MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 197
Lu Ming had always believed that violence was a last resort, a tool to be used only when all other options had been exhausted.
But not everyone shared his philosophy.
In the Black Mist Zone, brute force often reigned supreme.
Lu Ming was no pacifist, and he didn't subscribe to the idea of non-violent resistance. When a blade was at his throat, he wouldn't hesitate to fight back.
There was no room for negotiation now.
The mantis-man's twin sabers were closing in, the wind from their descent ruffling Lu Ming's hair. Malice contorted the creature's face, a cruel eagerness in its eyes.
"What a shame..." Lu Ming murmured, his voice barely audible.
It was a shame his peaceful life had been interrupted.
It was a shame he had to resort to violence to protect himself.
It was a shame he had no choice but to fight.
He took a step forward, seemingly surrendering himself to the impending attack.
The mantis-man was momentarily stunned, then a cruel grin split its face.
A Level Four Physique Realm expert, it was confident in its ability to decapitate this seemingly weak human with a single stroke.
"Die!" it hissed, already envisioning the satisfying spray of blood and the severed head flying through the air.
But reality shattered its fantasy with a resounding thud.
The mantis-man's saber connected with Lu Ming's neck.
Instead of slicing through flesh, however, the impact caused the mantis-man's hand to split open, its body propelled backward by an unseen force.
Confusion replaced malice in its eyes.
It couldn't comprehend how a Level Four Physique Realm expert's full-strength attack could be so effortlessly repelled.
Lu Ming had the answer.
In his Self-Limitation state, his base physical attributes were between Level 3 and Level 4 of the Physique Realm, significantly weaker than the mantis-man.
But the true terror lay in Lu Ming's Intricate-level Origin Power Armor.
Every cell in his body was constantly shielded by this impenetrable barrier.
It was like the difference between a single sheet of steel and countless layers stacked together – the defensive capabilities were exponentially greater.
Even Lu Ming himself couldn't fully grasp the limits of his Intricate-level Origin Power Armor.
And then there was the Intricate-level Explosive Fist.
"It's my turn," Lu Ming said, addressing the stunned mantis-man in the broken common tongue of the Black Mist Zone.
"Wait..."
The mantis-man sensed the danger and tried to buy time.
But Lu Ming wouldn't give it the chance.
He had made his decision. He would eliminate all threats today.
He crouched, his arm coiling back.
Intricate Realm Explosive Fist, activate!
With a thunderous boom, a cylindrical blast of pure force erupted from his fist, hurtling towards the mantis-man like a cannonball.
This punch force looked very strange, as if it had a mind of its own. Sometimes, it would pause beside Lu Ming, condensing without dissipating. At other times, it would sway, as if contemplating an attack on the mantis-man.
Though unable to comprehend Lu Ming's moves, the mantis-man sensed the man before him was far more powerful than his aura suggested.
It retreated cautiously, its cracked blades held defensively. Lu Ming bent down and threw another punch, unleashing a second fist force dragon.
The mantis-man stopped retreating, not because he was shocked by Lu Ming's strength – he simply didn't understand it.
Reinforcements had arrived.
A cacophony of footsteps, like distant thunder, echoed from the stairwell.
Soon, three Physique Realm experts and over ten Mortal Realm superhumans rushed up the stairs. They immediately spotted Lu Ming facing off against the mantis-man, surrounded by swirling fist force dragons.
"Grimm, what's going on?" one of them shouted.
Grimm, the mantis-man, shook his head. "I'm not sure. This guy is strange."
Before he could elaborate, Lu Ming threw another punch, adding a third fist force dragon to the swirling vortex around him.
He continued to accumulate these ethereal dragons.
The newcomers hesitated, observing Lu Ming cautiously, searching for a weakness.
Suddenly, explosions and battle cries erupted from below.
Another group of Divine Dao Alliance members had found the Black Feather Tribe members and engaged them in combat.
Apelo had only brought a few of his tribesmen, and those capable of fighting had already perished in previous conflicts. The three Black Feather Tribe members hiding in the building were no match for the Divine Dao Alliance's onslaught.
Within a minute, the sounds of battle subsided. More members of the Divine Dao Alliance arrived, encircling Lu Ming.
By now, the fist force dragons swirling around him were too numerous to count.
Perhaps believing their overwhelming numbers were enough, and unable to comprehend Lu Ming's techniques, the leader of the Divine Dao Alliance, a Level 7 Physique Realm expert, dismissed Lu Ming as a significant threat. He glanced at Lu Ming dismissively while addressing his comrades.
"Did you find them?"
"We did. We've killed everyone except for this one in front of us."
The leader sneered. "Then what are we waiting for?!"
He had to admit, the man before them was somewhat eerie.
But in the face of absolute power, all tricks were futile.
There were over ten Physique Realm experts from the Divine Dao Alliance present. Unless this man was a Spirit Realm expert, they couldn't possibly lose.
And was he a Spirit Realm expert?
Clearly not.
With a wave of his hand, the leader gave the order to attack.
A wave of killing intent surged towards Lu Ming from all directions.
At that moment, Lu Ming finally raised his head, his gaze fixed on the countless fist force dragons swirling around him.
"It's time..." he murmured.
In the next instant, obeying Lu Ming's will, the dragons roared and charged in all directions!
The members of the Divine Dao Alliance didn't understand the nature of these fist force dragons.
When they saw the dragons rushing towards them, they didn't take them seriously.
They assumed these were merely manifestations of energy, no different from ordinary energy blasts.
They believed they could easily handle them.
Some Physique Realm experts erected energy barriers to block the dragons' path. Others, overconfident, chose to ignore them, intending to withstand the impact and reach Lu Ming quickly to test his strength.
Whether they chose defense or disregard, it was all within Lu Ming's expectations.
He watched the unfolding chaos with a cold, detached gaze.
Because he understood one simple truth.
They had given him ample time to unleash countless Intricate-level Explosive Fists. The outcome of this battle was already sealed.
The moment the first fist force dragon collided with the enemy, it was all over.
The leader charged at the forefront.
As the strongest among them, a Level Seven Physique Realm expert, he had risen through the ranks of the Divine Dao Gang due to his power and fearless combat style.
He was nicknamed "Blood Fury."
It meant that once a fight broke out, he entered a state of bloodthirst, vowing not to stop until his enemies were torn to pieces!
His combat style reflected this recklessness. He charged headlong at Lu Ming, intending to use his brute strength to crush the fist force dragons and quickly end Lu Ming's life.
As the dragons collided with Blood Fury, he braced for impact.
But the logic of Intricate-level Explosive Fists was far beyond his comprehension.
Explosive Fist was a low-level but lethal technique. Upon impact, it ignited the mysterious factors in the air, causing violent explosions.
However, at the Intricate level, the explosions became more focused, more subtle.
Or rather, the explosion had evolved into annihilation at the microscopic level.
When the fist force dragon struck Blood Fury's chest, there was no impact, no explosion. It simply passed through his body, leaving a smooth, transparent hole.
Blood Fury froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked down at his chest.
The edges of the wound were cauterized, his once-resilient muscles transformed into crystallized carbon, resembling pure black crystals.
The madness in his eyes vanished, replaced by confusion and primal fear.
The fist force dragon, having passed through his chest, now coiled around his neck.
It had pierced through his body without losing momentum, retaining enough power to deliver the final blow under Lu Ming's control.
With a swift twist, the infamous Blood Fury was decapitated.
He was dead.
Swiftly and decisively.
Blood Fury's demise silenced the entire battlefield.
A moment later, Lu Ming nodded slightly, satisfied with the power of the Intricate Realm Explosive Fist.
The atmosphere among the remaining Divine Dao Alliance members plummeted to freezing point.
The fist force dragon, having dispatched Blood Fury, now turned its attention to them.
And it wasn't alone. Countless other dragons surged forward.
I gave you a chance to talk earlier, Lu Ming thought coldly, but you didn't want it.
Now, there was no need for further conversation.
Like a gentle breeze, the fist force dragons swept through the ranks of the Divine Dao Alliance.
Their silent, deadly efficiency was exactly what Lu Ming had intended.
He killed without fanfare, avoiding unnecessary commotion that might attract more enemies.
In just three seconds, the fist force dragons had decimated their foes. The only sounds were the sickening thuds of severed limbs hitting the ground.
Lu Ming surveyed the carnage, his hands tucked casually in his pockets.
"This is the power of the micro-level," he murmured, "something you all fail to comprehend..."
The fist force dragons, their task complete, returned to Lu Ming's side, their ethereal heads bobbing curiously behind him.
Lu Ming turned around.
"Do you understand?" he asked, his voice directed towards the empty space behind him.
As if in answer, the light twenty meters away distorted, and a hooded figure materialized out of thin air.
The mysterious person glanced at Lu Ming, then at the fist force dragons surrounding him.
A wry smile tugged at the corners of his lips, hidden beneath the hood. It seemed he was slightly annoyed at being discovered.
After a moment's hesitation, the figure removed their hood, revealing silver hair.
"I know a thing or two..." he admitted.
Then, as if remembering something important, he quickly added, "Oh, and let me be clear. I'm not with them, and I have no ill intentions towards you."
End of Chapter 197