The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon stared at Chen Tian, its eyes pitch black, searching for a weakness. But there was none. The human boy seemed perfect, flawless, with no discernible vulnerabilities.
"Impressive, boy. Very impressive," the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon praised. "A pity you chose to oppose me. After your death, your body will become mine."
From the previous battle, the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon had seen that Chen Tian possessed the power of the Ancestral Dragon, the Phoenix Ancestor, and countless elemental energies. This body was even more potent than its current one. How could it let such an opportunity slip away? Once Chen Tian was dead and its body possessed, the master's mission would be complete.
"Hmph, you can try!"
Chen Tian roared, his spirit igniting. His aura surged, and the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon, influenced by Chen Tian's momentum, also ascended. It was a contest of wills, and whoever gained the upper hand would secure a slight advantage.
Their auras clashed, the turbulent energies colliding with equal force. Behind Chen Tian, a nine-colored light screen unfurled from both sides, laced with his aura, directed towards the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon.
The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon understood Chen Tian's intention. A black curtain, formed from dark energy from the sky, descended. It crashed like waves, a collision of domains. Whichever domain gained the upper hand would engulf the other. Within a domain, one's strength increased by at least thirty percent. This was no small boost; it could be the deciding factor in victory or defeat. However, at this moment, both domains were in equilibrium, leaving them at an impasse.
Seeing this, Chen Tian retracted his domain. Suppressing the opponent with his domain was impossible; their domains were equally matched, offering no advantage. Only one other option remained.
Chen Tian ran through thousands of scenarios and outcomes in his mind. Only two paths led to victory. The first was domain suppression, which was currently unfeasible. He would proceed with the second plan. One should not underestimate Chen Tian's calculative ability; his predictions had never been wrong, which was why he could determine the outcome of battles.
Suddenly, Chen Tian's arms transformed into dragon claws, sprouting two dual blades. With the blades in hand, Chen Tian's aura expanded outwards in a circular wave, forcing the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon to retreat a few steps. With the dual blades, Chen Tian unleashed his full power. He reveled in wielding dual blades, feeling invincible.
Ultimate blade energy, speed beyond comprehension, and tens of thousands of blade lights flooded the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's vision. The creature enlarged its dragon claws, unfurling them to block the onslaught. Countless blade lights struck the center of its claws, igniting sparks and producing a cacophony of clashes. Chen Tian's blades met, merging together. He spun the long blade in his hands, each rotation drawing more elemental power into it.
Chen Tian's long blade now contained all his elemental forces: wood, wind, fire, water, earth, ice, and light. With the blade imbued with elemental energy, Chen Tian stepped forward, launching himself into the sky. A colorful blade light descended from above.
In an instant, it streaked across the sky, cutting through the air and the dragon's claws. Sparks flew from the dragon's claws. When the sparks subsided, a shallow scratch, running from top to bottom, marred the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's claw. This was the first damage Chen Tian had inflicted. He had used his full power for this single, shallow mark.
Chen Tian retreated. Being wounded by a mere human was an immense humiliation for the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon.
"Boy, I will kill you!" it roared, its aura erupting with fury. Black winds coiled around its body, converging with destructive power. This dark, tempestuous whirlwind entered the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's claw. With a stomp of its claw, the wind howled, mountains and rivers shattered.
Fast as light, swift as shadow, agile as the wind. Chen Tian couldn't track the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's movements. By the time he reacted, the creature's claw was inches from his face. Chen Tian instinctively used his teleportation skill, but to his horror, as he reappeared, the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's claw was already upon him.
This attack had a locking effect. No matter how Chen Tian dodged, the claw would follow. He had no choice but to endure it head-on. Even if Chen Tian teleported a thousand miles away, the claw would follow. This strike wouldn't stop until it hit its mark.
Chen Tian sighed, gazing at the approaching claw. "Fine, I'll take it head-on." He had no way to evade this attack; the locking effect rendered all evasion useless. Chen Tian spread his arms, fusing elemental, dragon-phoenix, and stellar energies to form a grayish-white shield that enveloped him.
To the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon, Chen Tian's shield was a futile gesture. It knew the power of this strike; Chen Tian couldn't possibly withstand it.
"Die!" the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon bellowed. Its claw collided with the protective barrier. Chen Tian gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face, channeling all his strength to maintain the shield. Cracks began to appear on the barrier. Chen Tian couldn't block this attack.
He began to calculate in his mind, strategizing how to deal with this blow. After reviewing hundreds of scenarios, one image solidified, and a smile touched Chen Tian's lips. His body moved, yet it seemed to remain stationary.
With a crack, the protective shield shattered. The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's claw passed through where Chen Tian had been standing. Only then did the creature realize something was amiss.
Chen Tian had appeared behind the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon. The Chen Tian before the creature had dissolved into starlight fragments. It was a clone. The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon immediately knew it had been tricked, but when had the clone been created? If it were a clone, it should have detected it immediately.
Chen Tian possessed the ability of "Concealing Heaven and Crossing the Sea," which came with his "Cold and Detached" mode, making his aura and information undetectable by any player. Furthermore, the level of "Concealing Heaven and Crossing the Sea" had increased, making it more than sufficient within the first ten levels of the game world.
Chen Tian materialized silently behind the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon. Wrist blades condensed in his arms, forged from the fusion of all his power. The might of these wrist blades was world-destroying. They descended, piercing deep into the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's back. The creature cried out in pain. What kind of weapon could penetrate its armor?
These were elemental weapons Chen Tian had created on the spot, imbued with the effect of ignoring defenses. If weapons could be created, why not elemental weapons? The scenario Chen Tian had calculated was precisely this: elemental wrist blades that bypassed defenses.
They dug deep into the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's back, from which black energy seeped out. Chen Tian pulled out his wrist blades and swiftly leaned back, distancing himself. The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon clutched its head, thrashing in agony.
Observing this, Chen Tian knew he had won. Black energy streamed from the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's body into the sky. One of its eyes regained clarity, while the other remained pitch black.
"Boy, I will kill you! You dared to obstruct my master's plan! I will tear you to shreds! You wait, you wait! I will personally hunt you down and torment you to death!" The Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon's sinister voice echoed, its body wracked with pain.
At this moment, the Star Phoenix Demonic Dragon was engaged in a fierce battle between two consciousnesses, vying for control of its body.