Chapter 727 The Power of the Pre-imperial Phase
Homer’s aura completely faded. The overwhelming pressure that had been surging moments ago vanished in an instant, as if everything before had been nothing more than an illusion.
Seated cross-legged in midair, Homer slowly opened his eyes. Before, his gaze had been cold, always carrying the condescension of someone looking down on the weak. But now, whether he looked at Leander or the High Ebon, it was as if he were looking at mere ants. That shift alone shocked the High Ebon into blurting out, “Imperial Phase?”
Beyond the King Phase lay the realm known as “Imperial”-something all veteran King Phase experts understood. To transcend martial limits and proclaim oneself an Imperial expert was to step into a domain beyond the King Phase.
At that moment, his own cultivation was the same as Homer’s had been earlier- both standing at the absolute peak of the King Phase, just one step away from the Imperial Phase. But now, Homer had truly broken past that boundary and entered the Imperial Phase.
In other words, during his battle with Leander, Homer had actually achieved a genuine breakthrough.
The High Ebon gasped, almost overcome with the urge to turn and flee.
Though the gap between a nine-star King Phase and the Imperial Phase seemed like a single step, in reality, it was an
insurmountable chasm.
Once one stepped into the Imperial Phase, even the most invincible expert among one-star King Phase fighters would be no more than an ant in their eyes-easily crushed with a flick of the hand.
He feared that Homer might recall their past conflicts, that old grudges would resurface, and that he might suddenly turn his attention toward him,
With Homer’s current strength, even if he could resist, the price he would have to pay would be devastating.
“Imperial Phase?”
Hearing the High Ebon’s shocked exclamation, a flicker of surprise crossed Leander’s eyes.
It was the first time he had heard that term.
The path of martial arts had no end-Leander had always known that beyond the King Phase lay an entirely new world. And now, Homer’s aura had clearly surpassed the nine-star King Phase, stepping into an unprecedented realm.
Although his aura was still somewhat unstable-his new realm not yet fully consolidated-the difference in combat power compared to before was beyond
measure.
If Homer’s previous strength had been a three, now it was a ten.
“To break through in the middle of battle… and actually succeed. Homer truly deserves his reputation as a peerless martial genius In the entire world, he stands among the absolute best.” Leander murmured softly.
Even though the man before him was a sworn enemy, he couldn’t help but voice his admiration upon witnessing such a breakthrough.
Homer’s aura fully receded as he slowly rose to his feet. He glanced first at the High Ebon, whose expression tightened as he instantly retreated several hundred feet in caution.
1/4
Homer let out a cold snort, ignoring Kim completely as he turned back to Leander and raised one hand.
There was no Primordial Energy behind the motion, no technique, no sword art—just a simple, unadorned strike through the air.
Boom!
The very energy of heaven and earth surged wildly, gathering toward him. Within a radius of hundreds of meters, all ambient energy converged, forming a massive palm print glowing with azure light.
This giant palm contained no trace of his own Primordial Energy, yet it spanned an enormous area, covering the sky as it pressed down like a collapsing world.
“To use one’s own power to command the force of heaven and earth… to fully draw upon it-this is the method of the Imperial Phase!”
The High Ebon was struck with terror, his eyes filled with disbelief.
“How is this possible?” Richard’s earlier excitement froze on his face.
Just moments ago, Homer had been on the verge of defeat, blasted into the sea by Leander’s punch. And yet now, it was as if he had been granted divine power, his strength more than doubling.
“The ancestor’s divine might!”
On a nearby cruise ship, Colden bowed deeply, his face filled with joy. The despair from before had instantly transformed into reverence and awe.
Leander’s eyes narrowed slightly, a heavy sense of caution rising within him. Facing Homer in his current state, he felt an unprecedented sense of danger.
With his Devourer Form perfected, combined with his powerful Primordial Energy and the techniques he had created and learned, Leander believed that within the King Phase, he could sweep aside anyone if he gave it his all.
But the Homer before him no longer belonged to that realm-he had already transcended the King Phase.
“I already told you, Ashcroft-you’re destined to die here!” Homer’s gaze was utterly indifferent.
Using the Ascension method, he had forced a breakthrough. Though he hadn’t truly stepped into the Imperial Phase, he had already surpassed the King Phase-more precisely, he now stood in the realm of the Pre-Imperial Phase.
A true Imperial Phase expert could freely command the power of heaven and earth, using the essence of heaven and earth to unleash endless, inexhaustible attacks. For someone at the King Phase to challenge the Imperial Phase was no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
As long as Leander hadn’t stepped into the Imperial Phase, there was no way he could survive against him.
The massive hand blotted out the sky as it came crashing down. Leander’s eyes sharpened, and with a low shout, he refused to retreat. His muscles bulged as he pushed both his physical body and Primordial Energy to their absolute limits, throwing out a punch.
A roar echoed like the launch of a missile, like the thunder of heavy artillery. The force tore a path across the sea’s surface as it
collided with the massive hand.
2/4
“Beon
The entire world seemingly trembled. The giant paim print was driver backward by eander’s punch, but his own body was forced back dozens of meters by the recoil.
Though his punch had pushed the palm away, the massive azure hand shattered his force entirely and pressed forward once again.
“How is this possible? How did the Ancestor of the Gessinger family become this powerful all of a sudden?” Richard’s heart raced.
Just moments ago, Leander had clearly held the upper hand, with Homer unable to withstand his attacks. Yet in the blink of an eye, everything had reversed–Homer’s strength had surged so drastically that even Leander could barely hold him off. “Did Homer break through in the middle of the fight?”
Though Richard was far below their level, that was the only explanation he could think of.
Boom! Boom!
The massive hand continued pressing downward with overwhelming force. The sea below was crushed into a gigantic palm-shaped depression, sinking further and further.
“Three forms as one-Dragonfire Fist Eruption!” Leander threw another punch, this time pushing his power to its peak.
Boom!
A colossal blue fist, spanning hundreds of yards, streaked across the sky and slammed into the massive hand.
The two forces collided, churning the sea into violent waves as nearby cliffs crumbled and collapsed. Then, both attacks dissipated into nothingness.
Homer didn’t move an inch. Leander, however, staggered back/several steps, his footing unsteady.
“He can’t hold on anymore?!”
Rachel and Maeve felt their hearts leap into their throats. Just moments ago, Leander had been overwhelmingly dominant, yet now he was clearly at a disadvantage.
“Give up struggling, Ashcroft. The current you is no longer capable of standing against me. The gap between the King Phase and the Imperial Phase cannot be bridged. No matter how gifted you are, there is only one outcome-defeat and death. This is the price of opposing the Gessinger family.” Homer’s eyes were clear, as though he were already looking at a corpse, his voice cold and detached.
As his words fell, he stepped forward, crossing space in an instant and appearing 30 feet in front of Leander. With a casual motion, he extended a single finger.
That single point split the sea in two. The vast essence of heaven and earth condensed into a slanted blade of light that pierced deep into the ocean, stretching hundreds of yards. Seawater was forcibly drawn upward, spraying into the sky like rain, only to be sliced apart again by the same blade.
The attack came too fast-too suddenly.
In that instant, Leander gathered all his Primordial Energy, forming an indestructible
energy barrier around his body, intending to take the blow head-on.
Before everyone’s eyes, the strike landed directly on Leander’s shoulder.
A muffled sound followed as his body was sent flying like a cannonball, carving a
white streak across the sea for over 300 feet.
The water exploded as Leander émerged once more. When everyone looked closely, their expressions changed drastically.
His left shoulder was soaked in blood. The upper half of his clothing had been completely shredded, and blood streamed down his arm, dripping into the sea
below.
Everyone was shaken. Homer… injured Leander with a single strike?
Leander’s left arm trembled slightly, his eyes flickering.
Since achieving the Devourer Treasure Form, this was the first time he had suffered
such an injury.