I dropped my head and softly touched the spot around my dantian. Sharp pain shot through me in waves.


    After Cleo''s relentless attacks, my dantian had taken serious damage.


    But through it all, I had officially stepped into the Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster realm.


    My body and power had grown incredibly stronger.


    Massive spiritual energy flowed through me like a boundless sea. The thickness was way beyond what I''d expected!


    "The chaotic body being unbeatable at the same level" really wasn''t just talk!


    Plus, I was just one step from bing a Half-step Martial Sage!


    "What''s the matter, getting cold feet?" Cleo asked casually.


    I shook my head and said, "You know what you look like to me?"


    Cleo lifted an eyebrow, "Oh?"


    "Right now, you''re nothing but a bug to me. No matter how loud you yell or how hard you stomp, you just look pathetic." I said quietly.


    After hearing my words, Cleo cracked upughing and said, "You''re just a Consummate Inner Strength Grandmaster, and you dare talk such trash?"


    "So what, just because you used the Power of Martial Saint once, you think it''s yours now?"


    I smirked and said, "Truth is, the me right now is stronger than when I had the Power of Martial Saint."


    "Total garbage," Cleo said, his face getting dark.


    "Kid, since you''re still breathing, I''ll throw you a bone."


    "Give me Mabel Sean, and I might let you walk away alive."


    My face went cold as I said icily, "Anyone who wants Mabel Sean gets only one thing - death."


    As I spoke, my killing intent shot up fast.


    Sensing the freezing auraing off me, Cleo''s eyebrows pinched together.


    The coldness made him feel serious danger!


    *No, he needs to die right now!* Cleo thought darkly.


    Without hesitation, his hands began moving quickly through the air.


    Rivers of Inner Strength poured from his palms and took form, bing massive snakes!


    The snakes glowed pale blue, swinging their huge heads in the air.


    They were madepletely from pure spiritual energy - their strength was beyond imagination.


    "Die!"


    Cleo yelled, thrusting his hands forward. The Inner Strength snakes shot toward me with crushing power!


    I watched the attacking snakes coldly, a touch of scorn twisting my lips.


    My fist tightened slightly, and I casually threw one punch back!


    It looked like a basic hit, but it packed enough force to wreck heaven and earth!


    Golden light burst from my fist, blinding everyone instantly!


    "Bang!"


    With that punch, everything in front of me got wiped out! Even the space around us groaned like it couldn''t handle the pure force!


    The snakes Cleo had created turned to smoke right away!


    Cleo''s face went white!


    He stumbled back two steps, pure terror showing on his face.


    That move was his specialty, but now it got crushed so easily with just one punch?


    "What... what kind of move is this?" Cleo asked, terrified.


    I thought for a second and said, "It''s not really a move, just a random punch."


    A random punch?


    How was that possible? His best technique had been destroyed by a simple casual punch?


    "Mason Raymond, you..."


    "I don''t want to listen to your crap," I cut him off, waving my hand.


    "Every idiot who shows up here looking to die always runs their mouth with useless garbage before they croak."


    "Either begging or telling me to wait. I''mpletely tired of hearing it."


    "So... just shut up!"


    Before I finished talking, I threw another punch straight at Cleo!


    Cleo went pale with fear! He quickly pulled out his Martial Saint Weapon to block!


    But it was useless - the Martial Saint Weapon fell apart like tissue paper in front of me.


    Under this punch, the weapon''s glow gotpletely eaten up, then exploded into pieces!


    "Bang!"


    The punch hit Cleo''s body dead on!


    That strike blew Cleo''s body apart instantly!


    Chunks of meat scattered everywhere, and the air reeked of blood.


    I slowly walked over to what was left of Cleo.


    I pulled out Cleo''s golden core and lifted my hand. The scattered flesh turned into bloody mist.


    ——


    The young man who hade with Cleo went wide-eyed, shaking all over.


    Terror drained the strength from his body, leaving him t on the ground.


    "P-please... don''t kill me..." the young man stuttered, begging.


    ——


    I looked at him without saying anything and easily crushed his head with one kick.


    After grabbing both golden cores, I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling the golden core glowing dimly in my dantian.


    But Cleo''s repeated hits seemed to have damaged my golden core.


    I checked it carefully, my face getting darker.


    A thin crack had shown up on the golden core.


    The crack was small, but I could see it clearly.


    My eyebrows creased hard.


    *I didn''t feel any problems now, but who knew if this injury might cause troubleter, or what damage it could do down the road?*


    "This Michelle Sect..." I gritted my teeth, my hate for the Michelle Sect growing even stronger.


    *Maybe I should ask the Pavilion Master about itter. He might know how to fix it,* I thought quietly.


    Turning away from the Ruins, I got ready to leave the Mystic Realm when I found Ste Lucas lying on the ground.


    She was soaked in blood, barely breathing.


    I quickly ran to her, reaching out and pushing spiritual energy into her to keep her alive for now.


    "Boom, rumble!"


    All of a sudden, the Mystic Realm started shaking like crazy! The sky and ground began falling apart right then!