Chapter 285: How Much Strength?
Then, a beam of sword light shot out, spanning heaven and earth and sundering mountains.
All anyone saw was a dazzling radiance as a streak of white light carved a graceful arc across the sky.
In an instant, the towering mountains of blades in the center of the training ground seemed to have been erased from existence. Their upper halves, along with all the branches, trees, and vines covering them, vanished completely, leaving behind nothing but perfectly smooth, gleaming cross-sections.
The next moment, Shen Daoxing emerged unscathed. His white robes fluttered, and his expression was perfectly serene.
"Incredible!"
Seeing this, Peng Yue, Yuan Yuan, and Deng Fang were all inwardly shaken and exchanged a glance.
There were vast differences even among cultivators at the ninth level of Spirit Transformation. The gap in strength could be so great that one could be instantly killed by another at the very same level.
What’s more, they were cultivators of the Extreme Dao, far beyond the ordinary. Yet even when the three of them joined forces, they were utterly helpless against the young man before them. The realization was deeply shocking.
Despite this, the three of them maintained an air of indifference.
"Hmm, not bad. Not bad at all! A rare talent indeed."
Deng Fang commented nonchalantly.
"That’s right. To possess such strength at his age is likely a rare sight even in the entire East Continent."
Yuan Yuan, standing beside them, nodded.
Peng Yue, however, maintained his cold indifference. "But if you think this is enough to defeat the three of us combined, you’re far too naive."
As he spoke, Peng Yue’s figure blurred and he leaped into the air again. One of his arms swelled dramatically as raging flames surged forth.
At his side, Deng Fang and Yuan Yuan also nodded nonchalantly, then leaped up to follow him. "That’s right!"
Instantly, flames erupted across the training ground amidst thunderous explosions. Countless flashes of blades and swords crisscrossed the sky. The training ground itself was already shattered beyond recognition, bearing no resemblance to its former state.
The surrounding soldiers retreated again and again, finally taking refuge atop some distant stone houses.
RUMBLE!
A sudden roar erupted from thin air above the training ground. A blinding white light flared to life, and a beam of sword light spanning the heavens shot out, carving a semicircle across the sky.
Simultaneously, Peng Yue, Yuan Yuan, and Deng Fang were all forced back, stumbling several steps before they could regain their footing.
Now, all three of them were in a sorry state. Deng Fang had even had his beard sliced clean off by the sword strike. In the center of the training ground, however, Shen Daoxing remained untouched, his white robes still pristine.
Peng Yue looked up, his heart reeling with shock. ’I’ve already used every technique I have, holding nothing back.’ He glanced at Yuan Yuan and Deng Fang; they were in the same boat. ’And yet... even with all that, we’re still helpless against this kid. And he’s just an ordinary ninth-level Spirit Transformation cultivator!’
Peng Yue was utterly astounded, but his face remained a mask of indifference.
"Not bad, not bad at all. As expected of the man who rescued Her Highness. It’s no wonder that Yang Ye of the Great Sui died at your hands."
Deng Fang couldn’t help but nod. Then, he added nonchalantly, "However, I’ve only used eighty percent of my strength up to this point. I haven’t even gotten serious yet."
With that, Deng Fang turned to look at Yuan Yuan. "Yuan, what about you?"
Yuan Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily. "I’ve only used seventy percent of my strength."
Then, Deng Fang and Yuan Yuan both turned to look at Peng Yue. "And you, Peng?"
Peng Yue paused, then said lightly, "Sixty percent."
Instantly, both Deng Fang and Yuan Yuan shot him a look of disdain.
’Shameless!’
"Hahaha!"
Deng Fang gave Yuan Yuan and Peng a meaningful look and said, "Well then, Yuan, Peng, it seems we must all try harder, shouldn’t we?"
Not far away, Shen Daoxing watched the bickering trio with a faint smile. He knew they had already exhausted their techniques and given it their all. Their words now were nothing more than posturing to save face.
What they didn’t know, however, was that the Shen Daoxing before them had not been going all out from the very beginning.
In order to master the Seven-Colored Power within his body, Shen Daoxing had refrained from using his Venerable Dharma Seal and Venerable Power this entire time.
Had Shen Daoxing unleashed his Venerable Dharma Seal and used his Venerable Power, the three before him would have been defeated long ago.
But since his goal was to completely master this Seven-Colored Power, he would not use his Venerable Power.
The Seven-Colored Power, the power of the Seven-Origin Attribute: Wind Source, Fire Source, Water Source, Wood Source...
Shen Daoxing took a step forward, seizing the offensive. He appeared before General Deng Fang and suddenly thrust out his palm.
Deng Fang was startled for a moment, then a brilliant light erupted around him.
"Desolate Earth Extreme Dao, Peak of Ten Thousand Juns!"
In an instant, a tough, millstone-sized mountain materialized above his palm.
With a light toss of his palm, Deng Fang sent the mountain flying. It grew larger and larger, instantly blocking the space between him and Shen Daoxing.
At that moment, the Seven-Colored Profound Platform within Shen Daoxing suddenly flared—red, orange, green, blue... From among the seven colors, an orange radiance suddenly intensified, bursting from his body in a dazzling display.
Then, a surge of supreme Earth Attribute Spiritual Power gushed forth, frantically coalescing upon Shen Daoxing’s palm.
In the blink of an eye, a small mountain identical to Deng Fang’s appeared in Shen Daoxing’s hand.
RUMBLE!
The two small mountains violently collided.
Instantly, rubble flew everywhere amidst a blinding flash of light.
A pillar of brilliant orange light shot toward the heavens.
SPURT!
Deng Fang coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, carving a graceful arc through the air.
BANG!
He then slammed heavily onto the ground.
Shen Daoxing looked down at his palm, which now shimmered with an orange glow. ’It seems I’ve grasped the Extreme Power of the Earth Attribute.’
"You brat!"
Seeing Deng Fang’s miserable state on the ground, Yuan Yuan froze for a moment, then abruptly shot into the air.
"Cyan Wood Extreme Dao, Wood Sea Shocking Dragon!"
A pinpoint of cyan light appeared, then rapidly expanded.
The next moment, Yuan Yuan shot across the sky like a terrifying cyan dragon.
Shen Daoxing spun around, and with a flip of his palm, summoned the Great Ming Demon Sparrow. Wielding the sword like a spear, he thrust it straight forward.
The Seven-Colored Profound Platform within him flared brilliantly. Then, from among the seven colors, a cyan light intensified, soaring toward the sky in a dazzling display.
A vibrant cyan energy condensed upon Shen Daoxing’s Great Ming Demon Sparrow. It was the exact same power that Yuan Yuan was using.
BANG!
The spear and the sword collided violently.
A flash of cyan light erupted.
Radiance filled the air.
CRACK!
With a single, sharp crack, the long spear in Yuan Yuan’s hands shattered into two pieces.
The next moment, Yuan Yuan was sent flying high into the air, leaving a long trail of blood in his wake.
However, just as Yuan Yuan was sent flying, a shadow fell over Shen Daoxing. Immediately after, a giant fist of fire descended.
Shen Daoxing hastily leaned back, retreating in a hurry.
BOOM!
The massive flame exploded, blasting a deep crater into the ground.
At this moment, Shen Daoxing flipped his palm and put away the Great Ming Demon Sparrow.
His figure flickered, leaving a trail of afterimages as he instantly appeared before Peng Yue.
One of Peng Yue’s arms suddenly swelled as billowing flames erupted around it.
Shen Daoxing felt as if the very air was about to ignite as Peng Yue’s massive, flaming fist smashed toward him.