Roars thundered from within the light. No one could see what was happening inside it, or even sense the faintest trace of an aura. They could only hear one thunderous crash after another.
The roars came like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, carrying terrifying divine might and fierce winds. They rose from nothing and swept across everything in sight, making the entire space tremble violently.
The clearing had become a place where only the fierce winds remained.
The roars gradually faded, then vanished. It was like stepping suddenly from a bustling market into a deserted alley, a contrast chilling enough to raise the hairs on one's neck.
The light, too, slowly dimmed until everything returned to normal.
The sky was blue, and the blazing sun hung high overhead, illuminating every corner of the place.
Qin An was covered in wounds. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and dripped onto the dirt.
His clothes were in tatters, leaving him looking thoroughly battered.
Since leaving that little county seat, this was the first time he had been reduced to such a sorry state.
And he was not the only one. So was his opponent.
Across from him, the metallic sheen of the Mechanical Emperor's body had faded almost completely, as if someone had draped it in black cloth. Its metal color was barely discernible.
His body was also riddled with damage. Nearly half of those astonishingly intricate structures had been destroyed.
For now, the battle between the Mechanical Emperor and Qin An was evenly matched. Neither had gained the upper hand.
Yet the Mechanical Emperor's eyes grew brighter. He threw back his head and laughed. "Good, good, good! You really are powerful. I have to admit, the Dragon Vein's power left me a little worse for wear, but only a