Ren Xiaoyao's fingertips trembled slightly as he gently stroked the ancient and mysterious runes at the cave entrance.
In an instant, a wondrous sensation spread from his fingertips throughout his body, like a whisper from a thousand years ago, slowly telling an untold story in his ear.
The runes seemed to have a life of their own, glowing slightly when he touched them, as if responding to his exploration. An ancient and distant aura wafted over him, pulling him back to the distant era when the runes were engraved.
He seemed to see ancient, powerful beings inscribing these runes with their supreme Law Power before the cave, attempting to seal or protect something. The secret within seemed so close, yet so far away.
Just as he was immersed in the runes and trying his best to explore the secrets hidden deep within them, a surge of Spiritual Qi, so dense it was almost tangible, like a raging tsunami, swept in from the depths of the cave.
This surge of Spiritual Qi also carried a powerful and violent aura, like an ancient behemoth that had slumbered for countless years and was about to awaken and wreak havoc on the world. This caused Ren Xiaoyao's heart to race suddenly, every nerve to tense up, and the hairs on his body to stand on end due to this terrifying sense of oppression. An instinctive danger signal flashed wildly in his mind.
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. Years of life-and-death trials on his cultivation path had given him an instinctive and keen sense of danger.
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, enduring the waves of pain washing over him.
Every step was extremely difficult; his legs felt as heavy as lead, and every inch he moved seemed to exhaust all his strength. His knees trembled slightly, as if they might give way at any moment.
He slowly walked into the cave, leaving deep footprints on the damp ground—marks of his steps toward the unknown and danger.
As he went deeper, the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi grew stronger and stronger, as if they were about to burst his body. He could even feel his meridians trembling slightly under the impact of this powerful force, as if they were about to break at any moment. The spiritual energy in his body also began to become disordered, like a pot of boiling water surging wildly in his meridians.
The violent aura became even clearer and more palpable, like an invisible Net of Death, tightly enveloping him and suffocating him. Every breath carried a trace of blood, as if the air itself had been polluted by this evil aura. Each breath felt like swallowing despair, his throat dry, yet he coughed incessantly, choked by the aura.
When he finally reached the depths of the cave, the sight before him made him gasp in astonishment, his steps faltering instantly, his eyes filled with shock.
In the center of the cave, there was a small mountain of Spirit Stone. These Spirit Stone were of various shapes, some round and smooth like pearls, radiating a soft glow under the reflection of the Five-Colored Light, as if they contained endless mysterious power.
Some have sharp, angular edges like blades, seemingly capable of easily slicing through space, each edge gleaming with a dangerous, cold light.
Each piece radiates a multicolored light, which intertwines and reflects each other, illuminating the entire cave as bright as day. Even through the cave entrance, strange light and shadow are projected onto the ground outside, creating a dreamlike and fantastical scene, as if it were the entrance to another mysterious world.
However, perched atop this pile of Spirit Stone was a gigantic Demon Beast, none other than the Ancient Demonic Beast Taowu.
The Taowu stands tall and majestic like a mountain, its body covered with hard black scales, each scale as large as a millstone, gleaming with a cold, icy light, like an indestructible shield. Strange patterns are engraved on the surface of the scales, as if they were the marks of time, or some kind of ancient Curse.
Its head was enormous, like a boulder that had fallen from the sky. Its sheer size alone gave people a strong sense of oppression, making it almost impossible to breathe.
A pair of blood-red eyes revealed endless greed and ferocity, as if they could devour everything in the world, inspiring fear in those who beheld them.
When it sensed the arrival of Ren Xiaoyao, this uninvited guest, it first let out a muffled growl, followed by a deafening roar.
The sound waves, like an Invisible Power, reverberated throughout the cave, causing the entire cave to tremble violently. Pebbles fell from the cave ceiling, some hitting the ground and kicking up dust, while others brushed against Ren Xiaoyao's clothes, leaving fine marks, as if fate had left a warning on him, or perhaps mocking his overestimation of his abilities.
"Human, how dare you trespass into my territory! You have no sense of mortality! Today is your death day! I will tear you to pieces, leaving not even bones behind!" The Taowu's voice was like a booming bell, carrying a chilling majesty that rolled in, making Ren Xiaoyao's eardrums ache and his mind reel. His vision went black for a moment, as if the whole world had lost its balance in the roar. His consciousness was momentarily dazed, but the Unbending Will in his heart was like a bright lamp, shining in the darkness. This will supported him, allowing him to stand tall under this terrifying pressure.
Ren Xiaoyao was well aware of the Taowu's power. This Ancient Demonic Beast was terrifyingly strong, and legend had it that it had caused countless powerful figures to perish under its claws.
But he showed no sign of backing down; instead, a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes—a challenge to the strong and a struggle against fate.
He gripped the sword in his hand tightly, the one that had been with him for many years and stained with the blood of countless enemies. The blade trembled slightly, as if responding to its master's fighting spirit.
The hilt of the sword is engraved with the Hardships Along the Way; every scratch is a testament to a Battle of Life and Death.
With unwavering determination, he declared, "These Spirit Stone are treasures of heaven and earth, nurtured by the Essence of Sun and Moon and moon. How dare you, a vile beast, monopolize them! Today, I will take them away to enhance my strength and eradicate all evil in the world!" His words were filled with resolve, echoing throughout the cave and causing the surrounding air to ripple slightly. The Spiritual Qi also rippled with the sound waves, as if he were issuing a challenge to fate. His voice was slightly hoarse, yet full of power.
The moment Taowu finished speaking, it pounced on Ren Xiaoyao with astonishing speed, like a black lightning bolt! Its speed was so fast that it was breathtaking, and even the naked eye could hardly catch its shadow.
As the Taowu charged forward with lightning speed, it seemed to stir up a whirlwind in its wake. The surrounding air was stirred up by an extremely powerful force, forming a huge vortex. This vortex spun rapidly around the Taowu, emitting a sharp and piercing whistling sound.
The sound was like an incredibly sharp blade, mercilessly slicing through the sky and piercing straight into one's eardrums. It was as if the air itself was being torn apart by an irresistible force, emitting a painful wail. The sound echoed continuously in the cave, as if it were the roar of a demon from hell, sending chills down one's spine and making one's heart race.
The Taowu's enormous claws swung through the air, creating whistling winds, like countless razor-sharp blades, carrying boundless killing intent as they viciously clawed at Ren Xiaoyao. Each swing left deep claw marks in the air, as if to tear space itself apart.
If Ren Xiaoyao were to be firmly grasped by this claw, the consequences would be unimaginable; he would likely be disemboweled and die on the spot.
Ren Xiaoyao's figure flashed, his feet stepping on the exquisite " Whirlwind Phantom Steps ". This footwork was something he had comprehended from the moves of a wind-type expert during a life-or -Life and Death Struggle. Every step seemed to be walking on the wind, light and unpredictable.
He skillfully dodged the Taowu's attack, his body as light as a willow catkin, his hair fluttering gently in the strong wind, as if he had become one with the wind.
At the same time, he swung his sword, his spiritual energy surging wildly within him. The spiritual energy in his meridians flowed like a raging river towards the sword, emitting a faint rumbling sound, as if it were gathering a storm.
With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed the " Rainbow Piercing the Sun " technique from the " Jinghong Sword Technique." A sharp Sword Qi, accompanied by a whistling wind, slashed towards the Taowu. The Sword Qi, like a silver ribbon, streaked through the cave with a Dazzling Light. Wherever it went, space seemed to be cut open with a tiny crack, emitting a "sizzling" sound, as if space itself could hardly withstand this powerful force. Chaos Qi even seeped out from the crack, as if leading to another unknown world.
However, the Taowu reacted extremely quickly. It suddenly shook its head and spewed out a stream of Black Flames. The flames contained endless Power of Destruction and were extremely hot. The rocks it touched instantly turned into magma, making a "sizzling" sound. A pungent smell spread throughout the cave, making people want to vomit.
The Black Flames instantly engulfed the Sword Qi and spread towards Ren Xiaoyao, like a black python trying to devour him. Wherever the flames reached, the air was distorted and deformed, and the light was refracted under the high temperature, forming eerie light and shadow.
Seeing this, Ren Xiaoyao lightly touched the ground with his toes and used the " Whirlwind Phantom Steps " again, dodging the flames with a sidestep. The soles of his shoes scraped against the ground, creating a string of Mars Mars scattered and flickered faintly in the dark cave.
His eyes were fixed on the Taowu's every move, trying to find a weakness in its attack rhythm. Even though the Demon Beast's attacks were impenetrable, he would never give up. His eyes showed tenacity and determination, as if telling the Taowu that he would never back down in this battle.
He knew he had no advantage in a direct confrontation and had to outsmart his opponent.
So he moved around, observing the Taowu's attack patterns.
Seeing that its attack had missed, the Taowu grew even more enraged. It roared and swung its huge claws incessantly. Each swing brought up a strong gust of wind, scattering the surrounding Spirit Stone everywhere. Some of the Spirit Stone hit the cave walls, making a crisp cracking sound, and the fragments flew everywhere, forming a "rain of stones" in the cave.
Ren Xiaoyao nimbly weaved through the flying stones, his movements agile as he dodged them while keeping his eyes fixed on the Taowu.
His heart was pounding, but he tried to stay calm; in this perilous environment, reason was his only weapon.
His breathing was rapid and heavy, each inhale filled with tension, each exhale with determination, as he silently calculated the frequency and trajectory of the Taowu's attacks.
Suddenly, the Taowu leaped high into the air, twisting its body in mid-air, and crashed down on Ren Xiaoyao like a small black mountain.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed; he knew that if this attack hit, he would be shattered to pieces.
At the critical moment, he gathered all his spiritual power into his feet, pushed off the ground, and shot himself towards the cave wall like a cannonball.
Just as he was about to crash into the cave wall, he braced himself against it with his sword, using the force to change direction again, narrowly avoiding the Taowu's attack. He staggered a few steps when he landed, leaving two deep marks on the ground.
His arms trembled slightly from the exertion, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, mixing with the blood on his face, sliding down his cheeks, and dripping onto the ground, blooming into small blood flowers.
By this time, his physical strength had been greatly depleted, and every movement was accompanied by soreness in his body and loss of spiritual energy, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered, his belief as firm as steel.
After landing, Ren Xiaoyao had no time to catch his breath before the Taowu attacked again.
This time its attack was even more ferocious, using claws, teeth, and flames in alternating motions.
The Taowu's claws swung down with tremendous force. Ren Xiaoyao dodged to the side, but the claws grazed his clothes, tearing a gash. The icy chill swept over his skin, making him shiver as if the Death God's scythe had just passed by him.
Immediately afterward, the Taowu opened its blood-red maw, revealing sharp fangs, and lunged at him. Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly used his sword to defend himself. The sword collided with the fangs, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound that made his arm go numb, almost causing him to lose his grip on the sword. The muscles in his arm spasmed from the impact, and the pain spread from his arm throughout his entire body.
At the same time, the Taowu spewed flames from its mouth, forming Sea of Fire that surrounded him. Ren Xiaoyao charged left and right through the fire, his wounds burning from the flames, the excruciating pain nearly causing him to faint. But with his indomitable will, he gritted his teeth and persevered, dodging the Taowu's deadly attacks time and time again.
His eyes were resolute as he stared intently at the Taowu's every move, searching for an opportunity to retaliate. Even though his body was exhausted, his fighting spirit never waned. Sweat mixed with blood streamed down his face, dripping onto the ground and merging with his footprints, as if a testament to his indomitable will.
At this moment, his mind was filled with memories of the hardships he had endured in his cultivation and his hopes for the future. These memories and hopes became the driving force for him to persevere.
The battle had reached its climax, with both Ren Xiaoyao and Taowu at their last gasp.
Ren Xiaoyao was almost exhausted, his breathing was rapid, and every time he swung the sword in his hand, it became extremely heavy, as if a thousand pounds of force was pressing on his arm. The muscles in his arm ached unbearably and he almost lost all feeling. Every time he swung the sword, it took a lot of his energy. He could even hear the "crackling" sound of his bones, as if they would fall apart at any moment.
Although his eyes were tired, they still shone with an indomitable light as he stared intently at the Taowu, searching for that fleeting opportunity.
As Ren Xiaoyao fiercely resisted, Taowu became increasingly agitated, its attacks becoming more frenzied. However, it gradually revealed its weaknesses, its movements becoming somewhat sluggish, and its breathing becoming heavier. Each breath sounded like a roar from the depths of hell, filled with endless anger and resentment.
Its body was also covered with wounds, and Black Blood flowed from the wounds, dripping onto the ground with a "sizzling" sound, corroding the surrounding rocks.
Just then, Ren Xiaoyao seized an opening in Taowu's attack. He quickly gathered spiritual power in his palm and unleashed a move called " Spirit Rhino Finger." A beam of light formed from spiritual power shot towards Taowu's eyes like a sharp arrow.
The Taowu sensed danger and darted away, but was still grazed in the corner of its eye. It roared angrily, wildly waving its claws, stirring up a gust of wind that whipped up the surrounding rubble and dust, creating a small storm.
In the storm, stones and dust flew everywhere, hitting Ren Xiaoyao and leaving Dao Wound, but he remained unmoved, his eyes still fixed on Taowu.
Taking advantage of Taowu's brief moment of confusion, Ren Xiaoyao mobilized the last bit of spiritual power in his body and used the " Phantom Maze Sword." His figure instantly transformed into several afterimages, moving rapidly around Taowu. His sword kept thrusting out, leaving shallow wounds on Taowu's body with each Sword Qi.
The Taowu was somewhat flustered by the sudden attack. It kept turning its body, trying to catch Ren Xiaoyao's figure, but Ren Xiaoyao's Swordsmanship was too strange and difficult for it to grasp.
However, Taowu was powerful enough to quickly regain its footing.
It opened its mouth again and spewed out an even more intense Black Flames, which was hotter and wider than before, instantly engulfing most of the cave.
Ren Xiaoyao was forced to retreat by the flames, and his injuries were aggravated by the high temperature. His skin began to blister and sizzle, and the air was filled with the smell of burning flesh.
He endured the excruciating pain, silently reciting Heart-Calming Formula to keep himself conscious amidst the extreme agony, searching for any weakness in the flames.
But Ren Xiaoyao did not give up. He gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and concentrated on observing the direction of the flames. Finally, he found a relatively weak spot in the flames.
He exerted all his strength and charged in that direction. Just as he was about to burst out of the sea of fire, the Taowu's claws attacked from the side.
Ren Xiaoyao had no time to dodge and could only use his sword to block. The enormous impact sent him flying, crashing heavily into the cave wall. A mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, arcing through the air before splattering onto the ground in a gruesome sight.
At this moment, he was dressed in rags, his body covered with wounds and burn marks, and his hair was disheveled, but his eyes still shone with a determined light.
At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao had reached his limit, but his eyes still shone with a determined light.
He saw a brief gap appear in the scales below the Taowu's neck; this was his last chance.
He used his last bit of strength to gather all his spiritual power into the sword. At this moment, his spiritual power seemed to burn, and a Dazzling Light surrounded the sword, which was the condensation of all his power.
His face was filled with determination. He bent his knees slightly, gathering his strength, and then let out a loud shout that echoed throughout the cave. He unleashed the ultimate move of the " Jinghong Sword Technique," " Astonishing Swan Breaks the Sun," and shot towards the Taowu's weakness like an arrow released from a bow.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, and the only things in the cave were his resolute gaze and the sword light that shone with hope.
His entire life flashed through his mind, from a naive boy just beginning his cultivation journey to a resolute Martial Artist had endured countless hardships—all of this was paving the way for this moment.
In the instant he charged toward the Taowu, he seemed to feel the convergence of all the power in the world, and he became one with this world, a realization that transcended life and death.
With a muffled "thud," Ren Xiaoyao's sword successfully pierced Taowu's body, with most of the blade embedded in the ground.
The Taowu let out a painful roar, its voice filled with resentment and anger. Its body trembled violently, and its huge body crashed to the ground, shaking the ground and sending the surrounding Spirit Stone flying everywhere. Some hit the cave walls with a crisp sound, while others bounced to Ren Xiaoyao's feet.
The Taowu's blood gushed out like a spring, splashing onto the surrounding Spirit Stone and the ground, emitting a strong, fishy stench that permeated the entire cave.
Ren Xiaoyao looked at the fallen Taowu and breathed a sigh of relief. His tense nerves relaxed instantly, and his body swayed precariously due to exhaustion and pain.
Despite his exhaustion and pain, he walked unsteadily to the pile of Spirit Stone.
Looking at the mountain of Spirit Stone before him, a relieved smile appeared on his face, and hope shone in his eyes. This was the result of his desperate battle.
At this moment, he seemed to see himself striding forward on the path of cultivation after his strength increased, and he saw himself becoming a strong person, protecting the world.
His heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation for the future. Although his body was riddled with wounds, his soul was elevated in this battle.
He slowly squatted down, gently stroking the Spirit Stone, feeling the powerful energy they contained. He was filled with emotion; these Spirit Stone were not only a symbol of his victory, but also the foundation for him to reach a higher realm.
"These Spirit Stone are finally mine," Ren Xiaoyao said softly, his voice carrying a hint of relief at surviving a calamity, as well as anticipation for the future.
His voice echoed in the empty cave, carrying a hint of weariness that was hard to conceal, but even more so, the joy of victory.
He slowly squatted down, gently stroking the Spirit Stone, feeling the powerful energy they contained, his heart filled with emotion.
He began collecting these Spirit Stone, storing them one by one into his Storage Ring.
As Spirit Stone were continuously stored in his Storage Ring, Ren Xiaoyao could feel his strength gradually recovering, and the spiritual power within his body began to slowly fill up. There were even signs of a breakthrough, as if a new power was surging within his body. His tired body gradually regained some strength, and his originally dim eyes regained their brilliance.
He could feel the powerful energy contained within these Spirit Stone resonating with his body, as if telling of the impending transformation.