The true dragon saw Jiang Chen's cultivation level and was greatly disheartened.
"Young man, even I can't help but question your intelligence. You clearly had a chance to flee. Why come out and throw your life away? Your cultivation isn't even in the same league as his," the true dragon sighed in Dragon Language.
Originally, Jiang Chen's appearance—speaking flawless Dragon Language—had given the true dragon a flicker of hope. But the moment Jiang Chen made his move, that spark was snuffed out. The boy was decent enough, perhaps capable of trading blows with a True Yuan Realm martial artist, but he was completely out of his depth against a Saint Realm expert.
Wei Wudao had knocked aside Jiang Chen's arrow attack, but he was secretly surprised. A Small Origin Realm martial artist had just unleashed combat power comparable to a True Yuan Realm fighter.
A thread of wariness crept through Wei Wudao's mind. An opponent like this, if left alive today, would become a troublesome threat down the road.
Wei Wudao let out a sinister laugh. "Kid, you think hiding behind that little mudfish will save your life? I'll admit your cultivation is decent—top talent in the Myriad Phenomena Region, even. But the stupidest thing you did was coming out here to play hero when you had every chance to escape. Since you've shown up, if I let you walk away today, how would I face the higher-ups of your Dan Qian Palace? They even gave you the Sun-Shooting Bow. What are you to that old fool Yun Nie?"
Wei Wudao was an elder of the Carefree Sect, well known for his mastery of poisons.
He and Elder Yun Nie of Dan Qian Palace had sparred against each other many times and were rivals with a history of bad blood. The moment he spotted the Sun-Shooting Bow, Wei Wudao immediately deduced that this boy must be connected to Yun Nie.
The Sun-Shooting Bow was nothing more than a feint.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly and didn't bother answering Wei Wudao at all. Instead, he flicked his fingers through a series of hand seals.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Vines of the Ice Fire Demon Lotus burst from the rock walls and the ground in every direction.
Seventy or eighty massive vines erupted, each one astonishingly thick, spreading in row after row, cluster after cluster, packed tightly together with an overwhelming aura.
"What the hell is this?" Wei Wudao froze for a moment.
Still, he was a Saint Realm powerhouse. Surrounded on all sides, he remained unfazed.
"Kid, I'll admit you've got some tricks. Dual cultivation of ice and fire—impressive. But so what? Do you think you can use your pathetic Small Origin Realm cultivation to refine me with fire-element energy? Or freeze me with ice-element energy?"
The Ice Fire Demon Lotus was a devastating weapon—but only when overwhelming same-level opponents or slightly stronger ones. The gap between the Small Origin Realm and the Human Saint Realm was an entire major step.
Wei Wudao had every reason to look down on him.
Jiang Chen frowned. "Wei Wudao, if you were in perfect condition, I genuinely wouldn't dare come out and fight. But you're injured, and for the sake of the Wood Spirit Spring, I have no choice but to take a gamble."
Wei Wudao threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Looks like you really won't accept your fate. Fine—this seat will show you that in front of a Saint Realm powerhouse, a Small Origin Realm ant is nothing but an insect!"
With that, Wei Wudao planted his flute into the ground and drew the blood-red long blade back into his hands.
Shred shred shred shred!
Wei Wudao's figure flickered, and the four vines in front of him snapped in succession.
Jiang Chen's pupils contracted slightly. Even he was shocked by the Saint Realm expert's sheer dominance. Back when he fought Zhuiyang the Old Freak and other Yuan Realm powerhouses like Yan Hongtu, they could cut at most a single vine per strike.
Wei Wudao had just cleaved through four with a casual swing—proof that the second tier of the Saint Realm was every bit as formidable as its reputation.
Jiang Chen, however, didn't lose heart. He manipulated the fire lotuses—swish swish swish—sending beams of fire-element energy streaking skyward, his fingers darting and poking in rapid succession.
The shrill whistling of piercing air filled the ears without end.
"Heavenly Flame Exploding Star Finger!"
The Divine Ability from the Exploding Star Finger technique was the most powerful offensive skill Jiang Chen had cultivated to date. Wherever his finger force reached, it was like heavenly fire raining down to end the world—terrifying in its power.
The fearsome fire-element energy condensed at his fingertips and shot outward. Everywhere it struck, the void erupted with crackling sounds of tearing space.
Wei Wudao's eyes widened in genuine surprise. A Small Origin Realm martial artist unleashing this level of combat power was far beyond his expectations.
But Wei Wudao simply laughed. "Interesting! But if you want to take me on, go back and nurse for a few more years first!"
As he spoke, his great palm spread open and a series of water-like runes materialized across his hand, expanding outward.
In an instant, layers of water-screen runes—resembling curtains of heavenly water—appeared before Wei Wudao in neat, staggered tiers, swallowing the full force of the Heavenly Flame Exploding Star Finger.
Jiang Chen's expression didn't falter. He chuckled, then suddenly raised his right hand, fingers moving as gently as if plucking a zither, weaving through a continuous string of hand seals.
In the next moment, all the Ice Fire Demon Lotus vines began swaying at a peculiar, subtle rhythm.
The cadence was nothing like a desperate death struggle.
That strange rhythm produced a soft rustling melody, giving off an almost hypnotic, otherworldly feeling.
Wei Wudao unconsciously held his breath, completely baffled.
"Kid, what kind of trick are you pulling?" Wei Wudao muttered, falling silent. One moment it had been a frenzied assault—now the rhythm had suddenly shifted.
There was definitely something sinister going on. Wei Wudao was absolutely certain of that.
But what exactly was the trick?
His gaze locked onto the swaying rhythm of the Ice Fire Demon Lotus vines, refusing to let go. It was as if that eerie cadence harbored some devastating attack, ready to strike at any moment.