Chapter 440: Earth-shattering (3)

Chapter 440: Earth-shattering (3)

Within the battle space of the Dark Star, a low rumble echoed as black liquid materialized from thin air once again. It coalesced swiftly, forming another black-robed guardian. Unlike its predecessor, this entity was no longer a body refiner, but a qi refiner.

With a sharp whistle, dozens of flying swords streaked towards Wu Yuan, their blades glinting ominously.

Fourth-stage Golden Core phase? Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly. The vital aura and mana pool he sensed were based on a sixth-degree immortal root, the most ordinary kind among Golden Core/Spiritual Body cultivators and Amethyst Cradle cultivators.

"Little Black, go!" Wu Yuan commanded.

A black blur shot out from his left arm, transforming into a gigantic serpent hundreds of zhangs long. Its scales gleamed like polished obsidian as it unfurled its massive wings, blotting out the artificial sky of the battle space.

"Kill!" Little Black's voice resonated with unbridled excitement. It had been far too long since it last experienced such a life-or-death battle. As a descendant of ancient savage beasts, the thrill of blood-soaked combat ran deep in its veins.

Its wings trembled, and like a bolt of midnight lightning slashing through the sky, Little Black's speed soared to terrifying heights.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Its two wings, sharp as giant sabers, instantly sent the flying swords careening off course and sliced clean through the black-robed guardian.

The two combatants were simply not on the same level. With a sickening splat, the guardian met instant death.

Level two, cleared!

...On level three, Little Black stepped in once more, clearing it with the same ease as before.

...On level four of the Dark Star, the guardian's power skyrocketed to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, and his Dao comprehension had reached the sixth-level Domain stage. Such strength would be considered formidable within the Golden Core phase, a one-in-a-thousand talent.

Yet in this battle, Little Black dispatched the guardian of the fourth level in a mere ten moves, without even unleashing its ether art.

...Level five was another increase in difficulty. While the guardian's Dao comprehension remained at the sixth-level Domain stage, its mana now rivaled that of a Golden Core cultivator with a fourth-degree immortal root. In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, such an entity would rank among the top tier of inner disciples.

Little Black finally unleashed its ether art. The moment it cast its advanced ether art, Realm Crossing, its speed skyrocketed once more.

The increase in velocity brought with it a formidable boost in attack power. After three consecutive, bone-shattering collisions, the guardian fell.

"Master, how exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!" Little Black exclaimed, its voice bubbling with childlike enthusiasm.

Wu Yuan laughed, understanding the source of Little Black's elation. Teng Snakes innately craved battle, and for decades, both of them had remained in the Middle Land with no worthy opponents. Even Fang Xia couldn't last two moves against it.

The constant need to conceal its existence had left Little Black feeling isolated and restless. Now, the Bloodforge Devil Hall was finally satisfying Little Black's primal desire for combat.

The natural talent of Teng Snakes is truly incredible. Wu Yuan mused inwardly as he watched Little Black's speed escalate to its peak.

Teng Snakes were naturally favored by the Wind Dao. Much like how Wu Yuan's body refiner self was naturally a Terranean Divine Body, the Teng Snake could be considered a natural Wind Dao Body.

Moreover, the Dao comprehension aptitude of a lifebound eldritch beast was intrinsically linked to its master's strength. The more powerful and talented the master, the greater the potential increase in the beast's strength.

Over the past few decades, Little Black had not only accumulated vast amounts of mana but also delved deep into the contemplation of the Gale Dao, a Lesser Law, reaching the eighth-level Domain stage of comprehension. While it might not match up to a peerless genius, it could certainly rival an ordinary Amethyst Cradle cultivator.

The strength of the guardian on level six has reached the level of an Amethyst Cradle cultivator.

If one can clear level six of the Dark Star, it would mean they have reached the threshold of the Amethyst Cradle phase in power. Wu Yuan mused. In the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, such strength is close to that of the hereditary disciples.

Little Black is in trouble.

This was a colossal hurdle. The ability to battle opponents from higher cultivation phases had always been exclusive to peerless geniuses.

As Wu Yuan had predicted, Little Black initially held its own against the guardian. But when the guardian unleashed three ether arts simultaneously, its power skyrocketed, and Little Black found itself immediately on the defensive, losing ground rapidly.

In terms of Dao comprehension, Little Black is superior, but the constraints of being a lifebound eldritch beast make it difficult for it to practice multiple ether arts. Wu Yuan sighed inwardly. If I had advanced to the ninth-stage Golden Core phase, Little Black would have a fighting chance. But now?

The gap in their foundations is too vast.

"Little Black, come back," Wu Yuan communicated through spiritual transmission.

Little Black growled and shook its wings, seeming reluctant, but it obediently complied, swiftly retreating to Wu Yuan's side. Its enormous body rapidly shrank and merged into Wu Yuan, ready to perform Beast Fusion.

"You've been relying on your lifebound spirit beast to get this far. Now, die!" The towering hundred-zhang-tall guardian roared, wielding its saber and charging ferociously at Wu Yuan.

"Is that so?" Wu Yuan grinned, extending his palms. His hands, white as the finest jade, began to grow dramatically. Both arms instantly stretched to hundreds of zhangs long, sweeping across the sky.

Eldritch Form! True Celestial Body! Two grand ether arts erupted simultaneously, their power radiating through the battle space.

A body refiner was known for their massive physique. For those Archeldritches and Archdeities who rivaled Archimmortals, their bodies could easily rival a worldlet in size, capable of turning heaven and earth upside down with a mere flick of a finger.

Wu Yuan, despite being only at the seventh-stage Spiritual Body phase, could practice multiple ether arts and easily expand his body when he unleashed his power.

Size is synonymous with power! Wu Yuan thrust both palms forward. They expanded with a thunderous boom. Two raging streams of earthy yellow qi flowed like dark clouds, one left and one right, striking the incoming guardian at a startling speed.

"Get lost!" The guardian roared, swinging its saber in defense.

Bam! It was as easy as swatting a mosquito. Wu Yuan clapped his palms together, smacking the guardian to death in an instant.

Weak. Wu Yuan thought, shaking his head slightly. Amethyst Cradle level strength? When Wu Yuan fully unleashed his power, he could kill an enemy at this level with a single slap.

"Next level.”

...

Back at the entrance, Old Luo stammered in shock, his composure completely shattered. "This! This! This! Impossible! It shouldn't be!"

"Based on his foundation and ether capacity, Wu Yuan should be outclassed," the elderly man muttered, hardly able to believe his eyes. "How could he kill the guardian with a single slap?"

Protectorate Xiong Yuan shook his head, equally incredulous. "It's the ether art. The ether art that Wu Yuan exhibited is more powerful. Could it be a grand ether art?"