Paris's pupils contracted sharply as she quickly retreated. She hadn't expected that the native, who had just endured a joint attack from Bailie and Willow, still had the strength to counterattack her. By the time she reacted, it was already too late—the slash grazed her abdomen, leaving a huge bloodstain. Blood dripped down her clothes onto the ground. Agonizing pain swept through her nerves, causing Paris to involuntarily drop to one knee, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
One man with a blade—suppressing the capital city, the strongest of the Seven Saints, the wild-blade Hua Sheng. At this moment, Bailie and the others deeply felt what it meant to be the strongest of the Seven Saints. This person might very well be the strongest on Earth.
They couldn't understand how such a terrifying figure could emerge on Earth after only half a year of evolution. Even across the vast Great Universe Empire, cross-boundary experts were extremely rare.
The so-called "cross-boundary" refers to those who can display combat power beyond their current realm. Personal terminals have strict settings: even if one reaches the peak combat power of the current realm, and uses battle skills, it's still difficult to show a combat power value from a higher realm.
Take Bailie, for example. His combat power is 3,000, at the peak of the Exploration Realm. Even when using battle skills granting the strength to fight beings from the Fusion Realm, his combat power can't exceed 3,001. It's like a wall separating the Exploration and Fusion Realms.
Only one kind of person can break this wall: a cross-boundary expert. Although their strength is at the Exploration Realm, they can display Fusion Realm combat power. Such a person is called a prodigy. When Zhang Dingtian lifted his blade just now, his combat power value was—3,200, a Fusion Realm value.
"Move," Bailie commanded in a low voice, immediately leaping into the air and flying toward outside the capital.
Willow and Paris both struggled to endure their injuries as they left.
Zhang Dingtian did not pursue them but calmly watched the three leave. These three were not weak. Recently, some starry sky students had caused trouble in the capital, but none had survived his blade. He had already slain five students. Yet these three could each withstand one of his strikes—combat power comparable to the top three Saints.
Especially that short one—his power matched Zhang Dingtian's blade, truly formidable.
"Hua Sheng," armored vehicles appeared one after another. From one of the vehicles stepped a young woman in professional attire, beautiful in appearance, who approached Zhang Dingtian anxiously.
Zhang Dingtian said calmly, "Send orders: strictly investigate unknown evolvers. Immediately report any evolvers resembling students; do not act proactively."
"The ones you just fought were those starry sky students?" the woman asked.
Zhang Dingtian looked at her. "Don't overthink it. No one is my match."
The woman's eyes showed respect. She nodded and gave commands to the troops, executing orders decisively.
Outside the capital, the three landed. Paris roared angrily, "A native! He injured me—he actually injured me! I want him dead. Kill him immediately!"
Willow wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. "A cross-boundary expert among the natives—unbelievable."
Bailie said sternly, "Don't pay it much mind. Combat power is the least reliable way to detect strength. Victory depends on the individual and their battle skills."
Willow frowned, staring at the capital. "Unreliable? That's true. Usually, combat power isn't reliable. Many strong warriors never intended to increase their combat power; they focus solely on battle skills. Such people are very powerful. But breakthrough combat power is different."
The Great Universe Empire even decreed that cross-boundary experts can directly join the Imperial Court's Thirteen Teams, the empire's highest authority. Cross-boundary experts, like gifted talents, are highly revered. He had just experienced the terror of a cross-boundary expert. That native seemed not to have used any battle skills—just one slash, and he was almost overwhelmed. That's a cross-boundary expert.
Though Bailie spoke casually, envy and jealousy couldn't be hidden in his tone. He was strong—born on the Third Gravity Planet, combat power 3,000, peak of the Exploration Realm. Using battle skills, he had even defeated Fusion Realm creatures. But so what? He still couldn't break through the barrier to reach 3,001. That "one" had trapped countless geniuses. Now, to see it on a native…
"I won't let him go. A native dared to injure me," Paris said, immersed in hatred. A flash of deep hatred passed her eyes. "I will trigger the beast tide."
Bailie's eyes narrowed but said nothing. Nearby, Willow agreed, "The fugitive's clue must be hidden in the capital. Zhang Dingtian might know. A direct clash is unwise. Paris, trigger the beast tide immediately and keep Zhang Dingtian outside the city. Bailie and I will search for clues."
Paris nodded, licked the corner of her mouth, and charged into the distance.
One day later, when Lu Yin brought Granny to Hebei, they heard that the capital had been hit by a beast tide. The area outside the capital was full of mutated beasts and zombies.
"There are nearly ten million zombies outside the capital. There shouldn't have been a beast tide. I remember Yige said that the strongest from their academy, Paris, also came to the capital. Could it be that she acted?" Lu Yin speculated.
Granny said, "It's possible. Blue Mountain Academy students all have some beast-taming abilities, more or less. Paris, as the academy's strongest, definitely has extraordinary means."
Lu Yin's gaze was cold and sharp. If it was truly this person who made the move, they could not be allowed to live.
"Actually, this is a good thing. As long as the people inside Jing City don't come out, the collision between the beast tide and the corpse tide shouldn't cause much harm," Granny said.
Lu Yin pondered. If Granny could think of it, and Paris could too, then why was the beast tide still being driven?
Inside Jing City, countless soldiers rushed to change shifts. The collision of the beast tide and corpse tide had caused some impact on the city, with flying-level mutated beasts occasionally streaking past, causing outcries.
On a tall building, two figures looked out at the city. In the distance, a slash cut through the sky, severing a flying mutated beast in two, blood spraying high into the air.
"That's Zhang Dingtian, the number one of the Seven Saints. Truly formidable," Gules said in surprise.
Beside her, Balaro said gravely, "This man's strength surpasses mine."
"Nonsense, he's a crossover-tier expert. Even if you and I combine forces, we might not be a match for him," Gules said.
Balaro clenched his green fists in displeasure. "I don't need to fight him head-on; I can wear him down."
"This beast tide was probably triggered by that woman Paris. She's vicious; it seems she suffered losses under Zhang Dingtian's command, otherwise, she wouldn't be so reckless. Inducing such a massive beast tide comes at a great cost to her," Gules pondered.
"The beast tide is to attract Zhang Dingtian, leaving the city empty. Bailie and Willow are likely searching inside the city for clues about the fugitives," Balaro said.
Gules immediately opened her personal terminal and exclaimed, "Wow, there are five Exploration Realm experts. One has a fusion realm combat power—that's Zhang Dingtian. The other four are probably Bailie, Willow, Erd, and Haidian. They actually infiltrated here; this is going to be lively."
Balaro's expression turned serious. "Erd is here too? That's troublesome. He's very strong."
Gules said, "He broke into the Yutang Palace by exceptional means and defeated the strongest fighters of thirty academies. That's Erd's record. It's troublesome, but it's fine. What do you think Zhang Dingtian would do if we leaked this information to him?"
Balaro frowned, "Betray our own?"
Gules rolled her eyes. "We're not allies. We're competitors. In the empire's eyes, we and the Earthlings are all trial participants; there is no betrayal."
Balaro nodded. "I can use plants to help hold off the beast tide, allowing Zhang Dingtian to be free."
"Then it's decided," Gules said happily.
Elsewhere, two figures cloaked in black robes stood inside an abandoned hotel.
"Erd, I sense Balaro's aura. His plant energy is very strong," one black-robed figure said, a cruel smile curling his lips.
Erd's voice was deep, "Including us, there are seven Exploration Realm cultivators inside the city, plus Paris outside. Eight Exploration Realm experts gathered here—some trouble, but not impossible to kill. The only problem is Zhang Dingtian. It's unbelievable that there is a crossover-tier expert among the natives."
"Leave Zhang Dingtian to me. I want to see what this so-called crossover-tier expert is really like," the black-robed man said excitedly, raising his head as green light flickered in his eyes.
On the steel city walls, Zhang Dingtian's face was heavy. In the distance, the vast corpse tide and beast tide clashed violently, like a flesh-and-blood grinding mill. Every second, creatures died, and blood and qi filled the air.
Zombies were weak and could be easily torn apart by mutated beasts' claws, but their toxins were strong, causing significant losses to the beasts as well.
More than ten kilometers to the east, Paris's face was pale as she excitedly watched the distant battlefield. "Go on, more, more. I want to bury this city under the beast tide. A mere native dared to injure me. I want you to pay the price."
Unaware to Paris, icy chill had appeared beneath her feet without her noticing. Although the temperature wasn't low, white, crystalline frost formed in the air.
Paris still stared at the distant battlefield, tightening her clothes as a chill crept over her. Why did it suddenly feel so cold?