CHAPTER 573: CHAPTER 573: DEATH LOTUS

A step’s difference has already determined the winner and loser.

Meng Zehao is a Seventh Grade, Xiao Zhan is a Sixth Grade; under any circumstance, Meng Zehao shouldn’t be the one stepping back.

Stepping back is akin to a slap in the face.

But Meng Zehao clearly couldn’t accept this reality. The astonishment in the eyes of those around him felt like invisible slaps to his face. He swung his fist and smashed towards Xiao Zhan once again.

This time, he wasn’t holding back; he was genuinely enraged!

Whoosh!

A punch even fiercer than before smashed towards Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes locked on Meng Zehao’s fist, with a trace of a cold smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He circulated his Spirit Manipulation Energy, at the same time gathering all his muscle power into his fist and fiercely blasted it out!

Boom!

Their fists collided once more!

This time both used their full strength, the collision contorted their expressions!

Bang!

Energy erupted, forcefully separating the two.

Thump, thump, thump.

Meng Zehao took three steps back again!

Xiao Zhan also retreated three steps!

It was a draw!

But in terms of the actual outcome, Meng Zehao clearly lost.

Unwilling to accept this, Meng Zehao lost his rationale in anger. With a flick of his hand, the Artifact Spirit appeared in his grasp — a white cloud-colored umbrella with sharp spear tips. Clenching the umbrella, he stabbed fiercely towards Xiao Zhan.

Of course, Xiao Zhan would not back down; he summoned the Death Demon Scythe to strike fiercely at him.

Death Aura surged forth, enveloping Meng Zehao entirely.

Then, he himself also entered the Death Aura, using its cover to move behind Meng Zehao and swung his scythe down.

Meng Zehao was not very familiar with Xiao Zhan’s attack techniques, but he knew Ye Wuming’s pretty well. The sudden onslaught of Death Aura didn’t fluster him.

He opened his umbrella, and instantly, a cluster of grayish-white mist gathered around him.

The mist met with the Death Aura, and the intermingling energy attributes immediately tangled—the black being absorbed and then fell to the ground in the form of droplets.

A clear zone instantly appeared around Meng Zehao.

"Hmph, Ye Wuming’s Death Aura had no effect on me back then, let alone yours!"

As his words fell, Meng Zehao retracted his umbrella and stabbed towards the position behind and to his left.

Ding!

The Cloud Umbrella collided with the Demon Scythe, sparking fierce sparks.

Meng Zehao accurately predicted Xiao Zhan’s attack position, but his facial expression looked grim, as the force from Xiao Zhan was surprisingly strong.

He had thought that the power Xiao Zhan exhibited earlier was his limit, but the power from Man and Artifact Integration was even more terrifying than before!

However, he also realized where he was at a disadvantage.

His Cloud Umbrella wasn’t primarily for attacking; its power was inherently weaker, while Xiao Zhan’s Death Demon Scythe, just from the name, one could guess what it was designed for.

It was normal for him to be at a disadvantage in terms of power.

Wait, normal?

Why the hell am I comforting myself?

I’m a Seventh Grade, for heaven’s sake!

Meng Zehao felt ashamed for having such thoughts; he had only exchanged a few moves with Xiao Zhan, and subconsciously he felt he couldn’t beat Xiao Zhan.

He roared loudly, using his power to deflect Xiao Zhan’s attack.

Then, while stepping back, his Cloud Umbrella split into dozens of umbrellas, shooting towards all directions.

Wherever the umbrellas passed, they sliced through the Death Aura, and the moisture-laden mist they carried absorbed the sliced Death Aura, then gathered into a drop of water that fell to the ground.

In no time, the enveloping Death Aura completely vanished.

Xiao Zhan’s true form was fully exposed in front of Meng Zehao.

Meng Zehao looked at Xiao Zhan, his face revealing a smirk of triumph, "Kid, I told you, the Death Aura is useless against me."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Xiao Zhan’s chilly voice rose, his lips curling into a teasing smile.

He spread his hand open, a strand of black Death Aura swirling in his palm.

Meng Zehao disliked that smile, looking at the strand of Death Aura on his hand, he scoffed scornfully, "Acting, let’s see how much longer you can keep it up."

He didn’t plan to continue playing with Xiao Zhan; he was ready to show Xiao Zhan the real power of a Seventh Grade Sovereign!

Man and Artifact Integration!

Merging with the umbrella, a mist suddenly appeared around Xiao Zhan.

The mist enveloped him, making him feel damp all over, and heavy, as if his limbs were weighed down; his feet felt like they were gripped by a water ghost and his arms burdened by a thousand-pound weight.

Trying to move his feet or lift his arms was extraordinarily difficult.

He looked towards Meng Zehao.

Meng Zehao had already finished gathering his strength; the Cloud Umbrella closed, its spear-tip sharp, gleaming with a cold light. It aimed at Xiao Zhan’s chest, then shot forward like a javelin.

Xiao Zhan was in extreme danger.

His body felt immensely heavy, seemingly powerless to resist.

But at this critical moment, Xiao Zhan suddenly let out a chilling laugh, raising his head to look at Meng Zehao, his eyes bursting with a bright glow!

Simultaneously, his hand swiftly lifted, looking effortlessly free from any constraints he had just now.

In his palm, the black Death Aura whirled wildly, instantly condensing into a black lotus in the blink of an eye.

The black lotus was entirely black, extremely dark, and absorbed all the light that fell upon it, distorting the surrounding light devouringly.

At the same time, the black lotus emitted an extremely chilly breath of death.

This chill was not an attack on the body’s warmth but an assault on the soul.

Just by glancing at it, one felt as if death itself was staring back, causing an involuntary shiver.

"This kid, his Death Aura is so pure, even surpassing Ye Wuming from back then!"

"What kind of Spirit Manipulation Technique is this? Such pure Death Aura, he feels like a dead man!"

Everyone in the hall paled slightly.

The power contained in Xiao Zhan’s move made them feel apprehensive.

Even Zhan Yuntian, looking at this black lotus, slightly furrowed his brow.

The deathly chill that it brought made one’s spirit suffer.

"This guy, having not seen him for just two days, has become even stronger."

Tang Kun, standing in a corner, watched Xiao Zhan showcasing his might and couldn’t help but be slightly emotional.

"Let’s start with you!"

Xiao Zhan targeted Meng Zehao, throwing the black lotus he had condensed in his hand.

This was a Spirit Manipulation Technique he had just grasped not long ago, never before used on anyone; today, he would test it on this unassuming guy!

Spirit Manipulation Technique, Death Lotus!

Whoosh!

The black lotus spun through the air towards Meng Zehao, its supreme Death Aura not sparing even the air it passed through, leaving behind a trail of distorted space.