Chapter 637 - Achieving Holy Fist!

The most striking trait of an Ultimate Dark Form is its exaggerated immortality. Even when vast portions of their bodies get destroyed, even when their limbs are severed and smashed, they can still regenerate within moments. Coupled with the Ultimate Dark Form's terrifying physique and astonishing defenses, their survivability was truly fearsome.

The most notable example was Pale Origin. It had been schemed against by White Bird Holy Fist and assaulted head‑on by Flaming Sun Holy Fist. Half its body had been left in the World of Calamity while the other half plummeted into a cave beneath Eternal Island.

Flaming Sun Holy Fist had ignited his own Qi, leaving an inextinguishable flame to entangle with Pale Origin. However, even after tens of millennia, it still couldn't be slain, producing endless ash that stretched for thousands of miles. The ashes formed the vast Pale Lands in the World of Calamity. On Eternal Island, they created a unique ashy land.

All this was when Pale Origin had already been torn in half. It was hard to imagine how dreadful its immortality would be in its peak, complete form. Now that Cassius's Golem Covert Martial Arts was finally reaching perfection, his flesh was fully transformed into a complete Golem, likewise gaining its immortality. He was a colossal, terrifying fortress of war.

One could say he alone was a natural disaster. Dominator Fist Qi with the body of an Ultimate Dark Form... Combining them was far more than a simple sum!

One’s Qi and physique complemented each other. Once the shortcoming was filled, one's foundation and combat power would erupt violently. To put it simply, Cassius's body had reached the point where even an Ultimate Dark Form couldn't kill him. Yet Cassius's blade was sharp enough to kill an Ultimate Dark Form. That gap was fatal and nearly impossible to bridge.

If Ultimate Dark Forms were akin to a group of huge muscular men, they would be able to pummel each other without dying. However, if one of them suddenly brandished a butcher's knife, things would change drastically.

Cassius was now that butcher holding the cleaver. He had fully earned the right to hunt Ultimate Dark Forms.

Crack...

A series of breaking sounds rang across the black giant cocoon's surface as the Golem's silver palm casually tore through it. A perfect, mighty body stood in the cave, radiating savagery, yet continuing to be the most elegant, refined silhouette. Barbarity and civility merged into an ultimate war machine.

The Golem ranked fifth amongst the Ultimate Dark Forms!

No, that ranking was no longer accurate. That was the original Golem's rank. The Golem reborn through Cassius's ever‑evolving Golem Covert Martial Arts was different. Once his Golem Covert Martial Arts devoured life vibration energy from Ultimate Dark Forms, a shackle leading to hell was broken.

It had now gathered the life essence of five Ultimate Dark Forms and achieved a breakthrough. Thus, the current Golem would no longer be the original Golem. It was Cassius's own unique and peerless entity.

Vmmm...

In the cave, parts of the Golem's armor suddenly shone with splendid silver radiance. The remaining armor ignited with black‑red flames that leaped fiercely, like twisted hands writhing in hell.

The Golem extended its hand and slowly clenched it. The air within fled frantically with a snake

hiss

. A blurred, vibrating airflow wrapped its fist like it was pulled by gravity.

"Strength enough to move mountains and part seas... The ultimate limit of the flesh...Hahahaha!"

Rumble!

Hearty laughter rang out from beneath the ornate, savage helm. It made the vast cave rumble, knocking loose chunks of stone.

The Golem jumped. Its huge form pierced the thick earth with a

thud

and burst through the surface. It kept rising like a rocket, its broad shoulders punching through the clouds.

Over Eternal Island, the light dimmed as though night had fallen. The giant shadow in the sky blocked the sun like a deity above the clouds.

Swish, boom!

Its mountainous body dropped, smashing into the sea. Water flew everywhere as a violent tsunami nearly formed. Every sea creature nearby fled wildly in all directions. They fled the colossus whose feet stood on the seabed thousands of meters down while its chest, shoulders, and head still rose above the surface!

The Golem!

"Next comes... Holy Fist!"

The breakthrough was far from over! He already had the Heart of the Holy Fist and his body had broken through to Ultimate Dark Form. If he did not seize the Holy Fist realm in one surge now, then when?

Cassius's creed had always been to master every ability as swiftly as possible. Strength only feels secure once it is already possessed. If one was able to possess strength yet refused and thus faced a tragedy, that would be utter folly!

Cassius was no fool but a man of wisdom. To tread the correct path unerringly was true wisdom!

Cassius jerked his head up. Two blood‑red beams shone into the sky.

"Come, I have awaited this day for long..."

Terrifying rumbling rang out as strong winds dragged heavy clouds across hundreds of kilometers. It was drawn like iron to the magnet of his Holy Fist Qi. In almost an instant, heaven and earth changed color. Purple lightning slithered like swarming serpents within the dense, brooding clouds.

A circular void yawned open within the clouds, forcing them to spin clockwise around it at accelerating speed. A shaft of white holy light descended.

Beneath the holy light, Cassius returned to his human form and sat cross‑legged on the water with a solemn face and church-like holiness. A transcendent aura radiated from him, as if vowing to purge all evil thoughts and draw everything into the goodness he envisioned. It compelled reverence.

Cassius snapped his eyes open and instantly adopted a gliding waterbird stance. It was the opening stance of the Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist.

"I can see the end of sanctity."

His strong arms stretched wide, sending ripples into the air. At a glance, his arms seemed truly like feathered wings.

Ting‑ting‑ting‑ting...

Crisp notes rang out as sixty‑six white acupoints lit up like stars, shining brilliantly. Dense Thorn Feather Force roared from every part of his body, enveloping Cassius in a vast sea of Qi.

"Combine orthodox and unorthodox, the vast and grand, with the Will to carry it through as one..."

He muttered, his eyes shining a holy white.

Chieu!

The Heart of the Holy Fist beat at lightning speed within Cassius. A white steel waterbird was squeezed forth inch by inch, elegant yet savage, majestic and grand.

At that same time, a vast arched phantom gate appeared in the sky. Its surface was covered with vast religious patterns of tiny, dense glyphs writhing like golden tadpoles. It was etched with flowers, birds, insects, fish, mountains, rivers, and the sun and moon. It encompassed all things and was unfathomably complex.

The Gate of Heaven had re‑appeared, but this time it was because of the Holy Fist about to break through! Though Cassius was well-seasoned, his heart still burned with fervor. To push open the Gate of Heaven signified the complete perfection of his second path.

Whoosh.

A golden phantom stairway descended from the sky before Cassius. He sped toward the clouds without hesitation, his white Qi leaving a long trail. Cassius's waterbird form shot straight toward that mysterious, solemn, holy golden gate.

Suddenly, his life experiences flashed past him, generating an unprecedented surge of aura. The Gate of Heaven burst open with a

bang

, spilling golden light across the vast surrounding sea. A large faint choir seemed to sing among the clouds. Voices of all ages and genders overlapped into a holy symphony.

After a hush, the Cygnus constellation that should have been invisible in the day lit up. Sixty‑six stars blazed, forming a white bird diving downward.

Whoosh!

The bird of starlight fell like a meteor. At first it shook both heaven and earth, crying out savagely and cutting a white trail across the sky. When it neared the sea, it slowed until its speed became that of a normal falling person. Its toe, glowing holy white, lightly touched the sea.

Swoosh!

White light instantly washed into the depths, illuminating even the darkness of the abyss. Some ugly and cruel deep‑sea fish whom no one had ever seen were suddenly revealed. Seaweed drifted about, schools of fish foraged, and huge humpback whales cruised the depths.

"At last... Holy Fist!"

Cassius's drifting Will re‑coalesced, racing back a hundredfold into his body floating on the sea. He opened his eyes once more.

"Is this the strength White Bird Holy Fist once wielded?"

"No wonder he could endure a double curse and over ten Ultimate Dark Forms, and even burn everything to thwart Xiadu's final plan..."

He felt the boiling Southern Dipper Waterbird Fist Qi within and sighed softly. The strength flooding every cell intoxicated Cassius. In a short time, his overall strength had risen twice. He had become both an Ultimate Dark Form and a Holy Fist. Never had there been a more splendid moment!

Oh right, he had also just slain an Ultimate Dark Form. A bit of celebration was in order for that as well.

Cassius glanced to the upper‑right of his vision where the progress bar lay.

[Golem Covert Martial Arts: Mental Unification 19.2% (Final Stage)]

This was the final chapter of the Holy Fist level. Each 0.1% increase of his abyssal Qi would normally take many long years. But of course, Cassius possessed a shortcut, something he could use to bound to heaven in one step. As he killed Ultimate Dark Forms, he could absorb their life vibration energy! Cassius felt not the slightest guilt about plundering others. When people are killed, they die. Ultimate Dark Forms were no different.

Since everyone's ultimate end is death, I may as well help you speed up the way! No need to thank me, I'll take my payment from your corpse.

Star Horn God's life vibration energy would be yet another feast. Cassius harbored no worries about rapid strength growth weakening his control or hollowing his foundation. He had one thought when he broke through to Dominator Fist: what's mine is mine. What I train belongs wholly to me, and any powerups are likewise my own.

Are talent and techniques not part of one's strength? Of course they are! Even luck, though intangible and unseen, counted toward strength. How could innate talent and one's own tangible and measurable techniques be excluded?

Thus, Cassius powered up without hesitation. A coiled dragon inside him roared forth with a thought. Star Horn God's life vibration energy surged like a raging river as if it wanted to engulf everything. Had it been the first time, Cassius might have faltered. However, he was seasoned. He remained calm, controlling the stability of his breathing and energy. His robust body devoured the life vibration energy like a bottomless pit.

He could feel his already potent Qi growing rapidly heavier. After an unknown amount of time, Cassius opened his eyes.

[Golem Covert Martial Arts: Mental Unification 19.2% (Final Stage)] → 29.3%

Nearly 30% progress in the final stage counted as Minor Culmination. This increase of 10.1% far exceeded Seranar King’s 8.2%.

It seemed only 1.9% more but accounting for the fact that progress was harder the farther one advanced, it showed that Star Horn God was far stronger than Seranar King. It had even forced Cassius to use that weapon to pin it down.

Naturally, the stronger the foe, the stronger Cassius became after killing it. Gazing at the skyrocketing progress bar, he felt an itch to act.

Now he was fully qualified to enter the World of Calamity on his own and hunt Ultimate Dark Forms. As long as he wasn't surrounded by a horde, Cassius could always escape using his powerful body!

Cassius basked in his newfound might for over half an hour before returning to himself.

"Holy Fist, Dominator Fist, and Ultimate Dark Form united... Surely no one else has achieved this. I can feel my Qi and Will surging from the nourishment of these three powers. A wondrous feeling indeed..."

Ten minutes later, he stood at the edge of Eternal Island, eyed the distant continent, and flickered away. His next aim would be to handle the Federal Combat Championships and Golem Sect affairs, then attempt to delve into the World of Calamity.

Other trifling matters were inconsequential and would resolve themselves as the grand scheme advanced. But when Cassius had covered nearly half his route, he was blocked by a black‑robed figure on the azure sea.

The silhouette was familiar. Cassius had seen it before.

"Xiadu... An avatar?" The corner of Cassius's mouth curled into a strangely ferocious grin. "Your arrival... is perfectly timed..."