Chapter 172 - 166: Full Firepower
"Golden-Winged Eagle!"
Yu Changsheng’s expression flickered at the sight. With a thought, he immediately ordered the Red Refining Snake and the Colorful Star Deer to provide support.
The next second, the Colorful Star Deer grunted, and the effect of Soul Stepping landed on Huang Suyu, plunging him into a momentary trance.
The Red Refining Snake seized this opening. With a hiss, it spat a cloud of Fire Poison right in his face.
The Red Refining Snake’s Fire Poison came from a Tier One Seventh Layer Poisonous Spirit Python. It was fatal to Qi Refining Cultivators below Foundation Establishment, but for a Foundation Establishment Great Power, the effect was not significant.
"PFFT!"
Huang Suyu swiped his palm, and a flash of Sword Light shot out from it, transforming into a gale that instantly extinguished the incoming Fire Poison.
"Your little pets are truly irritating."
The next moment, he stomped heavily on the ground. As the steps of the ladder trembled, a wave of misty Qi erupted from him and slammed toward the Red Refining Snake.
"BANG!"
The mist exploded, and an oppressive wave of Sword Qi swept out.
The Red Refining Snake was immediately sent flying backward. Fortunately, it had activated its Water Illusion Spirit Armor in time, negating much of the damage.
Huang Suyu’s figure also shot out from the mist. His eyes were sharp as he formed a sword with his fingers, which glowed with a blue light, and chopped down at the Red Refining Snake’s head.
"Sword Pointing!"
His fingertips had yet to arrive, but the blue glow had already formed into Sword Light. Empowered by Huang Suyu’s Sword Intent, its might was far greater than that of other Foundation Establishment Cultivators!
However, the Red Refining Snake showed no fear. Instead, its ferocity flared as it lunged at him, its Water Spirit Illusion Armor colliding with the Sword Pointing technique.
"PFFT!"
The Water Spirit Illusion Armor, which could nullify physical damage, was actually pierced!
A wound was stabbed into the Red Refining Snake’s belly, but it had also gotten close to Huang Suyu’s body. Driven by its beastly instincts, it lunged viciously for his neck.
No matter how weak the Red Refining Snake’s poison was, it would surely have an effect if it entered Huang Suyu’s body. Being at Foundation Establishment didn’t make him invincible!
But how could Huang Suyu give it that chance? He sneered, took a light step back, and swept his Sword Pointing forward.
"You’re nothing but a vile beast!"
The Sword Light erupted, and the Red Refining Snake’s Water Spirit Illusion Armor completely disintegrated.
"Colorful Star Deer!"
Yu Changsheng’s pupils contracted. He instantly unleashed Thousand Thoughts Slash while shouting, "Soul Stepping!"
If one Soul Stepping had a negligible effect on Huang Suyu, what about a Thousand Thoughts Slash unleashed with a Golden Core Level Divine Sense?!
Huang Suyu immediately sensed the danger. The Sword Pointing technique he was about to unleash paused.
Perhaps it was instinct, or perhaps it was the keen perception a Sword Cultivator ought to have.
He cast aside his disdain. In the nick of time, he summoned his Magic Sword and pushed his Sword Intent to its absolute peak!
"BOOM!"
Huang Suyu struck with his sword.
A violent shockwave scoured everything in the vicinity. Earth, wood, and stone at the edge of the steps were blasted away, leaving a scene of utter chaos.
The terrifying Sword Intent clashed with Yu Changsheng’s Divine Sense.
Yu Changsheng’s face paled; a significant portion of his Divine Sense had clearly been annihilated by the opponent’s Sword Intent. However, it was Huang Suyu who was blasted back first, retreating with a grim expression.
He took several consecutive steps back on the ladder before steadying himself. Feeling the throbbing pain in his head, he frowned and said, "Is this the Spiritual Sense Technique of Beast Taming Peak?"
"I’ve long heard that a Beast Master’s Divine Sense is far stronger than that of an ordinary Cultivator. Today, I’ve finally seen it for myself."
As he spoke, Huang Suyu’s gaze grew wary. His killing intent flared as he tightened his grip on his sword.
For a brief moment just now, he’d had the illusion that he was about to die. His opponent’s Divine Sense was bizarrely powerful, completely unlike that of a Qi Refining Cultivator.
’But in the end, Divine Sense is just Divine Sense. As long as I, with my Minor Sword Intent, am careful and don’t let it invade my mind, it poses no threat.’
The three beasts were the more troublesome part.
Ordinarily, he could deal with Tier One Ninth Layer Demon Beasts with a single sword strike. But under the command of a Beast Master, their coordination could cause trouble, creating an opening for Yu Changsheng’s Divine Sense to attack his mind.
"There’s no other way. I’ll have to use this sword to deal with you."
"I take back what I said before. You are worthy of me drawing my sword. Hehehe."
Amid his cold laughter, Huang Suyu unreservedly released his Sword Intent. The sharp, oppressive aura made all three of Yu Changsheng’s beasts wear grave expressions.
A little blood trickled from the Red Refining Snake’s body, but for a Demon Beast, such a wound was nothing. It stood at the very front, baring its fangs ferociously.
The Golden-Winged Eagle flapped its wings, braving the pressure. As the weakest in the group, its resolve did not waver in the slightest; it only wanted to make the opponent suffer.
The Colorful Star Deer also shed its casual attitude. A green light spread from beneath its hooves, and trees began to grow on the steps of the ladder.
It was still anyone’s game!
The next second, Huang Suyu made his move.
He was incredibly fast, like a flash of lightning, rushing in front of Yu Changsheng and his beasts in the blink of an eye. However, the well-prepared Red Refining Snake whipped its tail, instantly matching his attack trajectory!
’His speed is incredible; we have to restrict him!’
"Colorful Star Deer, Sea of Trees!"
Yu Changsheng shouted. None of them—not the Red Refining Snake, the Golden-Winged Eagle, nor the Colorful Star Deer—could match Huang Suyu’s speed.
Even his own eyes couldn’t keep up. But his Divine Sense could. The moment he perceived his opponent’s attack trajectory, he could instantly issue commands to his beasts through their Contract.
Receiving the command, the Colorful Star Deer cried out. The light from its antlers intensified, and an endless sea of trees and vines formed a cage, winding toward Huang Suyu to restrict his movements.
"Red Refining Snake, fall back a bit." Seeing Huang Suyu’s movements impeded, a flash of insight crossed Yu Changsheng’s mind, and he shouted inwardly, ’Enter the Spiritual Beast Four Extremes Formation!’
The Red Refining Snake was struck by a slash of Sword Qi and used the momentum to retreat. Entangled by the sea of trees, Huang Suyu was unable to kill it immediately.
The retreating Red Refining Snake, along with the Golden-Winged Eagle and the Colorful Star Deer, moved into specific positions. Their auras merged, forming three poles of the four in the Spiritual Beast Four Extremes Formation.
Soon, the Red Refining Snake’s body erupted in flames, while the Golden-Winged Eagle’s flapping wings summoned an endless gale. The combined force of wind and fire blasted toward Huang Suyu’s back.
The three Spirit Pets were already at the Tier One Ninth Layer Realm. With their coordination amplified by the formation, the combat power they could unleash in a short burst was something that even a Second-stage Spirit Beast wouldn’t dare to underestimate. This was precisely how Miao Wenlun’s Red Flame Leopard had been defeated.
Wind and fire converged, igniting the vines of the tree sea in an attempt to burn Huang Suyu to death within.
This was the Celestial Ladder; the environment was a disadvantage for Huang Suyu!
But could such a tactic really stop him? Kill him?
The wind and fire shot into the sky, causing the very heavens to shift color. This made the expressions of the onlookers change drastically, and they hurriedly retreated further, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.
"That Beast Master can actually go toe-to-toe with Huang Suyu? Interesting."
There was a hint of a smile in Gu Zhen’s eyes, but it was overshadowed by his soaring battle intent.
Miao Wenlun sucked in a sharp breath. Watching the intense battle between the two, his eyes dimmed slightly.
"To be able to fight like this in such an environment... Is this the gap between geniuses?"
’You bastard... How long has it been, and you can already trade blows with Huang Suyu? Is this your true strength?’
Shaking his head, Miao Wenlun gave a bitter smile.
"Forget it. This time, you have to win."
...