The air within a hundred meters of Bone Douluo grew dense, and the ground cracked inch by inch.
A chilling aura of bone spread through the area. The surrounding space groaned under the pressure, as if it could bear no more, and began to warp!
Bone Douluo Gu Rong's terrifying, rank-ninety-five pressure descended upon the entire Blue Silver Academy like an invisible mountain crashing down.
And yet, this aura was enough to make ordinary Soul Masters tremble with fear.
The moment it entered the grounds of that small courtyard, however, it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, stirring not the slightest ripple.
The white-clad figure by the second-floor window continued to leisurely sip tea, as though the world-destroying pressure downstairs were nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing his face.
Gu Rong's pupils suddenly contracted.
What a powerful domain!
No, this wasn't a domain!
This was... the space itself rejecting his power!
The weight in his heart deepened. A chilling killing intent crept into his hoarse voice.
"Young man, I'll give you one last chance."
"Show me everything you've got and fight me."
"Or you'll die!"
He spoke those five words slowly, each one seeming to grind its way out between his teeth, carrying the authority of a Titled Douluo whose words could bend reality.
Chen Xuan merely drained the tea in his cup, then gently set it down.
"No need."
His reply was casual. His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried clearly to Gu Rong's ears.
After a pause, he continued.
"I'm afraid I might accidentally beat you to death."
Boom!
Those words hit harder than any Soul Skill, instantly igniting the boundless fury of Gu Rong, a Titled Douluo.
"Arrogant!"
Gu Rong laughed in his fury.
"Good! What a clueless brat, blind to the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth!"
"If you're in such a hurry to die, I'll grant your wish!"
He stopped wasting words. The First Soul Ring beneath his feet—the yellow, hundred-year ring—suddenly lit up!
"First Soul Skill, Bone Dragon Thrust!"
Before his voice had even faded, the ground beneath his feet trembled violently.
Crack! Crack-crack-crack!
The bluestone paving outside the courtyard split apart in an instant, and dozens of ghastly white bone spikes burst from the earth!
Each spike was as thick as an arm, its tip gleaming with a ghostly white light.
Spiral patterns covered their surfaces, like the grim fangs of the Reaper. Carrying an aura that could tear through anything, they shot toward Chen Xuan at the second-floor window from every direction, each at an extremely treacherous angle!
The air split with a shrill whistle.
A trace of confidence showed in Gu Rong's eyes.
Though furious, he hadn't lost his reason.
He had used only thirty percent of his strength in that strike. His goal was to test his opponent.
He wanted to see what this young man was capable of, to dare utter such wild boasts.
Yet faced with this overwhelming attack, Chen Xuan by the window did something that nearly made Gu Rong's eyes pop out of his skull.
He yawned.
Yes, he stretched, then gave a lazy yawn.
He looked as if he weren't facing the fierce attack of a Titled Douluo, but watching a play so dull it was putting him to sleep.
"That's it?"
Chen Xuan even had time to comment.
Gu Rong's fury was instantly replaced by bewilderment.
He had been looked down on.
Completely and utterly ignored!
Could it be... that he had overestimated the young man?
Was this brat just a fraud who liked to put on airs? Was all the spiritual energy filling the courtyard merely the effect of some special formation?
A thought flashed through Gu Rong's mind. He was even about to call off his attack.
Fighting someone who could only run his mouth would be beneath the dignity of Bone Douluo.
But the very next instant—
Something changed!
A split second before the dozens of bone spikes struck Chen Xuan,
a gentle purple-gold light quietly appeared before him.
A huge blade of Blue Silver Grass appeared from thin air, stretching across the window.
The leaf was several meters across, its entire surface a dignified purple-gold.
Its veins stood out clearly, as if they held the laws of heaven and earth. A vast, surging breath of life emanated from it, instantly washing away the chilling death energy clinging to the bone spikes.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—!
A dense string of sharp, metallic clashes rang out.
The bone spikes could have pierced steel plates, yet when they struck the Blue Silver Grass leaf, it was like they had crashed into a barrier forged from divine metal. They couldn't advance even a fraction!
"What?!"
Gu Rong's pupils contracted sharply.
It blocked them?
It blocked them so effortlessly?!
How was that possible!
He was still reeling when something even more shocking happened.
An overwhelming force of recoil surged back along the connection between him and his Soul Skill!
That force wasn't merely a physical impact. It was infused with an utterly pure source of life.
The moment it touched his cold Bone Soul Power, it was like hot oil splashing onto snow, and the two clashed violently!
"Pfft!"
Gu Rong felt as if a heavy hammer had struck his chest. His throat went sweet, and he could no longer suppress the mouthful of blood surging up. He spat it out in a spray!
His Soul Power churned inside him, his blood reversed course, and waves of tearing pain shot through his meridians.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The force shook him back seven or eight steps. Each step left a half-inch-deep footprint in the hard bluestone before he finally managed to steady himself.
Gu Rong raised his head, shock filling his eyes.
He was injured.
His opponent hadn't even lifted a finger, yet he was already hurt!
This was utter humiliation!
"Good! Very good!"
Gu Rong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. In his sunken eye sockets, two flames of frenzied fighting spirit began to burn.
"I underestimated you!"
"Now I'm going to get serious!"
He let out a roar, no longer holding anything back.
"Martial Soul Avatar!"
Rumble—!
The seventh Soul Ring beneath his feet—the black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring—flared brilliantly!
A dazzling white light burst from within him. His tall, gaunt frame swelled and transformed at an astonishing speed!
In the blink of an eye, a massive Bone Dragon more than thirty meters long appeared outside the courtyard, its entire body made of stark white bones!
Every bone in the dragon's body looked as if it had been carved from white jade, exuding death and ill omen.
Two clusters of ghostly green soulfire blazed in its hollow eye sockets. A single glance was enough to make one's soul tremble.
A pressure several times stronger than before swept across the area!
Space warped faintly beneath that power, groaning as if it could bear no more.
"Now you're finally showing some real skill."
Chen Xuan's voice drifted down from the second-floor window. At some point, he had risen to his feet and walked slowly to the window.
"In that case, I'll have to make a move."
"Roar!"
The enormous Bone Dragon let out a soul-shaking roar, its ghostly green soulfire fixed on Chen Xuan.
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