Cosmic Professional Gladiator

786 Breaking the Limit
The looming threat grew rapidly. Though lacking in virtue, Sovereign Yaming wasn’t foolish, and a sense of unease washed over him.

I may not comprehend Wu Ming’s strength, but one thing is certain… I am powerless against him now. Sovereign Yaming transformed into a dark, ethereal stream, hurtling deeper into the mountains at an alarming speed.

Meanwhile, Xu Jingming was engrossed in his breakthrough, feeling the energy within him continuously shifting under the command of the divine rune on his forehead. Suddenly, he sensed Sovereign Yaming’s escape.

“Running away?” Xu Jingming, gripping a silver spear, opened his eyes and observed the fleeing dark stream disappearing into the distance.

“Can you truly escape?” Xu Jingming raised a mere thought.

He could sense the immense and immeasurable power that had consolidated within his body. With a mere thought, he felt this power surging, surpassing the constraints of space, time, and destiny.

With his unwavering focus on his target, Sovereign Yaming couldn’t elude the lock-on no matter how he fled.

Xu Jingming vanished into thin air.

Simultaneously, a blood-colored projection of a spear pierced through the escaping dark stream in the distance. The severely injured stream condensed back into Sovereign Yaming’s form.

In this Ultimate Land, flight is the only means of transportation. How can he bypass the barriers of spacetime? Sovereign Yaming found it inconceivable.

He also sensed the overwhelming destruction inflicted upon his body by the Abyss. In just one strike, nearly half of his form was obliterated.

Even an invincible half-step third-realm powerhouse couldn’t harm my body. How did he manage to inflict such severe wounds with a single attack? Sovereign Yaming’s worldview shattered. Throughout the years, the infinite dominions had reached a consensus—Abyss Sovereigns below the third realm were indestructible.

“Invincible half-step third-realm powerhouses and Abyss Sovereigns within the Abyss embody the pinnacle of strength. They are unbeatable.” Sovereign Yaming stared intently at Xu Jingming before him. “Wu Ming, have you broken through to the third realm?”

“I have merely brushed the surface of the third realm. I am still far from reaching it.” Xu Jingming shook his head gently and promptly vanished into thin air once more. His strength had already transcended the limitations of spacetime, leaving his foe with no means to evade.

Still far from the third realm? What is happening here? Sovereign Yaming couldn’t fathom it. Meanwhile, another blood-colored spear projection penetrated his body, this time with even greater force, utterly obliterating Sovereign Yaming’s form.

“Escape!”

Sovereign Yaming’s essence dissipated, and two dark streams of air fled.

Two clones, you say? Xu Jingming discerned it instinctively.

Sovereign Yaming had made every effort to bring along as many clones as possible when venturing into the Ultimate Land. As one clone perished, the remaining two dared not hesitate and fled with their treasures. Each successful escape held great significance.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xu Jingming, who had remained motionless, suddenly transformed into three identical figures.

The three Xu Jingmings vanished simultaneously.

Boom!

A colossal blood-colored spear projection pierced through one of Sovereign Yaming’s fleeing clones.

Boom! Boom!

The remaining two smaller blood-colored spear projections simultaneously penetrated Sovereign Yaming’s other clone.

“Ahhh!” Ferocious and contorted expressions adorned the faces of Sovereign Yaming’s two clones, their eyes filled with indignation and despair. Could it be that an ordinary clone, lacking a third-realm weapon, could rival an invincible half-step third-realm powerhouse?

Sovereign Yaming was certain of it the moment they clashed. Although the weapons wielded by the ordinary clones were unremarkable, the power they unleashed was that of an invincible half-step third realm.

With a third-realm weapon, one can claim invincibility. How can his clone possess such extraordinary strength without a weapon? What kind of monster is he? Sovereign Yaming found himself unable to elude the relentless pursuit of the two clones.

…

The 35 towering figures observed Xu Jingming’s mastery over his strength, guided by karma.

“Remarkable,” exclaimed Feather Fire Lord in surprise. “Just as expected of an Ultimate being. These enigmatic characters have paved a new path of evolution. When half-step third-realm powerhouses approach the threshold of the third realm, there have always been two paths. One involves cultivating multiple techniques simultaneously, where the quantity of techniques influences one another until a final qualitative change is achieved. The other path entails specializing in a particular technique and delving deeper into its intricacies until a final qualitative change is attained.”

“When half-step third-realm powerhouses reach a certain limit, they become known as invincible half-step third-realm powerhouses,” Feather Fire Lord explained. “They remain trapped at this limit and seldom break through. Breaking through this limit and reaching the third realm? There are woefully few individuals across all of our spacetime who can accomplish such a feat.”

The present third-realm powerhouses nodded in agreement.

“A half-step third realm breaking through to the third realm. Now, there’s a third path,” praised Feather Fire Lord. “It involves using the divine rune as a conduit, allowing the half-step third realm to experience the power of the third realm in advance.”

Master of Antinight nodded in understanding. “Similar to how low-dimensional beings first grasp a trace of high-dimensional power and familiarize themselves with it. This way, the difficulty of becoming a high-dimensional being decreases significantly.”
“I’ve never heard of such a method for half-step third-realm powerhouses to gain a glimpse of third-realm power in advance. Today, I’ve finally witnessed it.”

“Just as expected of an Ultimate being. To think such a technique could be devised. The odds of reaching the third realm have greatly increased.”

“Impressive.”

“How magnificent.”

These third-realm powerhouses flattered the entity.

On the one hand, they were indeed flattering the entity. On the other hand, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of astonishment.

For instance, in the distant past, it was exceedingly difficult to advance from the Firstborn realm to the Eternal realm. However, the Ultimate being of the Mother Stream lineage devised a method to establish an inner universe, significantly increasing the number of high-dimensional Eternal beings.

The legacy left behind by the Ultimate being of the Heart Realm now provided an opportunity to gain a trace of third-realm power in advance.

“This Wu Ming should be the most formidable half-step third realm throughout all of our spacetime.”

“Not only in our spacetime, but even across infinite parallel spacetimes, Wu Ming might be the strongest half-step third realm.”

“In the Spacetime Arena, invincible half-step third-realm powerhouses are unable to break through their limits. I’ve never heard of anyone surpassing those limits. Yet, this Wu Ming… managed to transcend his limits under the guidance of an Ultimate being.”

The 35 towering beings praised in unison.

They had various thoughts swirling in their minds, but with an Ultimate being orchestrating the matter, they dared not act recklessly.

“So, the Ultimate being has created a technique that requires a test subject? And Wu Ming has become the most successful test subject?”

“With so many half-step third-realm powerhouses in the Ultimate Land, there may be other successful test subjects.”

The towering beings contemplated and observed.

According to Lord Feuilla, I’ve died twice. Feather Fire Lord observed the scene from a distance. Regardless of the Ultimate being’s objective, I cannot disrupt their plan.

…

Of Sovereign Yaming’s two fleeing clones, one met its demise with two swift strikes from Xu Jingming’s third-realm spear, while the other was ensnared by Xu Jingming’s ordinary clones and swiftly dispatched.

The blood-colored spear projection pierced through the enemy’s body like a sinuous dragon, utterly obliterating Sovereign Yaming’s form.

At last, his clone has been vanquished. The blood-colored spear projection condensed into Xu Jingming, who—with a mere gesture—collected all the spoils left behind by Sovereign Yaming.

Sovereign Yaming certainly possessed a wealth of treasures. Xu Jingming began to examine the spoils of war.

Meanwhile—in the Abyssal realm where Sovereign Yaming resided.

Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!

Sovereign Yaming’s visage emerged in the roiling black sea, his expression uneasy.

Thanks to the power of the Abyss, I managed to manifest a body infused with the essence of the Abyssal realm and forge a flawless form. But this Wu Ming eliminated one of my clones with just two strikes? Sovereign Yaming was truly terrified.

He had been unscrupulous, audacious, and deranged, oblivious to the looming threat of death.

Now, he felt the weight of that threat!

I cannot depart from the confines of the Abyss. Once I venture beyond the Abyss’s domain, Wu Ming’s ordinary clone will effortlessly slay me. Sovereign Yaming was gripped by extreme anxiety. Yet, even if I seek refuge within the Abyss, I won’t be able to withstand two strikes from Wu Ming.

Fortunately, he carries a third-realm weapon within the Ultimate Land. For now, he cannot pursue me.

But if he emerges… Sovereign Yaming grew increasingly worried. Even if I can bolster my strength by an additional 30% with the aid of the entire Abyssal realm, I fear it would merely grant me the ability to endure eight to ten more strikes before suffering the same fatal fate.

I’ve pushed him too far. There is no possibility of him showing mercy. Sovereign Yaming never entertained the idea of pleading for clemency, for he had studied the timeline and understood Wu Ming’s character. Pleading for mercy… would be futile!

My sole chance of survival rests on him losing his third-realm spear within the Ultimate Land! Sovereign Yaming silently yearned for this outcome.

The competition within the Ultimate Land is fierce, and to this day, no one has emerged alive. Wu Ming might meet his demise within its confines as well.

Deprived of the third-realm spear from the lineage of psychic weapons, his strength would be significantly diminished.

Sovereign Yaming eagerly anticipated it.

Third-realm weapons were not uncommon, but it was exceedingly rare to encounter one from the lineage of psychic weapons, especially in the form of a spear. None had ever appeared within Feather Fire City, and the one in Xu Jingming’s possession had been discovered by Thearch Dragon Island Lord.

Entering the Ultimate Land may be straightforward, but leaving is a different matter altogether. Sovereign Yaming could only hope. He had no other recourse.

…

Xu Jingming carefully surveyed the spoils of war. Sovereign Yaming had amassed a total of five wonders and 2,622 artifacts.

Instantly, Xu Jingming found himself much wealthier. These peculiar wonders held their own unique uses, and what captivated Xu Jingming the most was the transparent staff.

This wonder is crafted from the same material as Heart Spirit Beads. Xu Jingming gripped the transparent staff, which obediently transformed into a transparent spear according to his command.

With another mental command, the transparent staff merged with his skin like water, forming a protective robe.

I can shape it however I please, changing it at will! Xu Jingming exclaimed in astonishment.

The usefulness of wonders also varied based on their category. Wonders from the lineage of the Heart Realm were particularly suited for Xu Jingming, while other types… Although highly valuable, they did not provide any evident aid to his strength.

With this wonder, my repertoire of abilities becomes more comprehensive. Xu Jingming gazed into the distance. He had devised the fifth technique of the Golden Halberd, Fire Beacon, and successfully condensed a divine rune in the shape of a spear. Undoubtedly, his strength had noticeably increased.

However, Xu Jingming felt an even greater sense of urgency.

Throughout the annals of countless dominions, invincible half-step third-realm powerhouses and Abyss Sovereigns represented the pinnacle.

I am still clearly at the half-step third realm, and yet I have surpassed this limit. Xu Jingming understood this well. It is all because of the condensation of the divine rune, a legacy left behind by an Ultimate existence.

Why did an Ultimate existence leave such a legacy and attract countless half-step third-realm powerhouses? Xu Jingming felt as if he had stepped into the heart of a swirling vortex after obtaining the divine rune.

I will face whatever challenges come my way. Xu Jingming harbored no fear as he immediately ventured deeper into the mountains.