C215 The Forbidden Power!!
Even in his tattered clothes, looking the picture of misery, Zhang Zhongqi, bathed in the glow of countless stars, seemed to transcend the very limits of time and space, entering a realm beyond any creature's wildest imagination.
"This is, this is..."
A look of confusion flickered in the eyes of the power players.
But in the blink of an eye, their faces were stricken with horror.
"Chu, the War God, make your move!"
Someone shouted in panic!
Even the most unflappable government heavyweights couldn't maintain their composure in the face of the dreadful force emanating from the cascading starlight; they felt the palpable threat of death.
It was the essence of true death, a power capable of annihilating the heavens and the earth, of obliterating all in its path!
No one had anticipated Zhang Zhongqi's madness, that he would unleash such a force at the heart of the city!
"It's a forbidden power!"
"That's a forbidden technique!"
"Zhang Zhongqi has even mastered such a technique!"
Many were in disbelief.
A forbidden technique, by definition, was an existence shrouded in prohibition.
It invoked forbidden powers, wielding them with lethal intent!
The forbidden technique wasn't banned from practice; rather, it was so against the natural order, so incredibly potent, that mastering it was nearly impossible.
The agony endured in its pursuit was beyond comprehension, and even upon successful mastery, using it bordered on a death wish!
Because it was taboo, taboo, taboo!
Named for its taboo nature, the technique's immense power was matched only by the severe toll it took on its user, whether or not the target was vanquished.
It was akin to the Heavenly Demon Body Separation, akin to a warrior's ultimate sacrifice.
These, too, were taboo techniques, yet they were not purely offensive; they served as mere aids.
As such, they were relatively simple to learn.
But the power Zhang Zhongqi was on the verge of unleashing was a bona fide forbidden technique!
The onlookers' faces turned ashen. They could only watch Chu Tianfeng, who had already stepped into the void.
Zhang Zhongqi's own strength was negligible, but the taboo technique cared nothing for the amount of power one possessed.
If you invest enough, the might of this taboo technique can be immense!
Indeed, given Zhang Zhongqi's capabilities, if he were to unleash this taboo art of slaughter without restraint, even the War God would need to steer clear of its edge!
Such is the nature of a taboo technique...
In the emptiness, the descent of the starlight hastened. It appeared to have just begun, yet in a mere instant, a multitude of terrifying forces took shape, blanketing the heavens and the earth.
The space above the entire banquet hall was utterly void, imperceptibly consumed by the cascading starlight into nothingness.
There was no sound, not even a hint of energy fluctuation could be felt.
Complete obliteration, the most thorough kind of annihilation.
This spectacle further solidified the fearsome extent of the taboo technique Zhang Zhongqi was about to employ!
Chu Tianfeng had reached the side of the wildly frenzied Zhang Zhongqi.
As the War God, Chu Tianfeng could acutely sense the horrific power embedded in Zhang Zhongqi's impending strike.
Thus, he did not hesitate!
But, it was already too late...
The taboo technique should have been disrupted at the moment of its initiation, for once the taboo momentum was unleashed, it would become unstoppable.
And that was exactly the current predicament.
Initially, no one imagined that Zhang Zhongqi had mastered the forbidden technique.
It's well-known that only lunatics would attempt to cultivate such a technique, with no guarantee of success.
Yet Zhang Zhongqi had done it, mastering this technique to its pinnacle.
He was poised to execute the forbidden art of destruction!
Naturally, no one could have predicted that Zhang Zhongqi would dare to deploy such a devastating technique in this setting!
It was too late, irrevocably too late!
When they witnessed Chu Tianfeng enveloped in the relentless starlight, they realized all hope was lost.
Maybe, with Chu Tianfeng's strength, he could break free from the starlight's grip in a brief moment, but even that required time.
And that time was all Zhang Zhongqi needed to unleash the forbidden technique.
He surrendered...
In that instant, Chu Tianfeng abandoned any attempt to thwart the emergence of the forbidden technique, turning to soar towards Chu Yi.
Even if Chu Yi was without equal.
Even if Chu Yi possessed an ultimate foundation.
Even if Chu Yi's strength could shake the heavens and the earth.
Yet, before the forbidden art of slaughter, Chu Yi remained in grave danger.
Chu Tianfeng would never allow Chu Yi to be exposed to such peril.
His speed was great, but Chu Yi's was even greater!
"Come back, Chu Yi!"
A crimson flash appeared in Chu Tianfeng's eyes, while those around him were utterly astonished.
Everyone had already retracted their shields, focusing solely on self-preservation to endure the horrific onslaught of death.
But in that moment, someone dared to confront the forbidden art of slaughter head-on!
When they realized it was Chu Yi, their shock was immeasurable.
After all, Chu Yi was the intended victim of the forbidden art of slaughter.
What could he be thinking?
What was going through Chu Yi's mind?
Clearly, he had stopped thinking altogether.
Had Zhang Zhongqi not employed this forbidden art that harnessed starlight, Chu Yi would have fled as far as he could.
Otherwise, without revealing his ace in the hole, he might well have met his demise.
But now...
"Do you know what the real joke is?"
Chu Yi's voice echoed distinctly across the cosmos.
And then, they witnessed a scene they would never forget!
Stars began to appear.
But these stars were not descending from the heavens.
No, they were, they were!!
They were emanating from within Zhang Zhongqi's forbidden art of slaughter.
Indeed, Chu Yi was commandeering Zhang Zhongqi's power of starlight.
This was beyond anyone's anticipation, a thought no one dared to entertain.
With Zhang Zhongqi unleashing the forbidden art, only Chu Tianfeng had the credentials and the capability to stop him.
And when Chu Tianfeng also chose to stand down, they were plunged into despair, hoping only that Zhang Zhongqi wouldn't escalate the forbidden art to its fullest extent, giving them a sliver of hope for survival.
Yet, in the final moment, Chu Yi emerged!
In an unimaginable way, he forcibly took hold of Zhang Zhongqi's forbidden power, completely obliterating the dreadful art of slaughter that could have decimated all life.
This spectacle left everyone in awe!
In the void, the starlight surrounding Zhang Zhongqi dwindled, but within the cocoon of stars, Zhang Zhongqi's skin was tightening and his hair whitening as his vitality rapidly ebbed away.
Although Zhang Zhongqi's forbidden technique was abruptly disrupted by Chu Yi and astonishingly devoured in the process, it was clear that the technique had been executed.
Forbidden techniques are deemed taboo not only for their formidable power but also for the peril they pose to the user.
Upon unleashing such a deadly art, Zhang Zhongqi was forced to endure the relentless recoil.
The greater the power unleashed, the more horrific the backlash.
Realizing the situation was irreversible, Zhang Zhongqi resolutely abandoned his lethal strategy, but it was evident he had already suffered a cost.
That cost was his very life force.
The myriad points of starlight that had once illuminated the sky ultimately vanished. Onlookers gazed upon Chu Yi, still with eyes closed, now grounded, their own eyes reflecting a tapestry of complex emotions.
There was astonishment, shock, and even an abundance of fear.
Previously, they had never regarded Chu Yi as someone who could engage with them as an equal.
Even if Chu Yi was destined to outpace them and ascend to the pinnacle of human strength, in the eyes of government officials and the patriarchs of noble families, such a future was distant. The Chu Yi of the present lacked such standing.
He was always seen as just a youth, nothing more than that.
But now, they realized their mistake.
Chu Yi was indeed Chu Yi because he possessed qualities beyond anyone's imagination.
...
Power surged within him, and an overwhelming aura of authority erupted continuously.
To attempt such a display of forbidden starlight power before Chu Yi was an utter folly.
Chu Yi could easily shatter such forces.
Yet, in the final moments, he chose not to.
Instead, he made an incredibly audacious decision.
He chose to absorb.
He chose to devour.
Chu Yi completely consumed the forbidden power that was Zhang Zhongqi's.
This power was the essence of pure starlight, far purer than the starlight Chu Yi harnessed each night, and the energy it contained was immensely more potent.
Yet, if that were all, it would pose no issue.
Chu Yi possessed a primordial spirit that defied the heavens, fully capable of integrating this starlight power into his very flesh.
This would allow him to practice his cultivation anytime, anywhere.
Regrettably, these starlight powers harbored a terrifying force beyond their inherent starlight attribute—a force capable of obliterating everything.
It was only a trace, but its presence was undeniable.
And it was this minuscule presence that amplified the might of the starlight powers exponentially, transforming them into a forbidden technique with the power to annihilate all!
Chu Yi had come to a realization.
This was the true nature of the forbidden power, the secret behind the boundless strength of the forbidden killing technique!
It was—
Ashes!
Yes, Ashes!
Others may not grasp the essence of Ashes, but as the supreme being within the Immortal Demon World, Chu Yi was well aware.
Ashes referred to a unique form of power.
And this power was also known by another name—
The Power of Annihilation!
Indeed, with each epoch's conclusion, when an era was utterly shattered, this power would emerge.
The emergence of the Power of Ashes signaled the onset of a force that could bring an end to all things.
Ultimately, when the Power of Ashes reached its zenith, the myriad forces of Ashes would merge and metamorphose into a singular, devastating force—the power that could, in the truest sense, obliterate everything—
The Power of the End!
