Chapter 459 - 292: Finally Breaking the Secret Realm

The sensation of slicing through his opponent with ease was unmistakable, yet it hadn’t inflicted a corresponding wound. It was as if part of the destructive force had been redirected out of thin air.

As Clara faltered for a split second, Xuanhuang seized the opportunity and bit down on her claw.

His entire lungs had been shattered, and he could no longer make a sound. Yet he held his head high, staring at Clara, his eyes filled with the triumphant pride of both victory and a death in battle.

At the same time, Tuoba Jing, not far away, coughed up a mouthful of blood as a hideous, massive gash appeared out of nowhere on his body, stretching from his left shoulder down to his right ribs.

Blood surged forth, its crimson hue soaking the tattered Beastmaster Robe. In a daze, Su Zhi thought he could see the Beastmaster Robe Peng Kai used to wear.

That was right—traditional Beastmaster Robes didn’t come in red. The only way to make one that color was to dye it with blood.

The surprise in Clara’s eyes morphed into shock. [Could it be? Your Beast Taming Talent is... Shared Injury?]

The corner of Tuoba Jing’s bloodstained mouth curled up. "You’re only figuring that out now? Too late."

[Insect! Don’t you get smug!]

Clara roared, twisting her body and violently flinging Xuanhuang off.

Nearly unconscious, Xuanhuang had little strength left. He was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string, only to be hastily caught by Zi Lu.

For Clara, however, being delayed this long was already a failure in itself.

In fact, in the moment she had been stunned, the massive Golden Sand Battle Saber had already struck the Radiant Gold Vein Opening Source Stone on the high platform...

"CLAAANG—"

The deafening, bell-like tone reverberated throughout the cavern.

It was followed by a crisp, cracking sound... The Golden Sand Battle Saber disintegrated inch by inch, revealing Yu Bao within.

Clara was stunned for a moment, then threw her head back and laughed.

[And here I thought you had some desperate, all-or-nothing trump card, but this is all it is! Your grand gamble was just a joke in the end! Hahahaha!]

This time, they were much closer. In an instant, Clara pressed her sharp claws against Yu Bao’s throat.

[Die!]

But Clara found that even with all her might, she couldn’t slice open Yu Bao’s throat.

The sensation wasn’t like striking an Exotic Beast at all, but rather like hitting solid ground. Yet even the ground couldn’t possibly escape completely unscathed...

As Clara stared in astonishment, the radiance of the Radiant Gold Vein Opening Source Stone slowly spilled out, forming a thin, glowing thread in the air that connected to Yu Bao.

The Energy that Clara had painstakingly tried and failed to extract for thousands of days and nights now poured into Yu Bao’s body like a raging flood. The light radiating from him grew ever brighter; it was no longer just the glow of Thick Earth Golden Might, but the light of the entire Radiant Gold Vein Opening Source Stone!

Yu Bao slowly opened his eyes. His irises were pure gold. Intricate runes swirled around his pupils, forming a pattern like a mystical Array.

[Impossible, impossible!]

As if her bones had suddenly vanished, Clara collapsed to the ground.

[You are the Em, the Emper—]

Yu Bao gave her no more chances to speak. Sand and dust danced into the air around him, instantly coalescing into a long, slender blade that plunged viciously into Clara’s abdomen.

This time, it pierced through without resistance!

Clara was run completely through, her body lifted into mid-air. The Golden Sand Battle Saber jutted from her back, surrounded by a web of cracking white fissures.

K-CRACKLE—

The cracks spread outward, covering Clara’s entire body.

In her final moments, Clara looked down at Yu Bao below, a last, crazed smile on her face. [I know you’ve returned, but you can’t change a thing! We will trample the Current World! One day!]

Yu Bao didn’t speak or respond. His gaze was impassive and serene, like Gold buried in the sand.

CRUMBLE—

Clara shattered into countless fragments that drifted slowly down. A single golden sphere of light rose slowly, ascending against the descending motes.

All the Earthquake Beasts froze in place, ceasing all combat and movement. Their bodies began to slowly dissolve, finally crumbling into the yellow earth that covered the ground.

"...Woof?"

Yu Bao squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head hard. When he opened them again, his irises had returned from gold to their normal brownish-tan.

He looked left and right. There was no sign of Clara, not even a single Earthquake Beast.

’What happened?’

Yu Bao scratched his head in confusion. Before he could process anything, he was pulled into a fierce hug by Su Zhi.

"You’re okay! That’s great!"

"Woof..." Yu Bao quickly patted his shoulder, as if to say, ’There, there.’

As they spoke, the sphere of light floating in mid-air slowly stretched and took shape, finally becoming the spectral image of a Yu Dian Dog.

Unlike an ordinary Yu Dian Dog, the tips of his limbs were golden, and his claws glinted with the dark sheen of pure silver. A white, five-pointed star was imprinted between his brows, from which countless fine lines extended toward his ears and then swept upward, creating an elegant, flowing impression.

Yu Bao instinctively lowered his body, preparing to take a combat stance, only to find he was so spent from the previous battle that he could barely even stand.

"CHIRP!" Shan Bao spread its wings, shielding Yu Bao.

"WOOF!" Wu Bao secretly wished Yu Bao would just die, but he was afraid Shan Bao would get hurt, so he stepped forward as well.

[Fear not.]

The spectral image of the Yu Dian Dog remained motionless, its deep, reassuring voice resonating directly in the minds of everyone present.

Tuoba Jing’s eyes widened slightly, a look of joy spreading across his face. "Senior Emperor Heng... I knew you hadn’t truly perished!"

Hearing this, Su Zhi looked at the spectral image in astonishment.

Yu Bao, on the other hand, wore an expression that was both surprised and delightfully smug.

’So the "new skin" wasn’t just hype after all! To think I’ll get to look this cool in the future!’

Emperor Heng’s spectral image shook its head.

[Unfortunately, I perished long ago. What you see is merely a wisp of my Divine Sense, lingering within a Power Fragment. It has now been freed from the Abyssal’s grasp, but it will soon dissipate and return to the world.]