Volume 1, Chapter 59: Rematch in the Domain!
"Li Hexuan, did you really think that being reborn once would allow you to change everything? You are wrong! The tides of this world are far grander than you can possibly imagine! I have formed a covenant with a 'presence' far greater than you or I, granting me a new life and true power!"
"And you are nothing more than a tiny stumbling block beneath the waves."
As his voice faded, a dense rustling sound echoed through the surrounding mountain forest.
Tall predator warriors stepped out silently from behind trees and rocks. Their numbers were twice as many as those seen in the tribe!
Not only that.
The earth began to tremble slightly.
Massive, ferocious mutant creatures slowly emerged from every exit of the valley.
There were giant mantises with claws like blades, pangolin beasts covered entirely in rocky armor, and even several mutant griffins circling in the air with wingspans exceeding ten meters!
They completely sealed off all paths of retreat for Li Hexuan, Zhang Nan, and Su Mengyi.
This place had turned into an inescapable net, a death trap meticulously prepared for them.
Looking at Li Hexuan, who was completely surrounded and trapped in a hopeless situation, the smile at the corner of Chen Hao's mouth reached its peak.
He slowly raised his hand, resembling a monarch pronouncing a death sentence.
"Today, right here, will be your burial ground."
He swung his arm down abruptly.
"Kill!"
A single word, like the fuse of a gunpowder keg igniting.
"Roar—!"
"Awoo—!"
"Hiss—!"
In an instant, every predator warrior and mutant creature in the valley let out roars that shook the heavens!
The earth shook!
Those hundreds of formidable predator warriors surged forward from the front like a tidal wave!
Dozens of massive mutant creatures cut off all routes of escape from both flanks!
High above in the sky, several mutant griffins emitted piercing cries, circling and locking their sights on the trio!
This was an inescapable net, a web of death meticulously woven by Chen Hao, powerful enough to strangle any king-tier powerhouse!
"Brother Xuan!" Zhang Nan roared, the earthy-yellow light on his massive battleaxe surging violently as he prepared to meet the onslaught.
Su Mengyi's face was deathly pale, but she stood steadfastly behind Li Hexuan, emerald-green life energy already beginning to condense at her fingertips.
Yet, there was not the slightest trace of panic on Li Hexuan's face.
Not even a hint of gravity.
Only coldness, and a bone-deep killing intent.
"Do you really think a mob like this can keep me here?"
Li Hexuan's voice carried an endless chill.
Without a moment's hesitation, the vast lightning energy within his body erupted instantly!
"Thunder Punishment Domain!"
Rumble—!
With him at the center, a deep blue energy barrier expanded violently, instantly enveloping himself, Zhang Nan, and Su Mengyi within it.
Inside the domain, the violent lightning energy acted like wild horses breaking free of their reins, instantly materializing into hundreds of millions of bright silver judgment thunderbolts! They crazily leaped, intertwined, and roared, painting the entire sky above the valley into an ocean of lightning!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Those predator warriors and mutant creatures charging at the very front, closest to him, didn't even have time to scream before they were struck by the indiscriminate lightning within the domain! Their bodies instantly charred in the lightning's glare, turning into puffs of ash that dissolved into the air.
Whether it was the physically formidable predators or the thick-skinned mutant beasts, they were as fragile as paper in front of the judgment thunderbolts. The offensive was forcefully torn apart at this moment, leaving behind a massive blank void!
But this time, Chen Hao had prepared well in advance.
"Heh, the Thunder Punishment Domain? What a pity, I am already sick of your tricks!"
Chen Hao sneered, and the illusory shadows swirling around his body expanded outward aggressively!
"Eternal Night Shroud!"
Hum—!
A darkness even deeper and colder than Li Hexuan's Thunder Punishment Domain spread instantly, centered around Chen Hao!
That darkness was not a mere absence of light; it seemed to possess a life of its own, capable of devouring everything and eroding energy!
Two king-tier domains collided fiercely within this valley!
The bright silver of lightning and the deep black of darkness intertwined and tore at each other in the air, producing a harsh, screeching friction sound!
Rumble—!
The entire western mountainous region trembled violently under this terrifying clash of energies! Boulders shattered, trees toppled, and space itself became extremely unstable, with visible distorted ripples spreading through the air.
"Roar!"
Under the shroud of Chen Hao's "Eternal Night Shroud," those predator warriors and mutant creatures that had previously been suppressed and struggling to breathe within the Thunder Punishment Domain suddenly let out ferocious, roaring cries!
A faint layer of dark shadow surfaced on the surface of their bodies, as if blessed by shadow power. Not only did their resistance to lightning increase dramatically, but their speed and strength were also significantly enhanced! No longer fearing the strikes of lightning, they charged recklessly into the Thunder Punishment Domain, attempting to withstand it with their physical bodies and exhaust Li Hexuan's power!
Chen Hao's "Eternal Night Shroud" focused more on erosion and control, weakening the enemy's strength while buffing his allies. Meanwhile, Li Hexuan's "Thunder Punishment Domain" leaned toward destruction and judgment, focusing purely on lethality.
For a time, the two king-tier domains remained deadlocked, unable to surpass one another.
"Li Hexuan, did you really think you were the only one with a domain?" Chen Hao's voice came from the depths of the eternal night shroud, carrying a mocking tone.
His figure flickered in and out of the darkness like a phantom. Every time he appeared, it was accompanied by a spear formed from pure shadow energy, piercing at a tricky angle straight for Li Hexuan's vital points!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The shadow spears tore through the air with sharp whistles, continuously firing from the darkness.
Li Hexuan maintained his Thunder Punishment Domain while simultaneously dealing with Chen Hao's elusive sneak attacks. Electric arcs danced around his body, shattering the incoming shadow spears one by one.
However, Chen Hao's attack methods were more vicious than before. He no longer relied on simple energy blasts; instead, using his shadow domain, he completely merged into the darkness, with every attack carrying extreme erosive properties in an attempt to disrupt the operation of Li Hexuan's abilities.
"Brother Xuan, he's too cunning!" Zhang Nan shouted anxiously, swinging his battleaxe to knock away several predator warriors who had rushed close.
Su Mengyi was also exerting her utmost to maintain the Hymn of Life, providing continuous recovery and buffs to the two men, but she could sense that Li Hexuan's energy consumption was increasing rapidly.
Li Hexuan's face grew somewhat pale. He knew that relying solely on a war of attrition through domains was unfavorable to him. Chen Hao's domain had an endless supply of predators and mutant beasts to act as cannon fodder, while on his side, there were only three people.