Chapter 916: Settling the Wind and Waves, Slashing Li Tian, the Nether Earth Dragon

A finger pointed out, and heaven and earth changed.

Vast primordial energy swept over, like crashing waves against a shore.

The countless Gu insects originally hidden within the Wind and Waves Pavilion were forced to reveal their forms under the continuous impact.

One by one, the Gu insects rose and fell amidst the wind and waves, bobbing unsteadily.

A pair of sharp eyes gazed at those desperately struggling Gu insects, but he had no intention of striking directly.

He simply let the massive death energy transform into a great amount of vitality, allowing these Gu insects to gorge themselves on it.

Under repeated devouring, the power of the Wither-Prosper Finger gradually weakened.

But those Gu insects...

Boom!

A Gu insect resembling a withered cicada had its wings turn emerald green, its body bloated like a ball, and finally, it was burst alive, transforming into a mist of blood.

This was not an isolated case.

As if a chain reaction, once one Gu insect burst, successive explosions rang out, sounding like firecrackers.

Crackle, pop!

With their minds connected, the originally ferocious expression of Master Li Tian changed drastically.

His soul foundation was very strong; he was a standout among the Nascent Soul cultivators Luo Chen had seen. Even when his previous Glazed Gu was destroyed, he could easily suppress the soul backlash.

It was precisely because of this that during the battle, Luo Chen directly gave up on using soul-bewildering techniques like "Ghost and God Avoidance."

The soul technique "Ghost and God Avoidance" was very useful, but if it were seen through by someone during combat, it would instead cause the person who thought they were safe to be hit by attacks they could have otherwise dodged.

However, no matter how strong a soul foundation was, how could it withstand the continuous destruction of hundreds or thousands of mind-linked objects?

Under repeated impacts, Master Li Tian staggered backward, his face ferocious.

"How could it be like this?"

"What kind of spell is that? Why can't the Wind and Waves Pavilion absorb it?"

Facing his confusion and bewilderment, Luo Chen naturally would not answer.

Ever since the battle with True Person Shen Yuan, his understanding of the divine ability Wither-Prosper Dao Finger had reached perfection.

When cast normally, vitality transforms into death intent, which can injure enemies and even cause their physical bodies and magic power to stagnate and dissipate.

But if the divine ability is reversed, death energy transforms into vitality, which is enough to deal a saturation-style blow to these enemies who love to devour and digest.

The so-called Wither-Prosper cycle, the transformation of life and death, is nothing more than this!

And the death energy in the Yin-Yang Remnant Realm—how vast, how immense was it?

At this moment, under his guidance, how could a mere Wind and Waves Pavilion absorb it completely?

He stood quietly in the void, the wind and wave impacts generated by the self-destruction of a large number of Gu insects crashing toward him, but under the protective divine light emitted by the Flat Mountain Crown, he remained as immovable as a mountain.

His powerful spiritual sense expanded, searching for something.

Before long, Luo Chen's eyes lit up, and he beckoned toward the void.

Swish!

A white-gold light flickered and returned.

It was precisely the white-gold sword pellet that had been bound earlier.

At this point, Luo Chen did not stop.

His gaze suddenly narrowed, falling upon the two Yin-Yang fish swimming freely in the primordial energy wind and waves.

"Life-and-Death Gu!"

His eyes lit up, and he took a step, approaching the two Gu insects step by step.

Suddenly, a heaven-shaking sword light slashed down.

Luo Chen did not dodge or evade, flicking his hand to parry with the Yuan Tu Sword.

Boom!

Under the impact of the immense force, Luo Chen remained as immovable as a mountain.

But in the air, that Corroded Corpse Sword appeared with several cracks amidst a barely audible crisp sound.

"Without the suppression of the Wind and Waves Pavilion, what other abilities do you have, Master Li Tian?" Luo Chen laughed calmly, his peripheral vision glancing at the two Yin-Yang fish, which had swum not far away under the impact of the battle's aftermath.

In mid-air, Master Li Tian's arm trembled slightly, holding the Corroded Corpse Sword, his face showing unwillingness.

"If this Life-and-Death Gu hadn't reached the fifth rank, if the Wind and Waves Pavilion hadn't lacked the suppression of a fifth-rank divine Gu, how could you have broken it in one move?"

Luo Chen never thought about "what ifs."

In battle, he only cared about the present.

Seeing the two Yin-Yang fish moving further and further away from him, his expression narrowed slightly, and he prepared to chase after them.

Although the Life-and-Death Gu taken from the black coffin was not a fifth-rank existence as Meng Shentong had exaggerated, it could make a generation of great experts guard it before they passed away; its potential must be immense.

Such a treasure—since he had come, why not take it while he was at it?

Seeing Luo Chen's movement, Master Li Tian was furious.

Not only had his natal Demon Heart Gu been taken, but the other party was even coveting the Life-and-Death Gu he had painstakingly sought.

"You, you go too far!"

With a roar, he frantically pinched a seal.

"Explode!"

One "explode" brought thousands of buzzing sounds.

The remaining Gu insects that made up the Wind and Waves Pavilion immediately self-destructed, transforming into a terrifying storm that attacked Luo Chen.

Taking this opportunity, Master Li Tian shot out, rushing toward the Yin-Yang fish.

The terrifying storm arrived, and Luo Chen, caught in the middle, flickered in and out of sight, staggering left and right, unable to advance even an inch for a moment.

Even the protective light screen of the Flat Mountain Crown and the protective armor of the Xuan Chen Armor began to totter under such an impact.

Luo Chen sighed, his expression suddenly becoming solemn.

He opened his mouth and spat, and a small gray cauldron flew out, spinning.

The small gray cauldron grew in the wind, turning into a hundred-zhang giant in the blink of an eye.

Powerful spiritual light flickered incessantly within it, and there was even a butterfly pattern that seemed ready to fly.

The giant cauldron stood in the storm, like an indestructible reef.

A low shout was heard in the void.

"Suppress!"

The massive storm went quiet in an instant.

The immeasurable wind and waves dissipated in a flash.

Many Gu insects that were in the middle of self-destructing could not help but cease their actions.

The two Yin-Yang fish, which had not been affected by the wind and waves even before, shrank to one side for some reason after the appearance of the Primordial Cauldron, no longer continuing to flee.

Even Master Li Tian, who was fleeing rapidly, found his movements involuntarily sluggish, as if he had fallen into a quagmire.

He revealed a look of terror, watching helplessly as Luo Chen arrived first despite starting later, crossing the void in a few steps to reach the front of the two Yin-Yang fish.

With a casual scoop, the two fish were in his hands.

"This sect will accept this!"

Spiritual light flashed in his hand, and the Life-and-Death Gu disappeared instantly.

At the same time, a furious, shrill roar came from behind him.

"Return it to me!"

Bang!

Master Li Tian's body erupted with void flames, waving three arm-like blades, and he charged at Luo Chen holding the Corroded Corpse Sword.

He had forcibly broken free from the suppression of the Primordial Cauldron!

Facing the crazed Master Li Tian, Luo Chen sneered.

"Do you really think this sect is easy to bully? Without the Wind and Waves Pavilion, how are you my match?"

He did not retreat but advanced, wielding the Yuan Tu Sword with ease.

One sword strike!

Clang!

That Corroded Corpse Sword, which Master Li Tian had secretly refined for hundreds of years, could no longer withstand the peerless sharpness, breaking into several pieces in the middle, with the hilt plunging into the earth.

Luo Chen scattered them with a casual wave.

Five sword pellets flew out, spinning and arranging themselves in five directions, manifesting the Five Elements.

Gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—they restrained each other, yet were mutually generative and endless.

Boom!

Massive sword threads permeated the area.

A sword-qi storm, no less intense than the previous self-destruction of the Wind and Waves Pavilion, directly wrapped around the charging Master Li Tian.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Countless sword threads shuttled back and forth, cutting and strangling incessantly, forcing Master Li Tian to struggle left and right, unable to dodge.

In just a few rounds, the three mantis-like blade arms were cut off, leaving only one.

Luo Chen put away the Yuan Tu Blood Sword, withdrew, pressed his palms together, and pushed out a palm.

Hum...

A palm print like a scorching sun slowly emerged, rushing into the Great Five Elements Sword Array with deceptive slowness but actual speed.

Only a shrill scream was heard.

The Green Sun Palm Print broke out of the array, pressing a figure down onto the hard ground with a boom.

All of this sounds complex.

But under Luo Chen's hands, it was merely instinctive combat experience and rapid execution.

With a thought, the five sword pellets circled his side, and the Primordial Cauldron was held in front.

Luo Chen looked down from above at the miserable figure in the five-finger print on the ground.

Although miserable and disheveled, he still had a breath left.

It was unknown how much human blood and energy he had secretly refined with the Demon Heart Gu, but he had nourished his physical body to be so full of vitality that he still had strength left even under Luo Chen's continuous blows.

Among the many enemies Luo Chen had encountered, this could be considered a tenacious one.

The only pity was that although this person's realm was high and his methods were many, his combat experience was slightly rough.

Perhaps this was related to the fact that he had been forced to hide his true identity for many years and, after achieving success in Gu refining, had occupied a high position.

When one's status is high, opportunities to fight are few.

Naturally, there was no way to speak of polishing combat skills.

For a moment, Luo Chen actually felt a bit unsatisfied.

Click, click, click...

Sounds of breaking free from restraints rang out.

It was not just Master Li Tian struggling, but also the Black King who had been suppressed by the Triple Blood Shackles earlier.

Luo Chen flicked his magic power, and the Black King broke free.

"Have you also been lax in your cultivation?" Luo Chen asked.

The Black King was full of grievances; although he often slept, that was also a way for him to cultivate, and he really hadn't been lazy or slacking off.

It was just that the enemies his master had encountered these few times were far beyond his strength range.

The strongest powerhouse below Soul Transformation, the Green Frost Demon Emperor!

The former number one cultivator of the Far East, True Person Shen Yuan!

The Southern Border Gu refining grandmaster, Master Li Tian!

Which one of these was he capable of dealing with?

"Master..."

"Forget it, come back!"

Luo Chen naturally could not bear to blame the Black King excessively; being able to share the burden for him at critical moments was already the other party doing their best.

The Black King hummed and flew toward him, saying at the same time: "Master, under this tomb, there seems to be a big thing."

"A big thing?"

Luo Chen was startled.

But immediately, he realized that a guy who could make even the Black King call it a "big thing" was definitely not of the same ilk as Granny Hongye or the Flying Yaksha.

His expression changed slightly, and without hesitation, he pointed a finger at Master Li Tian.

Sword qi left his body and arrived in an instant.

Pfft!

A large hole was suddenly broken open in the center of Master Li Tian's brow.

For a Nascent Soul powerhouse, the physical body was no longer a fatal weak point; just like having the heart taken, one could still fight for a short time.

But the head was still relatively fragile, especially since it involved the location of the sea of consciousness and the soul.

Under a single sword qi, the sea of consciousness was completely destroyed.

Following closely, another sword qi rushed toward him.

This was Luo Chen wanting to kill him completely.

A blood-colored Nascent Soul figure crawled out of Master Li Tian's corpse, his eyes filled with resentment as he faced the incoming sword qi.

But, it was only resentment.

Because the omnipresent suppression force of the Primordial Cauldron still existed, preventing his Nascent Soul from merging with heaven and earth.

"Luo Chen, even as a ghost, I won't let you go."

Hearing the resentful voice, Luo Chen smiled slightly.

The number of people he had killed in his life was uncountable.

Among them were many resentful ones; if every one of them were to become a fierce ghost to seek revenge on him, he would have died long ago.

"Go to your death!"

Sword qi was like a weave, endless.

It continuously broke through the defenses of Master Li Tian's Nascent Soul; death was in the next moment.

And the next moment...

Boom!

The ground suddenly cracked open, and a bloody mouth pulled itself out of the earth, swallowing Master Li Tian's Nascent Soul in one gulp.

Faintly, the sound of chewing could still be heard.

Then, a strange head, green and mixed with yellow, appeared before Luo Chen's eyes.

As soon as it appeared, those agile eyes locked onto Luo Chen.

"What kind of monster is this?"

Luo Chen was amazed, but his hand movements were not slow at all.

He pressed down with a palm!

It hit that strange head.

Boom!

The immense force was added, but the result was unexpected.

Luo Chen was forced to fly backward, crashing directly into the hard wall.

He fell helplessly.

"Master!"

An anxious voice rang out, and the Black King was about to manifest again.

Luo Chen pressed him down, his mind racing with a hundred thoughts, and finally, there was only one thought.

"Run!"

Source power regenerated, and his whole body shot into the sky.

The ground continued to sink, and that green-and-yellow monster with agile eyes crawled quietly on the ground, its long tongue flicking, watching Luo Chen try to escape, seemingly in no hurry to block him.

The next moment.

Bang!

The entrance to the Nether Mountain, which had been blasted open by the Flame Dragon Birth, had closed at some unknown time, turning into a tough barrier that blocked Luo Chen.

Blocking not just Luo Chen, but also the previous survivor, Granny Hongye.

The two looked at each other, and without hesitation, they used their methods again.

One held an array disk, casting a teleportation method.

The other had the blood sword reappear, slashing through the air.

But the teleportation method was interrupted and collapsed, and they uncontrollably appeared within the tomb.

The blood sword was peerlessly sharp, and wherever it passed, the tough walls cracked inch by inch.

However, unexpectedly, the speed of recovery was as fast as the speed of breaking.

Drip, drip.

Luo Chen stood on the ground, watching the dripping blood, and a thought uncontrollably emerged in his heart.

Could this Nether Mountain be the body of some giant beast?

The walls he thought were extremely tough were actually its internal flesh and blood?

Then what was this monster before him?

That yellow-green monster struggled and crawled out from under the tomb.

Its body was not large, only about ten zhang.

But the terrifying power contained within its flesh could be seen from the fact that it could take Luo Chen's palm strike with its head.

Especially the way it looked at Luo Chen, there was a hint of urgency and greed.

"It's the fifth-rank desolate beast, the Nether Earth Dragon!"

Granny Hongye's anxious voice came from the side.

As soon as the four words "Nether Earth Dragon" were spoken, Luo Chen immediately recalled the relevant intelligence.

It was rumored that the great expert Yin-Dan Yangzi had contracted a fifth-rank desolate beast—the Nether Earth Dragon—using the Life-and-Death Gu.

Only by using this beast to travel between the netherworld and connect Yin and Yang could he achieve accomplishments in the Yin-Yang path.

But hadn't that Nether Earth Dragon died long ago because its lifespan had reached its limit?

Could this be a backup plan left behind by the other party to fake death and be reborn?

Luo Chen had no time to think, only because that greedy gaze fixed on him was becoming more and more urgent.

"Life-and-Death Gu!"

In an instant, Luo Chen understood everything.

This small Nether Earth Dragon was Yin-Dan Yangzi's backup plan; wasn't the Life-and-Death Gu hidden in the black coffin also one of the backup plans?

It was just that for some reason, the Gu insect failed to advance to the fifth rank as desired, and could not resurrect Yin-Dan Yangzi for a long time.

But since it had awakened now, the two becoming one was a necessity.

"Return the Life-and-Death Gu, or stay?"

Luo Chen glanced at the Nether Earth Dragon, and his mind instantly made a decision.

It was likely that even if he gave it to it, it wouldn't necessarily let him go.

Since that was the case...

A fierce look flashed in Luo Chen's eyes, and he held one palm vertically before his chest.

"Come out!"

The next moment, the phantom of a small tree emerged in the tomb hall.

Immeasurable blue-white flames, centered on Luo Chen, swept through everything.