Chapter 57: 'Fat Ball' Strikes: Humiliating the Nine Serenities Ruler

The battlefield erupts in laughter, both cultivators and demons alike unable to contain their amusement. The once grim and intense atmosphere now transforms into a spectacle of hilarity as Zenith Heaven Emperor effortlessly dodges the Ruler's furious onslaught.

The Ruler's frustration mounts with every failed attempt to land a blow. His attacks become increasingly wild and erratic, resembling the flailing motions of a comically oversized puppet. Each swing and thrust is met with Zenith Heaven Emperor's graceful sidesteps, his movements a dance of mockery and amusement.

As the battle unfolds, the onlookers can no longer suppress their mirth. Laughter echoes through the battlefield, mingling with the clash of weapons and the groans of defeated demons. The Ruler, consumed by rage and embarrassment, becomes a figure of ridicule, his attempts to vanquish Zenith Heaven Emperor transforming into a farcical display.

Yet, amidst the laughter and mockery, Zenith Heaven Emperor remains an unyielding pillar of calm and confidence. His every evasion is executed with precision, his voice carrying a melodic tone as he continues to taunt his flustered opponent. "Oh, Fat Ball, is that the best you can do? I expected more from the feared Ruler of the Nine Serenities!"

The Ruler's face contorts with an expression of pure fury, his monotone voice resonating with a newfound intensity. "I will crush you, Zenith Heaven Emperor! No amount of mockery will save you from your impending doom!"

In a stunning display of power and finesse, Zenith Heaven Emperor seizes the opportunity to leave an indelible mark on his flustered adversary. With a single hand, he effortlessly restrains the hapless Fat Ball, the Liquid Metal Ball clone of the Ruler. The battlefield falls silent, all eyes fixed upon the unfolding scene.

Zenith Heaven Emperor's voice cuts through the stillness, his tone brimming with confidence and mischief. "Since you fancy the name 'Fat Ball' so much, how about I etch it onto this plump vessel you inhabit?" His words hang in the air, a challenge delivered with a lighthearted demeanor.

The Ruler's fury reaches its zenith, his monotone voice trembling with rage. "You dare? How dare you lay a finger on me, Zenith Heaven Emperor!" His defiance is met with an unwavering gaze from the Emperor, unyielding in the face of the Ruler's wrath.

Without a moment's hesitation, Zenith Heaven Emperor extends his finger, imbued with the Immortal Energy that every Tribulation Immortal and higher possesses. With meticulous precision, he begins to carve the words 'Fat Ball' onto the surface of the clone's body. Each stroke of his finger releases a burst of ethereal energy, etching the characters onto the Liquid Metal Ball's form.

But unbeknownst to the Ruler, Zenith Heaven Emperor's technique carries an unexpected twist. As the inscription takes form on the clone, a simultaneous manifestation appears on the Ruler's original body. The words 'Fat Ball' now adorn both the clone and the true embodiment of the Ruler.

He does so by abusing the power of the Fate Scripture. He traces the connection of fate the clone shares with his real body and directly carves this inscription onto the very fate of the individual. This means he can't remove it no matter how he tries.

A moment of stunned silence envelops the battlefield as spectators process the surreal sight before them. Zenith Heaven Emperor, unruffled by the chaos he has unleashed, gazes upon his work with a contented smile. "Behold, a masterpiece of calligraphy," he declares, his voice filled with a mixture of satisfaction and jest.

The Ruler, consumed by an indescribable mix of fury and humiliation, unleashes a primal roar that shatters the eerie calm. His voice reverberates with an intensity that echoes across the battlefield. "You will pay for this, Zenith Heaven Emperor! I will obliterate you and erase this insult!"

With a burst of newfound fury, the Ruler launches himself at Zenith Heaven Emperor, his attacks imbued with a frenzied desperation. Blow after blow, strike after strike, he unleashes his wrath upon his adversary, seeking to exact revenge for the humiliation he has endured.

But Zenith Heaven Emperor, ever composed, dances gracefully around the Ruler's onslaught. His movements exude an otherworldly elegance as he effortlessly evades each strike, his eyes shimmering with amusement. "Is this the best you can muster, Fat Ball? Your fury only serves to fuel my entertainment!"

The battlefield becomes a surreal spectacle. Laughter mingles with the clash of weapons, as cultivators and demons alike find themselves unable to contain their amusement. The Ruler's attacks, once formidable, now appear futile as he swings and flails with reckless abandon.

Zenith Heaven Emperor, his confidence unshaken, continues to taunt his opponent with a playful tone. "Come now, Fat Ball! Show me your might! Surely, there's more to you than these feeble attempts!"

The Ruler's face contorts with a mixture of rage and frustration, his monotone voice crackling with unrestrained fury. "I will tear you limb from limb, Zenith Heaven Emperor! Your mockery will be your downfall!"

As the battle reaches its climax, Fat Ball, unable to withstand the relentless mockery and humiliation, makes a fateful decision. Determined to reveal the full extent of his power, he unleashes the boundless energy that lies within him, abandoning all pretense of concealment. The very essence of the Nine Serenities Ruler energy surges forth, an ominous force that shatters the delicate balance of the battlefield.

The heavens themselves take notice of this audacious act, and with resolute judgment, Heavenly Punishment descends upon the scene. A cascade of thunderous roars and crackling lightning heralds the arrival of celestial retribution. The fabric of reality quivers, unable to bear witness to the presence of a Ruler from the Nine Serenities within All Heavens and Myriad Realms.

Undeterred by the impending cost of his clone, Fat Ball's laughter echoes through the air, a mad and delirious sound. His voice rings out with a mixture of derision and desperation as he taunts Zenith Heaven Emperor, fully aware of the consequences he will soon face. "Behold, Zenith Heaven Emperor! Feel the wrath of Heavenly Punishment, you fool!"

And with those words, Fat Ball detonates his clone, sacrificing it to unleash the cataclysmic power contained within. The resulting explosion engulfs the battlefield, a brilliant display of destructive energy that consumes everything in its path.

However, Zenith Heaven Emperor is quick to protect all from this explosion by isolating the space he is in. Nonetheless, this does not stop Heavenly Punishment from forming, just instead of targeting all those present it will now just target Zenith Heaven Emperor.

A collective gasp escapes the lips of onlookers as the ethereal punishment descends from the heavens. The atmosphere crackles with electrifying energy, as if the fabric of reality itself is poised to tear asunder. The Ruler's plan is set in motion, knowing that his clone will be consumed by this cataclysmic retribution.

Yet, Zenith Heaven Emperor, unfazed by the unfolding chaos, gazes upon the incoming Heavenly Punishment with an air of nonchalance. His eyes shimmer with unwavering confidence, as if he holds the key to defying the very laws that govern the universe.

"I'm sure you are still watching, using your divine sense," he states calmly, his words slicing through the tumultuous atmosphere. "Behold how I deal with this Heavenly Punishment. It is not the first time, after all."

A ripple of shock courses through the onlooking cultivators, their eyes widening with a mix of awe and disbelief. After all he just stated that he survived Heavenly Punishment before. This is something no known individual achieved since the beginning of All Heavens and Myriad Realms. Zenith Heaven Emperor then invokes the power of his Way of Eternal Life's Black Emperor and Justicar Pathways, their formidable energies intertwining transforming into something much stronger.

With a decisive proclamation, he commands, "Heavenly Punishment, dissipate!"

In an astonishing display of mastery over the Heavenly Laws, the swirling tempest of Heavenly Punishment yields to Zenith Heaven Emperor's will. Like a fading dream, the lightning energy disperses into nothingness, its threat neutralized.

The Ruler, truly watching using his divine sense, caught in the grip of his own fury, is momentarily silenced by this profound demonstration of power. His monotone voice trembles with a mixture of rage and disbelief. If he could, he would certainly cough up blood, but as he is a liquid metal ball, he does not have any blood in his body.

The battlefield, once consumed by chaos, now basks in an eerie calm. The cultivators and demons alike are left in a state of awe and bewilderment. Zenith Heaven Emperor stands unscathed, his countenance radiating an unparalleled serenity in the face of adversity.