DiploNovel Chapter 317 : Crimson Radiance Shines
Chapter 317 : Crimson Radiance Shines
On the Dueling Platform, the lingering magma still raged, and the boiling currents of air twisted and rose without cease.Yu Zhaohua stood upon the shoulder-back of the Flintrock Coiled Dragon, looking down at Mo Qingshuang from above.
Mo Qingshuang’s expression was calm. She did not speak. Only an extremely condensed sword intent surged skyward.
Boom!
The two figures turned into rainbows, shifting and flashing across the stage in relentless combat.
Clang——!!!
After an unknown amount of time, a sword cry that resounded through the heavens suddenly erupted.
Mo Qingshuang’s body swayed. The flying sword that was her natal Companion Beast finally failed to withstand the侵蚀 of the power of Crimson Radiance. It abruptly shattered, transforming into two masses of semi-transparent, flowing, glass-like life.
“Lu?”
The two flowing glass masses merged together, forming a palm-sized gelatinous Treasure Beast. Its gaze was filled with concern as it looked at Mo Qingshuang.
“I’m fine.”
Mo Qingshuang suppressed the metallic sweetness surging up her throat and looked straight at Yu Zhaohua. “The Crimson Radiance Dao Body truly lives up to its reputation. It can actually contend head-on with my sword intent.”
Yu Zhaohua’s expression did not change. The flames around her gradually dissipated.
Before her cultivation had broken through, she had narrowly defeated Mo Qingshuang by a single move.
Now that her cultivation had reached the late-stage Golden Core, she could unleash even greater power from the Crimson Radiance Dao Body. Coupled with the bloodline disparity between their Companion Beasts, defeating Mo Qingshuang had naturally become far easier.
“My thanks for the concession.” Yu Zhaohua calmly turned around.
From beginning to end, her target had never been Mo Qingshuang.
It was Chen Beiwu.
The reason was simple. Even if Mo Qingshuang had comprehended One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Arts, the limitations of her initial Companion Beast meant she could only display seventy percent of her full strength.
“Are you going to challenge Chen Beiwu next?”
Hearing the voice from behind her, Yu Zhaohua’s steps suddenly halted. She slightly inclined her head. “Correct.”
“May I observe from the side?”
Yu Zhaohua turned in surprise, somewhat astonished by the change in Mo Qingshuang.
But it was not an excessive request. The shift in position for the top of the Yuxu Rankings and the leadership of Yuqing Immortal Sect indeed required witnesses.
“Very well.”
Yu Zhaohua nodded and said no more. She transformed into a streak of rainbow light and flew toward Qingming Peak.
Mo Qingshuang touched the Glass Sword Soul on her shoulder, stepped onto her magical flying sword, and followed at an unhurried pace.
……
Water-Derivation Residence.
“Knock knock knock!”
Ripples spread across the restrictions of the cave dwelling.
Chen Beiwu opened his eyes, his divine sense connecting to the grand formation of the residence.
Outside the Water-Derivation Residence, Yu Zhaohua stood coldly in place. Behind her was Mo Qingshuang, her face slightly pale, her aura somewhat disordered.
“Buzz.”
As the waterfall split aside, the gates of the cave dwelling opened.
Yu Zhaohua looked at Chen Beiwu as he stepped out, battle intent blazing in her eyes.
She took a step forward and, without exchanging pleasantries, spoke directly: “Today Zhaohua has come to seek instruction. I ask Senior Brother Chen not to be stingy with your guidance!”
“Very well. But this place is not suitable for a duel. Let us change locations.” Chen Beiwu was also intrigued.
The Immortal Sect Exchange Conference was approaching. It was the perfect opportunity to gauge the strength of the top prodigies of the Upper Three Immortal Sects.
As for his previous spar with the sect’s chief?
The other party had clearly not gone all out, merely sending an avatar to test him with a rather perfunctory attitude. It had not allowed Chen Beiwu to enjoy himself in the least.
Qingming Peak Dueling Platform.
Chen Beiwu and Yu Zhaohua stood opposite each other, facing off.
Golden Egg chose to take the initiative to fight, its gaze blazing as it stared at the magma giant beast across from it.
Times were different now.
The existence it had once been unable to match in the Struggle Realm now stood within reach as its opponent.
But being defeated was something that only needed to happen once.
This time, it would never lose!
Sensing Golden Egg’s gaze, the Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s draconic eyes narrowed slightly, its expression turning serious.
An opponent’s strength could be discerned merely through aura perception.
From the Three-Aspect Profound Flood Dragon, it sensed an indescribable threat.
Without a doubt, unlike the fragile Glass Sword Soul, this three-headed flood dragon was an extremely troublesome opponent.
“Roar!”
The Flintrock Coiled Dragon struck first. Its molten-gold pupils lit up as it activated Earthfire Resonance. The ground beneath its feet transformed into an incomparably scorching magma hell.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
As torrents of magma erupted, the searing heat nearly ignited the air itself.
Yu Zhaohua’s dark hair fluttered as her slender hand lifted lightly. In the blink of an eye, she formed seal after seal.
The Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s Earthfire Resonance was formidable, but it required time to convert.
The technique Yu Zhaohua employed—【Imperial Edict · Earthfire Overturning the Heavens】—was a third-tier peerless auxiliary Treasure Art. Once released, it resonated intensely with the earth veins, accelerating the surge of subterranean Fire-Sha Qi and magma, completely transforming this天地 into a world of lava.
In the next instant, the magma domain beneath the Flintrock Coiled Dragon expanded outward, turning the entire platform into endless boiling magma that emitted a pungent sulfuric stench.
Whoosh!
Without any sign of casting, three swords formed of blazing magma and earth-vein Sha Qi shot upward from the ground, striking toward the Three-Aspect Profound Flood Dragon with unstoppable force.
At the same time, Chen Beiwu did not remain idle.
‘Three-Yuan Secret Incantation!’
‘Three Lights Nurturing Treasure!’
‘Geng Metal Tempered Scales!’
‘Three Talents True Illumination!’
“……”
With each third-tier Treasure Art Chen Beiwu cast, Golden Egg’s aura surged another degree.
In the blink of an eye, under the layered enhancement of six gold-, wood-, and water-attribute augmenting Treasure Arts, Golden Egg’s three dragon heads roared toward the heavens, its might nearly doubling.
Using the opponent’s method against them—this move was precisely what Chen Beiwu had learned by emulating Yu Zhaohua’s combat style in the Struggle Realm. Most of the third-tier Treasure Arts he wielded came from congratulatory gifts of Dao Venerable Immortal Families and True Venerable Clans.
“Roar!”
Even with the enhancement of Treasure Arts and a skyrocketing strength, Golden Egg did not confront the Flintrock Swords head-on despite their all-directional blockade. Instead, it activated the Three-Absolute True Gang and tore violently at the void before it.
Crack!
Space shattered. Golden Egg’s figure vanished instantly and reappeared behind Yu Zhaohua.
To capture the thief, first capture the king.
Benefiting from Chen Beiwu’s usual teachings, Golden Egg ignored the troublesome Flintrock Coiled Dragon. With Three-Absolute True Gang augmenting its dragon claws, its speed surpassed the limits of Golden Core divine sense perception. A vicious claw lashed toward Yu Zhaohua’s slender waist.
Yu Zhaohua failed to react in time, her hand seals only half-formed.
Slash!
Golden Egg’s claw passed through Yu Zhaohua’s body without obstruction, cleanly dividing her in two.
Not right!
Golden Egg’s draconic eyes narrowed. No blood spilled from the bisected corpse. Instead, it transformed into two pools of scorching, viscous earth-core magma that ignited upon contact with mana and could defile a cultivator’s Dharma Body and Dharma Aspect.
In the next instant, the earth-core magma exploded and coiled around Golden Egg’s dragon claw.
“Sizzle sizzle sizzle!” The earth-core magma burned frantically against Golden Egg’s scales, producing an ear-piercing sound!
Had Golden Egg not possessed the Three-Aspect Indestructible Body, with defenses far exceeding ordinary Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beasts, its defenses would likely have already been breached, its mana set ablaze.
At the same time, magma three zhang behind Chen Beiwu suddenly boiled. Yu Zhaohua’s figure silently appeared.
Splash!
With a thought from Yu Zhaohua, countless streams of magma rose like living pythons, transforming into lava chains engraved with profound inscriptions. With lightning speed, they bound Chen Beiwu firmly in place.
At that moment, the overwhelming lava chains radiated a mountain-like suppressive force and extreme heat, rendering Chen Beiwu unable to move.
“You contracted the Five Qi Vine, did you not? Why are you not using it!”
Yu Zhaohua’s brows knit slightly as she looked at Chen Beiwu not far away, bound up like a rice dumpling by lava chains, looking rather disheveled. Her tone carried a trace of dissatisfaction.
She had not even finished warming up, nor had she used her full strength. Chen Beiwu, who had forged the Yuanshi Golden Core, should not have fallen into a disadvantage.
If Chen Beiwu were truly so weak, Shen Lingxing would never have granted him the position of Yuqing Immortal Sect’s team leader.
“Feigning compliance, following the flow to strike east while attacking west—your combat experience is quite seasoned.”
Bound layer upon layer, Chen Beiwu raised his head, expression calm. “But do you truly think you’ve won?”
At these words, a warning surged in Yu Zhaohua’s heart. Instinctively, she clasped her hands together. “Molten-Heart Treasure Confinement!”
In an instant, countless lava chains erupted with dazzling red radiance. At the core of the chains, Chen Beiwu suddenly collapsed and softened, transforming into a vast, surging torrent of water.
Clearly, the target Yu Zhaohua had confined with the Molten-Heart Treasure Confinement divine ability was not Chen Beiwu’s true body, but a clone he had condensed using the third-tier Treasure Art 【Hidden One Bewilders the Mind】.
As the clone shattered, the scorching magma instantly vaporized the water, and dense mist spread across the entire Dueling Platform.
This vapor possessed a “bewildering mind” effect, capable of interfering with the divine sense of Golden Core cultivators.
Yu Zhaohua’s divine sense became somewhat restricted. Her eyes moved swiftly in all directions, seeking Chen Beiwu’s location at the first possible moment.
“Roar.”
The Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s gaze sharpened. The three Flintrock Swords that had lost their target abruptly shifted direction and shot toward Yu Zhaohua.
Yu Zhaohua reacted as well. Crimson flames ignited in her palm, condensing into a blood-red flying sword. Within it flickered the phantom of a crimson sun-bird spreading its wings as she thrust behind her.
Chen Beiwu tilted his head slightly, first evading the incoming crimson flying sword. Then he shifted his body to brush past one of the Flintrock Swords.
He followed with Azure Abyss Treading the Void, consecutively avoiding two more Flintrock Swords, before delivering a heavy kick toward Yu Zhaohua’s waist.
Yu Zhaohua neither dodged nor retreated. Borrowing the power of the Companion Beast Seal, she activated the Magma-Core Mystic Body. Her entire form instantly transformed into searing magma, meeting Chen Beiwu head-on.
‘Monstrous reaction speed.’
Chen Beiwu’s brows furrowed slightly as his figure vanished and reappeared atop Golden Egg’s shoulder.
That kick had merely been a probe to test Yu Zhaohua’s divine sense reaction speed.
Yet even with the bewildering mist obscuring perception, she had still clearly captured all his movements.
Meanwhile, Golden Egg had already activated the Three-Aspect Furnace divine ability, devouring the troublesome earth-core magma clinging to its dragon claw. Its gaze turned toward the Flintrock Coiled Dragon.
“Exhale.”
Returning atop the Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s head, Yu Zhaohua let out a light breath. The battle intent in her eyes faded, replaced by the burning heat of having encountered a true opponent.
‘This fellow is enjoying the fight!’
Chen Beiwu raised a brow. Yu Zhaohua tilted her head slightly, the corners of her lips lifting into a breathtaking yet dangerous smile filled with excitement.
“Chen Beiwu, you are indeed strong. Ordinary methods are useless against you. Continuing like this would only waste time.”
As she spoke, her aura began to surge.
The scales of the Flintrock Coiled Dragon beneath her suddenly flared with light. The earth-core magma coiling around its massive body shifted in color, gradually transforming into a heart-palpitating scarlet.
“So…” Yu Zhaohua slowly spread her arms, her smile growing ever more radiant.
“Please appreciate the Heaven-Bestowed Middle Scene I forged by observing the Dao patterns of Heaven and Earth and the Flintrock Coiled Dragon, then tempering them with the Innate Crimson Radiance Dao’s Rhythm—【Crimson Radiance Melting World Landscape】.”
“I hope you do not drown within this endless magma!”
The moment her voice fell, boundless earth-core magma surged skyward, forming countless lava pillars that connected heaven and earth.
As the pillars resonated, a vast landscape scroll slowly unfolded before Chen Beiwu’s eyes.
Within the scroll, sun and moon fell silent, stars collapsed, and earth, fire, wind, and water churned endlessly.
The entire world moved toward annihilation amid infinite magma, only to gestate rebirth within the ashes, exuding a grand yet sorrowful aura of tribulation and extinction.
“Roar!”
Under the illumination of the Crimson Radiance Melting World Landscape, a “Crimson Radiance Dao Seed” gradually manifested within the molten-gold pupils of the Flintrock Coiled Dragon.
The Dao Seed then dispersed, transforming into endless Dao’s Rhythm that detonated its bloodline origin.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
At that moment, the Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s mountain-like body began expanding at a visible rate.
Its dragon scales shed one after another, turning into rolling magma that churned the earth veins, as though intending to completely submerge the entire Dueling Platform.
Eight hundred ninety-nine years… nine hundred… nine hundred ninety-nine…
Having merged into a part of the Crimson Radiance Melting World Landscape, the Flintrock Coiled Dragon’s cultivation years surged madly.
Its cultivation rose from Golden Core peak step by step to Golden Core Perfection, nearly breaking its shackles and stepping into the domain of a Fourth-Realm Beast King.
‘She’s finally getting serious.’
Mo Qingshuang, watching from the side, narrowed her eyes solemnly.
There were no two identical leaves in this world. Nor could the Immortal Alliance possibly have two completely identical Companion Beast Landscapes.
Thus, even if Immortal Alliance cultivators practiced the same Companion Beast method, the Heaven-Bestowed Landscape forged through observing form, observing nature, and observing heart would differ greatly—sometimes even in power.
Yu Zhaohua was a classic example.
Crimson Radiance initiates fate; tribulation fire burns through the void; all things are smelted and returned to the Innate!
In sheer might, the Heaven-Bestowed Middle Scene 【Crimson Radiance Melting World Landscape】 she forged with the Crimson Radiance Dao Body could even rival a Heaven-Bestowed Final Scene only Nascent Soul True Monarchs could cultivate.
Mo Qingshuang had lost both her duels to Yu Zhaohua under this very landscape.
Only power of this level could contend with the Fourth Realm of the Sword Dao—“One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Arts”—and even defeat it.
“At this point, it is time for Chen Beiwu to display the power of the Yuanshi Golden Core.” Mo Qingshuang’s gaze shifted to him.
At present, aside from lacking a Heavenly-Gang Dharma Aspect, Yu Zhaohua—together with the Flintrock Coiled Dragon—already possessed battle power comparable to a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Without exaggeration, even five Golden Core Perfection cultivators joining forces would be unable to block a single full-powered strike from the Flintrock Coiled Dragon at this moment.
If Chen Beiwu continued concealing his strength, a single misstep could result in defeat.
As Mo Qingshuang pondered, a pair of molten-gold pupils instantly locked onto Chen Beiwu.
Sensing the pressure, Golden Egg’s three heads let out a low growl.
“Nah?”
The Five Qi Vine, meanwhile, looked at Chen Beiwu in confusion.
When a cultivator deployed a Companion Beast Landscape, the process was extremely fast and could be completed in an instant. If Chen Beiwu had wished to interrupt, he could have launched a surprise attack before the Flintrock Coiled Dragon merged with the Heaven-Bestowed Middle Scene.
“What, are you afraid?”
Chen Beiwu glanced at the Five Qi Vine, his tone relaxed.
“Nah!”
The Five Qi Vine widened its eyes, feeling slighted.
‘Just joking. I understand what you mean.’
Chen Beiwu formed hand seals, his expression turning incomparably serious.
This was a rare sparring opportunity—a measurement of himself, and of the top prodigies of the Upper Three Immortal Sects.
Interrupt?
The Five Qi Vine was right. Chen Beiwu indeed had the chance to coordinate with Golden Egg to do so.
But he felt it unnecessary.
Only by defeating Yu Zhaohua at her full strength could he truly win her heartfelt acknowledgment.