Chapter 132

As the law’s voice fell, a heavy figure, like a mountain, stepped forward from the human camp.

Li Jiuyuan.

He wore a simple martial robe, his face stern, his steps steady, each one resonating with the earth beneath him.

He lacked Akatsuki Jin’s brilliance, Qin Hao’s sharpness, yet carried an unshakable, mountain-like presence.

He ascended the Fallen God Platform, gazing calmly at the beast camp, his voice steady: “Wu Alliance, Li Jiuyuan, I seek your guidance.”

No boastful declaration—only the courtesy before a martial duel—but beneath this calm lay an unyielding will to win.

The beast camp fell silent.

Then, space subtly warped, and a tall figure slowly materialized.

The one who arrived—or rather, the beast—had a human-like form, clad in a dark golden ancient robe, his face strikingly beautiful, almost otherworldly, crowned with dragon horns; most striking were his vertical pupils—one gold, one silver—holding the mystery of time’s flow.

Around him flowed no wild demonic aura, but an ancient, noble energy.

“Candle Dragon lineage, Zhu Yin.”

He spoke, his voice layered with strange echoes from differing time streams: “Your bloodline is vigorous. Itachi are a worthy opponent.”

Descendant of the Candle Dragon! An ancient beast bloodline that controls time!

A sharp intake of breath erupted from the human camp. No one expected the beast side to send such a heavyweight in the third match!

“Candle Dragon… it’s truly the Candle Dragon!”

“Legend says the Candle Dragon opens its eyes to bring day, closes them for night, exhales winter, inhales summer, and manipulates fragments of time! How do Itachi fight that?”

“Li Jiuyuan is in danger!”

Jiang Xia’s gaze instantly hardened to its utmost intensity. The Candle Dragon’s ability was too bizarre—touching the domain of time, impossible to guard against.

Li Jiuyuan’s Heavy Sword Dao relied on overwhelming force, but before time’s power, strength might have no place to manifest.

Ye Ting and Lu Wujiu’s faces were grim. They hadn’t expected that their previous opponent was merely a pawn, and now the enemy had deployed their trump card.

The beast side’s troop deployment had completely defied their expectations.

On the arena, Li Jiuyuan faced Zhu Yin; his solemn expression flickered and vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve.

Slowly, he drew the massive black iron sword on his back, its tip slanted toward the ground, as a deep, heavy sword intent began to spread.

“Please.” Li Jiuyuan uttered a single word.

Zhu Yin’s gold-and-silver pupils flickered with interest; he made no immediate move, but gently raised his right hand and clenched it toward the space around Li Jiuyuan.

“Time… slow.”

Without sound, the space within ten meters of Li Jiuyuan seemed to thicken—the light grew viscous, air flow slowed drastically, as if sinking into mud!

Li Jiuyuan felt an invisible force envelop him—his sword swings, his spiritual energy flow, even his thoughts—all became painfully slow and difficult.

It was as if countless invisible threads wrapped around him, dragging him into a sluggish river.

“A domain? No—it’s a more fundamental law’s influence!”

Li Jiuyuan’s heart tightened. He tried to move; a step normally effortless now weighed a thousand jin, crawling with slowness.

“Within my time domain, your strength is meaningless.”

Zhu Yin’s voice carried a hint of indifference as he elegantly raised a finger and lightly pointed at the sluggish Li Jiuyuan.

“Era Finger.”

A gray-white beam, imbued with the erosion of time, shot toward Li Jiuyuan.

Though the finger blast seemed slow, under the slowed domain, to Li Jiuyuan it was like a thunderclap!

No evasion possible!

Li Jiuyuan’s eyes blazed with light; with iron will, he forced his sluggish spiritual energy to surge, lifting the heavy sword half a foot, blocking it before him.

“Heavy Mountain, Defend!”

“Dong!”

The gray-white finger struck the broad blade, unleashing a dull, thunderous crash.

Li Jiuyuan shuddered violently, sliding backward several meters with sword in hand, his arm trembling slightly; on the blade’s surface, a patch of rust—like aged decay—appeared!

Worse, a sense of decay and corruption crept along the blade, seeking to invade his body and erode his vitality!

“Such a bizarre time force!”

Li Jiuyuan growled, his blood burning like a furnace, spiritual energy exploding as he forcibly expelled the invading time force; the rust on the blade slowly faded, but the cost was clearly great.

“Hmm? Itachi blocked my finger. Your foundation is indeed solid.”

Zhu Yin was slightly surprised, then smiled with amusement: “Try this then?”

He formed an ancient hand seal with both hands; his gold and silver pupils blazed with brilliant light.

“Open eyes—day; close eyes—night… Time Disarray!”

Instantly, Li Jiuyuan felt the surrounding space-time collapse into chaos!

One moment normal flow, the next excruciatingly slow, then suddenly accelerated!

His perception twisted, his balance vanished, even his internal spiritual energy surged erratically—stopping, then raging wildly!

In this chaotic time-space, he could not attack—could barely stand steady, his body swaying uncontrollably, leaving endless openings!

“Now.” Zhu Yin moved, as if ignoring the chaotic time-space, appearing instantly beside Li Jiuyuan, his palm like a blade, slashing straight for Li Jiuyuan’s neck!

If this palm landed, Li Jiuyuan would be decapitated instantly!

In the critical moment, Li Jiuyuan roared, relying on his battle instincts forged through countless trials and absolute control over his ability, forcing a sliver of stability within the temporal chaos!

Ignoring the slicing palm aimed at his neck, he poured all his strength, will, and understanding of the Heavy Sword Dao into both hands; the black iron sword groaned under strain, breaking all chains with sheer momentum, and swung forward in a raw, unadorned downward slash toward where Zhu Yin had stood.

“Heavy Sword, Edgeless—True Skill Needs No Artifice! Break!!”

This was no technique—it was the embodiment of Dao! A blade of conviction, cleaving through illusion, severing bonds with absolute force!

“Boom!!”

The sword’s momentum erupted—and the chaotic time domain was violently torn open by this pure, ultimate force and will!

Zhu Yin’s lethal palm, disrupted by the domain’s sudden fluctuation and Li Jiuyuan’s suicidal counterattack, had to retract; his eyes flashed with fresh surprise.

“Itachi shattered my time disarray with brute force? Human ant, Itachi merit my full attention.”

Li Jiuyuan panted heavily; that single strike had drained him—his palms cracked, blood dripping down the sword hilt.

He stared fixedly at Zhu Yin, his gaze unshaken.

“Your time force is indeed strange—but my sword can sever all things!”

“Empty boasts.” Zhu Yin’s eyes grew cold. “Let me show Itachi what true… Candle Dragon power truly is.”