"Hmph! What an arrogant tone you possess!"
As the words fell, four blurred figures began to materialize before Shangguan Yuan and the others, their gazes fixed on the black-robed elder.
Though these individuals were right before them, Shangguan Yuan and the rest could not sense the slightest aura from them, as if they had merged with the very fabric of this world.
"Heh! Quite lively today, the old fellows from the four great clans have all gathered!"
The black-robed elder, upon seeing them, showed no fear but instead a surge of fighting spirit. He declared, "Let me see if you four can protect the 'Xiantian Yi Qi'!"
"Hahaha! Ever since I stepped into the Martial God realm, no one has dared to be so audacious in my presence!"
At this moment, one of the four, an elder with sharp eyes, exuding an invincible aura with every step, sneered. "Allow me to experience your esteemed skills firsthand."
The black-robed elder glanced at him. "Oh! Yang Qian Dao of the Yang Clan! I have indeed heard of your unparalleled fist arts!" He then extended a hand, gesturing invitingly. "Come! Let me witness it!"
"Hmph! Arrogant!"
As soon as Yang Qian Dao spoke, he clenched his fist and, without any fancy maneuvers, charged forward with the simplest of techniques.
As his fist wind sliced through the air, a distinct torn trail of wind was visible.
This demonstrated the immense power of his punch.
The punch appeared slow, yet it carried an oppressive aura that made one feel unable to evade or dodge.
"You possess some semblance of fist intent!"
Facing this punch, the black-robed elder seemed to have no intention of retreating. Instead, he too clenched his fist and prepared for a head-on collision.
"To dare to meet the Yang Clan's patriarch head-on, you have some courage." Zhao Wuji, witnessing this, was somewhat surprised.
"Hmph! My father's inner fist, how can it be so easily received!"
Yang Yan, however, was unconcerned.
No one understood the essence of Yang Qian Dao's fist arts better than he did.
This punch, though appearing ordinary, had all its power concentrated internally. Once it landed, it was absolutely capable of inflicting devastating damage upon the enemy.
This was the 'Inner Fist'.
On the field.
"You are the first to dare to receive my punch head-on."
Yang Qian Dao's expression turned serious as he unleashed his fist, the terrifying power contained within surging towards the black-robed elder like a tidal wave, accompanied by a thunderous momentum.
It was unstoppable.
"Well met!"
A trace of ferocity flashed in the black-robed elder's eyes. He infused a surge of true qi into his fist and struck out in a spiraling motion.
When the two fists met, there was no earth-shattering spectacle as imagined. Instead, everything returned to a state of calm, and not even the slightest fluctuation of power could be felt.
The fist's might unleashed by Yang Qian Dao was like a stone sinking into the ocean, causing no ripples.
"This... How is this possible?"
Yang Qian Dao's eyes widened in disbelief at what had just transpired.
When their fists collided, he had expected the opponent to be crushed by the power within his punch. But he never imagined that the other party's fist imprint would act like a bottomless vortex, instantly absorbing and nullifying his surging power the moment it erupted.
"Who exactly are you?"
It was only then that Yang Qian Dao realized this person before him was by no means simple.
To be able to neutralize his fist's power with such a refined technique indicated that the opponent's control over power far surpassed his own. Otherwise, had there been any slight misstep, under his power, the opponent would have surely suffered a backlash.
And been severely injured.
At this moment, the other three also stepped forward, forming a defensive formation.
At their level, a single move was enough to discern the gap between friend and foe.
Therefore, they were all acutely aware that this individual before them could not be defeated by one person alone.
"Who I am is not important. What is important is that you cannot stop me, and that item will be mine." The black-robed elder casually swung his arm and spoke slowly.
"Attack together!"
In the face of this situation, Yang Qian Dao and the others could no longer hesitate.
"Agreed!"
Without further ado, their figures moved fluidly, each taking a strategic position, instantly surrounding the black-robed elder.
"This is also good, it saves me time!"
The black-robed elder was unconcerned by their combined assault.
"Everyone, attack with full force, we must strike him down in one blow!"
Yang Qian Dao roared, stamping his feet firmly on the ground. All the true qi within his body began to converge towards his right arm; this would be his ultimate punch.
The other three did the same.
Around the black-robed elder, imposing fist prints, terrifying palm strikes, and sharp blade and sword lights began to converge.
These were the ultimate killing techniques of the four individuals.
The scene was incredibly grand and breathtaking.
And the surroundings, saturated with various forms of power, had long since become a deadly no-man's-land.
Shangguan Yuan and the others had already retreated to a distance of ten miles. Even for Martial Emperors like them, they could not withstand the residual energy waves from the current battle.
"This... Is this the power possessed by the Gods of Martial Arts?"
Simply sensing a sliver of the aura emanating from the battlefield sent shivers down their spines, causing their bodies to tremble uncontrollably.
"I wonder if the old clan leaders can defeat that black-robed elder! Otherwise..."
At this point, the expressions of all of them turned grim.
Even if they were to leave with the 'Xiantian Yi Qi' now, it would be meaningless.
If their old clan leaders were defeated, with that elder's strength, how could Shangguan Yuan and the others possibly stop him?
"I refuse to believe that the combined strength of four Martial Gods cannot defeat him."
Yang Yan clenched his fists and spoke.
Yet, his action revealed his inner turmoil.
"We can only wait!"
Zhao Tai Chi sighed faintly.
At this juncture, all they could do was await the final outcome.
And after only three minutes, the center of the conflict seemed to be devoid of any energy fluctuations.
This meant.
The victor had been decided!
Shangguan Yuan and the others stared intently at the distant battlefield, their hearts pounding in their chests.
Such a feeling of apprehension had not appeared in them for a very long time.
"Alas! My bones and sinews still haven't been fully stretched!"
As the dust settled, a black-robed elder walked towards Shangguan Yuan and the others as if strolling through a garden. He bore almost no visible signs of injury.
In contrast, behind him, the old clan leaders of the four clans were on the verge of death, barely able to feel any flow of true qi within their bodies.
It was as if they had been completely drained.
This could be described as a one-sided annihilation.
"Defeated! All four Martial Gods have been defeated!"
Upon seeing the scene before him, Yang Yan instinctively took a step back, clearly unable to accept this outcome.
The expressions of the others were similar; they were like soulless specters, walking dead.
"Rest assured! I have no intention of taking their lives!"
The black-robed elder approached slowly, stating calmly, "That ancient tome in your hands shall serve as your token of gratitude for sparing your lives!"
With a wave of his hand, the ancient tome in Shangguan Yuan's embrace seemed to be drawn by an invisible force and flew towards the black-robed elder's hand.
But at this moment, a clear and cold voice suddenly emerged.
"Sir! I am truly sorry! You cannot take this with you!"