Chapter 725: The Power of the Divine Dragon Bone
Shou Shu grinned hideously at Zhang Ruochen, stepping forward and revealing two sharp fangs. "Gaga! Quite something. It's always been our Moon-Worshipping Cult killing others, but I never imagined someone would dare to kill a Guardian Beast General of the cult. Since that's the case, don't expect to leave this stone chamber alive today."
"A minor character like this—why trouble Big Brother to act personally? Let me deal with him." After a brief moment of breath regulation, Long San's injuries had already healed.
Long San's constitution was naturally formidable, and with the Divine Dragon Bone refined into his body, his physical form had become even more powerful. Ordinary injuries could heal themselves in just a short time.
Shou Shu glanced at Long San, his eyes shifting, and he laughed. "Third Brother, this kid's strength isn't weak. Are you sure you can handle him?"
Long San chuckled. "Big Brother, do you doubt my strength? Earlier, I was careless, which is why I suffered some minor injuries. In a real fight, I won't lose to him."
Shou Shu looked at Ouyang Huan, showing a questioning expression.
Ouyang Huan pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Third Brother, since you want to fight, I can allow it. But remember, if you are defeated by him again, you will face punishment."
"Understood."
With the Divine Son's approval, Long San breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, he could rely on his own strength to reclaim the face he had lost earlier.
No matter what, this time, he had to defeat Lin Yue—or even kill him.
"Do you really intend to kill someone on the territory of the Liangyi Sect?" Zhang Ruochen called out.
Long San laughed. "Lin Yue, are you scared?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "There's nothing to fear. I just want to remind you of something. During the Sword Discussion Assembly, whoever dares to kill within the Liangyi Sect will surely not escape death themselves. Do you think you can flee using the power of a Sacred Edict after committing murder? Isn't that a bit too naive?"
Earlier, Long San had indeed planned to kill Ao Xinyan and immediately open the Sacred Edict to escape the Liangyi Sect, even if it meant missing the Sword Discussion Assembly.
Being exposed by Lin Yue naturally made Long San's heart tighten. Could it be that the Liangyi Sect had set up some countermeasure, making escape impossible even with the Sacred Edict?
Long San's gaze turned cold. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Zhang Ruochen gently placed the severely injured Ao Xinyan back into her chair and said unhurriedly, "How about signing a life-and-death contract? If I kill you, I won't be held responsible. If you kill me, you won't be held responsible either."
Hearing this, Long San burst into laughter. "Do you think those words alone can scare me off? Since you're looking for death, how could I not oblige you?"
Long San cut his finger and, using his dragon blood, wrote a life-and-death contract on a stone pillar.
Zhang Ruochen did not hesitate either, using his own blood to write a life-and-death contract on another stone pillar.
There was a reason Zhang Ruochen did this.
Although Long San's life was not worth much, the Divine Dragon Bone on his body was something Zhang Ruochen had to obtain.
"This place is too cramped. Let's go to the battle platform in the Divine Platform City and fight to the death. I'll personally reclaim the face I lost earlier."
Long San's back sprouted a pair of black dragon wings. With a flap, he transformed into a streak of black light and rushed out first.
Zhang Ruochen turned back to look at Ao Xinyan. "May I borrow the Dragon-Patterned Azure Water Sword?"
"How do you know it's called the Dragon-Patterned Azure Water Sword?" Ao Xinyan's pale face showed a faint smile.
"Heh!"
Zhang Ruochen knew that Ao Xinyan must already be suspicious, so he did not explain further. Lifting the Dragon-Patterned Azure Water Sword, he executed his movement technique, rushed out of the stone chamber's entrance, and flew toward the battle platform at the center of Divine Platform City.
Inside the stone chamber, Huang Yanchen walked over to Ao Xinyan and helped her up, asking with some confusion, "I feel like Lin Yue is very familiar with you. Did you know each other before?"
Ao Xinyan showed a strange expression, gently biting her lip. "He might really be an old acquaintance. I'm not sure yet. After his battle with Long San ends, I'll go ask him myself."
In truth, Ao Xinyan was already fifty percent certain that Lin Yue was Zhang Ruochen.
But she still found it hard to believe that someone who had supposedly died could still be alive and well in this world. If he really was Zhang Ruochen, why hadn't he revealed himself to Huang Yanchen?
The gathered geniuses and talents all left, hurrying toward the battle platform in Divine Platform City.
Everyone was eager to see Lin Yue teach Long San a harsh lesson, letting the cultivators of the Central Domain know that the Eastern Domain's cultivation world was not without its prodigies.
On the battle platform, Long San and Zhang Ruochen stood facing each other, only ten zhang apart.
The auras of both grew increasingly fierce.
"Earlier in the stone chamber, I couldn't go all out. Now, let me show you my true power."
Long San's skin bulged with bumps that turned into fingernail-sized scales, covering his entire body. He clasped his claws together, condensing a ball of Dragon Fire Demon Flame, and slammed it into the ground.
"Boom!"
The spherical demon flame instantly split apart, surging outward in all directions, turning the battlefield within thirty zhang into a sea of fire.
The demon flame's temperature was extremely high. If a cultivator at the Fish-Dragon First Change were to touch it, they would likely turn into a human torch in an instant. Long San knew that mere demon flame could not harm Lin Yue, but it could suppress him to some extent.
Zhang Ruochen remained composed, swiftly swinging his sword to form a vortex of sword qi, isolating the demon flame outside.
Within the vortex, his body slowly rose off the ground, stopping at a height of ten zhang. Gripping the sword hilt with both hands, he dove downward, transforming into a pillar of sword light, stabbing rapidly toward Long San.
The cultivators below the battle platform could not even see Zhang Ruochen's figure clearly; all they could see was the tornado-like vortex of sword qi pressing downward.
At the vortex's center, a beam of light shot straight toward Long San.
"Such powerful sword intent! Without using the power of the Divine Dragon Bone, I won't be able to match him."
Long San's expression changed as he finally realized how formidable his opponent was.
He immediately channeled all his Saint Qi into his left arm, activating the power of the Divine Dragon Bone.
"Roar!"
A high-pitched dragon roar echoed from Long San's left arm, like the cry of an ancient divine dragon, spreading throughout Divine Platform City.
With the battle platform as the center, the entire city trembled slightly.
The closer cultivators were to the platform, the more they could feel an ancient and sacred dragon might emanating from Long San's body.
Some of the lower-cultivation cultivators had legs trembling uncontrollably, nearly falling to their knees.
"The power of the Divine Dragon Bone is indeed extraordinary. No wonder it's the treasure of the Half-Dragon Divine Clan." Many Eastern Domain geniuses showed greedy expressions.
Many secretly thought that if they could obtain the Divine Dragon Bone, they too could become top-tier experts like Long San.
"With Long San's cultivation and the might of the Divine Dragon Bone, who below the Half-Saint realm can withstand his claw?" A Fish-Dragon Ninth Change Sacred Body cultivator gasped in awe.
Long San's left hand formed a claw shape and struck forward.
"Boom!"
The dragon claw collided with the Sacred Sword, creating two opposing forces.
Long San retreated seven zhang before planting his legs firmly and steadying himself.
Zhang Ruochen, meanwhile, took three steps back.
This exchange left everyone stunned, as it was incredibly hard to believe.
"Even with the Divine Dragon Bone activated, Long San is still at a disadvantage. Just how freakishly strong is Lin Yue's strength?" At this moment, even the proud Huang Yanchen had to admit that Lin Yue was indeed a sword dao prodigy.
But in her heart, Lin Yue still could not compare to Zhang Ruochen.
The Eastern Domain cultivators were both excited and astonished.
The Liangyi Sect disciples in Divine Platform City were ecstatic, shouting loudly, "Senior Brother Lin is mighty and domineering, crushing the demon cult's experts, bolstering the Liangyi Sect's prestige!"
"Senior Brother Lin's sword technique is unmatched in the world; with one strike, he slays demons and dragons."
In the end, even the genius disciples from various Sacred Saint clans and sects joined in the cheers.
Ouyang Huan was also quite surprised. How long had it been since he last saw this person? His cultivation had already reached such a formidable level.
Moreover, he could tell that Lin Yue's cultivation was only at the Fish-Dragon Seventh Change.
If allowed to continue growing, he would likely become a major threat. With this thought, Ouyang Huan's gaze turned sharp and cold.
On the battle platform, Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. He moved, appearing above and in front of Long San, and swung his sword in a slash.
Though it seemed like a casual strike, it was filled with the profound mysteries of the sword dao. Even if Long San wanted to dodge, he could not, and had no choice but to take it head-on.
"Bang!"
Another clash.
Long San was sent flying backward, and a deep bloody gash appeared on his arm from the Dragon-Patterned Azure Water Sword.
However, the power of the Divine Dragon Bone radiated, instantly healing the wound.
"Damn it..."
Long San's heart burned with rage. He stood up, clenched his fists, and a series of cracking sounds came from his body. His muscles swelled continuously as he charged forward.
With each step forward, his body grew three feet taller.
By the time he reached Zhang Ruochen, his body had become nine zhang tall, transforming into a half-human, half-dragon creature. Demonic qi surged from within him, turning into a black demon cloud.
Long San was originally a Black-Scaled Flood Dragon. If he revealed his true form, it would likely span the entire Divine Platform City, and this mere battle platform could not contain him.
Now, he was only showing his first form.
Long San raised a claw as large as a millstone and struck out, piercing through the demon cloud, slamming down toward Zhang Ruochen's head.
"The power of the Divine Dragon Bone is truly formidable. This claw could probably severely injure even a Sacred Body."
If it were a contest of pure strength, Zhang Ruochen would be slightly inferior.
Unfortunately for Long San, Zhang Ruochen's greatest strength was his sword technique, so he naturally would not compete in brute force.
Zhang Ruochen spun his body and vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already above and behind Long San.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen raised his arm, holding the sword level with his shoulder, unleashing the full power of Sword One at Great Perfection. He thrust the sword into Long San's back.
"Pfft!"
The Dragon-Patterned Azure Water Sword pierced through Long San's body, and the immense force from the strike sent the half-dragon, half-human giant crashing heavily to the ground.
Blood gushed from Long San's back and abdomen like a spring, turning the entire battle platform crimson. (To be continued.)