Void Cultivation

Chapter 291 290

With loud, explosive bangs, all of them clashed against the white-haired men. The collision of bodies sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing the surrounding space to tremble violently.

The captain was the first to move and the first to launch a strike.

Her figure blurred as she shot forward, her fist engulfed in blazing flames that burned fiercely. Without the slightest hesitation, she drove her punch straight toward the white-haired man in front of her.

The moment her attack descended, the white-haired man's previously indifferent expression shifted. His eyes turned solemn as he sensed the terrifying power contained within that single strike... a force that far surpassed the Foundation Establishment Realm.

However, he did not retreat.

This was only a clone, one whose strength had degraded over a long period of time. Moreover, these clones were unable to use any spells or techniques. They could rely only on their physical bodies and raw strength to fight.

Thus, at the exact moment the captain's punch arrived, the two white-haired men confronting her reacted simultaneously.

With a cold snort, the two clones raised their hands. Raising their arms, they threw out punches of their own, meeting her attack head-on.

Bang!

A violent shockwave erupted from the point of impact. Their clothes fluttered wildly as a powerful gust of wind surged outward, sweeping across the battlefield.

The captain was forced to retreat three steps, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ground. A ferocious expression appeared on her face, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

In contrast, the two white-haired men staggered backward repeatedly. Their movements were unstable, and faint tremors ran through their bodies as blood slowly trickled down from the corners of their mouths.

Although their faces remained detached and devoid of emotion, a deep shock arose within them.

Even after combining their strength to block her attack, they were still overpowered and forced backward-injured.

That alone spoke volumes about the captain's strength.

Although the dense aura emanating from her body was only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, the strength of her physical body far exceeded that level.

As for these clones whose bodies and strength had greatly deteriorated over countless years, they simply could not compare to her current state.

If it was in the past when the will presiding over their bodies as strong, then the captain would simply not be their match.

Seeing their condition, the captain couldn't help but reveal a sinister smile.

This body…

This was one of her objectives which she had been aiming for from the very beginning.

In fact, her desire for this clone's body had been so intense that she had willingly sacrificed her original body to the Divine Being, becoming its avatar and turning into a wandering existence.

In this form, possessing a new body became far simpler than before.

And here, where techniques and spells could not be used, the process of possession would become even faster… and far more efficient.

'Hehe… you think that's all? Since I've already obtained this body, I will definitely take what I came here for.'

The captain sneered inwardly as she slowly raised her hand and clutched at the empty void.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though she had grasped nothing.

Then,

It was as if her hand had seized something tangible.

With a sharp tug, she pulled it out.

A spear emerged.

It was a pitch-black spear, the same weapon she had summoned before. Its surface was dark and ominous, exuding a chilling aura that caused the surrounding air to grow heavy.

The moment it appeared, thick black fog began to billow from it, spreading outward and coiling around the captain like living smoke. The stark contrast between her figure and the encroaching darkness created an unsettling scene.

The expressions of the two white-haired clones immediately turned more serious.

From the spear and the black fog, they could sense an endless tide of resentment and hatred.

It was suffocating.

The source of this malice was clear, the countless malicious spirits sealed within the spear. Their auras were cold and frigid, as if they were trapped in an eternal state of torment and refinement.

With every passing moment, their hatred deepened, growing more intense and more violent.

And although their expressions did not change, the pressure they felt increased significantly.

Because they could clearly sense it.

That overwhelming hatred… was directed at them.

That overwhelming resentment and hatred originated from the innumerable malicious spirits sealed within the spear.

Each of them emitted a freezing aura that seemed to seep into the surroundings, causing the very air to grow cold and heavy. It was as if these malicious spirits were trapped in an endless cycle of refinement, constantly being tempered, yet never released.

Because of this, the hatred and resentment in their eyes only grew stronger with every passing moment, becoming deeper, darker, and more frenzied.

Yet, none of it was directed at the captain.

All of it… was aimed at the two white-haired clones before her.

It was as if they were the root of their suffering. The very cause of their endless torment and pain.

The captain's lips curled slightly.

With a gentle flick of her wrist, she thrust the spear forward.

The motion appeared light, almost effortless, as if it contained no power at all.

But in the next instant,

The spear vanished.

It tore through the air at a nearly warping speed, erasing the distance between them in a fraction of a second. Before anyone could properly react, it had already appeared directly before the center of one clone's forehead.

The clone was momentarily stunned.

But the remnant will of the Soul Ascendancy expert within him reacted instantly.

His hands shot up at a terrifying speed, slamming together in front of him in an attempt to intercept the spear.

Boom!

A violent force erupted upon contact.

Although the spear was successfully stopped, the clone's entire body was still sent flying backward like a ragdoll. His arms trembled violently as blood burst forth, his hands had been torn apart, reduced to shredded flesh from the impact.

His expression paled instantly.

If his reaction had been even slightly slower, the spear would have pierced through his forehead and killed him on the spot.

Despite possessing physical strength at the Spirit Core Formation Realm, the captain's monstrous power still left him deeply shaken.

But that shock only lasted for a brief moment.

Soon, his expression turned grave.

Deep within his body, in his dantian region where spirit energy was circulating, seated upon a strange golden core, was a small figure.

The figure was extremely faint, almost translucent, as though it could dissipate at any moment.

It's body was illusionary and hazy, almost as if he was disappearing from existence. Several hazy figures would also appear, wanting to separate from the small person, but they would be suppressed back into his body.

This small person did not possess a true physical body and instead seemed to be formed from a condensed essence of power.

Its eyes had been closed.

But the moment the clone called upon it, they snapped open.

His gaze was cold, apathetic and devoid of all emotion.

In an instant, the small figure blurred.

With a single step, it left the dantian region and exited the clone's body, appearing directly in the outside world.

The moment it appeared, it lifted its gaze and looked at the captain.

Detached. Indifferent.

As though everything before it was insignificant.

However, as it remained outside, its body began to crumble. Faint fragments peeled away from its form, dissipating into the air as if it could not sustain its existence for long outside the host body.

Even so,

The captain's expression changed drastically the moment she saw it.

Her heart lurched violently.

Because this small figure… had a completely different face.

It was that of a young man with long black hair. His features were refined, almost flawless, undeniably handsome.

But his eyes…

Held no warmth.

No humanity.

Only an endless, cold detachment toward all life.

"Nascent Soul!"

The captain retreated without hesitation.

But the moment the figure appeared, it did not waste a single instant.

It raised its hand...

...and pressed down.

Boom!

An invisible force descended.

In that instant, the captain felt as though an immense, formless power had locked onto her existence. The air around her froze, and her body grew unbearably heavy, as if an entire world had been placed upon her shoulders.

Her bones creaked violently.

Her organs trembled.

If she failed to resist, her body would be crushed into paste. Her flesh, her bones, even her soul shattered under that pressure.

'This… this is the power of the Nascent Soul Realm!'

The captain shuddered inwardly, her pupils contracting.

Although the aura was not that of a true Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator, it was infinitely close... but close enough to make her feel genuine fear.

This Nascent Soul belonged to the clone that had nearly been killed moments ago.

Originally, these clones had not been so weak. But after thousands of years, their bodies had degraded, and their strength had continuously declined.

From their former peak…

To this weakened state.

This Nascent Soul, bearing the face of a young man with long black hair, was the remnant of the original body. After being refined into a clone, its personal will had long since been erased.

The only fragment that remained belonged to the deceased Soul Ascendancy expert.

Even now, it did not act of its own accord.

It moved only because it had been commanded.

After pressing down on the captain, its figure flickered and then vanished.

In the next instant, it reappeared several meters in front of her.

Then, it raised a single finger.

Normally, a Nascent Soul could not perform spells.

But this one… was different.

Its lips moved slightly, muttering obscure and ancient words that carried an indescribable weight.

Then,

It thrust its finger forward.

The motion was simple and seemingly weak, yet at that exact moment the captain felt as though her entire existence and her cultivation had been pierced through by that finger.

A heart-wrenching scream tore from her throat as she was sent flying like a broken doll, her body spinning uncontrollably through the air.

Her face turned deathly pale.

A mouthful of dark, bitter blood burst from her lips as she crashed violently into the distance.