Every dragon scale covering her body carried an exquisite, mysterious feeling. The light between sea and sky fell upon her, yet was refracted by this thin layer of scale armor, causing her skin to also shimmer with a faint golden hue.
Dazzling, impossible to look at directly.
Holding a giant axe in her hand, her slender body covered in dragon scales—at this moment, beauty and power coexisted.
Dragon Gate Elder Pang Dian had a body dry and thin as firewood beneath his wide robes.
His body trembled now, hardly daring to believe his eyes.
What had he seen?
If this wasn’t Dragon Gate’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal, what else could it be?
How was this possible…
Jian Chou in the Empty Sea only stared at Tang Buye, who was gradually struggling up from the seawater below.
Pang Dian looked for a long, long time before finally withdrawing his gaze, looking at Fudao Shanren standing ahead with an indescribable expression.
At this moment, Fudao Shanren could barely hold the chicken leg in his hand.
Although you’re all looking at me, I really don’t know what this situation is about…
“Brother Fudao…”
Hengxu Zhenren beside him couldn’t help but speak, wanting to ask for clarification.
Fudao Shanren was in chaos himself. Hearing his question, he impatiently shoved another chicken leg into his hand: “You damn Hengxu talk too much! Why ask me? I don’t know either!”
Everyone around who witnessed this scene was dumbfounded.
The always lofty Hengxu Zhenren now had a greasy chicken leg forcibly stuffed into his aged yet spotless palm, creating an indescribably bizarre feeling.
Pang Dian, who had been about to approach and ask about the situation, finally darkened his face until it was black enough to wring water from.
The entire foot of Kunwu Mountain remained eerily quiet, the atmosphere strange to the extreme.
Stealing techniques—in the Central Domain where sects stood in opposition—was no small matter.
Moreover, who didn’t know that the dao seal now appearing on Jian Chou was Dragon Gate’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal?
Dragon Gate’s cultivation methods were unique. Dragon Gate’s natal dao seal could only be cultivated by Dragon Gate disciples who practiced their techniques and leaped through the Dragon Gate to gain recognition from the ancient Dragon God. Now such a shocking Dragon Scale Dao Seal had appeared on Yashan’s eldest senior sister?
One was Dragon Gate, considerably established among the Central Domain’s Upper Five Sects, the other was Yashan, famous throughout the Central Domain and regarded as a model.
Between them…
Could there be some unspeakable secret?
Everyone’s minds were filled with endless speculation.
Yashan, on the Mitian Mirror.
As if sensing something, Qu Zhengfeng, who had just finished a cup of wine, suddenly looked up toward the deep darkness overhead, as if seeing through the darkness to the situation at distant Kunwu.
The pile of withered bones sitting across from him remained silent, as if they had never communicated at all.
Qu Zhengfeng didn’t mind much either.
The air was filled with rich wine fragrance.
His gold-threaded black robe fell to the ground, stained with dust from the Mitian Mirror, yet he acted as if he couldn’t see it.
Dragon Gate, Dragon Scale Dao Seal…
“Little junior sister, eldest senior sister…”
An inexplicable smile curved his lips, and Qu Zhengfeng’s eyes held a strange light: It seems Jian Chou truly doesn’t discriminate—even learning Dragon Gate’s dao seal. I’m afraid there’s trouble now…
But it all had nothing to do with him anymore.
Qu Zhengfeng narrowed his eyes, stood up, and clapped his hands, saying only: “Great Grand Master, this disciple takes his leave.”
The pale white withered bones sat quietly in meditation, as if they hadn’t heard his words.
After speaking, Qu Zhengfeng paid no attention to any response, simply turning and stepping down from the Mitian Mirror, passing through that heavy darkness and returning to the cliff face of Yashan, pushing open the simple wooden door bearing the nameplate “Qu Zhengfeng.”
Four more days.
It was time for closed-door cultivation and breakthrough.
He slowly walked inside, then turned back to close the door.
The shadow of the door gradually expanded, falling across his body, while the light outside grew narrower and narrower, gradually disappearing from his view…
A light “bang.”
The door finally closed.
Nine-Head River continued its torrential flow, rushing past the beach filled with countless cultivation tombs at Yashan.
Deep autumn had arrived, and the forests were completely dyed.
The river water had dropped considerably, and at the confluence with Kunwu’s main stream, some moss-covered stones were exposed on both banks.
“Splash!”
Waves splashed up.
An empty wine jar was casually thrown onto the river surface, bobbing with the current and slowly drifting away.
Zhou Chengjiang stood by the river, watching this empty wine jar gradually disappear.
When he could no longer see it, he finally sighed: “Birds of a feather flock together—I really shouldn’t have encountered her…”
How had he never thought before that such a situation would arise?
And that “selfless exchange”…
Thinking carefully, Jian Chou’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal wasn’t “stolen” from him, yet now he had to take the blame and clean up the mess.
Zhou Chengjiang felt his temples throbbing.
Kunwu’s main peak had been silent for a long time.
As if experiencing endless shock, just as Zhou Chengjiang stepped forward, earth-shaking clamor and discussion that had been suppressed for too long finally erupted.
In that instant, Zhou Chengjiang had an impulse to turn and leave.
Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, you’ve killed me too!
Of course, if Jian Chou thought about it now, it was at most “tit for tat.”
Who was tricking whom?
Heaven knows.
Just as the Red Sun Slash was unleashed, Tang Buye’s sneak attack from behind exposed Jian Chou’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal with a single palm strike.
All this happened in a flash.
In the Empty Sea, whether Lu Xiangleng or Young Master Ruhua, neither could react in such a short time.
After a long while, Young Master Ruhua surveyed the surroundings.
Xiahou She had fallen into the deep sea nearly mortally wounded. Even if not half-dead, even after swallowing miraculous pills, his combat power could only remain at half—no longer worth mentioning.
As for Tang Buye, he had been struck squarely by Jian Chou’s axe.
This axe blow had no flourishes, only brutal mountain-moving force that left Tang Buye’s head buzzing, his vision flashing with golden light, half his body numb. After falling into the seawater, it took him quite a while to gradually feel the cold.
Covered in dragon scales like golden armor.
Jian Chou stood axe in hand in midair, all exposed skin having turned pale gold.
A power and dominance flowing through her blood, carrying an arrogant will from ancient times, even the primordial age, instantly coursed through her entire body.
Only now did she understand the secrets of Zhou Chengjiang’s exchange with her by Nine-Head River…
Since the Black Wind Cave, this “Dragon Scale Dao Seal” had lingered persistently.
She finally couldn’t resist…
In the battle at Nine-Head River, she couldn’t control herself, infected by the aura Zhou Chengjiang’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal had awakened, using the Dragon Scale Dao Seal.
In Zhou Chengjiang’s battle with Tang Buye, she had seen even stronger “dragon scales.”
How could she resist?
Jian Chou sighed inwardly: Zhou Chengjiang was a battle maniac, but unfortunately, he might be slightly lacking in scheming.
The harsh words to Tang Buye were certainly “calculated,” but afterward he couldn’t resist the temptation of the《Human Weapon》body refinement method and had “selflessly exchanged” insights about the Dragon Scale Dao Seal with her. That could also be considered…
Well, mutual benefit.
Everyone tricking each other—this was the friendship between Dragon Gate and Yashan.
Jian Chou thought that no matter how great the storm between heaven and earth, Zhou Chengjiang would bear the blame first.
As for her own blame—whether she’d bear it or not would have to wait until she got out of here.
An inexplicable smile appeared at her lips.
No one knew why Jian Chou was smiling, making her seem even more mysterious.
“Splash, splash, splash…”
The seawater below churned.
Jian Chou looked down.
Tang Buye in his black robes swayed unsteadily, finally struggling slowly up from the water, his gaze somewhat dazed—presumably still not recovered from the shock of Jian Chou’s previous axe blow.
Even with his late Golden Core cultivation, being struck squarely by an axe while caught off guard was no pleasant experience.
The cold seawater soaked his robes and finally gradually cleared his head.
Shaking his head, the layered images before Tang Buye’s eyes finally overlapped and condensed into that pale golden figure in midair.
Too familiar…
What was this but the Dragon Scale Dao Seal his previous defeated opponent had used?
“Tang never knew that Yashan disciples had learned the True Dragon Dao Seal that Dragon Gate considers an untransmittable secret…”
These words weren’t wrong, but coming from Tang Buye’s mouth, they were malicious.
The hint of smile in Jian Chou’s eyes finally slowly froze and disappeared.
“When has it been a Northern Domain cultivator’s turn to worry about Central Domain affairs? I used a bit too much force with that axe just now—Fellow Daoist Tang wasn’t harmed, was he?”
Used a bit too much force?
It was more than just a bit too much!
If Tang Buye hadn’t also refined the Stubborn Stone Body Refinement technique, when Jian Chou’s brutal axe blow struck, his skull would have already burst and his bones shattered throughout his body. How could he stand up unharmed?
However…
The current Jian Chou was only Foundation Establishment stage, and female cultivators’ strength was naturally a line weaker than male cultivators. Although this difference would gradually disappear as cultivation increased, even reverse, with Jian Chou’s current cultivation level, this was almost impossible.
A Foundation Establishment female cultivator swinging an axe could actually send him flying, even making his qi and blood roil throughout his body?
What terrifying power was this?
For a moment, Tang Buye suddenly fell into confusion, feeling he had overlooked something.
He looked at Jian Chou for a long time, pressing his temple, but couldn’t remember what that flash of inspiration in his mind had been.
Releasing his hand, Tang Buye’s face regained its smile.
As if the one who had suddenly appeared to sneak attack wasn’t him, and the one who failed in the sneak attack and was sent flying by an axe blow also wasn’t him.
He actually called out loudly: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s affairs naturally don’t need my concern. However, Tang suddenly wants to experience Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s abilities!”
Experience?
If you want to experience, then I can only oblige you with instruction!
Jian Chou’s eyebrows raised slightly, a smile on her face yet cold as frost.
First battling Xiahou She, then Tang Buye.
In this Empty Sea dragon hunt, they still hadn’t seen the dragon’s shadow, let alone obtained any dragon tendons. Instead, she had first fought to her heart’s content.
These people…
Really didn’t want to pass the second trial at all!
Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, finally leaving only an indescribable oppression.
These people didn’t want to pass, so why did they specifically come to obstruct her?
The golden light beneath her pupils became even more cold and sharp. Seeing Tang Buye already rising from the Empty Sea, she couldn’t help but “crack”…
She twisted her neck.
This action was extremely eerie.
Even…
Familiar.
This was pure power projection—the message couldn’t be clearer!
In that moment, before Tang Buye could retract the surprise from his eyes, that figure covered in golden scales had already transformed into a sharp golden line, crashing toward him!
Still caught off guard.
Shockingly fast speed—a Foundation Establishment cultivator actually possessed speed comparable to Zhou Chengjiang’s!
Due to the previous axe blow, Tang Buye had just recovered. In his haste, he only managed to raise a gray-white glow on his skin’s surface before being struck hard, no time for any other actions.
“Bang!”
Tang Buye, who had already been below, was actually smashed toward the sea surface again by this collision.
But this time wasn’t as embarrassing as the last.
Tang Buye stepped back with one foot, treading on the sea surface and channeling Jian Chou’s impact force into the sea, raising towering waves.
The gray-white glow that had just begun to condense on his arm vanished in the shock before it could become substantial.
Tang Buye’s eyes were full of surprise.
So close.
Those pupils with hints of pale gold were coldly indifferent, like looking down at ants from above.
Tang Buye knew this wasn’t Jian Chou’s gaze—this was just the pressure brought by the Dragon Scale Dao Seal.
However, none of this mattered.
What mattered was…
So hard.
Even with dragon scales covering her body, an ordinary cultivator’s muscles and bones shouldn’t be hard to this degree!
Jian Chou had seen Zhou Chengjiang’s battle with him and even seemed to have some connection with Zhou Chengjiang. In this situation, she actually chose to clash directly with a body refining cultivator?
Not just Tang Buye—even Lu Xiangleng nearby and Young Master Ruhua on the sea island all showed surprised expressions.
Everyone at the foot of Kunwu Mountain, who had been boiling with discussion about the Dragon Scale Dao Seal on Jian Chou’s body, were like being slapped hard and fell silent for the second time.
Everyone’s minds went “buzz.”
Zhou Chengjiang of Dragon Gate, who had narrowly lost to Tang Buye…
They remembered that after his defeat, he had left behind bold words.
“Among peers, Fellow Daoist Tang is not the first to defeat me, nor the first to defeat me during my Golden Core stage, and certainly won’t be the last.”
“In the Central Domain, as long as she exists, even if Zhou devotes his entire life, he can only rank second; in the Nineteen Continents, as long as she exists, Fellow Daoist Tang will probably also only rank second. Though you are strong, in Zhou’s eyes, you still fall short of her by a line!”
“This person far surpasses both you and me, and Fellow Daoist Tang, you will eventually meet her. When you meet her and are defeated by her hand, you’ll naturally know who she is… Haha… Why be impatient…”
This person far surpassed both of them, and he, Tang Buye, would eventually meet her!
In his deep black eyes, a weak flame suddenly lit, then gradually grew larger, instantly becoming blazing hot, burning through his entire consciousness!
Surging battle intent rose turbulently.
Tang Buye looked at her, this female cultivator also covered in dragon scales, terrifyingly tough and terrifyingly powerful.
If his spiritual consciousness detection hadn’t clearly told him this was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he absolutely wouldn’t dare believe his eyes.
Super strong combat power, far exceeding Foundation Establishment!
Yashan, Jian Chou!
“Hahaha, so it’s you!”
So it’s you.
No explanation needed, no verification required—there couldn’t be a second possibility, couldn’t be a second person!
Tang Buye believed the person Zhou Chengjiang mentioned was her.
But…
At the foot of Kunwu Mountain, many people showed expressions of “how the hell is this possible.”
That was Zhou Chengjiang of Dragon Gate, who had once ranked first on the Second Heaven Tablet!
When had Jian Chou ever fought him? When had she ever defeated him? And the idea of a female cultivator being the most powerful “body refining cultivator” was a bit too insane!
Who knew the truth…
Everyone found it difficult to accept, even holding onto some hope: what if it wasn’t her?
They might be hoping Tang Buye had judged incorrectly.
But Tang Buye’s entire body was trembling.
His chest heaved, excessive excitement making his blood flow far faster than normal, bringing his battle intent to its highest peak.
It was this Foundation Establishment female cultivator standing before him who had previously defeated Zhou Chengjiang?
And was called “far surpassing both you and me” by Zhou Chengjiang?
“Tang wants to see if Fellow Daoist Jian Chou truly has such ability!”
Laughter rang out.
A layer of misty darkness in Tang Buye’s eyes instantly deepened, like a whirlpool rotating in the depths.
“Clap.”
He forcefully brought his palms together, creating a crisp sound.
Crack, crack, crack!
Following were layers of rolling gray stones, instantly covering Tang Buye’s body, expanding and even tearing through his black robes, revealing a brutal wildness.
This was a power that ran through mountain wilds, carrying endless primitive flavor.
Jian Chou quietly observed this scene, her golden pupils filled with lofty indifference.
Lying in wait.
Waiting.
Calm judgment.
She casually released her grip, and the Ghost Axe flew from her hand, immediately transforming into a dark light that entered her brow and disappeared.
At this moment, she was bare-handed.
No need to verbally acknowledge she was the person Zhou Chengjiang mentioned—there was no necessity for that.
Because her eyes held only her opponent.
With fists and feet, she had defeated Zhou Chengjiang, whom she had once struggled against.
How could Tang Buye before her not have some real skills?
Seeing stones assembling around his body, about to cover his chest, Jian Chou suddenly laughed and cleanly dove down, punching directly at him!
“Bang!”
Dragon scales covered her hand’s back, yet her fingers remained slender—not ugly at all, but carrying a mysterious beauty where fragility and power coexisted.
But…
Incredibly hard!
One punch to the chest where the stubborn stone armor hadn’t yet fully formed—how fierce was Jian Chou’s punch?
All the gray light that had barely begun to cover him trembled under this punch, pushed back by Jian Chou’s strike!
Tang Buye grunted, looking at Jian Chou with immediate surprise: “You!”
This wasn’t what he had expected!
Jian Chou flashed and directly transformed into a cold, sharp light, passing by his side with an indifferent voice: “You’re allowed to sneak attack, but others can’t strike while you’re vulnerable?”
“…”
Tang Buye was suddenly speechless.
Layer upon layer of killing intent rose in his eyes. After a long while, Tang Buye actually laughed loudly: “Unscrupulous methods, not bound by these Central Domain’s orthodox rules and regulations—now I believe you once defeated Zhou Chengjiang!”
Believe?
Whether he believed or not, what did it matter to her?
Jian Chou remained completely unaffected, dragon scales covering her entire body as if removing all wind resistance.
Light flowed across the dragon scales’ surface, making her speed more than twice as fast as usual!
Powerful defense, doubled strength and speed!
Dragon Gate’s Dragon Scale Dao Seal truly lived up to its reputation!
Jian Chou felt completely comfortable throughout her body. Just as Tang Buye’s words barely finished, without any borrowing of force from the air, she turned around in midair without warning and struck again with another punch!
Bang!
Tang Buye almost felt like vomiting blood.
Just now Jian Chou had punched him, interrupting his stubborn stone covering at the last moment, and now she was doing it again?
The gray-white light that had just begun to gather was once again scattered by a punch!
All the spectators were dumbfounded: This fighting style gave everyone a bone-chilling feeling from the depths of their hearts…
Of course…
Some people’s eyes showed an indescribable sense of collapse.
Meng Xizhou held his long staff, standing dumbly at the foot of Kunwu Mountain.
When he saw that Yashan eldest senior sister take out the exaggerated Ghost Axe, he already felt confused.
Was it a coincidence?
That’s what Meng Xizhou thought at the time.
But now…
Listen to this sound!
Listen to this sound of force colliding with force!
Listen to this sound of close combat and fierce battle!
How familiar!
Who else but that senior could it be?!
Thunder crashing down accompanied by tears filling his eyes simultaneously overwhelmed Meng Xizhou, making his face show an indescribably crazy and foolish expression.
“Senior…”
The Empty Sea floated above everyone’s heads—that was a new heaven of battle.
An opponent was an opponent. Giving an opponent breathing room was tantamount to swallowing poison.
Jian Chou was never a fool.
On the contrary, her talent in battle was outstanding to a degree that amazed everyone.
Bang, bang, bang!
Punch after punch!
Due to excessive speed, this series of impact sounds actually connected completely, shaking people’s eardrums.
Tang Buye, who had tried multiple times to gather his battle armor for a real hard clash with Jian Chou, was repeatedly interrupted by her!
This couldn’t continue.
“Bang!”
Another punch.
Tang Buye’s chest roiled with qi and blood, but his eyes showed a trace of determination. He formed a hand seal, and ripples flashed.
Before Jian Chou’s next punch arrived, Tang Buye actually disappeared directly from his original position!
Teleportation again!
This damned Empty Sea—the abilities granted to others were terrifyingly strong, only she was so unlucky to get such a useless “island control”!
Jian Chou felt frustrated for a moment, but the instant her punch hit empty air, she immediately flashed and used the sea wind on the surface to instantly elevate herself.
“Boom!”
Just as she rose up, a violent air blast exploded from her previous position.
Huge waves rose across the entire sea surface.
The previously vanished Tang Buye had reappeared, delivering a terrifying strike.
Everyone felt a chill of fear!
If Jian Chou’s reaction had been even a moment slower, she would have been struck squarely by Tang Buye’s attack!
Thirty-li water-space teleportation granted him unpredictable changes.
With this counterattack from Tang Buye, Jian Chou finally couldn’t interrupt his stubborn stone armor’s gathering process again.
She turned around in midair and saw Tang Buye, who finally had a slight smile at his lips.
Buzz.
A light sound.
The last small area on his chest that had been unable to complete finally closed together in an instant, flawless and perfect.
Jian Chou’s heart turned cold.
The next moment, Tang Buye vanished again.
Here he comes again!
Everyone couldn’t help but curse “shameless” in their hearts. Using the Empty Sea’s granted abilities to fight Jian Chou undoubtedly gave him a huge advantage.
This time, Jian Chou still moved away with the fastest reaction speed.
But how could Tang Buye be an easy opponent?
After missing with one strike last time and being escaped by Jian Chou, this time he aimed at Jian Chou’s movement direction and appeared again in his teleportation, fiercely crashing toward her!
“Boom!”
What majestic power was this collision?
Even the entire Empty Sea seemed to tremble from this collision’s force.
Huge waves exploded on the sea surface, and the terrifying commotion spread far and wide.
Several people wandering in the Empty Sea, like Zuo Liu, Xiao Jin, and Jiang Wenchao, almost all felt it: ahead, there must be a great battle!
Thus, on Young Master Ruhua’s sea disc, the remaining light spots all moved toward this direction.
At this moment, his brow furrowed, but he soon revealed a seductive smile: The Empty Sea was truly becoming more and more lively…
In the battle.
Although Jian Chou was caught off guard by the collision, with dragon scales protecting her body, she wasn’t seriously harmed—just the aura permeating around Tang Buye made her somewhat uncomfortable.
The stubborn stone aura covered him, yet hidden within was a hint of devouring sensation.
The brilliant golden dragon scales, when colliding with that stubborn stone, actually had a faint sense of being corroded.
Frowning, Jian Chou quickly dodged after this collision.
But before her eyes, Tang Buye had vanished again!
Such an ability that was impossible to guard against!
A dark light flashed in Jian Chou’s eyes. She lightly breathed in the sea air, and perhaps because she possessed the most extreme focus at this moment, her spiritual platform became clear in this instant.
Thus, all winds were perceived by her.
All information in the wind was transmitted to her ears.
Jian Chou took a deep breath and finally gently closed her eyes!
What was this?
Everyone was confused and stunned.
Even Tang Buye, who had just teleported out, felt extremely curious.
But the next moment, he understood.
Jian Chou, who had been completely unable to track his movements and was in endless passivity, after closing her eyes, seemed to have gained some incredible ability, actually dodging his attack at the critical moment!
A smile appeared on Jian Chou’s face.
The golden figure flashed in the wind, following the wind’s traces, actually giving off an illusory feeling.
Tang Buye widened his eyes, for the first time understanding what kind of feeling Jian Chou had faced when confronting him—that unsettling feeling born from unpredictability.
Whoosh.
Wind sounds.
Jian Chou’s figure.
A brilliant golden light crashing toward him!
The cold dragon scales carried layers of faint spiritual energy, without any warmth when colliding with him.
Dragon scales struck against the hard stone quality on his skin’s surface, almost evenly matched.
Bang!
Huge impact force scattered, and Tang Buye was sent flying backward by the collision.
The situation reversed from this moment.
Eyes-closed Jian Chou clearly captured every trace Tang Buye left in the blowing sea wind.
No matter how Tang Buye moved, she could learn his landing position the moment he appeared, then boldly crash into him!
She already possessed powerful strength, further enhanced by the Dragon Scale Dao Seal’s boost.
Every collision shook hearts and dazzled eyes!
On the sea surface, two figures of pale gold and gray-white began chasing, colliding, chasing, colliding…
Both their speeds and forms were strange to the extreme—one disappearing and reappearing, the other presenting an almost illusory state in the wind.
All the spectators’ eyes revealed horror: These two madmen!
Through collision after collision, their physical strength was continuously being consumed.
Body refinement, body refinement—even that ultimately had limits.
The dragon scales and stubborn stone covering their body surfaces would eventually become unable to support themselves when their physical strength was exhausted.
Tang Buye’s water-space teleportation advantage had completely disappeared. He simply gave up on it directly, relying purely on speed to begin entangling with Jian Chou.
But Jian Chou’s powerful strength made him feel a sense of shock after every collision.
Even though stubborn stone had devouring characteristics, how could it withstand such terrifying consumption?
Both of them were already drenched in sweat, their muscles aching, and even their speed had slowed considerably.
The final fierce collision!
Tang Buye raised his shoulder and steadily blocked Jian Chou’s sweeping, sharp leg strike.
Their gazes met, both showing identical excitement!
“Bang!”
Along with this sound, tremendous force also transmitted into his shoulder.
Blood splattered!
But it wasn’t Tang Buye’s.
Thread after thread of fresh blood seeped out from the gaps between the golden dragon scales.
Collision after collision, the intensity too high—even though Jian Chou could endure it, the dragon scales were already at their limit.
After the leg sweep departed, several dragon scales finally splattered away, shattering into points of golden light when they crumbled in the air.
Anyone could see that Jian Chou was at the end of her strength.
But this final strike, bloody as it was, also tested Tang Buye’s bottom line.
As if finally unable to bear the tremendous force transmitted to him, the moment Jian Chou’s straight leg withdrew, a thin crack finally appeared on the oddly-shaped stubborn stone covering Tang Buye’s shoulder.
Crack.
This sound was extremely faint, yet falling on Tang Buye’s ears, it was like mountains collapsing and earth splitting.
The so-called “stubborn stone,” like Jian Chou’s dragon scales, was born under the dao seal’s guidance, relying on a powerful physical body, drawing upon the strength of flesh and blood to form a protective layer on the body’s surface—seemingly external, but actually from inside out.
A crack appearing represented not just the crack itself.
More importantly, it represented a critical threshold of endurance.
Such entanglement had gone on too long, and more terrifyingly, in this endless struggle, Jian Chou had maintained near-peak strength with every collision.
He had lost count of how many times it had been.
Tang Buye had never felt any weakening in Jian Chou’s strength.
Even though blood had begun seeping from the gaps in her dragon scales, it still couldn’t stop her madness!
When had Yashan ever had such a madman?
Tang Buye’s shock had already accumulated to a certain degree.
In fact, even he hadn’t expected that he would be entangled with Jian Chou for so long—all because of her unpredictable movement techniques.
Zhou Chengjiang’s strength might only be a line weaker than Jian Chou’s, but Jian Chou’s speed was much faster than Zhou Chengjiang’s. Even though she was only Foundation Establishment stage, compared to himself, she was not inferior.
Moreover…
His supposedly invincible “water-space teleportation” had actually become useless before Jian Chou.
She could actually know his whereabouts one step ahead and, relying on her powerful speed, strike first, repeatedly putting him in a suppressed position.
However…
It was almost over.
Foundation Establishment stage strength and recovery ability were limited after all—Jian Chou’s dragon scales had already been pushed to their extreme.
At this moment, Jian Chou floating in the air not far from him—her moon-white robe was almost completely stained by the fresh blood seeping from the gaps in her dragon scales.
Tang Buye was breathing heavily, yet couldn’t help but show a smile on his face.
“In direct confrontation, you’re nothing more than this. The so-called number one in body refinement is ultimately unworthy of the name!”
Drip, drip.
Crimson blood flowed from Jian Chou’s fingertips, which had almost lost all sensation, into the deep blue seawater.
She glanced at Tang Buye, and also at Xiahou She, who had somehow stood up—he was injured, standing pale-faced on the sea surface, still watching this battle.
Hmm, was he wanting to see what fate would befall the person who had severely wounded him?
This strange speculation made a smile appear at Jian Chou’s lips: her intuition told her it wasn’t like that.
Looking around, she noticed that at some point, Young Master Ruhua had been standing at the very front of the reef, holding his sea disc.
And not far around him, Jiang Wenchao and Xiao Jin had also appeared.
Everyone had come…
Too bad there was still no trace of the black dragon.
Jian Chou withdrew her gaze and, under everyone’s observation, finally gave a light shake of her wrist.
This was a movement refined to the extreme.
Blood drops were shaken off by her, glittering in the skylight.
The dragon scales covering her entire body finally turned back toward the center one by one, receding like tide from her forehead, revealing her excessively pale skin due to exhaustion.
The Dragon Scale Dao Seal disappeared!
“Hahaha…”
Tang Buye finally couldn’t help but laugh heartily.