Chapter 328: The Power of the Tide

"Boom… boom… boom…"

In the very center of this red sea of fire, the fire dragon absorbed the surrounding fire-element spiritual energy.

Higher and higher, higher and higher.

Eventually, it grew to a hundred zhang.

And when something reaches its peak, it must decline.

After the fire dragon reached a hundred zhang, its terrifying fire-element power surged outward like a colossal tide—with a crash.

Swift as thunder.

The speed was extremely fast; within a single breath, it expanded fifty zhang outward from around the dragon.

Crash…

Crash crash…

Both the Thirteenth Imperial Prince and the Ninth Imperial Prince were flung out by the immense force of this tide.

But once the fire tide reached fifty zhang, its speed suddenly slowed, and it took over a dozen breaths to expand the full hundred zhang.

Once it reached a hundred zhang, the tide began to recede from its lowest point.

At first, the retreat was slow; then, as the range shrank, the speed increased rapidly, until all the fire spiritual energy and fire-element rules were drawn back within ten zhang of the fire dragon.

Inhale… exhale!

Flow and reflux, perfectly balanced.

Highly regular.

When the new cycle began, countless fire spiritual energies once again surged outward like thunder, sweeping across the surroundings.

"Damn it, damn it…"

The Ninth Imperial Prince looked disheveled; his moon-white robes had been torn apart.

He cursed as he shouted: "How can this tide's power be so brutal? Thirteenth, doesn't this seem stronger than last time?"

"I don't know!" the Thirteenth Prince shook his head. "Logically, this tide's power should remain unchanged!"

"But the ancient texts clearly state it wasn't this difficult to pass through!"

"Perhaps our method of harnessing it is wrong!"

"To enter the tide's flow, you must time your move perfectly!"

"Mm!" The Ninth Prince nodded. "Perhaps that's it."

A silence fell between them; neither chose to enter again, instead sinking into thought.

During this time, several other cultivators attempted to enter—and fared even worse than the Ninth Prince; some were injured from misjudging the tide's power.

About half an incense stick later, the Thirteenth Prince glanced around and said: "Why haven't you seen your friend?"

"Old Nine, if your friend were here, he'd probably be able to get inside, wouldn't he?"

The friend he referred to was naturally He Pingsheng.

The Ninth Prince immediately wore a proud smile. "Of course! Thirteenth, I won't lie—my friend is incredibly powerful, hehe…"

"Hehe… to be honest, he's exactly like me—five-element spiritual roots!"

"We hit it off instantly and planned to become sworn brothers!"

"Too bad… too bad… we never found the right moment…"

"Pfft…" The Thirteenth Prince sneered. "Don't flatter yourself, and don't drag down the imperial family's reputation!"

"Boom… boom… boom…"

At that moment, a new wave of fire tide began.

And this time, a golden feather, roughly one chi long, landed outside the tide's edge.

When the tide receded, it did not take the feather with it.

But if no one picked it up, the next tide would sweep it away again.

Yet now, it was impossible.

Because dozens of cultivators near the feather had already begun fighting over it.

He Pingsheng did not move.

Neither did the Thirteenth or Ninth Princes.

Because the feather had appeared on the opposite side.

It was already too late to act.

In the end, the golden feather was claimed by a young Foundation Establishment Stage Twelve cultivator.

The Ninth Prince looked envious. "That's Mingyu True Person of the Heaven's Delusion Immortal Sect…"

"What incredible luck!"

The Thirteenth Prince shook his head. "Not necessarily. This item alone has little use—you need at least seven to forge a fan-like magic treasure."

"One feather is useless."

"This is strange!" The Ninth Prince looked around. "Where is Xu Dao you? Why hasn't he come over to try?"

"Only he might be able to obtain these phoenix feathers!"

He Pingsheng heard this and chuckled.

He stepped forward and entered the tide.

After watching for about an incense stick outside, He Pingsheng finally gained some clarity.

To reach closer to the fire dragon, you must harness the tide's power.

So you cannot oppose the tide—you must move with its flow.

The optimal moment is when the tide surges to its farthest point.

He Pingsheng stepped in and sprinted swiftly toward the fire dragon.

His Poison-Resisting Five-Element Treasure Pearl was activated to its maximum, and his water-element magic power surged outward.

In one breath, he reached a distance of only ten zhang from the fire dragon.

At this range, he could reach some phoenix feathers.

But He Pingsheng had no time to grab them—the tide's suction had reached its peak, violently drawing in fire spiritual energy from all around.

Using the tide's force, He Pingsheng advanced another five zhang.

After five zhang, he suddenly felt his strength drain away.

Then, the fire dragon's dao and fire-element spiritual energy erupted again.

Boom… boom… boom…

Crash…

Even He Pingsheng could not withstand such intense fire spiritual energy—he was blasted out and flung dozens of zhang away.

Several others were thrown out with him.

No one paid He Pingsheng special attention.

He Pingsheng did not attempt again. He sat cross-legged on a nearby rock, watching and thinking.

His Poison-Resisting Five-Element Treasure Pearl had now been refined to the eleventh level.

He could not refine it to the twelfth level in the short term.

Previously, at the ice dragon, he had been able to approach within three zhang using the Treasure Pearl alone.

By that logic, even without the tide's aid, he should be able to reach within three zhang of the fire dragon here.

Then why, even with the tide's help, could he only reach five zhang?

The reason was simple.

His limit had not been reached.

For example, without the tide, he could approach three zhang—but with the tide, he had insufficient time.

He had not yet pushed himself to his limit before the tide flung him out.

Naturally, he could not get closer to the fire dragon.

The problem was found. How to solve it?

Simple: move forward as far as possible before the tide's push arrives.

That means—take a risk.

Accelerate.

How to accelerate?

Simple… Meteor Talisman!

He Pingsheng had previously swiped three Speed Talismans from the Ninth Prince and upgraded them into six Meteor Talismans.

These could double his speed at Foundation Establishment.

Add his shoes, and… hehe…

Snap…

He Pingsheng directly activated one talisman and slapped it onto his leg.

One Meteor Talisman lasted fifteen days.

More than enough.