Whoosh—
An indescribably terrifying Sword Qi, like heavenly punishment descending upon the world, howled across the land and erupted in an instant!
Wherever it passed, the world changed color and fierce winds howled. It was as if even space had been torn open, letting out a piercing hum.
The ten-mile Frozen Pool was cleaved open, leaving a shocking fissure. Its waters churned wildly to either side, surging into towering waves before slowly closing again several breaths later.
The purple formation that shrouded the sky flickered violently, letting out a mournful wail. Fine cracks instantly spread across it, and it teetered on the verge of collapse, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Jiao Wuyan and Jiao Tielin stood frozen in place, utterly motionless, yet not a single wound could be seen on their bodies.
Time seemed to stop.
But in the next instant—
"Pfft..."
Jiao Wuyan's body suddenly split in two down the middle, hot demonic blood gushing out like flames.
Jiao Tielin's enormous body, some fifty zhang long, also sprouted several bloody gashes. As demonic blood poured out, he was severed into several pieces in midair.
That invincible armor of scales he had once been so proud of was as flimsy as paper before the Dragon Slaying Profound Meaning, empowered by the Sky-Breaking Divine Ability. It couldn't withstand a single blow!
The two great demons' severed limbs and torsos plunged from the sky, crashing heavily into the Frozen Pool and sending water soaring.
Blood dyed the lake red. Crimson ripples spread across its surface, silently proclaiming the end of the battle.
Those two wicked Innate Realm evil flood dragons had been cut down with a single sword strike by their own father's sword horn. They were dead beyond any doubt.
Slayed an Innate Realm peak flood dragon. Lifespan gained: 1,383 years
Slayed an Innate Realm peak flood dragon. Lifespan gained: 1,417 years
Gu Cheng looked away from the panel's record and nodded in satisfaction.
He glanced at the Sky-Breaking Sword Horn, gleaming coldly above his flood dragon demon servant, then looked up at the fox demon formation, now on the verge of collapse.
Even as the one who had set everything in motion, he couldn't help marveling at the power of that Sky-Breaking strike.
"As expected of a top-tier Spirit Sea Realm treasure. The power of this Sky-Breaking Sword Horn is truly terrifying.
"Forget these two Innate flood dragons, who threw their weight around thanks to their equipment. Even if a great demon of the Spirit Sea Realm showed up, it could probably be cut down with a single strike, right?"
Gu Cheng murmured to himself, his heart swelling with ambition. He could hardly wait to find a Spirit Sea great demon and test himself against it.
Unfortunately, as powerful as the Sky-Breaking Sword Horn was, it made far too much of a commotion.
Without the fox demon formation to conceal it, such a world-shaking attack would probably have been felt even in Tianshui City, a thousand li away—let alone by the Old Flood Dragon King entrenched in the Tianshui River.
At the thought of that Old Flood Dragon King, Gu Cheng's heart tightened. His excitement gradually gave way to solemnity.
Jiao Lao'er had possessed such strength. Just how peerless and dazzling must Venerable Qinglian—Li Changge, who had slain him with a single sword back then—have been?
And just how terrifying was the Old Flood Dragon King of the Flood Dragon Palace, who had gravely wounded Li Changge?
After a moment of silence, Gu Cheng let out a quiet sigh.
With such a terrifying old monster lurking in Tianshui Prefecture, he ought to keep a low profile and work hard to grow stronger while he still lacked the power to sweep aside all opposition.
At that thought, Gu Cheng waved his hand. The Spirit Sea Ink Flood Dragon turned into a wisp of black mist and vanished into thin air.
The suffocating demonic Baleful Intent receded like the tide. Only the flood dragon blood floating on the Frozen Pool continued to bubble, filling the air with a thick stench of blood.
Gu Cheng drifted down to the pool's shore. His divine sense swept across the bottom, and he focused his thoughts.
With a splash, water flew in every direction.
Two golden demon cores and a slender green bamboo fishing rod burst through the water and hovered quietly before him.
The two golden flood dragon demon cores were each about the size of a goose egg. Dense demonic Baleful Intent coiled around their surfaces. As it roiled and surged, it formed two lifelike flood dragon phantoms that slowly circled within the glow.
When Gu Cheng reached out to take the cores, the two flood dragon phantoms visibly showed fear. They must have sensed the killer's presence.
"Now the whole family's together."
Gu Cheng rolled the two demon cores in his palm, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
With these two brothers' Innate Realm peak flood dragon cores, refining a Spirit Sea demon servant was all but certain.
He stowed the demon cores, then looked at the slender green bamboo fishing rod.
The brothers' demonic treasures had both been extraordinary. If they fell into the outside world, they would be divine weapons that every great family would fight over.
Unfortunately, Jiao Tielin's scales had been completely ruined by his sword strike. The only treasure left was Jiao Wuyan's fishing rod.
Gu Cheng picked it up and examined it closely. His powerful divine sense immediately saw through its secrets.
The slender bamboo rod was made of neither metal nor wood, yet it was incredibly hard, comparable to a divine weapon.
The fishing line attached to it had been reinforced with a secret art and was exceptionally tough. Given enough strength, it could easily haul up even a fish demon dozens of zhang long.
The hook had also been imbued with a secret dragon art, making it irresistibly attractive to aquatic creatures. It was truly an angler's ultimate tool—one that would never come back empty!
On top of that, the rod itself was like a staff. It could help Jiao Wuyan control his Purple Fire ability and greatly enhance the power of his demonic arts.
"This Old Flood Dragon King... Why did he refine such an oddball treasure?"
Gu Cheng's mouth twitched. He felt rather conflicted.
He wasn't interested in fishing, and his own Blazing Flame Fire was driven by the perfected Blazing Flame Art. He had no use for the bamboo rod's supportive abilities.
Besides, pulling out a fishing rod in the middle of a fight was a bit too eccentric.
After a brief moment's thought, Gu Cheng still put the fishing rod into his storage pouch.
If he ever ran into an old senior who liked fishing, it would make a fine greeting gift.
"Master."
A cool voice rang out through the air, and Su Jiuer, clad in black robes, drifted over.
Three more Yin Souls had appeared on the chains around her. Clearly, her battle had also ended.
"Master, I have fulfilled your command."
Su Jiuer knelt respectfully on one knee and presented three gold-trimmed storage bags in both hands.
Her beautiful face bore a hint of admiration. Clearly, she had been shaken by the terrifying strength Gu Cheng had shown earlier.
"Mm. Well done."
Gu Cheng gave a slight nod and took the storage bags. He sent his divine sense into them and couldn't help showing surprise.
Chen Youdao and the other two were Innate elders of Famous Sword Villa, men of high status and renown throughout Tianshui Prefecture. Naturally, they had amassed considerable wealth.
Gu Cheng had long since grown accustomed to looting his victims, but even so, the rich collections in their storage bags left him stunned for a moment.
"Looks like compared with demons and evil cultivators, the real fat sheep are the high-ranking members of these supposedly righteous great families."
A cold smile curled Gu Cheng's lips. He stowed the three storage bags, then looked at the panel again.
Compared to these worldly possessions, he cared more about the rewards recorded on the system panel.
Slayed an Innate Realm High Stage evil cultivator. Lifespan gained: 813 years
Slayed an Innate Realm High Stage evil cultivator. Lifespan gained: 769 years
Slayed an Innate Realm High Stage evil cultivator. Lifespan gained: 738 years, Soul Remnant (250 years)
"Soul Remnant? It actually dropped?"
Gu Cheng's eyes lit up, and joy surged through him.
He had long coveted Famous Sword Villa's secrets. Now that he had obtained the Soul Remnant of an Innate elder, he was sure to uncover plenty of useful information.
At that thought, Gu Cheng didn't hesitate. He found a clean spot nearby and sat down cross-legged, then instructed Su Jiuer to stand guard.
He took a deep breath and focused as he opened the panel.
Then he poured all two hundred and fifty years of lifespan into the Soul Remnant of the Innate elder...
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