MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 208
The Aeonians were, without a doubt, one of the most powerful clans in the current Black Mist Zone.
However, the larger the clan, the more internal strife it harbored.
Li De's revelation of Roda's background—a wealthy young man from a fallen family—was a calculated move.
But Roda's origins weren't the crux of the matter.
The key was that Roda somehow knew about the Jing God's Inheritance within the Flame Clan Ruin... and its precise location!
This was knowledge no one else possessed.
And knowledge everyone else craved.
"Tell me the exact location of the Jing God's Inheritance," Li De offered, a predatory smile on his lips, "and I'll let you live. Oh, and don't try to fool me by saying it's right here in this ancestral hall. I might get angry..."
He exuded an air of confidence, as if victory was already within his grasp.
Roda returned the smile, his own tinged with defiance. "First of all," he declared, "the Jing God's Inheritance is right here. If you want it, come and get it yourself!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seven figures behind him.
"And second..."
His voice hardened.
"I want to know which one of you betrayed me."
It was impossible for Li De and his group to have arrived so quickly, so coincidentally.
There was only one explanation: someone had informed them in advance.
Silence hung heavy in the air. No one dared to meet Roda's accusing gaze.
Everyone in Roda's group exchanged glances, their expressions carefully neutral.
Li De pressed further. "Roda, I'm giving you a chance to live, so you'd better take it. No one would believe you'd bring this group directly to the Jing God's Inheritance. So, I'll give you one last chance!"
"Where exactly is it?!"
A hint of impatience and anger crept into Li De's voice, but Roda merely responded with a mocking smile.
"Make a guess?"
Li De's anger vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating grin. "Forget it. I don't want to guess..."
"How about this? We'll talk after I capture your sister."
Roda's expression instantly hardened at the mention of Roxin.
Li De laughed, his voice booming with arrogance. "You thought you were hiding well, you sneaky little rat! But I, Li De, am not so easily fooled!"
In the underground sanctuary of King Lin's secret residence...
Lu Ming pondered Evil Spirit's question as Roxin's face turned pale.
Finally, Roxin spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Why would I have any money?"
On the night of their family's destruction, she and her brother had only been concerned with escaping. They hadn't brought any treasures with them.
Even after Roda became the City Lord of Archean City, he hadn't amassed any significant wealth. His focus was solely on martial arts.
From Evil Spirit's words, it seemed someone had offered a substantial reward for Roxin's capture. It was a sum she couldn't possibly afford.
Lu Ming remained silent, his own financial situation far from ideal.
Evil Spirit let out a sigh. "Then, there's nothing I can do."
He stepped forward, his gaze fixated on Lu Ming. "Are you going to stop me?"
Lu Ming remained silent, but his protective stance in front of Roxin spoke volumes.
Evil Spirit frowned.
"Well, this complicates things... but I have no choice. The price Li De offered is too tempting to ignore, even if it means tangling with a fellow expert."
With that, a powerful aura erupted from Evil Spirit, washing over the room.
The most distinctive feature of a Spirit Realm expert was their innate Spiritual Pressure.
Roda had explained its effect: it was a simple, brutal force that suppressed all those below the Spirit Realm.
Mortal Realm experts could explode on the spot under its crushing weight. Even if they survived, they would be rendered immobile.
Physique Realm cultivators could resist the influence to some extent, but only resist, not overcome it.
Even a Level 9 Physique Realm expert would be significantly weakened under the onslaught of Spiritual Pressure.
Roxin was a prime example.
The moment Evil Spirit unleashed his Spiritual Pressure, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, helpless.
Even among Spirit Realm experts, Spiritual Pressure was a crucial factor in determining victory or defeat. The stronger the pressure, the greater the advantage, allowing one to seize the initiative and even disrupt their opponent's actions.
In short, the Spirit Realm was a whole new level, vastly different from the Mortal and Physique Realms.
And Lu Ming wasn't there yet.
Even with his high attributes, the gap between realms was significant.
As Evil Spirit unleashed his Spiritual Pressure, Lu Ming felt a heavy weight pressing down on him. His body stiffened, and his mind became clouded, disorienting him.
Watching Evil Spirit approach, Lu Ming quickly calculated in his hazy state.
"My current three-dimensional attributes are 2,000 points."
"And the standard three-dimensional attributes for a Level 9 Physique Realm expert are 256 points."
"If we assume the attribute doubling theory holds true for the transition to Spirit Realm, a Level 1 Spirit Realm expert would have around 512 points... It seems weaker than me, but I don't know for sure if the theory applies, and I'm unfamiliar with the Spirit Realm."
"Even if a Level 1 Spirit Realm expert only has 512 points, I'm currently affected by Spiritual Pressure and can only unleash about 60% of my strength, which translates to roughly 1200 attribute points for combat..."
It seemed Lu Ming had the upper hand, but this calculation didn't factor in the effects of Body Forging Techniques and Origin Power Skills.
Moreover, a mere twofold attribute difference might seem reassuring to others, but for Lu Ming, it wasn't a significant advantage.
At best, it could be called "a slight edge."
These thoughts flashed through Lu Ming's mind.
In the next second, Lu Ming nodded slightly. "A Level One Spirit Realm expert is indeed a formidable opponent for me in my current Self-Limitation State."
"Then..." Lu Ming's voice trailed off as his thoughts took a decisive turn.
With a surge of will, his body began to expand.
Evil Spirit slowed his approach.
In battles between Spirit Realm experts, Spiritual Pressure was often used to gauge an opponent's strength.
However, the "Spirit Realm" opponent before him showed no signs of Spiritual Pressure, even under the weight of his own. Instead, the man seemed lost in his own thoughts...
This put Evil Spirit on edge.
He held back his attack, knowing that a single move rarely decided the outcome of a fight between Spirit Realm experts. They had too many life-saving tricks up their sleeves.
Survival, not immediate victory, was the priority.
But Evil Spirit didn't realize that his caution was inadvertently sealing his fate.
A low rumbling sound reverberated through the chamber.
Evil Spirit's eyes narrowed as he traced the source of the sound – Lu Ming's heart.
With each beat, Lu Ming's blood flow accelerated, and his body began to expand rapidly. Bones cracked and muscles bulged, his entire form growing larger and taller. Evil Spirit found himself looking up at Lu Ming, his initial sense of superiority crumbling.
In a matter of seconds, Lu Ming's appearance had completely transformed.
He retained his humanoid shape but now towered at eight meters tall.
Striated muscle tissue covered his entire body, not in a grotesque way, but in a perfectly proportioned, almost artistic display of power.
His clothes, unable to contain his sudden growth, ripped apart. In the dim light, his sculpted muscles and flawless physique gave the impression of a magnificent statue rather than a human being.
Evil Spirit's eyes narrowed.
"A transformation ability? This could be troublesome..."
He didn't realize that this was Lu Ming's standard form.
This was Lu Ming's true appearance.
End of Chapter 208