Chapter 278 - 275: Ultraman vs. Espers

Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Ultraman vs. Espers

A hundred miles from the ruins of Guiyun Peak.

Near the pillar of fire formed by the antimatter annihilation, leaking embers drifted like a rain of scarlet stars, a phenomenon that had persisted for days.

The Martial Artists who had survived the cataclysm wore expressions of unprecedented fear.

Xiang Hongtu’s bulging muscles were covered in black cracks, like cooled lava, and the right arm he used to punch hung limply at his side.

His left arm and right ankle were completely gone. The stumps were charred black, and it looked as if he had shed a layer of skin.

His imperial crown and black dragon robe had long since been reduced to ash in that torrent of energy.

This hegemon, who could split the heavens with his fists, had withstood a Fifth Turn-level attack with his physical body and was now in a more wretched state than ever before.

But these were merely superficial wounds.

With the regenerative abilities of most Fourth Turn experts,

as long as they weren’t killed instantly or had the enemy’s Heart Image will lingering in their wounds, they could recover within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

But they were in the middle of a battle. The time it took for an incense stick to burn was far too long, and fighting with such injuries was a major handicap.

Aside from Xiang Hongtu, the other Martial Artists at the scene were basically unharmed.

The golden-haired Fourth Turn youth was not only unscathed himself, but had also managed to easily bring a Third Turn Martial Artist out with him.

The Fourth Turn from the Land of Blaze was massive, his fifty-meter-tall body lacking a normal human face.

His exposed skin actually had a metallic, tri-color paint job of red and silver.

A prismatic crystal on his chest was glowing brightly, and his eyes had become two lamps emitting a warm yellow light.

Meanwhile, the elder from the Chess Pavilion and Yan Chqing had also escaped the antimatter wave together, seemingly without serious injury.

Ji Donglai, Fang Can, and the others wore grave expressions. They knew the main event was about to begin.

Even though they had eliminated fourteen Fourth Turn experts at once, it would be difficult to get such a perfect opportunity in the fights to come.

They had studied intel on these Fourth Turn experts, but these Fourth Turn experts had also been studying them.

This time, thanks to the Chronicler’s "Under Everyone’s Watchful Eyes" Profound Secret, they had managed to kill a few extra Fourth Turn experts.

But now, their methods would be revealed one by one to all the nations in the upcoming battles.

After this battle, they would indeed be world-famous, but they also had to be wary of retaliation from the dozen or so remaining Fourth Turn experts.

Without the information advantage, people with superpowers like them were extremely easy to counter.

"Boss Ji, how much GDP reserve do you have left?" Fang Can asked in Ji Donglai’s mind through their mental network.

"Since we’re fighting abroad this time without our home-turf advantage, I converted all the GDP reserves into foreign currency."

"I have about three quadrillion in GDP value left. If I use it all up, it’s gone for good unless I go back to the New Country to recover."

Ji Donglai felt a pang of regret. The New Country had been founded for over a hundred years, and even though its GDP grew rapidly every year,

there were also countless expenses. This money was his hard-earned family savings.

Fang Can did a quick calculation. With the 15x enhancement from the copied "God-Man" ability, courtesy of the King of Hacks, Ji Donglai could wield a total of about 45 quadrillion in purchasing power.

This purchasing power could only be described as barely adequate.

’Because you can’t possibly spend all that money in a single fight, can you?’

’Would one battle wipe out the hundred-year foundation Ji Donglai has built?’

’Who would tank the damage from the other Fourth Turn experts who might chase them down after watching the live broadcast?’

Those Fourth Turn experts weren’t idiots. Seeing how powerful he was, they would definitely choose to stick together.

Therefore, they had to be meticulous and use the most frugal tactics possible to ensure this battle didn’t go over budget.

Besides, the effectiveness of pure brute force was becoming limited.

The fact that they could survive the raw damage values of that antimatter explosion meant this group of Fourth Turn experts had some special mechanics at play.

Ji Donglai’s power, which dealt purely in numerical damage, was subject to diminishing returns.

"What if... we just run?"

The King of Willpower suggested hesitantly. "These few Fourth Turn experts are definitely among the best in their Realm. There’s no need to clash with them head-on."

"No. We have to kill them all now while they’re isolated and helpless."

Ji Donglai insisted, "Otherwise, when they gather with the other Fourth Turn experts, their threat will multiply the next time we meet."

Since Ji Donglai, the primary backer, was insistent, the others could only agree. They would have to fight first.

The group formulated a strategy in a flash of an instant over the mental network, only to be interrupted by a furious roar.

"CHYA—!" *You are utterly despicable, to launch a sneak attack!*

The Fourth Turn from the Land of Blaze glared with furious lightbulb-eyes, letting out an indescribable cry of accusation.

But under the influence of his emanating Heart Image, the meaning of the sound transcended language, allowing everyone present to understand it.

A mocking expression on his face, Ji Donglai retorted through the Heart Image projected by Fang Can:

"When did I ever launch a sneak attack? I told you in advance I was going to eliminate half of you."

"So, how do you like my ’Heaven and Earth Share One Lifespan’ technique? Pretty effective, right?"

"HA—!" *Despicable superpower user! I, Red Fire, will kill you to avenge my comrades!*

As the Fourth Turn, Red Fire, roared, a Heart Image message from Xiang Hongtu entered his mind.

"Brother Red Fire, if I recall, the transformations of your Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator lineage don’t last long. Stall that man for a moment for me, and I will come help you right after."

"HYA—!" *No problem!*

With a sky-shaking roar, Red Fire’s body, transformed into the Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator, immediately sprang into action.

The mountain-like, fifty-plus-meter-tall behemoth now moved like a rocket.

A colossal sonic boom, powerful enough to shatter mountains, echoed through the air.

The giant’s body, weighing tens of thousands of tons, actually defied gravity and levitated, then charged toward Ji Donglai at a speed far exceeding that of sound.

Seeing his opponent’s silver body, the intelligence Ji Donglai had gathered instantly flooded his mind.

’A Fourth Turn from the Land of Blaze... a fifty-meter body... this must be the Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator lineage!’

Since ancient times, all Martial Artists who climbed upward have sought to unearth the hidden power within their bodies!

To become higher! Faster! Stronger!

After the Heaven-Ascending Road, Martial Artists have tried nearly every path.

After countless years of exploration, these Martial Artists have roughly figured out the mechanics of their "humanoid wishing machine" bodies.

Though called a "wishing machine," it is in practice a Human Body Refining Array that operates on equivalent exchange!

To obtain greater power, one must pay a corresponding price.

The more demanding the conditions and the more outrageous the ability’s requirements, the greater the power it unleashes.

Thus, the Martial Artists of the Land of Blaze lineage were born!

To gain sufficient power during battle, they chose transformation!

After the Heaven-Ascending Road, these Martial Artists choose to sacrifice everything they have gained through their training!

This sacrifice includes all their power, speed, regenerative ability, and even their cognitive functions as Martial Artists, all to create a terrifying transformation device!

When not transformed, their bodies are those of completely ordinary people.

All the power from the Heaven-Ascending Road is stored within the transformation device.

According to the legends passed down through the generations in the Land of Blaze, the transformation device stores the power of a Martial Artist’s Eight Sects, which can only be unlocked in times of true need.

Once the restrictions are released, they can gain terrifying power dozens of times greater than their original strength!

Among them, the transformation device for the "Super-Energy Meter" lineage is a green watch worn on the arm, allowing them to transform into various Exotic Beasts from fantasy!

To pass down this legacy, they even recorded all these Exotic Beasts in a book.

Because these Exotic Beasts could move mountains and fill seas, and possessed strange and unpredictable abilities, this record was named—the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*!

As for the Masked Squad, their transformation devices are belts of various colors.

After transforming, they materialize suits of different colors, and their finishing Profound Secret is a rider kick named Ye Kai!

This lineage often operates in groups. When five members of the same rank with different colored suits gather, they can even summon a giant Mecha!

And finally, the transformation device of the Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator lineage is the Divine Light Rod, which comes in various forms!

With the help of a Divine Light Rod, they can transform into giants tens of meters tall.

Furthermore, they are limited to a three-minute transformation time, after which they need at least 12 *shichen* of rest before they can transform again!

As these thoughts passed through Ji Donglai’s mind, related images surfaced in the minds of nearly every spectator watching the battle!

Yes, the Chronicler was still at work!

Watching the silver giant on the screen, a Martial Artist exclaimed in surprise, "To think there’s a Fourth Turn expert who’s just an ordinary person most of the time."

"Hey! If the power of these Martial Artists from the Land of Blaze is stored in their transformation devices, doesn’t that mean I can have the power of a Fourth Turn if I steal one?" greed sparked in another Martial Artist’s heart.

"Go for it, Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator! You have to avenge your comrades!" This was the cry of the citizens of the Land of Blaze!

Unfortunately, the Chronicler’s current ability was limited to a "top-ten list" style broadcast; it couldn’t incorporate a live comment feed.

The thoughts of the masses could not yet converge and communicate.

Otherwise, with the cheering of the Land of Blaze, the Giant Mountain Super Power Dominator would surely be even more motivated.

Back at the scene, with a scream from the atmosphere itself, the terrifying figure of the Super Dominator appeared before Ji Donglai.

A fist the size of a building was already swinging toward the man.

As the number in his bank account shrank, Ji Donglai’s neural responses were boosted to a level where he could react effortlessly in battle.

Watching the terrifying fist that tore through the air, powerful enough to pierce a mountain peak, Ji Donglai stood motionless, a look of contempt in his eyes.

’Money makes the world go round. Raw numbers are nothing to fear!’

In an instant, Ji Donglai paid for a teleport, appearing behind the Super Dominator and slamming his right fist toward the back of its neck.

"CHYA—!" *It’s useless!*

As the message was conveyed through its Heart Image, the Super Dominator blocked Ji Donglai’s fist with an unnatural, anti-joint movement.

This enormous transformed body was an ultimate weapon, built for combat.

Its internal structure was composed of pure, high-density energy; it had no such things as human joints.

Therefore, just like a T-1000, it could withstand any blow from any direction!

But then, the light in the Super Dominator’s eyes flickered. It felt that Ji Donglai’s punch had been surprisingly light.

When it turned its head, it saw a black sphere appearing on its arm, and Ji Donglai was already gone.

Yes, that spherical little thing was called an "Antimatter Bomb"!

"CHYA—!" *Despicable!!!*