A Crushing Punch

Since both sides had discovered each other, Sean no longer bothered to hide. With a single flash of movement, he appeared high above in the clouds.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh." The bone-chilling wind at such a high altitude whipped Sean's clothes, making them snap loudly.

"Are you Sean of the Radiant Church?" The person approaching was a woman who looked to be about thirty years old. Her entire body was covered in a membrane that shimmered like flowing water; it was the Laws of Water. There was no need to guess—she was undoubtedly a lowgod who cultivated the water-style laws.

"Who are you?" Sean was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that the moment he stepped out, someone would actually recognize him. Furthermore, while his reputation was great, most god-level experts should have only heard of him; they shouldn't have known his face.

No one would bother remembering the appearance of an ant. Even before reaching the Saint-level, let alone the peak of the Saint-level, they were nothing more than slightly larger ants in the eyes of god-level experts.

"How could you possibly be a god-level expert? And using the Laws of Darkness, no less?" The water-style lowgod woman looked at him in disbelief.

She then seemed to consider something and asked, "Did you reach the Saint-level and then refine a godspark of the darkness attribute?"

"Uh!" Sean was momentarily stunned. He hadn't thought of a reason, yet the person before him had provided one.

Indeed, it was reasonable to explain Sean's progression from level 8 to god-level in just over a decade this way: first reaching the Saint-level, then refining a darkness godspark.

However, refining a godspark shouldn't have been possible in such a short time, but at least it was a plausible explanation—more reasonable than claiming he had cultivated it himself.

Perhaps it was because Sean had never considered the act of refining a godspark—he would even eat them if he had one—that he had momentarily forgotten this possibility.

Seeing Sean remain silent, the woman frowned and said, "But refining a godspark usually takes decades or even centuries. How did you refine it so quickly?"

"I have high talent, is that not enough?" Sean couldn't be bothered to explain. Since he had a good excuse, he didn't want to drag it out further. He needed to figure out who this person was and why she knew him, so he asked, "Who are you? And why do you know my name?"

"The most brilliant genius of the Radiant Church in the last 5,000 years—of course I know you." The woman said indifferently, "Over a decade ago, I visited Shengyue City and had some dealings with the god-level experts of your Radiant Church. It was during that time in Shengyue City that I heard of you. I even observed you with my divine sense once. Before this, you were cultivating the earth-style laws, weren't you?"

"Are you from the Water God Sect?" Sean asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Over a decade ago, when he was just a level 7, a very important event had occurred. The Water God Sect of the Zhongyuan Continent had come to visit the Radiant Church, and the Radiant Church had received them with the most grand and solemn etiquette.

Given Sean's level at the time, although his reputation as a genius was high, he was ultimately too low-ranked to have much contact. He only knew that many Saint-level experts from the Water God Sect had arrived. As for god-level experts, he hadn't known, but judging by today's situation, they must have come as well.

"Your earth-style talent was very strong; based on the situation back then, becoming a Saint-level expert was a certainty." The Water God Sect woman smiled and said, "It's a pity. After refining a godspark that isn't of the earth attribute, your future is set. But it's not a total loss. Every few thousand years, the Zhongyuan Continent produces a large batch of top-tier geniuses. There are those stronger than you, but in the end, those who can actually cultivate to the god-level can be counted on one's fingers."

In a material plane, so-called super geniuses, generally speaking, as long as they have some backing to nurture them, reaching the Saint-level is not a problem. Their talent is truly high.

But the gap between Saint-level and god-level is a chasm. The mental energy and elemental affinity measured in childhood are merely the basic foundations for cultivation. Those who can become Saint-level are basically super geniuses or rare talents, but those who can become gods are always one in ten thousand.

Countless Saint-level experts have cultivated for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, yet they are unable to become gods independently. They have long since woken up from the dreams of their childhood genius days and only wish to obtain a godspark.

Therefore, from a normal perspective, although Sean was a super genius who cultivated earth-style magic, could he become a god? The probability was still one in ten thousand.

Countless geniuses in the material plane were stuck at this stage. Being able to become a god so early already surpassed 99 percent of other Saint-level experts. The only pity was that if he had refined an earth-style godspark, his achievements might have been slightly higher, as it would have been the same element he cultivated.

"That is not for you to worry about." Sean said coldly, "I heard that when Shengyue City was besieged by the Darkness Church, your Water God Sect participated as well?"

When Shengyue City was in danger, Sean and Leilia were in a rush to escape, so naturally, they knew nothing. Later, while hiding to let Leilia recover from her injuries and to avoid being discovered, they hadn't gone out.

It wasn't until Leilia recovered and went out to scout for information that they learned many things they hadn't known, including the news that the Darkness Church had united with various sects to besiege the Radiant Church.

This included the Water God Sect. One must know that although the Radiant Church had been the sole dominant power, aside from the Darkness Church, their relationship with the other sects was considered decent; at the very least, they showed them respect on the surface.

"So what if I did? All the major sects are here to spread their faith, not to be friends. Everyone is just acting for the sake of profit." The Water God Sect woman smiled faintly. "What? As a lowgod who refined a godspark, do you want to take revenge for the Radiant Church? I see you can only cultivate the Laws of Darkness now; why not join the Darkness Temple instead?"

"Did you become a god independently?" Sean countered.

Those who can become gods independently in a material plane can indeed be considered stunningly brilliant. Even he, if not for his heaven-defying cheat, would find it hard to say whether he could have become a god on his own.

"Of course." The Water God Sect woman said proudly.

"Everyone is here for the sake of divine power. I understand you opposing the Radiant Church, but Shengyue City and the hundreds of millions of lives in the surrounding area—those I knew—they are all dead. A portion of that blood is on your hands." Sean didn't bother with more nonsense and flew forward, throwing a punch at high speed.

He hadn't acted earlier because he was worried that if Leilia's information was wrong, he might kill the wrong person.

Regardless of everything, he was still considered a member of the Radiant Church and needed to rely on them to deal with the Darkness Church. Allies are not easy to kill, and besides, there was no benefit in killing her—at most, he would get a godspark.

But now that he was certain she was an enemy, he naturally wouldn't be polite.

"You seek—" Before the Water God Sect woman could finish her sentence, she suddenly realized that Sean's speed was far, far faster than hers. Although the water-style she cultivated wasn't known for speed, the Laws of Darkness shouldn't be either, right? Why was his speed so much faster?

However, she had no time to react. Facing a punch of such speed, she instinctively threw a punch to block. The Laws of Water were best at defense.

Sean's fist struck her arm like lightning.

In an instant, her right arm was shattered, flesh and blood flying everywhere. The immense force traveled through her shoulder and directly into her body.

PS: This was supposed to be updated at noon, but I went out this morning for the weekend and forgot to upload it from my phone, so it's late.

There are many fanfictions of Coiling Dragon that get abandoned, but that is impossible for this one. I have already finished the outline and have quite a few chapters in reserve. Unless something happens to me in the real world, I will not stop updating.

So, everyone, please try to keep up with the chapters. Even if you don't subscribe later, providing some data now can ensure this book gets future recommendations. Thank you!