Chapter Four: Fierce Battle

Sensing the violent aura emanating from Zhang Xiao, the giant scorpion monster before him roared in fury, "Human, this is the palace of the God of Death, Anubis. Leave at once, unless you hold a warrant from the God of Death or the Lord of the Underworld."

Although the monster did not speak a human tongue, those who have reached the Spirit Refining stage can convey their intent through spiritual fluctuations, transcending all barriers of species.

Hearing this, Zhang Xiao replied coldly, "I have no such warrant, but I must enter the palace. If you refuse to step aside, then I apologize." With that, Zhang Xiao swung his Tianyang Sword. The sword light surged like a dragon, accompanied by a thunderous roar.

The blade struck the scorpion’s armored shell with immense force, sending the beast flying. Zhang Xiao’s expression darkened; he had poured eighty percent of his strength into that blow—enough to cleave mountains and part rivers—yet it had only succeeded in knocking the creature back. Though he had expected resistance, he was inwardly shocked.

"Damned human, you hurt me!" With a ferocious roar, the scorpion curled its body and sprang up, charging toward Zhang Xiao. Its mountain-like frame moved with such explosive speed that Zhang Xiao barely had time to react.

He immediately summoned the Five-Colored Cloud Banner, pouring his spiritual energy into it like a bursting dam. Layers of five-colored clouds materialized before him, soft as cotton, cushioning the impact of the scorpion’s charge. While the collision was blunted, the spiritual energy within Zhang Xiao roiled violently. Realizing he could no longer hold back, he let out a deep, guttural shout. In the blink of an eye, his form shifted, transforming into a Xuanwu as massive as the scorpion. The dark, crimson-black creature was wreathed in roiling demonic energy.

Thick demonic miasma condensed into a great serpent that coiled around the Xuanwu’s body. The scorpion froze, unable to comprehend how a human had suddenly become a giant tortoise. It did not know what a Xuanwu was, having only ever encountered common turtles.

Seeing Zhang Xiao’s massive, imposing form, the scorpion laughed mockingly, "Hmph, you think a turtle shell can stop me?" It charged again. Unfortunately for the scorpion, it had grown arrogant. Zhang Xiao had not transformed into a common turtle, but into the Xuanwu, one of the four ancient divine beasts of heaven and earth, channeled through his Seven Transformations Profound Heaven Technique.

Although Zhang Xiao’s Xuanwu bloodline was incredibly diluted, it was far superior to any ordinary tortoise. Seeing the scorpion’s carelessness, Zhang Xiao’s lips curled into a cold smirk. He inhaled deeply, drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy, which gathered into a vortex before him. Perhaps because they were so close to the River of Oblivion, the energy he drew was largely composed of dark, blue-tinged malevolent spirits. In an instant, a deep blue orb of energy coalesced in his maw. "Eat this Xuanwu Cannon and save your boasting for later." Zhang Xiao spat the orb out; it tore through the air like a cannonball, blasting toward the charging scorpion.

The scorpion panicked. Though it did not know the true power of the projectile, it felt the pressure tearing at the very fabric of existence. It deeply regretted its recklessness, but the blast was too close to evade. It could only cross its massive pincers in front of itself to brace for the impact.

"BOOM!" The Xuanwu Cannon struck the scorpion, erupting in a deafening roar and a visible wave of shock that scattered the surrounding energy into jagged shards. Like razor blades, these fragments shredded everything in their path. Zhang Xiao remained unscathed, but the lesser giant scorpions nearby were caught in the wake; those lucky enough were merely tossed aside, half-dead, while the unlucky ones were instantly torn to pieces by the violent energy. When the dust settled, the land looked as though it had been flayed. The giant scorpion lay in the distance, its armored plating cracked and shattered.

Zhang Xiao narrowed his eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he charged like a runaway train. With every heavy step he took, the earth beneath him rose dozens of meters, forming a high pedestal by the time he reached his foe. He slammed his side down, his thick, reinforced shell acting like a massive hammer crushing the scorpion’s body. Dazed and reeling, the scorpion saw triple.

The serpent formed from Zhang Xiao’s demonic energy coiled tightly around the creature’s limbs, tearing into the gaps in its armor. The excruciating pain drew agonizing shrieks from the beast, but Zhang Xiao remained cautious. As long as the scorpion did not spit out its internal demon core to counterattack, it meant the battle was not yet at a life-or-death impasse.

Zhang Xiao lashed out with his claws, each strike carrying the force of ten thousand pounds. Even a creature of the Spirit Refining stage could not withstand such an onslaught, and the scorpion’s armor shattered further. Just as Zhang Xiao was relishing the upper hand, a black streak pierced the air, aiming straight for the back of his head—it was the scorpion’s tail. The strike was silent, devoid of wind or air displacement. Just as it was about to pierce his skull, a golden light erupted from the back of Zhang Xiao’s head. A golden flying sword shot out, its brilliance shining like a miniature sun.

The scorpion felt a searing pain in its tail and shuddered as it realized its appendage had been severed. Ignoring the agony, it spat out its pitch-black demon core. With the force of ten thousand pounds, the core slammed into Zhang Xiao, knocking him backward.

The scorpion scrambled to its feet, staring at its severed tail and its bloodied body, burning with rage. Had it not been for its initial arrogance, it would never have been suppressed by this human.

Glaring at Zhang Xiao, it roared, "You damned human, I will kill you!" The scorpion’s body suddenly swelled to twice its size. It brandished its massive pincers, while its demon core unleashed a barrage of black light that transformed into a rain of strange, jagged weapons.

***

"Kama, didn't you calculate that the Eastern brat should be waiting for us here? Why can't we find a trace of him?" a man in black wielding a scimitar asked.

Kama’s expression was deathly grim. He had rehearsed this plan countless times. From the moment he first saw Zhang Xiao, he was certain the man was the perfect candidate for his scheme.

He reasoned that an Easterner, once he had crossed the River of Oblivion using the method he provided, would have no other way to proceed. Unless the man was a history professor well-versed in ancient Egyptian mythology—an infinitesimal possibility—he should have been trapped. Yet, here he was, nowhere to be found. Had he hidden? Or had there been a flaw in the calculation?

Kama furrowed his brow in deep thought, unaware that his greatest oversight was that Zhang Xiao, hailing from the East, had not only discerned the true nature of the River of Oblivion but had also devised a way to cross it by crafting a skateboard using the collision of yin and yang energies. Sadly, there was no one left to tell Kama the truth.