2251 2251. Determination

The Rulers' Resolve diverted his attention even before his grey energy dispersed. His eyes went to the sky as he searched for forests made of roots to destroy.

The parasite's branches had continued to expand while Great Builder kept the privileged expert busy. The roots had become a real problem since they had never stopped feeding off weaker experts. Yet, none of the other leaders on Heaven and Earth's side had moved to contain them since the Rulers' Resolve had already decided to take care of the issue.

The Rulers' Resolve had every intention to go back to his task, but a familiar aura appeared in his consciousness' range and forced him to turn. The expert almost couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Great Builder hovering where the grey pillar had dispersed.

"You have finally shown some emotions," Great Builder commented as he patted his sleeves to remove the fumes caused by the grey energy.

The Rulers' Resolve kicked away his amazement to retrieve his aloof face, but his eyes flickered again when he saw that Great Builder didn't suffer any injury. He was completely fine. His level had actually slightly improved.

"What is it?" Great Builder mocked. "You can't understand what happened, can you?"

The Rulers' Resolve didn't answer. He launched another giant pillar that engulfed Great Builder before flying to the other side of the battlefield. Still, the privileged cultivator didn't turn at that time, and his eyes flickered once more when his opponent reappeared without carrying a single injury.

"I've warned you about inscription masters," Great Builder announced. "How many times do you think your attacks will work against me? I won't die against such a lack of creativity."

The Rulers' Resolve teleported before Great Builder and pointed both arms at his chest. The array of spheres didn't appear at that time. Instead, his fingers lit up before unleashing an oval wave of energy that made that chunk of the void twist and shake.

"I have to admit that your power was hard to counter," Great Builder's voice seeped out of the grey energy as that fuel dispersed inside the void. "Your title gave out your energy source, but I still had to go all-out to resist it."

The oval mass of grey energy dispersed and revealed Great Builder. The expert didn't suffer any injury again, and his right arm rose to grab one of the privileged cultivator's hands.

Great Builder's hand shone with a yellow light that seeped inside the privileged cultivator's limb and opened cracks in its structure. The radiance started to come out of the expert's arm until it directly shattered.

The Rulers' Resolve didn't show any surprise now. He saw his arm's fabric dispersing in the void, but he felt nothing. Yet, he decided to teleport away.

Great Builder couldn't help but show a smirk. The Rulers' Resolve's missing arm regrew instantly, but the atmosphere on the battlefield changed. It was clear that Great Builder had found a way to hurt the privileged cultivator.

<br/>"I figured you out," Great Builder exclaimed. "Well, partially. Your title doesn't come from achievements. It's a real description of your world."

"Indeed," The Rulers' Resolve responded.

"How does it feel to have a world that doesn't belong to you?" Great Builder mocked in an attempt to cause a reaction in his opponent.

"Your words won't create flaws in my existence," The Rulers' Resolve stated. "I have honed myself under Heaven and Earth's light for entire eras. You can't win against me."

"That's what everyone says before dying," Great Builder laughed. "Do you know how many times my companions heard similar lines?"

"I do," The Rulers' Resolve replied.

"Really not the talkative type," Great Builder sighed.

"Words won't benefit me," The Rulers' Resolve declared. "Though they do help you."

The Rulers' Resolve teleported forward again and unleashed a barrage of grey rays as soon as he reappeared above Great Builder. The latter flew through the attacks without suffering any damage, and his hand soon stabbed his opponent's abdomen.

A wave of yellow energy shot out of Great Builder's palm and destroyed part of the privileged cultivator's stomach, but the latter fixed his injury in no time.

Great Builder found his arm stuck in the Rulers' Resolve's belly while a grey shockwave exploded in his face. The attack didn't hurt him, but the privileged cultivator had far more in store for him.

The Rulers' Resolve placed his hands on Great Builder's shoulders and closed his eyes. His figure shone with grey light as his short black hair fluttered violently.

The darkness of the void vanished as a massive explosion unfolded. Some of the battles nearby ended up being pushed away, and their fighters also suffered due to the power that reached them.

The various experts instinctively migrated toward the other side of the higher plane since Great Builder's battle had become too dangerous for them. The Rulers' Resolve's power wasn't something that weaker cultivators could handle. Even regular rank 9 beings would die if they were too close to the clash.

Great Builder's light shone among that greyness while his figure became visible among the storm caused by the explosion. He was fine, but his body released thick waves of smoke. Moreover, his expression had lost the confident smirk from before.

The Rulers' Resolve lit up again to launch another massive explosion, but Great Builder promptly unleashed two piercing beams from his eyes. The attack broke the privileged cultivator's abdomen and allowed him to retrieve his arm.

The exchange ended with Great Builder's retreat. The Rulers' Resolve exploded with power, but Great Builder teleported away. Part of that violent grey energy hit him anyway, and his figure flickered during the impact.

The Rulers' Resolve found Great Builder in no time and teleported before him. The expert wanted to grab his opponent again, but Great Builder suddenly turned into a giant that slapped the privileged cultivator away.

The Rulers' Resolve stopped mid-air after a couple of seconds and resumed his offensive. Great Builder shrunk to a normal size to side-step the giant grey pillar flying in his direction, but the gesture prevented him from dodging the detonation of that attack.

Great Builder's fuming figure flew away, but the Rulers' Resolve didn't let him go. The privileged cultivator reappeared above Great Builder to unleash another grey pillar, but the latter shot through it easily to reach his opponent.

The Rulers' Resolve saw a hole opening on his chest, but his expression remained aloof. He didn't care about the injuries that his body suffered as long as he could get his hands on his opponent.

Great Builder's hands turned into blades that severed the Rulers' Resolve's arms. The privileged cultivator tried to grab his opponent with his legs, but two additional limbs came out of Great Builder's torso and allowed him to cut them too.

A shockwave came out of Great Builder's body at that point, and he even ripped off his additional arms to throw them at his opponent. The Rulers' Resolve was still trying to stabilize his stance when the two limbs reached him and detonated to unleash their energy.

A yellow light filled the void, but the Rulers' Resolve soon walked through it to step inside the blackness. The exchange didn't hurt him, and his power had remained steady throughout the entire battle. Still, his gaze seemed to have gained piercing properties due to how attentively he inspected Great Builder.

"What a troublesome power," Great Builder commented while looking at the incoming opponent. "This is no different from fighting Heaven and Earth."

"No," The Rulers' Resolve corrected. "Heaven and Earth are far stronger than this. You are only facing their determination."