Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

A torrential force raged around them, the distortion of space becoming increasingly intense. Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan were nearly swallowed up by the terrifying airflow. The enemy before them—that mysterious figure—was no longer a mere phantom, but an elusive presence, as if the entire universe was inextricably linked to it.

Zhao Shufang felt a strong sense of oppression in the air, her chest heaving. She raised her head, her gaze still determined, as if she saw a glimmer of hope in the midst of this storm. "Is this your true power?" she sneered. "It's just an empty threat."

"Empty threats?" The mysterious voice echoed again from all directions, full of sarcasm. "How dare you look down on me like that? Ridiculous."

"If we were really that weak, you would have destroyed us long ago." Lu Lingyuan's eyes were sharp, and he gripped his sword tightly. The ground beneath his feet trembled slightly. "Your confrontation with us has proved that you are not invincible."

"Haha..." The figure sneered, and then a flash of light appeared in the void. Like thunder, it instantly filled the entire space. "Your confidence is truly disdainful. Whether you can defeat me depends on whether you can understand your true weaknesses."

Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan exchanged a glance, then in unison, cast their gazes around them. The world had completely lost its order, all laws seemed distorted, and an invisible sense of oppression was creeping deeper into their souls.

"When you say weakness, do you mean our hearts?" Zhao Shufang's voice was sharp and calm. "You already know that our perseverance and faith are our most powerful weapons. And your so-called power is nothing more than oppression of our souls, an attempt to make us lose our way."

"Soul oppression?" the voice said with a hint of amusement. "Do you really think that with a resolute heart alone, you can overcome everything? Your 'faith' is nothing but blind self-confidence, and will eventually crumble in the face of true crisis."

Lu Lingyuan smiled coldly, and raised the sword slightly. "No matter how you attack our beliefs, we will not retreat. This is something you can never destroy."

"Hmph!" The figure snorted again, and suddenly, the vibrations in the space intensified, as if countless beams of light were simultaneously shooting towards them. A flicker of determination flashed in Zhao Shufang's eyes, and her hands danced swiftly, the talismans in her palms blazing with a mysterious glow. Her gaze was as firm as iron, no longer afraid of the threat before her.

"Do you think you can defeat me with just these talismans?" the figure's voice became more threatening. "Your magic is nothing but an ant trying to shake a tree to me."

Zhao Shufang's eyes flashed with a gleam of brilliance, and she opened her lips slightly: "An ant trying to shake a tree is overestimating its own strength."

As she finished speaking, the talisman's light suddenly burst forth, instantly radiating a powerful wave of spiritual energy. The airflow seemed to be instantly broken, but then, space violently trembled again, and a massive wave of energy enveloped the two, nearly completely suppressing their bodies.

Lu Lingyuan paused, his sword grip trembling slightly, but there was no sign of retreat in his eyes. "You cannot understand why we are so determined. No matter how you manipulate or suppress us, our goal remains unchanged."

"What is your goal?" The figure seemed to sense the unyielding spirit in their words. "You are merely struggling in an illusory game. My power has surpassed your imagination. You cannot defeat me."

The corners of Zhao Shufang's mouth curled up slightly, and a gleam of determination flashed in her eyes. "You are wrong. Our strength does not lie solely in these talismans and swordsmanship. The most important thing is our heart and our faith. Even if the world collapses, we can stand up again."

"Faith?" The figure's voice was once again filled with sarcasm. "What you call 'faith' is ultimately an empty fantasy. I will show you what true power is!"

As soon as the words fell, the distortion of space intensified again, and the invisible sense of oppression became stronger, as if an inescapable mountain was pressing down on their shoulders. Zhao Shufang's breathing gradually became rapid, but her eyes remained firm.

"You want us to give up our faith?" She sighed softly. "You underestimate us."

"Give up?" The figure's voice deepened. "You will soon understand that giving up is the wisest choice."

However, Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan remained unmoved. They held each other's hands tightly, their hearts connected, and were no longer shaken by the pressure before them.

"We will never give up." Lu Lingyuan's voice was low and firm. "What you call oppression will eventually be shattered by us."

The moment they finished speaking, Zhao Shufang raised the talisman high, and the air in the entire space suddenly became still, as if time had stopped. A dazzling light burst from the talisman, and countless runes faintly appeared within the light, converging into a brilliant beam that suddenly shot towards the mysterious figure.

"Is this your last struggle?" The figure smiled coldly and walked towards the beam of light without wavering.

Just as the beam was about to reach the figure, a deafening roar erupted throughout the space, the vibrations spreading like a tidal wave. Zhao Shufang and Lu Lingyuan were nearly knocked back several steps by the energy, their faces pale.

However, when they looked again, the mysterious figure was still standing in the air, and his cold eyes swept over them with a hint of unspeakable threat.

"Your efforts are ultimately in vain." The voice was deep, like a foreboding omen of death. "Your fate is controlled by me."

Zhao Shufang's heart trembled slightly, but then, an unyielding fire ignited in her eyes again.