Risa had gone all out from the very beginning.

She did not hold back in the slightest.

Her intention was simple—win fast, strike hard, and catch Zeph completely off guard.

But reality was cruel.

Cruel to the point of despair.

Because the attack she had just unleashed with everything she had… had barely any effect at all.

Zeph's aura had not changed.

Not even a little.

That meant—

He wasn't injured.

Not even scratched.

As the dust and mist slowly dispersed, Zeph's figure clearly appeared in Elara's sight.

His posture was relaxed, his breathing steady.

The gray demonic energy around his body flowed calmly, like a thick armor that had never been shaken.

"He… wasn't affected at all?"

Elara's pupils shrank.

Her heart sank instantly.

From this alone, she could already see it clearly.

The gap between Risa and Zeph was far greater than she had imagined.

Risa was the most talented martial cultivator of the Sky family in recent generations.

At her age, she had already stepped into the Upper Supreme Realm.

Among the five elders of the Sky family at the same realm, not one of them could defeat her.

If in the entire Skyreach Territory, she would be considered a top-tier genius.

Yet in front of Zeph—

She was completely outclassed.

The realization made Elara clench her fists unconsciously.

For a moment, she found it difficult to accept.

"Risa."

Zeph walked out of the dust mist step by step, his voice calm and indifferent.

"You're still the same waste as always."

"With such a powerful move, you couldn't even break through my body-protecting demonic energy."

"It's truly… too weak."

His words were casual.

But each word was like a heavy hammer, smashing straight into Risa's heart.

Crushing her pride.

Pulverizing her self-esteem.

Risa clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails pierced into her palms.

Blood seeped out.

But she felt no pain.

Because compared to the pain in her heart, this was nothing.

"You don't need to say it," Zeph continued, his gaze cold and mocking.

"I can tell you're angry."

"But this is reality."

"The gap in talent between you and me is like a chasm."

"One that can never be crossed."

He paused, then spoke slowly, every word dripping with arrogance.

"Humans are a weak race."

"We demons are favored by the heavens—born with powerful physiques and superior cultivation talent."

"How can a despicable race like yours compare to us?"

Risa's eyes flashed with cold fury.

"Zeph," she said icily, "I admit you're strong."

"But don't go too far."

"There are always people stronger than you, and there is always a world beyond your own."

"If the demon clan is truly as invincible as you claim—"

"Then why are you still hiding in the corner of the Oceanreach Continent?"

"Why haven't you tried to unified the continent like the Verdant Lantern Empire did for thousands of years?"

Her words struck sharply.

Zeph's expression finally changed.

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Risa," he said coldly, "you're still the same as before."

"Sharp tongue, useless strength."

"If you were even half as strong as your mouth—"

"You wouldn't have dragged the third young lady of your Sky family into this situation."

His voice turned icy.

He was angered.

Risa laughed bitterly.

"I can't represent the entire human race."

"But I can tell you one thing—"

"There are countless humans stronger than you."

"So don't be too arrogant!"

As she spoke, she took a deep breath.

A green light flared in her eyes.

Her aura surged once more.

She burned her blood essence.

Activated her secret technique.

Her combat power climbed forcibly, reaching a level far beyond her normal limits.

"A secret method to forcefully raise strength?"

Zeph scoffed.

"A meaningless struggle."

His figure vanished instantly.

The speed was so terrifying that Risa could only see a fleeting afterimage.

Sonic booms exploded wherever he passed.

Risa gritted her teeth and formed seals with her hands.

"Whisper of the Wind—Great Wind Destruction!"

Violent wind-attributed spiritual energy erupted around her.

Her hair flew wildly as green light gathered between her brows.

Ancient incantations poured from her lips.

Runes manifested, swirling and condensing into a massive wind sphere before her.

The wind sphere spun violently, forming countless razor-sharp wind blades.

The air screamed as it was shredded.

"So this is your trump card?"

Zeph's voice echoed coldly.

"You're still too weak, Risa."

"You think someone like you is worthy of protecting Elara?"

"Today, I'll let you watch—"

"Watch the future heir of your Sky family beg and wail beneath me!"

A gray light flashed through his eyes.

Behind him, a massive tengu phantom condensed, spreading its wings.

He moved like lightning.

In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of Risa.

"Go!"

Risa roared.

The enormous wind sphere blasted forward with terrifying force.

"I told you."

"You are too weak."

Zeph stretched out his hand.

The tengu phantom mirrored his motion, extending its claws.

Stab—!

The claws tore straight into the wind sphere.

With brute force—

He ripped it apart.

Boom!

The wind sphere exploded, unleashing countless wind blades that filled the sky.

But Zeph rushed straight through them.

Unharmed.

"Be careful!" Elara screamed.

Risa tried to retreat—

But her legs suddenly felt as heavy as lead.

Her vision blurred.

"No…"

"The backlash…"

"The backlash from forcefully raising my strength…"

Pain surged through her meridians.

Her body betrayed her.

"You trash," Zeph sneered.

"How dare you blaspheme the power of the demon clan?"

"Humans like you are nothing but garbage."

"Who gave you the courage to question us?"

"We demons stay here by choice."

"If we wanted to—"

"The entire Verdant Lantern Dynasty would already belong to us!"

He grabbed Risa by the neck.

Demonic energy surged violently into her body.

Risa screamed in agony and spat out a mouthful of thick blood.

Zeph flung her away like trash.

Her body smashed heavily into the ground, rolling several times before slamming into a rock and stopping.

She lay there, unmoving.

Zeph turned toward Elara.

In an instant, he appeared before her.

He grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the tree trunk.

With his other hand, he lifted her chin.

"Miss Elara," he said with a ferocious smile, "I'll give you one last chance."

"Where is Ethan?"

"Otherwise—"

"I'll show you what true cruelty looks like."

"Don't… touch… my… young lady…"

Risa's voice trembled.

Blood poured from her mouth.

Yet she still forced herself up.

With veins bulging and bones creaking, she dragged her broken body forward.

"Ahhh—!"

She charged at Zeph once more.

"Court death!"

Zeph's eyes flashed coldly.

His hand transformed into a claw and slashed toward Risa's neck.

If this strike landed—

She would die instantly.

Phew~!

Suddenly, a golden light struck from the distant sky.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

...

Thanks for the Luxury Car: @Renoir_DS

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.