Ren Gu's long saber slashed forward with unstoppable momentum.
Lili and Li Shuang simultaneously performed a peculiar incantation.
The two incantations resonated strangely, and the next moment, the Azure Dragon formed by the sword spirit coiled around the sword!
Li Shuang swung her sword, meeting the attack without hesitation.
As she swung, the sword qi transformed into five claw-shaped strikes, and a majestic dragon's might enveloped the arena!
Ren Gu's body trembled violently.
This power!
This wasn't Li Shuang's power; it was the power contained within that stone.
And Li Shuang, in conjunction with the sword spirit, had just reached the critical point to unleash this power.
This was the power of a dragon!
Driven by the power of the Latent Dragon Stone, Li Shuang and the sword spirit briefly entered a state of unity with nature, with dragon's breath spewing forth with every move.
For a moment, Ren Gu was actually unable to do anything to Li Shuang!
The Azure Eagle looked at the scene in the arena, a faint smile seemingly appearing on his lips.
Elder Ling chuckled softly.
The Latent Dragon Stone...
Interesting.
She hadn't realized that this stone was actually a Dao-imparting stone.
It was a sixth-grade artifact and possessed the spiritual power of a dragon.
This was not uncommon.
What was uncommon was that this Latent Dragon Stone also contained a combined sword technique.
When a sword cultivator and their sword spirit reached a certain level of compatibility, they could inherit this secret combined technique.
Such a secret technique was originally beyond Li Shuang's reach at her current stage.
However, her and the sword spirit's compatibility was purple, and with a bit of serendipity, the two, one human and one spirit, had actually mastered this combined technique, which could only be learned after achieving the state of human-sword unity, ahead of time!
This Latent Dragon Stone was rightfully Li Shuang's.
But...
Elder Ling's brow furrowed slightly.
The energy of this Latent Dragon Stone was also limited.
This combined technique could at most only sustain them for half an incense stick's time.
What after half an incense stick?
When the Latent Dragon Stone's power was depleted, what would Li Shuang do?
Everyone could think of this.
Yan Zhonghe was slightly nervous at first, but soon, he smiled calmly: "Sect Master Meng, your disciple is indeed extraordinary. Unfortunately, there is an insurmountable chasm between the Golden Core stage and the Soul Transformation stage. No matter how much she delays, she will ultimately be defeated."
A hint of enjoyment even appeared in Yan Zhonghe's eyes.
The stronger Li Shuang was, the more of a genius she was, the more unexpected she was, the more satisfying it would be to utterly destroy her!
Li Shuang and Lili were now quietly experiencing this feeling of complete unity, both feeling an indescribable joy in their hearts.
Li Shuang had not originally intended to forge this Latent Dragon Stone in so soon.
However.
When she was upgrading the Black Abyss Sword to the fourth grade, she used the rhythm method while also absorbing the moonlight from the Taiyin star.
This might have triggered some condition, allowing her to prematurely touch upon the mysteries of the Latent Dragon Stone.
This sixth-grade stone had since become her trump card.
In this battle, the energy of the Latent Dragon Stone would likely be exhausted.
Afterward, the Latent Dragon Stone would slowly absorb energy, taking about a year to fully recharge.
But if she could win, it would all be worth it.
"Good, good, you have many trump cards," Ren Gu's voice was cold: "But no matter how many trump cards you have, their energy will eventually run out! Li Shuang, you are merely struggling in vain!"
Li Shuang's expression was calm.
Indeed, she couldn't win with just the power of the Latent Dragon Stone.
Her activating the Latent Dragon Stone at this moment was merely to buy some time.
The more Ren Gu attacked, the more malevolent energy he emitted.
And all this malevolent energy entered her sea of consciousness, refining her Soul Azure Lotus!
Under immense pressure, the Azure Lotus's light grew brighter and brighter.
Soon!
Soon!
She was just one step away from the fourth petal blooming!
As long as her soul power could break through to the Soul Transformation stage, coupled with the bonus provided by the Soul Azure Lotus, her soul power would be no less than Ren Gu's!
At that time, it would be her turn to counterattack!
The longer the battle lasted, the more severely Li Shuang was eroded by the malevolent energy.
Ren Gu's expression was ferocious.
She wants to stall for time.
Then let her stall!
The longer the time dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for him.
The reputation of the Heaven's End Blade growing stronger with each strike was not a joke!
He admitted that Li Shuang's endurance was strong.
Her current soul should have been shattered by the malevolent energy, and if it were anyone else, they would have long since shown a flaw.
But Li Shuang.
She kept enduring, and her every move seemed unaffected.
However.
Against absolute strength, even the strongest willpower was useless.
Once the accumulation of malevolent energy exceeded the critical point, Li Shuang's demise would arrive!
More, more!
Bring more malevolent energy!
At this moment.
Li Shuang and Ren Gu's thoughts were surprisingly completely aligned.
They were both waiting for the moment when the malevolent energy would completely erode Li Shuang's sea of consciousness.
In the sea of consciousness.
Overwhelming malevolent energy was relentlessly attacking the Azure Lotus.
With every bit of malevolent energy, the potential of the Azure Lotus was forced out a little more.
The power of the Latent Dragon Stone was about to be exhausted.
And the malevolent energy refining the soul had reached its most crucial moment.
"Energy is almost depleted?" Ren Gu sensed something, a hint of complacency flashing in his eyes: "What's the use of struggling for so long?"
"Heaven's End Second Form: Malevolent Calamity Break!"
Under Ren Gu's cold voice.
The long saber swept across the sky, and all the malevolent energy in Li Shuang's mind suddenly condensed.
The moment the long saber slashed towards Li Shuang, the malevolent energy in her sea of consciousness also condensed into a red malevolent energy blade, striking towards the Azure Lotus.
Li Shuang's pupils suddenly constricted.
Ren Gu's lips already showed a triumphant smile.
The condensed malevolent energy, combined with the Heaven's End Blade, erupted together. Li Shuang, already at the end of her rope, had no chance of blocking it.
Although, for a Golden Core stage cultivator to fight him to this extent was truly a sign of extraordinary talent.
However.
This was the end!
Ren Gu held his long saber, its blade aimed at Li Shuang's forehead, and slashed down.
At this very instant.
Li Shuang suddenly looked up!
Ren Gu's expression instantly changed.
At this moment.
He actually saw an azure lotus phantom appear on Li Shuang's forehead.
This azure lotus had three petals fully unfurled, one petal was semi-transparent, and the remaining five were completely ethereal.
The moment the azure lotus phantom appeared, that semi-transparent petal fully unfurled.
Four petals formed a strange resonance!
"Soul Sever." Li Shuang's voice suddenly rang out.
Ren Gu hadn't reacted yet.
His soul felt a dizzying sensation, and the saber that was about to slash down stopped abruptly at Li Shuang's brow.
The next moment.
Li Shuang held Black Abyss and thrust her sword!
The Azure Dragon, spiraling around the sword, roared as it drilled into Ren Gu's dantian.
"Explode." Li Shuang's voice fell.
The next moment.
An earth-shattering explosion rang out.
The entire arena was enveloped in dazzling light.
Who won!
Who lost!
Everyone stared intently at the arena.
They were all waiting for a miracle to be born.