Perhaps it was the heat of battle, which left no room for distraction. Or perhaps it was the extraordinary Turtle Breathing Technique—a technique that had once concealed even a Celestial Tribulation. Evading the Perception of Purple Mansion cultivators was, therefore, no problem at all.
Thus, no one noticed Yu Changsheng’s clandestine arrival. They each unleashed their Divine Techniques, darkening the heavens and earth as they fought with utmost fury.
"Illusory Dragon Soul!"
"Sea Dragon Roar!"
"Celestial Dragon Slash!"
The three True Monarchs of the Spirit Dragon Sect let out low roars. Their heaven-shaking Divine Techniques howled through the air. A Red Dragon flickered with an eerie light, weaving in and out of sight as it coiled toward Elder Wei. A Blue Dragon stirred layers of azure waves, raising a boundless tide that crashed down violently. And a Celestial Dragon cried out from high above, its body contracting until it was as sharp as a blade. Amidst a thunderous Dragon’s Roar, it slashed downward, carving a long, vicious gash through the air.
The Five Elements Profound Bird shrieked, its tail sweeping out to unleash a five-colored Divine Light. The Azure Water Sub-Dragon’s body trembled as it spewed boundless azure waves from its great maw, forming an overwhelming sea that came crashing down.
In that instant, the world seemed to tear apart, with aftershocks rippling for hundreds of miles. The Divine Techniques of the combatants were perfectly coordinated, amplifying their destructive power.
Elder Wei’s expression shifted. Tapping his feet to retreat a step, he let out a heavy breath.
"Profound Yellow Shield!"
With a wave of his hand, the Profound Yellow Spirit Turtle cried out softly. Its shell abruptly expanded, transforming into an inverted celestial dome that shielded Elder Wei, radiating a heavy, profound yellow light.
RUMBLE!!
As the Divine Techniques collided, Elder Wei let out a muffled grunt, his breath becoming ragged. The Profound Yellow Shield only held for a moment against the overwhelming assault before it shattered completely.
"WHIMPER..."
The Profound Yellow Spirit Turtle whimpered twice in pain. Meanwhile, the Cyan-eyed Holy Snake flicked its tongue, a spectral glint flashing in its cyan-green eyes. It opened its mouth and spat out a massive, Heaven-Reaching pillar of cyan light, thick with corrosive power, that shot toward the three Spirit Dragon Sect members.
"Cyan Eye Death Light!"
The Black Wind Spirit Dragon let out a Dragon’s Roar, its vast and unending draconic might surging forth. It opened its mouth to spit, instantly summoning gales and clouds. Howling streams of black wind, imbued with a tearing force, rushed forward. Under the pressure of this draconic might, even the Azure Water Sub-Dragon faltered for a moment, the power of its Divine Technique weakening.
An Azure Water Sub-Dragon, not a Cyan Water Spirit Dragon. This was naturally because its bloodline was not pure enough; it was still lacking. There remained a considerable gap between it and a truly pure dragon.
The Black Wind Spirit Dragon, however, could already be considered a true Spirit Dragon. Its bloodline was purer than the Azure Water Sub-Dragon’s, which gave it a degree of suppressive power over the latter. It was precisely because of this superior bloodline that the Spirit Dragon Sect had intentionally suppressed the Black Wind Spirit Dragon’s Realm for all these years.
His goal was to wait for the right moment to strip the Black Wind Spirit Dragon of its Bloodline Origin. He intended to use it to help his own Azure Water Sub-Dragon achieve a complete bloodline evolution. This was also why the Black Wind Spirit Dragon had so easily entered into a Contract with Elder Wei.
...
RUMBLE!
A violent roar echoed through the air. Mountains shook, the void distorted, and the streaks of Divine Light dimmed. Elder Wei’s body sagged as he struggled to block the wave of attacks. His fists clenched, and blood began to trickle from his nose and mouth.
His three Fourth-rank Spirit Beasts guarded him. Though all were injured, they stared down the three Spirit Dragon Sect cultivators and their two beasts with predatory eyes. Even with the aid of his Spirit Beasts, it was a struggle for Elder Wei to face three Purple Mansion cultivators alone.
"You’ve held on for quite a while, old man, but you must be at your limit now."
Tian Long True Monarch sneered. As he looked at the outwardly calm Elder Wei, a flicker of surprise and apprehension, gone in an instant, passed deep within his eyes.
"Even at my limit, if I go all out, I can still take one or two of you with me to the grave."
"If you think I’m bluffing, you’re welcome to test me. See if I have what it takes."
Elder Wei’s gaze was icy as he casually wiped the blood from his lips and spoke.
The expressions of the three Spirit Dragon Sect members stiffened, a flicker of unease crossing their faces. They exchanged a look, and one snorted coldly:
"What arrogance. You can barely save your own skin, yet you talk so big."
Illusion Dragon True Monarch paused. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he continued in a mocking tone, "Oh, right. You had a disciple, didn’t you? Named Yu Changsheng?"
"Since he’s dead and you’re all alone now, it’s just not right. How about I do you a favor and send you to join him? What do you think?"
Illusion Dragon True Monarch spoke with contempt. The moment he finished, Elder Wei’s expression twisted, becoming so dark it looked like it could drip ink. An uncontrollable, towering rage blazed in his eyes. His composure shattered, and he let out a choked roar:
"You’re courting death!"
RUMBLE! In that instant, the abyssal Power of Divine Soul of a Purple Mansion Peak cultivator erupted from him completely. It transformed into a Vast Sea that shrouded the sky, and within it, a heaven-sundering sharpness began to brew.
"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"
The Profound Yellow Spirit Turtle, the Black Wind Spirit Dragon, and the Cyan-eyed Holy Snake all erupted with boundless Divine Light. The wind howled and clouds roiled, thunder cracked and mountains collapsed. It was like the end of the world.
"Oh? Flying into a rage out of shame? Did I strike a nerve?"
A smirk played on Illusion Dragon True Monarch’s lips. The contempt in his eyes deepened as he chuckled. He assumed Elder Wei was simply enraged and failed to notice the profound astonishment hidden within the old man’s gaze.
Nevertheless, Illusion Dragon True Monarch’s expression grew solemn. He exchanged a nod with Tian Long True Monarch and Sea Dragon True Monarch before conjuring and unleashing a myriad of Divine Techniques.
"Thousand... Thought... Instant... Prison... Kill!"
Elder Wei’s gaze was glacial as he slowly enunciated each word. With every word he uttered, a scorching heavenly might was born. The Divine Thought that blanketed the sky began to roar, trembling gently in resonance.
Light warped and space twisted. Wherever the thoughts of Elder Wei’s Divine Soul touched, an aura of annihilation erupted. His Divine Thought morphed into thousands of ice blades, blanketing the entire area. Sharp as the wind and designed to extinguish the Divine Soul, they descended in an instant—like death by a thousand cuts—stabbing viciously toward the three men.