“He has been affected by the demonic qi and those chains!” Chen Ping understood in an instant.
This fourth floor was nothing less than a trap designed to amplify the evil thoughts in one’s heart and lure people into demonic possession! Those so-called “treasures” had only been bait!
Old Black was relatively simple-minded, so the evil influence had found it easier to slip in!
Facing the frenzied charge, Chen Ping could not bring himself to strike lethally. He could only defend and parry passively.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Old Black’s fists crashed down like meteorites, each blow carrying power enough to shatter mountains and split the earth.
Relying on exquisite movement techniques and sword intent, Chen Ping circled and blocked. Whenever the Dragon-Slaying Sword clashed with Old Black’s fists, deafening clashes of metal rang out.
Chen Ping’s qi and blood churned from the impacts, the web between his thumb and forefinger splitting open.
Killing Old Black would have been easy for him, but subduing him without causing injury was far more difficult.
Because Chen Ping held back, he was forced steadily backwards.
“Mr Chen, this can’t go on! We must wake him!”
Cen Biqing tried to soothe him with the voice of the azure dragon, but the sound waves were effortlessly repelled the moment they touched the demonic qi around Old Black.
“I know!”
While struggling to hold his ground, Chen Ping observed carefully.
He discovered that the true key was those chains burning with black flame!
They were not only attacking Old Black; they were continuously pumping demonic qi into his body!
“I have to sever these chains first!”
A sharp light flashed in Chen Ping’s eyes. He suddenly unleashed every bit of sword intent in his body, his whole figure seeming to transform into a drawn sword!
“Cut!”
A thread-thin, utterly condensed sword beam that looked capable of dividing yin from yang shot forth. Its target was not Old Black himself, but the black chains linked to his body!
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
Wherever the sword beam passed, several chains snapped instantly! The severed links let out shrill screeches and dissolved into black vapour.
The moment the chains broke, Old Black’s massive frame shuddered violently. A trace of red faded from his eyes, and his movements froze for the briefest instant.
“Now!”
Chen Ping seized the opening, darted forward, and pressed his palm against Old Black’s forehead. Pure, majestic golden dragon source qi carrying the dignity of an emperor poured unreservedly into Old Black’s sea of consciousness!
“Old Black! Wake up! You are a noble black dragon. How could you let yourself be controlled by demonic thoughts!”
Like blazing sun melting snow, the golden dragon qi rapidly purified the demonic qi in Old Black’s sea of consciousness. Old Black roared in pain, his body shaking violently, yet the crimson in his eyes receded quickly.
Moments later, Old Black’s enormous body convulsed once more. He vomited a huge mouthful of foul-smelling black blood, and the madness in his eyes finally vanished completely, clarity returning.
“Mr… Mr Chen… I…” Old Black stared at Chen Ping and then at his own battered state, his face filled with fear and guilt.
“It’s over now.”
Chen Ping withdrew his hand, his complexion rather pale. The continuous high-intensity battles and expenditure had left him drained.
With Old Black saved, Chen Ping did not dare delay. He immediately walked to the staircase leading to the fifth floor.
The restrictive light curtain here was extraordinarily thick. Living-tadpole-like runes flowed across its surface, radiating a heart-palpitating spatial repulsion.
“That fake dragon branch on the fifth floor is extremely cunning. It ambushed us last time,” Chen Ping said gravely.
“Let’s attack together!”
Now recovered, Old Black’s fighting spirit burned high.
Chen Ping, Cen Biqing, and Old Black formed a triangular formation.
Chen Ping mobilised his five-elements source and sword intent, Cen Biqing unleashed azure dragon power, and Old Black summoned black dragon brute force.
“Strike!”
All three attacked at once! A five-coloured sword beam, an azure dragon breath, and a black shockwave smashed ferociously into the restrictive curtain of the fifth floor!
BOOM—!
The entire Demon-Suppressing Tower shook violently! The light curtain flickered madly, its runes flashing on and off, cracks appearing across it, yet it stubbornly refused to shatter!
“Not enough!”
Chen Ping gritted his teeth.
He could feel that this restriction was linked to the very core of the tower, drawing an endless supply of power.
