“It’s started!”
Ling Xiao’s heart leapt with joy. He could clearly feel the true essence in his martial veins surging, bubbling like boiling water.
This was clearly the prelude to a breakthrough.
At the same time, strange changes were occurring within his Mountain River Martial Soul. He could sense it growing.
Originally just an ethereal form, it soon solidified into a tangible entity, and it was still evolving.
As expected of the Poison Dragon King, who had lived for tens of thousands of years.
Though her strength seemed underwhelming, that was due to the seal in the Moonlight Pagoda suppressing her power, not her inherent weakness.
All her power was bound within the Dragon Pearl, only seeping out slowly through the seal’s small opening.
“Without the seal, the Poison Dragon King’s cultivation would likely be at least Yin-Yang Realm, no less than Moon Lady,” Ling Xiao thought to himself. Moonlight Celestial Lady was truly formidable, sealing the dragon clan so effortlessly.
But the seal was necessary. If these dragons were too powerful, even the Moonlight Pagoda couldn’t contain them, and that would spell trouble.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a surge of power shot into the sky!
Ling Xiao broke through again, this time after two hours.
Mortal Realm Seventh Layer Peak!
Ling Xiao opened his eyes, gleaming with wild joy.
“Refining just one percent of the Dragon Pearl’s energy pushed my cultivation to the peak of Mortal Realm Seventh Layer. More importantly, my Mountain River Martial Soul evolved to the Soul Release Stage. Though it can only release for a single breath, this is a monumental step forward!”
Sensing the changes in his body, Ling Xiao couldn’t contain his delight.
Beyond that, he gained resistance and enhancement to poison attributes. Though poison was an extension of wood attributes, it didn’t carry all of wood’s effects, which was a slight pity.
Still, Ling Xiao was satisfied.
His Plague Demon King Martial Soul primarily used poison-based attacks, so boosting poison attributes was a welcome gain.
But that was a minor detail.
Ling Xiao noticed a peculiar phenomenon: after his Mountain River Martial Soul advanced to the Soul Release Stage, one of its abilities transformed.
His Martial Will evolved into “Mountain River Will.”
With a martial soul, Martial Will had seemed redundant.
But now, transformed into Mountain River Will, its significance was entirely different.
He could feel that this “Mountain River Will” allowed him to infuse all his attacks with the intangible energy of the Mountain River World.
Fighting him would feel like battling nature itself—an exhilarating sensation.
Though he couldn’t yet directly use the Mountain River Martial Soul in combat, with Mountain River Will, that day wasn’t far off.
Currently, his Mountain River Will was at about ten percent, achieved after absorbing just one percent of the Dragon Pearl’s power. This will could still grow.
It wasn’t intangible; when fused with martial techniques, it significantly boosted Ling Xiao’s combat power, making it terrifying.
If driven by soul force, Mountain River Will could easily kill warriors below Mortal Realm Sixth Layer—a truly fearsome ability.
If just one ability of the Mountain River Martial Soul was this powerful, what would its overall advancement bring?
Ling Xiao could feel that his attack, defense, soul, and aptitude had all undergone a qualitative leap.
If he faced the Poison Dragon King now, he could likely kill her in one move, no need for a prolonged fight.
More concretely, the Mountain River Martial Soul’s advancement boosted his overall strength by nearly fifty percent!
And that wasn’t all. Mountain River Will could enhance his attack power by another fifty percent, effectively doubling his offensive strength!
What a terrifying boost.
Though still at Mortal Realm Seventh Layer Peak, he now had no fear of the Black Dragon King or the Black Spirit State Preceptor.
“Go!”
Suddenly, Ling Xiao shot a qi sword from his right hand, infused with Mountain River Will. It burst forth as a dazzling beam of light.
*Crack!*
A terrifying sight unfolded.
A cliff surrounding the valley was sliced clean through, the cut smooth and sharp, extending over ten zhang.
“Excellent!” Ling Xiao was thrilled with this attack.
Before, soul force in attacks only triggered secondary effects without boosting power.
Now, through Mountain River Will, soul force could significantly enhance attack strength—real, tangible damage.
In the distance, Long Chen and Lin Bei exchanged glances, their eyes filled with awe.
Ling Xiao’s sword was too astonishing!
…
In the pitch-black night, Dragon Palace City was steeped in hidden danger. The dragon clan was deeply divided. Those who once submitted to the Black Dragon King’s tyranny were now plotting, planning, and watching from their homes.
They awaited clarity in the situation.
Everyone knew the Golden Dragon Clan’s heirs had returned to seek vengeance on the Black Dragon King.
Though young, they were formidable.
But the Black Dragon King wouldn’t let them go. The intense searches outside were proof.
Unless the Golden Dragon heirs escaped under Lin Bei’s lead, a battle was inevitable.
Either the Golden Dragon Clan would be eradicated, or the Black Dragon King would fall.
The air was thick with tension, almost suffocating.
“Report—! The Black Dragon King has found the Golden Dragon Clan’s hiding place!”
Such reports echoed throughout Dragon Palace City.
Countless experts poured out to witness this historic moment.
Would the Golden Dragon Clan reclaim the throne?
Or would the Black Dragon King eliminate his potential threats?
The answer would come tonight.
Outside Dragon City, on a wide road, a figure appeared. Black-gleaming dragon wings folded behind him as he landed lightly, without disturbing a single bird nearby.
This was the only path to the valley.
Ling Xiao had Long Chen and Lin Bei wait in the distance while he came here to face the Black Dragon King and his forces.
The final battle would end tonight.
He held two swords.
One was the Purple Lightning Sword, the other the Rain-Covering Sword.
The Rain-Covering Sword could amplify water attributes, growing stronger, with a special skill for devastating group attacks.
The Purple Lightning Sword’s skill, “Purple Lightning Shocks the World,” could elevate it to immortal-grade treasure status for half an hour.
The power of an immortal-grade treasure needed no explanation.
In the dark night.
With dark eyes.
In a dark robe.
He stood like a demon god from the underworld, gazing ahead.
Striking first was Ling Xiao’s consistent battle strategy.
