Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

As Guo Ran braced himself behind the Hidden Dragon Shield, his battle armor blazed with light. Runes flowed across its surface like living formations.

Guo Ran was at his strongest only when clad in this armor. In both of their clashes so far, neither he nor Jin Mingyao had managed to overpower the other.

As Guo Ran blocked Jin Mingyao, another blood mist exploded behind him. The Dragonblood Legion’s second plow had begun.

This time, their charge was even faster. The Heavenly Demon Golden Monkey race had lost their morale and no longer had the courage to resist.

Their first pass had taken three breaths to break through. But this time, the Dragonblood warriors pierced through them in the blink of an eye—so fast that the survivors barely registered what had happened.

However, because the monkeys had scattered too widely, the Dragonblood Legion’s kill count was smaller than before. The few remaining enemies fled in all directions, too far for pursuit.

At this sight, the Dragonblood warriors got out of formation, reforming into their defensive ring as if they had never moved.

In just a few breaths, they had crushed the Heavenly Demon Golden Monkey race’s army with flawless cooperation.

Barely three hundred thousand survived, spared only because they had fled early. Had they stayed even a moment longer, none would have lived to tell the tale.

The efficiency of the slaughter sent chills down every spectator’s spine, yet the Dragonblood warriors remained utterly calm. They were like death gods, and reaping lives was their profession. There was no excitement in their eyes, no hesitation—only focus.

Meanwhile, booming explosions continued to shake the heavens. The Golden Endless Staff repeatedly smashed against the Hidden Dragon Shield. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air and distorted the very laws of heaven and earth.

“What terrifying attacks, and what solid defense!”

People couldn’t help but gasp.

Jin Mingyao’s attacks contained terrifying law power, and the power of his Golden Endless Staff was hundreds of times greater than that of ordinary Divine Sovereign magical items.

In front of the Golden Endless Staff, their Divine Sovereign magical items could as well be garbage. There was no comparison.

This was the difference. This was why, despite knowing the risks, some higher-ups still dared to gamble on sending Divine Sovereign magical items into the heaven region’s battlefield.

But aside from the battlefield’s inherent dangers, there was also the peril of rebellion. These weapons possessed their own spirits—ancient, proud, and unwilling to be controlled. Even with sealing runes, not many could tame their item-spirits. Making them submit to cultivators with low cultivation bases was like making a dragon be a mount for a child.

The moment their master’s control weakened, the item-spirit would rebel or flee. Without proper training, the weapon could turn on its wielder in an instant. Naturally, all Divine Sovereign magical items bore countless seals to suppress their spirits. The Endless Staff was a prime example.

While the staff’s surface shimmered with complex runes, most of them were binding seals that restrained its item spirit. Only a fraction of the runes belonged to the Endless Staff and were used in battle.

Even so, the Golden Endless Staff’s power was incredible. Each of its strikes on the Hidden Dragon Shield shook the world.

And yet, Guo Ran’s Hidden Dragon Shield remained steady. Despite enduring blow after blow, it didn’t have a single crack on its surface.

“How can this be? Is that a legacy divine weapon from the outside world?!” wondered one of the Heavenly Demon Golden Monkeys.

They had gathered behind Jin Mingyao like stray dogs, devoid of their previous intimidating air.

“Lord Mingyao says that man’s shield was something he found within the heaven region’s battlefield. Its origins must be extraordinary. But I’m sure Lord Mingyao will crush that wretch soon—and then slaughter the Dragonblood Legion to avenge our brothers,” said a half-step Sovereign Lord, clutching the stump where his arm had once been.

Yue Zifeng had severed that arm, and the Sword Qi that took it carried a destructive force that prevented this expert from regenerating his arm. Worse, that destructive force was still eating away at his body, which meant his dream of reaching the Sovereign Lord realm was over.

All of the monkeys were gnashing their teeth as they watched from their safe spot. This battle had traumatized them, crushing their confidence.

As for the experts who had almost tested their luck against the Dragonblood Legion before the Heavenly Demon Golden Monkey race’s arrival, a sense of horror held them firmly.

If such a formation had been unleashed against them, they would have been annihilated. Even ten times their number wouldn’t have made a difference.

“The Heavenly Demon Golden Monkey race has kicked an iron board this time.”

“Close to a million monkeys were wiped out in two runs, and the Dragonblood Legion didn’t lose a single person.”

“The number one legion of the nine heavens and ten lands—so it wasn’t just an empty title after all.”

“All four captains are crazy. They haven’t even condensed complete essence runes, yet they’re cutting down half-step Sovereign Lords like vegetables. How did so many monsters end up together?”

“That fellow Guo Ran is blocking Jin Mingyao with a legacy Divine Sovereign magical item. He’s just as monstrous.”

“If monsters like these all follow Long Chen willingly... then what kind of monster is he? How terrifying must he be for them to serve him so loyally?”

The Dragonblood warriors’ display of power completely shattered the confidence of their enemies—whether they hailed from the nine heavens or the Primal Chaos World, whether they were common cultivators or half-step Sovereign Lords.

Now, none of them dared harbor thoughts of stealing the Earth Cauldron anymore. With guardians like these, any such attempt was suicide. They would just be spectators so that they could see who the Earth Cauldron chose in the end.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion split the sky as two figures shot backward like meteors. Guo Ran and Jin Mingyao had once again clashed without either gaining the upper hand.

But this time, Jin Mingyao suddenly spat a mouthful of blood onto the Golden Endless Staff. The staff trembled, its surface blazing with runes as a violent aura erupted from it.