My Arts Evolve When Perfected

When the first to stick his neck out fell, the few remaining geniuses, stunned, broke out in a cold sweat. They stared, dumbfounded, at [Netherworld] and began to retreat rapidly, daring not to linger.

If before they’d wanted to probe his depths on the off-chance he was just an empty bluff—thinking they could kill him and make a name for themselves—now all they felt was the deepest terror.

The genius who had just died was quite famous—the Grand Elder’s Direct Disciple. Some of them had crossed paths before and had mutually agreed not to attack one another, focusing instead on slaughtering the weaker disciples.

But now, that genius had been killed in an instant, with no time to react at all!

’I have to escape, or I’ll die!’

Biting down on those seven words, they all fled with all their might. Yet even now, no one else had started fighting. They all gathered on the very outskirts, staring intently at [Netherworld].

They maintained a relatively safe distance from each other, all wary of [Netherworld], and refrained from fighting one another. It was as if the entire Sect competition was being held in a strange equilibrium.

For the first time in history, only one person had died at the start of the competition.

’Is this what passes for the geniuses of the Yin Yang Great Realm?’

[Netherworld] raised his right hand. His long, slender fingers were as pale as a corpse’s, and the tip of his index finger pulsed faintly with a Nether Dark Spirit Charm. It was this very finger that had slain the genius moments ago.

He glanced around. There wasn’t a single person within a hundred-meter radius—just a large, empty expanse. In the distance, many Direct Disciples were still fleeing.

Some had already reached the very edge of the arena. As his gaze swept over them, they scrambled back even further, bumping into one another. Instead of fighting, they simply pushed and shoved each other to escape.

This was the strength of dominance, a power level in a league of its own.

After cultivating for decades, he had finally reached the Peak of Peeping Dao Realm. This was the perfect opportunity to seize the title of Saint Heir and then travel to the Netherworld Dynasty’s Imperial Capital Secret Realm to see what the geniuses from other Great Realms had to offer.

’On the path of cultivation, what matters is living a long time. The longer you live, the stronger you become. Every battle is fought for the sake of living even longer.’

At this thought, [Netherworld] prepared to slaughter every Direct Disciple present, devour them all, and use their essence to break through to the Dao Entry Realm.

’The Great Dao is a difficult road, but I shall ascend it directly!’

"Die."

With that single word, an invisible beam of Nether Dark Spirit Charm burst forth and pierced the forehead of a woman standing motionless. But then, [Netherworld] frowned and looked toward her.

The woman whose forehead had been pierced seemed to coalesce again like gas, her body completely unharmed. She simply rubbed her head. "That hurt a little."

"???"

Staring at her, [Netherworld] shot out three more beams, aiming them directly at her body. THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!

Her chest, thigh, and abdomen rippled strangely. On her snow-white skin, jet-black Dragon Scales suddenly appeared, blocking the beams perfectly before receding again, returning her to the form of a simple Dragon Maiden.

’Is that a real Dragon Body?!’

’And a Second Shedding at that!’

The sudden realization made [Netherworld]’s breath catch. Dumbfounded, a chill shot down his spine. "How can a Dragon Body possibly exist?!"

"Huh?" [Snow] tilted her head and stared at him, her eyes pure and curious, her tail swaying like a pendulum. "How do you recognize a Dragon Body?"

’In this world, no one has ever seen a real member of the Dragon Race. The Era of Dragon Fall is long past. With the last of the Dragon Race’s bloodline having perished, it should be impossible for anyone to recognize a Dragon Body.’

’Even if all the characteristics were on full display, they shouldn’t be able to immediately realize, ’Ah, this is a Dragon Body.’ ’

’Unless... they’ve actually seen one before.’

’But in this whole world, weren’t the only ones who’ve seen a naked Dragon Body me and Senior Brother?’

’A little interesting.’

Jiang Qiu watched him in silence. A powerful sense of familiarity welled up from deep within him, just waiting for the right moment to erupt.

’It feels like if I just peel back one more layer, the truth will surface.’

The connection between this [Netherworld] and [BaKi] was significant. He had a faint feeling that this connection was even stronger than the one with the Supreme Elder.

"[Snow], twist his head off."

"Okay."

The moment the order was given, a biting chill swept through like a cold front, and the temperature in the entire Duel Secret Realm plummeted. Countless wisps of Nether Dark Spirit Charm materialized from the void, transforming the area into a Death Realm!

The disciples shrieked and scattered in a panic, like ants on a hot griddle. Every one of them felt a pair of eyes in the sky staring down at them.

It was the feeling a butcher gets when looking at a coop full of chickens.

A cultivator in the Peeping Dao Realm possesses a Mental Realm, with each person comprehending their own unique version. The effect [Snow] displayed, however, was already approaching that of a true Realm. It blanketed the entire area, trapping countless living beings within its atmosphere, all waiting for death’s blade to fall!

"You mustn’t!"

Instantly, the Supreme Elder unleashed his own cultivation at the Peak of Dao Entry Realm. He shattered the powerful Mental Realm enveloping him and forced his way into the combat zone to protect [Netherworld].

At that moment, [Snow]’s eyes narrowed. High above, she looked down upon all creation. Her raised, slender right arm seemed to become the claw of a Dragon God. SHIIING—

Five claw marks of pure void descended from the sky, instantly shredding the very space around [Netherworld]. The Mental Realm he hastily manifested seemed to be made of paper-mâché, tearing apart with ease.

"I... I..."

In his final moment, black light filled [Netherworld]’s eyes. He could no longer see a thing; his soul was extinguished in that instant.

He had no time to react. In the blink of an eye, the life left him.

His body disintegrated into scattered fragments. The Supreme Elder, arriving a step too late, stood there dumbly, his murky, decaying eyes wide and trembling.

Just like that, he was dead. Dead. Gone.

’The strongest, most talented disciple I ever nurtured... was killed in an instant. Decades of cultivation to reach the Peak of Peeping Dao Realm, that terrifying talent... all snuffed out in a second...’

"You!

You will die for this!"

Some people, the longer they live, the more selfish they become. The Supreme Elder himself didn’t know why he had valued [Netherworld] so much. He only knew that the genius he had spent decades nurturing had just been killed in an instant!

The moment he unleashed his aura, even [Snow]’s Mental Realm began to waver. She narrowed her eyes, returned to Jiang Qiu’s side, and lowered her head. "Senior Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t manage to twist his head off."

"It’s fine. It’s my turn now."

Patting her on the head, Jiang Qiu took a step forward. He ignored the Supreme Elder’s killing intent and strolled toward him. His robes and long hair billowed around him, but his torso was like an iron pile, advancing with each step, absolutely steady and unswerving.

"What’s going on? Is the Supreme Elder’s oppressive aura having no effect on him?!"

"AHHH!!!! I’m fucking dying from the pain!!!"

Most of the spectators had insufficient cultivation. When the Supreme Elder’s Realm descended with true killing intent, the pressure on their souls caused many to bleed from all seven orifices and perish on the spot.

Even geniuses at the Dharma Realm were clutching their heads and hopping about in agony. Only the spectating Elders at the Peeping Dao Realm and above could barely remain steady, and even then, the eyes of many were strained and bloodshot.

No one dared to stop the Supreme Elder.

Because he was the Supreme Elder!

But [Bell Fish] stood up.