"Pfft..."
Qi Lian Dao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, his entire being even more disheveled. His hands gripped the handle of his walking stick, shattering it directly. Following this, his body hunched over, scales erupted all over him, and in his severely wounded state, he revealed his true dragon form once more.
Having lost one of his natal items, the old Taoist's face was pale. He glanced at Lin Zhao behind him and said, "This place is not suitable for lingering. I'll send you away first."
With a gentle flick of his sleeve, Lin Zhao opened his eyes again and found himself on a mountaintop outside the Nine Nether Dragon Court.
"..."
He remained silent. Was a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator so feeble that he didn't even have the right to glance at the battlefield?
Of course, he also knew that the old Taoist had sent him out because he didn't want him to die within.
...
Outside the Nine Nether Dragon Court.
Tens of thousands of players were locked in a bloody struggle with the ghost hordes led by the Yellow City Ghost King. Although they were not involved in the main conflict within the Nine Nether Dragon Court, they were considered to be participating in this SSS-rank mission. In other words, as long as the humans, demons, and devils fighting within the Nine Nether Dragon Court emerged victorious, the rewards for the players would surely not be lacking.
At the Azure Dragon Guild's position, Yi Shi Cang Liang held his battle sword, his gaze fixed somberly on the Nine Nether Dragon Court. He felt immense unwillingness. What was the point of becoming a Golden Core Sword Cultivator if he couldn't even participate in a battle of this magnitude, a clash of deities? Rather than unwillingness, it was a greater yearning. Perhaps Lin Zhao was already making waves in there!
At the Sheng Tian position.
Leng Yan, riding her flying sword, descended into the Sheng Tian Guild's position, trailing a wisp of radiance. Her health bar was only at 35%, and she was heavily wounded, swaying precariously. This was not the first time she had charged into the ghost army, fought her way through, and returned with critical health. However, a sword cultivator should act like a sword cultivator. Leng Yan felt this was quite good. Senior Sister Lu would surely think her junior sister was formidable, and Lin Zhao would also think that Miss Leng was still the same Miss Leng, a chivalrous woman who would draw her sword at the sight of injustice.
"A Yan."
A beautiful archer chuckled, "What are you doing? Trying to grab the first spot on the mission contribution board? Fighting so hard, and if you die, you'll lose big. The mission rewards might not even cover the cost of leveling up."
"Lin Zhao went to the Nine Nether Dragon Court..."
Leng Yan's reply was non-sequitur.
"I know, so what? He's a player in this life. It doesn't matter if he dies; he can revive."
"Let's have hot pot tonight to reward ourselves," Leng Yan said again, her thoughts jumping wildly and not on the channel.
"..."
Duan Xian Feng Zheng rolled his eyes, feeling like he was talking to a brick wall.
At the Crimson Moon Knights' position.
Chen Xue and Luo Man returned after leading the mounted combat contingent in a fierce charge. Both were covered in wounds. Chen Xue's arms and legs bore the marks of swords from the spectral cavalry, and her shoulder had been pierced by a spear, resulting in a lingering minor injury effect and continuous bleeding. She frowned. The game version had been subtly updating, becoming increasingly realistic. She glanced back at her companion, Luo Man, and asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Luo Man popped a health potion, wiped a sword wound on her arm, and frowned. "Earlier, while killing monsters, I was licked by a Flame Giant Maw Ghost Commander. It even licked my face. I still feel so disgusted."
Chen Xue chuckled, "Who told you Luo Man is so beautiful?"
"Indeed."
Luo Man maintained a beautiful expression and nodded seriously. Then, she looked towards the Nine Nether Dragon Court and said, "Brother went to the Nine Nether Dragon Court, I wonder how he's doing~~~"
Shen Xing Chen, holding her staff, spoke from the rear, "Just now, several bolts of lightning descended into the Nine Nether Dragon Court. If I'm not mistaken, Lin Zhao must have used the Heavenly Lightning Talisman. The situation within the Nine Nether Dragon Court must be extremely dire, but don't worry. Lin Zhao has his limits and won't easily put himself in danger."
"Mhm."
Luo Man pursed her red lips and smiled, nodding.
...
Within the Nine Nether Dragon Court, fierce winds raged, and the battle was intense.
Qi Lian Dao, in his true dragon form, in a half-dragon, half-human state, was slaughtering his way through the Nine Nether Dragon Court. At the cost of his nape's reverse scale taking Ning Yuan Sheng's full-force blow, he retaliated with a palm strike that shattered an entire section of Ning Yuan Sheng's ribs. Following this, he delivered a kick, sending Ning Yuan Sheng, the thirteenth-realm demon, flying out. He smashed through the mountain wall of the Nine Nether Dragon Court and rolled into the wilderness tens of miles away, having lost his combat ability.
"One!"
Qi Lian Dao's face was ferocious. Feeling a powerful sword intent from behind, he spun around. As he swept out a leg, he unleashed a true dragon spell. A dragon tail dharma image swept out, instantly turning three eleventh-realm sword cultivators into a rain of blood in mid-air. Immediately after, an entire series of scrolls exploded on Qi Lian Dao's chest, blasting his flesh into a bloody mess. This was the Confucian method from the thirteenth-realm great demon Fu Sheng, but Qi Lian Dao paid it no mind. He plunged forward, enduring the damage to his body. His right arm pierced Fu Sheng's abdomen with a "splat." Then, a dragon head dharma image materialized above his head. With a gaping maw, it bit off one of Fu Sheng's arms, chewed and swallowed it. With a wave of his hand, Fu Sheng's body, after piercing through three mountain ranges, plummeted into the wilderness, also losing his combat ability.
"You!"
Nan Qing Feng, clad in snow-white robes, watched with her own eyes as two thirteenth-realm great demons were heavily wounded. She couldn't help but feel a sense of shared misfortune, like rabbits facing a fox. A radiant sword descended from the sky, but Qi Lian Dao's movements were incredibly ethereal. He twisted his body like a duck paddling in the wind, his speed astonishing. This was the Dragon Travel Technique from the true dragon arts. In mere moments, he appeared behind Nan Qing Feng and exhaled a stream of scorching dragon energy. In an instant, more than half of Nan Qing Feng's body was incinerated, her realm teetering on the verge of falling to the twelfth realm.
The most beautiful demon of the realm was terrified, her face drained of color.
"Nan Qing Feng, retreat!"
A powerful fist intent descended from the heavens. Long Dong Jun landed a heavy punch on Qi Lian Dao's forehead. Following this, he twisted his body and delivered two uppercuts, forcing Qi Lian Dao to retreat repeatedly. Nan Qing Feng seized the opportunity and rode the wind away, leaving the Nine Nether Dragon Court.
"All of you, attack!"
The old Taoist, wielding thirty-six flying swords from his green gourd, continuously maneuvered around Qi Lian Dao. It could be said that most of Qi Lian Dao's sword wounds were inflicted by the old Taoist. Though this fourteenth-realm old Taoist was not a sword cultivator, his mastery of the sword dao seemed to be on par with Lin Wan Hua and Jing Chu. While the old Taoist engaged in his assaults, Lin Wan Hua and Jing Chu were also not idle, delivering blow after blow, continuously inflicting damage.
However, the true dragon body was incredibly resilient. How could dragon slaying be easy?
As the injuries on his body accumulated, Qi Lian Dao's expression grew increasingly grim.
Now, Qi Lian Dao faced a fatal predicament: should he abandon that natal reverse scale? If he used that legendary forbidden technique at the cost of this natal reverse scale, most of the cultivators in the Upper Five Realms present would be either dead or severely injured. Even those like Lin Wan Hua and Jing Chu would be critically wounded. Otherwise, being entangled by Lin Wan Hua, Jing Chu, Gu Ling Yu, Cao Yan, and others, death was merely a matter of time.
...
Upon realizing this, Qi Lian Dao's hesitation vanished. With a low roar, a golden reverse scale on his neck detached!
"Not good!"
The old Taoist quickly raised his green gourd and roared, "He's going to use his natal killing move! Everyone, retreat and protect yourselves!"
Everyone retreated, but it was too late. Qi Lian Dao clenched the natal reverse scale in his hand and directly ignited it. In an instant, the entire Nine Nether Dragon Court was sealed. Mountain and water spiritual energy ceased to flow. Following this, a "great terror" of heavenly pressure emanated from Qi Lian Dao. The first to bear the brunt was Old Taoist Wang. His green gourd sizzled and developed a crack, which barely blocked the impact of this heavenly pressure. Subsequently, two eleventh-realm demon cultivators exploded, turning into a mist of blood.
"Meng Jun, be careful!"
Xie Yi Ying cried out in alarm and shattered one of her natal flying swords, using the blade fragments to shield herself and Chen Meng Jun. After the heavenly pressure passed, both Xie Yi Ying and Chen Meng Jun spat blood.
Long Dong Jun let out a low roar, his fist intent surging all over his body, incredibly potent. However, even so, the tiger's mouth of his hands, his elbows, and his ankles cracked and bled. He was unable to withstand this pressure without injury.
Lin Wan Hua and Jing Chu's bodies tensed. Although they had unleashed their most profound protective sword qi, they were specifically targeted by Qi Lian Dao, and the heavenly pressure they bore was greater. With two muffled sounds, both of them spat blood and were heavily wounded, collapsing to their knees.
"Careful!"
Gu Ling Yu stood before a group of Confucian cultivators. He overturned his satchel, and countless scrolls flowed out, all transforming into golden text to protect the disciples of the Confucian Academy. After the heavenly pressure passed, Gu Ling Yu staggered, spitting blood incessantly. Most of the Confucian cultivators in the Upper Five Realms were preserved, with only a few eleventh-realm cultivators who were too weak falling to the ground, their lives extinguished.
On the demon side, a group of twelfth-realm great demons roared, unleashing their demonic energy to shield the eleventh-realm demon cultivators behind them. However, even so, they were all heavily wounded. Six eleventh-realm great demons also perished. As for the Crimson Moon Underworld, Ran Qing and Cao Yan unleashed their spells and sword intents to protect everyone, but they couldn't fully shield them. The Crimson Moon Underworld suffered the most casualties in this great battle, with less than half of its forces remaining.
The ferocity of the battle within the Nine Nether Dragon Court was beyond what those outside could imagine.
...
Watching the cultivators of the three races fall one by one, a look of triumph appeared in Qi Lian Dao's eyes. This outcome was quite good. A single natal reverse scale had almost crippled the cultivators of the three races present. At this moment, who could still stop him?!
However, as soon as the natal reverse scale detonated, Qi Lian Dao was at his weakest. Before he could even let out a triumphant laugh, he saw the old Taoist lunging at him. With a graceful sweep of his vast sleeve, so immense it seemed boundless, he swept Qi Lian Dao's entire body into his sleeve.
"Everyone."
The old Taoist looked at the cultivators of the three races with a grave expression and said, "Leave the Nine Nether Dragon Court immediately! Now!"