My Arts Evolve When Perfected

The Realm [Chen] unfurled was like a giant black hole, instantly pulling Luo Beixing inside. It was nearly impossible to see what was happening within, as it was as solid as a piece of pure obsidian.

Luo Beixing’s aura had vanished, as if he had been transported to another dimension, making him impossible to detect.

A few Grandmasters tried to attack the seemingly solid Realm, but it was as futile as an ant trying to shake a great tree; their attacks didn’t even cause a ripple.

However, the Realm would occasionally erupt with a turbulent shockwave of Spirit Charm, signaling that the battle within had not ceased. This meant that even [Chen] could not completely restrain Luo Beixing.

At that moment, Grandmaster Lin Yu emerged from underground. He glanced at the black Realm with a grave expression and commanded, "Everyone, stay away from that Realm! Our priority is to protect the evacuating citizens and provide cover for Jiang Qiu!"

As he was the only Grandmaster present and the one with the highest status, everyone obeyed his commands. They retreated from the vicinity of the black Realm and used their own abilities to tackle the immense problem of the downpour flooding the city.

The[Rain Tribulation]was practically a natural disaster. Ordinary Martial Artists were powerless against such widespread rainfall. Even experts at the Dharma Realm or higher needed to consume Spirit Charm to manipulate the rainwater, and the continuous drain would ultimately lead to their deaths.

But now that Grandmaster-Level experts had joined the fray, the situation improved significantly. Millions of citizens were shielded by a massive wind field that scattered the raindrops on contact, carving out a huge, empty space in the middle of the surging floodwaters.

As for Jiang Qiu, he remained bound by the Water Tornado. He was doing his utmost to absorb the Dao Intent it carried, while also drawing in the Dao Intent present in the [Rain Tribulation]. Fortunately, [Chen] was focusing all his attention on the battle with Luo Beixing, so the Water Tornado’s power had weakened, allowing Jiang Qiu to catch his breath.

"Jiang Qiu, after Grand General Luo was forced to retreat from the western front, the battle line there began to collapse. The situation in many areas of Gao Yuan City is dire, and this place is on the verge of being destroyed. You must leave before the fight between [Chen] and Grand General Luo is over."

Lin Yu’s voice appeared in Jiang Qiu’s mind out of thin air. His expression froze, and he was stunned to see the old man, who wore reading glasses, hovering alone in the air outside the Water Tornado. The thin fabric of his clothes flapped against his less-than-sturdy frame.

"I was born in Gao Yuan City, after all. After the last war when the city was breached, in addition to the Teleportation Array, I also laid out countless Arrays to defend against the Demon Race. Their cost is enormous, and they are not to be used unless there is no other choice.

"The current situation is beyond saving. [Chen]’s power transcends this era. He has mastered far too many abilities that have long been lost to time. The gap between us and him is like a chasm between ages.

Even Grand General Luo, who used a special method to forcibly reach the Half-Step Fusion Realm, will likely be defeated by [Chen] in the end.

Even if Grand General Luo survives, Gao Yuan City’s defenses have already collapsed completely. Those Demon Marshals will lead vast numbers of the Demon Race to storm the city, and we won’t be able to hold them back.

But you... the ancient texts say you are one of the twin-born people who possess the bloodline of the Dragon Race. Your potential is immense. In the future, you may have a chance to surpass [Chen].

As for us of the older generation, we’ve reached the limits of our talent. No matter how much more time we’re given, it’s impossible for us to break through to a higher Realm. We can never hope to match [Chen], who is the reincarnation of a Demon Emperor.

In the time we have left, I will activate the city-wide Array, help you finish casting the Yangshui Jade Sinews, and send you to the Teleportation Array!"

As the final words of the telepathic message faded, Jiang Qiu’s heart, already beating faster and faster, leaped into his throat. Reflected in his wide-eyed pupils were ring after ring of colorful array inscriptions. They bloomed like lotuses in a summer pond, rising from the ground to resist the [Rain Tribulation] descending from the heavens.

Black clouds pressed down; colorful lotuses ascended to the heavens.

A green Common Wood Spirit Charm radiated from Lin Yu. It lacked the oppressive might one would expect from a Grandmaster, possessing only an endless, vibrant Life Force.

He was not skilled in combat. That is why he did not emerge when Grandmaster Han was controlled by the Demon Race, and why he did not appear when [Chen] descended.

But as someone who studied Ancient Inscriptions to create Arrays, his potential impact on the battle was by no means small. The preparations he had spent years laying out across Gao Yuan City were all being activated today.

BZZZZ...

The space-rending Water Tornado suddenly weakened. The lotus-shaped Array rotated, grinding it down like a millstone until it gradually transformed into a stream of Vast Water Dao Intent, which Jiang Qiu absorbed into his body.

Even the mighty [Rain Tribulation] began to falter slightly in its standoff with the field of colorful lotuses. The Vast Water Dao Intent it contained, which held the principles of heaven and earth, also flowed into Jiang Qiu’s body.

He was using the entire layout of Gao Yuan City to fight a natural disaster.

This was the core of the Array.

Soon, the pressure on Jiang Qiu’s Dragon Form decreased sharply. A pool of water formed inside his body, taking in and digesting all the Vast Water Dao Intent he was absorbing like a vortex.

Breakthrough to the High Tier of the Peeping Dao Realm!

But he still hadn’t reached his limit; he was continuing to transform toward the Top Tier of the Peeping Dao Realm. His third Jade Sinew, which was now taking shape, began to reveal its function, and Jiang Qiu gradually found that he possessed a certain degree of control over the moisture between heaven and earth.

"Elder Lin, are you alright?"

He was at the critical moment of casting the Jade Sinew and had begun to peel away the thinning Water Tornado himself. Still, it was difficult for him to move, so he could only inquire with concern about the condition of Lin Yu, who was not far off.

The old man’s face was pale, and his Common Wood Spirit Charm was draining away at a rapid pace. The cost of controlling such a city-wide Grand Array was clearly immense.

A Middle-Tier Array was on the same level as a Teleportation Array, but this one was built upon the very terrain of Gao Yuan City. It had been inscribed over several years, contained even more unique principles, and was, in some ways, incredibly complex to create. When used properly, it was powerful enough to trap several Dao Entry Realm experts!

"I’m not dead yet! Keep absorbing!"

Lin Yu roared, continuing to direct the Grand Array.

Jiang Qiu immediately focused his mind, immersing himself completely in the process of casting the Jade Sinew. He was using his pure Dragon Race bloodline as the medium, a method which naturally possessed an all-encompassing quality, proving its viability.

However, the true form of the Yangshui Jade Sinews was a pool of water. The so-called true form was the shape of the original item used as a medium. The Flame Jade Sinews was a wisp of Ancient Origin, a formless qi, while the Soul Ice Jade Sinews was a Soul Ice Dao Lotus—a single azure lotus.

The Yangshui Jade Sinews, however, was a pool of water, faintly merging with his Dragon Race bloodline while also resonating with the Great Dao of heaven and earth.

「Twelve hours later.」 As he absorbed more and more Dao Intent, Jiang Qiu was on the verge of breaking through to the Top Tier of the Peeping Dao Realm. The Yangshui Jade Sinews inside him was nearly finished, and it would be powerful enough for him to attempt to disrupt the [Rain Tribulation]’s formation.

Currently, [Chen] and Luo Beixing were still fighting inside the black Realm. The winner had not been decided, but one could clearly feel the fluctuations growing in frequency, a sign that the battle had reached its most intense stage.

However, several sectors of Gao Yuan City’s Inner City had already fallen. An army led by dozens of Demon Generals had pushed through the Colorful Lotus Array and invaded, engaging the eight remaining—and wounded—Grandmasters in battle.