Chapter 148: Zhu Nian Loses His Temper

The vast majority of transcendent monsters have undergone a mutation, resulting in a cerebral evolution that makes them no less intelligent than humans.

Of course, there are exceptions; a tiny fraction of transcendent beings never undergo mutation, yet these creatures typically possess heaven-defying combat instincts.

Then there are those that have experienced two or even three mutations, and such monsters are far more terrifying. Not only can their strength rival the top-tier human geniuses and prodigies, but their intelligence has also evolved to a considerable height.

Through his exchange of blows with the Masked Jester, Zhu Nian was essentially certain that this Masked Jester was a monster that had undergone at least two mutations. Right from the start, it had completely controlled the entire rhythm of the battle, forcing everyone to dance to its tune.

Zhu Nian's current situation was quite grim. Not only was he outnumbered one to three, but the opponent also held Liang Song hostage.

"If you want me to play by your rules, fine. State your rules." Observing the situation and calming himself slightly, Zhu Nian knew the current predicament had reached absolute rock bottom; it could not possibly get any worse.

"Hee hee hee hee... In the Sacred Flame Realm, it is hard for me to find any food more delicious than you. I'll give you a chance. If you can defeat the two of them working together, I will give you a chance to challenge me directly. But if you lose, not only will you and your two subordinates die, but not a single living soul in this entire Class-C stronghold will survive." The Masked Jester's voice rippled out from the void, reaching the ears of everyone present. Every single resident in the entire stronghold heard it with crystal clarity.

Many people secretly poked their heads out to look in the direction of Zhu Nian, praying silently in their hearts that he could turn the entire battle around.

With a solemn expression, Zhu Nian nodded. "Very well, I accept your terms."

"Hee hee hee hee... Splendid! Then I now declare, the game officially begins!" The Masked Jester announced the start of the game with a flurry of dancing gestures in mid-air.

Almost at the exact moment its voice fell, the Lava Giant and the Four-Winged Blade Fiend lunged toward Zhu Nian.

The speed of the Four-Winged Blade Fiend was practically pushed to the extreme, appearing in front of Zhu Nian in the blink of an eye.

Its six blade-like forelimbs slashed toward Zhu Nian at a terrifying speed, resembling six masters of blade techniques simultaneously attacking with precious battle sabers.

Six strands of black blade light shot forth like lightning, and even the surrounding space developed faint cracks under such extreme blade velocity.

Unflustered, Zhu Nian raised his hand. Without any superfluous movement, the purple spear in his hand transformed into thunder, launching bolt after bolt to counter the blade lights.

A dense, continuous barrage of metallic clashes rang out, colliding thousands of times almost in an instant.

"Get lost!"

With a roar, the purple thunder abruptly transformed into the shadow of a whip, ruthlessly lashing against the waist and abdomen of the Four-Winged Blade Fiend. Struck by the blow, the Four-Winged Blade Fiend's body was sent flying backward instantly, its bombarded heavy armor covered in fractures.

The very next instant, the Lava Giant's heavy fist had already slammed toward the left side of Zhu Nian's body. This punch carried an eruption of boundless power, accompanied by a terrifyingly high temperature.

Zhu Nian stood proudly in mid-air. He retracted his spear instantly, showing not the slightest bit of retreat or hesitation, and met the heavy fist head-on.

The spear shaft transformed into a purple thunder dragon, colliding with the lava-infused heavy punch.

"Boom!"

A heaven-shaking explosion suddenly erupted, causing even the ground below to begin trembling, as if it too feared this confrontation of ultimate power.

Compared to the Lava Giant, Zhu Nian's figure looked as tiny as an ant. Yet beneath this confrontation of ultimate power, the ant's body remained completely motionless, as if rooted in the empty space where he stood.

A moment later, an even more astonishing sight occurred.

The right arm of the Lava Giant, where it collided with the spear, began to sprout spiderweb-like cracks.

Accustomed to taking immense pride in its strength and defensive power, the Lava Giant immediately let out an angry roar.

Red flames spewed from its eyes and mouth, and fire-red magma began to ooze from its body. The magma crawled across its skin like tattoos, rapidly spreading over its entire form.

Zhu Nian knew that this meant the Lava Giant had gone berserk. In a berserk state, the Lava Giant's strength, speed, and defense would multiply exponentially.

"Roar!"

Following a heaven-shaking, furious roar, the Lava Giant once again slammed its heavy fist toward Zhu Nian.

"Even berserk, it is useless. The gap in our battle prowess is simply too vast." Zhu Nian's expression remained calm; he felt not a shred of fear in the face of the Lava Giant's onslaught.

He thrust his spear forward once more. This time, however, there was no grand momentum whatsoever. It looked completely mundane, yet it gave off a peculiar feeling of wielding heavy weight as if it were light.

The Lava Giant's explosive strike quickly collided with this seemingly plain spear thrust.

This time, there was no dazzling display, nor any deafening explosion.

Following just that simple, unassuming collision, the Lava Giant's posture suddenly seemed to freeze, and its entire arm abruptly twisted and deformed.

Only a moment later, that distortion reached an extreme and began to disintegrate on its own.

Without the slightest sound, the entire right arm of the Lava Giant turned into fragments of rubble, slowly plummeting from mid-air toward the ground.

The Lava Giant let out a heaven-shaking roar, its left hand preparing to launch another attack, when Zhu Nian's spear suddenly transformed into a long purple whip, lashing toward its left arm.

The next instant, the Lava Giant's left arm was also snapped off at the elbow, its limb cleanly severed by a single whip strike from Zhu Nian.

Realizing the situation was dire, the Lava Giant turned to flee.

At that exact moment, Zhu Nian pulled his spear back, reversing his grip on the shaft with the spearhead targeted right at the center of the Lava Giant's forehead, and the purple spear shot out like a speeding arrow.

As the Lava Giant attempted to raise its severed arm to block, the spear abruptly accelerated mid-air. Like a bolt of purple lightning, it pierced directly into the monster's blazing left eye and burst out from the back of its skull.

The Lava Giant emitted a sorrowful, miserable wail, and the magma and flames within its body began to rapidly recede, ultimately collapsing into a pile of giant boulders scattered across the ground.

Right at that moment, the Four-Winged Blade Fiend had quietly materialized behind Zhu Nian.

Six blade lights slashed toward six fatal points on Zhu Nian's body simultaneously, piercing right through him in a fraction of a second.

Yet the next instant, a purple spear entered through the top of the Four-Winged Blade Fiend's head, half of the spear shaft piercing completely out from beneath its jaw.

"I've been waiting for you..."

With a cold chuckle, Zhu Nian twisted his spear. A terrifying spiral force surged from the shaft, and the Four-Winged Blade Fiend's head instantly exploded, gore splashing in all directions.

Only then did the afterimage of Zhu Nian, struck just a moment ago by the blade fiend, slowly dissipate.

Having dealt with the two transcendent monsters, Zhu Nian withdrew his spear and stood straight, looking off into the distance at the Masked Jester. "Now, are you going to honor your promise?"