The spatial domain hidden within the Devouring Ant statue had been shocking enough to seem like a rare, heaven-defying treasure. The discovery of a similar domain within the Tiger Demon Clan’s statue made it clear that this was not an exception, but a fundamental trait of these ancestral statues. Fa Hua and Lan Ge now understood that the many statues scattered throughout the Ancestral Court corresponded to different races, each possessing its own distinct characteristics and, very likely, its own dedicated space.
There was no doubt about it. The ancestors of both the Tiger Demon Clan and the Devouring Ant Race had once been demons powerful enough to defy the heavens. Only beings of that caliber could leave behind such domains.
“Roar!”
Hu Rourou threw back her head and let out a thunderous howl before lunging straight at Fa Hua. While still in midair, an overwhelming bloodline aura erupted from her body. Her tiger claws spread wide, slashing toward Fa Hua’s shoulders.
Fa Hua stepped forward. The Divine Codex flipped open to its second page, and a shield materialized before him. The golden Wisdom Shield condensed into solid form, faint halos rippling across its surface.
Clang!
Hu Rourou’s pounce drove Fa Hua back three feet, yet his shield remained intact.
“Eh?” Seeing the shield in one piece, Hu Rourou could not hide her surprise. Compared to last time, Fa Hua’s strength had clearly risen by a significant margin when only a few months had passed.
The Wisdom Shield parted into six panels. From their center, the Wisdom Sword thrust forward like a streak of lightning, aimed straight at Hu Rourou.
In that instant, Hu Rourou felt as though all the air around her had vanished. A suffocating, inescapable pressure bore down on her. In her perception, Fa Hua’s sword seemed to devour all surrounding energy, its tip swelling until it filled her entire world.
She hurriedly clapped her claws together, striking at the Wisdom Sword. But the six separated shield panels had already sliced toward six vital points on her body.
At the critical moment, Hu Rourou’s peak Ninth-Rank cultivation erupted. Her eyes flared as she roared in fury. A massive golden tiger-head projection surged out from above her, its jaws snapping shut around the Wisdom Sword. At the same time, her clasped palms exploded into countless claw shadows, batting away the six shield panels one by one.
The Wisdom Sword’s light pulsed. Hu Rourou felt a wave of dizziness and instinctively retreated two steps before regaining her balance. The tiger head vanished, and the sword withdrew.
In a one-on-one exchange, Fa Hua had actually forced her back.
Hu Jiaojiao, who had yet to act, stared in shock. When had this guy become so strong?
Yet for the twin sisters, nothing was more exhilarating than facing a powerful opponent. Clashing with strength was what they desired most.
“I’m coming too!” Hu Jiaojiao roared as she launched herself forward. Her tiger palm opened wide as she leapt over Hu Rourou’s head. The sisters struck together, their claws flashing as streaks of fierce light surging with the power of their Golden Bloodline surged toward Fa Hua.
At that moment, Lan Ge appeared beside him. The two stood shoulder to shoulder. Fa Hua shifted, splitting into four figures that enclosed Lan Ge at the center. Four Wisdom Swords thrust simultaneously, shrill cries tearing through the air. The sword light was pure force, lacking its usual finesse but brimming with overwhelming power.
This defensive formation had once been used to withstand the Ruby Queen’s Blade Formation. Now, facing the Tiger Demon sisters, Fa Hua felt unexpectedly at ease. Compared to the Ruby Queen, who had also been restricted to Ninth-Rank, the sisters were clearly a step behind. And now, Fa Hua himself stood firmly at Ninth-Rank.
Clang, clang, clang…
A series of crisp impacts rang out. Fa Hua’s defense was flawless. Every thrust struck precisely at the core of Hu Jiaojiao’s and Hu Rourou’s power. Though it was two against one, the sisters felt as though they had sunk into thick mud, their strength trapped and unable to flow.
At that moment, a faint purple gleam arced through the air, tracing an arc before dropping toward Hu Jiaojiao.
A chill ran through her as a feral instinct screamed danger, and she twisted aside without hesitation.
But when the purple light struck the ground, it did not explode. Instead, it rebounded and abruptly accelerated, chasing her down.
As Lan Ge released the attack, Fa Hua’s four figures merged back into one. Lan Ge slapped Fa Hua’s back. The Divine Codex flipped to the fifth page, and a golden halo fifty meters in diameter burst into existence.
Imprison the World!
This was the sixth stage of Imprison the World.
Hu Jiaojiao and Hu Rourou felt their feet lock down as their bodies stiffened.
“I’ve got it!” Hu Rourou shouted.
Her tiger claws lashed out as golden light erupted. A tiger-shaped projection burst forth, charging straight at the purple gleam.
Boom!
The purple light detonated, staining the tiger projection violet before blowing it apart. Hu Rourou’s face went pale.
The sisters exchanged a glance, shock plain in their eyes. Compared to last time, these two humans were no longer just a little stronger—they were on an entirely different level.
Fa Hua and Lan Ge, however, felt something very different. Against Hu Jiaojiao and Hu Rourou, they still had strength to spare. This was nothing like the constant, suffocating pressure of imminent death they had felt when facing the Ruby Queen.
Their recent battles had not been in vain. Under the Ruby Queen’s overwhelming pressure, their real combat ability had grown by leaps and bounds.
With that realization, both of them fully relaxed.
“Now it’s our turn!” Lan Ge laughed loudly as he flashed forward, appearing right in front of Hu Jiaojiao. His right index finger snapped out, releasing a bolt of lightning.
His speed was so extreme that Hu Jiaojiao reacted half a beat too late. Golden light surged from her body, forming a protective qi barrier.
Boom!
She was blasted backward. At once, rows of green Wind Blades blossomed around Lan Ge like a peacock spreading its tail, sealing off every possible escape route. He thrust his chest forward, and a pillar of fire erupted. At the same time, a blue halo rose from the ground, coiling around Hu Jiaojiao’s feet.
Without using a combination spell, Lan Ge unleashed all four elemental powers in a seamless, overwhelming assault.
Hu Rourou had only just broken free from Imprison the World. By the time she turned to help, it was already too late.
Light swirled around Fa Hua as the residual energy from Lan Ge’s earlier strike surged through him, pushing his state to an even higher level.
The Divine Codex flipped open to the seventh page. Fa Hua flicked a finger, snapping a thread of light.
Hu Rourou stumbled, nearly falling as her movement rhythm was disrupted.
With the Wind Element amplifying him, Fa Hua launched himself forward. The Wisdom Shield slammed into Hu Rourou from the side. At the same time, the Wisdom Sword left his hand, flying straight toward Hu Jiaojiao, who was already being overwhelmed by Lan Ge’s assault.
“Sister, watch out!” Hu Rourou cried.
But she herself was struck by Unravelling the Truth, sent flying sideways.
Hu Jiaojiao dropped her stance, her gaze resolute. Her Golden Bloodline erupted outward. Scorching bloodline energy flooded her body, causing her to expand and transform into a massive golden tigress. Under that torrent of power, Lan Ge’s elemental attacks melted away. Only Fa Hua’s sword pressed forward.
Hu Jiaojiao lowered her head. The golden character “King” blazed upon her brow, smashing into the Wisdom Sword. Her eyes sharpened with lethal intensity.
On the other side, Hu Rourou rolled to her feet and revealed her true form. Low snarls echoed as the sisters’ auras surged violently.
“Roar! Roar—!”
When had they ever been driven back like this? In just a few months, these two humans had grown powerful enough to suppress them, a reality the sisters found hard to accept.
And under the amplification and linkage of the Peerless Pearl, each of them was effectively facing the combined might of Fa Hua and Lan Ge.
How could the always-dominant Tiger Demon princesses endure that?
They erupted together, unleashing their full power.
The world turned gold.
In the next instant, countless claw shadows filled the sky—
Golden Claw Prison!
Last time, Fa Hua and Lan Ge had avoided this attack by teleporting away. This time, unleashed from their true bodies, Golden Claw Prison was vastly more terrifying.
In a flash, Lan Ge appeared beside Fa Hua. Fa Hua slashed forward with the Wisdom Sword, crystalline light tearing open the air. Lan Ge wrapped an arm around Fa Hua’s waist and triggered Lightning Flash, carrying them forward in a burst of speed.
They did not attempt to dissolve the prison with Unravelling the Truth. Instead, they struck again and again at its weakest points. With the Wisdom Sword and their fusion, their combined strength surged toward the peark of Ninth-Rank, nearly brushing against the Tenth-Rank, forcing a path through the sea of claw shadows and the overwhelming Golden Bloodline.
Seconds later, when the combatants reappeared, Fa Hua and Lan Ge were visibly panting. Hu Jiaojiao and Hu Rourou’s faces were pale as well.
“They… they actually withstood Golden Claw Prison?” Hu Rourou murmured in disbelief.
“Still want to keep going?” Lan Ge asked with a grin.
“Of course!” Hu Jiaojiao snarled. No matter the opponent, the sisters would fight to the very end. Retreat was not in their nature.
But at that moment, a low hum suddenly echoed through the space.
Hum… hum… hum…
Before any of them could react, light engulfed them. In the next instant, they were expelled from the Tiger Demon ancestor space, reappearing before the statue.
“What just happened?” Lan Ge asked in surprise, turning toward Hu Jiaojiao.