Chapter 171 - Warrior Lanling
Within a span of less than thirty seconds, Loong Chen found himself merely a dozen meters away from the palace.
His arrival at the palace was imminent.
However, just as Loong Chen anticipated reaching safety, a sudden chill gripped his back.
“This is perilous!”
A sudden shift in Loong Chen's expression signaled impending danger.
Swiftly turning around, he caught sight of a glacial gleam hurtling towards him.
Its velocity was such that before Loong Chen could discern its nature, it was upon him.
“Away with you!”
Loong Chen bellowed, his colossal fist hurtling towards the icy illumination.
Following his transformation into a Titan, Loong Chen's physique had expanded significantly, rendering his fist equally formidable.
Compared to his clenched fist, the cold light resembled a delicate needle.
Despite its slender appearance, this needle-like entity compelled Loong Chen to retreat a few paces.
“What tremendous power.”
Loong Chen's expression abruptly shifted.
The force behind the recent assault was, at minimum, of early King Level caliber.
Loong Chen narrowed his gaze, fixing it ahead where a crimson silhouette materialized suddenly.
A humanoid creature emerged, resembling a monstrous being. Its physique mirrored that of a human, yet its entire form was encased in crimson scales, terminating in razor-sharp claws.
Sporting a draconic visage atop its shoulders, a scaled dragon's tail trailed behind it.
“A half-dragon?”
Loong Chen pondered silently. In the realm of the Dragon God's trial, these mutated creatures invariably bore some lineage of the dragon.
Regarding the humanoid monster before him, its bloodline aura surpassed that of the dragon-type mutated beasts by far.
“It's a Dragon Blood General. About 10,000 years ago, he ventured into the Dragon God's trial ground as its inaugural challenger. Regrettably, he met his demise in failure. Following his death, he was transformed into a Dragon Blood General, tasked with safeguarding the Dragon Palace.”
“To truly gain entry into the Dragon Palace, you must vanquish him.”
Once again, the ethereal voice interjected, aiming to dispel Loong Chen's uncertainties.
“What fate befalls the defeated challenger?”
Loong Chen narrowed his eyes. Beyond merely providing answers, the voice also issued a warning.
Should he falter, not only would death await him, but he would also be denied peace thereafter, conscripted to serve the trial ground for generations.
“But I shall not falter.”
A potent surge of fighting spirit emanated from Loong Chen's being. He not only pledged victory but also aimed to dispatch the Dragon Blood General within a minute.
“Die!”
With a furious roar, Loong Chen summoned all the energy within him, delivering a forceful punch toward the Dragon Blood General.
This punch depleted the last remnants of Titan's Power within him.
Its potency rivaled that of a full-force strike from a King Level Early Period warrior.
Confronting Loong Chen's assault, the Dragon Blood General's eyes ignited with a fiery red gleam.
Springing from the ground with both legs, he propelled himself upward, delivering a swift kick toward Loong Chen's fist.
Despite the Titan Loong Chen's towering stature, the Dragon Blood General appeared diminutive in comparison.
Nevertheless, its strength proved formidable.
Upon the collision of their fists and feet, Loong Chen was once again forcefully propelled backward, while the Dragon Blood General executed a graceful backflip mid-air, landing flawlessly on the ground.
“The genuine prowess of this Dragon Blood General approximates that of a King Level Middle Period.”
Loong Chen inhaled deeply. Bereft of his exceptional talent, Laws, and trident, facing off against a King Level Early Period adversary was already a daunting task, let alone contending with one of Middle Period caliber.
Moreover, with his Titan's Power depleted, his physique reverted to its original state.
Without the augmentation of Titan's Power, his combat prowess would be significantly diminished.
“Hmm? What's this?”
Just as Loong Chen contemplated strategies to confront his adversary, he suddenly noticed a sword gleaming with a frigid light beside him.
Recollecting that this was the same cold light that had assailed him moments ago, he realized it was indeed a sword.
Additionally, it appeared that the material from which it was crafted was of decent quality; despite the clash, it remained unscathed.
Nevertheless, Loong Chen's interest wasn't piqued by its material composition. Rather, he sensed a connection with the sword.
This affinity didn't stem from any prior acquaintance with the sword.
“Sword intent!”
Loong Chen's eyes sparkled with recognition.
During his time in the Vast Heaven Pagoda, he had absorbed the sword intent from the white-robed sword cultivator.
Initially, Loong Chen had assumed that his lack of proficiency with swords would render this ability futile.
However, it now seemed to serve a purpose.
“Sword intent is a conceptual essence; it doesn't rely on spiritual energy. All you need is a sword.”
Contemplating this, Loong Chen firmly gripped the sword's hilt.
Suddenly, the sword quivered intensely, as though reuniting with a long-lost kin.
By this moment, the Dragon Blood General had already closed in on Loong Chen, its razor-sharp dragon claw slashing viciously.
The clash of metal resounded as Loong Chen wielded his sword, deflecting the onslaught of the dragon claw.
“I've never wielded a sword before, yet it feels surprisingly natural now.”
Loong Chen inwardly sighed. True to expectations, the essence of swordsmanship embodied the lifelong aspiration of sword cultivators. This was no mere exaggeration.
Despite his novice status with the sword, Loong Chen found himself surpassing those who had diligently honed their skills for decades.
“One strike, and you're finished.”
Loong Chen possessed the sword as though he were the master of all creation. Such was Loong Chen's present state.
He shut his eyes, allowing ethereal yet tangible streams of energy to flow into the sword gripped in his hand.
This was the sword intent. Loong Chen aimed to employ the ultimate technique demonstrated by the white-robed sword cultivator within the Vast Heaven Pagoda.
Sword Intent: Qi Transformation!
From the Dragon Blood General's mouth emanated a roar echoing with the resonance of a dragon's bellow.
Though an inanimate object, it instinctively sensed the perilous aura exuded by Loong Chen.
Aware that failing to seize this opportunity to slay Loong Chen would spell its own demise, the Dragon Blood General resolved to act.
Infused with scarlet Blood Qi, the Dragon Blood General's form brimmed with energy, its Qi surging severalfold, even faintly brushing against the threshold of King Level Late Period.
“Planning to unleash your ultimate technique? Regrettably, your demise remains inevitable!”
Even with his eyes shut, Loong Chen maintained awareness of the Dragon Blood General's movements.
For he was the sword, and the sword was him.
Abruptly, Loong Chen's eyes snapped open, radiating with myriad Sword Qi.
The technique bore no name.
For the sword intent required no label; its sole purpose was the annihilation of the foe.
A crescent-shaped Sword Qi emanated from the revered blade, brimming with formidable power.
With a furious bellow, the Dragon Blood General charged headlong toward the luminous blade of sword intent.
Seeking a demise alongside Long Chen.
Yet, his worthiness was lacking.
The blade of sword intent pierced through the Dragon Blood General's form, its residual force extinguishing the remaining mutated beast.
Attribute Points and empirical values scattered forth, and Loong Chen seized them without hesitation.
Subsequently, he strode toward the Dragon Palace without casting a backward glance.
It was akin to a maxim from a game: King Lanling never looked back.
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