The black ant, compared to its former self, had become considerably more composed. Its dark black armor glinted menacingly under the bloody sun, and tendrils of black demonic energy coiled around its form.
However, what truly shocked Zhang Boduan was the killing intent emanating from the black ant! This intense aura instantly enveloped the entire city!
"Demon Hunter?" Zhang Boduan asked, staring at the black ant in disbelief.
"Zhang Boduan, how dare you scheme against Master behind my back! You deserve to die!" The black ant ignored Zhang Boduan's question. Instead, it swung the steel spike in its hand, pointing it at Zhang Boduan from afar. Its imposing aura surged, and its form transformed into a black streak of light, streaking towards Zhang Boduan.
The air filled with a chilling killing intent, causing everyone kneeling throughout the city to tremble.
As a progenitor of the Southern Sect, Zhang Boduan naturally wouldn't surrender so easily. The moment the black ant disappeared, his figure suddenly shot upwards, his white hair whipping wildly in the wind.
*Boom…*
A muffled roar echoed throughout the arena.
A colossal energy shield intercepted the black ant's attack. The black steel spike struck the energy shield, creating ripples.
"You wish to kill me, yet I can still resist? Are you perhaps too overconfident?" Zhang Boduan's true energy was like a vast fishing net, enveloping him securely.
The black ant wasted no more words. Its entire form suddenly dissolved into a wisp of black gas, passing directly through the layers of true energy and appearing before him. With a swift maneuver, it flashed behind him like lightning!
Before Zhang Boduan could react, the dark steel spike pierced his side.
"Void Demon technique! Cloud Transformation Art! Demon Bloom's Pierce, and Shadow Demon's Shadow Transformation!"
Zhang Boduan clutched his side, ignoring the copious amount of blood flowing out, and stared at the black ant with utter shock.
Who on earth could tell him why this fellow knew more than three demonic cultivation techniques?
What made him feel most powerless was the oppressive aura the black ant exerted on his realm!
"You… you are in the Heavenly Venerate realm?!" Zhang Boduan completely lost his composure!
He had never imagined that Ye Yun's willpower pet would be so formidable! So powerful that he, a cultivator in the Great Ascension realm, had no power to resist!
Heavenly Venerate! It was one rank higher than the Great Ascension realm, and a full two ranks higher than the demon kings, the peak combatants of this planet! And this was the Demon Realm, where the demonic energy affected him, preventing Zhang Boduan from unleashing even eighty percent of his strength!
"As expected of someone who has spent centuries in the Demon Realm. Your eyesight is sharp, but unfortunately, even the best myopia glasses can't save your judgment of people!"
The black ant wasn't one for conversation, yet in one month in the Demon Realm, it had spoken more than in the previous ten days combined!
"That's none of your concern!" Zhang Boduan steadied his mind. Hearing the black ant's taunt, he was enraged once more. As an elder, how could he tolerate being lectured?
"If that's the case, then you may proceed on your way!"
The black ant spoke no further. Its body vanished from its spot.
"Pill Heart Illuminates Ancient Times!"
Blood stained Zhang Boduan's robes, dripping onto the ground. Yet, Zhang Boduan seemed oblivious. Nine golden pills suddenly appeared before him, spinning around him, each erupting with terrifying energy.
"Flashy tricks, what good are they!" The black ant's voice echoed from the void, followed by a massive shockwave that swept from behind Zhang Boduan. Simultaneously, a black silhouette streaked across the sky, heading directly for Zhang Boduan.
"The fourth secret art of the demon race! But what can it do to me?"
"Golden Pill Detonation!"
Zhang Boduan looked at the revealed black ant, his face contorted in madness!
*Boom…*
Two tremendous explosions sounded. Two golden pills, one in front and one behind, detonated like missiles. The immense impact forcefully halted the black ant's advance, but it didn't push the black ant back even a single step.
Zhang Boduan's eyes blazed as he observed the black ant's figure.
"Detonate again!"
*Boom…*
A continuous barrage of six golden pills shot out, detonating twenty meters away from the black ant.
"See if you die!" Zhang Boduan's face broke into a smile. Knowing that the black ant was superior to him in both strength and cultivation, he had prepared for the worst-case scenario: self-detonating his golden pills!
Eight of the nine golden pills self-destructed! Even if the black ant was of a higher level, it would surely meet its end! The consequence for him would be his cultivation dropping from the Great Ascension realm to the True Man realm, his centuries of cultivation reduced to naught. The price was undoubtedly immense.
But it was better than death! He could always retreat to the depths of the Demon Realm for a few more years!
Within the city, tens of thousands of low-level cultivators watched the sudden explosions occurring thousands of meters in the sky, their faces drastically changing.
Although Zhang Boduan commanded supreme authority among them, they also knew that by siding with Zhang Boduan and making an enemy of Ye Yun, they, and even their descendants, would never be able to return to their ancestral land, Blue Star.
Therefore, they watched the battle between the two with a sense of helplessness. Zhao Youqin and Xue Daoguang, standing nearby, wore complex expressions. Most importantly, the black ant's strength had surpassed their ability to intervene.
"Hahaha… Heavenly Venerate? Nothing more than this!" Zhang Boduan looked at the empty expanse of the sky and couldn't help but laugh heartily. To kill a traitor of the human race with the power of the Great Ascension realm was a feat worthy of pride.
"Are you perhaps celebrating too soon?" Suddenly, the tip of a black steel spike pierced through Zhang Boduan's abdomen.
"How could this be…"
"Knowing I possess Shadow Transformation and Clone techniques, you still dared to detonate your golden pills? Are you impatient for death?"
Saliva dripped from the black ant's lips, and a suction force emerged from its mouth. Zhang Boduan instantly felt a sense of detachment, as if all his strength was being drained away, before plunging into an endless darkness.
Watching the corpse fall from the sky, the black ant licked its lips, gazing with a pained expression at the pulpy remains of Zhang Boduan.
Such excellent meat, what a pity! However, the energy absorbed this time had once again strengthened its power.
"Congratulations, Heavenly Venerate, for eliminating a traitor of our human race and restoring clarity to our people!" At this moment, Qiao Er, who had been severely injured by Zhang Boduan, suddenly prostrated himself and shouted, drawing the surprised gazes of those around him.
Damn! I've never seen such shamelessness!
Zhang Junbao, Man Lin, Zhao Youqin, Xue Daoguang, and the kneeling crowd of cultivators stared at Qiao Er, dumbfounded.
"Hmm, you… you are very good! From now on, this place will be managed by you. If you perform well, I will take you as my first disciple!"