Chapter 681: Unyielding Confrontation

Crackle…

In the instant the Cangzhang Sect member snapped to attention, he suddenly lifted his palm and swept it from left to right.

Facing everyone, as the ‘Ultimate’, he could instantly sense their memories and emotions, understanding all their intentions and actions—a high-level form of suppression.

However, due to the presence of black particles, he couldn’t glimpse Lu Xin’s memories.

Thus, he had no idea why this man had suddenly appeared before him or what changes the situation might take.

Moreover, the sudden appearance of the black particles so close had its own effect on him.

His first reaction, therefore, was to exert his will.

After all, the rituals detailed in the Black Box Codex were, to a degree, rules and contracts he had set.

Thus, even when he was distracted, they could have an effect that even he hadn’t anticipated.

He couldn’t defy the rule that brought Lu Xin before him.

But he could end this meeting—a move that also complied with the rules laid out in the Black Box Codex…

Ending it prematurely wasn’t out of fear of Lu Xin; it was simply not the right time.

Fresh from severe injuries, he wasn’t fit to see anyone…

In fact, he wasn’t fit to see anyone at all!

…

…

Hulah…

But at that very moment, Lu Xin charged forward fiercely.

The black particles in his eyes intensified to the extreme as an exaggerated smile spread across his face.

His expression turned sinister, like that of a demon.

In a space where distance seemed meaningless, the moment he lunged, he was right before the Cangzhang Sect member.

Then he suddenly thrust out his left hand and seized the raised arm of the sect member with brutal force.

With his other hand clenched into a fist, he unleashed a vicious punch.

His father, his mother, his sister – none had followed him into this realm.

Though the seven parasitic items had arrived, they trembled in fear, and even the Old Apartment Building remained unresponsive.

At that moment, Lu Xin found himself completely alone.

Thus, despite never having fought anyone since childhood, he swung his fist directly at the Cangzhang Sect member.

Bang!

A solid punch landed squarely on the sect member.

Lu Xin even felt the impact as tangibly real as if it were happening in the physical world.

Even his opponent seemed taken aback, unable to understand Lu Xin’s sudden, direct assault.

More than the fierce punch and grim expression, what troubled him most was the rapidly closing black particles.

In an instant, he contracted his mental power to brace for the onslaught, only to be caught off guard by Lu Xin’s punch.

The blow forced him to lean back slightly, and a strange expression flashed across his pale face.

“I don’t know what you are…”

The feel of the first punch exhilarated Lu Xin; without hesitation, he unleashed a second blow.

He snarled fiercely, “But you can’t bully my people…”

…

Bang!

The punch struck true once more. As the sect member retreated rapidly and chains surged forth, he hadn’t expected Lu Xin to land a second hit.

Before Lu Xin’s eyes, countless shards of mental power swirled around as the abrasive clatter of chains filled the air.

Undeterred, he gritted his teeth. One hand grabbed the sect member’s wrist to prevent him from ending the meeting, while the other swung high, striking down with a cracking sound towards the vanishing foe.

“The first punch was for Mom…”

“The second was for Number Two…”

“This punch is…”

…

In the Real World, countless onlookers felt a shiver run down their spines at that very moment.

They witnessed the Cangzhang Sect member slowly departing behind layers of spatial barriers. Though their tension eased a bit, their eyes remained fixed on him—when facing an Ultimate, no one could ever be too careful. Until he was completely gone, it wasn’t over.

Yet no one expected that just as the sect member was about to vanish, Lu Xin suddenly reappeared.

He materialized beyond the spatial barrier, then ferociously swung his fist at the Cangzhang Sect member…

It connected!

He truly landed a hit – and not just once, but twice!

Witnessing the scene, both the Dark Queen and Doctor An’s expressions changed instantly, their faces contorting into forms too strange to describe.

Even Number Seven froze in disbelief, exclaiming, “Number Nine…”

“…Have you gone mad?”

…

Almost everyone present could not fathom the sheer madness and absurdity of the scene.

…

…

Crackle!

At the same time, as Lu Xin threw his third punch, a deafening clamor and the whirling of chains suddenly filled his ears.

Before the punch could even find its mark, the sect member’s mental power erupted like an ocean – vast, terrifying, and several levels beyond anything Lu Xin had seen before, as if a planet were being annihilated.

All he felt was darkness as he was overwhelmed by a torrent of black chains.

He could even sense the endless chains scraping against him.

Both he and the seven parasitic items by his side were hurled back by this formidable force.

Here, distance had no meaning.

Yet he felt as though he had been thrust tens of thousands of miles away, plummeting into a world filled with relentless flashes.

At the edge of that dazzling realm, he saw only the outstretched palm beneath the Cangzhang Sect member’s black cloak and eyes burning with fury.

The black robe expanded relentlessly, as if to engulf the entire space. In that moment, Lu Xin felt like a tiny ant facing the sun, enduring a tangible mental impact that tore at his body.

The tremors of the black particles reached an unprecedented intensity.

Only because this substance was present did his body avoid shattering.

Yet, no matter what, the contrast was overwhelmingly intense.

Sigh…

At that moment, a soft sigh reached Lu Xin’s ear.

Before him, Number Two’s somewhat pale face appeared.

He was even wearing the jacket that Lu Xin had once taken off for him.

His eyes looked drowsy, as if he had just awoken; a mix of reproach and gratitude played across his face as he regarded Lu Xin. Then, facing chains that nearly filled the space, he gently raised his hand, and a burst of multicolored radiance coalesced.

“Number Nine, have you improved or gotten worse?”

His tone hinted at mild reproach, yet his expression was touched.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and gently pushed the enchanting radiance forward.

All chains drawn to the burst of colorful light shattered instantly.

Number Two created a small opening for Lu Xin, and seizing the opportunity, Lu Xin gritted his teeth fiercely.

Glancing at Number Two, he lunged forward once more!

His fist tightened as he launched another blow at the Cangzhang Sect member.

“This punch is for me…”

…

The sect member’s emotions wavered—amid his anger, confusion and uncertainty prevailed.

He hadn’t anticipated the third punch either.

At his level, Lu Xin’s actions seemed meaningless.

The only explanation for them appeared to be the basest form of human nature: venting.

However, the threat posed by the black particles and the sudden appearance of Number Two made him instantly wary. He couldn’t tell if the two had ulterior motives or traps.

After all, he had just lost too much.

And these two were threats in their own right.

So, amid surges of his mental power, he hurled Lu Xin away and swiftly raised his hand to swipe gently.

Everything before him was rejected.

Whether it was Lu Xin, the seven parasitic items, or the unexpectedly appearing Number Two…

All were cast aside, banished far from this space.

…

…

Crackle…

A tremendous sense of weightlessness hit as Lu Xin felt his back slam against crisp glass, his body dropping layer by layer.

With each descent, a sharp, clear sound echoed.

It felt as if in winter he had fallen onto an iced-over lake, breaking through the ice to plunge into frigid water.

Yet, this sensation recurred relentlessly, each fall growing deeper than the last.

After a succession of sharp sounds, the overwhelming weightlessness returned.

Suddenly, he saw himself plummeting from great heights as the Earth rushed toward him like lightning.

“Brother…”

It was his sister’s panicked cry, realizing Lu Xin might fall to his death.

As she shouted in panic, her small hands quickly pressed down; the lingering spiderwebs shot up to catch Lu Xin’s body, only to be forced downward by his weight, nearly brushing the ground before bouncing back.

After several attempts, the spiderweb finally stabilized, and Lu Xin couldn’t help but shake his head in fright.

Falling from such heights was something he truly hadn’t anticipated.

…

…

“You…”

His mother and father hurried forward, their faces etched with worry and unease.

The old Lu Xin would never have acted so impulsively; this time…

Huh…

Lu Xin paused for a moment before slowly catching his breath, smiling as he told his family, “That was indeed a bit reckless…”

“The downside is I couldn’t land the third punch and nearly fell to my death…”

“The upside is that I vented my anger, and…”

He paused and removed his right hand that had been pinned beneath him.

In it lay a piece of black fabric entwined with several chains.

Even Lu Xin himself couldn’t fathom how he had come by this item in such a short time.

Could it be the habit of the Pale Hand?

Somewhat surprised and pleased, he looked at his mother and said, “I’ve obtained his essence…”