Heavy footsteps and chain-dragging sounds were like war drums, striking in the silent ruins, getting closer and closer. Tang Xiao Qi and Liu Yun held their breath, pressing their bodies tightly against the cold, moss-covered broken wall behind them. Even the rabbit spirit curled up into a ball, not daring to make even the slightest sound.
From that passage obscured by massive coral, a enormous figure slowly walked out.
It was a nearly three zhang tall creature, with a humanoid torso but deep blue skin covered with thick, rock-like scales. Its head was more like a massive dragon head, with broken horns on top, two lantern-sized eyes showing turbid yellow, filled with violence and chaos. Its four limbs were extremely sturdy, wrists and ankles wrapped with thick, faintly glowing rune-marked black chains, the other end of the chains seemingly connecting to void, limiting part of its movement. In its hand it dragged a massive, rusty trident, the spear tip dripping viscous liquid giving off a fishy smell.
Dragon Palace Guardian - or perhaps mutated from demonic energy erosion - Xiao Qis heart went cold. This guardians emitted aura reached Foundation Establishment peak, and due to its massive size and thick scales, its actual combat power probably comparable to a False Core cultivator! Looking at the demonic energy chains wrapped around it, it was likely controlled by Shadow Snake Pavilion with some evil method or its inner demonic thoughts were provoked.
That mutated Dragon-Man guardians turbid yellow eyes swept over the area where Xiao Qi and Liu Yun hid, its nostrils flaring, seemingly catching the scent of living beings, but not finding the exact location. It let out a low roar, dragging its heavy chains and trident, walking toward the direction in the secret realm where energy fluctuation was strongest.
Only after that guardian walked far did the two relax.
Seems Shadow Snake Pavilion not only got in, but also did quite a few tricks inside. Liu Yun said with lingering fear.
Follow it! Xiao Qis eyes were sharp. Where that guardian is going, the energy fluctuation is strongest, likely the main hall. The Azure Dragon Soul Crystal is very probably there!
The two became even more careful, distantly trailing behind that Dragon-Man guardian, weaving through the labyrinthine ruins.
The deeper they went, the relatively better preserved the surrounding buildings, but also more magnificent. They passed a dried, paved with five-colored spiritual jade huge plaza, went through a broken corridor bridge carved from a single piece of crystal, and finally arrived at the core area of this secret realm.
That was a great hall whose magnificence could not be described in words! Although dilapidated, the tower-like reaching the secret realms sky hall gates, the coiled-dragon gold pillars that dozens of people could not embrace together, still spoke of its former glory. The halls plaque had long fallen and shattered, but a massive claw mark remaining on the lintel seemed to declare the fierce battles this place had experienced.
At this moment, the shattered doors of the great hall were wide open, intense battle sounds, magic technique roars, and angry dragon roars constantly came from inside!
Xiao Qi and Liu Yun silently made their way to one side of the hall doors, looking inward through the shadow of the massive door pillar.
The scene inside was even more astonishing. The space was vast like a small plain, the floor paved with some warm green jade, carved with mysterious dragon patterns. Countless massive coiled-dragon pillars supported the hall ceiling, but many were broken, allowing starlight from outside to shine in.
At the deepest part of the hall was a hundred-zhang tall green altar! The altar body constructed from a green jade emitting dense vitality, carved with ancient runes related to the Four Symbols Azure Dragon.
At this moment, the altar was emitting soft green glow, and at the very top of the altar, suspended was clearly a fist-sized, entirely verdant and emerald-like, with liquid seeming to flow inside, emitting a vast and pure soul power fluctuation crystal!
Azure Dragon Soul Crystal!
That soul power fluctuation resonated faintly with the White Tiger Soul Crystal fragment on Xiao Qi, making the jade pendant at his chest slightly warm!
However, below the altar, was a fierce melee in progress!
One side was precisely Shadow Snake Pavilions people! The leader was an elderly man in black robe, face sinister, surrounded by black water vapor, his aura reaching Foundation Establishment peak, just one step from Golden Core! In his hand he gripped a pitch-black snake-shaped sword, sword technique treacherous and vicious, waves of corrosive black water rising with each swing. He was precisely that leader skilled in water-based demonic techniques!
Behind him were five or six Shadow Snake Pavilion disciples, mostly at mid-Foundation Establishment, forming a strange snake formation, entangling with their opponents.
Their opponents were not humans, but three mutated Dragon-Man guardians similar to the one they encountered earlier! These three guardians were slightly smaller, but also two zhang tall, similarly wrapped with demonic energy chains, crimson eyes, attacking Shadow Snake Pavilions people madly. Their attacks were powerful and heavy, tridents swinging with air-tearing whistles, and they could also spit light spheres containing chaotic dragon breath from their mouths.
Additionally, the altar itself seemed to have restrictions, with green lightning occasionally striking down from above, indiscriminately attacking everyone who approached, making Shadow Snake Pavilions people unable to easily ascend the altar to seize the soul crystal.
The scene was extremely chaotic! Shadow Snake Pavilions people were completely pinned down, unable to approach the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal that was just within reach at the altar top.
Good chance! Joy flashed in Liu Yuns eyes. They are tied up! We should take this moment -
Not yet! Xiao Qi pulled her back, his gaze calmly sweeping the entire scene. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. That Silver-Mask Elder Youquan has not appeared yet!
He absolutely did not believe Shadow Snake Pavilion would only send a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator to compete for such an important soul crystal. That Golden Core middle-stage Elder Youquan must be hiding in the dark, waiting for the most critical moment to strike!
Indeed, just as that black-robed elder, long unable to make progress, showed an impatient look on his face, vigorously activated a secret technique, black aura around him surged, transforming into a massive black water profound snake, temporarily repelling the three Dragon-Man guardians, attempting to forcefully rush up the altar at that moment.
A sudden change occurred!
At the altar side, a shadow writhed like a living thing, a figure wearing a silver mask silently appeared, as if he had been standing there all along!
It was precisely Elder Youquan!
He appeared without warning, speed fast as a ghost, directly avoiding the three Dragon-Man guardians and altar restriction attack range, a withered palm covered with black scales, carrying space-tearing whistles, directly grabbing toward the Azure Dragon Soul Crystal at the altar top!
His target had never been frontal combat, but hiding at the side, one-strike kill, seize the soul crystal!
Not good!
Xiao Qi and Liu Yuns faces simultaneously changed greatly! They had not expected this Elder Youquan to be so cunning, his hiding skills so superb!
Watching that scale-covered ghost claw about to touch that verdant soul crystal, once he succeeded, getting it back would be harder than ascending to heaven!
Just at this critical moment, another change occurred!
That suspended Azure Dragon Soul Crystal seemed to sense the ultimate evil and threat, suddenly erupting with unprecedented brilliant blue light! A full of dignity and anger ancient dragon roar, as if crossing through countless ages, suddenly resounded throughout the entire hall!
Where the blue light passed, Elder Youquans certain strike was actually like encountering an invisible barrier, forcibly blocked outside the soul crystal by a cun, unable to advance even slightly!
Meanwhile, those ancient Azure Dragon runes on the altar seemed to come alive, transforming into dragon-shaped blue shadows, roaring toward Elder Youquan!
Chance!
Xiao Qis eyes flashed intensely, no longer hesitating!
Strike!