Chapter 402: Tempering

Shen Daoxing was startled. His figure flickered again and again as he dodged just in the nick of time. Beside him, a patch of the lake had frozen solid, glistening under the light.

In the next moment, the Flood Dragon continued to spew the terrifying blue beam. As its head slowly turned, the horrifying pillar of light swept across the water.

Shen Daoxing jumped in fright, leaping away and dodging by the slimmest of margins.

However, the Flood Dragon attacked with reckless abandon. In just a short while, all the water around Shen Daoxing had frozen solid, forming a crystal-clear field that emitted a faint blue glow.

This time, Shen Daoxing had well and truly enraged the Flood Dragon.

Without hesitation, Shen Daoxing immediately shouted, "Hui, run!"

He then flipped his palm, summoning the Great Ming Demon Sparrow. With a single slash of his sword, he carved a path through the frozen crystals around him.

This Flood Dragon was a Demon Beast at the Refining Dust Realm, while Shen Daoxing was still only at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm. He knew it was impossible to defeat the creature with his current level of strength.

So, without a moment's hesitation, Shen Daoxing recognized the danger and transformed into a streak of light, fleeing at top speed.

The Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat froze for a moment before it reacted, quickly transforming into a gray shadow to give chase.

But the Flood Dragon was utterly enraged. There was no way it would give up and let Shen Daoxing and the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat escape.

It threw its head back and let out a great roar.

RUMBLE!

Its colossal body suddenly stirred. The lakebed began to tremble violently as the Flood Dragon twisted its form and rose. With a series of thunderous CRACKS, it shattered the frozen water and gave chase with ferocious intensity.

Shen Daoxing turned his head and saw a colossal figure pursuing him from behind.

'Venerable Invincible, Huangliang's Moment!'

At his thought, everything around him slowed to a near standstill, though Shen Daoxing himself remained unaffected.

He reached out, snatched the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat at his side, and charged forward.

Although the Flood Dragon behind them wasn't completely frozen in time, its speed had decreased significantly.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Daoxing charged straight ahead, making a beeline for the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

'Heh. The Cyan Nether Sword Sect is one of the most powerful factions in all of Cangzhou, after all. There's no way those hidden masters will just sit back and watch a Refining Dust Realm Demon Beast barge in.'

A moment later, Shen Daoxing burst out of the lake with a SPLASH. Transforming into a streak of light, he sped forward and quickly landed on one of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect's Suspended Islands.

BOOM!

Right behind him, the Flood Dragon's colossal body erupted from the lake, sending a torrent of water into the air like a waterfall.

ROAR!

Upon seeing Shen Daoxing, it threw its head back and roared. With savage eyes, it propelled its massive body through the air, chasing right after him.

The instant the Flood Dragon entered the territory of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, just as he'd expected...

Without warning, a deep and majestic voice suddenly echoed across the sky: "Beast! Do you think the Cyan Nether Sword Sect is a place where you can run amok?"

The next moment, a towering Golden Body Dharma Aspect, so immense it seemed to touch the heavens and stand upon the earth, materialized in the sky above a Suspended Island.

He had flowing white hair, eyebrows, and a beard, but the face of a middle-aged man. His piercing eyes radiated an un-angered authority.

This Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect was more immense than any Shen Daoxing had ever witnessed.

After the Heaven and Earth Dharma Aspect appeared, it extended a massive, translucent palm. With a casual grasp, as if plucking an earthworm from the ground, it seized the colossal Flood Dragon.

KEEN!

The Flood Dragon let out a sudden, mournful cry, its colossal body twisting in agony.

In the next instant, terror filled its eyes.

The Flood Dragon's eyes widened, and it shot a resentful glare at Shen Daoxing and the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat.

At that very moment, however, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat suddenly spun around, aimed its rear end at the Flood Dragon, and began wiggling it incessantly. It let out a few high-pitched SQUEAKS, as if in provocation.

ROAR!

The Flood Dragon threw its head back and let out a hateful roar, but its expression immediately shifted to one of terror when it glanced up at the massive Golden Body Dharma Aspect.

Finally, with a frustrated roar, the Flood Dragon shot one last glare at Shen Daoxing and the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat before turning and diving back into Yun Meng Lake.

Shen Daoxing turned, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply in a gesture of thanks.

But by the time he looked up, the massive Golden Body Dharma Aspect in the sky had already disappeared.

Shen Daoxing smiled faintly. He glanced at the Demon Beast Essence Blood he had just acquired, then quietly led the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat back to his quarters.

「At the Outer Sect disciple residences.」

The area between the houses was deserted. Everyone had gone to the main island to listen to a sermon from a senior Inner Sect disciple.

Shen Daoxing was alone in his room.

He prepared a large wooden tub, filling it with Spiritual Water from Yun Meng Lake. Then, he took out the Essence Blood of the Ao Long Crab and dripped it in slowly. The Spiritual Water immediately began to shimmer with brilliant, iridescent light. Finally, he added auxiliary herbs like Profound Ginseng, Blood Spirit Grass, and Dragon Scale Fruit, completing the Essence Blood Bath.

Shen Daoxing slowly eased himself into the tub. The acupoints throughout his body opened automatically, and pleasant, warm currents began to flow into his flesh from all directions. The soreness from his earlier fight with the Flood Dragon vanished completely.

As expected of a Demon Beast at the Refining Dust Realm, the Flood Dragon's physical toughness was far beyond that of any ordinary beast. When Shen Daoxing had punched it, it felt like striking a colossal mountain, and intense pain had shot through his entire body.

But the exchange had also been hugely beneficial; he now had a much clearer understanding of the limits of his own strength.

He needed more battles to accumulate experience and temper his physical body.

Before long, Shen Daoxing drifted into a deep sleep in the medicinal bath. When he awoke, all his fatigue had vanished. As he recalled the details of his fight with the Flood Dragon, black arcs of electricity began to CRACKLE around his body. He started training, throwing one punch after another.

「One day later.」

Once he had fully recovered, Shen Daoxing took the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat and once again slipped into the depths of Yun Meng Lake.

'Heheheh. The Flood Dragon is the perfect sparring partner. How could I possibly let this opportunity go? I need to keep grinding for EXP.'

A short while later, Shen Daoxing and the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat arrived back at yesterday's location.

The lakebed was utterly still. There was no sign of the Flood Dragon; it seemed to have disappeared.

Suddenly, Shen Daoxing leaped up, drew back his massive fist, and slammed it violently onto the lakebed.

BOOM!

A tremendous sound echoed through the water.

The entire lakebed trembled.

Immediately after, a large mound of silt began to rise.

The next moment, the colossal Flood Dragon burst forth.

When it saw Shen Daoxing and the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat, it violently snorted two plumes of frigid air from its nostrils, and its eyes instantly turned savage.

The Flood Dragon reared its head back and opened its blood-red, cavernous maw. Inside, the fang that Shen Daoxing had shattered the day before was clearly visible.