Free Web NovelChapter 26: The Patriarch Stands Above the Heavens — Part 2
The Patriarch Stands Above the Heavens — Part 2
The instant Tobias Ashthorn’s words fell, the atmosphere throughout the Salvatore Family estate changed.
Whoosh!
A violent gale roared across the courtyard.
Blood-red True Spiritual Power erupted from Tobias’s body like a volcano that had lain dormant for centuries.
BOOM!
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
Crimson energy rushed toward the heavens, spreading like an endless sea of blood.
Within that scarlet ocean, countless distorted faces appeared.
Some screamed.
Some laughed.
Some wept.
The mournful cries echoed through the sky like ghosts trapped for eternity.
A suffocating pressure descended upon the entire estate.
The younger members of the Salvatore Family felt their breathing become labored.
Even experienced cultivators instinctively took a step back.
"This..."
"So this is the power of a Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm expert..."
Someone whispered in disbelief.
Above them, the sea of blood continued expanding.
Its overwhelming pressure seemed capable of swallowing the entire Salvatore Family.
Tobias slowly raised both hands.
The blood-colored waves obeyed his command, surging around him like countless venomous dragons.
His eyes burned with madness.
"Victor..."
"You possess talent beyond imagination."
"But talent..."
"...means nothing before absolute cultivation."
His voice echoed like thunder.
"The methods of the Heavenly Genesis Realm are beyond the comprehension of someone in the Astral Manifestation Realm."
His lips curled into a vicious smile.
"Perhaps you can survive..."
"But can the rest of your family?"
His hand slowly descended.
The endless sea of blood answered his command.
RUMBLE!
The crimson tide rushed forward.
It covered the sky.
Blotted out the sunlight.
Even the surrounding temperature seemed to plummet.
Every member of the Salvatore Family could feel death approaching.
Fear naturally appeared on some faces.
Not because they feared dying.
But because they feared becoming a burden to their Patriarch.
Max Salvatore stepped forward first.
His black eyes blazed with determination.
"So what if he’s a Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm cultivator?"
He roared without hesitation.
"The Salvatore Family will live and die with the Patriarch!"
"The Salvatore Family will live and die with the Patriarch!"
A middle-aged clansman immediately stepped beside him.
Then another.
Then another.
Within moments, dozens of family members had formed a wall before the younger generation.
Not one retreated.
Not one hesitated.
Many of them were sons of the elders who had sacrificed themselves years ago.
They had inherited not only their bloodline...
But also their pride.
Tobias looked at them before bursting into cruel laughter.
"What a touching family."
"What admirable backbone."
His smile gradually twisted into madness.
"Then..."
"You can all die together!"
With a furious roar, his hand slammed downward.
The blood-colored sea descended like the end of the world.
The earth trembled.
The surrounding buildings shook violently.
Yet...
Not a single member of the Salvatore Family stepped backward.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on Victor.
Because they believed...
As long as he stood there...
The heavens themselves would never collapse.
Then—
Victor finally moved.
He calmly took a single step forward.
His black robe fluttered gently.
His expression remained as indifferent as ever.
"I already told you."
His calm voice somehow reached everyone’s ears despite the deafening roar surrounding them.
"Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm..."
"...is nothing but worthless trash."
BOOM!
An overwhelming force erupted from his body.
It wasn’t flashy.
There were no dazzling lights.
Yet the moment it appeared...
The sea of blood froze.
Then—
CRACK!
The enormous blood domain split apart.
Like fragile glass struck by an invisible hammer.
BOOM!
The crimson sky shattered into countless fragments.
The terrifying pressure weighing upon everyone disappeared instantly.
Fresh sunlight poured through the broken clouds once more.
The entire courtyard became silent.
No one had seen Victor move.
One moment he had been standing before the Salvatore Family.
The next—
He was already standing directly in front of Tobias.
Golden eyes met blood-red eyes. ƒrēewebnovel.com
One calm.
One terrified.
Victor slowly clenched his right fist.
The terrifying physique of the Celestial Phoenix Eternal Scripture awakened completely.
An ancient phoenix’s might flowed through every strand of his flesh.
At the same time...
The desolate killing intent of the Autumn Sovereign Heavenfall Scripture surged through his body.
Spring nurtured life.
Autumn harvested it.
Creation and destruction became one.
Without wasting another word...
Victor threw a single punch.
Straight toward Tobias’s dantian.
Tobias’s eyes widened.
He immediately gathered every ounce of his True Spiritual Power.
Layer upon layer of protective energy surrounded him.
Yet...
Before Victor’s fist...
Those defenses were no sturdier than thin paper.
They shattered instantly.
CRACK!
The fist landed squarely against Tobias’s abdomen.
For one brief heartbeat...
Time itself seemed to stop.
Everything became silent.
Even the wind ceased blowing.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The explosion shook the entire estate.
The courtyard split apart.
Massive cracks raced across the earth like giant spiderwebs.
Stone shattered into dust.
Shockwaves swept across the surroundings, forcing everyone to shield their faces.
Tobias’s body trembled violently.
His eyes filled with disbelief.
He slowly looked down.
His protective True Spiritual Power...
Had completely vanished.
His dantian...
Was collapsing.
Cracks spread across his entire body like broken porcelain.
His expression changed from arrogance...
To fear...
Then finally...
To absolute despair.
"N-No..."
"Impossible..."
"I..."
Before he could finish speaking—
Pop.
A soft, almost insignificant sound echoed through the silent courtyard.
The dantian of the self-proclaimed Half-Step Heavenly Genesis Realm expert shattered completely.
With a single punch...
Victor had crippled Tobias Ashthorn.
