Ming was internally flustered; he knew he couldn't defeat Pangu quickly, and the arrival of heavenly soldiers from outside could complicate matters. That's why he tried to use Selena to bewitch Pangu, hoping to control him and escape. Unfortunately, Pangu wasn't interested in women like her.

"You think you can charm me with this woman and attack me when I'm defenseless? It's a nice idea but useless against me. You should know that a man who loves power wants to control women and everyone. It's addicting, a feeling you wouldn't understand," said Pangu with a light chuckle.

Pangu then tried to pull apart the spider web that bound him, but it stretched without breaking, revealing tenacity, stickiness, and a slight sweetness. "Did this spider grow up on syrup?" Pangu mused, baffled.

Ming looked at his little spider and realized its talent—dense, sticky, and resilient webs were produced from a diet of honeybees, which imparted a sweet taste. Those bees died for a good cause, he thought.

Seeing Pangu immobilized, Ming leaped up and swung his divine staff downward. If he couldn't outsmart Pangu, he'd overpower him. But as the staff came down, Pangu looked up and laughed, emitting a faint golden glow around his body just before the blow landed.

Clang—Zero damage.

Ming was sent flying by the counterforce, crashing into his tent.

Self-defense: -1000

Tent Durability: -1000

Not only was Pangu invincible, but he even had reflect damage.

"Heh," Pangu smirked, watching Ming pick himself up. "Is this the first time you've felt defeated? Why not surrender and bow to me? I can make you a god second only to me, above all others. How about it?"

"Very tempting, but I'd rather be a regular person. Also, I don't think being mind-controlled would feel good," Ming retorted, brushing off the sand that got into his sleeves.

He found it odd that his attack didn't register against Pangu. That momentary golden flash couldn't be one of Pangu's own talents. Could it be...?

Ming suddenly thought—could that golden glow be a special attribute of Pangu's clothing, similar to his own powerful rings? The realization hit him, and he quickly sent a telepathic message to Merlin, who was concealed near his collarbone: "Strike now!"

Your Merlin was conflicted. How could she, a girl, undress a man? While she felt embarrassed, she nevertheless managed to take Pangu's pants.

"Your Merlin glanced at the pants-less Pangu and then at you, Ming. 'As a woman, this is all I can do,'" she thought.

"You've done a bit too much," Ming replied telepathically, feigning ignorance at Pangu's state of undress.

"What are you doing? Removing your clothes in broad daylight and in my presence?"

"I... What the devil!" Pangu, previously so calm, now showed signs of agitation.

"Put your pants back on," Ming urged, tossing a pair of pink boxer shorts between them.

Pangu paused, puzzled. "Is this guy actually being considerate?"In an instant, the pink shorts were followed by Ming's mighty staff, lunging fiercely toward Pangu's lower half. Pangu, immobilized by the mud underfoot, couldn't dodge but didn't panic either. With a sense of arrogance, he shouted, "Iron Cloth!"

A deep green light enveloped his lower half. He had forsaken desires in his quest for power and thus mastered the real 'Iron Cloth.'

Invincible!

Tent effect activated, silence successful.

The green glow of the Iron Cloth vanished. The next instant, Ming's staff struck true. Pangu felt the pain sear through his mind—a medley of hot, sour, bitter, astringent, and salty sensations.

"Your Merlin lamented, 'The world has lost another man. I should focus on mastering poisons to lessen humanity's suffering. Properly applied, poison can also be a cure.'"

Merlin had an epiphany—she'd done a good deed. In stripping the man, she'd also released all toxins into him, hoping he might find true liberation.

With no hesitation, Ming swung his staff, relentlessly attacking. He aimed to finish this once and for all.

"You think you can?" Pangu finally shed his genteel facade, revealing his true self—a ruthless man climbing to the pinnacle of power, one who would step over others to reach the top.

"Those eyes, scorning all life, fixed on the man with the staff. 'You think you can stop me from becoming the master of this world?'"

Tent effect activated, silence failed.

In a flash, Pangu was ablaze. The spider web melted away. Then, with a swift motion, Pangu deflected Ming's staff with his left hand while his right fist aimed straight for Ming's heart.

Thud! Ming was sent flying once more, crashing into the tent.

Defense -2000

Tent durability -3000

Ming regained his footing, appearing outwardly calm but inwardly cursing. His worst fear had come true—the failure of the tent's silencing effect left him vulnerable. After all, he couldn't see any of his opponent's abilities. "Tent, stand firm! We can't rely on activating invincibility while using the staff, especially since it hasn't happened even once yet."

"A mere mud pit, you think that can contain me?" Pangu lifted his sinister face and, disdain in his eyes, lowered his arms and leaped forward. "Break!"

Tent effect activated, silence successful.

Pangu found himself immobilized in the mud once again. Undeterred, he commanded, "Break!"

Tent effect activated, silence successful.

"!!"

"Break!"

Tent effect activated, silence successful."???"

"Just break!"

Tent effect activated, silence successful.

"Damn it!"

Enraged, Pangu yelled, "I'll burn this tent down!"

Roar! He raised his right hand and unleashed a torrent of flames, triggering the skill "Fire, Fire, Fire."

Tent effect activated, silence successful.

In the next instant, the flames died out.

Pangu looked at the flickering ember in his right hand and roared, "Can't we fight fair and square?"

"Like you did when you took off your pants?" Ming looked at his opponent, shrugged, and spread his hands. "That won't be necessary."

At 34, Pangu stood on the precipice of apocalyptic power, rarely ever humiliated like this. Anger bubbled within him. He took a deep breath and reached into the inside pocket of his coat, pulling out a golden pill. This potent medicine, gifted to him by Calabari, was swallowed, bitten, and gulped down.

A torrent of heat surged through his body, making his skin gleam as though oiled. With a resounding crash, a magnificent force burst forth, dislodging the wig covering his head, revealing the sparse tufts of hair akin to parched grass on a barren plain.

The sight stunned Ming. Could it be that true strength required one to be bald?

The next moment, Pangu burst from the muddy pit, barreling straight toward Ming as a ferocious lion sprung from its cage, teeth bared, and claws outstretched.

When they collided, Ming found himself pushed back again. He clenched and unclenched his left fist. Power surged within him. After their clash, Ming realized the gap between him and Pangu was not one of speed but of strength.

They collided again, trading punches before backing away to scrutinize each other's postures. Ming gritted his teeth and inhaled sharply while Pangu sneered, exhaling as if feeling no pain. Both stared intently at the other, their minds racing with strategies.

Pangu was perplexed. How was it that his guards outside the tent hadn't come in yet? Couldn't they sense something amiss? He knew he couldn't rely on those fools, so he focused on finding an opportunity to destroy the tent. However, his opponent clung on, offering no such chance. What was happening outside?

Ming had similar concerns. Why hadn't those heavenly soldiers tried to attack the tent by now? Were they completely foolish? Or had some significant change occurred outside?

Mike was furiously shouting and charging about outside the tent, preventing any heavenly soldiers from approaching. David and Hawkins stood back-to-back, fending off the celestial attackers.

"Have you noticed something strange?" David asked.

Hawkins repelled an attacking soldier with his wooden spike. "Speak."

David used fine sand as a shield against an incoming blade. "It seems like these guys might also be protecting the tent."

Hawkins frowned, but before he could verify this, a heavenly soldier blocked his path and bellowed loudly, as if intending for those inside to hear, "Not a step closer to the tent while I stand guard!"

Hawkins halted and looked back at David. "You're right. What do we do now?"

"I'm at a loss," David replied, warding off another soldier with a clump of sand. "But I'm sure taking these guys down is the first step."

"Agreed."