Murong Zhuangning flicked her wrist, and her sword traced a perfect circle before her.
Within the circle, the Purple Phoenix's phantom swelled abruptly.
It grew from dozens of yards tall to a hundred, its wings spreading wide enough to blot out the sun and cast the entire arena into purple shadow.
The Purple Phoenix's phantom raised its head and cried out. Its call rang higher and clearer than before.
Like an invisible sword thrust straight into the sky, it scattered the clouds above the arena.
The Purple Phoenix beat its wings, sending countless purple sword-feathers hurtling toward Qu Ming like a meteor shower.
Each feather held the Sword Dao Law at its keenest. Wherever they passed, space was sliced into countless tiny fragments.
"Not good!"
Qu Ming's expression changed. He crossed his claws before his chest, and dark blue light condensed into a massive Dark Blue Shield.
Dense Water Attribute Runes flowed across the shield, each one holding defensive power.
The sword-feathers struck the shield with a rapid crackle like driving rain.
Countless cracks spread across the Dark Blue Shield, but the flowing light swiftly sealed them.
Yet the feathers were too numerous, too tightly packed, too sharp. More cracks appeared, and they healed more slowly.
At last, a sharp crack rang out. The Dark Blue Shield burst apart from its center, scattering dark blue fragments through the air.
The remaining feathers drove straight through and pierced Qu Ming's body.
Under their assault, the armor covering him shattered piece by piece. Scales peeled away, exposing the dark gray skin beneath.
The feathers pierced his skin, and dark blue blood gushed from the wounds, spraying through the air like blue rain.
Qu Ming grunted. The force of the feathers drove his small body backward, his feet scoring two faint lines across