Chapter 757: 757, once you’re here, don’t think about leaving!
The Meridian Qi Spear wielded by a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm was indeed extraordinary, yet regrettably, this time Ruan Shiming encountered not an ordinary mid-stage Qi Seeking cultivator, but a peerless devil who stirred the Hidden Dragon Continent into a tumult all by himself.
The Five Elements Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, derived from the Ancient Dragon Taming Technique, contained energy beyond the imagination of an ordinary cultivator like Ruan Shiming. Hence, as soon as the Giant Dragon clashed with the Meridian Qi Spear, his expression changed.
The once unbeatable Meridian Qi Spear did not pierce the dragon’s head at the first instance; instead, it was swallowed whole by the dragon’s gaping maw into its belly.
If both the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon and the spear were solid entities, such an act would surely be suicidal for the former. However, Yun Xiao dared to command the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon to do so, certainly with good reason, since the spear was after all just condensed from Meridian Qi.
Unquestionably, the form of the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon was much larger than the Meridian Qi Spear; it disappeared the moment it was swallowed, following which Ruan Shiming lost all sensation and connection to it.
"How could it disappear so fast?"
When Ruan Shiming felt absolutely no trace of his Meridian Qi Spear, he couldn’t help but grunt in disbelief, his mind racing with incredulity.
He had great confidence in his Meridian Qi Spear; he believed that even if swallowed by the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, it should have been able to hold its own for a while.
But now, with the spear that had just been devoured leaving no trace, how could he not be shocked and fearful?
Clearly, right after the spear was swallowed by the giant dragon, it vanished into thin air. From this fact alone, Ruan Shiming realized that his spear technique paled significantly in comparison to Yun Xiao’s Ice and Fire Giant Dragon technique.
Ruan Shiming’s spear technique had already attained the Earth Rank Low Level; if the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon technique was not just one level higher, could it at least be of the Earth Rank Advanced level?
An Earth Rank Advanced technique was considered incredibly precious throughout the Tenglong Continent, and even the Douling Commerce of Yuyang City might not possess a technique of this level.
"Who exactly is this youngster called Yun Xiao?"
At this moment, Ruan Shiming had many thoughts. This youth not only had two contract Meridian Spirits but also could wield such a formidable technique. Who would believe he was without a significant identity or background?
Ruan Shiming had a growing suspicion that Young Master Xu Huan might have provoked the wrong person. Could this be a supreme prodigy from a major powerhouse or a great sect?
If he had indeed provoked someone from the Xuanyin Hall or Lianyun Mountain, Ruan Shiming would be crying without tears. After all, the Spirit Fighting Commerce of Yuyang City was just a branch.
Moreover, their tactics this time were downright shady, evidently seeking retribution after a loss at the Spirit Fighting Conference.
As members of the Spirit Fighting Commerce, to strike against a champion of the Spirit Fighting Conference – once word got out, who would dare participate in future conferences?
"Uh-oh, not good!"
Ruan Shiming, indulging in a myriad of thoughts in an instant, had made the same mistake as Xu Huan earlier – underestimating Yun Xiao’s reaction and speed.
Without the full activation of Ancestor Vein Power, it wouldn’t be easy for Yun Xiao to triumph over a peak Qi Seeking Realm cultivator with his mid-stage cultivation alone.
Yet for some reason, these people from the Douling Commerce always seemed to daze off in the midst of fierce combat, and at this moment, Yun Xiao seized the opportunity once again.
Whoosh!
Seeing Yun Xiao’s hands move slightly, the very Ice and Fire Giant Dragon that had just devoured the Meridian Qi Spear, with lightning speed, arrived in front of Ruan Shiming. Its gaping maw aimed to swallow the man whole, just as it did the spear.
Ruan Shiming, having witnessed the spear being swallowed, panicked utterly. He believed that if he were to be devoured by the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, his fate would be no different from that spear – he would meet an untimely death in the blink of an eye.
At this life-and-death moment, Ruan Shiming made a decisive move. His aged body, for a moment as agile as a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth, retreated several feet in an uncanny manner.
Crack!
Ruan Shiming’s abrupt retreat meant the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon bit down on the air, its upper and lower jaws clashing as if made of solid substance, which left him covered in cold sweat, thinking that such a bite could have cleaved his body in two.
Boom!
Yet as Ruan Shiming silently congratulated himself on the miss, the very Ice and Fire Giant Dragon that missed its bite surged forward again, and its dragon head harshly slammed into the crucial spot on Ruan Shiming’s chest.
Such was the force of the impact that Ruan Shiming was sent flying tens of feet before finally coming to a halt against the cave wall, his breath weak and faltering.
"Pfft!"
Ruan Shiming, who slid down from the cave wall, could no longer hold on, violently spewing a mouthful of fresh blood. He knew that after being struck by the Ice and Fire Giant Dragon, he had sustained grave internal injuries, even completely losing his combat strength.
This was a Peak of Qi Seeking Realm powerhouse, yet he was seriously wounded by a Giant Dragon Pulse Skill from a Middle Stage Qi Seeking Realm youth. At this moment, Ruan Shiming felt an extreme sense of unwillingness.
Whoosh!
Unfortunately, just as Ruan Shiming’s sense of unwillingness emerged, a streak of black light had already outpaced the former, lightly stabbing at his chest without even allowing him to feel pain before swiftly flying away.
"My... my heart!"
Ruan Shiming was indeed more sensitive than Xu Huan, who didn’t even realize his head was cut off; however, after murmuring these words, he had no more thoughts to think of anything else.
Clearly, it was Yun Xiao controlling the Dragon Taming Sword, who, after Ruan Shiming was sent flying, delivered a fatal blow. With the sharpness of the Dragon Taming Sword, just a gentle stab was like slicing through tofu, piercing through Ruan Shiming’s heart.
With such a critical spot stabbed, even if a Daluo Golden Immortal descended to earth, it would be impossible to save Ruan Shiming. Thus, he could only watch as the figure of the young man in coarse clothing grew blurrier until it all became darkness.
Perhaps at the moment of his death, Ruan Shiming had some regrets—not that he had made an enemy of Yun Xiao, but rather that he did not earnestly persuade Xu Huan when the latter refused to follow the Chairman.
Ruan Shiming believed that even if Yun Xiao’s strength was formidable enough to kill even a Peak Qi Seeking Realm expert like himself, it would still be impossible to cause much of an uproar when facing those of the Seeking Origin Realm.
It was too late for regrets; the unconscious Ruan Shiming seemed to foresee the fate befalling his companions next. A strong Yun Xiao, added with several notable Meridian Spirit Demon Pets, led to a predictable outcome.
Bang!
Just as Yun Xiao recalled the Dragon Taming Sword, a loud noise suddenly came from somewhere. He then saw a figure flitting past before him, catching just a fleeting glimpse that was vaguely familiar.
"Xi Shaoting?"
Yun Xiao still had some recollection of this opponent he had met during the Spirit Fighting Conference. After all, the Heavenly Hidden Beast was quite rare, considered a special type of Vein Demon even in the Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
Turns out that while Yun Xiao was rapidly killing Xu Huan and Ruan Shiming, Xi Shaoting, who was battling the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu, got distracted, allowing Xiao Wu to seize an opportunity and deliver a sweeping tail strike. Despite being less than three inches in length, it greatly taxed Xi Shaoting.
Just like Ruan Shiming earlier, Xi Shaoting’s back slammed into the wall of the cave after Xiao Wu’s mighty blow, a mouthful of blood spewing out, obviously suffering serious injuries.
And the Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu’s speed seemed even faster than Yun Xiao wielding the Dragon Taming Sword moments ago. With a flash, by the next instant, Xi Shaoting’s body stiffened, his chest sporting a thumb-sized bloody hole.
If someone were to take a closer look, they would discover that this small hole in Xi Shaoting’s chest had completely pierced his heart. With blood gushing out, his lifeforce swiftly faded.
Boom!
Meanwhile, another battle on the other side had finally resolved. However, compared to Ruan Shiming and Xi Shaoting, Ge Sheng was in a much better situation, perhaps deliberately creating the opportunity to escape the battlefield.
"Yun Xiao, this... this is actually a misunderstanding!"
After gaining some distance from Red Feather with a heavy blow, Ge Sheng’s eyes flickered as he spoke, prompting a sneer to appear on Yun Xiao’s face.
"Mr. Ge, is it? Why don’t you explain what kind of ’misunderstanding’ this is?"
In a dominant position, Yun Xiao didn’t mind talking a bit more with the old man. After all, during the time at the Meridian Spirit trade street, he had heard that the man’s surname was Ge.
"Actually, all of this was decided by the Chairman and Xu Huan; we were merely following orders. As long as you let me safely leave, I guarantee the Spirit Fighting Commerce of Yuyang City won’t trouble you again!"
Ge Sheng seemed to have thought of something, his words sounding like a skewed argument without a shred of logic. Given his standing in Yuyang City’s Spirit Fighting Commerce, how could he possibly speak for the entire organization?
"Sorry, since you came here today, no matter what your intentions were, you can’t possibly leave alive!"
Yun Xiao wasn’t easily fooled. Seeing him sneer, the words he spoke turned Ge Sheng’s expectant expression instantly gloomy, and in the next moment, he was ready to act.
Whoosh!
Perhaps Ge Sheng had this plan all along. As soon as Yun Xiao finished speaking, it was as if springs were installed under Ge Sheng’s feet, propelling him straight towards the back. There, was the cave entrance.