“Careful!”
Xuan Chengzi’s face turned ashen. He swung his whisk in desperation, and the hazy Taiji Diagram expanded to its limit, trying to block the incoming claw strike.
The child let out a sharp cry and slammed his palms into the ground. In an instant, a massive earthen wall — several zhang thick and glimmering with yellow crystal light — shot up from the floor, standing before the Taiji Diagram as a shield.
Dustin gathered every last drop of his strength, pouring all his Xuanqing True Qi into his sword. A cyan sword aura condensed into tangible form — sharp enough to split yin and yang — and slashed straight toward the center of the claw marks!
BOOM!
The three attacks — their combined full power — collided violently with the demonic claw.
There was no stalemate. Only devastation.
The child’s crystal earthen wall shattered like paper.
The Taiji Diagram twisted violently; the yin-yang fishes spun wildly, trying to dissolve the demonic energy, but it lasted barely half a breath before it exploded apart.
Xuan Chengzi grunted, blood spilling from his lips as he staggered backward, barely on his feet.
Dustin’s sword aura struck the claw marks — it was like cutting divine steel with a fragile blade. A screech like tearing metal pierced the air before the sword energy splintered apart. The backlash shattered the flesh between his thumb and forefinger, nearly knocking his sword from his hand. He was flung backward as if struck by lightning, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed into the rubble.
One strike.
Just one strike — and the three of them were utterly crushed.
Demonized Ao Kun’s lips curled into a cruel grin. His mangled wings flared once, and his enormous form blurred, appearing in front of the child in an instant.
His speed was far beyond anything before.
“Little wretch… you’ll make a fine appetizer.”
The black dragon claw, heavy with annihilating power, came crashing down.
The child’s face turned pale as chalk. He tried to use Earth Escape, but the space around him was sealed by demonic energy — there was nowhere to run.
“Don’t you dare harm my disciple!”
Xuan Chengzi’s eyes went bloodshot. Ignoring his injuries, he forced his wounded essence into motion and flashed in front of the child. His whisk transformed into a thousand silver threads, swirling like a reversed galaxy, wrapping around the incoming claw.
At the same time, he shouted, “Dustin! Take him and go!”
“Master!” the child screamed.
“Go?” Ao Kun sneered, his dragon claw tightening.
The starry river of silver threads snapped and disintegrated instantly.
Xuan Chengzi’s body trembled under the impact. He spat out blood as though his very core were ruptured. His aura collapsed — his origin clearly gravely wounded.
And before he could react, Ao Kun’s other claw appeared silently behind Dustin. Its black talons gleamed with a deadly light, stabbing straight for his heart.
A pincer strike — vicious and merciless!
Dustin, gritting his teeth through the pain, twisted and swung his sword in defense.
CLANG!
The clash of steel and claw rang like thunder across the ruins.
The force behind it was unimaginable. Dustin’s arm bones creaked and cracked under the pressure, his body thrown back once more like a broken kite. He slammed into a collapsed wall, buried under a heap of debris — his life or death uncertain.
The difference in power was overwhelming.
After falling into demonic transformation, Ao Kun’s strength had already surpassed the realm of Earthly Immortal — he had ascended to a whole new level.
Even the three of them combined were nothing more than insects before a storm.
Demonized Ao Kun strode forward with heavy, deliberate steps, toward the barely-breathing Xuan Chengzi and the petrified child.
The crimson vertical pupils in his eyes gleamed with mockery and cruelty, like a cat toying with cornered mice.
“Xuan Chengzi, you stubborn old fool,” he taunted coldly, “watch closely as your precious disciple’s soul is crushed piece by piece before your eyes.”
Ao Kun extended his dragon claw toward the child’s head. The movement was slow — almost leisurely — but filled with an unbearable, suffocating pressure.
The child looked at his master’s pale, exhausted face… at Dustin buried under rubble, uncertain if he still lived… at the demonic claw closing in, emanating the scent of death. His once bright, innocent eyes filled for the first time with sorrow — and resolve far beyond his years.
“Master…” he whispered, voice trembling yet firm, “I don’t want to run anymore. Let’s fight him — together!”
Xuan Chengzi froze. In his disciple’s eyes, he saw the same determination burning in his own heart. He looked once more at Ao Kun, whose demonic power filled the heavens. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes burned away, replaced by calm — the serenity of one who had seen through life and death.
He raised his hand, gently brushed the child’s head, and spoke hoarsely, but with steady peace in his tone.
“Foolish child… you’re right. To guard this island and purge evil — that is our destiny. Today, with what remains of our bodies, let us fight for a sliver of hope for all living beings.”
As he finished, Xuan Chengzi straightened his frail body.
His weakening aura suddenly flared, surging skyward like a dying flame’s final blaze.
But this time, that power carried the unmistakable weight of self-sacrifice.
Brilliant azure light burst from his body — not spiritual energy, but the burning of his very life essence, the fire of his soul ignited in full!
“Xuan Chengzi! You’re insane!”
Demonized Ao Kun’s expression twisted in alarm. Sensing danger, his claw lunged even faster toward the child.
“Dustin!” Xuan Chengzi roared, his voice shaking heaven and earth. “Inherit my teachings — and destroy the demon!”
He thrust both hands forward.
The vast azure pillar of light — blazing with his life and soul — did not strike Ao Kun. Instead, it shot across space like a torrent of rivers returning to the sea, piercing straight into the distant rubble where Dustin had fallen. - Marinien
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