Breakthrough! White Fierce Fist!

Rain fell over the Ancient Capital, a fine drizzle that chilled to the bone.

Jiang Bowen took over command from Su Zhe, while Su Zhe patrolled the entire battle zone, ready to fend off the cunning Undead at a critical moment.

In both his past life and this one, whether as himself or the original owner of this body, he had become an orphan on a rainy day.

"I really hate rainy days."

Zhou Sining looked miserable. With a thought, the system interface appeared before his eyes.

[Zhou Sining]

[Life Points: 3.6 (self) / 712 (Demon Beasts)]

[Fire Element Beginner Level 3] [Innate Fire Element Devouring Seed]

[Demon-Slaying]

[Level: 4 (637/1500)]

[Current Lottery Draws: 9 (requires 200 Life Points)]

He had originally had 650 Life Points and built that up to 1,400 during the earlier fighting, but for safety, he had spent 688 on a Nether Separation Shield.

That left him with 712, just 176 short of the Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain.

He could also exchange his points for a Fire Element Spirit Seed and absorb it for the energy needed to break through.

Zhou Sining quickly made his choice.

"The Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain matters more."

Absorbing a Spirit Seed was slow. It could not provide him with a powerful surge of energy right away.

Besides, he already had a Spirit Level Stardust Magic Tool to supply energy from outside.

But the pain his mind would endure during the breakthrough was real. If the Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain protected it, perhaps the pain would ease, leaving him more strength to push into the Intermediate Level.

Zhou Sining went to the edge of the city wall, swiftly linked a Star Track, and hurled a ball of white flame into the horde of corpses.

After resting ten seconds, he repeated the move.

The horde below was packed tight. Each burst of the mighty Gangsha Flame swallowed a huge swath of them, and just two explosions earned him the 176 Life Points he needed.

The battle grew fiercer. Military Mages hurried back and forth around him, while explosions, curses, and screams rang out without end.

Zhou Sining wasted no time. He exchanged for the Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain and put it on as he ran inward. Once he reached a completely safe spot, he sat cross-legged and entered a state of cultivation.

He closed his eyes tightly. The Stardust Magic Tool hanging at his chest brightened and dimmed with every breath.

The Spirit Level Stardust Magic Tool fed him a steady stream of energy, replenishing what he had spent casting Magic that night.

In the murky Spiritual World, his white Star Dust had grown remarkably full. At a glance, it resembled a white cloud, giving off a glow that waxed and waned.

A faint curtain of light surrounded the Star Dust. The radiance blooming within it was trying to break through that hazy barrier.

The curtain was like an eggshell or a cocoon, enclosing energy on the verge of breaking free. It seemed unmoved by the surging Magic Energy, yet the force swelling inside had visibly stretched it.

Light from the Stardust Magic Tool at his chest poured into Zhou Sining's Star Dust and became the force of his breakthrough. Instead of spreading in every direction, that force suddenly gathered at one point.

It was like countless streams joining a river. The once-quiet river surged, its rolling waves battering the banks!

At last, a crack appeared in the outer cocoon. Spiderweb fractures spread unevenly across it, growing wider and wider.

Almost there. Almost there!

Excitement surged through Zhou Sining.

But as he battered his way toward the next level, he could clearly feel the tremendous backlash striking his mind.

It made his head feel ready to split open, as though sharp swords were piercing his brain and raging waves were crashing through it. He was a hundred, a thousand times more exhausted and pained than when he had trained until his strength ran dry!

My head's going to explode!

"Hum!"

Suddenly, the Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain he wore emitted a gentle light. Rings of invisible ripples spread from it, then gathered into a warm spring that flowed into Zhou Sining's Spiritual World.

A sense of stillness, gentleness, warmth, and comfort enveloped him. The throbbing pressure in his head eased considerably.

Zhou Sining seized the chance to keep pounding at the fractured barrier.

The pain continued to intensify, gradually reaching a point where even the Soul-Consolidating Heart Chain could no longer lessen it. But the barrier had reached its limit too.

Break, damn you! Zhou Sining roared inwardly.

The light of the white Star Dust rapidly collapsed inward, only to erupt at the very last instant with its most searing radiance!

Boom!

The Gangsha Flame burst outward, filling Zhou Sining's entire Spiritual Universe in an instant.

White radiance gathered into a true cloud. Every point of starlight was bright and full, shining together throughout his Spiritual World.

The difference between Star Dust and a Nebula was unmistakable. Even when his Star Dust had been so full of energy it was about to overflow, it had looked like no more than a thin white haze.

But the Nebula before him was a mass, a cluster, a cloud—a real, clearly visible cloud!

Zhou Sining's eyes flew open. White stellar flames were already burning in his pupils!

He stood and flexed his hands. Fire yearned to burst from his body, flames dancing along both arms. It felt as though his Magic Energy would never run out!

"Hiss!"

The cold rain landed on him, only to be evaporated the next instant by the heat radiating from within his body.

"I did it!"

Zhou Sining's heart was still pounding, but he had not forgotten the task at hand. He hurried to find Su Zhe.

"I broke through, Commander Su!"

"Good! I knew I was right about you!" A smile finally appeared on Su Zhe's weary face.

He raised his radio and spoke rapidly. "Jiang Bowen, Zhou Sining has broken through. Find the target's exact position from the sky."

"Copy!"

Su Zhe shoved the radio into Zhou Sining's arms. "I'll be the bait. Stay close and watch. Jiang Bowen will tell you when he pinpoints it!"

With that, he led Zhou Sining to the front of a Fire Mage formation, ordered the unit to move aside, and nimbly climbed onto the edge of the wall.

"Ice Lock!"

Su Zhe summoned his Ice Locks and became an Ice General, directing the six chains in his hands to sweep through the masses of Undead below.

Severed limbs and broken bodies lay in their wake, coated in icy blue frost.

It was dangerous and wasted far too much Magic Energy. No commander would normally pull such a foolish stunt.

But if they wanted to lure that Undead into attacking, it had to sense who on the wall posed the greatest threat.

Su Zhe boldly wielded his Ice Locks. A defense squad soon arrived to protect him, while Jiang Bowen rode a Sky Eagle overhead, his sharp eyes scanning the horde.

One minute passed... then two...

"Whoosh!"

A mass of blood-red energy shot out of the horde, straight at Su Zhe's face!

"Water Barrier!"

The defense squad immediately cast their spells. Ten Level Three Water Barriers in succession greatly weakened the bloody projectile and gave Su Zhe enough time to escape.

Found it!

Jiang Bowen's gaze locked onto a single point below. The Warrior Level Undead hidden among the corpses had exposed itself the moment it attacked!

"Second Fire Mage formation, one o'clock, within three hundred meters—fire!" Jiang Bowen ordered without hesitation.

The second Fire Mage formation was the one beside Su Zhe. Thirty Flame Bursts rained down, explosions booming one after another.

"Again!"

Another thirty Flame Bursts struck. In moments, the horde had been cleared away, leaving only a few tough-skinned Undead with flames clinging to their bodies.

Those few Undead stood out on the empty, burning ground.

"The one that looks weakest! That's it!"

Jiang Bowen's roar came through the radio. Zhou Sining cut loose, pouring Magic Energy into the Star Chart Book with all his might!

He had been ready. Once he knew where the Undead was, it took him less than a second to fill the Star Chart Book with Magic Energy.

"Gangsha Flame: Fierce Fist—Heaven-Shaking Blast!"

Zhou Sining aimed at the Warrior Level Undead trying to flee from the center of his vision and drove his right fist forward. Flames ignited as his arm cut through the air, forming a blazing fist!

The white Flame Fist locked onto the Warrior Level Undead like an arrow loosed from a bow. Vast fire energy roared as the Gangsha Flame surged toward it with unstoppable force!

Even if the creature wanted to run, it could not make it back into the horde in time.

Boom!

The fist, brimming with Destruction, slammed into its body and exploded with a deafening blast. A white rose bloomed across the dark ground!

An ordinary Fierce Fist was terrifying enough. Bolstered by the Gangsha Spirit Seed, this one carried an authority that could not be defied. Tongues of flame swept through everything around it.

This was the ultimate power of Destruction!