The Giant King's Ambush

The existence that made fire seed beings tremble with fear at the very name possessed a dread power that was the nightmare of all at the same cultivation rank.

If not for the night owl that had inexplicably flown in, Xiao Chen would not have known that the Giant King was also a super-evolved being, and not a colored diamond fire seed creature. The Giant King was a super-evolved king of kings.

'Not a colored diamond fire seed being… then what makes him so special?' Xiao Chen wondered, but he grew cautious nonetheless. If not for the night owl's warning, the Giant King would have taken him completely off guard.

The night owl that had flown in with folded wings delivered its message, then its fire seed dimmed. The imprint was utterly extinguished. This was clearly not a natural death; its master had arranged for it to self-destruct after the message was received. There was no way to ask anything further.

Xiao Chen furrowed his brow, pushed open the door, and walked into the courtyard. Staring up at the pitch-black night sky, he began to think.

There were only three days left until his showdown with the Giant King, yet he still could not accurately gauge his opponent's strength. The Giant King seemed to be deliberately hiding his power. He had to be terrifyingly strong.

'Let fate take its course…' That was too passive. He began to plan carefully. If he could not win, he needed a safe escape route.

And if things took a turn for the worst, it seemed he would need to borrow power from someone to block his opponent. Whose power could he borrow?

They were already close to the domain of the Beast King City, almost outside the rule of Giant City territory. Perhaps he could borrow strength from another powerful king…

After careful deliberation, Xiao Chen reached a plan. He settled down in the Night Demon City's lord manor, where many fire seed beings cautiously attended to him, the terror king.

Even the Night Demon City lord, though grinding his teeth in secret, had to act carefully, terrified of angering Xiao Chen.

Time flowed like water, trickling slowly by.

In the blink of an eye, more than a day had passed. The showdown with the Giant King was supposed to take place tomorrow outside Night Demon City. But on this very night, Xiao Chen felt something was very wrong. The relatively grand Night Demon City was eerily quiet.

That stillness was unnatural—a deathly silence, without a single sound. This was a great city, and the deep night was the time when fire seed beings were most active. How could tens of thousands of fire seed creatures have lost their voices?

A powerful, oppressive presence slowly approached, gradually shrouding the entire area.

Xiao Chen knew something was wrong. Something had happened!

He was currently staying in the Night Demon City lord's manor, separated from the lord himself by only one wall. He moved like a ghost, instantly charging into the lord's chamber.

The Night Demon City lord rose from his seat, ready to resist, but Xiao Chen's bone blade severed both his arms in an instant.

'Don't kill me! I was forced into this too!' the Night Demon City lord pleaded in terror. Before a Yellow Diamond king, he had no power to resist. He trembled as he spoke: 'The Giant King's challenge was just a ruse to keep you steady. He secretly summoned experts to surround and kill you tonight.'

Xiao Chen extended a finger, pressed it against the lord's skull, and collected his fire seed into the spatial ring.

'The treacherous Giant King…'

In the Eastern Wastes, the three great cities of Giant City, Beast King City, and Hundred Battles City stood as rivals. Xiao Chen had not expected the famous Giant King to act so dishonorably, not caring at all about his reputation.

He knew he was already surrounded. He could sense the powerful fire seed fluctuations appearing on all sides.

The silent Night Demon City held its breath. All the fire seed creatures dared not make a sound, oppressed by the overwhelming force. At least ten powerful fire seed kings were converging on the lord manor from every direction.

Terrifying fluctuations erupted almost simultaneously. There was no longer any need for concealment. Around the Night Demon City lord manor, dazzling light shot into the sky.

Ten powerful fire seed beings, their sacred fires blazing bright within their skulls, appeared atop the tall buildings, all revealing themselves at once.

Xiao Chen leaped into the air and landed on the highest seven-story stone pagoda, looking down at the ten masters surrounding him from four sides.

'You really think highly of me, all this fanfare. Ten Yellow Diamond second-rank fire seed beings, all just for me alone.'

Twin pillars of divine fire towered around him. The ten masters' fire seed fluctuations were terrifying, like a vast ocean surging and roaring.

None of the masters spoke. Their gazes were like burning torches, fierce and terrible, fixed on the Yellow Diamond skeleton atop the stone pagoda.

'A powerful golden skeleton… none dare underestimate you. All this trouble is a sign of how seriously I take you.' A calm, steady voice came from the distant sky. A white jade skeleton strode through the void as if walking on level ground, slowly approaching under the night moon.

The oppressive might of the powerful fire seed in his skull was terrifying, as if it were one with the pulse of heaven and earth. In Night Demon City, tens of thousands of fire seed creatures trembled in fear, all kneeling on the ground, prostrating toward this direction.

'Giant King?' Xiao Chen's eye sockets shot out two beams of divine light, fixing on the terror king approaching through the void.

'I am indeed the Giant King.' The white jade skeleton's hands were clasped behind his back. His heavy pressure, like a mountain, shrouded the entire lord manor.

'You are one of the three great kings of the Eastern Wastes. Why do you stoop so low? You agreed to duel me tomorrow, yet you surround me tonight. Breaking your word like this—are you not afraid of damaging your reputation?'

The Giant King did not care at all. A powerful spiritual fluctuation emanated from him: 'The victor is king. Killing you cleanly is the result I want. Why bother with anything else?'

Truly a man who stops at nothing. Xiao Chen's heart tightened. The Giant King had not achieved his current status by luck. This was a terrible enemy.

Now, the Giant King approached with hands behind his back, his powerful fluctuations like raging waves, one after another rolling toward the lord manor. It was a vast spiritual pressure. If it were ordinary fire seed beings, they would have long since collapsed under it.

'I never imagined the Giant King was not a giant.'

The Giant King's skeleton was not as imposing as one might expect—only about seven feet tall. But his entire body flickered with a milky white radiance, as if carved from the finest mutton-fat jade.

He was a snow-white skeleton, clearly extraordinary. His bones were white and crystal-clear, almost transparent. Most peculiar was a lotus blossom imprint at the center of his forehead, from which a faint golden light emerged.

Seeing that jade-like skeleton body and the golden lotus imprint, Xiao Chen's wariness increased sharply. This scene was not unfamiliar to him; it reminded him of King Qin Guang, King Yan Luo, and King of Reincarnation—the Three Skeleton Kings.

His former companions had also possessed white jade bone bodies with lotus imprints, truly extraordinary. Was this another type of super-evolved being?

'Giant King, you disappoint me. You would not fight me fairly…' Although Xiao Chen knew provoking him was useless, he still mocked him mercilessly, hoping to sow a seed of discord in the ten masters' minds.

'If I, the Giant King, handled every matter personally, I would be buried in trivial affairs all day. Today, I reward you to my brothers. Your fire seed is a fine thing—if one of them devours it, perhaps it will create another super-evolved being. Your golden bone body is also excellent, a rare treasure body. Brothers, I grant him to you. Take what you need.'

The Giant King stood in the sky, his whole body erupting with a pillar of divine fire. The lotus imprint at the center of his forehead emanated layer upon layer of dazzling light. His powerful fire seed fluctuation was soul-shaking, making the spirit tremble.

Though he had not yet struck, he had already displayed terrifying strength. It was a formidable deterrent—not moving his hand, yet surpassing movement. The ten masters around him seemed greatly encouraged and pressed forward together.

'This damned Giant King…' Xiao Chen cursed inwardly. He had been described as the 'meat of Tang Sanzang'—every fire seed master wished they could take a bite.

A twenty-meter-long snake skeleton, pure white, moved first. It was even more agile than a living creature, leaping through the sky like a bolt of lightning, sweeping across the air like a massive blade.

Xiao Chen felt the extreme danger of his situation. Surrounded by ten masters, with the Giant King watching hungrily from the side, he did not want to stay here long and prepared to break out.

Facing the sweeping giant snake, he laughed coldly. How could the bone body of a fire seed at the same rank compare with his Yellow Diamond bone body? He did not dodge at all, intending to shatter it directly.

But as his golden fist smashed toward the sweeping snake bone, the master's skill was astonishing. The snake bone was softer than a living serpent, giving a gentle shake that was supple beyond belief, like a smooth Taiji diagram, lightly neutralizing his stiff force and coiling around him.

A fire seed king of this rank was indeed no easy opponent, with rich and seasoned combat experience. At the same time, a giant eight-legged spider skeleton seized the opportunity and charged like a thunderbolt, its eight legs like eight sharp swords stabbing toward him.

White light flashed. The other eight masters of the same rank also closed in, their powerful fire seed fluctuations surging, all together launching a killing strike at Xiao Chen.

Losing the opening move, Xiao Chen found himself on the defensive. He had not expected these masters' combat skills to be so cunning. At the critical moment, the Weng Syllable Heavenly Sound burst forth. Though it was a spiritual fluctuation, it possessed the power to shake heaven and earth and cleanse the soul.

The ten masters were all struck as if by lightning, their forms shaking violently. But at this moment, Xiao Chen's soul, though growing increasingly pure, had not yet reached the state of utter purity. There was still deathly baleful energy mixed within his spirit, so the Weng Syllable could not achieve its full effect.

Moreover, the Weng Syllable was dispersed, striking all ten masters at once, so it could not instantly destroy any single one.

Yet the power was still immense. The giant snake skeleton, bearing the brunt of the attack, had its long bone body shatter on the spot. Xiao Chen broke free, his Yellow Diamond palms blazing with light, meeting the eight-legged giant spider.

With a series of 'crack crack' sounds, the giant spider's eight legs, like sickles, were all smashed.

At this moment, though the Weng Syllable Heavenly Sound still echoed, the other eight masters had also shaken off their predicament. Their powerful fire seeds burned especially fiercely, blocking the lingering waves of the soul attack. Huge bone blades, swords forged from meteorite iron, and others all crashed down on Xiao Chen's body, the sound of striking metal ringing through Night Demon City.

Though Xiao Chen was sent flying, a dazzling golden divine light burst forth. His golden skeleton radiated a brilliant golden glow. Having weathered the attacks of eight masters, his golden bone body was not damaged in the slightest, fully displaying the formidable power of a Yellow Diamond king.

The eight masters were shocked. They were all at the same cultivation rank, yet even ten of them together could not land a killing blow. This showed just how terrifying this Yellow Diamond skeleton truly was.

Despite their shock, the eight masters charged forward without fear. At the same time, the Giant King opened his spatial ring and helped the two masters whose bone bodies had been destroyed put on new skeletons. The two masters charged back into the fray.

Xiao Chen wanted to break out, but the Giant King, watching from the side, had been locking onto him the entire time. His chances of a successful escape were slim.

'Fine. Today I'll kill the ten of you, then go after that turtle hiding in its shell.'

Xiao Chen's whole body blazed with golden light. The Weng Syllable Heavenly Sound did not cease as he plunged into the midst of the ten masters, a complete do-or-die stance.

But the Giant King did not believe it and locked onto him even more cautiously.

Dazzling divine light illuminated Night Demon City. Within the encirclement of the ten masters, Xiao Chen was like a fierce tiger. With a single utterance of the Weng Syllable, he forced back the five in front of him. No one dared to withstand that dreadful heavenly sound alone.

'Crack!'

The twenty-meter-long giant snake bone swept in again, producing the sound of wind and thunder, shattering the void as it struck. Xiao Chen, unable to dodge in the encirclement, took the blow squarely.

But he would not be caught by the same trick twice. Before the snake bone could coil around him, he laughed coldly and struck out with both palms—the Hand of the Supreme Being!

The giant snake bone shattered inch by inch like a frayed rope. Xiao Chen vibrated the Weng Syllable fiercely, forcing all the masters to fall back. His body transformed into a beam of golden light, charging toward the giant snake's skull.

'Crack!'

With a single finger, he split it open, then hugged the skull and, in front of everyone, rapidly refined the fire seed within.

The nine masters were enraged. Xiao Chen was too arrogant—after killing the giant snake, he refined its fire seed right before their eyes. The nine charged together, launching a frenzied assault.

After all, these were fire seed beings at the same rank as Xiao Chen, their strength extraordinary. Though Xiao Chen continuously vibrated the Weng Syllable, enemies surrounded him on all sides. Even with his agile dodging, he was struck heavily many times.

The massive bone blades and the glittering meteorite iron swords were formidable; they rang against his golden bone body with a clanging sound.

But his Yellow Diamond bone body was supremely tough, showing no signs of damage.

'Crack!'

Xiao Chen crashed close to the eight-legged spider, enduring the heavy strike of its eight legs as the Hand of the Supreme Being slashed diagonally downward—a clean, decisive beheading strike.

Though he was then struck by seven or eight weapons, he still hugged the shattered skull and refined the powerful fire seed within.

Eight powerful fire seed beings were deeply shaken. If this continued, they might eventually shatter the Yellow Diamond bone body, but by then, few of them would be left standing.

Was this what a Yellow Diamond super-evolved king meant? Truly unrivaled among the same rank.

'Step aside! I will kill him!' At this moment, the Giant King, who had been watching for so long, finally decided to act. He stepped forward; his white jade skeleton flickered with divine light, his powerful fire seed pressure surging and heaving like a vast ocean.

'You have mastered a soul-refining technique and know many ancient combat skills, but they will not do much against me.' The Giant King was filled with immense confidence.

What a cunning skeleton, Xiao Chen cursed inwardly.

The Giant King was cautious and careful. Not only had he broken his word to surround Xiao Chen, but he had also watched for such a long time, clearly understanding Xiao Chen's strength and all his methods, before making his move.

'Giant King, you have seen through my strength, but I know your secrets too.' Xiao Chen showed no intention of fleeing. Instead, he advanced a few steps through the void. 'I already know that you are also a super-evolved being…'

'You… how do you know?' The Giant King was very surprised.

'Naturally, someone told me. Beast King, Hundred Battles King, come out! Today we join forces to kill this treacherous bastard!' Xiao Chen shouted into the distant sky.

Giant City, Beast King City, and Hundred Battles City were the three great cities of the Eastern Wastes. The Giant King, Beast King, and Hundred Battles King were naturally the three strongest powers standing as rivals.

Now, hearing this news, how could the Giant King not be alarmed? He was a super-evolved being—few knew this secret. Seeing Xiao Chen so confident and assured, he felt a great sense of foreboding and could not help but look toward the distant sky.

But in that instant when his spiritual fluctuation lost its lock on Xiao Chen, a blazing golden light tore through the void. Xiao Chen shot in the opposite direction, the Weng Syllable Heavenly Sound exploding forth, instantly shattering one master's bone body. At the same time, his left hand shot out, snatched that master's skull, and fled into the distance!

'Chase him!' The Giant King was furious. He knew immediately that he had been fooled. He was the first to tear through the air in pursuit.

The seven remaining masters followed closely behind, giving chase.

Xiao Chen was like a golden rainbow streaking across the sky, his speed reaching an almost inconceivable degree. Though the Giant King's strength was terrifying and his flight speed like lightning, he could not catch up immediately.

After all, Xiao Chen had once mastered the Eight Aspect Worlds divine ability and possessed the Eight Aspect Extreme. He had a deep understanding of speed. Though he had no blood now, using fire seed power to replace blood and vital energy, he could still display some of that speed advantage.

Finally, in the dead of night, Xiao Chen shook off the Giant King.

'Search for him! Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find him!' The Giant King roared in fury. Nothing had ever slipped out of his control like this, and the rage burned within him.

'Your Majesty, we are now close to Beast King City. Could that fellow have entered the Beast King's domain?'

'I will negotiate with the Beast King. The seven of you stay here and guard this area. Do not separate under any circumstances. Keep a tight watch and do not let him escape.' The Giant King was genuinely enraged. The divine fire in his skull blazed to the heavens, and two beams of murderous light shot from his eye sockets, condensing into tangible edges like sharp swords. He said coldly and grimly: 'In the entire Eastern Wastes, three super-evolved kings are already enough. I doubt the Beast King would want a fourth to appear.'

With that, he released an utterly terrifying pressure and strode toward the grand and towering Beast King City ahead.

Xiao Chen had indeed deliberately led the Giant King near Beast King City, hoping to make the two great kings suspicious of each other. But he himself had long since fled far away. At this moment, he was racing madly, his destination—Giant City.

It had to be said that Xiao Chen's plan was utterly insane. He had just been hunted by the Giant King and his army, yet now he had turned around and was charging straight toward the Giant King's headquarters.

This was an unexpected, absolute counterattack!

At this moment, no one knew that the hunted had turned back and launched a counter-offensive.

The Eastern Wastes was a tripod of three forces. Many cities belonged to the three great cities, and Giant City naturally ruled a vast territory.

Xiao Chen pushed his speed to the limit. He was betting on this time gap.

Heading north through the lands ruled by Giant City, he ignored the smaller cities. Finally, he spotted a large city. By its scale, the city lord must have the strength of a Yellow Diamond first or second rank.

A Yellow Diamond king charged in, slaughtering all before him. Who could stop him?

Xiao Chen burst directly into the city lord's manor and intercepted the lord. To his delight, the lord was a Yellow Diamond second-rank master. Without a word, Xiao Chen raised his Hand of the Supreme Being.

A master of this level was already terrifying, but how could he block a Yellow Diamond super-evolved king, the unrivaled master of his rank?

In just a dozen exchanges, Xiao Chen shattered the city lord's bone body and refined his fire seed in an instant.

Xiao Chen did not tarry for a moment. He flew away like the wind and continued north. At dawn, he found another great city and burst inside. As expected, he encountered another powerful Yellow Diamond second-rank city lord. The outcome was a foregone conclusion—he smoothly refined another powerful fire seed.

At this moment, Xiao Chen no longer felt the least bit of frustration from being hunted. On the contrary, he felt the joy of the harvest season.

If he smoothly gathered a few more Yellow Diamond second-rank fire seeds, he would not even need the full thirty. As long as he cultivated using the Weng Syllable Heavenly Sound, he could probably advance a rank as well.

Racing against time, he continued north. In a single day, he broke through five great cities and harvested five powerful Yellow Diamond second-rank fire seeds.

The entire northern part of the Eastern Wastes was shaken!

All the powerful fire seed beings were terrified and uneasy.

The Giant King, who was negotiating at Beast King City, finally received news from the night owl and flew into a rage on the spot. He had never imagined that Xiao Chen would dare to counterattack like this—the hunted had switched roles, charging straight into his heartland.

The Giant King did not dare to stay a moment longer. He hastily took his leave.

The Beast King mocked him: 'I told you earlier, I did not hide him in the city. You refused to believe me. But that kid is quite clever—while we were suspicious of each other, he boldly charged straight into your belly. Heh heh…'

Hearing this, the Giant King felt like spitting blood. Without a word, he shot into the sky and flew out of Beast King City.

'Brother Giant King, you'd better hurry. I just got the latest news. That kid seems to be about to invade Giant City itself. If you're fast enough, you might make it back just in time to see him destroy your Giant City and then slip away unscathed.'

The Giant King was so furious he nearly fell out of the sky. He shouted to the seven masters outside Beast King City: 'Return to Giant City at top speed!'