44: Molten Lizard

It was the opening move of the Flowing Cloud Water Dividing Sword Art.

"You're courting death!" Seeing Lin Feng take the initiative to attack, that Disciple roared in anger. A yellow-brown spiritual light suddenly lit up on the long blade in his hand, and the blade trembled, "Stone Splitting Slash."

Before the blade edge even arrived, a forceful, oppressive wind rushed towards him. It was clearly a well-Cultivated earth-element saber technique, powerful and heavy enough to split stone monuments.

However, Lin Feng's qinggang sword did not clash head-on. With a light touch and a gentle pull, like flowing water meeting a rock, he naturally diverted and dispersed the fierce saber force to the side.

That Disciple only felt the force on his blade disappear like a clay ox into the sea; he was involuntarily led into a stumble, leaving his center wide open.

'This is it.'

Lin Feng seized this fleeting opportunity, flicked his wrist, and thrust the qinggang sword out, striking the acupoint on the opponent's wrist with the spine of the blade.

"Ugh!" That Disciple felt his wrist go numb, and with a "clang," his saber fell from his hand to the ground.

Lin Feng swept past. As he withdrew the qinggang sword, the tip cleverly flicked upward, snatching the Storage Pouch the opponent had just seized into his hand, while his footwork changed, and he had already retreated.

The entire process was like flowing clouds and moving water, overcoming hardness with softness, instantly subduing the enemy.

On the other side, Sun Hao also roared, his sword light forcing back the three Qi Refining Seventh Layer opponents on the left, demonstrating the solid foundation of the Qi Refining Eighth Layer.

"Retreat." Lin Feng whispered. Without a moment's hesitation, he and Sun Hao turned and plunged into the deeper dense forest, disappearing from sight.

Zhang Kuang's subordinates were stunned in place. One had his Storage Pouch taken, and three had been forced back; they looked at each other in dismay.

High in the air, atop that massive feather Magical Artifact.

Senior Sister Xiao's gaze had originally been indifferently overlooking the chaos below. However, when Lin Feng displayed that sword technique, a flash of surprise suddenly appeared in her cold, clear eyes.

'That is... the force-exerting method of the Flowing Cloud Water Dividing Sword Art?

This sword art values Concept over form and is extremely difficult to master. There are very few practitioners in the Sect, and most are female Disciples with delicate minds and exquisite Spiritual Qi control... How could it appear on a male Disciple at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer?

And to use that Concept of dispersing and unloading force so skillfully and naturally?'

'This youth... is interesting.'

Her gaze lingered for a moment longer in the direction where Lin Feng and his companion had disappeared before slowly moving away. This trial seemed to have more to watch than she had expected.

Down in the valley, Zhang Kuang soon learned the news that his subordinates had suffered a setback, and his expression immediately turned gloomy.

Heatwaves from the northeast region of the Myriad Beast Valley rushed toward them.

Lin Feng and Sun Hao avoided the main path and traveled quickly along the scorching rock walls.

'Avoid Zhang Kuang and go straight to the core.' Lin Feng scanned his surroundings.

Sun Hao, being experienced, took the lead and turned into a hidden crevice.

The further they went, the higher the temperature became. The rock walls were faintly hot, and the fire Spiritual Qi in the air was exceptionally active.

The end of the crevice opened up suddenly, and a huge sunken valley appeared before their eyes.

In the center of the valley was a cave entrance constantly emitting scorching steam; that was the Molten Fire Lizard's nest.

In the rock crevices near the nest, a few stalks of Fire Velvet Grass, entirely crimson and uniquely shaped, grew sparsely.

'There is a guardian beast.' Lin Feng's footsteps faltered.

At the entrance of the nest, a Molten Fire Lizard nearly a zhang long, covered in dark red scales, was crouching. Its thick tail swept impatiently, kicking up gravel.

It sensed the intruders, suddenly raised its head, and locked its amber eyes onto the two. A low, threatening hiss came from deep within its throat, and sparks sprayed from its mouth and nose.

Sun Hao's expression was grave. He drew the long sword from his waist with a backhand motion, and a small bronze shield in his left hand was instantly activated.

He whispered, pointing his sword tip diagonally, and took the initiative to meet it, delivering a powerful, heavy slash straight at the Molten Fire Lizard's head.

The Molten Fire Lizard was enraged and let out a roar. It did not dodge or avoid, but instead, its scaled head forcefully collided with Sun Hao's sword edge, producing the sound of metal clashing against metal.

At the same time, its tail, like a steel whip carrying a fierce wind, lashed out at Sun Hao's flank.

"Watch out." Lin Feng shouted urgently.

Sun Hao was experienced in battle and used the small bronze shield to block in time.

Bang.

With a muffled sound, the halo on the shield vibrated violently. Sun Hao was shaken back, stumbling from the huge force, and his arm holding the shield felt numb and sore. 'Such strong power.'

Having gained the upper hand with one strike, the Molten Fire Lizard opened its bloody maw again. A surge of scorching dark red fire breath spewed out, covering a large area and instantly engulfing Sun Hao.

Sun Hao's expression changed. He hurriedly used the small bronze shield to protect his front, pushing the yellow-brown halo to its limit.

Sss, sss, sss.

The fire breath scorched the spiritual light on the shield's surface, and the small bronze shield turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye. Sun Hao's Spiritual Qi was being consumed rapidly, sweat appeared on his forehead, and it looked like he would not be able to hold on much longer.

'Dangerous!' Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, and he circled to the Molten Fire Lizard's flank. The xuanming heavy water bead in his hand spun rapidly, and a surge of extreme cold Qi poured into the qinggang sword.

The sword blade hummed, covered with a layer of deep blue frost, emitting a large amount of white cold air.

"Flowing Cloud Water Dividing · Divert." Lin Feng whispered. The qinggang sword traced an arc, precisely piercing into the gap between the scales on the Molten Fire Lizard's relatively weak neck.

The extreme cold Qi instantly penetrated.

"Screech—!"

The Molten Fire Lizard let out a hiss. The scales where its neck was pierced instantly froze and cracked, and the scorching blood that flowed out was quickly frozen as well.

The fire breath spraying toward Sun Hao was suddenly interrupted.

Sun Hao felt the pressure lighten and took the opportunity to retreat, panting heavily. He glanced at the still-hot small bronze shield in his hand, feeling a lingering fear.

'I almost couldn't block it...'

The Molten Fire Lizard was completely enraged, and its hatred instantly shifted to Lin Feng.

Ignoring its neck injury, it twisted its massive body, attacking Lin Feng with sharp claws, its giant tail, and sporadic fireballs.

Lin Feng had to dodge. The qinggang sword continuously tapped, diverted, and unloaded, while the xuanming cold Qi was continuously output to interfere with the opponent's movements.

'Cannot drag this out.' Lin Feng's thoughts raced. He narrowly dodged a sharp claw that swept past his face, the force of the wind stinging his cheeks.

"Senior Brother Sun." Lin Feng shouted loudly.

Sun Hao immediately understood. He forcefully raised his Spiritual Qi, and his long sword erupted with intense light. He delivered a heavy slash toward a joint on one of the Molten Fire Lizard's forelimbs, forcing it to defend and block, creating an opportunity for Lin Feng.

A cold light surged in Lin Feng's eyes. His body followed his sword, concentrating all his Spiritual Qi and the cold Qi of the xuanming heavy water bead onto the tip of the qinggang sword, which emitted a continuous hum.

He transformed into a stream of light, thrusting straight at the Molten Fire Lizard's exposed vital abdominal area.

The Molten Fire Lizard's massive body stiffened, and all its movements came to an abrupt halt.

With a loud boom, this powerful fire-element Yao Beast fell heavily to the ground. Thick frost condensed at the wound on its abdomen, and its breath was completely cut off.

The battle ended. Lin Feng leaned on his sword, his face slightly pale, panting. Sun Hao also breathed a sigh of relief, shaking his numb arm.

'Reached the limit... but the feeling of the Bottleneck loosening is unprecedentedly strong.' Lin Feng immediately sat cross-legged.

Having experienced the life-and-death battle just now, his Spiritual Qi was boiling within him, and his perception of the dense fire Spiritual Qi in the outside world was exceptionally keen.

'Could it be that I am about to have a Breakthrough?'