If someone asked, Hao Chi, what is the meaning of your existence in this life?
He would answer without hesitation, “Why do you care about that crap? Just do it!”
At this moment, on the battlefield, the red-haired man, blazing like fire, was surrounded by wild power and twisted space. He radiated vigor, his eyes flashing with a nearly crazed excitement as he shouted his spell at the top of his lungs—
“World-Crushing Star-Fist!”
This was completely different from most of the other “silent” magicians. Every movement he made, every shout, was brimming with raw, unfiltered explosiveness.
A fist infused with the Law of Force, carrying an unstoppable might, slammed into the innate barrier of that Level 100 Heavenly Saint from the Elemental Church.
Space twisted and tore under his fist, and the ground beneath his feet groaned in agony, the entire world trembling under the force of his power.
“Urgh… H-how is this possible?!” The Heavenly Saint desperately tried to block, but the holy light’s innate barrier around his body shook violently, cracks spreading everywhere as if it could shatter at any moment.
His mind was thrown into chaos, an incredulous cry escaping his throat.
A so-called Heavenly Saint was a shadow of the Sovereign, on the same level as the Sovereign, but since there could only be one Sovereign, they were forced to become subordinates.
One could also call those at this stage—Demigods.
Even if they were not true Sovereigns, in theory, they were not existences that mere mortals could easily contend with.
But what on earth was happening now? This heretic… why… “won’t die”?
Moreover, how was he only getting stronger?
“Hahahaha!!! Yes, just like that! Just like that!” The more Hao Chi fought, the more excited he became. Every punch seemed to resonate with the world itself, the power on his fists growing even stronger, the wild force nearly breaking through the sky.
“Boom!”
With a thunderous crash, the Heavenly Saint’s innate barrier, strong enough to resist origin magic, was shattered by Hao Chi’s full-powered punch, bursting apart into countless points of light and dissipating.
Then, a series of deep, thunderous heartbeats, like ancient bells, resounded throughout the world, shaking the soul of every living being.
“Thump!”
“Thump!”
“Thump!…”
“What?!” The face of the Light Element Sovereign changed drastically, immediately trying to force his way back to kill Hao Chi before he could fully ascend.
“Running away? We’re not done fighting yet!” For the first time, a hint of excitement appeared on the always-serious face of the Rule Sovereign.
Countless absurd binding rules instantly formed an invisible cage, trapping the Light Sovereign, who was trying to escape.
Endless laws of light erupted around him, trying to break open this formless shackle.
However, the Rule Sovereign seemed to have gone mad as well, refusing to back down, charging directly into the cage, transforming into his own laws, and engaging the Light Sovereign in the most primal of brawls.
The universe trembled, and the stars dimmed in terror.
The Light Sovereign, with no will to fight, was battered back step by step, even getting kicked right out of the star system when the Rule Sovereign seized the opportunity.
This only fueled his rage further. Borrowing the distant starlight, he slipped back in to fight the Rule Sovereign to the death once more.
Instantly, countless worlds flashed in and out of existence from the aftershocks of their battle. All living things were so awed by this terrifying power that they cowered on the ground, trembling.
And those deep heartbeats grew ever clearer, each thump making the Elemental Church magicians vomit blood and mentally collapse.
“Hahahaha…”
Hao Chi laughed recklessly. There was not a trace of joy in his eyes about his impending ascension to Sovereign, but instead… endless fighting spirit!
An infinite, boundless will to fight!
Suddenly, it was as if everything in the world had been paused, the entire universe coming to a halt.
Then, all laws rang in unison, and every rule in the universe resonated joyously.
A multicolored radiance, with billions of hues, burst forth from the depths of the cosmos, like a celebratory firework announcing the birth of the Sovereign of Force.
Next, an overwhelming pressure erupted from his body, its grandeur instantly covering the entire battlefield.
The three Heavenly Saints who had tried to rush in and stop him were pinned to the ground as if by an invisible mountain, unable to move, their eyes filled with unwillingness.
As for the other members of the Elemental Church, they didn’t even have a chance to resist. Under the pure law of force’s pressure, they were instantly crushed into a mist of blood, vanishing from the world.
“Martial Madman.”
A voice called from behind, and at the same time, four slave stones glinting with eerie light shot through the air like precise darts, landing steadily in Hao Chi’s palm.
He caught the slave stones without hesitation and immediately used them on the four Heavenly Saints paralyzed on the ground.
Despair flashed in their eyes as they tried to self-destruct, but Hao Chi waved his hand and instantly shattered the law power that had just flared up, denying them even the chance to self-destruct.
“Old things, your era is over!” Hao Chi’s eyes burned with fervent fighting spirit.
At this moment, he was the true Sovereign of Force.
After speaking, he instantly appeared in outer space, joining the Rule Sovereign to besiege the Light Sovereign.
But just then, it was as if the very foundations of the universe had been stirred. Five utterly distinct, yet equally supreme, auras descended simultaneously from five different dimensions of the cosmos.
Their arrival froze the previously chaotic and wild starry sky. Time and space themselves seemed to pause, all energy turbulence stilled in the instant of their descent, leaving only the silent struggle between laws.
One figure was as deep as night, devouring all light, surrounded by the laws of all things returning to silence, filling all hearts with despair.
He was cloaked in eternal darkness, with only two eyes as bottomless as black holes faintly glimmering.
Another figure stood upon massive mountains, cloaked in ancient vine-like markings, his presence steady as the earth itself. Where he passed, layers of stone sprang from the void.
His skin was as rough as rock, eyes deep as the molten core, each strand of hair hanging like stalactites formed over eons.
The third figure was a pure elemental storm, wrapped in endless currents, shifting constantly between fury and calm—at times a hurricane sweeping across the stars, at times a subtle, invisible breeze.
The fourth was as blazing as the core of a star. His arrival made the nearby stars pale, as if the center of the universe had shifted.
He wore a crown forged of solar storms, each breath exhaling flames that could incinerate worlds.
The last figure was a human-shaped lightning woven from billions of thunderbolts.
He wielded a spear of judgment, its tip a condensed plasma of law. Each pulse sent a soul-shaking boom, radiating the might of thunder.
Darkness, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Lightning—the five great Elemental Sovereigns appeared together.
With the Light Sovereign fighting, they made up nearly all the power of the Elemental Sovereigns.
But at this moment, the seat representing life and flow—the Water Sovereign—was missing.
That unlucky Sovereign had already perished alongside the Path Sovereign in a desperate battle.
They each took up a position, their auras joining to form a web of elemental law covering the entire star domain.
Then, five voices rang out at the same moment, crossing the endless void, weaving together into a torrent that shook every corner of the universe, piercing into the hearts of the three fighting Sovereigns.
“Stop!”
This was not a simple command, but the resonance of five supreme laws—the ancient contract of the cosmos being forcibly enacted.
Their arrival made the frenzied Hao Chi, the Rule Sovereign, and the battered Light Sovereign all freeze in place.
It was as if the universe itself was holding its breath, waiting to see how these nearly all-gathered Sovereigns would decide the fate of this star domain.
The Rule Sovereign frowned and led the Lychee Sovereign away, trying not to be surrounded.
“Let’s talk.” The Earth Sovereign crossed his arms and spoke.
“Talk about what? Just kill them.” The Darkness Sovereign snorted coldly.
“Oh? Who dies this time? You and Light?” The Earth Sovereign sneered.
The Darkness Sovereign fell silent.
Before the Water Sovereign died, none of them ever thought they could die.
But now, they knew.
Even Sovereigns could die.
If one side decided, “If I die, you’re coming with me,” and latched onto another Sovereign for a deathmatch—
Then two Sovereigns would fall together.
That kind of madness was exactly what these two new Sovereigns had, but these old geezers—who’d grown complacent over countless years—lacked.
A group brawl might really kill two.
And then?
Those two would go all out and hunt down another one.
Or each would drag another Sovereign down with them.
Who dies?
Who would be the vanguard?
For a moment, the entire field fell silent.
But Darkness, Light, and the Thunder and Fire Sovereigns exchanged glances, quietly shifting positions.
The Rule Sovereign noticed and subtly adjusted himself and the Force Sovereign’s position as well.
Two against six was still far too difficult.
If they could barely protect themselves, it was already impressive.
The atmosphere remained as tense as a drawn sword.
The Earth Sovereign clearly didn’t want to fight.
The Wind Sovereign simply watched, his attitude somewhat ambiguous.
Yet, the stalemate was quickly broken by a voice.
“Shall I give you all a hint? No Sovereign will die today.”
A lazy voice rang out.
The Sovereigns all looked over in surprise.
A female Sovereign, her features hidden by law, leaned sideways in the void with arms crossed.
“No need to look at me. The Time Sovereign was already a Sovereign before being born.”
“I might not have proven my Dao at this point in time, but it makes no difference.”
A smile appeared once again on the Rule Sovereign’s face.
So he’d always had an ally.
It was just that the other found it unnecessary to show herself—until now.
Now, with her, the balance became 3:4:2.
No one would suffer much by making a move.
They were all old foxes; there was simply no way a fight would break out now.
It was just the poor mages of the other time-related laws.
Even now, they might still believe they could sit on the sovereign’s throne….
Little did they know, someone was already up there.
Lounging around, not even bothering to explain, watching them bicker and scheme in vain.