The Black Dragon's Dragon Core

The black dragon's furious roar thundered as its enormous body twisted through the air. Its pitch-black scales gleamed coldly, and every beat of its wings whipped up violent blasts of wind that shattered the surrounding mountain rocks.

Qin Yu gripped the Spear of Ashen Annihilation, circulating his Spiritual Qi furiously, yet his chest still felt tight and his breathing came fast. The black dragon's cultivation was, after all, at the peak of the Yuan Transformation Realm, far beyond what he could confront head-on at his current stage. Now, he relied entirely on the utmost speed of Spirit Spear Fleeting Shadow to weave through the mountains, his figure interlacing with afterimages as he narrowly evaded one blast of dragon breath after another.

"Hah... hah..." Qin Yu panted, sweat dripping down his temples. Behind him, the black dragon swept its enormous tail through a mountain ridge, bringing it crashing down as though heaven and earth were collapsing.

Just as he gritted his teeth and prepared to turn and flee again, suddenly-

A cold, sacred sword intent, like the bright moon high in the heavens, abruptly cleaved through heaven and earth!

That sword intent pierced the heart and soul. Its icy-blue radiance could be clearly sensed even across the distant mountains. Qin Yu's heart jolted. He whipped his head around, his pupils instantly contracting.

"That's... Xinyu's sword intent!"

At the same time, the black dragon pursuing him so wildly brought its enormous body to an abrupt halt. Its huge draconic pupils suddenly narrowed, as though it had seen some existence that filled it with terror.

"ROAR!"

An earthshaking roar resounded through the clouds. Abandoning Qin Yu, the black dragon turned its massive body. Its wings beat fiercely like black clouds pressing down from overhead, churning up countless waves of dust as it hurtled straight toward the cavern.

Qin Yu's heart abruptly tightened, and his expression shifted slightly. "Not good! Moon-Congealing Frost's presence drew it back!"

His gaze sharpened. Immediately driving all his Spiritual Qi into motion, he clenched his teeth and became a streaking afterimage, desperately chasing toward the cavern, anxiety burning within him:

"Xinyu, Junior Brother Yang... you have to hold on!"

Outside the cavern, the wind howled and the earth shook.

Suddenly, the sky darkened. A black shadow descended, and terrifying pressure fell from above. With an earthshaking roar, the ground abruptly split, loose stones tumbled, and the entire mountainside seemed ready to collapse.

The black dragon had returned!

Its enormous body resembled a moving black mountain, its scales flashing with sinister light beneath the cold lightning. Its scarlet draconic eyes stared fixedly toward the cavern, their pupils filled with fury and murderous intent.

"ROAR!"

The dragon's cry shook the nine heavens. Its sound waves became tangible, directly shattering whole stretches of the surrounding ridges and opening bottomless fissures in the ground. Dust and sand billowed, as though nothing remained between heaven and earth but this enraged black dragon.

It opened its enormous jaws. Scorching black flames gathered deep in its throat, like a black sun taking shape, so intensely hot that the air itself ignited.

Inside the cavern, Yang Zheng and Zhao Xinyu both started. Zhao Xinyu gripped Moon-Congealing Frost tightly, and moonlight immediately flowed from the blade, as though answering the threat outside. Cold sweat streamed down Yang Zheng's forehead as he stared fixedly at the entrance and shouted under his breath:

"Damn it! This beast sensed Moon-Congealing Frost, and now it's utterly enraged!"

Boom!

The black dragon slammed down its enormous claw. The rocks near the entrance shattered with a crash, dirt flew, and the entire mountain wall seemed crushed by an invisible force, sinking several zhang inward. Its enormous head slowly approached the entrance, its breath carrying a presence of destruction.

That was utter fury!

It was no longer a guardian, but a frenzied destroyer. Anything that dared touch its treasure would pay in blood and life!

Zhao Xinyu's heart tightened. Gritting her teeth, she held Moon-Congealing Frost across her body, determination flashing in her eyes. "In that case... let's fight!"

Boom-

Amid a violent blast of wind, Qin Yu's figure tore through the air from afar, the Spear of Ashen Annihilation in hand and Spiritual Qi surging around him like blazing flames. He stamped down hard, landing outside the cavern. Broken stones scattered, and several cracks instantly split the ground.

"Senior Brother Qin, over here!"

Inside the entrance, Yang Zheng's head was drenched in sweat, but his voice remained utterly firm. Zhao Xinyu held Moon-Congealing Frost tightly in both hands, sword intent flowing through her eyes, moonlight shining cold as frost. The two stood shoulder to shoulder against the dragon's overwhelming might, their figures unwaveringly upright within the storm.

Qin Yu's gaze instantly fell upon them. His heart jolted, and then he shouted sternly, "Take a step back and fight alongside me!"

"Yes!"

Yang Zheng and Zhao Xinyu answered in unison, immediately stepping out side by side to form a triangle with Qin Yu, their presences resonating with one another.

The black dragon roared furiously, its massive body stretching across the sky like a black mountain. Its draconic eyes locked onto the three, its scarlet murderous intent almost burning the air to nothing.

Qin Yu held his spear crosswise, gray light faintly flickering at its tip. He drew a deep breath and said gravely, "If the three of us slay this dragon today, our names will ring throughout the White Cloud Sect! But if we take even one step back, only death awaits!"

Zhao Xinyu gave a cool smile. Moon-Congealing Frost let out a soft hum, its sword light falling like moonlight from the heavens. "Since we're fellow disciples of the Cloud-Leveling Hall lineage, let us fight shoulder to shoulder!"

Unprecedented resolve flashed in Yang Zheng's eyes. He gripped his longsword with both hands, its momentum like a collapsing mountain yet steady as bedrock. "Brother Yu, Junior Sister Xinyu, rest assured. Even if my body is smashed and my bones ground to dust, I, Yang Zheng, will never retreat half a step!"

Boom-

The black dragon was utterly enraged. It opened its enormous jaws, black flames churning as heaven and earth thundered, as though it meant to swallow this entire world in one bite.

Spiritual Qi erupted from all three at once. Gray light, moonlight, and mountain-like sword intent intertwined, illuminating the entire battlefield. Boom-!

The black dragon roared and opened its enormous jaws. A jet of ink-black dragon flame instantly swept outward. The towering flames resembled a black torrent, carrying the power to destroy heaven and earth. The air crackled and burst under the scorching heat, and the entire mountain range instantly plunged into an interweaving of darkness and searing heat.

"Just in time!"

Zhao Xinyu's long hair streamed out, cold radiance flashing in her eyes. She gripped Moon-Congealing Frost with both hands. The instant its edge swept through the void, the entire sword burst into dazzling moonlight. That sword light was cold and sacred, like a brilliant full moon falling from the nine heavens, instantly forming an icy-blue curtain of light before her.

"Moon Frost Protective Screen!"

Hum-!

The sword rang clearly. Moonlight abruptly spread, transforming into a crescent-shaped shield before the three. The black dragon's flames crashed into it, only to freeze beneath the icy sword intent the moment they touched. Flame and cold light intertwined in midair, erupting in blinding brilliance.

Boom!

The violent shock wave sent mountain rocks flying. The ground sank several zhang, and the surrounding mountains were forcibly torn open as though sliced by a blade. Yet beneath Moon-Congealing Frost's sword curtain, the three remained unharmed.

"Whew-"

Shock flashed in Yang Zheng's eyes, and he could not help murmuring, "What terrifying defensive power... so this is the might of a divine weapon!"

Qin Yu's gaze sharpened, and he marveled inwardly: Zhao Xinyu's strength has already far surpassed the bounds of major accomplishment of the Qi Condensation Realm. She and this divine sword are simply a match made in heaven.

Yet above the cavern, the black dragon flew into an utter rage at having its attack so easily blocked.

"ROAR!"

Its scarlet draconic eyes fixed upon Zhao Xinyu, its pupils contracting into thin slits, as though it would tear her entire body apart. Dragon breath churned as it slowly raised an enormous claw. The air trembled beneath its murderous intent, and even the void let out a piercing shriek.

Zhao Xinyu tightened her grip on Moon-Congealing Frost, a cold smile curling her lips. "Want to kill me? You'll have to pay the price!"

The black dragon roared and raised its mountain-sized claw. Its pitch-black scales gleamed with a dark, cold light, and great swaths of black lightning trailed from its talons, as though they could tear heaven and earth apart. At that moment, the air was crushed into utter collapse. The valley thundered, the void twisted and caved in, and that descending claw seemed capable of smashing even the mountains into powder.

Zhao Xinyu's expression remained cold and stern. Her delicate feet lightly tapped the ground, and she abruptly soared into the air, Moon-Congealing Frost tracing a dazzling arc overhead.

"Moonlight Sword-Frost Radiance Slash!"

Swish-!

The sword's ringing cry resounded through the nine heavens, and countless silvery-white lines of light abruptly illuminated the world. Moon-Congealing Frost danced in her hands, transforming into endless streams of moonlit Sword Qi that condensed into an illusory bright moon between her and the black dragon.

Boom!!

The black dragon's enormous claw slammed into that bright moon, instantly unleashing light so dazzling that no one could keep their eyes open. A shock wave exploded like hundreds of volcanoes erupting at once, its violent power tearing apart the earth and hurling up countless rocks and masses of mountainside.

Ring after ring of destructive air blasts spread wildly outward. Distant boulders instantly shattered into powder, and a massive claw mark sank deep into the earth. In the void, silver moonlight and black lightning constantly tore at one another and collided, as though the entire sky would split in two.

"Boom-!"

Zhao Xinyu gripped Moon-Congealing Frost with both arms, pouring the Spiritual Qi throughout her body into the blade like a torrent. Sword Qi lifted her long hair, and her robes billowed, making her resemble a goddess of war beneath the moon. Despite its violent trembling, the moonlit sword curtain held firm, forcibly blocking the black dragon's destructive claw.

Qin Yu and Yang Zheng were driven back repeatedly by the impact. Only after setting up Spirit Protection Screens before themselves could they barely withstand the aftermath, their hearts filled with shock.

"This... this is no ordinary clash anymore! It's a battle between immortals and gods!" Yang Zheng exclaimed, his palms drenched in cold sweat.

Qin Yu's gaze was deep as he watched the clash between woman and dragon in midair, thinking inwardly: United with Moon-Congealing Frost, Junior Sister Zhao can already shake a Yuan Transformation Realm demonic dragon. This sword's power is simply enough to shock the world!

High in the sky, the black dragon's fury reached its limit, its roars shattering mountains and rivers. Another mass of dark dragon flame brewed within its jaws, its momentum even more terrifying than before, as though it would utterly incinerate everything before it.

Zhao Xinyu's gaze sharpened, and she softly uttered two words: "Come on."

Roar-!

The black dragon was utterly enraged. Its enormous jaws gaped wide, and an ink-black vortex of lightning and flame flashed deep within its throat. The next instant, a towering blast of dragon flame erupted! Mixed with black lightning, those flames resembled a torrent that would swallow heaven and obliterate earth, illuminating the sky over the entire ruins. At that moment, heaven and earth themselves seemed to ignite.

"There's nowhere left to retreat!"

Qin Yu's gaze darkened. His battle spear abruptly swung crosswise, the Spear of Ashen Annihilation pulsing with a cold, fierce edge. He suddenly stepped forward, pouring every last bit of his Spiritual Qi into the spear.

"Heaven-Guiding Strike!"

Boom-!

The spear's edge cleaved furiously, releasing an arcing blade of Spiritual Qi. Like a celestial river plunging down, it met the dragon flame head-on. The instant sword and spear clashed, the sky thundered and burst apart.

At the same time, the sword light of Moon-Congealing Frost erupted fully in Zhao Xinyu's hands. Silver radiance spread, and Sword Qi condensed into a sea of moonlight. Moonlight surged like a tide, pressing toward the dragon flame in overlapping waves.

"Moonlight Shadow Breaking!"

Sword light overlapped with the spear blade, forming a curtain of utmost brilliance.

At that critical moment, Yang Zheng also roared. Gripping his longsword with both hands, Spiritual Qi surging wildly within him, he abruptly unleashed the third form of the Heng Mountain Sword Art!

"Mountain Crushing the Summit!"

Boom-!

An illusory mountain condensed in midair and crashed down, joining Qin Yu's spear blade and Zhao Xinyu's moonlight to strike the black dragon's flames head-on.

Heaven and earth thundered, as though doomsday had arrived!

The black dragon flame struck the curtain of light formed by their combined strength, instantly erupting in dazzling brilliance. Heaven and earth lost their color, and a violent storm of power completely engulfed dozens of li in every direction. The ground split, mountain rocks scattered, and a presence interwoven with destruction and icy cold filled the air.

Qin Yu's arms went numb from the impact, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, yet his spear's momentum remained steady as a mountain.

Zhao Xinyu's long skirt billowed, moonlight enveloping her entire body. Her gaze was cold and resolute as her sword blade held firmly against the dragon flame.

Yang Zheng gritted his teeth and roared, veins bulging. Although the mountain phantom was gradually breaking apart, it still pressed firmly down upon the dragon flame.

Boom-!

At last, the dragon flame and the three fighters' combined curtain of light exploded completely in midair, becoming a world-destroying shock wave that swept in every direction. The sky seemed to split, and dust and mist blotted out the heavens and sun.

The three staggered backward. Qin Yu's spear tip still trembled and rang, undying moonlight flickered along Zhao Xinyu's sword edge, and Yang Zheng gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.

Meanwhile, the explosion drove the black dragon's body back dozens of zhang. Its scales cracked, blood splashed onto the earth, and it let out an earthshaking roar, its murderous intent surging even higher!

"ROAR-!!!"

The battle was not over yet.

Rumble!

The black dragon threw back its head and roared, its voice shaking mountains and rivers, making even the sky churn ceaselessly. Its enormous body abruptly spread both wings. Those once ink-black wings were instantly ignited by violent power!

Purple lightning raced wildly, leaping and thundering along the bones and sinews of its wings like countless venomous snakes biting at the void. Amid the lightning, every inch of scales on its wings gleamed with a chilling luster. At the same time, purple flames erupted from between the wing bones, burning so fiercely that the void trembled. The flames carried a destructive, savage presence, as though capable of devouring all heaven and earth.

"ROAR-!!"

Lightning and flame intertwined as the black dragon violently shook its wings!

Terrifying fissures instantly tore through the air, like a spiderweb of a shattering world. Purple lightning and flames exploded outward, enveloping the entire ruins. Heaven and earth seemed to plunge into a storm of lightning and fire. The ground burst apart, mountain rocks melted, and the void continually collapsed, as though a new world were being born between destruction and reconstruction.

"Damn it! It's gone completely berserk!"

Qin Yu's eyes darkened. The Spear of Ashen Annihilation trembled and rang, its sharp radiance rising with a howl to guard him.

Zhao Xinyu's long hair streamed out. The cold light on Moon-Congealing Frost was clearer and chillier than ever, and moonlight surged around her like a tide, illuminating her like a fairy beneath the moon, yet she radiated fierce murderous intent.

Yang Zheng gripped his longsword tightly, driving the Heng Mountain Sword Art to its utmost limit. The Spiritual Qi within him was nearly boiling, his face flushed red, and his gaze remained firm as a mountain.

The black dragon spread both wings and lunged down with purple lightning and blazing flames! At that moment, it seemed to become the embodiment of heavenly punishment, carrying destructive, savage power to burn the three utterly to ashes!

Heaven and earth thundered, the storm howled, and everything was swallowed by that strike!

The black dragon's wings went completely berserk. Purple lightning and blazing flames intertwined like a destructive storm swallowing heaven and earth, crashing down with irresistible power. At that moment, heaven and earth seemed to collapse, and the air filled with scorching heat and deafening thunder.

"Spirit Protection Screen!"

Qin Yu's gaze darkened. He raised the Spirit Annihilation Sword crosswise, and the spiritual pearl on its hilt abruptly burst into dazzling light. An azure curtain of light spread from the sword edge, forming a protective barrier with a radius of one meter that enveloped him and his companions. The Spirit Protection Screen was crystalline and translucent, rippling like water yet incomparably sturdy. The instant the black dragon's furious flames descended, it ignited into blazing blue-green light.

At the same time, the Spear of Ashen Annihilation abruptly spun. Qin Yu poured in Spiritual Qi with all his strength, and the Qi Shield Spear Wall unfolded with a crash! Centered on the spear's edge, gray spiritual light spread into layers of shield walls, guarding their front and blocking the descending torrent of lightning and flame head-on.

Boom!!!

Dragon flame and lightning slammed down. The light curtain and shield walls shook wildly, as though tens of millions of tons of mountains were pressing down upon them. Qin Yu's face paled, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained cold and hard as iron as he clenched his teeth and held on.

"Yuan Splitting Burst!"

Yang Zheng roared and suddenly plunged the longsword in his hands into the ground. The Yuan power within him instantly surged outward, becoming a thundering ring of shock waves. Exploding spiritual light resembled a blazing sun bursting apart, dispersing part of the lightning and flame and jolting the black dragon's diving assault into a slight pause.

"Spinning Yuan Kill!"

He drew his sword again. Yuan power condensed along the blade, instantly becoming dozens of spinning blades of light that shot out with a howl. Like bloodthirsty flying wheels, they shrieked toward the black dragon's wings. As the blade lights crossed, sparks scattered from the dragon's scales, and several long, narrow bloody gashes were torn open. Though not fatal, they successfully provoked roar after furious roar from the black dragon.

"Moon Dance Spirit Grace!"

Zhao Xinyu's long hair danced. With Moon-Congealing Frost in hand, her sword light became gently flowing moonlight that completely enveloped her figure. Her steps were light, and as she danced with her sword, she resembled a flickering immortal shadow beneath the moon, nimbly evading the lightning and flame sweeping outward in the black dragon's wake. As her sword movements flowed, moonlight condensed into shields, sharing the impact borne by Qin Yu and Yang Zheng. Each time a shield shattered, fresh moonlight burst from her blade, like successive bright moons, undying and unending.

Rumble-!

The storm of lightning and flame met the three fighters' combined defense and counterattack upon the arena with a crash, unleashing an earthshaking blast. Mountains shattered, broken rocks flew, and the sky seemed torn in two. Fierce winds swept dust and blazing flames across the heavens, leaving only destruction and radiance intertwined between heaven and earth.

The ground beneath the three cracked in layer after layer. Qin Yu dropped to one knee to steady his spear's edge, his arms streaming with blood. Yang Zheng breathed rapidly, his forehead covered in cold sweat, yet he still stared fixedly at the black dragon. Zhao Xinyu's eyes were like frost, Moon-Congealing Frost's ringing cry shook the heavens, and its sword light made her resemble the bright moon descending from the nine heavens.

The black dragon's attack had been forcibly blocked by their combined strength. Purple lightning and blazing flames danced wildly over its wings, murderous intent surged in its eyes, and its furious roars shook the distant mountains into ceaseless rumbling.

It was growing ever more frenzied!

The black dragon went completely berserk. Its wings beat with a crash, whipping up hurricane-like flames and lightning. Its enormous body suddenly plunged down, its claws like mountains and its fangs chillingly cold, bearing the might to tear heaven and earth apart as it went straight for the three.

"Come on!"

Qin Yu shouted furiously. The Spear of Ashen Annihilation swept sideways, gray light erupting violently around its edge with the momentum of a falling river of stars. Endless spear shadows, carrying a destructive sharpness, met the dragon's claw!

Boom!!!

The spear's edge clashed head-on with the dragon's claw, sparks and bloody light exploding together. Qin Yu was driven back several zhang, turmoil churning in his chest as he nearly spat out blood. Yet he still clenched his teeth and held the spear tightly in both hands, its light undying!

"Heng Mountain Sword Art-Mountain Crushing the Summit!"

Yang Zheng roared. The longsword in his hands became an illusory mountain that crashed down, firmly suppressing the black dragon's other sharp claw. Sword and mountain phantom became one, their presence as heavy as ten thousand mountains pressing down, forcibly slowing the black dragon's assault.

"Moon Frost Soul Slash!"

Zhao Xinyu's figure resembled wisps of smoke beneath the moon. Moon-Congealing Frost abruptly slashed out, and a ray of sword light like the pouring Milky Way swept across the sky. Its chill pierced to the marrow as it went straight for the black dragon's throat!

Spurt-!

The sword light swept past, tearing apart the scales at the black dragon's throat. A ghastly wound appeared, blood spraying like a waterfall. Yet the enormous dragon did not retreat because of it. Instead, it let out an earthshaking roar and grew even more savage!

Boom, boom, boom!!!

Its tail swept sideways, lightning and flames entwining into a world-destroying whip that lashed viciously toward the three.

"Qi Shield Spear Wall!"

Qin Yu spun his spear's edge, and a shield wall rose with a crash to meet the dragon's tail head-on! With a thunderous impact, his feet were driven into the earth. The rocks beneath him shattered inch by inch, and every meridian in his body screamed, yet the Qi shield forcibly blocked that destructive strike.

Seizing the opening, Yang Zheng shouted furiously, "Spinning Yuan Kill!"

Dozens of spinning blades of Yuan power shot out with a howl, wildly tearing at the black dragon's wounds, slicing through its scales and flesh in sprays of blood.

Zhao Xinyu also seized the opportunity to dance with her sword again. Moonlight surged like a tide, Sword Qi cold as frost, transforming into countless sharp rays of sword light that enveloped the black dragon's head.

Boom-!

The three fighters' combined assault erupted with a crash. The black dragon's enormous body was blasted sideways dozens of zhang and slammed hard into the mountain wall. Dust filled the sky, and stone fragments fell like rain.

Roar-!!!

Yet it still had not fallen. Its eyes were blood-red, and its presence surged, as though it were about to unleash an even more terrifying ultimate move.

Roar-!!!

The black dragon went completely berserk. Scales all over its body were shattered, and its blood stained the earth red, yet its fury soared to the heavens. Its wings suddenly spread, the spiritual power within it abruptly surged, and the spiritual veins of heaven and earth were instantly stirred.

It threw back its head and roared. Deep in its throat, a purple-black vortex gathered. Lightning and blazing flames intertwined wildly, becoming a blast of world-destroying dragon breath! At that moment, the entire ruins trembled. The void seemed to ignite, and space tore apart layer by layer.

"Fall back-!"

Qin Yu roared, driving the Spear of Ashen Annihilation into the earth and forcibly raising a shield wall. Gray light surged, sheltering Yang Zheng and Zhao Xinyu behind him.

Boom!!!

Dragon breath spewed forth like the Milky Way pouring down, a raging torrent of lightning and fire. The shield came under crushing pressure in an instant, its thunderous rumbling deafening. Spiritual Qi poured wildly out of Qin Yu's entire body. He spat blood and dropped to one knee, veins bulging along both arms as he desperately held the gray spear firm.

Yang Zheng gritted his teeth and charged forward, raising his longsword high as he bellowed, "Mystic Yuan Impact-!!"

A straight pillar of light erupted from the blade and collided head-on with the dragon breath. With a deafening crash, his attack was swallowed in an instant. The shock wave hurled him dozens of zhang away, slamming him into the ground. Blood gushed from his chest, his breathing rapid and faint.

Qin Yu was also driven back in an instant. His shield shattered completely, and the Spear of Ashen Annihilation shuddered violently, nearly flying from his grasp. He staggered repeatedly, spraying mouthfuls of bloody mist, his face as pale as paper.

"Brother Yu!!!"

Yang Zheng's weak cry echoed through the dust and smoke.

Zhao Xinyu's long hair whipped wildly, her gaze cold as frost. She abruptly stepped forward, shielding Qin Yu and Yang Zheng behind her. She raised Moon-Congealing Frost high, and the Moon Soul Pearl on the sword suddenly blazed with light!

"Moonlight-Shadowbreaker!!!"

Boom-!!!

Endless moonlight burst from her body, as though the entire night sky had reappeared beneath her sword. The phantom of a bright full moon rose behind her, spilling pure radiance as she forcibly cleaved an opening in the black dragon's world-annihilating breath!

Purple-black and icy blue intertwined. The dragon breath and moonlit sword light tore at one another in midair, unleashing crashes more terrifying than heavenly thunder.

The impact shook Zhao Xinyu's arms until blood streamed down them. Her face was pale, yet she did not retreat a single step, her slender figure standing before the two men like the bright moon.

She said quietly, "Brother Yu, Yang Zheng... I'll block this strike!"

"Roar-!!!"

The black dragon threw back its head and roared. Purple-black dragon breath swept across the heavens, tearing through the void as though it would swallow heaven and earth! Qin Yu and Yang Zheng were already gravely wounded, their blood staining the ground. They could only struggle to raise their heads, staring fixedly at the dragon flames surging skyward as helplessness and fury welled within them.

At that very instant-

Zhao Xinyu's long hair whipped wildly, her eyes clear and cold as frost. Her figure seemed to merge completely with Moon-Congealing Frost in her hand. The blade hummed, and the Moon Soul Pearl at its hilt shone with dazzling, pure radiance, like a full moon rising to illuminate heaven and earth.

She murmured, "No matter what... I will never let you hurt my companions!"

"Frost Moon Flowing Light-!"

Whoosh!!!

The sword's edge sliced through the sky. Sword Qi cascaded down, covering heaven and earth like a silver waterfall as supreme yin cold erupted wildly. The instant the black dragon's breath touched it, it froze solid, like blazing fire encased in frost. Amid thunderous rumbling, cracks spread through it, and great swaths of dragon flame collapsed outright.

For the first time, the dragon breath's might was truly suppressed!

"Roar-?!"

The black dragon's pupils abruptly contracted, surprise and doubt flashing in its eyes. Yuan power churned within its body, yet seemed firmly suppressed by invisible moonlight. The dragon flames it spewed could barely hold together and gradually collapsed.

But Zhao Xinyu did not stop. Her sword light turned again, and the Moon Soul Pearl suddenly unleashed a ring of clear, cold spiritual waves.

"Moon Soul Clear Seal-!"

Hum-!!!

The spiritual waves rippled outward like a tide of pure moonlight, enveloping the black dragon in an instant. Its vast Spiritual Sense probed as though it had plunged into fog. The vicious light in its eyes abruptly dimmed, its soul thoughts grew sluggish, and its movements immediately slowed. Confusion and pain filled its furious roars. Its Fate Soul Primordium was firmly suppressed by the moonlight, its soul power sealed away completely!

"Roar...!!!"

It wanted to retaliate, to shatter heaven and earth, but its power gathered without releasing, as though heaven and earth themselves had betrayed it.

Zhao Xinyu clenched her teeth, blood seeping from her mouth, yet still held her longsword high. The spiritual patterns on the blade suddenly began to flow, like a multitude of twinkling stars, their radiance incomparably brilliant.

"Starlight Fate Severance-!"

Boom!!!

Sword light swept across the heavens like a falling river of stars, slashing straight at the black dragon's body.

In an instant, the workings of fate throughout heaven and earth were thrown into disorder, and the instincts the black dragon relied upon to sense danger vanished completely. Its reactions grew sluggish, as though it had lost all intuition. Beneath the sword light, its enormous body resembled a puppet stripped of its fate.

The sword's edge fell-

Squelch!!!

Ice-cold Sword Qi sliced through its thick scales, from its throat down to its chest!

Boom-!!!

Blood gushed out like a waterfall, and the purple lightning flames went out completely. The black dragon's furious roar cut off abruptly. Its enormous body stiffened in midair for an instant, then crashed to the earth, sending up a towering wave of dust.

Its eyes gradually dimmed, their final light extinguished beneath the moonlight, and all signs of life vanished completely.

Zhao Xinyu stood in midair, Moon-Congealing Frost's sword light still shining. Her figure was slender yet formidable, like a god of war beneath the moon.

"Phew..."

She let out a long breath of stale air. Her body swayed, almost utterly drained, yet she still resolutely held her position before Qin Yu and Yang Zheng.

At that moment, silence returned to heaven and earth. Only the black dragon's enormous corpse lay sprawled there, proclaiming the end of this battle.

Boom-

The black dragon's corpse struck the ground, its mountainlike weight smashing a deep crater into the earth as dust and smoke billowed. From the wound in its chest, a towering blaze of black-purple light suddenly surged forth like an erupting volcano, illuminating the night sky over the entire ruins.

As one final dragon cry echoed between heaven and earth, a fist-sized demon core slowly rose.

The demon core was pitch-black throughout, yet purple lightning and crimson flames roamed across its surface, as though it had condensed the supreme essence of the world's lightning and fire and the dragon race's bloodline. Every flicker made the surrounding void tremble, thunder rumble, and flames gush forth, like a miniature star suspended in midair.

"Hum-!"

The demon core radiated an overwhelming draconic might. All the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth seethed, and even the distant mountains began to tremble. The void stretched and twisted, as though this power would draw it in completely.

Zhao Xinyu looked pale, yet she still raised Moon-Congealing Frost, guiding it with the sword's tip as the Moon Soul Pearl shone with pure radiance. Moonlight formed a clear, cold barrier, suppressing the violent power leaking from the demon core. She extended her palm, gathering Spiritual Qi. Moonlight and starlight intertwined as she slowly drew the incomparably scorching demon core into her pouch.

"Boom-"

Only when the demon core entered her storage pouch did the entire battlefield grow quiet again. Lightning and flames gradually dissipated, leaving only scorched marks across the ground and rolling waves of heat.

At that moment, Qin Yu struggled to prop himself up, his face pale and his forehead drenched in cold sweat. He slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over the black dragon's enormous remains, shock still lingering in his heart.

He drew a deep breath, his voice low but firm. "Come on, let's leave this place quickly and find somewhere safe to heal." With that, Qin Yu used the Spear of Ashen Annihilation to cut off a large piece of dragon meat.

Yang Zheng was likewise covered in wounds, and a corner of the longsword in his hand had broken off, but he still grinned and nodded. Zhao Xinyu raised her eyes, her gaze as clear and cold as ever, yet carrying a stubborn gleam beneath the moonlight, and silently followed.

The three figures walked one behind another across the scorched earth and dragon blood, their shadows stretching long beneath the waning moon. That scene seemed destined to become the most heart-stopping legend of the Immortal Vein Ruins.