Lesser water demons occasionally drifted near, their murky eyes drawn to the great ship emanating the might of a dragon. Yet, they were held at bay by an invisible, crushing Pressure, too terrified to approach.

Any other cultivator would have started harvesting points long ago.

But Jiang Chen was different. To avoid alerting Zhao Wuji above, he suppressed the tantalizing urge for points, remaining as silent and still as the seabed itself.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the perfect opportunity.

An opportunity to claim the Lightning Eel King and ambush Zhao Wuji in a single, decisive move.

Though the turbid currents compressed the range of his spiritual sense, a fire crow circled high in the sky, its eyes capturing every detail below.

Zhao Wuji, at the peak of Foundation Establishment Perfection, had formed a temporary squad with Long Ao—also at Foundation Establishment Perfection—and another late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple from the Dragon Tiger Immortal Sect. The three of them were locked in combat with a Lightning Eel King that had cultivated for centuries.

Zhao Wuji possessed a Thunder Spirit Root.

The third disciple, a Metal Spirit Root.

In terms of elemental matchups, Long Ao was at a disadvantage. Thunder, after all, suppressed Water. At the same time, however, Wood had a certain affinity with Thunder. This placed him in an awkward position where he could neither inflict significant damage nor suffer overwhelming harm.

Fortunately, his companions were better suited for the fight. Zhao Wuji was nearly immune to lightning, and the other disciple’s element wasn’t countered. With their combined efforts, and with the Thunderclap absorbing the ambient electrical energy, they had actually managed to gain the upper hand against the ancient beast.

Jiang Chen watched from below, an eyebrow raised. Strange. Where is that dragon beast?

The prize he truly coveted was the offspring of the Thunder Kui Dragon Beast. Both the Thunder Kui and the Earth Dragon were legendary creatures of terrifying power. Any progeny from their union was bound to possess extraordinary talent and abilities. Yet, there was no sign of it.

Above, the battle reached a fever pitch.

Zhao Wuji stomped hard on the deck of the Thunderclap, launching himself into the air. As he hovered, he began to circulate the Dragon Tiger Immortal Sect’s signature technique: Purple Extreme Shining Thunder.

Instantly, the thunder-aspected spiritual power in his dantian surged through his entire body. Countless tendrils of violet lightning erupted from his very pores, and his jet-black hair lifted and crackled with static. In the same moment, his eyes blazed with a pure, purple light.

Beside him, Long Ao felt a sharp, stinging sensation across his skin, as if pricked by a thousand needles. He was inwardly stunned. So this is the Dragon Tiger Immortal Sect’s ultimate thunder art?

A deafening thunderclap ripped through the air, seemingly from nowhere. The churning waters of the turbid current suddenly went still, and a terrifying, tyrannical aura descended upon the battlefield.

An explosion of lightning burst from Zhao Wuji’s hands, weaving itself into a vast, crisscrossing net of arcing violet death. Wherever it passed, the seawater flash-boiled into steam, and the air filled with the acrid scent of ozone. In the blink of an eye, the net ensnared the massive Lightning Eel King.

The incessant, high-voltage crackling was enough to make one’s teeth ache, the sound crawling under the skin.

Even submerged deep in the water, Jiang Chen could feel the palpable danger. “No wonder thunder arts are ranked among the most powerful,” he muttered in awe. “Truly terrifying.”

And this was merely the circulation of a cultivation art; Zhao Wuji hadn’t even cast a proper spell yet. If he were to combine this art with a technique, a Spirit Weapon, and talismans, his true combat strength would be far more astonishing than it appeared.

Although the Lightning Eel King was a creature of lightning and possessed a natural resistance, it was helpless before the supreme thunder art of the Dragon Tiger Immortal Sect. The semi-transparent thunder crystal on its forehead absorbed the onslaught of purple lightning, its color deepening until it became a solid violet.

Then, with a sharp crack, the crystal fractured, a web of fissures spreading across its surface.

A smug smile touched Zhao Wuji’s lips. “Fellow Daoist Mo Sha, Junior Brother Luo Teng! The sea monster’s power source is shattered! Let’s finish it now!”

The two immediately complied, not daring to hesitate. The trio unleashed their most powerful attacks in a coordinated strike. Trapped and powerless, the Lightning Eel King could only watch as the blows rained down upon it. With a series of sickening squelches, grievous wounds were torn open across its body, and blood gushed into the sea.

Wracked with agony, the beast thrashed wildly, churning the water into a frenzy. But with its energy crystal destroyed, its fate was sealed. All that remained in its heart was despair.

Zhao Wuji’s face was a mask of wild arrogance, his eyes dripping with contempt. “Allow me to deliver the final blow…”

Jiang Chen’s eyes flashed. He swiftly popped a Fire Flame Fruit into his mouth, followed by a Red Yang Pill that he crushed between his teeth. The Pill dissolved, and a scorching wave of medicinal power surged through his meridians.

He aimed at the ship above and unleashed a torrent of Dragon Flame Breath.

The pillar of azure flame vaporized the murky seawater in its path before slamming violently into the hull of the Thunderclap.

The ship bucked from the unexpected impact, lurching uncontrollably. At the same time, the thunder patterns etched into its surface flared wildly, releasing all the stored lightning energy into a protective shield. Luo Teng was caught off guard and thrown across the deck, saved from falling overboard only by the shimmering barrier.

Zhao Wuji, still airborne, was unaffected. “The Thunderclap is under attack from below?”

Long Ao struggled to keep his footing, his gaze piercing the turbid depths. “Could there be another sea monster?”

At that very moment, Jiang Chen’s focus split. He continued to command the Demon Dragon Vessel to bombard the Thunderclap while simultaneously circulating his Nine Flames Mystic Art, rousing the volatile fire energy in his dantian.

Suddenly, the water of the turbid current began to rumble. The cool sea began to steam, the temperature rising rapidly as if the very ocean were set to boil.

With a deafening FOOM, a space dozens of meters wide was blasted clear of water, and a figure wreathed in distorted, fiery light erupted into the sky.

The fire crow let out a piercing shriek, a herald of doom.

Zhao Wuji, Long Ao, and Luo Teng all watched, their pupils contracting in shock.

From within the inferno, a furious voice boomed, “What vermin dare disturb this venerable one’s cultivation and injure my spirit pet? You are courting death!”

The next second, a max-level Scorching Sun Finger shot forth from the figure’s fingertip. The attack split into three beams of blinding golden light, instantly locking onto Zhao Wuji, Long Ao, and Luo Teng. The air warped around the beams, and the sheer, terrifying power they radiated caused the trio’s faces to drain of color.

Feeling the oppressive heat of the golden light, Zhao Wuji’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. Caught completely by surprise, he roared, “Purple Extreme Heavenly Net!”

His hair turned a mix of black and purple, each strand standing on end like charged wires. A swirling vortex of lightning appeared in each of his eyes. Before him, violet electricity converged, weaving itself into a form-fitting armor of pure thunder. He formed a one-handed seal, and a serpent of purple lightning as thick as a man’s thigh shot forth to meet the incoming golden beam.

The purple lightning and golden light collided in a deafening explosion, the shockwave roiling the sea below.

But it was no contest. The golden light utterly annihilated the thunder serpent, disintegrating it inch by inch. The remaining force slammed into Zhao Wuji, sending him hurtling backward. The thunder patterns protecting his body sizzled and died under the golden fire, and his lightning armor cracked and shattered.

With a final, ignominious PLOP, his body crashed into the water, sending up a massive splash.

Jiang Chen watched the pathetic figure fall from the sky, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips.

Invincible below the Golden Core? Is that it?

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