Chapter 172 - 132: Ending, Easy Victory
「Noon.」
The sky was still a hazy gray.
Dark clouds obscured the sun, as if a storm was brewing.
Purple Dragon gasped for breath.
Patches of Dragon Scales manifested on his bare torso.
This was the physical manifestation of his Martial Arts True Intent, an External Skill derived from his High-Grade Talent: Dragon Body.
The Cultivation Techniques of the Heavenly Corpse Demon Sect already excelled at External Skill defense. With these materialized Dragon Scales, Purple Dragon’s Defense Power rose to an absurd level.
The Black Dragon War General facing Purple Dragon held a Treasure Long Saber that was already in tatters.
This was all damage caused by striking Purple Dragon’s body.
Purple Dragon’s physical defense, at the Spiritual Embryo Realm, had already surpassed a Treasure Artifact.
The expression on the Black Dragon War General’s face, hidden beneath his helmet, was grim.
After Purple Dragon ascended to the Rebirth Realm with Lu Changfeng’s help, he had never once fought or even shown his face.
As a result, the Imperial Court’s intelligence division had no information on him.
The War General had chosen this guy as his opponent purely because he looked young, and the general’s own strength ranked near the bottom among the Black Dragon War Generals.
He hadn’t expected to run into such a tough nut.
The man had fought him to a standstill relying solely on his Martial Arts True Intent, without even activating his Demon Fiend Bloodline.
Only after activating his own Demon Fiend Bloodline had the general managed to break through some of the man’s External Skill defenses.
But it was still far from enough to defeat Purple Dragon.
And because he had activated his Demon Fiend Bloodline, his Spiritual Power was nearly depleted.
"Let’s stop here. You don’t really want to fight me to the death, do you?" the Black Dragon War General said.
’This guy’s External Skill is strong, sure, but he has no real combat techniques, and his Light Body Technique is mediocre. Unlike Xuansha with his dual High-Grade Talents, he’s just a walking turtle shell.’
Purple Dragon hesitated for a moment, then firmly blocked the Black Dragon War General’s path.
After all, Purple Dragon was still too inexperienced with Rebirth Realm combat. He didn’t realize his opponent’s Spiritual Power was already exhausted and that he couldn’t hold on much longer.
In fact, this was Purple Dragon’s first true Rebirth Realm battle.
"Hmph! Turtle shell! If I want to leave, do you think you can stop me?"
The Black Dragon War General shot off in the direction of the Black Dragon Army.
Only then did Purple Dragon realize that the Black Dragon War General was truly trying to flee.
He immediately activated his Demon Fiend Bloodline!
His Body Technique was indeed subpar, but the Demon Fiend Bloodline the Saint Master had bestowed upon him could slow his enemy’s movements!
Ancient Snow Python Bloodline, 10%!
(Demon Fiend Skill: Ice Snake’s Sigh), (Demon Fiend Skill: Rapid Freeze Rebirth), (Demon Fiend Skill: Extreme Ice Cold), (Demon Fiend Skill: Dragon Python)
Between the materialized Martial Arts True Intent Dragon Scales on Purple Dragon’s body, fine white patterns appeared, and his eyes transformed into a pair of Snake Pupils.
The Ancient Snow Python Bloodline excelled at entrapping enemies!
Seeing the Black Dragon War General about to get away,
Purple Dragon quickly activated the Demon Fiend Skill: Extreme Ice Cold!
In an instant!
With Purple Dragon at the center, water molecules rapidly condensed under the influence of Demon Fiend Power.
Around the targeted Black Dragon War General, they instantly froze into ice crystals, quickly turning him into an ice sculpture.
The Black Dragon War General felt a bone-chilling cold surge in from all sides.
If he had sufficient Spiritual Power, he could have erupted with it to break free.
But now, with his Spiritual Power depleted, he was well and truly trapped by Purple Dragon’s Demon Fiend Skill.
By a stroke of luck, Purple Dragon had successfully lured and killed the Black Dragon War General.
Purple Dragon closed the distance.
’Ice Snake’s Sigh!’
Purple Dragon opened his mouth, and a massive blast of icy breath spewed forth.
The temperature inside the ice sculpture plummeted as the icy breath flooded in.
The Black Dragon War General had even less of a chance to escape. Even his attempt to dissolve his Spirit Body for a final, desperate struggle was interrupted by the intense cold.
Purple Dragon continued to exhale the freezing air for a full three minutes. Only after consuming more than half his Spiritual Power did he stop, deactivate his Demon Fiend Bloodline, and stand aside.
Beside him, the ice sculpture of the Black Dragon War General, captured in a fleeing posture, was strikingly lifelike.
His Spiritual Sense confirmed it: the fiend had not a trace of life left in him.
The fiend had died a most frustrating death, frozen solid by a containment-type Demon Fiend Skill due to a freak combination of circumstances.
This was a truly unexpected and pleasant surprise for Purple Dragon.
Purple Dragon could hardly believe that he had just taken care of a Black Dragon War General from the Black Dragon Army so easily.
Coming to his senses, Purple Dragon calmed himself. ’Since I won, I should go help my fellow sect members right away!’
He looked around, but the other Demon Sect members were nowhere to be seen.
Evidently, during the battle, the Rebirth Realm experts had instinctively created distance to avoid interfering with one another. Now, the battlefields had drifted far apart.
Purple Dragon still remembered the poison released by the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect member. If not for a warning from his Spiritual Sense, he and his opponent, who had mutually agreed to flee from it, might have been caught in the friendly fire.
Purple Dragon shot off in the direction where the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect member had been. A moment later, he found only a desolate, empty area.
’Hmm? Did the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect’s battle end even earlier?’
In the distance, the Black Dragon Army had already charged up the city walls, and the Elder Profound Nether was still entangled with a Black Dragon War General.
Purple Dragon wasn’t concerned about that. He only cared about the battles involving his own Holy Sect.
So, Purple Dragon picked a direction and sped off.
After flying for over ten li, Purple Dragon finally discovered another ongoing battle.
On the Holy Sect’s side was none other than Xuansha of the Dark Buddha Demon Sect!
At this moment, Xuansha’s body was slowly reverting from his Dark Buddha Glazed Body: Spiritual Snake Form. It was clear his Spiritual Power was too depleted to maintain this powerful state.
As for Xuansha’s opponent, his armor had already been shattered by Xuansha’s fists, revealing a body of corded, bulging muscles.
His body flickered with a magma-like red glow. He was clearly another External Skill expert.
Xuansha’s opponent was named Young Master Hong.
He was a Rebirth Realm expert from the Young Master’s Family in the Capital Region.
The Young Master’s Family was a Martial Arts Family that had existed since the previous dynasty.
The Young Master’s Family produced generations of powerful men, particularly renowned for their domineering External Skills.
Young Master Hong choosing to face Xuansha had resulted in a terrifying contest of External Skills.
This was evident from the ravaged ground all around them, a testament to their bulldozer-like battle.
In the end, Young Master Hong had the upper hand because he had ascended to the realm longer. His Spirit Body was more stable, and his Spiritual Power was more abundant.
He had managed to wear Xuansha out first.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xuansha chanted the Buddha’s name. Though he felt unwilling, he knew this might be the day he died.
’It’s just a shame I won’t get to see the Saint Master unite the world.’
Just as Xuansha was preparing to dissolve his Spirit Body to wear down his opponent in a final, desperate move...
A figure streaked in from the distance.
BOOM!
Purple Dragon threw a punch, sending Young Master Hong stumbling back several meters.
"Hm? Heavenly Corpse Demon Sect?"
"I’m here to help," Purple Dragon said, stepping in front of Xuansha.
Young Master Hong frowned at Purple Dragon. His arrival meant that his opponent had either been defeated or had escaped.
Young Master Hong leaned toward the former possibility, because this newcomer from the Heavenly Corpse Demon Sect was also an External Skill expert, and External Skill experts often had an advantage in the Rebirth Realm.
The thought that a Black Dragon War General had already been killed gave Young Master Hong a bad feeling.
Beside them, Xuansha had already sat down cross-legged. He had complete faith in Purple Dragon and seized the opportunity to recover his Spiritual Power.
Xuansha was bare-chested, and the faint Dragon Scales on his body were the physical manifestation of his Martial Arts True Intent.
Young Master Hong didn’t hesitate. He turned and fled into the distance.
Since Young Master Hong was still maintaining his enhanced state while fleeing, Purple Dragon chose not to give chase.
’If I really go after him, it’s not certain who would live and who would die.’
’That guy is almost spent too. He won’t be able to do much for a while, so he can’t affect the Saint Master’s grand plan.’
’It’s good enough that I could save Xuansha.’
Xuansha opened his eyes and took out two sets of clothes from his Ba Snake Space. The two powerful men got dressed.
"Thank you," Xuansha said, putting his palms together in a gesture of thanks.
Purple Dragon waved his hand. "We both serve the Saint Master. It’s what I should do. Shall we go check on the other Demon Sect members?"
"Alright!" Xuansha stood up.
His Spiritual Power wasn’t enough to continue fighting, but he could still manage to travel for a while.
"It seems the one from the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect has already passed on," Xuansha said, his voice low as he glanced at a slip of paper.
Hm? Purple Dragon paused, then took out the slip of paper he kept close to his body.
On it, he saw the previous conversation between the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect member and the Saint Master.
Purple Dragon fell silent for a moment as the image of the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect member flashed through his mind.
’That hunched-over old man... I never thought he’d be so fiercely resolute.’
"Help me! You two!"
Just then, a cry for help came from the distance.
Xuansha and Purple Dragon looked up to see Fanyun Demon Monarch rapidly approaching them.
Behind him, a Black Dragon War General wielding a Treasure Saber was relentlessly trying to cut him down.
However, when this Black Dragon War General saw the two figures ahead, his expression changed drastically. He forced himself to a screeching halt.
Then, he turned and ran.
Fanyun Demon Monarch breathed a sigh of relief at this and casually walked up to Xuansha and Purple Dragon.
"Thank you both for your help," Fanyun said.
’Looks like our side won a complete victory. It sure is nice having strong teammates,’ Fanyun thought to himself.
Both Xuansha and Purple Dragon waved his thanks away.
At that moment, a fiery red figure shot toward them from the distance.
Everyone looked up. It was Yui Ya from the Gluttony Demon Sect!
"Why is everyone gathered here? Have you all dealt with your opponents?"
Yui Ya asked with a frown.
They immediately exchanged information and discovered that Yui Ya had been the fastest to finish her fight.
The Taotie Demon Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the most powerful Demon Sect under the previous Saint Master.
"The one from Bone-Eroding fell, but he took a Black Dragon War General down with him."
"As of now, the advantage is ours."
"We just need to coordinate with the Profound Nether Sect and hold the Black Dragon Army here," Xuansha analyzed.
Everyone nodded slightly.
"Let’s go help the Profound Nether Sect Elder deal with his opponent. Then, we can use Primordial Medicine to quickly recover our Spiritual Power and prepare for the next battle."
The four of them leaped toward the city.
The moment the four of them appeared, they didn’t even have to do anything. The Black Dragon War General fighting the Profound Nether Sect Elder quickly disengaged and fled.
Both he and the Profound Nether Elder had been fighting conservatively, not using their ultimate moves right away, so he still had plenty of strength left.
Combined with his decent Light Body Technique, he managed to get away.
The four then used their remaining Spiritual Power to kill a number of Black Dragon Army soldiers. Seeing the army retreat from the walls and flee into the distance, they finally followed the Profound Nether Sect Elder back to the Primordial Medicine in the city to recover their Spiritual Power.
About half an hour later, Lii Tianxing, the Sect Leader of the Profound Nether Sect, returned with a pale face.
He immediately sat down cross-legged and began meditating to restore his Spiritual Power.
He had completed his mission of luring away Situ Yanbei quite well, but it was clear he had suffered significant injuries in the process.
When Situ Yanbei returned to the city and saw that not only had his Black Dragon Army failed to capture it, but they had also suffered heavy losses and three Black Dragon War Generals had been killed, he would likely be furious.
But there was nothing he could do about his fury. With this, the Profound Nether Sect’s side now had the numerical advantage in Rebirth Realm experts. From now on, the Black Dragon Army would be on the defensive.
Besides, the Black Dragon Army would probably soon receive orders to enter the Capital to defend it.
At that point, the roles would be reversed: the Black Dragon Army would be the ones trying to leave, and the Profound Nether Sect would be the ones trying to stop them, delaying them in the southwestern region of Yunyang Prefecture!