In another place.
After Lin Xiao was knocked into the void rift, he did not encounter various void storms.
Instead, he appeared in another space.
This space was pure void, without any mountains, rivers, or trees, extremely mysterious. Lin Xiao couldn’t make sense of it.
With no time to ponder why he appeared in this space after being thrown into the void rift, Lin Xiao’s attention was entirely focused on the void ahead of him.
In the void before him was a vast expanse of mist. He was certain that within this mist was the mysterious spirit beast that had blasted him into this space.
Or rather, an illusion beast, a creature conjured by the illusion array.
But Lin Xiao felt this might transcend the scope of an illusion beast.
If it were an illusion beast, how could it possess such terrifying power to tear the void apart directly?
“For ten thousand years, I’ve waited ten thousand years, and finally, a worthy genius has arrived.” A young man’s voice came from within the mist.
“Ten thousand years?” Lin Xiao was immediately shocked. This illusion beast had existed in the illusion beast space for ten thousand years?
However, since it was an illusion beast, existing for ten thousand years in the illusion beast space was reasonable. After all, it was sustained by the array, appearing each time it was activated. As long as the array didn’t vanish and had enough energy to support it, it could exist for any length of time.
But this illusion beast actually had consciousness?
Was it true consciousness, or merely the simulated thoughts of an illusion beast programmed into it?
“You’re waiting for a genius?” Lin Xiao asked tentatively.
“Correct. I’m waiting for a worthy genius, one with powerful combat strength at the same level.” The illusion beast in the mist spoke with some excitement. “To be precise, I’m waiting for someone who can kill me.”
Lin Xiao was momentarily stunned.
He had thought there might be some senior expert with an astonishing inheritance waiting to test him.
Instead, it was about him killing the other party.
What kind of illusion beast was this? Was it truly alive and tired of living?
Or was it a real spirit beast, trapped in the illusion array and unable to escape?
“All along, I’ve merely been a foil, whether I live or die, just a tool for others.”
A voice came from the mist. “Do you know, my greatest wish is to die. For ten thousand years, none of the geniuses who entered here had strong enough combat strength at the same level. None could kill me even with a one-level higher cultivation. I want to die, but I cannot.”
Lin Xiao was speechless.
What did this mean? Wanting to die but unable to? Couldn’t it just end itself if it wanted to die? Did it need someone else to kill it?
Or perhaps let someone weaker kill it by holding back? Could it not make its own decisions?
Moreover, it claimed no one with a one-level higher cultivation could kill it over ten thousand years. Was its combat strength so terrifying that it could defeat all geniuses under twenty-five who had entered this place over ten thousand years, even at a lower level?
Lin Xiao knew that all the geniuses who entered here were not ordinary. Take Li Renchou, for example, whose strength was already terrifying.
Each generation of geniuses surely had such dark horses or exceptionally terrifying talents. To claim it could defeat all who entered here over ten thousand years at a lower level—wasn’t that too bold a statement?
Yet, from its tone, it didn’t seem to be boasting.
It sounded like it was telling the truth.
But what did it mean by being just a foil, whether it lived or died?
Lin Xiao found this utterly incomprehensible.
“The person disguised as Zi Yi, was that you?” Lin Xiao asked.
“Disguised as Zi Yi?” The illusion beast’s voice paused, then spoke with disdain. “I would never disguise myself as a human.”
“To us, humans are mere ants.”
With that, the mist suddenly dispersed in all directions. A pressure that made the heavens and earth tremble instantly enveloped the area. A golden-armored body, half a zhang wide and dozens of zhang long, appeared in Lin Xiao’s line of sight.
This spirit beast had antler-like horns, a camel-like head, cow-like ears, rabbit-like eyes, a snake-like neck, a mirage-like abdomen, fish-like scales, eagle-like claws, tiger-like paws, whiskers by its mouth, and reverse scales under its throat. Its scales were as solid and radiant as golden armor.
It had three massive claws, its entire body exuding majesty. A naturally terrifying pressure enveloped all directions.
Under this pressure, Lin Xiao felt an urge to bow in reverence.
“This, this is a divine dragon, a three-clawed divine dragon!” Lin Xiao was shocked.
Divine dragons only appeared in legends. Even his phenomenon was merely a manifestation condensed from the peak of his dantian’s power, not a true dragon.
But the creature before him was a true dragon.
Even if it was just an illusion beast, it carried the charm and majesty of a dragon.
No wonder, no wonder this illusion beast was so powerful, able to tear the void and knock him flying with a single strike.
No wonder it claimed to have swept all geniuses who entered here over ten thousand years at a lower level, undefeated.
The dragon race, known as divine beasts, kings of all beasts, in ancient times had unparalleled combat strength, sweeping through the nine heavens and ten lands, reigning supreme. How could human geniuses from the Southeast Region possibly defeat it?
Even the geniuses of the entire continent today might not be able to defeat it.
“Now, do you think a race like ours would take the form of a human?”
At this moment, the three-clawed divine dragon looked down at Lin Xiao with pride and asked.
“The dragon race is indeed powerful, that much we must admit.”
Lin Xiao nodded in agreement, then countered with conviction. “However, I don’t agree that humans are mere ants.”
“Humans conform most closely to the great way of heaven and earth, most suited for cultivation. Unlike the dragon race, who are born powerful and grow naturally strong, humans can start from a mortal body, from weakness, and step by step become strong, until they reach the peak of martial arts.”
Lin Xiao continued. “And you spirit beasts, at a certain level, must transform into human form to cultivate. If so, why would you take the form of ants?”
“Hmph, that’s merely the inferior method of low-level spirit beasts. Don’t compare those low-level spirit beasts to our mighty dragon race. We dragons never cultivate in human form!” The three-clawed divine dragon snorted coldly, its tone still filled with boundless arrogance.
On this point, Lin Xiao was unclear. Divine dragons only appeared in legends, and there were no accounts of whether dragons cultivated in human form. He had spoken based on the cultivation methods of spirit beasts, making a mistake.
However, while the dragon race’s pride made them unwilling to take human form, Lin Xiao did not agree that humans were mere ants before them.
If humans reached the peak of martial arts, what would it matter if they faced a true divine dragon?
“You can’t deny that humans can step by step become powerhouses at the peak of martial arts, can you?” Lin Xiao retorted sharply. “And if humans are ants, why do you want to die by my hand? If humans are ants, doesn’t that mean you’re even less than an ant?”
The three-clawed divine dragon snorted coldly. “Hmph, I want to die by your hand only because I no longer wish to live. The chance of you killing me is probably less than one in ten!”
