The deafening crash jolted everyone awake. Sweat had already beaded on their foreheads. Another moment, and they would have sunk into it, becoming mindless walking corpses. Only then did they look toward the battlefield.
The two men stood facing each other.
After that single exchange, neither made another move. They merely studied each other, eyes flickering with thoughts neither voiced.
At last, Hun Tiandi spoke first. "Who are you? I had no idea someone like you had appeared on this continent."
Gu Hui shrugged and smiled. "When I wasn't strong enough, I had to keep my head down. I had no desire to end up like those two from Fenyan Valley and the Dan Tower."
"Heh. Your fate will be the same." Hun Tiandi's voice was cold.
Before he had finished speaking, an overwhelming surge of energy shot skyward from his body. The energy throughout the world instantly turned violent.
As if answering Hun Tiandi's call, a vast torrent of Dou Qi powerful enough to tear the world apart spread out around him. It became a tide that slammed toward Gu Hui.
Gu Hui gave a soft laugh. Even without using his martial cultivation, his Dou Qi cultivation was enough to crush Hun Tiandi. But his long habit of keeping a low profile led him to use only strength equal to Hun Tiandi's: the Nine-Star Late Stage.
Facing the terrifying tide that engulfed half the sky, Gu Hui extended a finger and tapped lightly. The immense wave of energy bearing down on him scattered at his touch. He said mockingly,
"You think you can take me down with that? Are you dreaming?
"That might work on someone else, but it's useless against either of us. Spare me the flashy tricks."
Hun Tiandi was not surprised that his probing attack had