Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

ps: Damn it, another power cut. I'm copying an old post to maintain my perfect attendance. Sorry about that. As soon as the power is back, I'll write immediately. At least three updates tonight, my apologies. Please don't read this yet!

All the Mahayana cultivators were astonished, especially the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch, who was utterly shocked.

In the Southern Sea Dragon Clan, they prided themselves on their physical prowess. Their South Sea Battle Dragon Art, an ancient combat technique of the Dragon Clan, allowed them to achieve a state where they not only possessed boundless strength and the ability to upheave seas and overturn rivers but also scales, claws, and teeth comparable to superior immortal implements.

How could the opponent manage to repel him in a hand-to-hand combat?

The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch was alarmed, finding it impossible to accept such a reality.

It wasn't that he was arrogant or conceited; it was simply beyond all conventional understanding.

Since time immemorial, there were always stronger people and higher heavens.

In the Earth Immortal Realm, numerous powerful beings existed, along with ancient body refinement techniques, such as the Nine Revolutions Primordial Skill of the Heavenly Court, the Supreme Secret Teachings of Buddhism, the Heavenly Demon Holy Law of the Demon Race, and the Nine Tribulations Demon Body of the Devil Race—each a supreme method of body refinement that surpassed his South Sea Battle Dragon Art.

Thus, the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch could accept that there were combatants within the Earth Immortal Realm that were physically stronger than him.

But he couldn't accept that Zhen Yuanzi was among them, possessing such a formidable physique.

Why?

Because it had been only a little over six hundred years since he had advanced to the Mahayana Realm—mere six hundred years!

In that limited time, on top of consolidating his Mahayana cultivation and transforming immortal spiritual power, he also had to gather materials and prepare for the Pill Origin Gathering, all of which consumed a tremendous amount of energy and time. For an ordinary cultivator, not to mention a mere hundred years, even a thousand years would feel rushed.

Yet, in such a short time, he had not only consolidated his Mahayana cultivation but had also mastered the "Whip Mountain Move Stone," "Great Minor Compliance," and "Five Elements Great Escape," three Heaven Gang techniques. His Five Elements Divine Light and Sleeve Universe Divine Powers were also not neglected.

In just over six hundred years, such accomplishments were considered earth-shattering and unparalleled in history. How could he also find the time to cultivate body refinement techniques, creating a powerful combat body on par with his Southern Sea Dragon Clan?

How could anyone accept that?

This was beyond mere prodigy and breathtaking talent.

No matter how excellent one's innate gifts were or how high one's intelligence, it was impossible to achieve such cultivation results in such a short period.

This completely defied the norms of the Earth Immortal Realm, and there was no precedent for it in history.

Either Zhen Yuanzi was faking his capabilities, with all his previous actions being a façade, and even the identity of "Zhen Yuanzi" was falsely assumed.

Or he possessed a Heaven-reaching opportunity or supreme treasure that allowed him to achieve these results in just over six hundred years.

Which was it?

The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch did not know, and at that moment, he had no time to think further.

Whether it was the former or the latter, now that the enemy was at his doorstep, did he really have any other choice?

One way or another, battle would be inevitable!

"Rooooar!"

A dragon roar thundered as the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch, enraged, sprang into action. His inverted chin scales bristled sharply as he transformed fully into his battle dragon form and charged towards his adversary once again.

"Rooooar! Rooooar! Rooooar!"

At the same time, from all directions within the Dragon Palace, similar roaring sounds were heard. Three dragon shadows rushed forth, converging with the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch on the battlefield.

They were the other Mahayana cultivators from the Southern Sea Dragon Palace.

As part of the Immortal God Taoism, with a legacy spanning over hundreds of thousands of years, the Southern Sea Dragon Palace certainly had more than one or two Mahayana cultivators.

Apart from the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch and the Southern Sea Dragon Queen, there were three three-headed, four-clawed flood dragons within the Dragon Palace, each of Mahayana cultivation. Now, they too were roused and hurried to provide support.

With the three dragons joining the fray and the sides quartering off against each other, dragon shapes crisscrossed everywhere, and golden scales filled the sky, causing the Crystal Palace to tremble incessantly.

With four Mahayana flood dragons personally entering the fray and clashing, plus the Southern Sea Dragon Queen orchestrating the Great Void Grand Array from outside and Mo Yunzi, who had inherited the Five Colors Divine Light and was struggling vigorously, the situation escalated to a six-dragon stance.

One against six, human against dragon—without speaking of quality, the numbers already provided an absolute advantage.

However, in the midst of the battlefield, under the force of the array, the Taoist man remained fearless.

He swept his horsetail whisk and lashed out with his Thunder Whip, clashing against the myriad dragon shadows and colliding with claws and golden scales.

The Tai Chi Diagram rotated, the Five Elements Light operated, resisting the Primordial Qi of the Great Void, and fending off the heavy waters of the Azure Sea.

Battle, battle, battle. Within the Great Void Azure Sea, one man fought against six dragons alone, withstanding the immense pressure of the array.

"This..."

Witnessing this scene, all the dragons in the field felt a chill, and the spectators outside were even more startled.

"Zhen Yuanzi!"

"He has such battle strength?"

"Within the Great Void Azure Sea, one man is fighting against six dragons alone?"

"The four flood dragons in close combat, plus the pressure of the Great Void Azure Sea, and still they can't take him down?"

"In just over six hundred years, this man has advanced to Mahayana, initiated Pill Origin, cultivated divine powers, refined his combat body...this..."

"How is this possible, how is this possible!?"

"He's not Zhen Yuanzi, he definitely isn't Zhen Yuanzi, this is completely illogical!"

"If he's not masquerading under another's name or disguising himself, then he must have some earth-shattering secret on him!"

"A Heaven-reaching opportunity, a supreme treasure?"

"..."

The onlookers were in a whirl of confusion, filled with various speculations and doubts.

Everything had a cause and effect; such a defiance of the natural order by this person surely hid some earth-shattering secret.

If they could capture him with the help of the Southern Sea Dragon Palace, wouldn't they have the chance to delve into the mystery and even share in the spoils?

At that moment, greed filled their hearts, and they were itching to make a move!

Just then...

"Ahhhh!!!"

A pitiful shriek echoed sharply.

Everyone's gaze snapped in the direction of the sound, only to see that, in the midst of the battlefield, five streams of sword qi burst forth, targeting the bodies of the four dragons.

Where did this sword qi come from?

It originated from the Five Colors Divine Light from Mo Yunzi's body.

The Five Colors Divine Light, sharp as swords, had burst from inside Mo Yunzi, sweeping towards the four Mahayana flood dragons who were besieging from all sides.

"Bang!!!"

The Southern Sea Dragon Monarch struck with a powerful claw, shattering two colors of the Divine Light. Indeed, he was a battle dragon whose power was on par with that of a superior immortal implement.

The remaining three dragons, though slightly inferior to him, also scattered the Divine Light. Their offensive relaxed momentarily before swiftly reverting back to their siege.

Only...

"Roar!!!"

A tragic wail was heard as Mo Yunzi, who had been pierced by five streaks of sword Qi, toppled to the ground. He transformed into a ferocious demon dragon, his vitality rapidly dissipating. A faint dragon soul attempted to escape its decaying flesh but was bound by five chains. It could only let out a pitiful cry for help.

"Young brother!"

Witnessing this scene, the four dragons on-site were shocked, but it was the Southern Sea Dragon Queen outside the arena who immediately changed color.

Without regard to the loss of immortal power and a significant drop in cultivation, she furiously activated the power of the array, the Great Void Azure Sea, and ten thousand units of heavy water, desperately trying to suppress everything in the arena.

Seeing this, Xu Yang immediately switched to a defensive stance, with the Tai Chi Diagram suspended high above his head, and a five-colored aura surrounding his body, isolating the ten thousand units of heavy water and the dragon claws outside.

"Bang bang bang!"

A series of collision sounds rang out, like rain beating on banana leaves, fierce and intense. The four dragons coordinated with the array power, and their claws ferociously attacked, yet they could not breach the Tai Chi Diagram or five-element light around the Taoist man.

"Is this..."

"Divine Power?"

"Magical Treasure?"

"Array?"

The crowd outside furrowed their brows tightly, catching glimpses of various traces of magic during this offensive and defensive battle, which nonetheless seemed indistinct and elusive.

No matter what, Xu Yang focused on defense, and his defense line was even more stable, undisturbed by the fierce attacks of the five dragons.

Just as the deadlock between the two sides persisted...

"Boom!!!"

A loud noise, and space shattered, with a dragon claw slowly but swiftly reaching into the arena.

A single dragon claw, dark gold in color, exuding an indescribable ancient aura and a mountainous sense of power that even the dark gold scales revealed. The very space could not bear it, shattering inch by inch, turning into nothingness and disintegrating.

It was...

"Boom!!!"

Before the crowd could gather their thoughts or cry out in alarm, that dragon claw had entered the arena, landing upon the five-element light barrier.

It was a landing, not a strike, nor a tear!

A gentle landing, seemingly effortless, as if no strength was put forth at all, hence it couldn't be described as a heavy blow or tearing apart.

However, with this gentle landing, upon touching the five-element light barrier, it caused the Divine Light, which even the four Mahayana Jiao Dragons combined with the Great Void Azure Sea couldn't shake, to tremble as if it were a mirror, shattering inch by inch.

Not just the Five Elements Divine Light, the Tai Chi Diagram above also suffered an impact, reverting to the black and white fish, which were immediately destroyed, and the Yin and Yang Qi dissipated, leaving only the cultivator's body to face the True Dragon Five Claws.

In an instant, the solid defense completely collapsed!

Xu Yang's eyes narrowed, he urgently spurred his immortal power, the Five Elements Divine Light reappeared, the Yin and Yang Tai Chi reemerged, the space behind him vanished into nothingness, revealing a magnificent sight where Chaos Yuan began, Qiankun Manifest, an independent world formed, with Immortal City hanging high, radiating its light majestically.

Such a strike had reached the limit.

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"Boom!!!"

The dragon claw fell, space shattered, everything ceased to exist.

The Tai Chi collapsed, Five Elements destroyed, the cultivator's body staggered back, shocking splashes of crimson blood scattered everywhere.

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"

A series of frantic sounds, like firecrackers exploding, Xu Yang retreated ten steps in space, leaving a series of cracks, revealing the extent of the force he had suffered.

"Boom!!!"

With the final step, space buckled under pressure, breaking apart, but the cultivator managed to steady his body and barely hold his ground.

"This is..."

"Dragon King!"

"Calamity Immortal!"

The sudden change sent shock throughout the crowd, looking at the dark gold dragon claw emerging from the broken space, and then at Xu Yang who was injured and retreating, everyone finally came back to their senses, yet uncertain what to do.

"Father!"

Only the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch managed to react in time, ready to pounce forward and claim the final result of the battle.

"I have learned of the Southern Sea's dragon might, humble Taoist indeed!"

Seeing this, Xu Yang still managed a smile, raising his hand to wipe the vermilion from the corner of his mouth, and swept his horsetail whisk accordingly.

In an instant, green, yellow, red, black, and white, the Five Colors Divine Light revolved like a grinder, instantly concealing the Taoist's figure.

Seeing this, the dark gold dragon claw stretched out once more, faster even than the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch, directly reaching into the Five Elements Divine Light.

"Boom!!!"

The dragon claw grasped down, space shattered, the five elements' radiance dissipated, yet the Taoist's figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Five Elements Great Escape?"

"Humph!!"

To this outcome, it seemed as if a dragon's roar echoed from the void, and a heavy dragon's might pressed down like a mountain.

"The child is incompetent!"

The heavy dragon's might was as imposing as mountains and peaks; the Dragon Palace Aquatic Clan instantly prostrated on the ground, with the Southern Sea Dragon Monarch and several Four-clawed Jiao Dragons also kneeling and bowing their heads: "We ask for Father's leniency!"

"Hmph!"

With another cold snort, the dark gold dragon claw withdrew, and the seawater reversed, filling the spatial damage.

Eventually, all returned to calm, the might of the True Dragon unseen, and the figure of the Taoist man gone, leaving only the corpse of the Demon Dragon lying on the ground and several Jiao Dragons with faces as dark as water.

Seeing this, the crowd was also silent, their eyes meeting with nothing but shock and amazement.

"That Zhen Yuanzi, to cultivate the Five Elements Great Escape to such an extent?"

"Even the Calamity Immortal's intervention was unable to detain him?"

"In this way, within the Earth Realm, wouldn't he roam unhindered?"

"The Southern Sea Dragon King, a Four Calamities True Dragon, insufficient against those above yet excessive for those below, even so unable to detain him..."

"Could it be that the injuries suffered during the last True Dragon Tribulation have not yet healed, and, worried about aggravating karma, he therefore restrained his strength in his actions..."

The thoughts of the crowd were tumultuous, churning with undercurrents.