Chapter 742: Their Respective Opponents
Taking advantage of the chaos created by the blizzard conjured by Zhuge Qingting and Fatty Xu working together, Zhang Yi shattered the barrier of 【Earthbound Prison】.
Thus began the true grand melee!
Baili Changqing swiftly and methodically issued orders to his team members.
"Qi Guangming, Ye Jikang, Meng Siyu, Xue Miao, Lu Yinghao—you five handle the pirate crew!"
"The rest of you, with me! We'll eliminate the Ronin of the Moon of Corrosion first!"
Kanute's strength was not to be underestimated either. According to the headquarters' analysis of his abilities, his power was at vice-captain level.
However, his arrogance led him to recklessly take on Zhang Yi's Void Slash head-on, leaving him severely injured.
This drastically reduced the pressure the Tianlong Pirate Crew exerted on the Celestial Hound Squad.
Those dispatched were the comparatively weaker members of the Celestial Hound Squad, though they specialized in clearing out weaker enemies.
The empowered individuals accepted their orders and immediately charged at the disoriented pirate grunts.
Meanwhile, on the Moon of Corrosion's side, Daiku Kai Enzu could no longer suppress his bloodlust.
As a maniac who thrived on slaughter, being forced to standby had worn his patience thin.
Especially after laying eyes on formidable opponents like Zhang Yi, he disregarded Phoenixin Ren entirely, tearing off his shirt and leaping down from the hilltop, his massive Tonbogiri in hand!
A surge of brown energy erupted skyward, lifting his long hair into the air.
Transformed, he resembled a terrifying beast, his mouth filled with savage fangs.
His gaze locked onto Zhang Yi.
"Hey, you—are you the strongest one here?"
"Come on, let this old man have a good fight with you!"
His Tonbogiri pointed directly at Zhang Yi's head.
His name and appearance were known to everyone present.
In two separate battles, he had displayed staggering combat prowess.
He was a fearsome opponent—Jiangnan District's research division had analyzed his abilities, rating his power level at a staggering 7,200!
Faced with such an adversary, before Zhang Yi could even respond, Baili Changqing stepped forward.
"Ronin, how about I keep you company instead?"
Baili Changqing spoke coldly.
Daiku Kai Enzu's eyes shifted to him.
Between masters, one could gauge another's strength merely by their presence.
Zhang Yi was an exception.
From Baili Changqing, Daiku Kai Enzu sensed something familiar—the aura of a kindred spirit.
They were both empowered individuals who pursued the pinnacle of strength!
Daiku Kai Enzu smirked. Without a word, he lunged forward like a hurricane!
Raising his Tonbogiri with one hand, he brought it down in a devastating slash!
In the blink of an eye—before anyone could register his speed or even see Baili Changqing raise his Fangtian Halberd—a metallic CLANG! reverberated, sharp enough to pierce eardrums.
The ground beneath them, already hardened by earlier explosions, shattered. Within a fifty-meter radius, the earth caved in, forming a massive crater from the sheer force of their collision!
Baili Changqing blocked Daiku Kai Enzu's strike.
A cold smile tugged at his lips. "Is this all you've got? I expected more!"
With a flick of his wrist, Baili Changqing sent the Tonbogiri flying out of Daiku Kai Enzu's grip.
Daiku Kai Enzu staggered back three steps—but rather than anger, his face twisted into ecstatic glee.
He had finally found someone who could rival him in raw strength!
Wu Di crossed his arms, his expression brimming with confidence in Baili Changqing.
"Old Man Baili's epithet is 【Iron Wrist】! When it comes to sheer arm strength, he's never lost to anyone!"
He added after a pause,
"Not even to a captain-level fighter!"
Daiku Kai Enzu and Baili Changqing were perfectly matched—both were pure strength-type empowered individuals.
And when two fighters of identical specialization clashed, their battles were destined to be brutal.
Now positioned between both factions, they knew this wasn't the ideal battleground.
So Daiku Kai Enzu leaped away, putting distance between them.
Before disappearing, he threw a fierce glance back at Baili Changqing.
Baili Changqing frowned. He turned to Zhang Yi.
As one of the Celestial Hound Squad's top combatants, he couldn't recklessly abandon his post without orders.
Zhang Yi gave a slight nod.
Daiku Kai Enzu had to be dealt with by Baili Changqing—because among his subordinates, only Baili Changqing and Liang Yue stood a chance against him.
With Zhang Yi's approval, Baili Changqing hesitated no longer. Gripping his halberd, he charged after Daiku Kai Enzu like a raging tiger.
Seeing this, Tsukamoto Nobunaga no longer held back.
He wanted to choose his own opponent.
Clad in a dark blue kimono, his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, he descended gracefully before Zhang Yi's group.
Yet his gaze never once left Liang Yue.
Between elite martial artists, there existed an instinctive recognition.
This wasn't their first meeting.
Back in Jiangning City, had Zhang Yi not intervened, Liang Yue might have already crossed blades with Nobunaga.
At that time, Liang Yue would've stood no chance against him.
But now? Things were different.
Nobunaga said nothing, but the way he looked at Liang Yue had changed.
No longer the lazy indifference of before—now, his eyes were as sharp as a famed blade.
Even the Daihannya Nagamitsu and Ayanokouji Tantou in his arms emitted faint, eager hums.
Liang Yue rested a hand on her longsword and spoke to Zhang Yi.
As she passed him, he murmured, "No matter the cost—win."
The words made Liang Yue freeze momentarily.
She understood exactly what he meant.
After a brief silence, she nodded slowly.
She and Nobunaga stared at one another—then, in unison, they vanished from the battlefield like startled hares.
They needed a quiet place to settle this duel as martial artists.
But the others? They lacked such chivalrous notions. Neither Zhang Yi nor Phoenixin Ren cared for one-on-one heroics.
Their minds held only one thought:
*By any means necessary, kill the other as swiftly and efficiently as possible!*
Zhang Yi barked the order.
But as they moved to obey—gravity within their vicinity suddenly increased tenfold!
Those unskilled in mobility stumbled under the abrupt weight.
Fortunately, Zhang Yi had warned his team beforehand about the gravity-manipulating empowered individual among their enemies, advising them not to cluster together.
Thus, the effect lasted only briefly before everyone dispersed in all directions.
Yet even that momentary disruption created an opening—one the Moon of Corrosion seized immediately.
Shinguuji Seiichiro and Phoenixin Ren moved in unison, launching a decapitation strike against Zhang Yi!