Chapter Seventy-Six: One Punch

Thor sat atop his fighter jet, keeping a constant watch on Qin Ming's movements.

“This kid recovered so quickly after such severe injuries? Ah, that’s right, he bought quite a bit of Elixir of Life!”

“But his aura has doubled, hasn’t it?”

“How did he manage that? Could it be he’s stepped into the planetary level? No, that’s not it!”

“Then...!”

Thor grinned.

“His physical strength had already reached the planetary class. Now, with this further improvement, he’s no less than a first-level planetary powerhouse,” came Hong’s voice. “If he goes all out, he could cut down a first-level planetary in a single stroke. Even a second-level planetary would struggle to withstand him!”

“This little guy is truly astonishing!” Thor rubbed his bald head.

He then watched as Qin Ming slashed through the Iron-Armored Ape’s fist, then severed its neck with another strike, and with two more blows killed the Spotted Panther. Thor couldn’t help but sigh, “With his speed and attack power, looking across the globe, perhaps only the two of us could suppress him completely!”

“No, there are several pseudo-emperor-class beasts too!” Hong’s voice took on a heavier tone. “The land is vast—Australia, the Arctic, the Antarctic, and the deserts, the wastelands—each harbor pseudo-emperor-class beings. These monarch-level apex creatures, with one foot in the emperor class, are not something he can contend with. The most terrifying is the boundless ocean. How many beings above monarch level are there? Even you and I do not know. But among them, the two strongest beast emperors... neither of us is confident of victory. In the past, I traveled the world intending to wipe out all monarch-level and above beasts on land, but there were too many. Negotiation was the only way, a temporary peace. Otherwise, if chaos broke out, who knows how many would die? Below monarch level, we can’t intervene. On the human side, parliamentarians cannot act. This agreement is what has kept the peace until now!”

“There’s always been some reluctance in me—I’ve always wanted to bring peace to the land first.”

“But have you considered the consequences if some slip through the net?”

“You’re right. If even one pseudo-emperor-class were to revolt, the world would be in danger. In the end, it’s because we lack overwhelming power, otherwise, why else would we tolerate this?”

“In truth, what I fear most are those two beast emperors in the ocean. If they break through again... if, by then, we cannot suppress them, the sea beasts are sure to invade land. That would be the true crisis!”

“The oceans—the oceans must be closely monitored! Brother, why don’t the two of us ambush those two? We might be able to kill them, right?”

“Ambush? Who could possibly ambush you?”

“You’re right. At our level, it’s almost impossible to be ambushed—and in the ocean, it’d be even harder. What a headache. For now, all we can do is keep watch!”

“We’re always monitoring! The Nine-Tailed Fox has appeared—go quickly! If you’re late, that kid will be lost!”

“Heh, a little lesson might do him good!” Thor smiled faintly, then leapt from his jet.

He commanded lightning, possessing the fastest speed on earth. In a flash, he arrived at the battlefield and positioned himself in front of Qin Ming.

“Senior Thor, you’ve come just in time! Any later and I would have detonated the Universe Fighter and taken that fox down with me!” Qin Ming was overjoyed to see him and shared his plan.

“That’s a pseudo-emperor-class beast. At her speed, self-destruction would be pointless,” Thor shook his head.

“Pseudo-emperor class?”

“It means they’ve surpassed most monarchs but haven’t stepped into the next realm. Hong and I call them pseudo-emperor class. There aren’t many on land, but there are a few. On this continent, Australia, the Nine-Tailed Fox is the only one.”

“I see. Thank you, elder!”

“‘Elder’ sounds too formal. Didn’t I say the first time we met—if you made a breakthrough quickly, I’d take you as a little brother? You’ve done it. From now on, call me big brother—no, second brother!”

“Um...”

“Don’t think I’m not worthy of being your second brother? Enough with the fuss!”

“Greetings, second brother!”

“Hahaha! Good! Stay back for now and watch me take care of it!”

Thor laughed heartily, then turned toward the Nine-Tailed Fox.

The fox was no longer as arrogant as before. Even her two attacking tails had withdrawn. She eyed Thor warily.

“Nine-Tails, you’ve broken the rules,” Thor’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“I’m not the one breaking the rules—you are!” The Nine-Tailed Fox actually spoke, “Hong himself set the agreement: those above monarch level do not intervene. But this kid has slaughtered my underlings one after another. Does this not show utter contempt for us?”

“Are you blind? Can’t you see he’s still just a Warlord?”

“Warlord?” The Nine-Tailed Fox’s voice soared, shrill and piercing, “A Warlord who’s just killed five or six monarchs in a row? Thor, do you believe that?”

“Whether I believe it or not is irrelevant. What matters is that, right now, he is a Warlord. A Warlord hasn’t broken the agreement, but you, as a pseudo-emperor-class, have intervened. You’re trying to snuff out humanity’s genius!” Thor spoke as he strode forward, “Today, you must give me an explanation, or I’ll cut you down right here!”

“Thor, do you really think I’m afraid of you?”

“Good, then there’s nothing to fear! For years I haven’t fought; the bloodlust in my heart has long been boiling!” Thor looked up as he spoke.

The next moment, his wristwatch buzzed: “Australia has become humanity’s proving ground. If you’re going to act, then wipe it out. Killing one pseudo-emperor-class is no big deal!”

“Hahaha, brother, excellent!” Thor laughed.

He gazed at the Nine-Tailed Fox, lightning bursting from his body, a murderous aura soaring to the heavens, stirring the wind and clouds, causing Qin Ming in the distance to stare in awe.

“What power...!” Qin Ming exhaled a heavy breath. “No wonder he’s called the world’s number one for attack—majestic and domineering.”

“Just pseudo-emperor class?”

“Did I remember wrong?”

“Perhaps so. In a universe this vast, I only ever scratched the surface—how could I remember it all? Fortunately, as my cultivation grows, memories buried deep in my mind surface again and again, allowing me to grasp the pulse of the future!”

Qin Ming’s thoughts churned.

The major events of this period were few, and he understood them well enough. As for the details? Perhaps only when he became truly powerful would he remember everything, every last detail.

Meanwhile, Thor made his move.

He didn’t even draw his blade—just his fists, pummeling the Nine-Tailed Fox relentlessly.

In a moment, the fox spun around and fled at top speed.

“With the fastest speed on earth, you think you can escape me?” Thor sneered, turning to Qin Ming. “That was just a warm-up, loosening my muscles. Watch carefully—next, I’ll finish it with a single punch!”

As soon as he spoke, he turned into a flash of lightning and gave chase.

Qin Ming stepped into the void, following behind, but at his speed he couldn’t keep up at all.

Boom...!

In the distance, terrifying shockwaves erupted—a thousand-meter-high mountain crumbled with a crash.

In a blink, Qin Ming caught up.

On the ground was a deep crater; the Nine-Tailed Fox lay inside.

“Not bad, huh? I said one punch, and it was one punch!” Thor raised an eyebrow, his bald head glinting under the sun.

“But look, it’s getting up again!” Qin Ming pointed at the crater.

“Refusing to give me face?” Thor turned, glaring at the struggling fox, grinding his teeth. “I said die, but you won’t? Very well, I’ll skin you alive!”

The Nine-Tailed Fox stiffened, collapsed, and moved no more.

“Haha! See? I told you—one punch!”

Thor burst out laughing.

Qin Ming was speechless.