Chapter 337: Clash of Power

Tribulation power surged violently around Tian Yuan as he charged toward Grey, the air shrieking as if unable to withstand his momentum.

Grey did not retreat.

The instant Tian Yuan moved, Grey shot forward as well, his figure cutting straight through the distorted air.

“Chief Grey, what are you doing?” Jasmine cried out, disbelief flashing across her face.

The opponent was at least a fifth, possibly sixth level third-ranker. To them, Tian Yuan’s speed was terrifying, but to Grey, who was only at the combat power of second level, this was nothing short of suicide. Charging straight at him was no different from courting death.

“You really make me worried, Chief Grey,” Jasmine muttered, a helpless chuckle escaping her lips.

The ground beneath her feet shattered.

With a sharp boom, she launched into the air, her figure tearing through the sky as she pursued Tian Yuan from the side.

Grey ignored everything.

At this moment, he was painfully aware of one thing.

He was weaker than Tian Yuan.

His sword would not be able to break through the opponent’s tribulation-tempered body.

Since that was the case, he would not use his sword.

He would use his fists.

More importantly, he had a plan.

And he would make sure it worked.

’I only need to focus on my fists,’ Grey thought. ’That way, even if I get injured, only my fists will be destroyed.’

The Nexus Overclock surged violently.

One hundred percent.

Three hundred.

Seven hundred.

In mere moments, it climbed past one thousand percent, spiraling out of control.

Nexus energy, psionic nexus energy, sword energy, and even the laws of heavenly tribulation roared together, converging toward his fists. Just before the clash, Grey forcibly altered the output, compressing the amplification solely around his fists and the connected pathways.

If he did not do this, his body would explode into a mist of blood upon impact.

The overall effect was weakened, but the backlash would be unbearable.

This way, he could exchange blows three times at most.

Three or Four healing potions.

No more.

More than that, he would stop healing rapidly like this and probably cause some deviation in his system.

“Come,” Tian Yuan said, excitement blazing in his eyes as he punched forward. “It’s been a long time since I fought a mortal.”

Grey answered with his own punch.

Boom!

Thunder erupted.

Energy screamed.

The collision shook the sky, the shockwave tearing outward like a collapsing storm.

Pain detonated through Grey’s arms, bones screaming as if about to shatter.

But to Tian Yuan’s disbelief, it was not Grey who was sent flying.

It was him.

His body was flung backward with his barrier breaking apart, boots carving deep scars through the ground as he struggled to regain balance.

Grey’s vision blurred.

His fists were numb, blood already seeping through cracked skin.

Yet before the pain could fully settle, notifications flooded his mind.

[Your comprehension defies the heavens! By observing the law of heavenly tribulation, you have gained insight into the Law of Heavenly Tribulation.]

[Your comprehension defies the heavens! By observing the law of heavenly tribulation, you have gained insight into the Law of Heavenly Tribulation.]

[Your comprehension defies the heavens! By observing the law of heavenly tribulation, you have gained insight into the Law of Heavenly Tribulation.]

The single exchange sent his comprehension soaring.

And in that very instant, as Tian Yuan’s footing faltered and Grey’s mind rang with insight—

Jasmine struck as blades begin to rapidly form out of nowhere.

“Sword Projection Skill.”

Her blades descended like a flash of judgment, perfectly timed.

It tore threw Tian Yuan’s reformed barrier from the sky and lunged directly towards him.

“Hmph.” Tian Yuan snorted. “To tear through my barrier technique, not bad for a mortal worm.”

As soon as he finished his words, he got a bit more serious, his figure shot through air as thunder cracked, an armor made out of thunder formed around him and suddenly he accelerated.

“Watch out!”

Grey’s warning cut through the air.

Without hesitation, he activated Time Stop.

To his shock, Tian Yuan was already right in front of Jasmine. If he had been even a moment late, she would have died on the spot.

Grey grabbed Jasmine and twisted his body, forcefully shifting their positions.

Whrmm!

“Huh?”

Jasmine’s expression changed as she abruptly realized she was in Grey’s arms.

Then, just as abruptly, Tian Yuan’s voice echoed.

“I was confused at first,” he said calmly. “But it seems I wasn’t wrong to keep count.”

His lips curled into a wild grin.

“You can use Time Stop for more than three seconds, can’t you?”

Grey’s gaze turned cold.

“What’s your secret?” Tian Yuan continued, eyes burning with interest. “A mere half-sainthood isn’t enough to stop time for that long.”

“You don’t need to know,” Grey replied indifferently.

He turned his head slightly.

“Jasmine, are you alright?”

“Of course I am.” Jasmine chuckled despite the blood on her lips, her eyes glittering. “Thanks for saving me. I owe you one.”

“It’s nothing,” Grey said with a faint smile.

The instant the words left his mouth, he vanished.

“Keep up, Jasmine.”

Boom!

Time froze again.

Grey appeared before Tian Yuan, his fist already descending toward his throat.

There was no room for hesitation.

If this punch failed, it would mean wasting one thousand percent Nexus Overclock, along with the unbearable strain he was forcing his body through just to approach this monster.

Every ounce of his power converged into that single strike. Physical strength, overclocked energy, soul force, all compressed into one devastating blow that surged toward Tian Yuan’s body.

It was fortunate this man wasn’t a Saint.

Otherwise, Grey would have had no leverage at all.

Saints could stop time too.

Then Grey’s expression changed.

“…You.”

His eyes widened.

Tian Yuan was moving.

Inside the frozen world.

And his hand was already pressed against Grey’s chest.

“You’re relying solely on brute force,” Tian Yuan said, his grin turning maniacal. “A buffoon with no real combat experience. I could tell the moment we fought.”

Grey’s mind went blank.

“I suppose you’ll never uncover the truth of your soul,” Tian Yuan continued softly. “Don’t worry. Once you die here, there won’t be a third chance.”

His fingers tightened.

“I’ll devour your soul and claim your physique myself.”

Crack.

Grey felt it.

The three crystalline cores acting as his heart shattered simultaneously.

Time resumed.

Grey’s body was blasted backward, blood erupting from his mouth as his aura collapsed violently.

“Chief Grey!”

Jasmine’s scream tore through the battlefield, panic flooding her expression as she rushed forward.

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