Battle Through the Heavens: I Can Solidify All Talents

It was actually a Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake that had just advanced to a Tier 6 Magical Beast!

It was equivalent to a human low-star Dou Emperor!

If Xiao Qing's Soul Power had not been so sharp, allowing him to detect the danger half a step early, it would have been a face-to-face encounter without any warning!

Who could have imagined that he would run into a Tier 6 Magical Beast at such close range?

Because of that, he had been hunted down by the Tier 6 Magical Beast, the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake, and had ultimately relied on Old Yao's "Ghost Possession" to drive it back.

With Old Yao's experience and the might of the Bone Chilling Flame, they might not have been unable to fight the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake then, perhaps even kill it.

But Xiao Qing still wanted to take revenge with his own strength!

And now, he had just advanced to the Dou Ling realm, his Soul Power had reached the Late Mortal Realm, and he had even cultivated the Black Rank Mid-grade soul technique provided by Old Yao...

The time had come!

Breaking through to Dou Ling was not merely a qualitative change brought about by a quantitative increase in Dou Qi; it was also a tremendous leap in one's control over power.

His Soul Power had advanced from the Mortal Realm Mid-Stage to the Late Mortal Realm. His range of perception, its precision, and his ability to wield Soul Power were all on an entirely different level.

On top of that, he had mastered the Black Rank Mid-grade soul technique—Soul-Extinguishing Arrowhead!

This strange attack technique, designed specifically to target souls, was undoubtedly a devastating weapon against Magical Beasts, whose Soul Power was comparatively weak!

As one side waned and the other waxed, Xiao Qing's confidence was already overflowing.

"With my current strength, I'm more than capable of dealing with it!" He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking softly. A powerful fighting intent soared into the sky, and even the splashing droplets around him seemed forced aside by that invisible aura.

He no longer hesitated. With a flicker of his body, he vanished from the spot like a ghost, leaving only the waterfall roaring tirelessly behind him.

He headed straight for the dangerous valley where he had suffered defeat a month ago—the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake's territory!

This time, he would walk in openly and take the Soul-Calming Moon-Evening Grass.

And he would use the life of this Tier 6 Magical Beast to prove the results of his more than a month of cultivation!

A fierce battle across realms was about to begin...

Earth Rank Dou Technique: Great Heaven Red Sun Palm!

"Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake, come out and fight!"

Xiao Qing's voice exploded through the gloomy valley like thunder.

He stood atop a massive boulder, his gaze blazing as he stared directly at the dark cave ahead, so deep it seemed capable of swallowing all light.

The entrance was pitch-black, radiating a chilling cold that made one's heart tremble. Faintly, an almost imperceptible devouring aura that seemed capable of annihilating all things seeped out.

"Human, it's you again!"

A terrifying, hoarse roar came from deep within the cave, carrying furious disbelief.

The next instant, a pitch-black shadow dozens of meters long shot out of the cave like an arrow released from a bow!

Under the sunlight, the massive creature finally revealed its true form. Its body was covered in ink-black scales that gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, while its vicious serpent head bore a pair of blood-red eyes filled with violence and cruelty!

It was the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake, a Tier 6 Magical Beast that had broken through only a few years ago!

"What if it is?" Xiao Qing's expression was icy, his voice cold and utterly fearless.

Today, he was determined to obtain that Soul-Calming Moon-Evening Grass!

"You still dare come here to die!"

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake's blood-red eyes locked onto Xiao Qing, its voice trembling with extreme fury.

It would never forget how, one month ago, this seemingly insignificant Da Dou Shi—someone it could swallow several at a time—had somehow escaped right beneath its nose!

In its long life as a snake, it had been an utter humiliation!

And in the end, he had even erupted with terrifying power capable of threatening it!

That had definitely not been the power of the human before it. There had to be some mysterious existence aiding him!

At this moment, although it brimmed with killing intent toward Xiao Qing and wanted nothing more than to swallow him whole, it did not dare attack rashly.

What it feared was that existence which might be hidden in the shadows, capable of lending such power.

Moreover, in just one month, Xiao Qing had advanced from Da Dou Shi to Dou Ling. That speed sent chills down its spine.

"Human, leave now, and we can both remain at peace! This king can pretend nothing happened!" The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake forcibly suppressed its rage, its sinister voice probing.

Xiao Qing got straight to the point. "I want the Soul-Calming Moon-Evening Grass in your cave."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Cunning human brat! This king knew you had come with ill intent!" The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake roared and refused without a second thought, its voice filled with icy killing intent.

This Soul-Calming Moon-Evening Grass could increase Soul Power and nourish the soul. Its appeal to Magical Beasts was immense.

It had originally planned to consume it after reaching the peak of the Sixth Rank. That way, it would have an excellent chance of breaking through to the Seventh Stage and becoming a Form Transformation Magical Beast equivalent to a human Dou Zong!

At that time, it would not only possess the long lifespan of a Magical Beast, but also a cultivation speed comparable to that of humans!

This spiritual herb was the key to its future breakthrough into the Seventh Stage and successful Form Transformation. It was as important as its life!

He wanted its Soul-Calming Moon-Evening Grass?

Why not just say he wanted the Sixth-Rank Magic Core inside its body!

"Since we can't come to an agreement, there's nothing left to say. Let's settle this with our fists!"

Xiao Qing stopped wasting words. Golden-red Dou Qi erupted around him as he attacked first!

He pointed with one finger, and a condensed golden-red Dou Qi finger seal whistled forth. At its edge, a trace of subtle yet profoundly mysterious law power flowed quietly as it shot straight toward the serpent's head!

"Roar!"

Seeing this, the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake roared again. Its enormous maw opened, instantly gathering a deep black energy sphere that radiated a bizarre suction force!

It violently spat out the black sphere, which collided fiercely with Xiao Qing's finger seal!

Boom!

The two forces collided, eroded one another, and exploded in the air, unleashing astonishing energy ripples that destroyed every huge rock and ancient tree surrounding the cave!

Yet in Xiao Qing's perception, the finger seal containing that thread of law power vanished into the black sphere like mud sinking into the sea. The law within it was swiftly "devoured" by the black energy, drastically weakening its power before it was completely extinguished!

The black energy sphere, however, did not slow down and continued toward Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing's heart tightened. He immediately unleashed the Earth Rank movement technique, Phoenix Dance Wandering Step. His figure danced through the air like a phoenix, narrowly evading it.

The black energy sphere landed on the ground without exploding. Instead, it formed a small, spinning vortex like a black hole, erupting with terrifying suction and madly devouring the surrounding soil and shattered rocks!

Xiao Qing steadied himself, his brows tightly furrowed.

Something's wrong... The trace of Heavenly Flame power I attached to my attack was actually... devoured by it?

Devouring power!

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake's Talent could actually devour energy, even touch upon the level of laws?!

Even if it only touched a trace of it, that was still terrifying!

Just as Xiao Qing was slightly distracted by this discovery—

"Hiss!"

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake seized that fleeting opportunity!

Its thick tail, wrapped in vast dark Dou Qi, lashed viciously toward Xiao Qing's waist!

Boom—

It was so fast and so powerful that it seemed capable of shattering space itself!

Danger descended!

Faced with this unavoidable, terrifying attack, a fierce glint flashed through Xiao Qing's eyes.

Not only did he not retreat again, he took a deep breath. The Dou Qi within his body and his Soul Power, far stronger than those of others at his level, erupted at the same time!

Take it head-on?

No, he would counterattack!

Earth Rank Low-grade Dou Technique—Great Heaven Red Sun Palm!

Xiao Qing raised his hand and struck with his palm. This was no hurried response, but an all-out attack!

The energy of heaven and earth in the surroundings gathered madly, and a gigantic palm seal instantly took shape.

Not only did golden-red flames burn across the palm seal, but streaks of pale white Bone Chilling Flame patterns also spread over it, radiating a destructive aura where ice and fire intertwined!

This was a strike in which he had perfectly fused the properties of his own flames with an Earth Rank Dou Technique!

Rumble—!!!

The enormous Red Sun Palm seal collided with the serpent tail wrapped in dark devouring power!

This clash far surpassed their earlier probing exchange. The terrifying explosion was deafening, and a destructive energy shockwave spread wildly in every direction!

The valley floor was forcibly shaved several feet lower. The surrounding stone walls shattered and collapsed like tofu, while dust rose into the sky as if the end of the world had arrived!

Pfft!

Xiao Qing's body shook violently. Even with Dou Qi Armor protecting him, the immense Giant Strength transmitted through the palm seal still injured him, and a streak of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

Borrowing the force, he shot backward several dozen meters.

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake, on the other hand, let out a painful, furious hiss!

Its tail had been wounded. Its hard scales were shattered, and large patches of flesh had been charred black and mangled. Golden-red flames continued to burn over the wound with a sizzling sound, accompanied by the smell of scorched flesh.

It frantically activated its devouring power before barely suppressing the spread of the flames, but the intense pain and injuries did not ease in the slightest.

As expected, relying solely on my Dou Qi cultivation and physical body to clash head-on with a Tier 6 Magical Beast is still a little too much...

Xiao Qing wiped the blood from his lips, but his gaze became increasingly composed.

He knew that after being tempered by the Law of Fire and the Burning Mantra, the quality of his Dou Qi was exceptionally high, comparable to that of a Dou Emperor!

However, in terms of sheer quantity, there was still a tremendous gap between him and a true Dou Emperor—especially a Tier 6 Magical Beast renowned for its powerful body and abundant energy.

That exchange had already proven that his frontal combat strength was enough to rival an ordinary human low-star Dou Emperor, but that was still not enough!

"An Earth Rank Dou Technique?! How could a mere Dou Ling possibly..."

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake's blood-red eyes were filled with disbelief.

Earth Rank Appears Again: Finger of Nirvana! Late Mortal Realm Slays the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake!

A Dou Ling had not only blocked its attack, but had even injured it!

This completely overturned everything it knew!

Especially the strange flame contained within that palm seal—even its devouring power found it difficult to dispel quickly.

At that moment, it could no longer spare any thought for the possible "mysterious expert." Its raging fury completely overwhelmed everything else!

"Hiss—!"

A hiss that tore through the air rang out as the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake's massive body burst forth with astonishing speed!

Yet in the face of this instant, deadly constriction, Xiao Qing's eyes were icy and entirely calm.

Earth Rank Low-grade movement technique, Phoenix Dance Wandering Step!

At the critical instant when the serpent's body was about to close around him and its fangs were about to strike, Xiao Qing's footwork changed, pushing the Earth Rank movement Dou Technique to its limit!

His figure became blurred as he shifted at extreme speed within the tiniest space!

Rip!

The serpent's constriction missed, though its terrifying power still ground a massive boulder at the spot into dust!

Its sharp fangs snapped shut, but they only tore apart an afterimage that slowly faded away!

Xiao Qing's true body had already appeared more than a dozen meters beyond the constricting coils.

"Your turtle-slow speed just won't do!"

Xiao Qing's cold voice rang out with a hint of mockery.

"Impossible!"

The Heaven-Swallowing Demon Snake was shocked and enraged. It could not understand why a Dou Ling possessed such a bizarre Earth Rank movement technique.

"How can you possess so many Earth Rank Dou Techniques!"