If the gap had been small, they might still have caught up. But it was far too wide. How could they possibly close it?
Watching Ren laugh in the distance, they felt a chill of despair.
They knew that if Ren survived, he would tower over every rival of this era. They would be reduced to supporting roles, forever crushed beneath him.
While they stood in shock, Ren was dissatisfied. The Dragon-Pattern Cauldron's power—and the force of its blow—had disappointed him.
Ren knew exactly what he needed to complete the First Turn of the Nine-Turn Mysterious Technique: enough energy, and the destruction of his physical body.
He had already eaten the Emperor Weapon Azure Lotus, so he had enough energy. Now he needed to shatter his body, but doing it himself would consume that energy. He wanted an outside force to break him apart so he could complete the First Turn without spending any.
That was why Ren had faced the Dragon-Pattern Cauldron head-on. He had hoped it would shatter his body.
Unfortunately, he had misjudged it—or rather, overestimated it. It was an Emperor Weapon, but one of the weakest.
Despite that direct hit, it had failed to shatter him. Ren knew his body was powerful, that he was on the verge of completing the First Turn, and that devouring an Emperor Weapon had given him some of its properties. Even so, he had expected a blow from another Emperor Weapon to break him apart.
Ren stared at the Dragon-Pattern Cauldron. Ignoring the cracks already spreading across his body, he threw another punch.
"Six Paths Reincarnation Fist!"
His fist flashed purple-gold as it struck the Dragon-Pattern Cauldron head-on.
Thud!
With a dull impact, the Dragon-Pattern Cauldron went flying backward.
The stunned onlookers watched Ren send an Emperor Weapon flying with