Chapter 579: Chapter 573: Red Lotus Punishment

The idea is beautiful, but reality is cruel.

William had to admit, the Tatake he had previously dismissed as a minor threat was not something that could be crushed with ease.

On the contrary, it seemed that he himself might, perhaps, possibly, become a stepping stone for the other party.

"Caught on yet?"

Tatake raised his eyes, looking lightly at the form of the rapidly vibrating William: "Unfortunately, your reaction speed is still a bit too slow."

As he said this, Tatake’s lips curled slightly with a touch of disdain on his face: "I admit, your [Chasing Light] ability is quite troublesome, granting an individual a speed infinitely close to light—anyone with a bit of scientific common sense knows how terrifying that can be."

"However!"

"Your superpower is not something you honed through hard cultivation, just a boon granted by the Victory Stone."

Tatake spoke slowly, his tone drawn out, carrying a hint of that pseudo-aristocratic chant from the middle ages: "Such power, gained from opportunistic means, though strong, is ultimately not comprehensive."

"Whereas my [Arcane Magic] was cultivated by myself through relentless effort, sleepless nights, only sleeping three hours a day, pouring out countless sweat and toil."

"You... simply have no qualification to fight me!"

With just a few words, his sense of superiority was fully displayed.

[Light Speed Gentleman] William’s expression was dark, wanting to retort and beat the arrogance out of the other’s face with actions.

But he had no means to do so.

For some reason, at this moment, William felt like he was playing an online game under a 460ms latency.

No!

Worse than that!

William felt his body and consciousness could not sync at all.

Though his body was no different from before, it felt as if the core had been entirely replaced, downgraded from Windows 10 to a DOS system, lagging behind many versions, struggling desperately just to make a finger move a bit.

Wanting to raise his hand to do more was impossible.

"What the hell did you do to me?"

William gritted his teeth, glaring at Tatake: "What kind of ability is this?"

This platinum-haired youth, though not strong in life strength and energy reactions, was uncomparable to the lower rank gods he had encountered before, but...

Through the light attached to the other, William could vaguely sense—this person’s combat power was exceedingly strong, not much lacking compared to any of the Six Gods of Destruction he’d encountered.

Tatake was said to be weak, and indeed his life strength was like a candle in the wind; William felt a mere breath could snuff him out.

Yet calling him strong, the light’s detection feedback was authentic and showed no errors.

Just...

Eerie!

"As an opponent, you think I would reveal my trump card to you?"

Tatake glanced teasingly at William, producing a Civilization Staff from seemingly nowhere, and casually twirling it in front of him.

Instantly, William transformed into a ray of light under the onlookers’ eyes, moving with the civilization staff’s motion.

The powerful National Guardian level ability user [Light Speed Gentleman] was unexpectedly defeated with one move, reduced to merely a toy at Tatake’s fingertips!

The gap between them was alarming enough to chill anyone who thought deeply about it.

"Your ability is indeed strong; against any of the other six Deputies, you might even have quite a battle."

Tatake arrogantly swung the Civilization Staff, shamelessly toying with and crushing William’s pride: "But unfortunately, your luck ran out when you met me."

"Compared to Magic, Immortal Dao, Divine Dao, the path of Arcane Magic is more comprehensive, more elegant, closer to truth."

"In other words..."

"Any opponent with shortcomings, in my presence, those flaws will be magnified tenfold, a hundredfold!"

Feeling the shock around him, Tatake, full of self-satisfaction, revealed more: "Your soul strength is much too weak to withstand any blow; if targeted, your speed wouldn’t even manifest a thousandth!"

"Feel it... the elegance of truth!"

"If you... hmm?"

Tatake halted his speech midway.

Because he suddenly realized he lost control over William.

Simultaneously, two figures appeared before him.

A black and white-haired youth, waist equipped with a Straight-Blade Tang Blade, with extraordinary demeanor—the [Prophet] Ma Ran.

A youthful and vibrant girl, holding a Long Halberd, surrounded by light of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, her Momentum Field almost tangible, attracting unequivocal attention.

Tatake opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to speak, but couldn’t utter a word.

In terms of momentum...

He was utterly outclassed!

Tatake took a deep breath: "No wonder the [Prophet] and the [Martial God] are well-renowned, I once thought before coming..."

"You feel proud?"

Ma Ran bluntly interrupted Tatake’s speech, his icy gaze completely annihilating Tatake’s unfinished words.

Swept by this cold gaze, Tatake felt a chill engulf his body, goosebumps rose, his hair stood on end, and his mind went blank.

In his memory, those sprites known as knowledge and Arcane Magic seemed in this instant frightened by Ma Ran’s gaze, trembling in hiding, impossible to access smoothly.

Tatake’s eyes turned blank, with two drops of cold sweat sliding down the side of his face.

At this point, he had to admit, comparing himself to the boy with black and white hair, they were entirely different beings!

The other was on the same terrifying level as that woman!

Though seldom following external news, hence not fully versed in Ma Ran’s character, Tatake could still sense...

The boy before him was angry.

Ma Ran no longer looked his way, merely closed his eyes slowly, as if communicating with someone.

The girl standing beside Ma Ran just looked at Tatake calmly, speaking in a peaceful tone: "In the vast cosmos, every planet has its own story."

"Clearly, you’ve never appeared in Earth’s story."

"So..."

"Even if William as a Guardian is weak, it’s not for you to criticize."

Su Qiangwei’s words made the crowd suddenly realize.

Indeed...

This self-proclaimed Tatake fellow, being so strong, where had he been all along?

During the Eternal Civilization’s invasion of Earth, he wasn’t there.

When Chuanke arrived, he was absent.

During the World Destruction by the Six Gods, he was still missing.

Even the heavily criticized [Profound Immortal] Zhao Guanlan was more reliable than this guy!

Contemptuous and disdainful gazes converged on Tatake.

"I won’t say it a second time."

A chill female voice suddenly echoed: "You defied my will."

"Misbehavior, comes with a cost."

Everyone turned to follow the voice.

Who else could the speaker be but that [Lord of the Red Lotus] Ye Fengqing?

Tatake’s once vacant gaze turned instantly to one of obvious terror.

"No! I was wrong! I beg..."

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to explain something.

In the next moment, four explosive sounds suddenly echoed from Tatake’s limbs.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

His limbs turned into four pools of bloody pulp, emitting a heavy stench of blood, leaving him in a far more tragic state than William.

The poised, noble-like youth in command of [Arcane Magic] morphed in an instant to a Human Pig.

Yet...

On Tatake’s face, aside from the pain, there appeared an expression of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped doom.