Chapter 232 - What A Beautiful Moon
“What a beautiful moon.”
Jiao Qingtu raised his head and gazed at the bright moon. He said leisurely, “The bright moon dangled high in the sky, and the sea waves rippled like silver scales. Today, I’ve experienced an unprecedented joy in my life, and along with the duel with you that I’ve been awaiting a long time, I should be overjoyed. However, right now, my heart is calm and peaceful. Just like this vast sea, the waves would ripple, but the sea would still remain calm.”
Zhong Yue was surprised, and praised, “You’ve acquired the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, and the dragons are throwing a feast cherishing your achievements; and yet, Brother Qingtu is not conceited, your heart remains calm and sedate. This is the disposition of a true Qi Practitioner. Undoubtedly, you will strive high in the future.”
Jiao Qingtu laughed and replied, “Brother Long Yue didn’t acquire the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, but you are not dispirited at all. That is also the disposition of a true Qi Practitioner, you will also have a bright future. From the way you act and the way you speak. I can tell that you have a great ambition; your breadth of mind is huge as the firmament, and your shrewdness is deep like an abyss — you are not the simple figure you’ve presented yourself as. Can you tell me, what is that great ambition you’ve hidden in your heart?”
Zhong Yue gently smiled, raising his head to look at the moon, and said slowly, “The moon tonight, it is indeed beautiful.”
Rays flashed in Jiao Qingtu’s eyes, “It seems like Brother Long Yue doesn’t want to talk about it. You spoke of the ancestral blood in the ritual, and that piqued my interest. Have you acquired the ancestral blood in the Ancestral Dragon secret realm? Those that acquired the ancestral blood were all outstanding dragon disciples, they all eventually became the most renowned experts in the dragon race.”
Zhong Yue smiled and said, “It’s true that I’ve acquired the ancestral blood, but didn’t Brother Qingtu acquire the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon too? The ones that acquired the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, they are also incredibly renowned in the dragon race, right? Furthermore, the scale of the Ritual this time was the grandest in the history of the dragon race. The heritage that Brother Qingtu has acquired must be extremely appalling.”
Jiao Qingtu downed a full cup of wine and said with a smile, “I’ve yet to finish attaining the heritage of the Ancestral Dragon, I’ve only attained one or two skills from it for now. You’ve acquired the ancestral blood and I’ve cultivated one or two skills of the Ancestral Dragon; hence, I can’t be said as taking advantage of you. You are already the strongest in the level of Awakening in the monster race, while I’m the strongest in the level of Awakening in the dragon race. You and I have yet to duel and surely, you must be very curious to know which one of us is able to be the strongest of the two races, am I right?”
Zhong Yue nodded, he drank the wine and said, “Although I’m about to break through to the level of Atman Body, I’m very curious to know which one of us is stronger. Otherwise, a slight regret would lurk in my heart.”
Jiao Qingty put down the wine cup and laughed, “All of the dragon race thinks that I’m the strongest, but I can’t see myself the same way as they see me, not until I’ve defeated you. But tonight is a beautiful night, it’ll be a waste if we fight. Why don’t you and I change the way to duel — we will fight with our Yuan Shen, what do you think?”
Zhong Yue’s eyes brightened, and he nodded, “Alright.”
The two of them were drinking on the island; all of a sudden, a bright moon emerged behind Zhong Yue like a second orb dangling in the sky, while a dragon soared in the moonlight behind Jiao Qingtu.
“Manggu!!”
The bright moon changed and morphed into the six-eyed Star Toad. Right away, the sky was brightened by the immense moonlight, as if there were six bright moons in the mid-air and contending with the true moon in the sky — the scene was incredibly beautiful!
The dragon showed its second form; its reverse scale bristled up and dragon wings emerged behind it as it soared into the sky!
The two of them showed their Yuan Shen’s second form, flying higher and higher, soon entering the cloud layer. Suddenly, sounds of skills blasting away could be heard and thunders rumbled in the clouds while lightning sparkled. There were psyche-visualized Jiao Dragons looming in and out of the clouds, clashing together and roaring ferociously constantly!
Ka-cha——
One after another, lightnings struck away and brightened up the sea surface. They were skills visualized by the psyche, skills that had merged the lightning totem patterns and the dragon totem patterns.
Their Yuan Shen shuttled across the cloud layers, casting the skills of the【Soaring Dragon Hundred Forms】; there were a thousand dragons circling each of them, clashing and striking together. Suddenly, the two showed their Yuan Shen’s third form.
Jiao Qingtu’s dragon god Yuan Shen turned into a half-dragon half-human form with nine dragon heads and six dragon claws, while casting a marvelous skill. On the other hand, Zhong Yue’s six-eyed celestial being morphed out eight arms — the two celestial being Yuan Shens clashed in mid-air, intense and brutal. The impact from from the clashing of their skills even drove the clouds away!
If someone were to stand above the surface of the sea and look up, he would have seen a terrifyingly savage scene.
There were countless dragons soaring in the sky, coming together in different forms. At times, there would be lightning strikes of the lightning dragons; huge and strong tidal waves from the giant dragons; and the blazing flame curtains that emerged in the mid-air from the fire dragons!
Then, there would a thousand dragons coming together to form the【Thousand Dragon Wall】to fend off the skills!
The nine dragon bell was raised and the nine dragons roared ferociously, the bell shuddered and stirred up a surge of huge tidal waves on the surface of the sea!
The two celestial being Yuan Shens came down and fought around the island. The third-form Yuan Shens were engaged in a bone-rattling battle, but the small island remained calm and peaceful. Zhong Yue picked up the wine bottle and poured a full cup of wine for Jiao Qingtu. He smiled and said, “This is such an interesting battle, but Brother Qingtu’s arcane energy is not as strong as mine, you are still lacking a little.”
Jiao Qingtu sneered frigidly. Zheng zheng zheng—— sounds of explosions could be heard from the nine-headed dragon god Yuan Shen as he opened his Yuan Shen secret realms. Jiao Qingtu’s arcane energy immediately skyrocketed, “I’ve yet to open the Yuan Shen secret realms, that’s why my arcane energy is lacking compared to you. But now, as I’ve opened up my Yuan Shen secret realms, Brother Long Yue should know how strong my arcane energy is.”
Zhong Yue was surprised, “Ah, it seems like Brother Qingtu didn’t open your Yuan Shen secret realms all this while, no wonder you’ve been suppressed by me. But… I’ve also yet to open my Yuan Shen secret realms.”
Zheng zheng zheng—— sounds of explosions also came from the six-eyed celestial being, Zhong Yue’s Yuan Shen also opened the five secret realms. Suddenly, his Yuan Shen brightened up immensely, and attracted all of the moonlight in the sky into its body!
All of a sudden, darkness fell within ten thousand feet as all of the moonlight was sucked away by Zhong Yue’s Yuan Shen!
Krong——
Jiao Qingtu’s nine-headed dragon celestial Yuan Shen took a full blow and was sent flying, sliding across and splitting the surface of the sea into two waves a thousand feet high!
On the island, Jiao Qingtu’s body quivered violently and abruptly, the wine cup in his hands exploded, splashing the wine all over his body.
His Yuan Shen was struck away for a full eighty miles before coming to a stop. The nine-headed dragon god was grievously damaged, its body lacerated with wounds, and its breath faltering.
“Thank you, Brother Qingtu for inviting me for drink.” Zhong Yue stood up while his Yuan Shen returned to his back, it dispersed its third form back into a round moon; Zhong Yue stood up and said leisurely, “The moon is indeed beautiful… I will have to leave already.”
Jiao Qingtu sat unmoving while the nine-headed dragon god Yuan Shen flew over, dispersing the third form back into a two hundred-foot long Jiao Dragon coiling behind him.
Jiao Qingtu’s face was gloomy and his breath was unsteady, but he smiled, “Brother Long Yue, aren’t you going to stay for a little longer? Your arcane energy is indeed abundant, but I’ve yet to test out your comprehensive ability. The prowess of a Qi Practitioner does not solely rely on the Yuan Shen’s arcane energy, but the Qi Practitioner himself.”
Zhong Yue was surprised, he asked, “What is Brother Qingtu trying to imply?”
“Winning only in terms of Yuan Shen cannot determine the strongest Awakening Qi Practitioner!”
Jiao Qingtu stood up, his aura was getting stronger and wilder, more domineering, while his blood essences pierced through the sky like a dragon. “The Jiao Dragon race is valued as the strongest in combat capability in the dragon race was not because of our Yuan Shen, but our arts in killing!”
Zhong Yue frowned, he said patiently, “Brother Qingtu, what you have just said, we would decide the winner with the Yuan Shen, why did you change your mind now?”
Jiao Qingtu laughed out loud, “I didn’t say we would decide the winner solely from that!”
Zhong Yue sighed, he shook his head and said, “You’ve lost to your heart. Brother Qingtu, your frame of mind has yet to achieve the state of calm; you’ve valued the name of the strongest Qi Practitioner too greatly.”
Jiao Qingtu was filled with the desire to do battle, he raised his hand and said, “Brother Long Yue, shall we?”
Zhong Yue gazed deeply at him, his eyes turned into the sun and moon pupils, one like scorching sun, while the other was a bright moon, serenely he said, “Very well then, Brother Qingtu. Three bouts, if you can take three rounds and remain standing, then I will concede defeat.”
Rays of light shone from Jiao Qingtu’s eyes, he said coldly, “Three rounds? Don’t you think you are too conceited?”
“No, I’m not conceited at all; I’ve clearly perceived your prowess. You are still a fine line weaker than the 100th golden statue in the Dao Yi Palace of the Ancestral Dragon secret realm.”
Zhong Yue said in a serious tone, “After these three rounds, whether you accept it or not, I will make you lie down here and pulverize the island into a flatland. And when Brother Qingtu has attained all of the Ancestral Dragon heritage, you can come to Gu Xia City of East Barren and challenge me again. So here, this is the first round!”
As he finished his sentence, his blood essences pierced through the firmament and painted the sky sanguine. Even the moon appeared to be blood-red in color!
Zhong Yue’s eyes lit up and the Yin and Yang Qi lashed out, slashing at Jiao Qingtu!
Jiao Qingtu bellowed furiously. The thousand dragons soaring around him formed into a dragon wall to defend him, but the dragons in the Yin and Yang Qi’s path were beheaded and could not slow the Qi down at all!
Cold sweat burst out from Jiao Qingtu’s forehead as the Yin and Yang Qi pierced through the wall of a thousand dragons. Swaying his body, he showed his Jiao Dragon form, the dragon scales all over his body engraved with shield-like totem patterns, while light wheels emerged behind him as he tried to use the powers from the five realms to stop the Yin and Yang Qi!
However, the Yin and Yang Qi were still circling around him, clashing with his five secret realms. Although their speed had decreased, they were still attacking constantly, creating countless wounds on his body. The shield-like totem patterns on his scales could not defend him from the Yin and Yang Qi at all!
Meanwhile, a huge palm struck through the spot where the wall of dragons had been pierced. There were five light wheels in the palm: the Wu Xing Wheel, Wan Xiang Wheel, Shen Cai Wheel, Yin Yang Wheel and Dao Yi Wheel; the powers of all five secret realms were amalgamated into one!
In the middle of the palm, there were Jiao Dragons soaring in the light wheels, it was one of the skills in the【Soaring Dragon Hundred Forms】, the【Thousand Dragon Art】!
Jiao Qingtu bellowed angrily, raising his hand in defense; his body shuddered and the dragon scales exploded away while his hands were covered in blood!
“What a beautiful moon, Brother Qingtu. May you enjoy the marvelous view.”
Zhong Yue swept his palm out and struck at Jiao Qingtu’s bared chest. Zhong Yue then withdrew his hands into their sleeves in mid-air while a waterspout emerged from the sea and lifted him up. With the moonlight falling down from the sky and shining on the surroundings, Zhong Yue tread on the waves and left.
Jiao Qingtu’s body quivered violently. He muffled a deep groan as the wounds all over his body broke open. The dragon’s blood gushed out, falling to the ground.
Beneath him, the island split apart abruptly. It was pulverized into dust, broken into small bits, and fell away into the sea.
Jiao Qingu was floating on the surface of the sea, vomiting mouthful after mouthful of blood. He struggled to get up, but his muscles weren’t moving at all. The moon high in the sky was glimmering marvelously as the moonlight shone down onto the surface of the sea.