Facing a cultivator at the Core Condensation Realm, Zhang Fan dared not be careless. He immediately mobilized all the spiritual energy within his body and unleashed an incomparably fierce move from the Thirty-Six Forms of the War Emperor.
"Myriad Fist!"
Zhang Fan held nothing back with this punch. The moment the Myriad Fist was unleashed, the immense, domineering force of the punch caused the grand hall itself to tremble. A lesser structure would have long since collapsed under such a powerful aura and oppressive pressure.
However, this grand hall was the Vatican's stronghold, currently enveloped by the white-robed Pope's domain of light, which blocked the oppressive aura emanating from Zhang Fan.
Although Zhang Fan had mobilized his entire spiritual energy, he was still under the shroud of the white-robed Pope's domain. He could only draw upon a very limited amount of heavenly power, preventing his punch from reaching its peak.
Even so, as Zhang Fan's punch shot out, the domain of light was filled with a dominating fist intent.
A colossal fist print, condensed from abundant spiritual energy, shone brighter than the white-robed Pope's domain of light. It erupted from Zhang Fan's fist and palm, traveling at speeds far exceeding sound, directly towards the Pope who stood suspended in mid-air.
The white-robed Pope seemed unfazed by Zhang Fan's immediate attack. He smiled warmly and clasped his hands together gently…
*Swish.*
The power of light converged like flowing water, rapidly forming a tangible spear before him. The spear was entirely silver-white, radiating a holy glow, like a revered sacred artifact, devoid of any sense of threat.
"Go!"
The white-robed Pope uttered a soft word. The silver-white spear, like a sacred artifact, came alive as if receiving a command and shot out with incredible speed.
Though it seemed to happen slowly, in less than a second after Zhang Fan unleashed his fist print, the silver-white spear collided with the brilliant fist print above the hall.
The two forces, compressed to their limits and containing destructive energy, collided with a deafening roar, akin to a missile explosion.
Intense residual energy waves spread outwards from the point of impact, striking the surrounding walls.
On the four sides of the hall, in addition to the statue of the Pope in the center, there were four large white statues. As the residual energy waves impacted the walls, these four white statues emitted bursts of holy light, deflecting the energy waves.
Zhang Fan tapped his foot lightly three times in mid-air before stabilizing his stance.
Gazing at the white-robed Pope, who remained unaffected as his robes fluttered in the wind, Zhang Fan's eyes narrowed slightly.
The reason he had attacked with absolute force was not only to gauge the Pope's strength but also to use the impact of these residual energy waves to probe for any other hidden arrangements within the hall.
Despite being extremely well-hidden, Zhang Fan, with his divine sense comparable to a Golden Core stage cultivator, detected an unusual fluctuation.
"In less than two years, Master Zhang's strength has actually improved to this extent. Such talent truly astonishes this Emperor," the white-robed Pope said softly, his bright, gentle eyes fixed on Zhang Fan, his robes billowing.
Previously, he had dispatched a divine sense clone to China to reclaim a treasure belonging to their Vatican. He never expected that Master Zhang's strength would already rival a mid-stage Divine Realm cultivator, no weaker than his divine sense clone.
Furthermore, he had laid down countermeasures in advance, severely wounding his divine sense clone.
But the next time he heard news of Zhang Fan, the latter had already possessed the strength of a peak Divine Realm cultivator. Now, after their brief confrontation, he found Zhang Fan's combat power had reached the threshold of the Earth Immortal realm.
Even with his experience and state of mind, he was profoundly shocked by such a rate of progress.
Zhang Fan also stared at the Pope, whose face was serene, remaining silent. In his heart, he was calculating the probability of killing this white-robed Pope here with his current capabilities.
Seeing Zhang Fan's silence, the white-robed Pope spoke again, "Legend has it that Master Zhang was unknown and unremarkable before the age of seventeen, but at the age of eighteen, he gained renown by killing two Innate Grandmasters from China's Bajiquan sect, showcasing his peerless Grandmaster strength. The moniker 'Young Grandmaster' spread throughout China's martial arts circles."
"Since then, he has advanced steadily, defeating China's once-in-a-century sword prodigy, the Long-Browed Sword God, with his swordsmanship. He then dueled with the Pill Ancestor of the Pill God Pavilion, who had entered the Divine Realm, initiating China's first divine battle in nearly a century and killing him."
"After killing the Pill Ancestor, Master Zhang also unsealed an immortal's cave dwelling that had remained unopened in China for over a hundred years, obtaining an immortal's inheritance. Furthermore, on China's Kunlong Mountain, he slaughtered four ancient Chinese Divine Realm cultivators, shaking the entire Chinese martial arts world."
"From then on, Master Zhang was deservedly hailed as the Supreme Master of the Chinese martial arts world, known as China's strongest expert."
The white-robed Pope seemed to know him better than Zhang Fan's own parents, listing his life's achievements one by one. Among them, his duel with the Long-Browed Sword God was a hidden battle, known only to a select few in China.
"Do you think my account is comprehensive?" the white-robed Pope asked with a warm smile, his gentle eyes fixed on Zhang Fan.
"What do you want to say?"
Zhang Fan was not surprised that the white-robed Pope had investigated him. However, he was puzzled as to why the Pope was speaking so much nonsense now. What was his intention?
"Actually, the injuries Master Zhang inflicted upon me were completely healed a year ago by using our Vatican's supreme treasure. I have also successfully advanced to the Earth Immortal realm."
"Does Master Zhang know why I didn't come to China to seek you after entering the Earth Immortal realm?" the white-robed Pope inquired.
"A year ago..."
Zhang Fan recalled carefully. If the white-robed Pope had indeed entered the Earth Immortal realm a year ago and had come seeking him, with his strength at that time, he would likely have been unable to resist.
"Because you knew I would come looking for you?" Zhang Fan asked curiously.
"That is only one reason."
"Another reason is that I spent this past year cultivating a unique soul secret art of our Vatican."
"Soul Extraction Art!"
"This art can forcefully extract the souls of living beings and probe their secrets."
"Regarding Master Zhang's rapid growth and proficiency in various skills—formations, alchemy, artifact refining—it seems there are no skills that Master Zhang is not proficient in. If you were to say that all of this was achieved through your own cultivation, I believe even Master Zhang himself would not believe it."
"While Origin Crystals are indeed important to our Vatican, I believe that if we could extract Master Zhang's soul and probe its secrets, it would be of even greater help to our Vatican's development."
At this moment, Zhang Fan finally understood the white-robed Pope's intention. The Pope believed he had obtained the memories and inheritance of a powerful being, which was why his strength had improved so rapidly.
Although the white-robed Pope's conjecture differed slightly from the actual situation, it was not far off.
This was because Zhang Fan's inheritance came from his future self, who would roam the star-filled void and battle against the heavens.
…