"With that Heavenly Perception realm, you think you're the hottest shit in the world? You have no idea what kind of existence you've provoked!"

"Let me show you exactly what kind of existence you've threatened."

All bark and no bite - your arrogance precedes you, but your survival remains uncertain.

Lu Ding had endured this bastard long enough!

If not for the fact that making the first move would draw all enemy Heavenly Perception operatives toward him - potentially distracting their own Heavenly Perception forces who'd instinctively try to protect him -

Lu Ding would have slaughtered this fucker ages ago!!!

Now with reinforcements arrived and concerns alleviated,

If he still tolerated this Tai Island brat's nonsense,

He might as well change his title from Corpse-Shattering Taishui to Turtle-Hiding Taishui.

Kunisada Kazuma vomited blood as tremendous force sent him crashing downward.

The Tai Island Heavenly Perception operatives immediately bristled with rage.

Just as they prepared to intervene,

Chu Gexiao, director of Yunhai's 749 Bureau among the arriving reinforcements, extended his hand. Strange vines slithered from his sleeves like living creatures,

Morphing into a golden flexible vine spear that swept across the gathered forces.

"Love to talk shit? Then duel one-on-one. If Lu Ding loses, I'll uphold justice. If blondie loses and you intervene, I'll slaughter you all."

"Chu Gexiao, you shameless bastard!!!"

The Tai Island operatives roared.

Chu Gexiao tilted his spear toward them: "Then come fight me head-on like men. Perfect timing - White Eagle's people have arrived over there. Shall we invite them down too?"

Distant figures flickered and vanished across the skyline -

White Eagle's operatives indeed.

Had combat erupted here, they'd have reaped the spoils.

But now exposed,

Their plans would inevitably change.

White Eagle remained too suspicious, and their geographical distance from Great Han made outright confrontation inadvisable unless absolutely necessary.

"Maintain distant alliances while attacking nearby" - a strategy they'd learned from observing Great Han.

Regardless, appearances must be preserved.

A transmitted voice whispered in the Tai Island operatives' ears: "Stand down."

Faced with their 'patron's' command, they could only swallow their fury.

Their gazes shifted toward the ongoing battle between Lu Ding and Kunisada Kazuma, desperately seeking distraction.

Below,

Lu Ding, empowered by [Mountain-Shaking Earth-Quaking], fought like a war god.

Pummeling Kunisada Kazuma into continuous retreat.

True,

In realm disparity - Kunisada at Heavenly Perception, Lu Ding at Earth Observation -

It mirrored a level 6 hero with ultimate abilities versus a level 5 without.

But Lu Ding's gear outclassed his!

A level 5 delayed from first blood pentakill missing experience, versus a level 6 who'd started 0-1 -

How could he possibly fear Kunisada Kazuma?

Heavenly and earthly killing intent locked on as Kunisada struck, spiritual energy surging like tidal waves.

"Lu Ding! You sneak-attacking coward!!! Fight me honorably like a real man!!!"

BOOM!!!

The fist connected squarely with Lu Ding's chest - no block, no dodge, no retreat.

The Heavenly Perception's killing intent lock had zero effect.

Kunisada's furious strike inflicted no damage.

[White Snake Shakes Scales] dispersed the force, repelling all lethal intent.

Lu Ding glanced at the fist on his chest, then raised his eyes: "Your honorable fight. Satisfied?"

His counterpunch, wreathed in black light, shattered half of Kunisada's face.

The pain paled against brutal realization.

He couldn't comprehend his Heavenly Perception strike failing to injure Lu Ding.

Did this mean... even without ambush tactics, he'd still lose?

Lu Ding read the dawning horror in his eyes.

Closing the distance.

"Seems this trash is finally glimpsing reality's cruelty."

"The ambush? Pure spite - wanted to humiliate you. Now you've landed your 'honorable' hit. What's changed?"

"Can you avenge your master now?"

"ARRGH! IMPOSSIBLE!!! Heavenly Perception is humanity's pinnacle! You're merely Earth Observation!!!"

Kunisada howled as the spiritual ocean behind him raged anew, viscous waves morphing into sky-rending sharks with gnashing jaws.

Lu Ding raised both hands, effortlessly bracing the shark's maw apart.

Black light enveloped his divine-patterned body as the Sin Dragon coiled - [Mountain-Shaking Earth-Quaking] at its zenith.

"Expected better. Just another realm-obsessed weakling. I've slaughtered too many to remember your master."

"But any teacher producing such garbage must've been trash too. Since you miss him so dearly, I'll reunite you shortly!"

"DON'T INSULT MY MASTER!!!" Kunisada poured everything into forcing the shark downward.

Lu Ding's arms bulged.

The Sin Dragon encircling him roared heavenward.

DRAGON'S CRY!!!

With the bellow, Lu Ding violently wrenched apart -

RIIIIP -

The spiritual shark tore asunder between his hands.

Dying shrieks echoed as it split completely.

Now HE became the world's most terrifying predator.

Kunisada staggered back, blood gushing from backlash.

Lu Ding pursued.

Dragon scales sheathed his arm as claws pierced Kunisada's flesh,

Hoisting him aloft.

"Strength - pathetic. Precision - nonexistent. Energy efficiency - wasteful. Technique mastery - amateur. Jack of all trades, master of none. A trash who can't even cheat properly dares bark before me? DIE!!!"

Witnessing this, the Tai Island operatives screamed: "STOP!!!!!!"

Voices frantic, bodies paralyzed.

Lu Ding ignored the rabid dogs.

The execution commenced.

The Sin Dragon roared skyward,

Piercing through Kunisada with its horns,

Leaving a gaping cavity.

Its scales became grinding blades,

Shredding flesh in ribbons.

FINAL DRAGON'S CRY!!!

The Sin Dragon soared as Kunisada's bisected corpse dangled from Lu Ding's grip,

Consciousness fading.

Even now,

Kunisada couldn't comprehend Lu Ding's strength.

Wasn't he Earth Observation?...

Wasn't he his master's proclaimed genius?...

Everyone had praised him as Tai Island's rising star among Qi Refiners.

Though he'd always mimicked manga protagonists, scratching his head with a laugh: "Just got lucky."

They'd insist: "Luck counts as skill too - plus your talent's exceptional."

He'd believed their "natural genius" lies,

Striving to eliminate all weaknesses.

How had Lu Ding branded this "jack of all trash"?

His life flashed past - memories flipping until landing on his beloved manga's final frame.