Chapter 329: Confrontation

The thunder erupted, bombarding the ground in a relentless barrage. The Foundation Establishment cultivators kneeling on the ground reacted immediately, fleeing the scene at top speed. Zuoqiulong hesitated briefly, then grabbed Ao Ye, who was cowering nearby, and dragged him away as he escaped. Having been master and disciple for a lifetime during the Demonic Heart Tribulation, he couldn’t bear to let Ao Ye die like this.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The courtyard floor shattered, the plasma blasts reducing the stone slabs to dust. Debris scattered in all directions. As the primary target of the Yin Thunder, the Great King of Black Horn was struck dozens of times. Under the influence of the Yin Thunder, countless fine black scales erupted across his body.

Roar!!!

With a deafening roar, the Flood Dragon unfurled its massive body. Its hundred-meter-long form coiled in mid-air as it unleashed a turquoise water curtain from its maw. The shimmering shield deflected the Yin Thunder, channeling its power harmlessly into the ground.

Having blocked the attack, the Great King of Black Horn spat another stream of water, this time transforming it into a razor-sharp sword that shot toward Chen Luo.

Boom!

The thunderbolt clashed with the water sword, sending both combatants reeling back.

After this brief exchange, both realized they were facing no ordinary opponent. Chen Luo glanced at his left arm, where the Flood Dragon’s claw had scratched him earlier. A black mark now marred the flesh, the Demon Power clinging to it like venom, slowly corroding his body.

Poison?

Chen Luo circulated his spiritual energy. Within his External Brain, the Poison Cultivator Wang Mingde materialized and swiftly neutralized the toxic thread.

Truly worthy of the Flood Dragon Bloodline.

Chen Luo narrowed his eyes. Within his External Brain, half of the brain that had been performing the ‘learning task’ set aside its work and entered combat mode.

Across from him, the Great King of Black Horn was also emitting smoke. Withstanding over a dozen strikes of Yin Thunder had taken its toll. If not for his Flood Dragon Bloodline, he would already be down. Sensing Chen Luo’s danger, his Demon Power gradually recovered, his black scales lengthened, and dark mist billowed from his body.

I can’t let him escape.

The Dragon Tomb was his deepest secret, tied to the Dragon Transformation Secret Art. If word spread and caught the attention of those Nascent Soul Old Monsters, he would never get another chance.

Demonic Qi clashed with spiritual energy, summoning a tempest in the courtyard as both men drew upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. The Great King of Black Horn, who had always relied on his Flood Dragon Bloodline for invincible power, now found himself gradually losing ground. The mysterious Marauder Cultivator opposite him actually surpassed him in manipulating the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. The familiar sensation made it feel as if he were fighting himself.

As if his opponent were also a Flood Dragon.

“Is this the power of a Core Formation True Person?”

Outside the courtyard, Hong Madam, the Blood Blade Marauder Cultivator, and the others, who had retreated beyond the range of the battle, huddled in a corner, desperately channeling their strength to protect themselves. The Foundation Establishment experts felt like lone boats in a tsunami, barely able to stand.

The Great King of Black Horn had blocked the exit from the Water Mansion. After racing around in vain, they had no choice but to return here. Until the two combatants reached a conclusion, none of them could escape.

“The Great King’s power is understandable; one with Flood Dragon Bloodline should possess such might. But how can that man across from him stand up to the Great King? And where did he even come from?” Hong Madam’s gaze settled on Chen Luo.

She couldn’t comprehend it. With such power, why bother being a Marauder Cultivator? Why not claim a Sea Island and declare himself king? The dirty, dangerous work could be left to subordinates, and if trouble arose, they could always sacrifice their underlings to avoid danger and keep their cultivation undisturbed.

“This man is no ordinary opponent.”

The Blood Blade Marauder Cultivator’s gaze swept over the token at Chen Luo’s waist. An ordinary-looking token, now, amidst the surging Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, emitted seven distinct hues of radiant light.

“You may not recognize me, but surely you can’t be unfamiliar with this token?”

The light emanating from the token grew increasingly intense.

As Chen Luo channeled the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, seven streams of energy radiated outward like seven swords. These sword qi swirled around him, forming a protective aura that shimmered like a shield of sword energy.

“Qiong Hua Sect True Inheritance?!”

The Sea Region was different from the Seven Kingdoms Land; they had dealings with the Southern Heaven Domain as well. It was precisely because they knew this that they understood the significance of the Qiong Hua Sect’s token—a Nascent Soul-level power. But wasn’t the Qiong Hua Sect a Sword Cultivator sect? Why had this person used only Body Cultivator techniques from the beginning?

Boom!

The two combatants clashed, sending powerful gusts of wind sweeping across the courtyard.

“So strong!”

A flicker of astonishment flashed in the Blood Blade Marauder Cultivator’s eyes. He had once witnessed a Sea Island Core Formation Ancestor in action, and the way that Founding Ancestor had stirred the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi remained vivid in his memory. Yet compared to the two cultivators before him now, that Core Formation Ancestor seemed rather inadequate. He estimated that either of these two could crush that old Ancestor with ease.

In the courtyard, one aura was black, the other azure.

In mid-air, the Great King of Black Horn transformed into a Flood Dragon, his demonic qi coalescing into clouds. Below, Chen Luo stood immovable as a mountain, his azure aura intertwining with the earth to form a dense, protective barrier. The terrifying pressure intensified, forcing Hong Madam and her companions back to the edge of the Formation. Even at this distance, they felt an overwhelming pressure, as if an entire world were clashing against them.

In such an environment, managing to unleash even ten percent of a divine ability’s full potential would be considered remarkable.

“The Great King of Black Horn was already a third-rank demonic beast before his transformation into a Flood Dragon. The Flood Dragon Bloodline has elevated him further. Who could possibly face him as an ordinary Core Formation True Person?”

“I never imagined that the Qiong Hua Sect, known for its Sword Cultivators, would also have such formidable Body Cultivators. Truly deserving of its reputation as a Nascent Soul-level power.”

Zuoqiulong and Hong Madam shared similar expressions of awe.

Now, the trio had lost their bargaining position. The earlier concerns about the Treasure Vault had been overshadowed by this more pressing crisis. With Chen Luo, a Core Formation Ancestor, standing defiantly in front, the ‘robbery’ of the Treasure Vault had become a trivial matter, easily dismissed.

“If only I could be as powerful as my teacher…”

Protected by Zuoqiulong, Ao Ye watched with undisguised envy. He didn’t fully understand the hierarchy of cultivation realms among Immortal Cultivators, but he knew that anyone capable of facing the Great King of Black Horn head-on was no ordinary practitioner. Throughout his upbringing, the Great King of Black Horn had loomed like an insurmountable mountain, a barrier he’d never thought he could overcome. Now, seeing a glimmer of hope, his spirits soared.

“Teacher? Right! We could also seek this Senior as our master!”

The three who had been chatting idly froze at Ao Ye’s words.

If this kid can become a disciple, why can’t we? They had all passed the Senior’s Demonic Heart Tribulation test. This meant they too had a chance to “climb on the coattails” and join a Nascent Soul-level sect. The thought transformed their expressions, even Hong Madam’s.

In the Cultivation World, nothing was more precious than lineage and inheritance. Nascent Soul-level sects were the pinnacle of power in the Southern Heaven Domain. Joining such a sect meant having mentors to guide one’s cultivation path, avoiding countless pitfalls and shortcuts.

ROAR!

A terrifying roar erupted from the courtyard ahead, sending a massive soundwave crashing outward.

Their casual conversation was abruptly cut short as each of them focused their power into a pinpoint, desperately protecting themselves. The next moment, a tempestuous wind swept through, laden with shattered rock and splintered wood. The debris crashed against the walls and ground with muffled thuds, and it took a long while for the oppressive aura to subside.

Where they had stood were now pitted with craters.

The walls were riddled with gaping holes, embedded with fragments of stone and wood. Entire sections had collapsed. The bluestone floor of the Water Mansion was scarred with impact marks from the shockwaves. It wasn’t just their position; the entire Water Mansion, centered around the courtyard, had been devastated. Most of the nearby buildings had collapsed, leaving only scattered bricks and broken walls behind.

At the center of the courtyard, a Bone Pattern emerged on Chen Luo’s chest. A mass of writhing Yin Thunder formed in his hands. He pulled his arms apart, stretching the strands of Yin Thunder like metallic chains. Amplified by the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, lightning arcs began to crackle across the area. Dense bolts of Yin Thunder indiscriminately bombarded the surroundings, shattering rocks and pulverizing bricks.

The Great King of Black Horn was completely enveloped in Demonic Qi. Dozens of phantom Black Flood Dragons materialized in the courtyard, lunging at Chen Luo from all angles. Some slashed with dragon claws, others gored with dragon horns.

Illusion!

Before transforming into a Flood Dragon, the Great King of Black Horn was a Black Fish Spirit, an expert in water-based divine abilities. Since Flood Dragons are inherently aquatic, his innate divine ability had advanced even further. Now, illusory Flood Dragons materialized periodically, charging toward Chen Luo. These phantoms were a mix of truth and deception.

But failing to defend against them would make the illusions real.

Chen Luo stood at the center, ignoring the scattered Flood Dragons. Yin Thunder crackled around him, instantly vaporizing any shadow that dared approach. His attacks also targeted the swirling mass of demonic qi above. Though merely a cloud of demonic energy, any trace of its presence drew a swift strike from the Yin Thunder.

“I refuse to believe you can fend off all my attacks.”

This was a contest of Divine Sense. The Great King of Black Horn was certain that even if his opponent’s overall strength matched his own, their Divine Sense and mental fortitude could never compare. Demons enjoyed long lifespans, and the Great King had cultivated for over nine hundred years—an age that would make even a human Core Formation expert a living relic. He doubted this human before him could possibly be older.

The Great King of Black Horn shifted positions, manipulating the demonic qi. With a sweep of his dragon claw, a dense barrage of jagged rocks mixed with splintered wood shot toward Chen Luo from all directions, accompanied by his illusory forms. Some were real, some false—but hitting even one would make the Great King’s attack manifest in full.

One hit is all I need to win.

A mere human cultivator could never match the power of a Flood Dragon.

Left lower quadrant.

Behind the rocks.

The flying wood is a decoy.