Beiluo, Western Mountain.
Trial Tower.
Terrifying blade light swept, shredding primeval jungle below—trees severed with heavy thuds, crashing earth, quaking ground.
Nie Changqing darted between trunks, arms waving, remotely controlling pig-slaughtering knife, slashing sharp qi.
Five Body Storage eerie beings—mask holes cold emotionless eyes.
They too remote-controlled pig knives.
Slashing sharp qi.
Nie Changqing one vs five—knife split one to two, two to three, three to five.
Clashed with five.
Nie fought exhilarated, deeper blade insight—these five weaker individually, yet matched his combat.
Perilous—his knife like night meteor, myriad blades.
He knew strength gap: power control.
"Control issue?"
Nie eyes brighter—mimicked five, no waste, every strand substantive.
Suddenly knife power surged.
Even signature—Blade Control.
Stronger—one slash halved one being with knife!
Breach torn—Nie like eastward torrent, unbound.
Knife sharper, myriad blades over jungle.
Remaining four early Body Storage fell under blades.
Last being died.
Nie blood-soaked, single-handed knife, atop ancient tree.
Blade comprehension ascended.
Faint body aura—cut all.
"Blade intent."
Nie bearded lips curled.
Vaguely sensed before—now truly grasped his.
Like heart boulder cleaved.
Trial Tower...
Nie understood purpose.
As Young Master said—break shackles.
"Congrats clearing fifth floor, gain source comprehension chance..."
Mind voice echoed.
Nie stunned, looked up.
Clouds swirled above.
Great Dao tones descended, enveloping.
Nie fell odd realm.
Sensed Young Master's attributes.
Scorching fire, cool water, hard earth, vital wood, unbreakable metal.
Attributes?
Qi derives attributes—qualify Golden Core, Heaven Lock.
Nie sat—metal wood water fire earth matched five storages... but beyond: wind, ice, light etc.
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Less prominent.
Nie sponge-absorbed source info.
Comprehended—nascent intent strengthened.
"What attribute derive?"
Attributes minor for intent blade master.
But boosted power.
Chose metal—unbreakable, fit blade.
Boom!
Gold beam fell—Qi Core qi surged, entwined gold light, endless.
Like gases merging.
Jungle above.
Nie eyes snapped—gold flickered depths.
Raised knife—qi boiled, gold blade slashed.
Earth cleft 500m gorge!
Qi subsided.
Gorge—Nie silent; metal-infused qi far stronger.
No wonder Young Master: derive attributes for Heaven Lock chance.
Five storages foundation—attributes ascension.
Dao tones gone, rainbow light scattered.
Jungle ruin.
Nie blood-white robes fluttering.
Feet white array—mysterious stairs to sixth.
But no further.
Exited tower.
Base.
Above "five" blurred to "six"—eyes opened.
Tower-wounded—now pristine on mat.
Tower wonder—awe for Lu deeper.
Young Master's creations miraculous.
Rose—Ning Zhao, Ni Yu etc challenging; no linger.
Stepped out.
Exit instant—lake-heart isle Lu sensed.
Mind stirred, transmitted.
Nie paused—sought Young Master, but he came first?
Trouble brewing.
...
Imperial city.
Desolate killing streets—snow thick layer.
Imperial Garden front.
Armies neared.
Tantai Xuan no horse—weapon gripped, with silver-armored Jiang Li to garden.
Jiang Li complex.
Familiar to Yuwen Xiu—how not to him?
Last Zhao Kuo rebellion—Yuwen Xiu garden, dragon card, flipped, suppressed.
Jiang Li guarded, witnessed.
Now...
He attacker.
Tantai Xuan red cape billowed, weapon—no retreat, despite infamous Zhou black dragon—stepped in.
Overlord Qianqi back, Xiang army heavy steps followed.
Garden front.
Armies closed.
Black Dragon Guards retreated.
Yuwen Xiu back to all, stroked dragon—stubborn, proud silhouette.
Overlord grave eyed dragon—threatening power.
Strong!
Far beyond Dongyan River dragon.
But fearless—step, demonic qi mad surge, like demon staring dragon.
Dragon pounced—claws ground, stones flew.
But unexpected—not them.
Nearest Black Dragon Guards.
Bit—one swallowed, blood splashed.
Overlord pupils shrank.
Tantai Xuan, Jiang Li trembled.
Heard dragon ate—but scene impacted hugely.
Yuwen Xiu allowed?!
Madman!
Evil dragon!
Black Dragon Guards stunned.
Yuwen Xiu nurtured—allowed devouring? Heart blow.
Guarded what?
Evil thing?
Some forgot resist—swallowed; shocking.
Garden hell.
Roar—dragon gill scales flared, shook blood drops.
Head bulge writhed.
Faint protrusion.
"Dragon breaking through mid-battle!"
Overlord focused, bellowed.
Gripped Qianqi, charged—step ground, leaped, black qi wrapped, demonic coiled.
Pounced dragon.
Dragon roared—sharp claws slapped.
Overlord shield blocked.
Thud!
Force pinned—legs snow-sunk, axe swung claw—sparks!
Dragon defense extreme!
Roar—bulge writhed, tail sweep—Xiang soldiers flew.
Tantai Xuan afar grave.
Recalled dream—bathed dragon blood, slew this dragon!
But dream.
Reality—couldn't near evil surging dragon.
Even Overlord strained.
Yuwen Xiu afar excited.
Dragon his card—only.
Once flipped—hope still dragon.
World—only dragon loyal!
"World betrays me—I betray world!"
Golden armored Yuwen Xiu fists clenched.
Roar!
Dragon mouth blasted waves—Guards devoured clean.
Head bulge burst.
Sharp horn extended—black, cold gleam—aura soared.
Boom!
World qi condensed madly on dragon.
Mouth shot mighty energy—black flame-like, sprayed Overlord!
Dragon... breath!
Garden ground charred.
Overlord shifted—endured beatings, dared not tank breath!
Heat melt him!
"Attribute power!"
Overlord shocked!
More—mouth opened, round black pearl floated.
Surface wailing souls.
Dragon inhaled/exhaled pearl—nascent Golden Core rhythm!
Overlord scalp numb!
Evil dragon refined—breaking to Golden Core now!
Golden Core... above Body Storage.
Dared not allow.
Breakthrough—anti-Zhou fails!
Unless Baiyujing one acts—no match worldwide!
Yuwen Xiu poolside laughed heartily.
Dragon no disappoint!
Eyed Overlord, Tantai Xuan, Jiang Li...
"You all bully me!"
"All think me easy—ascended throne, no good day!"
"Stabilized Zhou, create my era—you destroy!"
"Why?!"
"Why bully me!"
Yuwen Xiu roared.
Overlord ignored—charged dragon, axe raised, terrifying qi axe light cleaved!
Dragon ignored—swallowed pearl, darted afar.
Light hit—clang, white mark.
Overlord face changed.
Tantai Xuan complex eyed Yuwen Xiu.
Yuwen influenced dragon—or dragon him?
"Had Jiang Li, Master top aids—ever think why left? Master died, Jiang Li jailed..."
"World momentum left Zhou."
Tantai Xuan said.
"Shut up! My fault?"
"Master no Dongyang, Jiang Li no resign—I decide thus?"
Yuwen Xiu raised Emperor Sword—gold brilliant, pointed Tantai Xuan.
Jiang Li sighed: "Majesty, no disappoint—why resign?"
Eyed dragon: "Dragon evil—foster it, sins heaven... Zhou fate, squandered by you."
"No qualification accuse me—none."
Yuwen Xiu sword raised.
"Black Dragon! Kill! All!"
"World yours mine!"
"Eight Dragon Gates—my black dragon supreme!"
Yuwen Xiu said.
Sky.
Inhaling pearl dragon heard—horn chilled, mouth opened, sharp teeth cold under light.
Overlord felt mountain pressure.
Suddenly.
Roaring dragon halted.
Scales rippled—twisted head to Dragon Gate.
There...
Figure atop.
White robes fluttering, bearded.
Waist pig knife—calm glance golden Yuwen Xiu, distant pearl dragon—lips curled.
"Supreme black dragon..."
"You jest."
