Chapter 1445: Already Too Late

A waterfall rained down from the high heavens, thousands of meters in the air. This place was a perfect replica of some miraculous scene in reality, and a divine air hung over the land.

As he entered the rock forest, Zhang Lie revealed no trace of wariness about what had just happened. To an outsider, this might appear to be unguarded naivete, but Zhang Lie had absolute confidence in his strength.

He entered just as a few frightening lifeforms slew a batch of the strongest cultivators.

Even the young proteges of the supreme forces, along with those cultivators who had made it through the qualifiers, had sustained injuries during the free-for-all that had just occurred. No one was unhurt, and the frightening lifeforms had made their appearance at the best possible opportunity for them. Radiant light exploded and fresh blood scattered. The scene was a disaster, and a cacophony of screams could be heard from afar.

Not only were many of the cultivators exhausted, the lifeforms were clearly familiar with the rock forest. In this unusual space in which everyone's movements were restricted and sluggish, physical strength was what mattered most, and no one could be stronger than one of those lifeforms.

Zhang Lie's appearance didn't cause much of a fuss in the chaotic battlefield, where everyone had a hard enough time keeping track of themselves. Zhang Lie considered the few frightening lifeforms. One was a golden toad orbited by golden coins, which would block all attacks directed at it. It would open its mouth to reveal a golden coin. The cultivators whom it was eyeing would find their bodies turning leaden and difficult to control. Not only that, they would suddenly get very unlucky.

Another lifeform was a jade-green snake that emitted poisonous air. When it bit down, even the cultivators who had made it out of the qualifiers would turn jade-green within moments. They fell to the ground, their bodies turning stiff and cold.

The golden toad and jade snake were both supporting the third lifeform, a silvery-white rat that teleported through space and killed one cultivator after another. It had a slew of mysterious techniques, and by the time the cultivators noticed that it was present, it had already bitten through their necks.

A giant turtle rampaged through the rock forest, its defenses frightening to behold. There was also a chameleon that could disguise itself beyond the senses of even the most acute cultivator to behold.

These lifeforms seemed much like genetic lifeforms, but they were present in a virtual realm rather than reality, and had no physical genes to speak of.

"Two supports, two assassins, and a tank..."

Zhang Lie didn't think that that was a good team composition, but the results spoke for themselves. Against the struggling cultivators, the lifeforms had managed all but a one-sided slaughter. Only a few of the strongest were still struggling to defend themselves.

Zhang Lie watched the scene from afar without any intention of helping either side. His gaze swept through the crowd before he noticed someone familiar.

Zhang Lie waved at him. "Xiaowu, here!"

Sun Xiaowu had been participating in the melee, and he too had been injured. However, as a gold-attuned genetic hunter, he had particularly strong defenses. He would be able to heal from even the most serious injury; it just cost more stamina to do so.

As he shouted, he caught the attention of some of the frightening lifeforms, who treated him as nothing more than additional serving of food, not realizing that he was the most monstrous lifeform there.

The jade snake shot over and sprayed out poison mist.

Pale blue genetic energy rippled about Zhang Lie's arms. He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the world. The sky began to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized in the air.

"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar]!"

A howling gale swept over the arena. As more and more genetic energy gathered around Zhang Lie's arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool.

A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged black dragons, flooding the space and causing the rock forest to shake.

The jade snake was sent flying.

As the waves burst apart, the air filled with echoes of Zhang Lie's signature genetic energy, shattering space and swallowing up all life in its vicinity.

The ground quaked.

The firm and sturdy rock pillars all around them began to collapse as the frightening lifeforms were repelled.

The remaining lifeforms finally noticed Zhang Lie.

Sun Xiaowu gasped, "Captain!"

The lifeforms shot toward Zhang Lie simultaneously.

"[The Boundless Blade: Yawning Wave]!"

Zhang Lie raised his pointer finger high into the air, manifesting a sword will that rose into the heavens, strong beyond human understanding, vast as the ocean.

The rock forest was sheared off beyond a certain height. The frightening lifeforms fell back in surprise. Half the golden toad's body had been cut off, and a huge scar appeared on the giant rock turtle's shell. It keened.

The silvery-white rat and chameleon attacked simultaneously. The rat teleported through space, while the chameleon extended its tongue like a spear with shocking speed.

"[Ninecarp Transformation]!"

A black serpent materialized behind Zhang Lie, by now so large and so developed that it resembled the world-swallowing serpent Jormungandr. It let out a threatening hiss as its scales clicked together.

Pitch-black genetic energy revolved around Zhang Lie like dark clouds, then exploded forth in his vicinity. The silvery-white rat that had just emerged screamed in agony, and the chameleon's tongue dissolved.

Before the rat could run away, Zhang Lie caught it in one hand. The serpent behind him hissed threateningly as the rat attempted to flee. Zhang Lie laughed even more menacingly. "Where are you going, little rat?"

Zhang Lie certainly wasn't about to let his prey flee.

Try as it might, the rat was unable to escape. Its ability to teleport had been restricted by Zhang Lie. The serpent widened its maw and swallowed the silvery-white rat whole.

The rat screamed as it slowly dissolved in the serpent's stomach.

Upon seeing this sight, the chameleon shivered in fear and immediately went into hiding. Only then did it realize that Zhang Lie was unlike any other cultivator in this realm. He was a monster.

However, it was already too late.

"Your stealth ability isn't very strong, is it? I can see through you." Zhang Lie's eyes transformed into a dragon's pupils.