Chapter 58: The Battle for the Fragments

The strange surge of energy within Gu Liuyun grew increasingly intense, acting precisely like a Global Positioning System (GPS) navigator pointing directly toward a specific destination.

He raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving the corner of his lips, and muttered softly, "It seems the remaining fragments can't wait to meet me."

Turning around, he looked at Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao. Both women were gazing at him with eyes full of a mixture of adoration and worry, which warmed Gu Liuyun's heart.

He reached out and gently grasped each of their delicate hands, speaking in a tender voice, "Things might get a bit troublesome ahead, stay close to me."

"Mm!" The two women nodded obediently, trailing closely behind Gu Liuyun. Their figures shot forward like arrows released from a bow, instantly vanishing from where they stood.

Along the way, Gu Liuyun's mind raced at top speed, various tactics colliding in his thoughts. He functioned like a high-precision central processing unit (CPU), constantly prepared to handle any sudden developments.

He could clearly perceive the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the surroundings, as well as the watchful gazes hidden in the shadows. It was evident that the enemy had long since laid a trap, waiting for him to walk right into it.

Before long, the three of them reached their destination—a dilapidated industrial park with rusted iron gates and ruined factory buildings, exuding a gloomy and eerie atmosphere everywhere.

Within the factory compound, a powerful array of formation energy was pulsing, resembling a massive web waiting for prey to trap itself.

"Hmph, you certainly hold me in high regard!" Gu Liuyun sneered.

He stepped into the complex, and in an instant, countless beams of light soared into the sky, forming a massive curtain of light that enveloped the entire area.

Surging waves of powerful energy rushed toward him. On the ground, countless sharp spikes burst through the soil, while in the air, countless razor-sharp blades cut through space ruthlessly, emitting piercing, shrill whistles.

"Good grief, what kind of ghost formation is this? Isn't this a bit too exaggerated?" Chen Jiaojiao cried out in alarm, clutching Gu Liuyun's arm tightly as a wave of panic washed over her.

Although Ye Manman remained silent, her tightly furrowed brow betrayed the unease stirring within her.

Gu Liuyun dodged the various onslaughts while carefully observing the structure of the formation, attempting to pinpoint its flaws.

"This is getting interesting." Gu Liuyun chuckled coldly. Suddenly, he sensed a fierce attack hurtling toward him. With a flash of his body, he narrowly avoided it, though the powerful energy turbulence still caused his blood to churn.

"It seems breaking this array won't be so easy," Gu Liuyun murmured to himself, a gleam of excitement curving his lips as his passion for battle was fully ignited.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions echoed one after another, shaking the entire compound. The battle reached a fever pitch, and the surrounding air felt as though it had been set ablaze.

Abruptly, Gu Liuyun halted his steps, a peculiar smile spreading across his face. "So that's how it is..." The smile on his lips grew broader, bearing a striking resemblance to the classic web-novel trope of an overpowered protagonist about to unleash a cheat.

He slowly raised his hand, pointing toward the core of the formation where visible energy was churning frantically.

"Is that it?" His tone carried utter disdain, as though mocking a child's toy.

A golden flash sparked at his fingertip, and a golden thread as thin as a hair shot out with pinpoint accuracy, striking the very core of the formation.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the entire formation shook violently, as if an atomic bomb had been dropped into it. The shockwave of the explosion rippled outward in all directions, kicking up dust and obscuring the sky.

The previously indestructible barrier of light fractured like shattered glass, cracking piece by piece before finally collapsing with a thunderous roar.

"How is this possible?!" The villainous boss hidden in the shadows widened his eyes in utter disbelief.

The array he had meticulously crafted had been dismantled with such effortless ease?

This was even more unbelievable than winning the lottery!

Gu Liuyun's figure slowly emerged from the dust like a descending deity, radiating a dazzling brilliance all over.

He walked step by step toward the villainous boss, each stride feeling as though it were treading directly upon the enemy's heart. The crushing pressure left the foe gasping for breath.

"Who... who on earth are you?" the villainous boss asked with a trembling voice, feeling as though he were facing not a man, but an ancient primordial beast capable of tearing him to shreds at any moment.

Gu Liuyun offered no reply, merely sneering as he raised his hand and struck with a palm strike.

The golden palm print descended like Mount Tai, carrying a world-destroying momentum as it slammed viciously into the villainous boss.

"Bang!"

The villainous boss flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground, vomiting a mouthful of blood, and hanging on by a thread.

Seeing this, the remaining lackeys were frightened out of their wits and immediately dropped to their knees to beg for mercy, creating a momentary scene of sheer farce.

Ignoring the small fry, Gu Liuyun walked straight over to Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao. Their eyes were filled with love and pride as they flanked him, each gripping one of his arms tightly as if afraid he might suddenly vanish.

Gu Liuyun gently wrapped his arms around their slender waists, feeling their warmth and affection, and a profound sense of peace settled in his heart.

He lowered his head, pressed a gentle kiss to their foreheads, and spoke softly, "It's alright, it's all over."

Nestled in Gu Liuyun's embrace, Ye Manman and Chen Jiaojiao beamed with radiant, blissful smiles.

The surrounding air was suffused with a sweet fragrance, as though the entire world had been filled with love.

Suddenly, Gu Liuyun's brow furrowed. He sensed a formidable aura rapidly approaching...

"It seems the good show is only just beginning," he muttered under his breath.

Just as Gu Liuyun thought he could wrap things up, a suffocating sense of oppression swept through the air, and several dark figures materialized before them like ghosts.

These newcomers emanated an aura far more powerful than the previous villainous boss.

"Oh come on, another wave?" Chen Jiaojiao couldn't help uttering a curse, her pretty face tightening like an agitated, bristling kitten.

Ye Manman also discarded her previous gentleness, fixing her wary gaze on these uninvited guests. In this moment, her innate alluring physique radiated an extra edge of lethal intent.

"Brat, your good days are over!" The leader of the figures in black sneered. Before his voice even faded, several streaks of dark energy shot toward Gu Liuyun like sharp arrows.

Gu Liuyun's pupils constricted sharply. Sensing the formidable destructive power of this energy, he dared not meet it head-on and quickly retreated.

However, the opponent's attack pursued him relentlessly like clinging maggots. Caught off guard by a momentary lapse, one of the energy beams grazed his shoulder. A wave of intense pain flared instantly, and he let out a muffled grunt as a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Damn it!" Gu Liuyun's heart sank. A long-forgotten sense of despair welled up within him. Was he really going to fall here today?

"No, I must never surrender!" he roared internally. The pride of a former Immortal Venerable forbade him from collapsing here.

Violently channeling the mysterious power within his body, a formidable torrent of air burst forth from him. Golden light enveloped his entire being, making him look like a descending god of war with astonishing momentum.

"Holy cow, is he about to use a cheat?" Chen Jiaojiao watched in utter astonishment, her eyes wide as saucers, feeling as though she were watching a Hollywood blockbuster.

"Is... is he even human?" Ye Manman was equally stunned by the sight, her lips parted slightly in absolute disbelief.

"This kid is somewhat interesting." The leader in black flashed a trace of surprise, but his expression quickly reverted to one of disdain. "Still, struggling is futile!"

However, the subsequent battle defied everyone's expectations.

Fueled as though injected with adrenaline, Gu Liuyun brimmed with explosive strength. With a barrage of punches resembling a violent storm, he completely shattered the attacks of the men in black.

His speed was so blistering that only afterimages remained. Every strike he delivered carried the might to cleave mountains and shatter rocks, leaving the men in black scrambling and driven back in continuous retreat.

Completely shaken by Gu Liuyun's sudden outburst, the arrogant demeanor of the men in black vanished entirely, replaced by profound terror.

Under Gu Liuyun's god-of-war-like offensive, they were quickly routed, collapsing onto the ground like broken sacks of grain while emitting miserable groans.

When the last man in black fell, Gu Liuyun retracted the radiance shimmering around him and walked slowly toward the convergence point of the fragments.

The nine fragments were currently emitting a dazzling brilliance. Responding to some unseen summons, they slowly fused together, ultimately forming a rhombus-shaped crystal radiating seven-colored light.

A mighty surge of power poured out from the crystal, enveloping Gu Liuyun entirely. His body felt as though it were submerged in a hot spring, every cell greedily absorbing the energy.

His cultivation level skyrocketed, rapidly shattering its bottleneck and reaching an unprecedented height.

When the light finally dispersed, Gu Liuyun had undergone a complete rebirth. An awe-inspiring aura emanated from him, making him appear as the supreme ruler of this world.

Looking at the crystal in his hand, a profound smile played at the corner of his lips. "A new journey begins..." With those words, he turned and walked away from the devastated grounds.