The Fist That Shatters the Heavens

Translated by Basingh.

A single punch—wrapped in roaring imperial flames. All nine hundred and ninety-nine streams of fire condensed into that one strike. A piercing sonic boom erupted, shaking the heavens.

"Impossible! To control unmerged imperial flames like this—what kind of monstrous physique could withstand it?!"

Xiao Li's face twisted in shock. In his understanding, no one could wield nine hundred and ninety-nine imperial flames in such a raw, brutal fashion.

For ages, those who possessed such flames remained hidden, only daring to emerge once they had fully merged their flames. Why?

Because no physical body could withstand the impact of nine hundred and ninety-nine imperial flames surging at once. Let alone fusing them into a singular force.

Ordinary cultivators at this level unleashed their flames in scattered bursts. It appeared grand and overwhelming, but in reality, it was an illusion of power. Their energy constantly dissipated due to the sheer difficulty of control.

Even the most skilled among them had to deliberately burn off excess power—because concentrating it too much would shatter their own bodies.

But upon stepping into the Unification Realm, those flames merged into one. No longer a chaotic tide, but an indivisible whole.

This wasn’t just a fusion of flames—it was a perfect synchronization of soul, body, and fire.

The total strength of a Unification Realm cultivator and one who simply possessed nine hundred and ninety-nine flames was the same.

But the gap between them was insurmountable—like a mortal staring up at an unscalable divine peak.

At its core, it was a matter of control.

A nine hundred and ninety-nine flame cultivator was like a charioteer trying to control a herd of wild stallions—unruly, chaotic, impossible to tame.

The Unification Realm master? He didn’t control a herd. He controlled one perfect warhorse—an extension of his own will.

Even the most gifted of flame cultivators could barely wield a tenth of their true power. And yet—

Long Chen… was ignoring all logic.

He hadn’t reached the Unification Realm. He had no refined techniques. And still—he brought all his flames together in one singular strike.

Xiao Li’s heart clenched in fear.

A metallic hum shook the void.

He had no time to evade.

He had no choice but to fight.

Golden divine radiance erupted from his bow. Countless unseen runes ignited along its strings, flashing as the weapon itself slashed forward like a divine blade.

This was Xiao Li’s full power—concentrated, unrestrained, absolute.

“No—!”

A sudden realization struck him. His expression changed drastically as a terrible thought hit him.

His people.

BOOM!

Fist met bow. Raw power clashed against a legendary divine weapon.

Purple and gold divine flames exploded outward, piercing through the sky, shattering the heavens.

A storm of destruction unfurled, a tidal wave of annihilation.

"No—NO!"

Xiao Li's worst nightmare became reality.

His clan. The warriors of the Dark Night Divine Owl Tribe—

Gone.

The shockwave obliterated them before they could even react, turning them into nothingness.

Even those wielding divine weapons were annihilated—their artifacts remained, but their owners perished in the aftershock.

Long Chen hovered in the air, his fist dripping with blood. The terrifying recoil nearly made him cough up blood.

That one strike had taught him a lesson.

Even among Unification Realm experts, there were massive disparities in strength.

Xiao Li was leagues beyond any Unification cultivator Long Chen had faced before. His power was on an entirely different level.

Typical Unification masters merely fused their flames. They still treated them as tools.

But Xiao Li? He had gone one step further—he had become one with his flames. No distinction. No separation.

They were him.

A ragged cough echoed through the battlefield.

Xiao Li spat out a mouthful of blood, his face contorted in rage and disbelief. He had hesitated for a single moment, worrying about his tribe—and that hesitation cost him dearly.

Even though he wielded a divine bow, even though Long Chen fought with his bare hands—

Long Chen had overpowered him.

His five viscera were shattered. His blood carried fragments of his own organs.

And yet—

"So this is a Unification Realm master?" Long Chen examined his bleeding knuckles and smirked. "Seems overrated."

"LONG CHEN—!!"

Xiao Li’s face twisted in fury. His clan—slaughtered. His pride—shattered. His heart burned with hatred, his vision turning blood-red.

"Men die for wealth. Beasts die for food." Long Chen’s fingers twitched as his wounds healed at a visible speed. "You chose to serve the Heavenly Demon Clan. You should have expected this."

Before Xiao Li’s eyes, Long Chen’s fists completely regenerated, not a single trace of injury remaining.

Xiao Li's pupils shrank. That shouldn’t have been possible.

His divine bow wasn’t just a weapon—it carried the laws of destruction. A wound from it should have lingered.

Yet Long Chen had healed. Instantly.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Li forced himself to calm down.

This wasn’t prey before him.

This was a monster.

A genuine threat to his life.

Gripping his bow tightly, Xiao Li’s voice turned cold. "I almost forgot—you’re a Nine Star Heir. That lineage has always been famed for its terrifying physique."

His eyes sharpened. "But no matter how strong your body is, your flames remain unmerged. That’s why… today, you will die."

Long Chen chuckled, floating with his hands behind his back, looking down at Xiao Li like an emperor watching an ant struggle. "Are you saying that to convince me… or yourself?"

Excitement flickered in his eyes.

That single punch had illuminated a truth he had been seeking for so long. In that moment, he glimpsed the essence of Unification. He saw the path ahead—clear, undeniable.

And beyond that? His true evolution.

Meanwhile, the apocalyptic clash had left the barrier surrounding the Demon Cloud Mountain completely untouched.

Even the warriors inside remained unfazed.

Evilmoon was still holding back.

Xiao Li exhaled slowly, a dark smirk creeping onto his lips. "Arrogant as ever, Long Chen. But your arrogance… ends here."

His fingers reached for his bowstring—

SLAP!

A thunderous impact sent his head snapping sideways.

"What the hell are you smirking for? Are you a damn comedian?"

Starry light flickered beneath Long Chen’s feet. His figure blurred—

He had already crossed the void. A single slap sent Xiao Li flying.

Long Chen wasn’t about to give him another chance.