Chapter 403 - Chapter 403: Chapter 372: Escape_1

Chapter 403: Chapter 372: Escape_1

The Water Dragon Summoning Skill is an extremely common tier ten skill, akin to the Fireball and Wind Blade skills practiced during the Qi Cultivation Stage. Though such skills appear immensely powerful, they are in fact highly unstable and can easily dissipate once hit at a spiritual power node.

Moreover, they have a relatively slow attack speed, putting them at a disadvantage in duels among cultivators of the same stage.

Recognizing these flaws, Yun Mengyao couldn’t understand why Xu Mu would bother using such a clumsy skill.

But the scene before her shattered her previous understanding. Her full-force attack didn’t manage to destroy even two of the magical giant dragons.

In the following moment, something even more unexpected occurred. The attacking speed of the two water dragons far exceeded her expectations, and they leapt toward her in the blink of an eye, spitting out fierce water bullets that covered a radius of nearly a hundred feet. Yun Mengyao had no choice but to defend herself with her own magical artifact.

The unimaginable strength of these two magical giant dragons shocked Yun Mengyao, but she quickly recovered.

“Could this Sea Race member have refined this elementary skill to an incredibly profound level?” Yun Mengyao pondered in disbelief.

Aside from this explanation, there is none. Otherwise, the two magical giant dragons couldn’t be this powerful.

If even such basic skills are this strong, then who would bother laboriously collecting materials to refine a magic artifact?

During the Qi Cultivation Stage, the number of cultivators practicing skills is at its peak since they can still use them in battle. But as one advances to the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Golden Core Stage, usage diminishes due to the high level of difficulty in cultivation. To practice to the point where it can be implemented in battle would consume too much time.

With such time, it would be better to earn more spirit stones and purchase a suitable magic artifact or buy a few more talismans.

Moreover, the power of a skill is fixed. After achieving peak cultivation, it cannot be further enhanced. It can, at most, rely on one’s realm to boost some power.

With such considerations, the return on investment in cultivating a skill is even lower.

Despite these limitations, the main reason for the existence of skills is their applicability during times of war.

For instance, the Water Dragon Summoning Skill that Xu Mu used could entirely be prepared by a few Golden Core Stage practitioners working in cooperation. Its effect would then significantly increase, especially in times of war.

Using it like Xu Mu did in a fast-paced individual battle is indeed rare.

As for the Water Arrow Skill that Yun Mengyao used, it is not a skill but a divine talent inherent in her bloodline. It can be instantaneously invoked and timely used in battle.

“How did this Sea Race member cultivate? We’re both at the same initial stages of Nascent Soul, yet he managed to cultivate a skill to this level. Could it be that he spent all his time only on this skill after advancing to Nascent Soul?”

Yun Mengyao found this quite absurd because it seemed like something abnormal people would do.

Even if one cultivates this skill to a high level, at most it can just withstand more attacks. But it isn’t likely to cause her any trouble.

But the next moment, Yun Mengyao abandoned this thought.

From afar, she observed Xu Mu, who was again casting his skill, summoning two more magical giant dragons that flew toward Yun Mengyao out of the light screen. And this was not the end. Xu Mu continued to summon another eight water dragons in the same manner, surrounding Yun Mengyao completely and entirely blocking her within a bounded area.

Xu Mu gave her a slight smile before disappearing from her sight, transformed into an escape light.

Yun Mengyao was so angry that she gritted her teeth, but she was powerless. Unless she used some desperate moves that consumed her potential, it was impossible for her to break through the blockade of so many water dragons in a short time.

Paying the price of consuming her own potential just for the sake of trapping the opponent, which would impact her future cultivation, couldn’t be justified.

Meanwhile, she also couldn’t understand Xu Mu’s actions. Expending so much spiritual power just to trap her seemed somewhat unworthy.

This place is a dangerous secret realm. Recklessly using up a large amount of spiritual power could pose a risk to life.

Yun Mengyao’s thoughts were quite reasonable, given her ignorance of Xu Mu’s circumstances. If she knew that Xu Mu’s spiritual power was several times hers, she wouldn’t have had such thoughts.

“I’ll remember you! You’d better hope not to run into me again!”

Yun Mengyao gritted her teeth in fury. Yet, she had no choice but to continue tussling with the water dragons until Qiu Jixing, who had received messages of the situation, quickly arrived and dealt with the water dragons made of magical energy.

“Master, I failed to stop him!” Yun Mengyao stood behind Qiu Jixing, her head bowed in shame, her white hair vibrant against the night sky.

“No matter!”

Qiu Jixing shook his head, spiritual power surging from his hand to absorb a part of the dissipated water dragon. The stars gleamed around him, hinting at an unseen method that had allowed him to uncover some hidden secrets.

“This member of the Sea Race possesses unusual power. If he truly decided to fight to the death, even you wouldn’t stand a chance. You have no reason to feel guilty!”

“He’s stronger than me?!” Yun Mengyao was both startled and disbelieving.

Granted a special bloodline, she had never met her match amongst those of her rank. The only reason Xu Mu had been able to entangle her was due to the brevity of her advancement. Lacking sufficient experience in combat, she had given him an opportunity to exploit.

If it were truly a fight to the death, she was confident that, under normal circumstances, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul would perish with her.

Every small realm within the Nascent Soul Stage was vast in difference. Even at the first level of Nascent Soul, a fight to death with someone at the mid-stage was extraordinary.

“His skill consists of all five elements, even those performed at the same stage are three times more powerful than ordinary cultivators.” Qiu Jixing stated.

Not all skills become more powerful when they are more pure. Some skills require extreme stability and thus need a balance of elements.

Take the Water Dragon Summoning Skill, for example, it is not entirely composed of the water element. When mixed with other elements from the Five Elements, it actually becomes more stable.

“My bloodline power is not far behind!” Yun Mengyao muttered resentfully in her heart.

Qiu Jixing seemed to read her thoughts, continuing, “If I am not mistaken, he might have condensed an Ancestral Nascent Soul. Only such a soul can embody all Five Elements in its skills, greatly enhancing their power!”

“Ancestral Nascent Soul?”

Yun Mengyao was taken aback, a shiver running down her spine.

She had naturally heard of Ancestral Nascent Souls, which were almost mythical. She had once fancied it, but due to many obstacles, she had given up reluctantly and chosen to condense a different Nascent Soul instead.

In her imagination, such a soul couldn’t possibly have been successfully condensed by anyone. Rumors of Ancestral Nascent Souls were just fodder for preying on the ignorant.

Now, according to Qiu Jixing, this seemingly ordinary Sea Race member, had managed to condense this mythical Ancestral Nascent Soul, accomplishing something she could not.

“Master, could you be mistaken?” Yun Mengyao didn’t want to believe it.

“It’s only a guess, to confirm it, we need to get closer! If it really is an Ancestral Nascent Soul, then we can’t let him leave alive!” Qiu Jixing said coldly.

Not only does an Ancestral Nascent Soul represent power surpassing its tier, but it also indicates the potential for the Divinity Transformation Stage.

The current balance between the Human Clan and the Sea Race is due to the near-equal high-ranking fighters. If the Sea Race gained another Divinity Transformation individual, the two races would inevitably plunge into a massive war.

“Disciple understands!”

Yun Mengyao felt an urge rising within her to fight Xu Mu again to test the mythic Ancestral Nascent Soul’s power.

“Use the jade slip to inform your Alchemy Master Uncle to be careful and try not to conflict with him!”

“Yes!”

After giving the orders, Qiu Jixing stayed at the entrance of the crevice, setting up a vast net of tracking spells. Once Xu Mu passed through, there would be no chance of escape.

Elsewhere, after shaking off Yun Mengyao, Xu Mu pulled out a sensing jade slip, heading in a certain direction with determination.

“He’s in here after all! I hope nothing unexpected happens, or I won’t be able to explain to Little Poor!”