Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Great Radiance Incantation

But as she watched the three figures charging toward her, the masked contestant hesitated no longer. For the sake of her old friend, she decided to risk everything. Whether things succeeded or failed would depend on their own fate. With that thought, she summoned her strength, raising her right hand in a sword gesture before her chest, while her left hand pressed the edge of her palm against the back of her right. She began to recite an obscure incantation under her breath: “Curse of Nether Oblivion, shine upon me; let my soul punish evil, and light endure forever.”

As soon as she finished the chant, spiritual energy from all around surged toward her right hand, while a hazy mist began to envelop her form. The energy grew stronger with every second.

“What incredible spiritual energy!” Qin Xiaochuan couldn’t help but exclaim. The force concentrated at her fingertips was more than double the total power of his four spirit orbs. What was she planning? Was she truly about to kill those three in a single blow?

Watching the three G-Team fighters rush toward the masked contestant, Miss Ruoxi cried out as well, “Will they be killed in a single strike?” Although the outcome was about to be decided, she didn’t forget her role as commentator. As the three G-Team members hurtled forward, she shouted loudly to the audience, more nervous even than Qin Xiaochuan standing on the stage.

The masked contestant calculated the distance as the three G-Team fighters drew near, then, deciding the moment was right, shouted, “Light!” She raised her right hand, pointing skyward. A blinding beam of spiritual light shot from her fingertips, illuminating everything like a miniature sun. The three men before her froze in place, stunned and blinded by the radiance.

Seeing her spell succeed, the masked contestant darted in front of the trio, her right hand’s sword gesture tapping each of their chests. The overwhelming spiritual force at her fingertips passed through their bodies, exploding the blood tumors attached to their backs. Blood burst from behind them, and the three collapsed backward, staring up at the ceiling. In the blink of an eye, the masked contestant had dispatched three powerful cyborgs.

Qin Xiaochuan was left speechless with awe. “Incredible... In a single instant, she stripped away their spirit energy— and... even their lives...”

“Begin the countdown!” Seeing the G-Team fighters fall, Ruoxi the referee hurried to the stage, counting aloud. The three cyborg warriors lay motionless. The audience was silent. “One... two... three... four... five...”

Dr. Barry, in the stands, was struck dumb. He could not believe the masked contestant had killed all three, and so quickly— they hadn’t even had a chance to resist.

“Ten! Qin Xiaochuan’s team wins!” When Ruoxi reached ten, the three cyborgs still hadn’t risen. There was no doubt— she announced the final result to the team and the entire arena: “Accordingly, Qin Xiaochuan’s team advances to the next round!”

Yet, hearing his team’s victory and their advancement, Qin Xiaochuan felt no joy. Instead, a burning fury rose in his chest with nowhere to go. He glared at Dr. Barry in the audience, recognizing the source of his anger. “Damn it! This is unbearable!” He turned to the three bodies on the ground, then strode to the edge of the arena, glaring down at Dr. Barry. “I never want to win like this again! Today— you— are finished!”

“W-wait!” Seeing himself surrounded by Qin Xiaochuan, Bai Ying, and Feiyan, Dr. Barry realized he was in the gravest danger of his life. Though his greatest trump card was gone, he would not surrender so easily. He produced another bargaining chip. “Th-their master isn’t cured yet. If you kill me, no one can save him. Only I know the dosage and antidote for the poison in his body. You... you can’t kill me!”

“Oh?” Bai Ying gestured to the side, where an old man in a hospital gown was making his way over, steadying himself on the wall. “Your henchman confessed everything— even your hideout. As for the antidote, it’s simple: yellow hemp grass, nine-curve herb, and crimson flower. Your poison is so basic— I merely mixed jade-marrow fungus with rainbow-veiled grass and seven-star herb to cleanse the gut. Your poison is already out. Anything else you’d like to say?”

“You—” Dr. Barry was completely stunned. He hadn’t expected Bai Ying to see through his poison so thoroughly, nor to prepare an antidote so easily. Even his hostage had been rescued. Panic overtook him as the three drew nearer. He steeled himself— only one option remained. Though untested, he would have to try it to escape now and figure out the rest once he returned to his lab.

With that, Dr. Barry produced a vial of deep blue liquid from his coat— his latest demonization serum. Injected, it would massively boost his demonic power and physical resilience, though at the cost of drastically shortening his lifespan. But in this life-or-death moment, it was better than certain death. After all, he had plenty of longevity elixirs back at the lab. Without hesitation, Dr. Barry plunged the serum into his arm. As it took effect, a surge of power spread from his arm throughout his body. His muscles expanded, his clothes tearing as his body grew larger and larger. Staring down at Qin Xiaochuan, now barely at waist height, Dr. Barry burst into wild laughter. “Hahaha! You pathetic insects, behold Dr. Barry’s greatest invention! Soon, you’ll be groveling at my feet, begging for mercy! Hahahaha!” His confidence was fully restored by the swelling power within him.

Qin Xiaochuan watched coldly as Dr. Barry’s body swelled. Never had he felt such seething rage— his best friend Zhang Yang, grievously wounded by those puppets; three pitiful disciples who died for their master; and the master himself, forced to watch his students perish. All of it fueled the inferno in Qin Xiaochuan’s heart. To treat human lives as pawns, with not a shred of remorse— even a demon couldn’t be more monstrous. Such a creature was beyond forgiveness.

“How about it? This is the final form of my demonization serum!” When his body ceased growing, Dr. Barry looked down smugly at Qin Xiaochuan, whose head barely reached his waist. Fear turned to rage, and Dr. Barry lunged, roaring, “Die!” He was determined to obliterate the man who had filled him with terror.

There was no need for words— Qin Xiaochuan launched a single punch, pouring all his fury into it. With that blow, he sent the human scourge, the beast among demons, flying across the arena, crashing into the stands and leaving a deep crater.

“Wow! Just one punch, and Dr. Barry is smashed to pieces! Qin Xiaochuan is incredible! That was so satisfying!” Miss Ruoxi could no longer remain impartial— even she could not stomach Dr. Barry’s inhumanity. She called out to the audience, her voice ringing with excitement.

Though the villain Dr. Barry had been brought to justice, three disciples had fallen with him. Master Xiurui, the current leader of the Immortal Slayer Sect and the elderly man rescued by Bai Ying, could not stop his tears as he gazed at his fallen students. Because of his own carelessness, Dr. Barry had managed to poison him, turning his most prized disciples into puppets. All of it was his fault— he had trusted too easily. “Forgive me... Xiu, Kui, Zhen— it’s my fault, it’s all my fault...” He clung to the wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Don’t grieve,” the masked contestant said softly, approaching the heartbroken old man. “Look to the stage.”

“Could they still be alive?”

Everyone turned, following her gaze. The three ‘dead’ cyborg warriors were slowly getting to their feet, feeling their backs in confusion— the blood tumors had vanished.

“Xiu... Kui... Zhen! You... you’re alive...” Xiurui’s tears flowed anew as he saw his beloved disciples restored. He trembled from head to toe, struggling to contain his emotions as he hurried toward the stage.

“Master!” Xiu saw him approaching and, overcome with shame, turned away. “Please— don’t come any closer!”