Chen Ming fell from another hit, blood spilling from his mouth. This blow rattled his organs.

  He rolled on the ground and crawled his way back up. He couldn’t return one hit. This guy is more than impressive!

  The entire Galaxy watching the Sacred Mountain was rattled from shock. The almost invincible Chen Ming, he who crushed geniuses, he who made fear rise in their hearts, was now played around by a mortal!

  The wind was changing.

  “It’s true what they say, there’s a man above a man like there’s a sky above a sky!”


  “Where does he come from?”


  “He doesn’t seem to be from the mortal world.”


  “Did this world have such an extraordinary person?”


  Chen Ming stood up again, eyes on Zi Yu and also learning another move. I just can’t get used to reading books mid-fight, more so when fighting against me, Immortal Master Chen. But you won’t ever hear me say that.

  Chen Ming ignored the blood since it’d flow again soon anyway, and continued to fight. He couldn’t repeat a move, or the pages wouldn’t turn. Nor could he attack the same place, or he couldn’t read a new attack.

  Chen Ming used Conquering Immortals Art’s Flay Immortals form, while Zi Yu faced him with a book in one hand and a fist, “True Martial Dipper Fist, Blowing Feathers!”


  It struck him squarely in the chest, making him hit the ground a zhang away.

  Chen Ming felt one of his pork chops, uh, ribs breaking.

  He scrambled to his feet, pain spearing through him where his rib broke. He coughed blood and resumed attacking, “Again!”


  And again he flew.

  His stomach was making flip-flops, along with the pain that it accompanied it.

  Zi Yu said, “You can’t beat me so you will be beaten to death. Just give up.”


  Chen Ming laughed, “Did you know? The cultivation world has a saying, before death, defeat is never certain. I am a cultivator, and I firmly believe in it.”


  Zhuo Qingyao saw him tacking hit after hit and wanted to help. Even if she’d become a mortal, she could take some of his burdens.

  Wu Fu noticed and walked before the Sky-crossing Bridge. Zhuo Qingyao raved, “Back off!”


  “Beat me and I will.” He smiled.

  “You will die.”


  Wu Fu didn’t care at all, “Didn’t your Master said, before death, defeat is never certain? I think he’s right.”


  Chen Ming rose on shaky legs, dripping blood.

  He was done talking, if not for anything else, but because his chest felt like splitting.

  He went on the offensive again. Chen Ming couldn’t beat Zi Yu, true, but he knew of his strength, he knew he was beginning to get used to mortals’ battle.

  This time he used the Flay Immortals followed by the rising tide and finally the Sea Gazing.

  Yet his enemy only used two punches to break his form. Chen Ming got intimate with the ground again.

  Blood was everywhere on his body, while Zi Yu, by contrast, spotless.

  He stood tall and upright like a judge.

  Zi Yu watched him with a deep look, “Seems I have no choice but to beat you to death!”


  He walked, no rush at all, and each time he attacked he sent Chen Ming sprawling.

  Chen Ming’s eyes flitted over the book at any moment of his opponent’s inattentiveness.

  He never stopped attacking Zi Yu, who said, “This fight is pointless. Perhaps I should end it sooner.”
……

  With a battered and swollen face, with blood flowing from his many wounds, Chen Ming rose once again, and with it, the book turned to a new page.

  Chen Ming felt how weak he was, but, I can’t die yet. He could hear the cheer of the Domains and Crownless Assembly’s people, crying out for his death.

  He didn’t like them one bit.

  He could see Li Suyi, Ling Xian and Chen Lingyu rushing to get to him. Or perhaps, Ling Xian couldn’t hold the entrance’s immortals and was fleeing.

  Ahead, Zhuo Qingyao’s eyes were full of tears.

  He didn’t like this either. Zhuo Qingyao looked better smiling. He began to think of those cherishing memories when she made him noodles. It’s been so long since I tasted some.

  Ah, is this the end credits?

  No, no, no, this is not the time to go down memory lane. That’s only for when one’s about to die, and I am not there yet.

  Chen Ming stood up, with his left eye so swollen he couldn’t open, while the other had blood flowing in, dying Zi Yu in shades of red.

  Chen Ming rushed Zi Yu as he looked at the last page, “True Martial Dipper Fist’s final move, Mountain Shaking Hand!”


  Zi Yu started sending blows to Chen Ming. Their might was visible even if it came from a mortal.

  Zi Yu’s body exploded with power!

  Heavenly Dao Sanctuary’s old Daoist watched with sharp eyes, “It is done. The Dao won’t perish. Heavenly Dao is eternal.”


  He was about to stop looking but stopped.

  Jade Lake’s Empress reclined on a pink bed, her body twisting with allure, “The offender is dead.”


  Moon Laurel’s Empress sat bellow Moon Laurel, with moonlight hiding her body, “It is done.”


  In the Heavenly Court’s official gathering, the Emperor showed no shock, “Good death, quick death.”


  In the Void, the Abyss Flower bloomed, yet no word came out. As if he didn’t want to, or perhaps keeping in line with his mysterious air.

  On an overgrown and wild star, the woman who invited Chen Ming in the Crownless Assembly pushed open the door of her wooden carriage. Inside sat an old man with a black and white mask. A chessboard lied on his knees, pieces scattered. These two dragons were having a bitter fight right now.

  The old man looked at the Sacred Mountain and chuckled, “How can you not lose in a game of chess?”


  His left placed a black piece, while his right a white piece.