Chapter 166: It Was Like Looking in a Mirror

He had once been trapped at the "Evil Position," unable to advance an inch no matter how hard he trained or how much he cultivated, held back by this bullshit concept called "talent"—didn't Jia Ji think it was unfair?

Of course it was unfair.

He had often mocked himself: how could he be this cursed?

He was nothing but a stone meant to pave the way for the protagonist—cursed beyond belief! Cursed to the extreme! Cursed to hell!

It wasn't even the threshold of the "Furious Rank"—just an ordinary barrier—but for him, it was like a heavenly chasm; he had smashed against it hundreds, thousands of times, yet not a single crack had formed.

It held him fast, locked him rigidly in place.

Especially when he encountered those with extraordinary talent—each time he saw them effortlessly gain the power he could never attain no matter how hard he struggled, each time they easily surpassed him, it proved one thing: all notions of "reason" and "reality" were nothing but dogshit trampled under the feet of the strong!

Only ordinary folk like him were bound and imprisoned by reality.

Until now, Jia Ji had reached this level through his "grueling training" and "clever tactics," accomplishing most of what he set out to do, barely managing to handle the crises before him—but whether defeating the Red World Demon King or subduing the Zodiac…

There were still some things he could never do.

Like using his own fists, his own refined strength and martial arts, to crush the powerful opponents standing before him!

To crush Hu Yu Lu Di!

To crush that "Holy Light Qi" Xian Shui Ren!

Even to crush that "Fighting God" Lei Chan!!

Why am I inferior to you?!

I still can't grasp the essence of love, sorrow, or the secrets of the Northern Dipper Fist—but my resentment is no weaker than any emotion!

Born unloved, with a fleeting life, a laughable fate.

Though brief… I once existed in this world…

——Fire, can you burn once more, just once!!

His resentful heart blazed fiercely, burning hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy—all as fuel—until not a trace remained; no reserve, no hesitation—he had to give everything, exhaust every ounce to survive, left himself no retreat…

He discarded it all.

What emerged at last was the ultimate "Northern Dipper Luo Han Strike!"

What emerged at last was the ultimate "End of the Century Jia Ji!"

The only force driving his fist was pure intent, sincere fighting spirit, and—absolute, peak-level pure power!

Hu Yu Lu Di was stunned.

Not merely because of the unimaginable resistance, but because of Jia Ji's gaze—the terrifying, slanted triangular eyes blazing with astonishing radiance.

His sclera burned red, veins swollen, pupils pitch black—yet no hatred, no loathing, no pain—only endless, boundless fighting spirit.

He was enjoying it!

Enjoying this battle with Hu Yu Lu Di?!

Without any grudge, without any distraction, even the meaning of battle itself had become irrelevant.

There remained only… to see who was stronger.

He drew a deep breath—and the entire forest trembled; the dark clouds above were sucked entirely into his body, not a single wisp escaping.

A premonition struck Hu Yu Lu Di the moment he received the challenge—breakthrough.

If he can break through his own limits, why can't I, Hu Yu Lu Di?

"Funny—you've made the world a little more interesting."

Dark red demonic aura flowed like boiling asphalt down his bulging back muscles, pooling at his feet into a spiraling vortex; the muscle armor further mutated, his shoulders becoming shell-like, his deformed trapezius muscles crawling up to the back of his skull—beyond the 100% form, Hu Yu Lu Di had made his stance clear…

"No! I! Don't want to lose!"

Then, the two warriors' wills and aura, nearly solid as forged blades, crashed together with a thunderous impact—sparks flew, carrying but one meaning:

"This punch—I'll kill you."

Both raised their hands; immense, tyrannical power erupted, forming their final, devastating strike!

And the world darkened.

Sight, hearing, taste, pain, touch, sensation, spiritual energy fluctuations, demonic energy fluctuations—all lost meaning.

Beneath the sky, only two fists remained.

A blow that shook the four corners, unmatched.

A punch that stirred the soul, shook heaven and earth.

The air shattered with a sonic boom; at that moment, a hurricane descended, obliterating every landscape.

Mountains cracked, winds reversed, forests and earth lay in ruins, horrific beyond words.

Jia Ji's right arm twisted into a grotesque angle, knotted like a rope, white bone shards piercing his skin—he roared as if feeling no pain: "Still not enough!"

"Yes, still not enough!"

Stung by this unprecedented crisis, Hu Yu Lu Di let out a beastly growl; his demonic aura surged even fiercer, like a dam bursting, raging through his veins, releasing infinite, terrifying heat.

In that instant of fist-to-fist collision, both their power levels surged—exploded!

Amidst that silent, furious, unblinking stare, teeth clenched, squeezing the last ounce of strength from their bodies, their battle aura and demonic power swelled higher and higher—neither could overpower the other, neither could claim true victory.

Perfectly matched, evenly balanced—on the brink of mutual annihilation.

——What else… what else…?!

——What on his person… could bring down this terrifying, hopeless, terrifying opponent?!

——Something he had that Hu Yu Lu Di didn't.

——Did it still exist?

——"Don't die!"

A voice—unknown in origin—called out.

Jia Ji's dim consciousness stirred; from deep within his soul burst forth a final, irrational, illogical surge of power.

He poured his last qi into his right fist and pressed down again.

Visible to the naked eye, the muscle fibers on his rock-like body bulged and convulsed like coiled dragons, desperately trying to tear free from his body; this final influx of power cracked his entire muscle armor, and brilliant starlight erupted from the fine fissures.

Hu Yu Lu Di seemed to see the entire sky spinning—no, the whole night sky had twisted into the shape of the Big Dipper, just like the strange pattern on his opponent's chest—but beside it, a tiny star blinked once, twice.

Then.

The light of the Death Star plummeted straight down.

"Good."

Hu Yu Lu Di gave him one final look.

He remained frozen in his punching stance, then slowly, piece by piece, dissolved into a storm of gray-white fragments.

(End of Chapter)