On the Guanlan River, Slaying the Flood Dragon Demon and Equipping Its Core!
"Not good!"
The Deputy General's faces changed drastically, their legs swayed violently, and they were unable to maintain their balance.
They tried to regain their footing, but the Flood Dragon Lord dragged them into the river.
Thump--!
The sound of splashing into the water rang out almost simultaneously, the river water exploded, and the entire river surface shook violently!
Yang Xiao stood on the shore, watching all of this with a solemn expression.
The strength of the Flood Dragon Lord far exceeded his expectations; he was at the peak of the Aperture-Opening Realm, just one step away from achieving the Mystic Core.
Even with part of its Demon Power restrained by the Demon-Suppressing Chains, it was still able to withstand the combined defense of nine Deputy General, truly befitting a great demon at the peak of the Aperture-Opening Realm.
Splash--!
After a moment of silence, the river water burst open again, and a huge black shadow rushed out of the river.
The Flood Dragon Lord was bound by nine Demon-Subduing Chains, but the other end of the chains was unrestrained.
The nine Deputy General, whether dragged to the bottom of the river or flung away, have vanished without a trace.
The Flood Dragon Lord soared into the air, its eerie green vertical pupils sweeping across the entire river surface.
Its gaze first fell on Pei Xuance on the shore.
"Pei Xuance!"
The Flood Dragon Lord let out a low laugh, a hint of smugness in his eyes. "You want to kill me? You're still a bit short!"
After saying that, its gaze shifted to Yang Xiao, and a chilling killing intent flashed in its dark green vertical pupils.
Without saying much, he took to the air and flew downstream along the Guanlan River.
It's trying to escape!
"Trying to leave?"
Pei Xuance slowly stood up, his gaze calmly fixed on the soaring Flood Dragon Lord.
The next instant, he took a step forward.
With a loud bang, Pei Xuance vanished from his spot, appearing like a streak of black lightning, instantly traversing hundreds of meters in mid-air!
His speed was so fast that Yang Xiao couldn't even see his movements.
By the time he realized what was happening, Pei Xuance had already appeared behind Flood Dragon Lord!
"Guanlan River is not a place you can come and go as you please."
After Pei Xuance finished speaking, he thrust out his spear with a sudden burst of energy!
The spear's edge, like a dragon, pierced through the sky!
The spear's edge was so fast that it was impossible to dodge!
In the Flood Dragon Lord's eerie green vertical pupils, it seemed as if his own death was reflected.
It tried its best to dodge, but Pei Xuance's spear was too fast.
The spear pierced straight through the hundred-meter-long body of the Flood Dragon Lord! It entered from its back and exited from its abdomen!
"Aww--!"
The Flood Dragon Lord let out a shrill scream, its body struggling violently.
Blood fell like rain onto the river.
Pei Xuance flicked his wrist, and the spear, carrying the Flood Dragon Lord, plunged into the Guanlan River from mid-air!
Boom--!
The river water exploded!
The enormous body of the Flood Dragon Lord crashed heavily into the river, creating towering waves!
Yang Xiao stood on the shore, his eyes wide open.
With a single shot, the Flood Dragon Lord, who was at the peak of the Aperture-Opening Realm, was plunged into the river from mid-air!
Soaring through the sky, casually waving his hand, he shot down a hundred-meter-long Flood Dragon Lord —this is the power of the Mysterious Core Realm!
Yang Xiao gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, his eyes filled with longing.
On the river.
The Flood Dragon Lord struggled to get up, but Pei Xuance's spear remained embedded in its body, pinning it firmly to the river.
It let out a scream, its eerie green vertical pupils filled with terror.
Pei Xuance stood on the river.
"Flood Dragon Lord, no, now I should call you Flood Dragon Demon." His voice was chilling, his killing intent almost overwhelming.
"You can't escape!"
Knowing he couldn't break free, madness flashed in the Flood Dragon Demon's vertical pupils.
"If you won't let me live in peace, then we'll die together!"
Having said that, it channeled its Demon Power to detonate all the Apertures on the back half of its body, causing the back half to explode!
A terrifying Yao Qi erupted, and the latter half of his body shattered into dust in the explosion, blasting open the entire river surface, scattering countless pieces of dead fish and shrimp across the water!
The explosion caused the entire Guanlan River to tremble violently!
Yang Xiao stood on the shore, forced back several steps by the surging waves.
Splash--!
Amidst the giant waves, the front half of the Flood Dragon Lord's body suddenly burst forth!
It abandoned its hindquarters, carrying only its front half, and fled towards the bottom of the river.
It was incredibly fast, disappearing into the riverbed in the blink of an eye!
Pei Xuance stood on the river, his gaze calmly fixed on the direction in which the Flood Dragon Lord had fled.
He didn't chase after them; his body remained floating on the river.
Like drawing a bow, he channeled all the strength in his right arm into the spear in his hand, and in the next moment, he charged up to the limit!
BOOM!
The spear pierced the riverbed, striking precisely along the trail of the fleeing Flood Dragon Demon, producing a dull thud.
Flood Dragon Demon, miserable scream came from the depths of the riverbed.
Pei Xuance leaped onto the shore, turned his gaze away from the crowd, and looked at the river.
"My Army-Breaking Spear is still on the Flood Dragon Demon's body; it won't live much longer dragging that spear along."
"All departments are searching for the body along the river; it can't have escaped far."
"Yes!"
The Deputy General responded in unison, each leading their men to their respective sections of the river.
Once most of Pei Xuance's Deputy General had left, Zhou Zheng gave Yang Xiao a wink.
Yang Xiao understood and led Jiang Chen forward.
"General Pei," Zhou Zheng clasped his hands in salute. "Jiang Chen has been successfully captured at the Stone Spring Township garrison, and a Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon at the peak of the Perfected Liquid Condensation stage has been killed."
"Captain deserves the greatest credit for this battle."
Pei Xuance's gaze fell on Zhou Zheng, then turned to Yang Xiao, instantly discerning the latter's cultivation level.
"Liquid Condensation Realm who slew Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon at the Perfected Liquid Condensation Realm?"
His voice was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Zhou Zheng nodded.
Pei Xuance looked at Yang Xiao with an emotionless gaze, yet Yang Xiao felt an invisible pressure, as if a mountain was pressing down on his heart.
This is the oppressive aura of the Mysterious Core Realm.
Even a tiny, unintentional wisp of it is enough to make a martial artist in the Liquid Condensation Realm gasp for breath.
Yang Xiao did not lower his head, but met Pei Xuance's gaze.
After a moment, Pei Xuance withdrew his gaze.
"Good, go back and await your reward."
"Take Jiang Chen into custody." Pei Xuance turned to Jiang Chen, his gaze turning cold. "Once the Flood Dragon Demon's corpse is found, I will deal with it as well."
"Yes!"
Two Demon-Suppressing Captain stepped forward and dragged the dying Jiang Chen away.
Jiang Chen didn't struggle; he just lowered his head, lost in thought.
Pei Xuance turned and walked towards the main camp.
His steps were steady; the battle with the Flood Dragon Lord just now seemed to have not exhausted him at all.
Zhou Zheng led Yang Xiao back to their post in Stone Spring Township.
Camps stretched along the riverbank, and patrolling Captain hurried back and forth, doing their utmost to search for the whereabouts of the Flood Dragon Lord.
However, the numerous tributaries of the Guanlan River and the difficulty in exploring the riverbed greatly delayed the search.
It wasn't until nightfall that Yang Xiao finally had some free time.
He returned to the hut, sat cross-legged on the couch, and took out the Inner Core of the Blackwater Mystic Flood Dragon from his bosom.
The Inner Core was pitch black, about the size of a fist, with a dark luster on its surface. Holding it in your hand, you could feel the abundant Demon Power it contained.
Without hesitation, I placed the Inner Core into my Equipment Slot.
[Liquid Condensation - Blackwater Profound Flood Dragon Inner Core (One-time consumption)]
[Effect 1: Replenishes a massive amount of Liquid Condensation.]
[Effect 2: Gain the blue affix "Black-Erosion Demon Poison": Attacks can inflict corrosive poison, eroding flesh, scales, and Yao Qi aura.]
The moment the Inner Core entered the tank, a surge of pure Demon Power flowed out and spread throughout the body via the meridians.
Yang Xiao closed his eyes and guided this Demon Power, causing the Apertures in his body to vibrate continuously.
The ninth aperture.
The tenth aperture.