The dark claws, carrying a chilling killing intent, had already touched the tattered robes on the back of Haydson's chest.
Haydson's hair stood on end, despair and horror exploding in his heart. After enduring the impact of 132 Extreme Speed stacked Earth Pulsation, his internal organs felt as if they had been shattered by a heavy hammer, and his Saint Realm Battle-qi was exhausted and dissipated, leaving him with no strength to resist this fatal blow that was so close at hand.
He could even clearly feel the terrifying sharpness contained in that furry little paw, enough to easily tear apart a Saint Realm body!
" Bebe, stop!"
From the depths of the ruins, a low and weak shout suddenly rang out.
"Sizzle--"
The claws stopped abruptly less than half an inch from the flesh on Haydson's back, and the sharp wind tore five deep gashes through the rough gray robe on Haydson's back, revealing the bone.
Cold sweat poured down Haydson's forehead, and he collapsed onto the rubble, utterly exhausted, gasping for breath. The lingering fear of facing death still weighed heavily on his mind.
"Boss!"
With a sway, Bebe returned to its small, half-foot-tall form. Its dark eyes glared fiercely at Haydson before it turned into a streak of black light and plunged into the collapsed pile of rubble.
"Splash..."
Amidst the tumbling of rubble, Linley, his body covered in tattered, bluish-black dragon scales, slowly rose from the deep pit of ruins.
Most of the dragon scales on his chest were shattered, and crimson dragon blood dripped from the edges of the scales onto the gravel. His face was pale from blood loss, but his dark golden dragon eyes remained as deep as an abyss, so sharp that no one dared to look directly at them.
" Linley..."
Haydson, leaning on his tan-colored heavy sword, struggled to raise his head, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and a complex, bitter smile appeared on his paper-pale face.
"This Shadowmouse... is it the magical beast you've always kept by your side?"
Haydson's voice was hoarse, his chest heaving violently, "Such terrifying stealth and speed. If you hadn't stopped me, Haydson head... would already be ripped off by now."
"In martial arts competitions, those who excel are respected."
A faint glow emanated from Linley's body. With a soft cracking sound as his bones returned to their places, his ferocious dragon scales, barbs, and long tail receded into his body like a tide, transforming him once again into a slender young man in a moon-white outfit.
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, calming the turbulent blood and qi within him, and looked at Haydson calmly, saying, "In this battle, Mr. Haydson, you have won. If you hadn't held back half your strength at the end, and if my ' Pulsing Defense ' hadn't just happened to counter pure physical pressure, my sternum would have been completely crushed by ' Earth Split Shatter.' Moreover, by the end, my Battle-qi was exhausted, my speed had fallen to a disadvantage, and I could no longer dodge your next attack."
Haydson paused for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"Win? I Haydson, have lived for hundreds of years. Why would I covet such empty fame?"
Haydson, leaning on his heavy sword, slowly straightened up, looking at the young man before him, his tone filled with undisguised admiration and shock. "You're only twenty-seven years old! Fighting in human form with only level nine Battle-qi aura, you forced me to burn my Battle-qi, forcing me to fight to the death! Your ever-renewing ' Pulsing Defense ' absorbed more than seventy percent of my force; and your sword One Hundred and Thirty-Two Waves completely ignored my ' Throbbing Pulse of the World,' leaving my internal organs in this horrific state..."
Haydson exhaled a long, blood-stained breath and solemnly said, " Linley, if your human form had reached the Initial Stage of the Saint Realm, I Haydson, would be the only corpse lying in the ruins of Tujiao Mountain today. In your comprehension of the laws, you not only haven't lost, but you've actually surpassed me!"
Before the words were even finished, the deathly silence Tujiao Mountain was finally shattered.
"Boom--!!"
Millions of spectators erupted like a volcano that had been suppressed for thousands of years!
A roar and shout, as loud as a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, resounded through the heavens, shattering the thin clouds that remained on the horizon!
"A draw! It's a draw!!"
"Incredible! A 27-year-old Dragonblood Warrior withstood the Rock Sword Saint's strongest move, ' Earth Split,' and actually managed to severely injure Haydson, causing him to vomit blood!!"
" Tujiao Mountain... Tujiao Mountain, which is a thousand meters high, has been completely destroyed! Gods, is this truly the power of humankind?!"
Countless people were so excited that their faces turned red and they danced with joy. Those imperial nobles and powerful figures who were originally certain that Linley would be defeated were now completely dumbfounded, their hearts filled with overwhelming shock.
The "Number One in the Saint Realm " of the O'Brien Empire, the Rock Sword Saint Hederson, who has never been defeated in hundreds of years, has been forced into a situation of mutual destruction by a young man in his twenties!
"Elder brother!!"
Wharton's massive frame tore through the crowd as he charged forward, sword in hand, Carnage his way through the crowd. The five Barker brothers followed closely behind, like five giant steel towers, their enormous, bell-like eyes filled with wild joy.
"Sir! You're amazing! Hahaha, you really knocked that old rock's teeth out!" Gates ' booming voice shook the surrounding rocks from hundreds of meters away.
At the very front of the noble stands, Delia covered her lips tightly with both hands, her delicate face streaked with tears. When she saw Linley standing unharmed atop the ruins, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense for three whole months, finally settled down, and tears mingled with a smile streamed down her face.
Emperor Joanne stood before the royal procession, his Adam's apple bobbing violently, his hands unconsciously gripping the railing beside him.
Looking at the dashing young figure amidst the ruins, Joanne felt a surge of lingering fear and relief.
Fortunately... fortunately, on that day at the palace, under the immense pressure of being a direct disciple of the War God Sect, he ultimately respected Nina's choice and did not betroth the Seventh Princess to Blumer, but instead facilitated Wharton's marriage!
A peerless Dragonblood Warrior who can rival Haydson at the age of twenty-seven—his potential and stature far surpass that of ten disciples personally taught by a War God!
"Master Linley, Haydson!"
Surrounded by nearly a hundred Saint Realm Knights, Joanne strode to the edge of the ruins, his dignified face filled with enthusiasm and respect. "This battle between the two of you has truly set a new standard for the Saint Realm clashes in the hundreds of years of our O'Brien Empire! It's an eye-opening and breathtaking spectacle!"
Haydson gave a slight bow to Joanne, then turned his gaze back to Linley, his expression now calm. " Linley, three months ago on the Chiyan River, I saw your initial glimpse of talent and thought you were just a promising young man. Today, Tujiao Mountain, I realized there are always stronger opponents. Although I won by a narrow margin due to my Battle-qi, we both knew the outcome perfectly well. Farewell!"
"Until we meet again." Linley bowed respectfully.
Without glancing at anyone again, Haydson's body emitted a faint, earthy-yellow glow as he transformed into a blur of motion, hurtling straight toward the northern horizon.
After seeing Haydson off, Linley turned around.
Bebe had already nimbly jumped back onto his shoulder, sticking out her pink little tongue to lick Linley's blood-stained cheek, and secretly sent a message to boast, "Boss, that old guy was scared to death! If you had been even half a step slower, I would have bitten that broken sword on his back to pieces!"
Linley chuckled and reached out to ruffle Bebe's hair.
Just then, a gentle breeze stirred in the void.
Wearing a moon-white robe and with white hair fluttering in the breeze, Doehring Cowart quietly landed beside Linley, and Saint Magus Longers and Delia and the others quickly gathered around him.
Doehring's aged eyes shone with undisguised satisfaction and approval. He gently touched Linley's wrist with his fingers, and pure, gentle Earth Element divine power silently circulated through Linley's meridians, quickly dissolving the stagnant blood energy.
" The Pulsing Defense proved its power in actual combat, withstanding the dual devastation of ' Throbbing Pulse of the World ' and ' Earth Split '," Doehring stroked his beard and smiled. "Young man, after this battle, your understanding of the profound mysteries of the ' Earth Pulsation ' law has truly transcended mere combat and entered a state of perfect harmony."
Linley gazed at the devastated ruins around him, his fighting spirit surging, and a newfound understanding dawning on him. " Haydson's approach is one of extreme solidity and dominance, while my Pulsing Defense draws upon the rhythm and resonance of heaven and earth. This battle, though perilous, has given me a clearer view of the path ahead."
Delia walked up to Linley, her beautiful eyes filled with affection, and carefully handed him a silk handkerchief to wipe the dust and blood from his forehead. She whispered, "Don't talk about the laws yet. Your Battle-qi is almost depleted. You must go back to your residence to rest immediately."
"Yes, yes, yes! Back at the manor, immediately prepare the best medicine and feast!" Wharton shouted excitedly.
The five Barker brothers immediately responded with a resounding roar, surrounding Linley like stars around the moon, blocking the tide of imperial dignitaries and ministers who came to offer their congratulations and flattery.
Linley gazed at the bustling and vibrant Chiyan City as the setting sun gradually slanted westward.
With the Tujiao Mountain concluded, his humanitarian karma within the O'Brien Empire was fulfilled. His fame resounded throughout the continent, and the Baruch Clan's name was once again at its peak.
However, Linley was well aware that the undercurrents following the destruction of the Holy Union, the deep-seated hatred of the Radiant Church that had lingered for a thousand years, and the even more profound and vast higher planes... all awaited him ahead.
After a brief respite, the Baruch Clan's true journey has only just begun!