I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1820 - 251: One Strike

Chapter 1820: Chapter 251: One Strike

In Cao Lie’s view, as long as he admitted defeat, there was no need for this conflict to continue.

After all, there wasn’t really any deep animosity between him and Tang Luo. Even this time, he had only used his royal thoughts to summon Du Sha from the Beast Taming Sect.

But the final outcome? Du Sha clashed with two Dragon Beasts without a scratch, while Cao Lie lost two precious "Dragon Beasts." The weak had already abandoned pursuing accountability—what need was there for the strong to chase relentlessly?

Cao Lie believed he had thoroughly understood the mindset of these self-proclaimed righteous kings.

They were a group of "good men" who would yield three points even when justified. As long as he expressed his apology well, their anger could be appeased.

Cao Lie was remarkably adept at exploiting the conveniences born from lowering oneself.

After begging for mercy, he offered a step to de-escalate the conflict, the prelude to ending the feud: "Actually, my visit this time is due to being misled by that boy from the An Family. He intended to use the Lin Clan to target you, Sir. While I may be a Human King, I still have to follow the Sect Master’s orders. But I, Lie, hold admiration for you, Sir—how could I truly sever ties? Upon arriving at Red Cloud, I heard news of your wandering. Not daring to disturb others, I sought out a secluded spot to await your presence. I sincerely ask that you let go of any displeasure and generously forgive me."

Though the malicious spectral remnants continued their attacks on the Earth Vein Yellow Dragon, tearing into the golden protective barrier that was now riddled with cracks, Cao Lie could still remain calm and composed, bowing and cupping his hands, as if apologizing to Tang Luo was more important than defending against the aggression and counterforce before him.

In such situations, most rival kings would choose to retreat, and some might even turn hostility into friendship with Cao Lie.

Unfortunately for Cao Lie, this time he encountered Tang Luo. From the moment Tang Luo decided to strike, he had already shredded the option of holding back.

Ignore defending against assaults, and instead bow apologetically, dropping your guard?

If Tang Luo didn’t seize an opening like this, then he would be no Martial Ancestor worth anything!

"Command the departure; return to the Great Thousand!"

Paying no heed to Cao Lie’s smooth rhetoric, Tang Luo sliced apart several spectral remnants pouncing toward him with a single hand and pursued the vulnerability relentlessly.

His silver pupils emanated Divine Light that spiraled outward, unleashing the full force of his mastery over cosmic principles. The Spiritual Dragon that Cao Lie had forcibly extracted from the Earth Vein with his own mastery crumbled instantly, transforming into its purest Primary Qi and dispersing into the Great Thousand World.

Without the Earth Vein Yellow Dragon’s barrier, the malicious spectral remnants rushed uncontested toward the completely unguarded Cao Lie.

The vengeful spirits, their power rivaling the soul-burning strikes of Martial Ancestors, attacked Cao Lie with unmatched fury, as if unleashing all their lifetime resentment in a single instant.

A particularly distorted-faced vengeful spirit sank its teeth into Cao Lie’s shoulder, leaving him utterly stunned. He could not fathom that someone like Tang Luo existed in this world. He had already lowered himself, admitted submission, and even offered excuses—yet the other party still refused to relent. What kind of tyrannical force was this?

In an instant, the Cao Lie King Body was hit by a barrage of vengeful spirits, over ten strikes piercing deep into him. The excruciating pain finally snapped Cao Lie out of his stunned disbelief.

"Sir, isn’t this going too far!?"

With a furious roar, five Flood Dragons spiraled to life from his purple dragon-robe, exuding warmth akin to the thawing sunlight of early spring as they annihilated the spectral remnants lunging toward him.

But this technique, reliant solely on an expenditure of primordial Spiritual Power, was struggling to handle the onslaught of thousands upon thousands of vengeful spirits—not to mention the enigmatic opponent lurking in the distance.

Thus, with venomous bravado masking his inner panic, Cao Lie threatened: "Sir, incessantly forcing my hand—aren’t you afraid I’ll abandon my King Body and fight you to mutual destruction!?"

"A king as enamored with his own body as you—is it even possible for you to muster the notion of true sacrifice?"

Tang Luo chuckled: "Rest assured; I’m not here to kill you. I simply mean to teach you a lesson."

Like calming a temperamental child, Tang Luo spread his hands, and his Dao Realm compressed into a pitch-black sphere no larger than an inch in diameter. That energy, so incongruous to the Great Thousand World, had Cao Lie’s eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

"Cao Lie already acknowledges his mistakes—surely this punishment is excessive!?"

Feeling the palpable danger, Cao Lie shouted.

"You’ve committed no mistake; you’re simply weak."

Reaching out, Tang Luo gripped the pure black Dao Bead. As this realm condensed into his right fist, his five fingers transformed into deep-black voids. With a gentle clench, the Heavenly and Earthly Qi around him shattered in a resounding crack.

The Divine Pupil scanned Cao Lie’s King Body, finally settling on a certain spot.

Advancing steadily, Tang Luo spoke faintly: "To be honest, I don’t care about your research into immortality. But your repeated provocations against Red Cloud truly irritate me. This time, regardless of your words, you must be taught a lesson. In the coming thirty or fifty years, perhaps three to five centuries, I want the sight of me to make your King Body ache, so you’ll carry reverence in your bones."

"You wretch! Arrogant fool!"

Cao Lie snarled angrily: "I am now a vital figure in the Beast Taming Sect’s grand scheme. Should you dare harm my King Body, the Beast Taming Sect will never let this go!"

"Then let them come!"

Tang Luo clenched his fist, face serene: "I’m rather curious to see how remarkable your so-called ’grand scheme,’ sustained by disgusting immortality research, truly is—especially after witnessing what you look like when gravely injured. I wonder if anyone will dare tread west of Longjiang after seeing that!"

The Black Light tore through the heavens, a line of black devouring all brilliance piercing Cao Lie’s King Body.

Flood Dragons perished; Divine Armor shattered. Bound by a mysterious force, Cao Lie could only watch helplessly as the black thread pierced through his body.

The King Body, its resilience comparable to Dao Soldiers, unraveled before the black thread as though it were mere lard—soft and fragile. The void in his torso wasn’t just a crippling wound to his King Body; it also gave the imprisoned souls within him an avenue for escape.

"Ah~~~~!"

The agonized wail tore through the skies—a cry of soul-wrenching pain at the trauma inflicted upon his "true self," a howl of fury for the decades of effort destroyed in an instant.

Above all, there was terror. The King Body was the convergence of all "individual essence" in kings. Unless utterly annihilated, it could always return to its pristine state.

But to fracture this essence required a force of extreme violence, and more often than not, such fracture tore apart but did not annihilate.

For example, some Sword Kings from the Xu Clan could execute sword techniques capable of severing kings’ limbs. Yet such injuries, while visually ghastly, were ultimately superficial.

However, Tang Luo’s strike had completely obliterated a part of him. And what terrified Cao Lie even more was the unknown force that had just locked onto him.

To let a king become mere prey upon the chopping board—what kind of horrifying secret technique and divine ability was this?

Fear consumed Cao Lie. Even though he knew Tang Luo was right behind him, he dared not even curse, instead clutching the hole in his abdomen while wailing in torment.

"Still not leaving? Do you want another hole beside the first one?"

Behind him, Tang Luo’s voice maintained its eerie calm. Yet the casualness and mocking undertones struck Cao Lie like scalding iron, instantly stopping any futile attempts at earning sympathy.

The agony seemed to vanish in an instant. Clutching his chest and abdomen, Cao Lie vanished on the spot, leaving only the rustle of wind and gravel stirring in the valley.

Tang Luo flicked his hand, dispersing the compressed Dao Realm that had begun to disintegrate his right arm. He slowly closed his pain-stricken eyes.

With his utmost effort, he managed to break through Cao Lie’s King Body. Fortunately, it seemed there would be an extended period of peace ahead, allowing him the time for further refinement.