The Clash of Chaos Chapter 105: The Four Symbols Grandmaster Battles at the Pinnacle of the Saint Realm

The four followed the path they had just taken and quickly returned to the prison gate. At that moment, a towering figure blocked the entrance, wielding a massive black axe; not a single person could push him back even a step. Behind him stood a nimble figure, drawing a bow and shooting arrows, providing ranged support.

“I always said those two make a great pair,” Ren Xingtian said casually.

“Third Brother!” Li Qiutong’s call made Deng Zhanxuan turn around in excitement.

“Big Brother!” Deng Zhanxuan rushed over, embracing Li Qiutong tightly.

“Big Brother, you’re alright? They didn’t torture you, did they?” Deng Zhanxuan asked with concern.

“I’m fine. Your big brother is just fine. Let’s go; we need to leave here,” Li Qiutong said, patting his shoulder.

Suddenly, a red flame ignited around Li Qiutong. A fiery divine bird soared into the air, diving forward engulfed in scorching vermilion flames. The remaining soldiers—whether masters or grandmasters—had no time to escape and were severely burned, collapsing to the ground in agony. It was clear Li Qiutong had spared their lives.

Lin Hai stared in amazement at the vividly formed Vermilion Bird, as lifelike as a real creature. “Is this kid really that powerful? This has to be at least the strength of a high-level Saint Martial Artist.”

Li Qiutong guided the Vermilion Bird down before them. “Everyone, get on. We’re leaving now.”

“But Second Brother is still fighting Xue Rengui,” Deng Zhanxuan shouted a warning.

Li Qiutong nodded. “Then we’ll find him. Get on first.”

Just as the Vermilion Bird was about to take flight, Yang Ruiyun arrived.

“Big Brother, are you okay?”

Li Qiutong reached out and easily pulled him aboard. “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

Yang Ruiyun looked at the confident Li Qiutong with deep admiration.

“Alright, let’s go. Everyone hold tight.” With a thought, the Vermilion Bird spread its blazing red wings, soaring upward with a trail of still-burning Vermilion Martial Energy left behind.

Flying over Chang’an, the cold wind whipped against their faces, but Li Qiutong’s heart was filled with freedom and exhilaration. Although he’d been confined only a few days, the suffocating restraint had been unbearable.

Suddenly, a streak of fiery light cut through the pitch-black night sky like a shooting star, drawing countless gazes.

“Big Brother, let’s head to the forest outside the city where Yang Hu’s troops will meet us,” Ren Xingtian reminded.

“Understood.”

However, just as the Vermilion Bird was about to descend, a terrifying Martial Energy shockwave slammed toward them. Li Qiutong quickly commanded the bird to veer aside, narrowly avoiding the blow.

“Shameless brat, stand still!” Li Yuanba roared furiously as he charged at Li Qiutong. Leveraging his immense strength, he stepped onto a tall building and leapt, reaching the height of Li Qiutong and the others.

Once he saw them clearly, a heavy dark gold Martial Energy burst forth, forming a colossal War God figure beneath him. The two massive war hammers it wielded were each as tall as a small building, embodying the imposing might of the Primordial War God.

Li Yuanba landed steadily on the War God’s shoulder, glaring furiously at Li Qiutong.

“Today, I’ll smash you into mince meat!” The power of the four-star Saint Martial Artist radiated without restraint.

Li Qiutong stood holding his staff, unfazed. “You really think I’m afraid of you?” As he spoke, three types of Martial Energy—green, white, and black—alternated along his staff.

Behind him, the Vermilion Bird appeared, and swirling Martial Energy vortices condensed to his front, back, left, and right.

“East Azure Dragon, West White Tiger, North Black Tortoise, manifest.”

Three divine beasts materialized in midair. The Eastern Azure Dragon coiled its sinuous body, four sharp claws and clearly defined scales shimmering with azure Martial Energy.

The Western White Tiger’s limbs hovered midair, its muscular body as white as snow, ebony eyes radiating ruthless killing intent.

The Northern Black Tortoise faced the Primordial War God directly, its pitch-black Martial Energy shell both impenetrably hard and yet fluid like water.

“Primordial Heavy Strike!” Li Yuanba raised his giant hammer and slammed it toward Li Qiutong. The War God simultaneously lifted its massive hammer to strike.

Li Qiutong raised his staff calmly. “Northern Black Tortoise of the Four Symbols.”

With a thunderous roar, the Black Tortoise’s shell scattered and reformed midair into a heavy shield, directly meeting the dark gold hammer.

At the moment of impact, a terrifying shockwave exploded outward. Fortunately, they were hundreds of meters above the ground, so the blast caused little harm to the civilians below.

The result shocked Li Yuanba: his massive hammer bounced off, while the black shield remained suspended in the air.

“How is this possible?”

A faint smile curled Li Qiutong’s lips. “It’s not over yet. The Four Symbols—East Azure Dragon, West White Tiger.”

As Li Yuanba’s hammer recoiled, the Azure Dragon and White Tiger launched their attacks.

The swift White Tiger charged, its sharp Martial Energy trailing a white streak like a blade piercing the Primordial War God. The War God tried to raise its other hammer to block the chest, but the White Tiger’s speed far outpaced its cumbersome frame. The tiger’s charge went unimpeded, stabbing through the War God’s chest.

Li Yuanba stared in disbelief as the Martial Energy in his chest shattered continuously. But Li Qiutong’s assault was not finished. He soared upward with the Azure Dragon, the dragon winding with his staff, his steps following the dragon’s form as he dove toward Li Yuanba.

Li Yuanba hastily raised both hammers and leapt, aiming to contest Li Qiutong in midair.

When staff met hammer, Li Yuanba held his ground briefly, but the force grew ever stronger. Exhausted, he was struck by Li Qiutong’s staff and sent plummeting through the sky. The descending Azure Dragon shattered the War God’s head. The azure Martial Energy spread rapidly, completely disintegrating the giant.

“You... are the pinnacle of martial arts?” Li Yuanba’s falling figure left behind these incredulous words before crashing into the city below. Unfortunately, he would receive no answer from Li Qiutong.

After defeating Li Yuanba, Li Qiutong waved his hand, dispersing the three large Martial Energy manifestations, then casually landed back on the Vermilion Bird’s back.

“Big Brother (Tong), have you truly reached the pinnacle of martial arts?” The group asked in astonishment as he landed.

Li Qiutong rested his staff behind him. “Almost. I felt that after bringing the Four Symbols’ Martial Energy to its peak, the Martial Energy around me was no longer constrained by heaven and earth. It seemed I could enhance it infinitely, with no bottlenecks or realms. Is this what the pinnacle of martial arts means?”

The others were not entirely sure. After all, there were only a few who ever reached the pinnacle of martial arts, and who truly knew what it felt like?

Only Ren Xingtian solemnly explained, “What Tong said is correct. The true meaning of the pinnacle of martial arts is transcending the Martial Energy within heaven and earth. Martial Energy exists everywhere, and martial artists harness this natural force to grow stronger. However, the power granted by heaven and earth also brings limitations. Compared to Divine Energy possessed by divine beasts, Martial Energy is common and cannot compare. That’s why ancient martial artists could never match the immortals who possessed Divine Energy. But once a martial artist reaches the pinnacle, their Martial Energy transcends heaven and earth completely, becoming a power comparable to Divine Energy. That’s why, during the heyday of ancient martial artists, they could slaughter countless gods.”

Ren Xingtian’s explanation opened a new doorway in everyone’s understanding.

“So, I really have reached the pinnacle of martial arts?” Li Qiutong asked in disbelief, stunned that he had attained the level he had dreamed of for so long.

Those around him shared genuine joy for Li Qiutong. Having a martial arts pinnacle expert among them would greatly impact their future.

But Yang Ruiyun suddenly raised a question. “Xingtian, didn’t you say before that gods are cultivators who draw power from heaven and earth? How then do they possess Divine Energy?”

Ren Xingtian looked at Yang Ruiyun in surprise. “I didn’t expect you to remember that. Well, since Tong has now reached the pinnacle, we’re among the top forces in Eastern Martial Lands. I might as well tell you—it’s the mystery of the birth of the Eastern Martial Continent. According to records, Divine Energy is the power possessed by lifeforms that coexist with heaven and earth, including the divine beast clan and the divine human clan. But divine humans are few; they pale in number compared to divine beasts. So they turned their eyes to powerless humans. They taught humans to absorb Martial Energy from heaven and earth, then implanted their own Divine Energy as a seed within humans. Using Martial Energy as fuel and Divine Energy as a core, humans could also harness Divine Energy. Later, the Investiture War was fought because the divine humans, seeking to expand their status, bestowed divinity upon all their cultivated disciples, establishing the Heavenly Court to challenge the divine beasts.”

“Are you sure you’re not making this up?” Li Qiutong suddenly asked.

Ren Xingtian rolled his eyes. “How could I? As for the well-known Godslaying War, it was when neither divine beasts nor mortals accepted the rule of the Celestial Gods. So the divine beasts allied with the martial artist lineage to storm the Heavenly Court. To boost martial artists’ strength, many divine beasts, based on their Divine Energy traits, helped humans create numerous martial arts. That’s why many Martial Energy manifestations take beastly forms now.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.”

Lin Hai was stunned. “I’ve never heard such a fantastical history. How can you all accept this?”

Li Qiutong glanced at him and reassured, “It’s okay. The more you hear it, the more you get used to it.”

“Rose, who exactly are you hanging out with?”

Rose hesitated, unsure how to answer—these matters were complicated.

Ren Xingtian patted his shoulder. “Brother, trust me. These histories have endured for centuries. Only a few ancient powers with centuries-old legacies have recorded them, and even then, only fragments remain. Only I, from Jietianshan, possess the most complete historical archives.”