However, when he saw Yun Xiao's slightly pale face, Ao Feng immediately felt reassured.
When it came to magical power, there were two things to compete in.
First, cultivation realm; second, resources!
At this moment, the gap between his realm and the woman's had been made up for by her powerful Spiritual Treasure. Next, it was time to compete in resources!
And when it came to resources, who had the Dragon Clan ever feared?
At the thought, Ao Feng's gaze turned cold. A High-grade Acquired Spiritual Fruit appeared in his hand, and he swallowed it without hesitation!
Boom!
The next moment, a powerful aura burst from his body. The Giant Dragon Phantom behind him grew even more solid, as if it were about to become a true dragon, tear open the firmament, and roam the universe!
Break!
Ao Feng swept his mighty hand across the sea and split the mountains, battering the Lotus Sea until it churned violently, as if it might shatter at any moment.
His gaze grew more and more excited. Once he broke through the Lotus Sea, wouldn't capturing this woman be a piece of cake?
As for whether he should kill Yun Xiao, he had changed his mind.
It would be a waste to kill such an extraordinary woman. He happened to be short of a servant, so he might as well capture her and make her serve him!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The dragon claw wreaked destruction across heaven and earth. Under its terrifying force, the Lotus Sea heaved constantly, while Yun Xiao's slender figure was like a small boat on raging waves, liable to capsize at any moment.
Whale Ancestor edged closer too, his eyes alight with excitement.
Hum—
Just as the two of them thought Yun Xiao was about to give out,
Yun Xiao suddenly turned one hand over. A Spiritual Fruit appeared in her palm, radiating boundless Innate Spiritual Energy!
"A fruit from a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Root?!"
Whale Ancestor's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was no surprise that Ao Feng, a noble Pure-blooded Golden Dragon of the Dragon Clan, could produce a High-grade Acquired Spiritual Fruit.
But this woman had brought out a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Fruit outright. Were independent cultivators really this wealthy nowadays?
Rumble!
As she swallowed the Spiritual Fruit, boundless magical power burst from Yun Xiao's body, whipping up fierce winds and white clouds. The dim White Lotus became crystalline once more, as pure as the first flake of snow between heaven and earth.
Crash!
The Lotus Sea surged with beams of white light. Waves formed from countless White Lotuses came crashing down, shattering the dragon claw in an instant and scattering a sky full of blazing runes!
The Pure World White Lotus stood firm as a mountain, impervious to all magic!
"It's only a Low-grade Innate Spiritual Fruit. You're acting like you've never seen one before."
Seeing this, Ao Feng remained calm. After glancing at Whale Ancestor with disdain, he produced a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Fruit, whose powerful spiritual energy washed over the surroundings.
Then, without hesitation, he swallowed it. The Giant Dragon behind him blazed with golden light, dazzling as if the Sun Star had descended.
"You think you can compete with the Dragon Clan in resources? You're not worthy!"
His magical power surged. Ao Feng looked at Yun Xiao with supreme confidence, hoping to see despair on her face.
But his smile froze almost at once.
In Yun Xiao's hand was a gleaming fruit, radiating the terrifying spiritual energy of an Innate High-grade fruit!
At that moment, Ao Feng felt his face burn as if a sentient Spiritual Fruit had slapped him hard across both cheeks.
"This woman possesses such a powerful defensive Spiritual Treasure. She must have an impressive lineage and great fortune, so it's only natural that she obtained an Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruit by chance."
"But a single Innate High-grade fruit should be her limit."
Ao Feng's gaze shifted. After thinking it over, he felt reassured.
Even the Three Ancestors of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans treasured Innate High-grade Spiritual Roots. They might not be able to produce more than a few even if they emptied their clans' coffers.
A Pure-blooded Golden Dragon like him had only been granted two because of his noble bloodline.
As for Spiritual Roots capable of producing Spiritual Fruits, they were rooted within the clan and could never be taken outside.
At the thought, Ao Feng gave a cold laugh. An Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruit appeared before him. He hesitated for a moment, then swallowed it whole!
Rumble!
At that instant, Ao Feng's aura surged through the firmament. His already Peak Golden Immortal aura rose another level, as if it were about to break through its shackles and enter the ranks of the Grand Unity Golden Immortals!
He thrust his great hand forward, covering ten million li in every direction, as if he meant to seize the sun, moon, and all of Qiankun. The entire void began to tremble!
The Lotus Sea blazed with dazzling white light and transformed into a divine flood surging forward. But it was scattered in an instant, and the next moment, his great hand struck the White Lotus squarely!
With just one blow, the Pure World White Lotus dimmed, instantly draining half of Yun Xiao's magical power!
"Submit, and I'll spare your life."
Ao Feng looked down at Yun Xiao. The magical power nearly overflowing from his body gave him the illusion that he could contend with the heavens.
"Did you hear him? Get down on your knees and beg for mercy! You're just a lowly independent cultivator. You really thought you could compete with the Dragon Clan's resources?"
Whale Ancestor shouted noisily from the side, as if he could already see the Lotus Sea breaking apart.
"I don't have what it takes to compete with the entire Dragon Clan's resources right now."
"But against a little Golden Dragon like you, I have more than enough."
Facing Ao Feng's overwhelming might, Yun Xiao remained composed. Then another Spiritual Fruit appeared in her hand, radiating the aura of an Innate High-grade fruit!
Ao Feng: ???
Whale Ancestor: ???
As the two stared in shock, Yun Xiao swallowed the second Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruit without hesitation. The White Lotus was renewed once more, scattering Ao Feng's great hand.
"I refuse to believe you have any more Innate Spiritual Fruits!"
Ao Feng steeled himself and swallowed another Spiritual Fruit, though it pained him to do so.
This was his last Innate Spiritual Fruit.
For the sake of his pride, he was staking the dignity of a Golden Dragon. He was going all in!
He refused to believe she could produce a third Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruit!
But reality dealt Ao Feng a crushing blow.
Yun Xiao flipped her hand, and another Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruit appeared in her palm. Its rich spiritual energy shone with brilliant colors, leaving Ao Feng utterly dumbfounded.
"You...!"
His mouth twitched. For a moment, he didn't know how to express what he was feeling. His heart seemed to bleed, and he nearly choked.
If you had so many Innate High-grade Spiritual Fruits, you should've brought them out sooner! Then we wouldn't have had to fight!
Now he'd wasted the only two Innate Spiritual Fruits he had!
"Soul Capture, Sea Calming Divine Pearls!"
While Ao Feng was momentarily distracted,
Yun Xiao gave a clear shout. An abstruse ripple pierced the void and instantly entered Ao Feng's brow, leaving him frozen in place for a moment.
And in that brief moment, the Twelve Sea Calming Divine Pearls shot through the Lotus Sea and the void with the force of thunder, straight toward Ao Feng!
In an instant, heaven and earth darkened. Even the sun and moon were obscured by a deep blue radiance. The Sea Calming Divine Pearls were like twelve apocalyptic wheels crushing across the firmament, accompanied by the roar of vast waves. Their impact made Whale Ancestor, far away, cough up mouthfuls of blood.
Yun Xiao brought two fingers together and, like a sea god, urged the Sea Calming Divine Pearls to smash into Ao Feng. In a flash, enormous blazing runes exploded in the air, setting the very atmosphere alight and unleashing a sea of fire!
Roar!
The next moment, a thunderous dragon's cry rang through the firmament, filled with overwhelming fury and unwillingness. It made everyone's heart tremble.
As the flames cleared, a ten-thousand-zhang Golden Dragon appeared where Ao Feng had been. The scales on his body had already split, and streams of blood poured into the sea like little rivers.
Brilliant beams shone from the Golden Dragon's eyes, and his Killing Intent pierced the void. But where was Yun Xiao? There was no trace of her.
After severely wounding Ao Feng, Yun Xiao had already used Soaring Cloud Light to flee with the Spiritual Mirror. No one knew where she had gone.
"Heh."
After a long while, Ao Feng transformed back into human form. Staring at the place where Yun Xiao had been, he couldn't help giving a soft laugh.
Good grief, had this dragon been beaten silly?
Watching Ao Feng, Whale Ancestor swallowed nervously. He couldn't understand how he could still laugh after being beaten so badly.
But more than Ao Feng's eerie smile, what filled Whale Ancestor with unprecedented terror was Yun Xiao's strength.
A Peak Golden Immortal Pure-blooded Golden Dragon, and still no match for her. Just who was she, and what kind of being had he provoked?
At the thought, Whale Ancestor shuddered. A chill ran from his feet to the top of his head.
"Do you know who that woman was?"
Before you continue