The timing of this thrust had been calculated to the split second—it came at the exact moment when the Black-Scaled Leopard was charging at full force, when it was hardest for it to change direction.
The instant the spear tip touched the patch of black scales on the Black-Scaled Leopard's chest, his Clear Force erupted. The sinews and bones of his Great Accomplishment realm rang in unison as the power of Elephant Bone surged into the spear shaft. The force behind it was far greater than a thousand jin.
Even under such circumstances, the Black-Scaled Leopard managed to twist its body and perform an extreme evasive maneuver.
The spear tip scraped across its black scales, throwing up a trail of sparks.
Several black scales shattered and flew away, spinning across the snow. A few drops of dark-red blood clung to their edges.
Chen Yuan's heart sank—he had only scraped off a few scales.
With Great Accomplishment Clear Force combined with the power of Elephant Bone, this thrust could have pierced straight through even a wild ox. Yet when it struck the Black-Scaled Leopard, it had done no more than leave a scrape.
He could even sense that, the instant the spear tip met the scales, those black scales seemed to come alive and divert the force to either side. Less than thirty percent of the full force had landed solidly.
If his Clear Force had not reached Great Accomplishment over these past twenty-odd days, and if his mastery of Elephant Bone had not grown ever deeper, this thrust might not even have drawn blood.
The Black-Scaled Leopard let out a pained, low growl, its voice dull and harsh like metal grinding against metal.
It retreated two steps. A trace of wariness flashed through its dark-gold vertical pupils, and then it