Translator: AnubisTL
A crimson flood dragon, its body covered in scarlet scales, erupted from the deep sea, unleashing a ferocious, earth-shattering roar:
"ROAR!"
The sound wave, carrying a palpable aura of dominance, swept across the surrounding thousands of miles of ocean, causing the sea to tremble violently.
With just that single roar, countless fish in the sea were stunned into flipping belly-up.
As Li Qing watched the crimson flood dragon emerge from the depths, his pupils contracted sharply.
A flood dragon!
This creature was undoubtedly one of the most formidable demon beasts in the lower realm. Apart from a few demon beasts with true spirit bloodlines, virtually nothing could threaten it.
Li Qing's expression turned grave. He had never imagined that merely playing the role of a shrewd fisherman would lead him to provoke such a powerful entity.
"You dare slaughter my subordinates? I'll make you pay with your life!"
The crimson flood dragon's lantern-sized eyes locked onto Li Qing, its gaze burning with murderous intent that sent a chill down his spine.
Boom!
The moment this divine sense message reached Li Qing's mind, the crimson flood dragon surged forward, riding a towering wave toward him.
The Crimson Flood Dragon opened its blood-red maw, its sharp, ferocious fangs gleaming with a cold, metallic light.
Faced with the Crimson Flood Dragon's assault, Li Qing remained remarkably calm, immediately devising a countermeasure.
Buzz!
"West Mausoleum Tower, suppress!"
A nine-tiered iron tower spun forth from Li Qing's hand. As it rotated through the air, the tower rapidly expanded, soon transforming into a structure the size of a small mountain.
Li Qing channeled his energy into the West Mausoleum Tower, directing it to suppress the Crimson Flood Dragon charging toward him.
First, the towering wave ridden by the Crimson Flood Dragon crashed against the West Mausoleum Tower. The surging water battered the iron structure, but inflicted minimal damage.
Amidst the flying spray, crimson claw marks slashed through the wave and struck the tower.
Bang!
The Crimson Flood Dragon slammed its claw into the iron tower, unleashing a terrifying surge of force that gouged three white streaks across its surface.
The West Mausoleum Tower, previously impervious to all attacks, now bore visible marks from a single strike by the Crimson Flood Dragon.
This sight sent a chill down Li Qing's spine. The West Mausoleum Tower was specifically designed to suppress magic artifacts; even blades as sharp as the Po Jun Blade had never left a scratch on its surface!
What did this mean?
It meant that the Crimson Flood Dragon's claws were far sharper than ordinary core formation magic treasures!
"What a terrifying physique! Truly worthy of the Flood Dragon Clan."
Li Qing raised his vigilance to its peak, daring not to let his guard down for even a moment.
Against such a ferocious demon beast, extreme caution was paramount. Even a desperate retreat wouldn't be considered shameful.
With this in mind, Li Qing silently activated the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer within his body.
He parted his lips slightly, and a gray, misty hammer flew out.
Coordinating with the West Mausoleum Tower, Li Qing chose to take the offensive.
The West Mausoleum Tower continued to suppress the Crimson Flood Dragon from above, while Li Qing, poised to strike, gripped the Peerless Hammer's handle tightly, waiting for the dragon to reveal a weakness.
However, every part of the Crimson Flood Dragon was a treasure. Beyond its razor-sharp claws and fangs, even its crimson scales possessed astonishing defensive capabilities.
The dragon brazenly rammed its entire body against the West Mausoleum Tower, as if testing the limits of its fleshly body's resilience.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dull, thunderous impacts reverberated across the West Mausoleum Tower, causing the iron structure to tremble violently.
Li Qing, who had been waiting for an opportunity to strike, couldn't find the slightest weakness in the Crimson Flood Dragon's defenses.
Even the West Mausoleum Tower, capable of suppressing core formation magic treasures, proved utterly ineffective against this Crimson Flood Dragon!
After a while, the Crimson Flood Dragon seemed to have grown tired of its game. Having tested the resilience of its fleshly body, it turned its massive frame and fixed its gaze once more on Li Qing.
As a late-stage third-tier demon beast, the Crimson Flood Dragon couldn't yet undergo transformation, but its intelligence was remarkably high, allowing it to communicate with Li Qing through divine sense.
"Hmph, the external tools you rely on are nothing compared to the might of my fleshly body!" the Crimson Flood Dragon sneered. "Now, I shall claim your life!"
In the next instant, the crimson-scaled flood dragon coiled through the air before charging toward Li Qing with astonishing speed.
Whoosh!
This time, the West Mausoleum Tower couldn't react in time. Even if Li Qing had tried to activate it, he couldn't have matched the Crimson Flood Dragon's sudden burst of speed.
In the blink of an eye, the Crimson Flood Dragon descended upon Li Qing.
It unleashed another claw strike, tearing through the air and leaving behind a series of afterimages as it moved with blinding speed.
Yet Li Qing didn't evade. His true essence surged within him as he channeled it directly into the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer in his hand.
Along with the true essence, a wisp of seven-colored life essence flowed into his natal magic treasure!
The amplified Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer trembled violently before Li Qing swung it down at the Crimson Flood Dragon.
Boom!
The hammer's momentum was terrifying. Li Qing's natal magic treasure erupted with immense power, as if threatening to shatter the very space before it.
In less than the blink of an eye, hammer and claw collided, sending a terrifying force reverberating through both their bodies.
Bang!
The sheer impact was almost too much for even Li Qing's formidable physique to withstand.
Across from him, the Crimson Flood Dragon was equally astonished. It had assumed this human, like others of his kind, would rely solely on external artifacts, using magic treasures to compensate for their weakness. It never expected Li Qing's own fleshly body to be so formidable.
Swish!
The Crimson Flood Dragon lashed its tail, whipping it back at Li Qing.
Instantly, Li Qing covered every inch of his body with the Golden Jade Garment. He then extended his free hand—the one not gripping the Peerless Hammer—to intercept the strike.
Crack!
Against the dragon's terrifying tail lash, Li Qing actually blocked it with a single hand.
Of course, this was only possible thanks to the Golden Jade Garment's protection. Without it, his fleshly body would have been no match for the Crimson Flood Dragon's raw power.
Without the protection of his natal magic treasure, Li Qing's palm would likely have been torn to shreds by the Crimson Flood Dragon's scales.
Thus, man and dragon engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle, their clash momentarily reaching a deadlock.
However, Li Qing knew his limits. If he continued to rely solely on his fleshly body, his physical strength would quickly wane, leading to his defeat.
Even as a body cultivator, he couldn't match the physical prowess of a flood dragon—a pinnacle among demon beasts, and one that held a slight cultivation advantage over him.
Without hesitation, Li Qing unleashed a palm strike directly against the Crimson Flood Dragon's flesh.
Using the recoil from the impact, he propelled himself backward through the air at extreme speed.
"Impressive. You've exceeded my expectations. Your fleshly body is far from the frailness I've come to expect from humans," the Crimson Flood Dragon remarked, watching Li Qing retreat before soaring into the sky once more.
"But enough games. It's time to claim your life!"
With these words, the Crimson Flood Dragon opened its cavernous maw wide.
Instantly, spiritual energy from the surrounding heaven and earth, and even from the seabed, surged toward the dragon's gaping maw as if drawn by an irresistible force.
Dragon King Curse!
The clear sky suddenly darkened, thick clouds gathering overhead.
Dragons ride the clouds, tigers ride the wind!
Though the Crimson Flood Dragon wasn't a true dragon, it was a dragon descendant, its veins coursing with true dragon blood. Combined with its late third-tier cultivation, influencing the weather was no great feat.
Sensing the terrifying aura coalescing, Li Qing's expression turned grave.
Many mistakenly believe demon beasts lack divine abilities or spells, a subjective impression rooted in ignorance.
In truth, some demon beasts with potent bloodlines are born with innate divine abilities—inherited talents etched into their very bloodline!
The Crimson Flood Dragon before him, radiating overwhelming ferocity, was now unleashing a divine ability—a lethal technique inherited from its bloodline.
The Crimson Flood Dragon, its maw brimming with heaven and earth spiritual energy, slowly closed its jaws, as if brewing something potent.
In the next instant, its jaws snapped open again. Before the divine ability fully manifested, waves of concentrated energy surged forth.
Boom!
Amidst these unrestrained energy surges, a crimson dragon-shaped rune shot forth from its mouth.
This rune pulsed with earth-shattering power, its mere aura sending shivers down one's spine.
Moreover, the Dragon King Curse seemed to have locked onto Li Qing, hurtling toward him at impossible speed, leaving no room for evasion.
Time to risk it all!
Li Qing's expression turned grave. He sheathed the Primordial Chaos Peerless Hammer and spread his hands wide.
In a fleeting moment, Li Qing's figure seemed to transform into a Kunpeng, his outstretched arms resembling the creature's soaring wings.
"These past three years haven't been wasted, even if my cultivation hasn't advanced much!"
"You have dragon divine abilities—I have the Kunpeng Art!"
This time, when executing the Kunpeng Treasure Technique, Li Qing not only channeled the Kunpeng Divine Power within him but also drew upon the vast reserves of seven-colored life essence he had refined, amplifying the True Spirit Treasure Technique to its peak.
An invisible Kunpeng phantom enveloped Li Qing's figure.
"Six Forms of the Kunpeng! Kunpeng Heaven-Rending Hand!"
Boom!
The Kunpeng phantom manifested by Li Qing surged forward, its razor-sharp claws solidifying into tangible form.
Indeed, this was a more powerful offensive divine ability Li Qing had mastered from the Kunpeng Treasure Technique during his three years of cultivation!
If a true Kunpeng were to unleash this technique, it would undoubtedly tear apart the cosmos.
But Li Qing was merely a human with cultivation at the core formation realm, far from capable of such a feat.
However, by amplifying the divine ability with his seven-colored life essence, he had boosted its power to an extreme level.
Li Qing pressed his hand against the Dragon King Curse seal, while the Kunpeng phantom's razor-sharp claws lunged at the dragon-shaped rune.
In the next instant, Li Qing's own arm split open, flesh tearing apart.
The seven-colored life essence amplification, while enhancing the killing move's power, also placed a tremendous burden on his fleshly body.
Yet Li Qing showed no hesitation, ruthlessly slamming his palm down.
Boom!
The Dragon King Curse, brimming with terrifying power, erupted the moment it collided with the Kunpeng phantom.
The surrounding space visibly distorted as two True Spirit-level divine abilities clashed in the lower realm, sending shockwaves through the very fabric of reality.
"It actually blocked it! What kind of divine ability is this? Its power rivals even the innate divine abilities of my Flood Dragon Clan!" Crimson Flood Dragon's lantern-sized eyes widened with human-like astonishment.
Li Qing's condition was equally dire. The flesh on his arm had completely ruptured, exposing the stark white bone beneath.
Yet he dared not even gasp for breath. Already wounded, attempting to unleash that technique again would force him to rely on his other arm.
Run!
Seizing the Crimson Flood Dragon's moment of stunned hesitation, Li Qing made his decision. He couldn't afford to prolong this battle; otherwise, he might meet a tragic end today.
Channeling the last vestiges of his Kunpeng Divine Power, he soared skyward.
Fueled by the Kunpeng Extreme Speed, Li Qing's velocity reached its zenith. Though he couldn't warp through space, his figure seemed to dissolve into the very fabric of the void.
Witnessing this, the Crimson Flood Dragon swiftly recovered.
"Hmph, human brat! Where do you think you're going?"
Recognizing Li Qing's weakened state, the Crimson Flood Dragon immediately took to the skies in pursuit.
As a flood dragon, this crimson beast excelled in aquatic combat, but aerial flight posed no challenge to its mastery.
The sky was as much its domain as the sea, and its flight speed was naturally formidable.
Thus began a desperate chase between man and dragon across the vast expanse of the ocean's sky.
In the blink of an eye, they had traversed an immense distance.
"It's staying right on my tail," Li Qing muttered. "And it's blocked my path back to the sect."
"I'll have to circle around first, change direction, and then flee back to the sect. Once there, I can join forces with others to suppress this Crimson Flood Dragon!"
Li Qing knew perfectly well that defeating the Crimson Flood Dragon alone would be an extremely difficult task.
Even if he managed to defeat it at a great cost, the dragon could simply dive into the sea, leaving him powerless.
He would never recklessly pursue it into the ocean!
Returning to land and joining forces with his sect members to suppress the dragon was the only sensible option.
If all went well, they might even be able to capture the Crimson Flood Dragon alive!
Every part of a flood dragon is a treasure. Its blood and other components are spiritual objects of astonishing value. Even its inner core far surpasses the value of other third-tier demonic beasts—a true dragon pearl!
And who knows? Perhaps they could even extract and study the innate divine abilities inherited through its bloodline within its Sea of Consciousness.
With these thoughts, Li Qing accelerated, soaring higher into the sky.
Below, the Crimson Flood Dragon followed closely, unwilling to let the human escape so easily.
But in the next instant, a bizarre hurricane suddenly erupted from the northern horizon of the sea.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The hurricane churned up vast stretches of seawater, its destructive power unimaginable.
The man and the dragon now found themselves hurtling directly toward this monstrous storm.
"Damn it, it's the Heavenly Wind!" the Crimson Flood Dragon roared in alarm, abruptly halting its pursuit. It cast one last glance at Li Qing before fleeing in the opposite direction.
Li Qing reacted swiftly, his heart nearly stopping as he stared at the approaching wall of wind.
"What rotten luck! To encounter the Heavenly Wind, a disaster that only strikes once every few decades!"
This was the most terrifying natural calamity on the sea. Once caught in its vortex, even core formation realm cultivators would lose control, unable to discern direction.
Seeing the Crimson Flood Dragon's desperate retreat, Li Qing knew he had to escape immediately. If even the dragon feared it, he certainly couldn't face it head-on.
But it was too late. The Heavenly Wind moved with unimaginable speed, engulfing both Li Qing and the Crimson Flood Dragon in its swirling embrace.
(End of the Chapter)