WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

Just moments earlier, Reon had silently released his Shadow Threads from the Shadow Glove, weaving them around Shen Zhi's arms and binding them to the surrounding hundreds of thick trees.

Now, as Shen Zhi prepared to strike, Reon gave a subtle pull—instantly, the massive man's arms were yanked upward, forcefully bound by two near-invisible threads that stretched deep into the forest.

Shen Zhi chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Oh~ You really think those two puny threads wrapped around my arms will stop me?"

Reon raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

'So he noticed? As expected of a Stage-1 Golden Core Cultivator's perception. But it's already too late…'

"Yes," Reon said calmly.

Shen Zhi narrowed his eyes, still composed despite being restrained.

"You actually thought something like this would kill me? How foolish," he scoffed.

He tensed his muscles and tried to rip through the threads with raw strength.

Reon's smirk widened.

"What if I told you… I can infuse Aura into those threads?"

Without waiting for a response, he did just that.

A faint ripple of Refinement-Stage Thread Aura surged through the lines, causing the threads to shimmer faintly in the air—much stronger, much sharper.

Shen Zhi flinched as the threads refused to break.

"…Oh?" he muttered, surprised. "You can imbue Aura into them? Impressive. But Aura alone can't sever my arms."

Reon leaned forward, eyes glinting.

"Who said I wanted to sever your arms?"

Shen Zhi's pupils narrowed.

"Then… what are you trying to do?"

"I just need you bound for a few moments… so I can burst your head instead."

Shen Zhi let out a deep, amused laugh.

"Hahaha! A mere Stage-4 Foundation Realm cultivator thinks he can crush my head? You're not just foolish—you're delusional."

"I can't…" Reon said slowly, stepping back. "…But she can."

"Hmph. Empty bluff."

But Shen Zhi began to channel Body Energy into his arms, gritting his teeth as he pulled harder.

Crack.

Tremble.

The forest groaned in protest. Dozens of thick trees strained against the force, roots lifting from the ground.

'What the hell?! He's actually uprooting that many trees?! Just how strong is this bastard?' Reon's eyes widened.

Without hesitation, he shouted, "Cloudia! Come out—now!"

A soft swirl of white mist exploded beside him.

"Yes, Master." came a graceful voice.

From within the mist stepped Cloudia, her form gracefully shifting into her breathtaking humanoid appearance.

Shen Zhi's eyes widened in genuine shock.

"W-What? Where did she come from?"

His gaze landed on her ears and tail.

"A Fox Beast…? Is she your Pet Beast Companion?"

Then he chuckled darkly.

"If you can't kill me, what difference does she make? Though I must admit,… she is extremely beautiful. Don't worry, I'll make sure to take good care of her after your death."

Reon's expression darkened. "No need. You won't live that long."

He turned. "Cloudia. Do it."

"Yes, Master," Cloudia replied, her voice calm and chilling.

Cloudia had already ascended to the rank of a Low-Tier Demonic Elite Beast, thanks to the vast collection of Primal Stones Reon had harvested during the blood-soaked battles of Mishou Village.

More than that—she had finally awakened her first offensive ability from her Legendary Nine-Tailed Bloodline.

'But this ability takes time to fully form… That's why I restrained him,' Reon thought, his gaze fixed on Shen Zhi, still struggling against the threads.

Cloudia stepped forward.

Her silver hair began to shimmer, slowly turning into a divine shade of luminous gold, and behind her, two elegant fox tails swirled gracefully in the wind.

Raising her right hand, she gently extended her index finger, her voice a whisper that echoed like the breath of divinity:

"Foxfire Tempest."

A ghostly swirl of spectral purple flames ignited at her fingertip, forming a spiraling tempest.

The very air twisted around it, as if the heavens themselves recognized its divine power.

Reon immediately leapt back, instinct warning him of what was to come.

"What...?!"

Shen Zhi's eyes widened as an unseen pressure weighed down on him.

'T-This overwhelming force... from a single finger?!'

For the first time since the battle began, fear entered his heart.

'That… that thing… whatever she's about to release—it can kill me!'

He could feel it—that whatever was forming in Cloudia's hand was no ordinary attack.

"AHHHHH!"

Gritting his teeth, he let out a guttural roar and poured every last ounce of Body Energy into his arms, veins bulging as blood streamed down from his wrists.

The trees shuddered violently.

Several tore from the ground entirely as Shen Zhi pulled with inhuman strength, nearly ripping the enchanted threads apart.

But—

Swoooooosh!

It was already too late.

Cloudia's voice rang out, soft yet final:

"Die, enemy of my master."

A razor-thin streak of purple foxfire shot forth like a divine lance, streaking through the air with the speed and fury of a dragon's breath.

BOOOOOOM!

The explosion was blinding.

"AGHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

Shen Zhi's screams echoed like the final cries of a soul being burned in divine fire.

His body was consumed whole.

Reon's eyes widened in awe.

'That fire… so beautiful…'

From a distance, he watched, astonished.

'Heh… even though it's just the initial stage of her Foxfire skill, it can already incinerate someone who's only recently awakened Body Energy like Shen Zhi.'

'If I were just a bit stronger… at High-Stage Foundation Realm, my Early-Stage Nine Yang Sword Technique alone would've been enough to finish him myself.'

'Still... this works.'

As the smoke cleared, the devastation became clear.

A massive crater—far larger than the one Shen Zhi had created with his punch—spread before him.

The surrounding forest had been reduced to ash, a thousand meters of land scorched barren.

And Shen Zhi?

Gone.

His body had been reduced to fine dust, disintegrated into the wind—no trace remained.

'Damn...'

Reon stepped forward slowly, a faint smile on his lips.

"Cloudia, well done. You've grown so much stronger."

"Hehe~ I killed him, Master," Cloudia smiled brightly, eyes gleaming as she hugged him from the side. "You'll give me a reward, right?"

"Of course. After everything's done," Reon said warmly—before his expression shifted.

His gaze flicked sharply behind him.

A dagger gleamed in the air—coming straight for his neck.