mages, martial artists, or similar practitioners were rendered powerless within the realm.
For instance, if a mage like Ballack focused his spell into a single point, say, forming a fireball using 50% of his massive mana reserves there would still be a split-second delay before the magic dispersed into nothingness once it left his body.
This meant that as long as you had enough energy, it was technically possible to use magic outside the body. And if you could channel energy outside, even for just a fraction of a second, then Zeroth Heaven could be used.
And that was exactly what I planned to do to destroy the formation crystal of this realm.
I stood silently before the crystal. No defensive posture. No offensive stance. Just one hand slowly rising, palm wide open like I was welcoming the rain.
But behind that calm exterior, dense energy was gathering at fine points along my arm right at the edge of my mana veins. Starting from my heart, flowing through my shoulder, down my elbow, and settling into the palm of my hand. My fingers stretched open, gauging an invisible distance between me and the target.
10% mana didn't feel sufficient.
40% still wasn't enough.
So I channeled 70% of my mana, focusing it on the same point again and again.
Then… I clenched my fist.
At first glance, it looked like an ordinary motion, a palm closing into a fist. But for those who understood… it was more than that. It was a trigger.
In the blink of an eye, all the gathered energy detonated at a single point surging like lightning from my shoulder down to my knuckles.
"Zeroth Heaven," I whispered softly, like a prayer.
There was no dramatic swing. No forward motion. My punch only moved an inch if that. And yet… nothing happened. Absolutely nothing.
Under normal conditions, if I performed this technique outside the realm, the air around my punch would split with a sound like a whip crack echoing in silence. If it hit directly, I was confident even Blackbeard's blackhole layered armor wouldn't be enough to stop it. It would pierce through and wound him outright.
But this time, nothing happened.
And yet I had achieved my goal.
The energy from my punch had made it into the crystal. And then
BOOOOM.
**
The crystal shattered instantly from within, shocking everyone.
The monster guards nearby were stunned. What they were assigned to protect had just exploded.
On another front, Tianluo, Mei, and Elder Sanghyuk had arrived just in time to witness what I'd done. Their expressions were full of disbelief.
Elsewhere, the Jiang family members watched in awe as the ceiling of the Sakti Forbidden Realm cracked and began to crumble.
*
Realizing the formation crystal had been destroyed, the boss monster instantly charged at me. But whether it was due to sheer luck or something else, the moment the crystal formation was destroyed, the realm's mana restrictions vanished as well, even before the realm itself collapsed.
So when the monster stood before me
it instantly froze solid.
"Ice Magic, Absolute Zero," I muttered calmly, facing the frozen beast.
Without urgency, I raised my left hand and prepared another Zeroth Heaven, this time using significantly less energy.
BAMM.
The ice block containing the monster shattered on impact. The internal force of the explosion not only destroyed the block but also reduced the monster to shards of ice.
"Mm-hmm. As I thought, once mana flows normally, this technique is incredibly energy-efficient," I said, nodding to myself.
**
"Hey, Gai. Nice work. I figured there'd be a formation crystal on your end too," said Tianluo, suddenly appearing with Mei and Elder Sanghyuk in tow.
Due to the Forbidden Realm's effects, my perception had been dulled compared to when I could fully use my mana. But judging from how synchronized their arrival was, they must've been observing me for some time.
Wait… if they had time to come here, watch, and gather like this doesn't that mean I was the last one to defeat the boss on my part?
From their expressions and the way they chatted, it was clear that all three other directions had formation crystals too.
(Wow… pretty pathetic for someone with the title "Honorary Grand Elder of the Jiang Family." Not to mention I was slower than her?)
I thought to myself, glancing at Yuemei as she casually chatted with the Grand Elder.
Noticing my gaze, Mei looked over and smiled, raising her right hand. In it was something resembling a gun.
"I'm an Ether Skill user too, so it made sense for me to help destroy one of the formation eyes," she said cheerfully.
"Mhm, you're right," I replied, nodding and smiling in return though I couldn't shake the strange feeling inside.
Thank goodness Kagura isn't here, I thought.
*
Soon after, the Sakti Forbidden Realm crumbled entirely, and we returned to the coronation hall of the Jiang residence.
Uninjured members of the Jiang family began regrouping while the wounded were taken away for treatment.
At the center of the hall, a man knelt with a sword aimed at his neck. Standing before him were Patriarch Jiang and the other elders, all staring at him with expressions of disgust.
"Why did you do it, Qinsheng!?" Patriarch Jiang demanded.
"Haha… why?" Qinsheng's lips curled in disdain. "Because I hate all of you. Every last one."
"But you're also a member of the Jiang family. What do you mean by hating your own kin?"
"A member… right. I'm a bastard child sold off in a political marriage to boost the family's reputation. And you think I'd be okay with that!? Hah, idiots."
"Weren't you the one who chose to marry into the Xiao family?"
"Yeah, I did. Because that gave me a chance… a chance to wipe you all out."
Patriarch Jiang was well aware of the tension between the Jiang and Xiao families. But thanks to General Lin Feng's leadership in Yinzhou Penglai, an all-out war had been avoided. The two families still maintained diplomatic ties.
"Was Xiao Fanquang involved in your plan?" the patriarch asked, trying to confirm.
Qinsheng remained silent. He held no absolute loyalty to the Xiao family, his sole goal was to destroy the Jiang family.
At this moment, all he could think about was surviving, he'd figure out the rest later.
Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a strange energy surged from within his body. Sensing the danger, Qinsheng quickly tried to regulate his breath and suppress it using his qi. But it was like a child trying to wrestle an adult.
His dantian shattered.
The energy inside him rampaged, wreaking havoc throughout his body. Blood began to pour from his mouth, nose, eyes, and finally every pore.
And when that happens to a living being… only death awaits.
Everyone stood frozen in shock.
Even Tianluo, Yuemei, and Grand Elder Sanghyuk stood frozen. They whispered to one another, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"Could it be that Xiao Fanquang had something to do with this? Qinsheng began to break down just as he was about to answer the patriarch," one elder theorized.
"The odds are high. But why choose this timing? If it's like this, it's as good as Fanquang declaring himself the mastermind," the patriarch replied.
Among all the shocked faces, only Gaia was smiling.
His eyes hidden beneath shadows, his expression far from surprised instead, it was one of satisfaction.
Without acknowledging anyone around him, Gaia calmly walked away, unnoticed by Tianluo and the others humming softly as he vanished from the scene.