Just as Xie Jinghan felt a surge of relief, a column of water exploded in front of him, forming a vast wall of dark green water that cut off his escape.
Xie Jinghan had nowhere to retreat.
He turned to face the Ink Jiao.
The Ink Jiao raised its head. Dark green mist swirled around it as moisture gathered from every direction at terrifying speed, gradually becoming a long river across the sky.
Its enormous eyes stared straight at Xie Jinghan, their gaze indifferent.
Xie Jinghan said, "I can hand over the Earthcore Fire Lotus. Will you let me leave?"
A trace of mockery gleamed in the Ink Jiao's enormous eyes.
Then it whipped its massive tail toward him.
"If that's how it is, then let's fight!"
The sword case on his back opened, and a Moonlit Night Sword flew out.
Xie Jinghan caught it in his right hand, his entire bearing as sharp as a blade.
"One-Character Lightning Sword: Thousand Flashes!"
Boom...
In an instant, Xie Jinghan thrust eighteen times, each strike landing on a weak point of the jiao's tail.
But the tail's overwhelming force crushed through them all.
Its momentum did not falter. Terrifying force slammed into Xie Jinghan.
Boom!
Xie Jinghan was smashed into the gorge and buried in shattered rock.
A shockwave burst outward, hurling dust, sand, and broken stone into the air.
They hid Xie Jinghan from sight.
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead, and a fierce wind rose.
Thunder rumbled.
Rumble!
"You've made me angry!"
Xie Jinghan emerged from the dust and rubble, his hair disheveled and his chest stained with blood. He looked thoroughly battered.
But his aura now surged skyward.
"Single-Character Lightning Sword: Thunder Induction!"
Crack!
He raised his sword high in both hands, its tip pointing upward. Twelve bolts of lightning fell from the sky in rapid succession.
Xie Jinghan drew them into the sword, which trembled in his hands.
It seemed to have reached its limit, unable to bear the strain. With a faint sound, a hairline crack appeared.
Pain flashed through Xie Jinghan's eyes. Then his gaze hardened, and he looked at the Ink Jiao.
"Fall!"
A sword of lightning formed and slashed toward the Ink Jiao.
The Ink Jiao opened its enormous mouth and swallowed the lightning whole.
It smacked its lips and even chewed a little.
Apparently, the taste suited it!
The single horn atop its head glowed faintly.
The lightning had not affected it at all.
It could actually absorb the power of lightning.
Crack, crack, crack, crack~~~~~~~~~~
The Moonlit Night Sword in his hand shattered completely.
A wave of helplessness washed over Xie Jinghan.
Just then, a wind blade several yards long and a whirlwind several yards high struck at the Ink Jiao's massive body from either side.
Two figures, one white and one azure, descended from the sky. They had returned.
They were the White Tiger and the Azure Wolf, the two fierce beasts that had vanished earlier.
The moment they appeared, the two fierce beasts charged fiercely at the Ink Jiao.
Hatred burned in their eyes.
It was as though they had known it all along.
"Roar..."
The Ink Jiao recognized them and roared.
A sweep of its tail shattered the wind blade, while its two claws tore through the whirlwind like lightning.
Then its savage claws ripped into the White Tiger, and its tail swept across, sending the Azure Wolf flying.
The Ink Jiao's massive body coiled high in the air. Cold light glinted off its jet-black scales as its scarlet slit-pupiled eyes looked down on them.
The dark green river surged behind it.
Its oppressive aura towered to the heavens.
Xie Jinghan, the Azure Wolf, and the White Tiger stood together on one side. All three breathed unevenly and bore wounds of varying severity.
Xie Jinghan was hurt the worst. His chest had caved in, and he took out all his remaining Foundation-Stabilizing Pills and swallowed them.
The White Tiger's snow-white fur was torn in several places, and the golden king-shaped marking on its forehead had dimmed.
The jiao's tail had struck the Azure Wolf, caving in its shoulder. It panted heavily, its chest heaving.
The fierce struggle just now had taken a tremendous toll on all three.
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