Blood slowly flowed out, covered by his hand.

"I..."

The severe pain nearly made Zhang Rongfang unable to speak.

But his expression remained resolute. His breath rapid, yet he steadied himself and turned around.

"I haven’t lost yet!!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

He released his hand, and the bleeding hole in his chest had completely healed and vanished.

Zhang Rongfang sprinted forward like a rampaging rhinoceros, his arms transforming into two dark red shadows, like dragons or elephants, fiercely striking towards the opponent’s body.

Flame Emperor Talisman · Blood-sucking Dragon!

"Thunderbird!" Ostend raised his hand, his silhouette flashing as he brushed past Zhang Rongfang’s side.

With a woosh, another splash of blood mist scattered to the ground.

This move once again decided the outcome.

"Still not going to surrender?" Ostend asked sternly, turning to look at his opponent.

Zhang Rongfang staggered a few steps, a deep gash appeared on his side.

He clutched the wound, turned without hesitation, and once again lunged at Ostend like lightning.

"I haven’t lost yet!!"

The two clashed once more.

Fists and palms transformed into a rain curtain, crisscrossing each other.

Time and again, blood sprayed continuously from Zhang Rongfang’s body.

But it didn’t matter!

He seemed tireless, his blood inexhaustible, continuing his relentless, crazy attack over and over again!!

Ostend’s expression grew cold and stern, the longer the fight, the more alarmed he became.

His hands had already fractured several times over, and this was only from the immense recoil force encountered when hitting Zhang Rongfang’s body.

Even as the attacker, he had been injured so many times.

The opposite Zhang Ying, even now, was drenched in blood but still full of vigor, seemingly unaffected!

’This guy!!’

Bam!!

Another heavy hit landed.

Zhang Rongfang flew back, dragging his legs across the ground to a halt.

His chest caved in, with his ribcage forcibly broken.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, as if nothing happened, he continued to charge forward.

Ostend took a deep breath, knowing that prolonging this entanglement was futile.

Instantly, he positioned one hand up, the other down, as if supporting a great circle.

"Secret Kill...."

"Brahma Celestial Elephant!"

In a flash, a sonic shockwave erupted.

Zhang Rongfang’s expression shook; all his senses around him were completely obscured, trapping him within a wall of air again.

Sound, airflow, and some unique force mixed together, merging the two into one.

But before he could find a flaw,

A pale arm suddenly thrust out from the air wall behind him.

Puff!

The arm pierced deeply into the muscles of his back.

This arm was initially aimed at piercing the back of the heart, but Zhang Rongfang shifted in time, avoiding the vital organ.

Blood splattered as the hand blade forcibly penetrated through his right chest.

In an instant, a sharp eagle screech burst out; Zhang Rongfang turned clawing, the eagle claw technique combined with his current blood lotus body, bringing forth a terrifying claw shadow far stronger than his Extreme State.

He completely disregarded the arm piercing through his body, instead using it to lock onto his opponent’s body. Turning to attack.

But it was too slow.

The eagle claw missed its mark, Zhang Rongfang’s forehead receiving a heavy palm strike, making him dizzy and forcing him to retreat.

He staggered to stabilize his body, bellowed, and charged forward once more.

"You bastard...."

Still able to fight!?

Ostend glanced at the blood hole in his opponent’s chest, momentarily distracted.

The two clashed again.

Punches and hand blades collided.

Only ten to twenty percent of Zhang Rongfang’s strength was effective, the rest effortlessly deflected.

In a flash, another Thunderbird strike.

Blood spurted from his shoulder as he staggered back.

"....." Ostend’s breathing quickened as he backpedaled.

’This guy.....how many times has he staggered!!?’

What’s going on!?

Why won’t he fall!?

He’s clearly not a God Worshiper....! How does it feel....even more exaggerated than this God Worshiper!!?

His mind gradually filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

’Can’t keep this up, must end this quickly, use the final form to resolve this and end him!’

Ostend’s mindset slowly changed. Just as he stepped forward, he suddenly felt something was off with his hands!

Swish!

Ostend quickly stepped back, creating distance.

He glanced at his own hands.

’This! What’s happening!?’

His hands appeared like those of a hundred-year-old, losing their luster, withered, colorless!

"No recovery!?" The Spiritual Veins of a God Worshiper showed no sign of recovery.

This made Ostend’s heart sink as he once again looked at Zhang Rongfang, who was charging at him yet again.

Could it be...that rumor is true?

The ultimate secret to counter God Worshipers....

’In that case....there’s no way I can let you live!’ His eyes finally turned ruthless.

Yet Zhang Rongfang suddenly stopped, turned and ran.

In the blink of an eye, he had already run for dozens of meters.

This run was exactly what Ostend wanted.

Lingering here too long would definitely have caught Shangguan Feihua’s attention.

Immediately, he followed closely, sprinting in pursuit.

The two, one in front the other behind, swiftly left the Phoenix Garden in perfect harmony.

Crossing hills and streams, the more Ostend ran, the more he felt something was off.

Why was this road not leading to the Jade Void Palace?

What made his heart sink further was that the withered hand showed no sign of recovery.

’This method of restriction... could it be permanent!?’ He was both shocked and furious, and a murderous intent rapidly rose.

Initially, they only speculated based on traces, but seeing it firsthand revealed this method of restriction... was utterly evil!

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang in front abruptly stopped, turning around.

In the Blood Lotus state, all bloodstains on his body had been fully absorbed, except for the stains on his pants, as if he hadn’t been injured at all.

Radiant and full of vigor.

"Here?" Ostend frowned, looking around.

They were at the top of a certain mountain, surrounded by nothing but a solitary stone cabin.

Besides that, it was an empty place.

Did he come here merely to delay time?

Ostend raised his vigilance slightly.

However, there should be some distance between here and Shangguan Feihua. He shouldn’t be able to come for support quickly.

So far, Ostend had realized how troublesome Zhang Rongfang was.

The opponent’s physique was extremely strong, with endurance so astonishing that even he, a God-worshipping Grandmaster, was shocked.

His recovery power was terrifying, almost no different from a God-worshipper.

Despite his numerous lethal moves, Ostend couldn’t completely subdue him.

Each time Zhang Rongfang looked on the verge of collapse, as long as Ostend approached to finish him off, he would be counterattacked fiercely once again.

Therefore, to completely subdue this person, he must use the ultimate form...

"Honestly, I don’t want to use the ultimate form. Because such a state is really too ugly."

He lightly lifted a lock of golden hair from his forehead, letting his beautiful face be less obscured.

"Even this golden hair feels like it’s in the way... unworthy of my stunningly beautiful face. I’ve been considering whether to shave it all off."

Ostend’s voice was calm, and he slowly approached Zhang Rongfang step by step.

"But now.... you’ve made me see you in a new light." He rubbed his eyelids with his hand.

Yes, this was what he considered seeing in a new light.

"You’ve made me realize that if I don’t give my all, I probably can’t bring you back."

"..... Making me give up my most beautiful state.... to face you in ugliness."

Ostend sighed lightly, "You have reasons to be proud...."

Whoo.

Zhang Rongfang let out a long breath, puffed out his chest, and raised his volume.

"Senior, this person says you’re and Jun’Er Senior are both lunatics. He says you’re both mortals, rubbish, that only ugly people stick with ugly people."

"!?" Ostend frowned, not knowing what he meant.

But it didn’t matter, he was too lazy to waste time.

Immediately, he took a deep breath.

The inhaled breath seemed to slowly seep from every pore of his body, turning into a breeze, blowing all around.

With that breath, silver stripes swiftly appeared on the surface of his skin.

His entire skin became even paler than before, turning a plaster-like deathly white.

His back began to protrude with sharp lumps.

It was as if something underneath wanted to break through the skin but stopped halfway.

A large area of sharp protrusions pushed the flesh, forming a massive hump-like ball structure on his back.

His arms elongated, becoming thinner.

His legs thickened and expanded, resembling elephant legs.

Most noticeably, on the sides of his body, numerous fist-sized pores the size of baby fists suddenly appeared.

At a glance, there were no less than a dozen, scattered everywhere.

"Ultimate form... Essence Spirit State...."

Ostend took a deep breath, but instead of exhaling through his mouth or nose, the breath was ejected from the pores all over his body.

Then, he looked at Zhang Rongfang across from him.

Zhang Rongfang, however, was not the least bit flustered. He just took a deep breath, then suddenly shouted loudly.

"Senior Jun’Er is here!!"

Swish!!

A figure appeared beside the two, seemingly teleporting out of nowhere.

"Where’s Jun’Er!?"

Emperor Jiang, with disheveled hair, was even holding a hoe in both hands, as if he was actually gardening??!

Then he glanced at Ostend. Instantly understanding.

"You brat, tricked me?"

"Senior, how could I dare to trick you? Senior Jun’Er promised to help me!" Zhang Rongfang responded decisively.

"Really?!" Emperor Jiang frowned.

"Really!" Zhang Rongfang assured confidently.

"Why would she agree to help you?"

"Because her esteemed self believes I have boundless potential!" Zhang Rongfang shamelessly bragged.

"....." Emperor Jiang was speechless, unsure if it was true or false. Just feeling that this scene seemed somewhat familiar.

He sighed, putting down the hoe, and looked at Ostend.

Slap.

Only to be surprised that Ostend involuntarily took a step back. His now four-meter tall frame had none of the recent narcissism or arrogance.

"You... know me?" Emperor Jiang’s gaze turned dark instantly.

Ostend took a deep breath.

"I don’t know you! But... sir, your aura is extraordinary, appearance impeccable, at first sight clearly not a mere mortal! How could I, Ostend, have the fortune today to behold such a matchlessly beautiful person, truly an honor!"

He cupped his hands in salute.

"Today’s misunderstanding aside, I have unexpectedly bonded with Zhang Ying Daoist, so I shall take my leave now."

He didn’t turn, but facing the two, he tapped his toes and was about to retreat rapidly.

"Hold it!" Emperor Jiang’s voice suddenly rang out. "Why do I feel... you look familiar?"