Shi Lang had used his domain technique and stood facing Zavir with a calm expression. The demon looked around him and found himself caged in a lightning bubble. This boundary will prevent him from stepping outside or restricting the demonic energy from flowing inside.
This only induced more rage in his mind, and he said, "Do you think you are the only one who can use boundaries?"
Shi Lang did not say anything and watched him silently. The terran was not bothered to entertain his guy and made his move. He vanished from his spot, and the clash resumed.
...
The young people in the crowd of the allied forces were all too eager to watch their idol in action and had all moved slightly closer. Amelia looked at the scene, and she smiled faintly. Hayley chuckled, as did all the people who had ever worked with Shi Lang or seen him work up close.
Shi Tao asked, "What happened?"
Amelia shook her head while Jane said, "Nothing, sweetie, your father will make that guy doubt his existence. Just watch."
...
Shi Lang and Zavir moved like usual for the first five blows, but then Shi Lang took off. He was so fast that even the afterimages were outnumbering Zavir. The people were watching all this, and they thought it was just his cultivation level. However, they were quickly sent for re-evaluation, and Shi Lang was cut.
The young ones were disappointed, and Zavir thought he had gained the upper hand. After all, the speed displayed by Shi Lang was too quick. However, they all heard a subtle voice, "Oops, missed the timing and almost ran into that blade."
Zavir raised his eyebrow as the two locked into a stalemate and asked, "What did you say?"
Shi Lang replied, "Oh, you were so slow that it messed up my timing."
Zavir was enraged and losing his temper. He pushed off Shi Lang with both hands, but the Terran was brilliant. He turned sideways and avoided the push. Then, he casually made a deep cut on his enemy's back.
The gash was so deep that even the black bones under his skin were exposed. Zavir winced in pain. He felt his body burning with just one slash, and Shi Lang was ruthless enough not to hesitate, and his wrist flickered. The blade in his hand was a scythe that riddled the back of the demon with hundreds of such gashes.
Zavir could not help but scream in pain. Shi Lang wanted to attack more, but the demon was not ready to give in so quickly. Zavir moved closer to the edge of the domain to evade the attack. However, he did not get the relief. The boundary attacked his demonic energy blindly.
Shi Lang watched this and sighed as he said, "That is all you have?"
Zavir felt insulted. He snapped and said, "Human, you sure have the gall to mock me after all this? Didn't I send you to the gates of hell last time?"
Shi Lang shrugged and said, "You think you had done something outstanding by beating me half an inch to death when I was fighting you with half-assed resolve because of my mistake? You even fall short of the phaser canons I faced at point black in my teenage years."
Zavir shivered in rage. The demonic energy in his body was raging, and he was healing. Demons thrived on consuming negativity, whether emotions or other dreadful actions.
Shi Lang was aware of this, yet he made Zavir angry.
...
Shi Tao asked, "Why is he making him mad? Won't that demon get stronger?"
Luna Baley shook his head and said, "He is looking for the dao to get to work. The stronger the demon is, the more he will expose himself to the heavenly sky."
Shi Tao shook his head and said, "How does that even work?"
Luna Baley smiled and said, "Can you see that lightning boundary? That thing is a skill that isolates that particular space from the heavens. Once he undoes that, Zavir meets the heavenly tribulation."
The people understood what Shi Lang was doing. Jenkins said, "However, the demon must also know it. That guy did not rule in the shadows for so long without skill."
The people nodded, but Hayley said, "Would you all shut up and watch the maestro at work?"
...
Shi Lang did not push Zavir too hard. The demon was also cautious and did nothing that might get him to reveal too many of his cards. The terran was not having it, though. If he pushed this guy too hard, there was a chance that Shi Lang might not be able to stand the attacks.
Shi Lang was approaching things cautiously. At this moment, a voice sounded, "Lang, this was not part of the deal."
Shi Lang froze, and the sword spirit continued, "Do what you want to do, and I will be here to protect you."
The terran smiled and said, "Well, thank you for lifting the burden off my shoulders."
Zavir saw the change in expression and asked, "What is so amusing in this situation that makes you smile? The stalemate seems amusing to you?"
Shi Lang shook his head and said, "No, I was wondering that finally, I have someone to lean on."
This sentence displayed Shi Lang's trust in the sword spirit ultimately. He glanced at the blood dripping from his shoulder, then shook the blood drops to fly off into the void. The demon raised his brow and asked, "Are you planning to show me your strength by unleashing an army of clones?"
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Having a smart enemy is such a privilege."
Zavir chuckled and said, "I can also do that trick."
Shi Lang smiled and said, "Go ahead and do it. Let's dance."
The moment he said this, Zavir also unleashed an army of clones. They both stood face to face. However, there was one difference between the two. Shi Lang shook his head and said, "You are not the same as me."
The demon did not understand what was happening, and then the sword in Shi Lang's hand flickered and multiplied. Every Shi Lang clone held a sword. Zavir also followed this step, and the two groups moved.
However, in just one moment, the demon clones were finished. Zavir had no idea what happened. He was standing shocked when Shi Lang(s) surrounded him. Shi Lang said, "Play ball."
The next moment, the swords everyone held vanished, and the warriors unleashed their skills onto Zavir. The clones divided and were reduced to a dozen. The number must have fallen, but the lethality of attacks was stronger, and they did severe damage from palm skills to kicks and staff and whips.
All sorts of tricks that Shi Lang knew were unleashed. Zavir did not wail or scream initially, but the gradual input of spirit energy irritated him. However, Shi Lang did not stop; he broke the skin on the demon's forehead to weaken the suppression mark.
Zavir was relieved but had never suffered such a shameful incident. Shi Lang taunted, "You are a demon? If so, then I am a paladin. Fucking, you could not even aim for the higher realm. Pathetic cockroach, dwelling in the shadows."
Finally, after hours of beating and humiliation when Shi Lang even tore off the clothes Zavir was wearing, the demon exploded and yelled.
The demonic energy inside him sent out a shockwave that killed nine clones in an instant and Shi Lang was forced to the edge of his domain. The terran coughed up some blood from the shock wave impact, but he was still standing. The sword in his hand disrupted the shock wave but the impact came a bit too suddenly.
Shi Lang was ready to disrupt the domain when the lightning was covered behind dark smoke. He sighed and said, "A bit too late."
The sword spirit said, "Calm down. It is never too late."
Shi Lang replied offhandedly, "Yeah, tell that to my ribcage and lungs that are still rattling."
The sword spirit said, "If you undo the domain before the heavenly tribulation gathers, this guy will kill everyone outside. So it is not too late. Now what you have to do is slash him half to death and back away."
Shi Lang replied, "Easier said than done. This guy is healing fast."
"The purpose of a sword is not only to kill but also to protect. The root of all martial art and cultivation lies in the act of preservation.", said the sword spirit.
Shi Lang fell into a thought and said, "Weren't we looking for a name for you? Then how about we call you Raksha?"
The sword spirit asked, "Hey, isn't that Hindi for the word protection?"
Shi Lang hummed and the sword spirit said, "I will take it if you can leave that guy to half death with just one attack."
The terran chuckled and said, "Challenge accepted."
The man raised his sword above his head and condensed his intent on the edge of the blade, as Zavir healed himself.