The Saint-level Returnee Sparred with an Old Friend; Dragon Roars and Sword Cries Shook the Canyon

When Hillman emerged from the underground cavern, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, scattering dappled spots across his shoulders, yet it could no longer make him feel even a trace of warmth. A faint earthen-yellow halo surrounded him, and his footsteps did not disturb even the fallen leaves on the ground. His aura as a Saint-level powerhouse was restrained and steady, yet carried a weighty pressure that seemed one with the earth.

He got his bearings and shot toward Mist Canyon like an arrow loosed from a bow. Along the way, high-ranking magical beasts sensed his aura and hunkered down in their lairs, not daring to let out so much as a roar. The Half-Step Saint-level magical beasts he had once feared so deeply were now no more than feeble pushovers in his eyes.

Half a day later, that familiar expanse of Chaos Mist finally appeared before him.

Hillman made no attempt to conceal his presence. Instead, he stopped, took a deep breath, and circulated the Saint-level Battle Qi within him. In an instant, an immense pressure surged skyward, bearing down on the depths of the canyon like a mountain. His earthen-yellow halo blazed like a torch, dispersing all the mist before him.

He called out, his voice wrapped in Battle Qi as it pierced layer after layer of mist and reached deep into the canyon. "Old friend, I'm back!"

The instant his words fell, a deafening dragon roar exploded, more powerful and stirring than any before. An enormous dark-gold figure burst through the mist and landed with a thunderous crash a hundred meters before him, bringing a fierce gust of wind. The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon was even more robust than it had been five months earlier. Its dark-gold scales gleamed brilliantly in the dim light, and the spines along its back shone with twin halos of darkness and earth. Clearly, it too had made progress over those five months and was now only a step away from Saint-level.

Its blood-red eyes fixed on Hillman. A flicker of surprise crossed them, then gave way to a blazing will to fight. It could clearly sense that the human before it had undergone a complete transformation. His aura was more than ten times stronger than before.

"Roar-"

Before its roar had faded, the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon drove forward with all four limbs, its massive body charging like a battering ram. Its dark-gold scales flashed with a cold gleam, and its sharp claws tore through the air with a piercing rush, heading straight for Hillman's face.

This strike was faster and more powerful than any before!

A spark of excitement flashed in Hillman's eyes. He did not dodge, but tightened his grip on the Fine Iron Longsword as Saint-level Battle Qi surged wildly within him. He stepped forward with his left foot. The instant his sole touched the ground, the earth within a ten-meter radius of him shook violently, and countless fine cracks spread outward.

"Mountain-Shaking Art!"

Hillman bellowed, pouring all his Saint-level Battle Qi into his longsword. Its earthen-yellow radiance surged three feet outward, and he slashed toward the Iron-Armored Dragon's claws with a force that could destroy heaven and earth.

Clang!

The clash of metal rang through the canyon, sending sparks flying.

Hillman felt only a slight ache and numbness in his arm, yet stood firmly in place without budging. The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon, however, was driven back three successive steps by the recoil from the sword's radiance. Its enormous body slammed into the rock wall behind it with a deep boom, sending loose stones raining down.

The Iron-Armored Dragon lowered its head to inspect its claws. A faint white mark had appeared on them, and the fighting spirit in its eyes grew even stronger. It raised its head and roared skyward. The spines along its back flared brilliantly as darkness and earth elemental energy intertwined, then abruptly fired dozens of energy blades at Hillman.

[Ding! Spined Iron-Armored Dragon's all-out strike detected! The energy blades contain the power of two attributes. Host is advised to use Earth Shield and draw upon the power of the laws to defend!]

An idea stirred in Hillman's mind. He pressed his left hand to the ground and bellowed, "Earth Shield!"

In an instant, a massive earthen shield five meters tall and three meters wide appeared out of thin air, a faint halo of the laws flowing across its surface. This was no longer a simple condensation of Battle Qi, but a weighty power imbued with the Laws of the Earth!

Dozens of energy blades slammed into the earthen shield, producing a dense barrage of thunderous crashes. The shield shook violently, yet remained as solid as rock, without so much as a single crack.

A flicker of shock passed through the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon's eyes. It had never seen such a sturdy earthen shield.

Hillman grinned and darted out like a phantom. His longsword swept through the air, its earthen-yellow radiance stabbing toward vital points all over the Iron-Armored Dragon's body like a furious storm. He was incredibly fast, his movements nimble, as though he were an entirely different person from five months before.

The Iron-Armored Dragon roared repeatedly, sweeping its long tail and lashing out with its claws as it fought Hillman at close quarters.

Dragon roars intertwined with sword cries, and waves of energy swept through the entire canyon. The mist was blasted apart in every direction. The Blue Heart Grass on the cliff walls swayed in the fierce wind, yet remained stubbornly upright. The Winged Bird Dragon and the Green-Striped Giant Python hid trembling in their lairs, not daring even to poke their heads out.

The battle between the man and the dragon was fiercer than any before, yet carried a measure of mutual understanding. Every attack from the Iron-Armored Dragon was perfectly judged, honing Hillman's skills without threatening his life; Hillman likewise held back with every counterattack, striking only the dragon's nonlethal areas.

This was no fight to the death, but a contest between friends at the height of their strength!

After more than a hundred exchanges of fierce combat, Hillman seized an opening. He flicked his longsword upward and thrust precisely toward the Iron-Armored Dragon's neck. The scales there were relatively soft, making it a weak point.

A trace of cunning flashed in the Iron-Armored Dragon's eyes. Its enormous body twisted abruptly, avoiding the sword's edge. At the same time, it lowered its head and gently bumped Hillman in the chest with its massive skull.

The blow was not forceful, but carried a touch of teasing.

Hillman staggered back several steps and could not help bursting into laughter. He put away his longsword and cupped his hands toward the Iron-Armored Dragon. "Old friend, you're still the better one."

The Iron-Armored Dragon gave a low roar, as if in reply. It slowly walked over to Hillman and gently rubbed its enormous head against his shoulder, the spines along its back no longer showing any of their sharp menace.

The sun sank in the west, bathing the canyon in golden-red light.

The man and the dragon lay side by side on an open patch of grass. Hillman took a piece of air-dried ninth-rank magical bear meat from his storage space and held it to the Iron-Armored Dragon's mouth. The dragon took the meat and chewed noisily, its blood-red eyes filled with contentment.

"Old friend," Hillman said softly, stroking the Iron-Armored Dragon's cold scales, "in a little while, I'll be leaving the Magical Beast Forest to venture into the world outside."

The Iron-Armored Dragon turned its head and stared at him, a low rumble rising from its throat with a hint of reluctance to part.

"Don't worry." Hillman smiled, his eyes shining with anticipation for the future. "Once I've gained a deeper understanding of the Laws of the Earth, I'll definitely come back and fight you again. We'll settle who's stronger then!"

The Iron-Armored Dragon seemed to understand his words. It raised its head and let out a long roar that echoed above the canyon, carrying blessings and anticipation.

The sun gradually set, and the mist surged once more, enveloping the figures of the man and the dragon.

That night, the dragon's roars deep within the canyon continued for a long, long time.