Chapter 261: The Seventh Trial—Comprehending the Power of Creation

Chapter 261: Chapter 261: The Seventh Trial—Comprehending the Power of Creation

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A streak of dark-red sword energy, like a surging torrent, swept toward Jiang Bai! Wherever the sword energy passed, the air ruptured, and a deep ravine was gouged into the ground!

Jiang Bai’s figure flickered, vanishing from his original position.

The sword energy struck empty air, then slammed into a distant structure, slicing a black building clean in half!

Jiang Bai’s figure reappeared in mid-air.

He raised his right hand, and the Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda materialized in his palm. Light shimmered across the pagoda’s body as nine beams of radiance shot forth, settling around him.

A Fire Dragon, an Ice Dragon, a Wind Dragon, an Earth Dragon, a Shadow Dragon, a Holy Light Dragon, a Mountain Dragon King, a Rainbow Dragon, and a Golden Dragon—nine colossal dragons appeared out of thin air!

The nine dragons varied in length from several tens to over a hundred meters; their bodies were entirely clad in scales of various hues, and their outstretched wings blotted out the very sky. They circled around Jiang Bai, their roars resounding in waves, their draconic might overwhelming!

The pupils of the King of Slaughter contracted abruptly!

"Nine... nine dragons?!"

In all his years of existence, he had never witnessed such a terrifying spectacle!

Jiang Bai stood atop the Rainbow Dragon’s back, gazing down at him from a commanding height. The Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda hovered above his head, slowly rotating as it radiated a divine and majestic glow.

"Attack."

No sooner had the words left his lips than eight of the colossal dragons struck simultaneously!

Eight distinct elemental attacks intertwined to form a web of death, completely engulfing the King of Slaughter!

The King of Slaughter roared repeatedly, beating his wings and frantically slashing with the Asura Demonic Sword in a desperate attempt to fend off the overwhelming onslaught.

The dark-red sword energy clashed against the dragons’ multicolored breaths, erupting in a series of deafening explosions!

Yet, he stood alone—one man, one sword.

Jiang Bai, however, commanded nine dragons.

Jiang Bai did not even lift a finger.

He simply stood upon the Rainbow Dragon’s back, gazing down at the battle unfolding beneath him as if watching a performance. Amidst the bombardment of dragon breath, the figure of the Slaughter King struggled desperately, appearing utterly wretched.

"Ah—!!!"

He let out a roar of bitter defiance, pouring every ounce of his strength into a single sword strike aimed at Jiang Bai, who stood atop the Rainbow Dragon!

A dark-crimson sword beam, resembling a blood-red dragon, lunged toward Jiang Bai!

Jiang Bai did not even move.

With a powerful beat of its wings, the Rainbow Dragon conjured a seven-colored barrier of light before Jiang Bai, effortlessly deflecting the incoming sword beam.

"Is that all?" Jiang Bai’s voice was soft, yet it rang clearly in the Slaughter King’s ears.

A flicker of despair crossed the Slaughter King’s eyes.

Then, a blast of dragon breath from the Fire Dragon engulfed the Slaughter King completely.

"Ah—!!!"

A piercing scream echoed across the plaza.

The flames dissipated. The Slaughter King lay sprawled on the ground—his body charred black, his wings shattered, and the Asura Demonic Sword lying discarded beside him.

His body still twitched faintly, but he was utterly powerless to fight on.

Lying there on the ground, he gazed up at the nine colossal dragons in the sky, and at the white-clad youth standing upon the Rainbow Dragon’s back; his eyes were filled with unyielding resentment.

"Who... exactly are you?"

His voice was hoarse, barely audible.

"Why... did you kill me?"

Jiang Bai looked down at him and replied indifferently, "For the sake of my Divine Trial."

The Slaughter King’s pupils contracted abruptly.

A Divine Trial...

Years ago, in his true form as the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King, he had parasitized this very individual—a soul undergoing a Divine Trial.

He had believed he had stumbled upon an immense fortune, seizing control of a body that possessed peak-level Soul Power at Rank 99 and the constitution of a demigod.

He had thought that, from then on, he could live a life of absolute security and ease.

He never imagined that, in the end, he would become the very target of someone else’s Divine Trial.

A flicker of bitter irony crossed his eyes.

"So... that is it..."

Jiang Bai offered no further words.

He raised his right hand, bringing two fingers together to form a sword-finger gesture.

A nine-colored sword beam shot forth from his fingertips, striking straight toward the center of the Slaughter King’s forehead!

"Pfft—!"

The sword beam pierced through.

The body of the King of Slaughter stiffened abruptly, then slowly went limp.

His eyes remained open, yet his pupils had already gone vacant.

The Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King—dead.

Tang Chen’s body, too, had completely lost all signs of life.

At that very moment, a majestic voice resounded within Jiang Bai’s mind.

"Congratulations, Inheritor! You have completed the Sixth Trial of the Dragon God’s Divine Examination!"

"Reward: Divine Seat Affinity increased by 10%; the cultivation age of all Soul Rings increased by 50,000 years."

"Seventh Trial Activated: Comprehend the Power of Creation."

"Completion Reward: Divine Seat Affinity increased by 10%; the cultivation age of all Soul Rings increased by 50,000 years."

Standing atop the Rainbow Dragon, Jiang Bai closed his eyes, sensing the surging power within his body.

The cultivation age of all his Soul Rings had increased by 50,000 years. Now, every single one of his Soul Rings exceeded—or nearly exceeded—the 400,000-year mark.

He opened his eyes.

Those eyes appeared even more profound and luminous than before.

He gazed down at the dark-red city below, remaining silent for a moment.

Then, he turned around and used his Soul Power to draw the Asura Demonic Sword toward him.

Upon taking it into his hands, he examined it briefly; seeing that the Asura Demonic Sword showed no reaction, he stored it away within his spatial Soul Tool.

"Let’s go."

The nine colossal dragons transformed into nine streaks of flowing light, vanishing into the Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda.

His figure faded from the skies above the City of Slaughter.

...

In the encampment outside Star Luo City, the night deepened.

Moonlight filtered down through the thin clouds.

The air was permeated by a faint scent of blood—mingled with the smell of earth and scorched flesh—a scent that lingered long and refused to dissipate.

Ye Lingling stood before a tent housing the wounded; the black veil covering her face fluttered gently in the night breeze.

Lying before her were dozens of severely wounded soldiers. Some had lost limbs; others had their chests torn open by Soul Skills; still others were scorched black from head to toe, clinging precariously to life.

She spoke not a word; she simply raised her hands. The Nine-Heart Begonia blossomed in her palm, casting down a jade-green radiance that fell like spring rain, enveloping the wounded soldiers.

Wounds began to heal, broken bones knitted back together, and charred skin peeled away to reveal tender, newly formed flesh beneath.

The soldiers’ groans of pain gradually subsided.

"There, it’s done. You are all safe now," Ye Lingling said softly, her voice as clear and gentle as a mountain spring.

A soldier who had lost an arm struggled to sit up; gazing at the limb that had miraculously regrown, his eyes turned red with emotion, and his voice caught in his throat: "Thank you... Master! Thank you so much!"

"Thank you! Thank you!"

The soldiers cried out their gratitude in unison, tears streaming down their faces.

Ye Lingling wore a veil, making it impossible to discern her expression. She merely gave a faint nod, then turned and walked away, continuing toward the next military tent.

Shui Bing’er followed close behind her; watching Ye Lingling’s slightly weary figure, a pang of deep concern rose within her heart.

They had already visited seven or eight military camps in succession, treating over a thousand wounded soldiers.

Ye Lingling’s soul power had been severely depleted; fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and her footsteps had begun to grow unsteady.

"Lingling, let’s stop for today," Shui Bing’er stepped forward and gently took hold of her arm. "You’ve expended far too much soul power; you need to rest."

Ye Lingling came to a halt.

She raised her head to gaze at the pale, desolate moon hanging in the distant sky, and fell silent for a moment.

"Bing’er... tell me... when will this war finally come to an end?"

Shui Bing’er looked at her profile and spoke softly: "It will be soon. There are only a few provinces left to conquer—two months at most, I’d say."

Ye Lingling offered no reply.