I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

Chapter 153 Escape!

Chapter 153 Escape!

Time slowly passed amidst the increasingly frenzied attacks of the gray-robed elder and Zhou Ding's unwavering defense.

Another half hour passed.

Fine beads of sweat had formed on the old man's forehead, and his breathing was slightly rapid.

Such intense and continuous attacks from ancient treasures also put a considerable burden on his Nascent Soul stage magic power and mind.

However, what chilled him to the bone was that the damned seven-colored tortoise shell below showed no sign of diminishing its light!

The boy's aura remained stable, showing no signs of exhaustion.

"How is this possible?! He's only in the mid-stage of Core Formation, how could he withstand such a powerful defense for so long?!" The gray-robed elder was both shocked and angry, but even more so, he couldn't believe it.

Could it be that the consumption of this armor does not depend on its own magical power?

Or perhaps this child possesses some extraordinary treasure that rapidly restores magical power?

Shocked, a burning greed, almost consuming his reason, surged into his heart like a volcanic eruption!

The power of this seven-colored armor far exceeded his expectations!

Not only could it withstand the full force of his attack as a Nascent Soul cultivator for so long, but it also seemed to have consumed very little energy!

What does this mean?

If I could obtain this treasure, wouldn't its defensive capabilities, combined with my own cultivation, be enough to contend with those old monsters in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, or even the late-stage of the Nascent Soul realm?

At that time, my status and influence in the Chaotic Star Sea will experience a qualitative leap!

This treasure must be obtained!

At all costs!

"Young man!"

The gray-robed elder abruptly stopped his attack, his dark blue greatsword hovering in front of him. He stared intently at Zhou Ding, his voice hoarse from excitement and exhaustion. When he spoke again, his tone had changed to one of earnestness.

"Stop! Although you have this treasure to protect you, you will eventually run out of strength! Why make this futile struggle and only increase your suffering? What I said before still stands!"

If you withdraw your defenses and hand over the demon core and the method for refining this treasure, I swear by my inner demons that I will never harm you and will accept you as my true disciple, teaching you everything I know!

"I have cultivated for hundreds of years, accumulating profound knowledge, and possess several secret techniques to aid in the formation of the Nascent Soul. As long as you sincerely submit, I will surely help you condense your Nascent Soul, enjoy a thousand years of lifespan, and roam freely throughout the world! Isn't this a thousand times better than you stubbornly resisting here, ultimately dying and losing everything?"

He threw out another bait, trying to break down Zhou Ding's defenses.

In his view, any Core Formation cultivator would find it difficult to remain unmoved by the ultimate temptation of "condensing a Nascent Soul," especially when they seem to be in a desperate situation.

Inside the seven-colored armor, Zhou Ding slowly opened his eyes. Through the flowing light, he calmly looked at the gray-robed old man, a faint, mocking smile even curving his lips.

"I appreciate your kind offer, senior."

Zhou Ding's voice came through the armor, calm and unwavering: "However, I am confident in my ability to cultivate the Nascent Soul stage and need not rely on others. As for taking a master—I already have a qualified master and dare not seek another. If you wish to obtain this demon core and treasure, senior, you may—continue."

Are you confident in your abilities?

No need for others to do it?

Upon hearing this, the old man in the gray robe was first taken aback, and then a surge of anger, feeling slighted and mocked, welled up in his heart!

How dare someone in the mid-stage of Core Formation boast so arrogantly, claiming to be "confident" of achieving Nascent Soul?

And yet, she so readily rejected his "kindness" as a Nascent Soul cultivator?

"Good! Good! What a stubborn brat!"

The gray-robed elder, enraged, laughed coldly. The last vestige of feigned peace vanished from his eyes, leaving only icy killing intent and greed: "Since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish! Let's see how long your turtle shell can hold out!"

Without further ado, he slapped his storage pouch at his waist, and dozens of mid-grade spirit stones radiating pure spiritual energy shot out, swirling around him. He used a secret technique to quickly extract their spiritual energy to replenish his own consumption.

At the same time, he made hand seals again, and the azure greatsword emitted an even higher-pitched sword cry. The ice cracks on the sword began to writhe and spread, emitting an even more bone-chilling cold and aura of destruction!

He held back no longer and began to unleash a sword technique that consumed more energy and was more powerful, determined to break through this annoying defense in one fell swoop!

"The True Explanation of Mystic Ice: Freezing a Thousand Miles!"

The old man gave a low shout and pointed his sword sharply at Zhou Ding!

"Buzz!"

The azure greatsword suddenly erupted with an unprecedentedly dazzling blue light, and the void around the sword seemed to be frozen, with fine black cracks appearing!

The giant sword did not strike down directly, but hovered high in the air with its tip pointing downwards. Endless icy blue cold air poured down from the tip of the sword like a floodgate opening, transforming into a terrifying cold current of absolute zero that covered an area of ​​hundreds of feet in radius. It swept indiscriminately towards the area where Zhou Ding was located, freezing everything in its path!

This is a wide-ranging extreme cold attack, designed to freeze all spiritual energy flow with absolute low temperatures, fundamentally weakening or even freezing the defense of the seven-colored armored stomach!

However, Zhou Ding remained unmoved.

The seven-colored armor shimmered with light, and the seven colors, far from dimming in the cold air, became even brighter. In particular, the red, orange, and yellow colors, which represented fire and life, suddenly intensified, radiating a warm glow that firmly kept out the absolute chill that was invading.

Not even a trace of frost could form on the surface of the armor.

The old man in the gray robe's eyes twitched, his horror growing even stronger.

This armor could actually withstand his "Frozen Thousand Miles" attack so easily?

Its rank is probably higher than he expected!

The attack failed again.

The old man in the gray robe had a face so gloomy it could drip water.

He stopped trying to launch a direct attack and changed his strategy.

While continuing to harass Zhou Ding with his azure greatsword and various spells to maintain pressure, he began to slowly fly around Zhou Ding, seemingly carefully observing and searching for flaws or weaknesses in the seven-colored armor.

At the same time, he kept taking out spirit stones to replenish his magic power, preparing for a protracted battle.

"Hmph, junior, I'd like to see how long you can hide in this tortoise shell! One day? Two days? Or a month?"

The gray-robed elder sneered, "This place is deep within an outer space, where spiritual energy is turbulent and demonic beasts roam freely. You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever! Once your mind is exhausted and you reveal a weakness, that will be your death! I have plenty of time to wear you down!"

In his view, although Zhou Ding's defense was amazing, he was still only a Core Formation cultivator, and his mind and will had their limits.

Under such intense pressure, people are bound to be on edge and make mistakes sooner or later.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he possesses a long lifespan and immense patience. As long as he can trap his opponent, victory will ultimately be his.

Zhou Ding ignored the old man's shouts and circling, closed his eyes again, and entered a meditative state like an old monk, maintaining the armor's defense with his divine sense.

For him, this level of confrontation, while mentally exhausting, was far from its limit.

His powerful spiritual sense was enough to sustain him in this state for a long time.

Moreover, he wasn't really just passively defending himself.

A wisp of his mind remained connected to Xiao Jin, who was trapped in the "no-fly net" and constantly struggling.

He could sense that although Xiao Jin was temporarily trapped by the gray net, he had not given up.

Although the gray net could isolate spiritual energy and suppress demonic power, it could not completely suppress Xiao Jin's terrifying physical strength derived from primordial bloodline, nor could it extinguish his indomitable fighting spirit.

Xiao Jin is currently within the network, accumulating power in a special way, and is attacking the forbidden nodes of the gray network.

The gray-robed elder focused most of his attention on himself, merely maintaining a basic supply of spiritual energy to the gray net that trapped Xiao Jin, without continuously strengthening the restriction.

Time passed slowly amidst this strange standoff and attrition.

One day, two days —

The old man in the gray robe gradually became somewhat anxious and impatient, after initially appearing calm and furious.

He had lost count of how many times he had attacked, how many spells he had changed, and how many times he had tried to find a weakness, but the seven-colored tortoise shell remained as stable as Mount Tai, its light never fading.

Zhou Ding's breathing remained steady, showing no signs of weakening.

On the contrary, he himself had to replenish his mana several times due to the continuous high-intensity attacks and mental exhaustion, and his mind was also feeling a bit tired.

This feeling of having no way to use his strength, and being unable to take advantage of the prey right in front of him, almost drove him crazy.

"Damn it! What kind of monster is this junior?!" The gray-robed old man cursed inwardly, his killing intent and greed towards Zhou Ding growing stronger day by day.

He couldn't imagine how many secrets a Core Formation cultivator might still be hiding.

The following evening, the afterglow of the setting sun stained the lead-gray clouds with a poignant crimson.

Just as the gray-robed elder once again wielded the azure greatsword, launching a futile sword aura baptism, pondering whether to use some trump card, but at a considerable cost, secret technique.

A sudden change has occurred!

"roar-!!!"

A terrifying roar, filled with boundless rage and like a volcano erupting after millions of years of pent-up fury, suddenly erupted from the island below.

Where the "no-fly net" covered, a loud explosion resounded!

The sound was so powerful that it caused the surrounding space to ripple slightly, and the seawater to surge backward!

The old man in the gray robe felt a sudden jolt in his heart and abruptly turned his head to look.

The "anti-air net" that had been shrouding Xiao Jin and swirling with gray light was now violently expanding and twisting!

Within the net, a dark, golden light, like magma suppressed to its limit, burst forth wildly from the gaps in the mesh!

The silver forbidden runes on the screen are visibly dimming and collapsing at an alarming rate!

"Not good!" The gray-robed old man's expression changed drastically, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.

He quickly activated his magic incantation, attempting to strengthen the restrictive power of the "Anti-Air Net," while simultaneously recalling the Azure Greatsword in preparation for any unforeseen events.

However, it was too late!

"Open it for me!!!"

A deep, yet powerful roar exploded in Xiao Jin's mind!

At the same time, the "anti-air net" that had trapped it for so long suddenly exploded with a loud bang, as if cloth had been completely torn apart!

Countless gray threads and silver rune fragments shot out in all directions like a celestial maiden scattering flowers!

A colossal, dark golden beast bursts forth from the net!

Xiao Jin's enormous body, over twenty feet long, was once again fully revealed between heaven and earth!

Its dark, gilded scales reflected a cold, sacred luster in the setting sun, and the shallow marks left by the gray netting were disappearing at a visible speed.

Its dark golden vertical pupils were burning with raging anger and icy killing intent, locked on the gray-robed old man in the sky. The hatred and fighting spirit contained within them were almost tangible!

Having advanced to level six and been tempered by a top-grade demon blood stone, Xiao Jin not only possesses abnormal physical defense, but its strength, endurance, and even the power to break through restrictions contained in its bloodline far surpass those of ordinary demon beasts.

Trapped for the past two days, it has not only struggled with brute force, but has also been constantly eroding and impacting the core restriction nodes of the "No-Flight Net" with its own essence and primordial demonic power.

At this moment, the burst of power finally shattered the enemy-trapping treasure!

"You beast! How dare you destroy my treasure!" The gray-robed old man was both shocked and furious, and heartbroken.

Although the "Anti-Air Net" was not a powerful offensive weapon, it was excellent at trapping enemies and was a rare treasure that he relied on highly. Now, this beast had destroyed it!

In a fit of rage, he temporarily set aside Zhou Ding, turned his azure greatsword around, and with overwhelming killing intent and a chilling aura that could freeze everything, slashed fiercely at Xiao Jin, who had just escaped and whose breath had not yet fully calmed down!

He wanted to kill this beast that had repeatedly ruined his plans first!

"roar!"

Facing this furious attack, Xiao Jin showed no fear. He activated his "Golden Armor Technique" once more, and his dark golden body charged forward to meet the giant sword head-on.

However, just as the azure giant sword was about to collide with Xiao Jin again, just as the gray-robed elder's entire mind was drawn to the freed Xiao Jin, and his vigilance towards Zhou Ding had been reduced to its lowest point due to the two-day "stalemate".

Zhou Ding, who had been standing still like a rock, seemingly just an observer, suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes!

His eyes were no longer calm and indifferent as before, but filled with a chilling, piercing killing intent and sharp glint!

It's now!

This was the only chance he had been waiting for, the only chance that might severely injure or even force back this Nascent Soul cultivator!

From the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, the "Soul-Destroying Thorn," forged and honed by the terrifying divine sense of the late-stage Nascent Soul, which had been ready to be unleashed and even repeatedly tempered, compressed, and condensed by him using secret methods during the two days of confrontation, suddenly shot out without warning and without a sound!

This time, it was not a hasty decision, but a long-planned move, incorporating nearly 70% of his vast divine consciousness power that he could currently mobilize!

The target was directly aimed at the gray-robed old man, who, due to his shock, anger, and agitation, and whose attention was completely drawn to Xiao Jin, revealed...

The most vulnerable gap in the soul's defenses!

"laugh--!"

A faint, almost inaudible sound, yet seemingly capable of piercing the deepest abyss and reaching the very essence of the soul, suddenly exploded deep within the gray-robed elder's sea of ​​consciousness!

"Ugh—!!!"

The old man in the gray robe let out a shrill, painful scream filled with indescribable terror!

His movements as he wielded the azure greatsword froze instantly, and the sword light dissipated!

It was as if he had been struck hard on the head by an invisible giant hammer. His vision went black, and dark red blood seeped from all seven orifices at the same time!

His body staggered backward in mid-air, his hands clutching his head tightly, his face contorted with extreme pain and horror!

Zhou Ding's "Soul-Destroying Thorn," which he had been planning for a long time and which he had poured nearly 70% of his divine sense into, was far more powerful than when he attacked the Azure Feather Crow!

Even though the gray-robed elder was a Nascent Soul cultivator, whose soul was far stronger and more refined than that of a demonic beast, his soul still suffered unprecedented damage when he was caught off guard and his mind was in turmoil from such a terrifying attack on his spiritual sense!

Although he did not perish immediately, he was plunged into a brief period of mental and physical confusion, excruciating pain, and emptiness, losing control of his magical power and being unable to continue his supernatural abilities.

Meanwhile, how could Xiao Jin, who had just escaped and was at the height of his power, let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

"roar--!!"

With a murderous roar, Xiao Jin's massive body pounced forward!

The "Dark Light Claw," which had been concealing its power and gleaming with a cold, deep black light, suddenly unleashed its destructive aura, tearing everything apart. Taking advantage of the moment when the gray-robed elder's soul was injured and his protective aura was disordered, the wolf viciously clawed at his chest!

The life-or-death crisis forced the gray-robed old man, who was in excruciating pain, to regain a sliver of clarity.

His eyes flashed with utter horror, resentment, and a hint of—fear!

He never expected that this junior cultivator at the Core Formation stage would possess such a terrifying and bizarre killing move, enough to threaten the soul of a Nascent Soul cultivator!

Even more unexpectedly, that beast managed to escape at this moment!

Seeing the deadly dark claws already upon him, and sensing his own dire condition, the gray-robed elder finally succumbed to fear.

If the fight continues, with this strange junior and that beast with abnormal defense working together, I might really be caught off guard and die here!

"Youngster! I'll remember this grudge! One day I'll make you wish you were dead!"

With a venomous roar, the gray-robed elder, enduring excruciating pain that seemed to tear his soul apart, spat out a mouthful of his vital essence, which transformed into a cloud of blood mist that enveloped him. As the blood mist exploded, his figure instantly became blurred and illusory. The next moment, like a ghost, he vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint, rapidly dissipating bloody afterimage and a thick, pungent stench of blood.

He actually used some kind of blood escape technique with a very high cost, directly fleeing thousands of miles away and escaping the battlefield!

The dark claws sliced ​​through the blood mist, tearing several black cracks in the void, but ultimately it was a step too late.

"Finally, I'm free." Zhou Ding's voice carried an undisguised weariness as he slowly removed the "Seven-Colored Heavenly Armor" from his body.

The armor dissipated into streaks of light, revealing his slightly pale face.

Maintaining high-intensity mental control and defense for two consecutive days, and then unleashing the "Soul-Destroying Thorn" with all his might, also greatly depleted his mental energy.

He stared coldly in the direction where the gray-robed old man had disappeared.

This scoundrel is not dead yet, and we have already made a blood feud. He will surely become a major threat in the future.

But to be able to force them to retreat today is already a stroke of luck.

"This is no place to linger, let's go!"

Without the slightest delay, Zhou Ding recalled Xiao Jin and leaped onto its back.

Xiao Jin unleashed a burst of dark, golden demonic light, carrying Zhou Ding, transforming into a golden streak of light. It instantly disappeared into the vast twilight and the endless alien sea in the opposite direction from the gray-robed elder's escape.