But even though Di Tian had reacted swiftly, he was still a step too late.
The sky was torn apart by Xiong Jun's Sky-Rending Claw, revealing deep, savage fissures that exuded a terrifying suction.
Under that suction, the fireball Zeng Tian had become began drifting upward uncontrollably. Even with all his strength, he could only slow the process.
"It's Sky-Rending Claw! Xiong Jun actually used Sky-Rending Claw!"
Sky-Rending Claw was Xiong Jun's proudest skill, developed over hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation. It was the ultimate enhanced version of Dark Gold Dreadclaw, its power far beyond that of an ordinary Dark Gold Dreadclaw.
Zeng Tian said, "No, an ordinary Counter Punch Shield definitely won't stop this attack!"
Immediately, the fireball Zeng Tian had become rapidly contracted. At the same time, more than a dozen Flame Whips appeared again, forming a double-layered defensive web of fire.
This was a special move Zeng Tian was still researching: the Double Counter Punch Shield. He had yet to finish developing it, but in this situation, he had no choice but to use it anyway.
Fortunately, luck was on Zeng Tian's side this time, and he successfully unleashed it.
The next moment, that terrifying, thousand-meter blade swept across the sky, engulfing Zeng Tian's position and striking his first Counter Punch Shield.
Yet the instant that sky-rending claw touched the Counter Punch Shield, Zeng Tian's expression changed drastically.
"Not good! My energy!"
In that brief instant alone, thirty percent of the energy within Zeng Tian had been consumed.
And that was not even the worst of it. Worst of all, Zeng Tian's first Counter Punch Shield held out for less than a second before Xiong Jun's Sky-Rending Claw tore it apart.
The sky-rending claw's dark-gold glow merely dimmed a little, with less than a fifth of its power lost.
Without pausing, it drove straight toward the second layer.
In less than a second, the second Counter Punch Shield was torn apart as well, exposing Zeng Tian's flame-wrapped body within.
Watching that thousand-meter claw draw closer and closer, Zeng Tian truly felt the presence of death for the first time.
Even the Double Counter Punch Shield can't stop it. Looks like my life ends here.
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Zeng Tian's mind. They were exceptionally clear, racing at an efficiency he had never experienced before, yet not a single solution could break him out of this death trap.
After all, the Double Counter Punch Shield was his strongest defensive move at present. If even that could not withstand the attack, his other moves stood even less of a chance.
No, perhaps there's still a way. There's still one last reserve of potential within me that hasn't been awakened!
At that final moment, flames of madness ignited in Zeng Tian's eyes. If defensive moves could not block it, then he would abandon defensive special moves altogether!
Immediately, Zeng Tian hurled himself upward toward the thousand-meter dark-gold claw.
As he flew, Zeng Tian began spinning rapidly. The flames all over his body surged, turning blue and red, making him resemble a blue-and-red meteor hurtling at tremendous speed.
This was Zeng Tian's most powerful special move at present: the ultimate Flare Blitz, which combined Flame Charge, Fire Spin, and other fire moves.
He intended to use Flare Blitz's recoil damage to trigger his Ability, Deep Crimson Blaze, and fight for that final sliver of hope!
The blue-and-red meteor was only seven or eight meters across. Against the thousand-meter sky-rending claw spanning the heavens, it seemed utterly insignificant.
Yet when that blue-and-red meteor struck the thousand-meter claw, it actually brought the enormous claw to a halt.
Much had happened, but in truth, it had all taken place in a single instant.
Meanwhile, at the center of the blue-and-red meteor, Zeng Tian's body endured immense agony. Cracks spread all over him, blood spurting from them before the terrifying flames surrounding him instantly burned it away.
Hold on. Just a little longer. Hold on a little longer!!!
Zeng Tian clenched his teeth, his eyes webbed with bloodshot veins and his entire body trembling.
The price of the ultimate Flare Blitz's immense power was extreme recoil damage. Originally a flaw in the special move, it had now become Zeng Tian's only lifeline.
As the blue-and-red meteor clashed with the thousand-meter claw, the cracks across Zeng Tian's body widened until he was almost like a piece of porcelain on the verge of shattering.
What Zeng Tian failed to notice was that, under this extreme pressure, the remaining energy within him was being continuously tempered and compressed.
At the same time, the power hidden deep within Zeng Tian's bloodline began awakening under his unyielding, frenzied will, adding a trace of deep blue-black to the flame on his tail.
Deep Crimson Blaze has finally activated!
Feeling power begin to surge within him, Zeng Tian increased his output without hesitation.
As more and more blue-black spread through the flame on Zeng Tian's tail, something astonishing happened: the enormous claw tearing through the heavens actually began to be forced back.
Suddenly, the flames surrounding Zeng Tian dimmed. The fireball, originally seven or eight meters across, shrank to three or four meters.
Damn it, how can I be running out of energy? Didn't I activate Deep Crimson Blaze?
Rumble-
The next instant, Zeng Tian was smashed into the earth like a meteor, gouging out an enormous crater.
The sky-rending claw also came to a brief halt.
"Enough!"
At that moment, the void split open, and Di Tian appeared between the enormous claw and Zeng Tian.
Immediately afterward, Di Tian transformed into his true black dragon form and spewed an immense blast of black dragon breath at the Sky-Rending Claw.
Crack!
Zeng Tian had already depleted much of the Sky-Rending Claw's power. Now, struck by Di Tian's full strength, it instantly dissolved into scattered motes of light.
At the same time, the dark fissures in the sky rapidly healed.
Di Tian turned his enormous draconic eyes toward Xiong Jun and roared furiously, "Xiong Jun, have you gone mad? You used Sky-Rending Claw in a spar?"
Yet Xiong Jun answered Di Tian with a furious roar-and another Sky-Rending Claw.
"Fine, fine, fine! Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"
Shocked and enraged at the sight, Di Tian held nothing back and swung a claw.
Instantly, an incomparably powerful aura spread outward. A black dragon claw wreathed in seven-colored light reached out of the void and, with one effortless movement, crushed Xiong Jun's Sky-Rending Claw.
After tearing apart Xiong Jun's Sky-Rending Claw, Di Tian did not stop. He drove the Dragon God Claw onward and seized Xiong Jun below.
"Xiong Jun, do you acknowledge your crime?"
After seizing Xiong Jun, Di Tian immediately began demanding an explanation. He had even decided that if Xiong Jun could not provide a reasonable one, he would utterly annihilate this fellow who had repeatedly challenged his authority.
Yet Xiong Jun gave no response whatsoever. Even caught in the Dragon God Claw, he continued struggling and attacking wildly.
Watching this, Di Tian frowned slightly. Something seemed wrong.
Meanwhile, Bi Ji and the others transformed into streaks of light and hurried to where Zeng Tian had fallen.
But the moment they arrived, Miss Auspicious Beast let out a scream:
"Zeng Tian!!!"