Chapter 592

Chapter 592: The Strength of the Ice Frost Crystal Dragon

Master Hei Xu, a king at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, had his cultivation level suppressed to the Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage. Yet his profound understanding of realms and heaven-bestowed divine abilities ensured that even opponents at the pinnacle of the Fifth Level wouldn’t last more than a few moves against him.

Du Jianyin had achieved One with the Sword. Though his cultivation was low, his sword intent—a mystical force of nature—allowed a single strike to command awe across the world.

Their combined attack held terrifying power, unmatched within the Saint’s Secret Vault. The dark brilliance of Master Hei Xu’s strike intertwined with the heavenly sword’s radiance, merging almost as one as they slashed viciously forward.

The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon hadn’t expected these humans to attack so boldly, treating it with utter disrespect. Even as a mere ethereal figure, its draconic pride flared. Instead of retreating, rage consumed it.

With a roar, the dragon gathered Ice Spirit Qi within a hundred zhang, condensing it into a radiant divine rainbow before it.

Boom!

The two attacks crashed into the ice crystal barrier. Shards of ice exploded outward, scattering light across the sky. The Sword Energy froze briefly before vanishing.

Though Du Jianyin’s comprehension of the Sword Path was extraordinary, his lower cultivation left him slightly outmatched. His strike only shattered the divine rainbow before dissipating.

Master Hei Xu’s attack, however, tore through the rainbow and surged onward. The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon seemed startled—this old man’s power defied expectations.

The Evil Emperor’s Fist struck with undiminished force, obliterating the ice crystals. The dragon growled, icy light flaring as a thin frost layer coated its body. It didn’t dodge, arrogantly choosing to endure the blow.

Boom!

The black fist struck its chest. The frost barrier lasted only a moment before shattering. The dragon screeched, hurled backward several zhang before stabilizing midair.

Master Hei Xu frowned. His punch could cripple any Fifth Level pinnacle cultivator—yet it merely knocked back a projection.

“Master, teach me that punch!” Du Jianyin cried eagerly.

“After we finish here,” Master Hei Xu replied smugly. The Evil Emperor’s Fist was indeed among his greatest techniques.

“Another strike will cripple this beast!” Du Jianyin declared, his sword humming as he stepped forward, transforming into a blade that seemed to split heaven itself.

The Divine Sword descended like judgment. Master Hei Xu threw another pitch-black fist strike.

Their combined assault hurtled toward the dragon. Pushing it back further would let them claim the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit. Confidence brimmed—no one in the secret realm could oppose them.

Yet Ye Yun, watching via secret techniques, spotted fury and mockery flickering in the dragon’s eyes.

Suddenly, the Ice Frost Crystal Dragon blazed with azure light, becoming a frozen sun in the sky. Ice Spirit Qi from a hundred miles surged toward it, forming a colossal ice sphere that shot toward the duo.

The attack came too fast to evade. Before they could react, the ice sphere clashed with their strikes.

The expected explosion never came. Instead, the massive ice sphere devoured both attacks before abruptly shrinking to three feet in size, sealing them inside. Within the transparent sphere, an inky-black fist shadow and a jade-white Sword Energy could be seen. Remarkably, the ice sphere remained intact after sealing both attacks.

Master Hei Xu and Du Jianyin gaped in disbelief. They knew their combined strike’s power exceeded what any creature at the pinnacle of the Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage should withstand – let alone this Ice Frost Crystal Dragon. Yet not only had their assault been blocked, it had been completely sealed away.

CRACK!

The ice sphere imploded violently, shattering the trapped attacks into smoke. Du Jianyin stumbled back, face bloodless, crimson spraying from his lips. This Sword Energy contained his essence blood and sword intent. Normally, even if destroyed, he could reclaim his mental intent. Now all connections vanished, dealing severe backlash.

Though unharmed physically, Master Hei Xu stared numbly. His true essence punch being sealed and crushed was more shocking than mere deflection. That this was achieved by an ethereal figure… How powerful must the true Ice Frost Crystal Dragon be?

Enraged, the dragon’s massive form soared. Ice crystals coalesced beneath it, forming tens of thousands of ice arrows – each rivaling a peak Fifth Level Nascent Soul expert’s full strike. Master Hei Xu paled. While he could handle hundreds, thousands were insurmountable.

"Full power! No holding back!" he roared.

Du Jianyin knew even partial hits meant death and disappearance of his spirit. Crossing his sword before him, he formed defensive sword arcs – shocking for this offense-focused swordsman. Simultaneously, he retreated toward the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit, abandoning his treasured blade to buy two breaths for harvesting.

Master Hei Xu never anticipated retreat. United, they might’ve survived. Now, Du Jianyin sacrificed everything for escape. The elder’s beard bristled as dark qi surged before him, manifesting a black shield. Unlike the youth, he held firm – retreat meant instant death.

As the shield formed, Master Hei Xu shot Du Jianyin a scornful look. Fool! The dragon’s attack outpaced any escape, especially hindered by icy terrain. That half-second delay would prove fatal.

BOOM!

Ice arrows smashed the shield instantly. It held for half a breath before shattering. Master Hei Xu, veteran of the pinnacle Nascent Soul stage, whirled his hands frantically. Whirlpool-like energy waves materialized, diverting arrows into spinning orbits rather than piercing through.

In the blink of an eye, thousands of ice arrows lodged themselves into the whirlpool, spinning endlessly.

Boom!

A great crash erupted as the whirlpool finally burst apart, shattering all the ice arrows into glittering fragments that vanished into the air.

Yet the Ice Frost Crystal Dragon’s assault wasn’t finished. Hundreds of remaining ice arrows pierced through the sky toward Master Hei Xu’s chest, leaving him no escape.

Master Hei Xu’s expression darkened. He clenched his fists and struck out violently.

His punch sent hundreds of ice arrows scattering in all directions.

Still, three arrows broke through his attack, embedding deep into his right shoulder.

The black-bearded man stiffened momentarily before his face turned deathly pale. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, freezing midair into a crimson ice crystal that clattered to the ground.

The attack had been blocked, at least.

Master Hei Xu finally turned to check on Du Jianyin, expecting to see the young man riddled with arrows like a frozen pincushion.

What he saw made his bloodless face tighten in disbelief. Not a single ice arrow pierced Du Jianyin’s body. The disheveled youth merely crouched half a zhang from the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit, having evaded most attacks.

The sword arcs from Du Jianyin’s blade had intercepted nearly all the ice arrows. Only a dozen had slipped through, aimed at his back.

A crucial delay from the sword’s defense allowed Du Jianyin to roll aside. Two arrows barely grazed his back, drawing blood and tearing his robe.

That was all.

Master Hei Xu gaped. What quality of sword could withstand such an onslaught? More astonishingly, the blade remained intact – though now dull and trembling, it flew back to Du Jianyin’s hand.

The youth staggered upright. His Fifth Level Golden Core cultivation couldn’t fully resist the invasive coldness damaging his five internal organs.

Du Jianyin’s eyes locked onto the glowing Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit. With desperate hunger, he lunged forward.

Half a zhang – normally an easy leap – now felt like miles as icy energy slowed his movements.

The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon reacted instantly. From ten zhang away, it fired a razor-thin ice arrow. Continuing forward meant certain death.

Du Jianyin halted mid-step, recoiling as the projectile whistled past. Icy essence seeped into his chest, freezing his organs and meridians anew.

"Master!" he roared. "How many more attacks can this beast unleash? Act now!"

Master Hei Xu eyed him coldly. "So you may snatch the fruit and flee?"

"I swear by the Sword Path!" Du Jianyin spat blood. "We’ll split the refined pills. Break this oath, let my spirit perish under blade justice."

The black-bearded cultivator hesitated, then nodded toward the glowing fruit. "Your Sword Path oath binds you. Observe – this creature’s merely an ethereal figure now. It’s drained miles of Ice Spirit Qi for those attacks."

Master Hei Xu soared upward, a pitch-black Long Knife appearing in his grip. The blade devoured surrounding icy light, leaving only darkness.

"Three Nether Strikes!"

He vanished. Three shadowy duplicates materialized around the dragon in triangular formation.

Ghostly shadows swirled as underworld energy thickened. Three blade lights coalesced overhead before crashing down upon the crystal dragon’s skull.

The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon sensed the threat of the Three Phantom Strikes of the Underworld. It roared angrily as icy light erupted from within him, forming a shield of ice crystals above his head.

*Crack!*

The dark blade light smashed into the ice crystals, shattering them instantly. The attack continued unabated, striking the dragon’s massive skull.

*Boom!*

The Three Phantom Strikes exploded the dragon’s head into fragments, scattering ice shards in all directions. The beast, whose cultivation matched the pinnacle of the Fifth Level of the Nascent Soul stage, had been slain in one blow. Both Du Jianyin and the hidden Ye Yun were stunned.

Even Master Hei Xu hovered midair, shocked. He hadn’t expected his strike to kill the Ice Frost Crystal Dragon so easily. Had the dragon already exhausted its energy? That might explain it.

But Master Hei Xu frowned. In this icy realm, the dragon’s strength should’ve rivaled the early Sixth Level of the Nascent Soul stage. Even weakened, its defense shouldn’t have crumbled so easily.

"Master, that strike was incredible! To kill it in one blow—" Du Jianyin exclaimed, thrilled despite his doubts.

"Had I known it was so weakened, I wouldn’t have wasted my Essence on that technique," Master Hei Xu muttered. The Three Phantom Strikes had drained most of his true qi and even some soul power—a resource painfully slow to replenish.

His eyes then fell on the glowing Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit. With it, even severe soul damage could be healed. The cost was worth it.

"Jianyin, harvest the fruit. We’ll seek the fifth layer’s entrance," Master Hei Xu said gently.

Du Jianyin stepped forward eagerly.

Hidden nearby, Ye Yun tensed. He couldn’t let them take the fruit—it was too vital. Just as he prepared to act, Master Hei Xu shouted:

"Jianyin, dodge!"

The headless Ice Crystal Beast’s claws tore through the air toward Du Jianyin. Simultaneously, the dragon’s body shuddered, shedding ice crystals until its form collapsed.

Du Jianyin leapt upward, but one claw struck his left leg. It exploded, flooding him with icy essence. His leg froze solid. He crashed down, smashing the ice with a palm strike. Blood sprayed from his lips as he collapsed, trembling beside the fruit.

The shattered ice crystals then stirred. A new Ice Frost Crystal Dragon emerged—small as a wolf, barely half a zhang tall, yet radiating power nearing the Sixth Level of the Nascent Soul stage. In this Ice Spirit Qi-rich realm, its strength had doubled.

The miniature dragon glared at Master Hei Xu with murderous intent. The master retreated to Du Jianyin’s side, face grim.

Du Jianyin sat paralyzed, channeling mystical power to resist the coldness. Ye Yun, still hidden, swallowed his panic. The dragon’s rebirth shocked him—this wouldn’t be easy.

Master Hei Xu cursed the realm’s restrictions, capping his cultivation at the Fifth Level’s peak. If only he could tap the Sixth Level, this beast would be dust beneath his blade.

“What a cunning beast!” Master Hei Xu’s Long Knife trembled slightly as raging blade light surged forth, scattering the Ice Spirit Qi before him.

The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon fixed its gaze on the two. Hatred flickered within its crystalline eyes, followed by an even more shocking development.

“Humans… you… angered me.”

The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon’s ethereal figure actually spoke haltingly in human tongue.

Master Hei Xu froze. Ye Yun, hiding nearby, gaped. Even the Ancestor of the Sword Path concealed within the depths of Ye Yun’s soul stiffened in disbelief.

This wasn’t the true Ice Frost Crystal Dragon—only its ethereal figure. How could a mere projection speak?

If the actual divine beast were present, speech would be expected. But an ethereal figure lacked independent intelligence. This defied all logic.

Master Hei Xu’s face paled. A speaking projection? What did this mean? His mind reeled, rooted to the spot.

“An ethereal figure gaining intelligence? Impossible!” The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s shocked voice echoed in Ye Yun’s mind.

Equally stunned, Ye Yun mentally asked, “Do legends mention such things? A divine beast’s shadow developing its own mind?”

The Ancestor replied, “Divine beasts can split into countless avatars, each self-aware. They send these clones to gather heavenly materials and earthly treasures while their true forms cultivate. Later, they absorb the clones to boost their power. But those are proper avatars—not mere projections!”

Ye Yun pressed, “Then this ethereal figure’s intelligence means the Ice Frost Crystal Dragon’s power surpasses even true divine dragons? Or some secret technique enabled this?”

“No!” The Ancestor gasped. “This isn’t the beast’s doing. The Saint who created this vault must’ve used a Great Technique to solidify the projection and grant it intelligence!”

Ye Yun’s breath caught. What unimaginable power could achieve this? It shattered all conventional understanding.

“Brother Jian, is this truly a Saint’s Secret Vault? Could an immortal have made it?”

“Impossible.” The Ancestor snorted. “An immortal’s presence would destabilize this realm. This vault’s master must be a peak Saint.”

“Then how can Master Hei Xu fight this thing?” The Ancestor’s tone turned eager. “His cultivation’s suppressed to the Fifth Level Nascent Soul’s pinnacle, while the projection rivals the Sixth Level. And this icy domain strengthens it further!”

Ye Yun’s lips curled. “The Ice Frost Crystal Dragon won’t let him flee. With Du Jianyin disabled by coldness, Master Hei Xu must use his final trump card—or die. Our chance grows.”

“Exactly!” The Ancestor chuckled.

Meanwhile, Master Hei Xu shuddered under crushing murderous intent. Any movement would trigger annihilation.

“So this is the vault’s true danger.” His hair whitened as his aura dimmed. “I’ve no choice but to unleash it.”