In the shattered expanse of time and space, Ye Ling and Xie Bugui exchanged hundreds of blows in an instant. Their supreme powers intertwined in the void, unleashing unparalleled destructive force.
Currently, both sides were still in a phase of mutual probing, merely pitting their spiritual energy against each other. However, even so, the residual energy from their collisions was enough to instantly annihilate anyone below the supreme level.
Fortunately, this independent space had been reinforced by Ye Ling and Zhen Hun, and Zhen Hun himself was present to stabilize it. Otherwise, the mere aftershocks of Ye Ling and Xie Bugui's battle would have been enough to destroy this independent space and affect the inner universe.
The power of the two supreme beings was sufficient to turn all living creatures within the cosmic barriers to ashes!
This was Ye Ling's first confrontation with a supreme expert, and he had no intention of revealing his trump cards from the outset. While fighting Xie Bugui, he was also gathering intelligence on the extraterrestrial powerhouse.
However, after clashing with Xie Bugui, a deep sense of doubt arose in Ye Ling's heart.
"Is it my illusion? Why is this Xie Bugui so weak?"
Although Ye Ling knew that Xie Bugui was not using his full strength, he felt no sense of danger from Xie Bugui after their exchange!
Xie Bugui showed no defense whatsoever against his Desolate Domain!
Ye Ling felt that if he were to unleash his Desolate Domain and erase Xie Bugui's cultivation for even a tenth of a second, he could achieve an instant kill!
However, the simpler the kill process, the more hesitant Ye Ling became. He felt that Xie Bugui was playing the role of a pig to eat the tiger, waiting for him to release his domain and fall into some kind of trap.
After all, Xie Bugui was the first supreme being Ye Ling had encountered, and Ye Ling himself harbored an inexplicable reverence for the outer realms. Xie Bugui's current displayed strength being below his expectations made Ye Ling feel a sense of unreality, making him hesitant to believe it.
Under these layers of doubt, Ye Ling temporarily suppressed the urge to unleash his Desolate Domain, wanting to observe the situation further and confirm Xie Bugui's true strength.
On Xie Bugui's side, he was astonished by Ye Ling's strength.
Although he had not yet used his ultimate technique, the Soul Capturing Threads, every time he clashed with Ye Ling, he exerted his full strength. Yet, Ye Ling perfectly nullified all his spiritual energy with a calm demeanor!
"What is this guy's background? To be able to steadily block all my attacks? Can this inner universe, lacking the four fundamental laws, truly produce such a figure?"
Xie Bugui grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. Realizing that further delay could lead to trouble, he stopped probing Ye Ling's depth. His fingers quietly condensed Soul Capturing Threads, setting up a Soul Capturing Thread array within this independent space.
A large number of Soul Capturing Threads quietly took shape amidst the violent spiritual energy.
With their respective thoughts, the two sides exchanged another hundred moves. The entire space had been thoroughly shattered by their supreme powers, leaving only nothingness.
Zhen Hun, witnessing the battle from the edge of the space, murmured, "Ye Ling and Xie Bugui are evenly matched in cultivation. It will be difficult to determine a winner based solely on spiritual energy and realm. Both sides should reveal their trump cards next... The power of Soul Capturing Threads is on par with runes. I wonder how much of it Xie Bugui has mastered..."
As Zhen Hun reminisced about the past, he suddenly noticed a Soul Capturing Thread flash across his vision.
Zhen Hun was stunned for a moment before realizing that the entire space was, at some unknown point, covered in a vast number of Soul Capturing Threads!
Zhen Hun's heart immediately sank: "Damn it! When did this Xie Bugui set up this trap?"
Realizing that Xie Bugui's Soul Capturing trap had taken shape unknowingly, Zhen Hun quickly transmitted a warning to Ye Ling: "Ye Ling, be extremely careful! Xie Bugui has laid out Soul Capturing Threads around you. Those things can ignore spiritual energy defenses and directly harm your soul. Don't get entangled by his threads!"
"I see it."
Ye Ling had clearly noticed the net of Soul Capturing Threads that had suddenly appeared around them. He stopped his attack on Xie Bugui, ending the probing.
Xie Bugui's path was now covered in Soul Capturing Threads. If he were to charge headlong towards Xie Bugui, his soul would likely be instantly sliced into several pieces by the threads!
Seeing Ye Ling suddenly stop, Xie Bugui understood that Ye Ling had discovered his trap and also halted.
However, he no longer cared if his Soul Capturing Threads were discovered by Ye Ling. He taunted Ye Ling, "As a supreme being who grew up in the inner realms, I thought you would bring some surprises. Unfortunately, you only sensed the danger after my Soul Capturing Thread formation was complete. You truly disappoint me."
With that, Xie Bugui plucked a Soul Capturing Thread in front of him, and an invisible thread nearby sliced towards Ye Ling!
Sensing the impending danger, Ye Ling immediately dodged the incoming Soul Capturing Thread and calmly said to Xie Bugui, "If you can only set up such low-class traps, then I am quite disappointed in you as well."
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Xie Bugui's smile widened, "I didn't expect you to be so sharp-tongued despite your mediocre strength. I want to see if you can dodge one thread, but can you dodge thousands or tens of thousands!"
As Xie Bugui's voice fell, his aura instantly turned sharp, and his fingers danced rapidly!
The surrounding Soul Capturing Threads immediately began to slice towards Ye Ling at an extremely high speed!
This independent space was cut into fragments by the numerous Soul Capturing Threads!
"Ye Ling! These Soul Capturing Threads can connect to your soul. The moment you touch even one, your soul will be severed by them!"
"Struggle within my Soul Capturing Thread formation! Let me see your despairing expression!"
Xie Bugui's laughter echoed all around. The vast number of Soul Capturing Threads had completely sealed Ye Ling's escape routes, and they were on the verge of slicing Ye Ling into pieces!
Ye Ling had nowhere to run!
However, just as the Soul Capturing Threads were about to cut Ye Ling, a slight smile curved Ye Ling's lips.
"Rune Incineration!"
*Chii!*
A multitude of runes materialized around him, condensing into dark rune fire that incinerated all the attacking Soul Capturing Threads into ash!
The black flames spread along the Soul Capturing Threads, and in the blink of an eye, the entire space became a sea of black fire. The Soul Capturing Threads that Xie Bugui had set up were all consumed by flames!
Seeing the burning black flames around him, Xie Bugui's smile froze, his eyes filled with disbelief: "How is this possible?"
He could not imagine that his proudest technique was perfectly countered by Ye Ling's power!
"I told you, if you can only set up some low-class traps, I will be very disappointed in you."
At this moment, Ye Ling's voice sounded from behind Xie Bugui, causing Xie Bugui's pupils to contract sharply, and a chill shot straight from the soles of his feet to his forehead!
"Not good!"
Sensing the danger approaching from behind, Xie Bugui immediately unleashed his full power, his fingertips re-condensing Soul Capturing Threads and manipulating them to slice towards Ye Ling.
"Desolate Domain."
Just then, Ye Ling's cold voice echoed in Xie Bugui's ear. The Desolate Domain spread outwards from Ye Ling, encompassing Xie Bugui within it.
Xie Bugui's soul trembled violently, and then he found that everything he saw turned gray.
His cultivation was rapidly declining!