Chapter 137: The Counterkill

The two men stepped onto the arena, which was more akin to a formation inscribed upon stone tiles, its interior space extending infinitely.

The gathered prodigies turned their gazes toward them. Both men were their peers in strength, if not superior to most, leaving no room for arrogance among the onlookers.

She Yin gestured toward the alms bowl hovering above his head. A colossal head abruptly emerged from within, a terrifying and sudden sight. As it pushed outward, the head expanded instantly, growing to the size of a towering mountain, filling the void with its frigid, metallic scales, savage features, and a single horn upon its brow.

The crowd was astonished; to think such a creature could emerge from a small bowl and grow to such monstrous proportions.

"A Scarlet Flood Dragon!"

Many observers, after careful identification, were struck with horror. Was this truly a flood dragon? Its body was as red as blood, its scales seemingly cast from metal, its frame robust and boundless, nearly indistinguishable from a true dragon.

The crowd gasped, recalling the legend that She Yin had once subdued a Saint-level beast with a single Buddhist chant; this was surely that very creature. It was not against the rules to utilize such a beast, as She Yin had tamed it with his own hands.

"Is this the one? It is said to be an atavistic Scarlet Flood Dragon, its bloodline remarkably pure and its strength terrifying."

"ROAR!"

The Scarlet Flood Dragon surged from the bowl, emitting a thunderous roar that shook the void. Accompanied by a gale, it dove toward Zhou Xunchuan. Its massive body, longer and more terrifying than a mountain ridge, caused the very earth to rumble and the void to shatter. The contrast was jarring—such an immense creature had been coiled within that tiny vessel.

BOOM!

Flying sand, shattered stones, and splashing mud filled the air. The void cracked, and the area became obscured by a crimson, swirling hurricane that swallowed everything in its path. Massive boulders weighing dozens of tons were pulverized into dust upon contact, and, vaguely, a black hole seemed to manifest.

The heavens collapsed. Such was the power of the monstrous dragon; it sought to suppress Zhou Xunchuan with its very first strike.

"Well met!"

Zhou Xunchuan laughed aloud. Facing an atavistic flood dragon a full realm above his own, he did not dodge. Instead, he erupted with golden light and threw a punch straight ahead. As his fist struck out, it unleashed a sky-shattering radiance, like a golden sun exploding with incomparable, searing divine light.

DONG!

At that moment, the world turned upside down. Chaotic energy surged, and with that single strike, the entire arena space felt as if it were being overturned and annihilated, the aura chilling to the bone.

Then, the onlookers saw Zhou Xunchuan, like a god of war bathed in golden divine fire, charging at the Scarlet Flood Dragon with overwhelming momentum. Before his fist, it seemed as if stars were revolving, and a golden divine dragon coiled around him, pulsing in rhythm with his movements. His hair flowed loose, his eyes were cold and sharp, and he possessed the aura of one who could swallow mountains and rivers.

BANG!

His fist shattered the void and collided with the Scarlet Flood Dragon. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, despite the massive disparity in size, the Scarlet Flood Dragon was sent flying backward, several of its red scales fractured.

The physical body of a beast is naturally superior to that of a human, especially one possessing the bloodline of a true dragon. Furthermore, it was a realm higher than Zhou Xunchuan, yet it had been defeated.

She Yin’s expression remained unchanged. He sat cross-legged in the void, chanting a sacred scripture. The characters emerged from the air like symbols cast in divine gold, descending to suppress Zhou Xunchuan. Simultaneously, the Scarlet Flood Dragon lunged forward once more, entangling itself in a fierce struggle with Zhou Xunchuan.

Divine rays ignited like flames, and chaos surged endlessly.

"Eight Steps of the Heavenly Dragon!"

Zhou Xunchuan roared. His body glowed as he executed strange, rhythmic steps through the void, appearing as if he had transformed into a golden divine dragon. From afar, it looked like two true dragons locked in combat—one crimson, one golden.

Sweat dripped from Zhou Xunchuan’s forehead. He had already taken seven steps; this was a potent divine ability, and each step demanded vast amounts of vital energy.

"The Eighth Step: Reversing the Eight Directions!"

With disheveled hair and the madness of a demon, his blood qi surging to the clouds, Zhou Xunchuan took the final step. The golden divine dragon, as if infused with the essence of a true dragon, glowed brilliantly and coiled tightly. The Scarlet Flood Dragon let out a mournful cry, was torn asunder, and rained blood across the sky. Its two halves fell to the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

Some were so terrified they could not make a sound. Why was it that others could use the Dharma Aspect realm to slay a Saint-level beast, while their own aspects were so pathetic?

The true prodigies’ eyes flickered, their hearts not as calm as they seemed. However, they were not truly terrified; a wild flood dragon lacked the true dragon heritage and relied only on physical strength. They, too, could achieve such a feat if they paid the price.

"Om, Ma, Ni..."

At that moment, a magnificent, resonant chant echoed, appearing capable of suppressing all things. Its very emergence disturbed the balance of heaven and earth.

The sound forced everyone to snap out of their stupor and look toward She Yin, who sat in the void, chanting the sacred text. The Luotian Temple inherited the legacy of the ancient Buddhist realm; those who called themselves Buddhas could use scripture alone to transcend opponents and suppress enemies—the most eerie and powerful of arts. The chant that had originally subdued the flood dragon was, in fact, a formidable scripture.

The scripture continued, manifesting in the void as symbols the size of mountains. They shimmered with a cold, metallic luster, all flying toward Zhou Xunchuan to pin him down.

Zhou Xunchuan stumbled, his footing unsteady. She Yin’s timing was impeccable; he had struck without a moment’s hesitation. It was because Zhou Xunchuan had just utilized a supreme ability, consuming a massive, near-bottomless amount of vital energy, leaving him momentarily vulnerable.

BOOM!

A towering divine flame erupted. Zhou Xunchuan shone brilliantly once more, steadying his stance as the divine dragon circled him, inhaling vast amounts of essence. The heavens cracked, ghosts wailed, and Zhou Xunchuan unleashed heavy blows, his dragon-encircled fists striking repeatedly.

A great fist print struck toward She Yin but was blocked by the alms bowl. The artifact roared and then exploded—the ancient treasure was destroyed!

Though it was merely a brief collision and not a sustained peak duel, one could glimpse the immense power of both. She Yin sighed, his skin luminous like jade. He pressed his palms together, whispered a Buddhist title, and his expression grew complex.

On the ground, the shattered pieces of the alms bowl lay scattered—destroyed by a single blow from Zhou Xunchuan. It was an ancient treasure, yet it had been ruined just like that.

She Yin ceased his chanting and stood up from the void. His body expanded, radiating golden light until he appeared cast in gold. This was the "Six-Zhang Golden Body," a secret divine ability of the Luotian Temple—a powerful method of physical cultivation accessible only to those with the highest aptitude.

His blood qi surged like clouds, his energy rising like an abyssal sea, cracking the very space around him. Two golden figures collided, and though they were flesh and blood, they struck with the sound of clashing metal, shattering the void around them.