Chapter 323: Tian Hou And Pressure (1/2)

“Don’t look down on the Mavis family!” Grandini shouted and the void vibrated with a thump. She charged at Tian Hou with a raised fist as her five-lined battle force burst forth to sweep through the void, attempting to seal Tian Hou in place and prevent him from merging with the void.

Tian Hou did not vanish this time, and instead, he raised his hand shrouded in his black robes to meet Grandini’s punch head-on.

Under everyone’s gazes, the intense shockwaves from the resulting explosion crushed the ground and destroyed the entire battlefield. An enormous spatial crack that led to the void appeared, opening from above and tearing down into the ground once more, releasing an ear-splitting sound.

Lu Yin and the rest’s eyes narrowed as they stared on in horror. This was impossible. Grandini had exhibited an inhuman strength that was strengthened even further by five-lined battle force and Thirteen Stacks, and yet, her attack had been blocked by Tian Hou! What was more even more terrifying was that he had not taken a single step back.

This scene shocked Lu Yin as well as everyone else, including Yun who had belittled everyone else with her gaze.

This strike was extremely powerful! It was backed by five-lined battle force, fused with Thirteen Stacks, and propelled by the Mavis family’s unique strength. This punch already surpassed Lu Yin’s peak attack when he had fought against Nightqueen Yanqing during their battle. This singular punch was definitely enough to contest for the championship in any of the previous Astral Combat Tournaments. And yet, such a powerful punch had been easily received by Tian Hou, to the point where his clothes had not even fluttered.

Grandini’s eyes flickered. “Impossible, yo-” But before she could finish speaking, Tian Hou grabbed, twisted Grandini’s right hand, and released a black shine. An intense pain rushed through her body, and Grandini’s face changed. She waved her left hand to decisively sever her right arm and then quickly retreated. The next instant, her right arm vanished into the void.

Many students were stunned while Lulu stared on in disbelief. That woman was being suppressed to the extent where she could not even retaliate. Despite all else, they were both from the Mavis family.

Tian Hou released his hand, and his eyes that were hidden beneath his black robes flashed with admiration. “Pretty good battle awareness. Just a moment more, and you would have been defeated.”

“I’m not on the Heavenly Beast List,” Tian Hou faintly replied.

Grandini’s eyes narrowed. “An uncommon race?”

“Shall we continue? The Mavis family is powerful, but it’s a pity that you haven’t used your innate gift yet.”

She frowned. “You even know about the Mavis family’s innate gift?”

“I’m Skymender’s disciple.”

She took a deep breath. During this battle, she had been suppressed from start to finish and hadn’t even had a chance to catch her breath. Now, her right arm was even gone, but she was still unwilling to forfeit. Just like what Lu Yin had said, the Mavis family was born with a strange strength and a thirst for battle to match. Since she had already fought to such an extent, she would stake her all on this fight.

The air swirled around Grandini before sweeping upwards as a verdant green color flashed through in her eyes, just like when she had dealt with that Explorer in the Shenwu Continent’s imperial palace during the Outverse trial. The green in her eyes was not obvious, but it was like a firefly in the night to Tian Hou, who had been carefully observing her. “You want to forcibly display your innate gift? Even if you could display it in full force, it would still be ineffective against me.”

“The Mavis family is unparalleled!” Grandini shouted valiantly as her eyes opened wide. She looked at Tian Hou and then charged forward with her left palm extended. All of her five-lined battle force was concentrated onto her left palm as she slammed it downwards. “Seventeen Stacks.”

From the sky, a hand covered in a dense, dark golden radiance pressed down with Seventeen Stacks, shaking the void. Nearly causing the entire heavens to tear apart and causing many to be overwhelmed with horror.

Tian Hou slowly raised his head, but he did not move. Instead, he allowed the palm to slam straight into him.

In that instant, even the competitors from the Astral Beast Domain felt numb, as this attack had shocked them greatly. If they were the ones on the battlefield, then they would have definitely been instantly crushed to pieces.

The competitors from the Technocracy similarly stared at the battlefield in shock. This was a very powerful strike, and the Seventeen Stacks exploded at the same time as Grandini’s five-lined battle force.

Lu Yin, Starsibyl, Han Chong, Liu Shaoqiu, Zi Jun, and the rest all watched on with somber expressions. This strike would determine the outcome of this battle.

Grandini’s palm landed on Tian Hou’s head, causing his black gown to rip apart as the shockwaves disturbed the entire battlefield, flipping it over and warping the void. The majestic and terrifying strength of this attack had transformed into ripples that affected even the mentors’ barrier around the arena.

“Wha- what is that?” Some students stared upwards, their expressions looking as if they had seen something inexplicable.

Up in the sky, beneath Grandini’s left palm, stood a silent, black humanoid being. It looked like a human shaped spiral but without any physical body or skin. And yet, the figure had seven orifices as well as limbs.

Everyone was dumbfounded. What kind of trick is this?

Lu Yin was lost as well. What is that?

Starsibyl abruptly stepped forward, and her face grew extremely solemn. So it was this living creature. No wonder it was so terrifying.

Yun from the Technocracy was shocked as well. Such a creature has actually been born.

The other competitors from the Astral Beast Domain were shocked as well, as this was their first time seeing Tian Hou’s true body.

Countless audience members were stunned, and even though they could not comprehend this scene, many of them seemed to realize something as their faces paled.

“The Astral Beast Domain has actually given birth to such a creature once again. Immediately send a request to destroy it,” an Astral Combat Academy mentor spoke up.

“There’s no point. The higher-ups have already reached a consensus. Since this creature dares to appear, it must be confident that we won’t kill it. No wonder it’s called Tian Hou.”

…

Throughout the Human Domain’s great organizations, many astonished elders stared at the screens in front of them displaying the competition. “The Astral Beast Domain actually dares to bring such a creature over! It looks like this truce is inevitable, but the humans don't have the initiative.”