Opportunity! The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard's Weakness

Xu Bayan's request was not excessive, because he had seen his son's palm technique.

A palm technique that had grasped the basics of "force" was absolutely no mere flashy display. He simply did not know how it would perform in real combat.

Xu Bayan intended to test him.

He also knew that besides creating his own palm technique, his son had been born with immense strength. Though only six years old, he could freely swing a fifty-kilogram stone lock.

With that kind of strength, he should have the power to fight the Soul Beast before them.

Besides, this Dread Lizard was less than a thousand years old. If he wanted, he could make it stop moving and reincarnate in an instant.

With him present, Xu Huxiao would not be in any danger.

"So? Will you accept this test?"

Xu Bayan asked as he watched the light in his son's eyes grow brighter.

"No problem. I accept this test."

Xu Huxiao clenched his fists and raised his head, brimming with fighting spirit.

He had long wanted a real battle to test his combat strength.

Originally, Xu Huxiao had planned to visit the Great Soul Arena in Spirit City after obtaining his first Soul Skill.

Now that he had the chance to fight a Soul Beast, that was naturally even better. Besides, with his father watching from the side, nothing could go wrong.

After all, my palms are already itching for a fight!

Xu Huxiao's fighting spirit surged. In his previous life, he had possessed martial arts theory but lacked real combat experience.

This was his first time fighting a Soul Beast.

His gaze locked onto the Black-Patterned Dread Lizard more than three meters long in the distance, and he reviewed its two abilities once more.

[Gluttonous Grip]: The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard's two short claws on its chest could instantly multiply in size for hunting. As long as prey entered its attack range, its claws could expand threefold in an instant, increasing its strength threefold and its defense twofold, directly tearing out the prey's heart.

[Hunting Camouflage]: The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard was an extremely patient hunter. It could camouflage and conceal itself according to its surroundings, killing with a single strike.

Yang Origin Soul Power accelerated through Xu Huxiao's body, but he did not charge in immediately. Instead, he said to Bao Dexian beside him:

"A-Bao, make me a Speed-Boosting Fresh Abalone."

"Yes, Young Master Huxiao."

Xu Bayan had not said that he could not add attribute buffs. He had only said that Xu Huxiao had to hunt it personally.

Against this Dread Lizard, what Xu Huxiao cared about most was not its Size Multiplication strength.

It was its speed, which the information had not mentioned!

A hunter skilled at camouflage and one-strike kills possessed terrifying explosive speed. This was Xu Huxiao's first battle against a Soul Beast, and what he feared most was the Soul Beast suddenly erupting without warning.

As long as he could get through the initial stage, victory would be in sight. The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, already at the Perfect Essence Intent Realm, were no joke.

"I sell abalone, not myself. Juicy and tender, Speed-Boosting Fresh Abalone, appear!"

After Bao Dexian softly recited the lewd Soul Incantation, a Speed-Boosting Fresh Abalone with a salty, fresh aroma was created.

Because Bao Dexian's first Soul Skill came from only a ten-year white Soul Ring, even though he had reached the Soul Ancestor level, this Speed-Boosting Fresh Abalone could only provide the eater with a fifteen percent speed increase.

After Xu Huxiao swallowed the delicious abalone, he immediately felt his body become lighter.

A fifteen percent speed boost was enough.

Bao Dexian watched the young master eat his abalone, and his chubby face seemed caught between speaking and staying silent.

That was a Black-Patterned Dread Lizard!

In terms of strength and offense, it was among the top-tier Soul Beasts. Even if it was less than a thousand years old, was it really something a six-year-old child without even a Soul Ring could handle?!

Wasn't this sheer fantasy?

Bao Dexian felt that his worldview as a Soul Master had been challenged. He wanted to offer some advice, but seeing Demon Bear Douluo's relaxed expression, he ultimately kept quiet.

Perhaps His Excellency merely wanted his son to build some courage.

When that Dread Lizard pounced, His Excellency would definitely step in and cripple it, then leave the kill to Young Master Huxiao.

That had to be it. I really had been overthinking it.

That was what Bao Dexian thought.

Then he looked at his daughter. Perhaps he should find a chance to make Jingjing braver as well, to toughen her up a little.

By the time Bao Dexian came up with a reasonable explanation, Xu Huxiao had already started walking toward the tree where the Dread Lizard rested.

One step, two steps, three steps...

When he reached a distance of roughly fifteen meters from the Dread Lizard.

Whoosh—!

The cold-blooded hunter opened its eyes.

Beneath its dense black speckled scales, its cold dark-yellow beast pupils revealed murderous hunting intent.

Although it had already eaten its fill, hunting and bloodlust were brands etched deep into the Dread Lizard's soul.

The pale, short living creature that had appeared before it would make a fine after-meal activity.

And it looked rather tasty...

Smack!

A pebble struck the Dread Lizard squarely on the forehead, interrupting its thoughts.

Hissroar—!!

Provoked by its prey, the Dread Lizard instantly flew into a rage. With a savage roar, it charged directly at Xu Huxiao.

Its simple mind now contained only one thought:

Bite this pale, stupid thing to death, tear out his heart, and swallow it!

The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard did not run on all fours. Like a dinosaur, it relied only on its two powerful hind legs, making it incredibly fast.

The moment Xu Huxiao's pebble hit, he was already prepared. Faint dragon-shaped Force Energy circulated around his body as he directly entered the Martial Dao Essence Realm.

His force doubled, and his control over its momentum became perfect.

Just as Xu Huxiao had expected, the Dread Lizard's terrifying trait was its explosive speed. The fifteen-meter distance vanished in the blink of an eye.

A huge, foul-smelling mouth ringed with layers of sharp teeth used its charging momentum to bite straight for Xu Huxiao's head.

Crunch!

Xu Huxiao moved like lightning. With a sidestep, the cold gleam of the foul mouth's teeth brushed past his face.

With the fifteen percent speed boost from the Speed-Boosting Fresh Abalone, along with Xu Huxiao's prior anticipation and preparation, dodging was easy.

Hissroar!!

Its teeth clamped together, biting nothing but air!

The Dread Lizard grew even angrier and turned to bite again.

But Xu Huxiao's reaction speed under the Essence Intent Realm's enhancement was astonishing. As he dodged once more, his right leg stepped sideways, his left palm traced a circle, and he struck the Dread Lizard's flank with Revisiting the Dragon.

Only after delivering that palm did Xu Huxiao realize how thick this Soul Beast's hide was.

It felt as though he had struck a hard block of rubber.

He had to find this Dread Lizard's weak point!

The Dread Lizard's entire body was a weapon of slaughter. Feeling pain in its side, its thick tail swept toward him with a howling wind.

Whoosh!

Xu Huxiao performed a textbook iron bridge, bending backward to evade it. Then he lowered himself, pushed off with his left leg, changed his palm into a claw, and twisted into a hunting stance.

Hidden Dragon Does Not Use!

He pressed his index and middle fingers together into a hooked grasping shape, curled his thumb inward, and beneath the faint dragon-shaped Force Energy, his right hand resembled a dragon claw.

Using Hidden Dragon Does Not Use, Xu Huxiao's body had now tilted to the Dread Lizard's side and rear.

Then he discovered that this Soul Beast was male!

Opportunity!

Dragon Claw Hand's Monkey Steals the Peach!

The Dread Lizard stood nearly two meters tall when half-upright. Xu Huxiao slid low, his right claw swift, precise, and vicious as he directly crushed its vital spot!

Roar—

The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard's agonized shriek pierced through the forest. Its powerful hind leg instinctively kicked out with extreme speed.

Xu Huxiao had no time to dodge that kick. His left palm returned to defend, using Dragon Appears in the Field's circular force. Yang Origin Soul Power burst out of his body, forming a pale golden wall of force before him.

This was the ability to release Soul Power from the body that came only after the Eight Extraordinary Meridians had been opened. Xu Huxiao had only cultivated one cycle of Golden Sun and was still too weak to use protective aura, but combined with Dragon Appears in the Field's defensive palm force, it could achieve a similar effect.

After blocking the heavy kick, Xu Huxiao used the force to pull away.

The Dread Lizard's lower body had suffered devastating damage. Blood and flesh were a mangled mess, its hind legs trembled, and it grew even more enraged.

Hissroar!!!

Its eyes turned murky blood-red. Its shrieks rose without end as the claws on its chest instantly expanded and lengthened threefold, transforming into a pair of heavily muscled giant claws.

The Dread Lizard's upper body now stood upright. With the giant claws, it resembled a terrifying beastman.

It kicked off with its hind legs, its speed surging as its enlarged claws came at Xu Huxiao with a vicious gale.

It swore to avenge its shattered eggs!

Although this Black-Patterned Dread Lizard had used its innate ability, Gluttonous Claws, greatly increasing both strength and defense, Xu Huxiao felt completely at ease.

Because it was already too late.

If the Dread Lizard had gone all out from the beginning, it might have been somewhat troublesome.

But now...

With its vital spot devastated, the Dread Lizard was affected by the intense pain beneath its crotch as it charged. Its movements had clearly slowed and distorted.

This made its claw strike look fierce, but in truth, it was like a drunk swinging a blade, having lost the speed, precision, and ruthlessness a hunter should possess.

No matter how terrifying an attack was, it was useless if it could not hit anyone.

Therefore.

Xu Huxiao easily evaded the enlarged claws' pounce.

Then, seizing the gap after the Dread Lizard's claws missed and their force was spent, he pushed off from the giant arm claws with both legs and leaped into the air. Force condensed tangibly around his palms.

The rigidity of force, Flying Dragon in the Sky.

Roar—!

Yang Origin Soul Power poured from Xu Huxiao's body at full force. From above, he struck downward repeatedly with both palms, pale golden dragon-shaped Force Energy carrying fierce power as it smashed solidly into the Dread Lizard's head.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

After three palms, the Dread Lizard's eyes burst open and its flesh split apart.

Then, borrowing the vortex Force Energy of Six Dragons Revolving, Xu Huxiao pushed backward with his right palm. His body flew over the Dread Lizard's head, while he also avoided the Soul Beast's desperate, wild clawing.

The reason it was desperate was that Xu Huxiao remained briefly suspended in the air while leaping backward. He drew both palms back to his waist, maximizing his Soul Power output as he aimed at the Dread Lizard's head.

"Double Dragons Fetch Water!"

Boom!

A golden dragon force aura more solid than the previous ones raised its head and roared as it surged from Xu Huxiao's palms, carrying crushing force as it struck the Dread Lizard's head again.

Bang!!

The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard's head exploded.

This terrifying eight-hundred-and-sixty-year Soul Beast died beneath Xu Huxiao's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

The residual force of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms shot into the ground behind the Dread Lizard, leaving a deep palm print that showed just how powerful that strike had been.

The Black-Patterned Dread Lizard's two-meter-tall body crashed to the ground.

At the same time, Xu Huxiao landed. He was somewhat out of breath, but he could not conceal his joy.

In less than three minutes, the Yang Origin Soul Power in his body had dropped below twenty percent.

However, after landing, just a few breaths later, the Nine Yang Divine Skill's extraordinary ability to generate inner energy on its own took effect. His Yang Origin Soul Power immediately recovered to fifty percent.

This rapid recovery came from the Nine Yang Divine Skill's characteristics, but also because his body had already undergone foundation-building through the Indestructible Diamond Divine Skill's medicinal baths and the nourishment of Yang Origin Soul Power.

Looking back on this first battle, Xu Huxiao was fairly satisfied.

This Dread Lizard's hide was tough all over, leaving it with virtually no weakness that could be killed in one strike. Its strength also exceeded his; only in speed and agility was it slightly inferior to him.

If he had not landed the first strike on the Soul Beast's lower-body weak point, this fight might have lasted a while longer.

After suffering the pain of having its eggs smashed, the Dread Lizard's later attack and reaction speed had clearly slowed by a beat, giving Xu Huxiao the opportunity to strike its head with a chain of palms.

Because of his foundation-building medicinal baths, Xu Huxiao's strength had long surpassed that of ordinary children his age despite being only six. In pure strength, he was even stronger than an average adult.

Back when he practiced in the Xu Family's Martial Arena, the force of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms alone could leave palm prints in stone bricks. This showed that his striking power had already surpassed two hundred jin.

After his palm technique broke through to the Essence Intent Realm, its power directly doubled under Yang Origin Soul Power's enhancement, reaching a terrifying four hundred jin.

Xu Huxiao's final palm, Double Dragons Fetch Water, was already the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' heaviest strike in terms of raw force. Combined with Flying Dragon in the Sky's rigid strength.

With both enhancements stacked, the full power of this strike exceeded five hundred jin. Even hard granite would shatter if hit, let alone a Dread Lizard's skull.

The force of his palms was currently Xu Huxiao's greatest trump card!

Moreover, his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms differed somewhat from the traditional version. This palm technique's original true meaning was to strike powerfully while retaining some strength, seeking endless continuity and an invincible position.

But for Xu Huxiao, beyond the endless continuity of sustained attacks, what he comprehended more deeply was peerless ferocity, the utmost yang and utmost rigidity.

Destroying the enemy naturally meant remaining undefeated!

Thus, he had used his full strength in that final palm, killing it in one strike!

This was the domineering conviction in his palm technique: charge forward without hesitation, for I alone am invincible.

"Looks like the effect is quite good. My understanding was indeed correct."

Xu Huxiao looked at his palms, and his confidence greatly increased.

Encouraged by this battle, Xu Huxiao's palm technique had already broken free from the shackles of the original martial skill and begun to uncover its own unique profundities.

Everything existed to destroy the enemy.