Although the inscriptions on the stone walls of the passage made no mention of the Night Pearl within the Forbidden Land of the King, this presented no obstacle for me, as I had, after all, the Scarlet Moon Demon by my side—a being who had guarded the King's Forbidden Land for over ten thousand years.
After a month of conversations, I had gathered a substantial amount of information about the King's Forbidden Land. According to the Scarlet Moon Demon, in the ancient Divine Dragon Empire, warriors who entered the Forbidden Land to cultivate had to adapt not only to its unique gravitational environment but also to face attacks from various terrifying mutated creatures under those conditions.
At the far eastern end of the King's Forbidden Land stood a colossal stone tower. Only by reaching the tower's location from the teleportation array could one be considered to have completed their cultivation within the King's Forbidden Land. Naturally, the journey along this path was anything but simple.
Although the Scarlet Moon Demon had guarded the entrance to the King's Forbidden Land for over ten millennia, it was not entirely clear on the inner details. After all, it had never entered the Forbidden Land itself, so it remained ignorant as to whether the Night Pearl existed within. However, having guarded the gate for so long, it had overheard some accounts of what transpired inside, though the Night Pearl was never mentioned!
It had never even heard such a rumor.
This led me to question whether the assertion that the Night Pearl was hidden within the King's Forbidden Land was merely an unsubstantiated legend.
However, since I had already entered, I had no intention of giving up now. Even if only to complete the cultivation within the King's Forbidden Land, I had to make my way to the stone tower at the eastern extremity. If the Night Pearl truly was concealed within the King's Forbidden Land, based on my analysis, the most probable location would be some hidden corner of that very tower.
Having made up my mind, I began to march eastward!
A day later, I finally emerged from the forest!
The Purple Sun blazed overhead, immense and fiery, relentlessly releasing its suffocating heat. The boundless expanse of yellow sand radiated scorching warmth beneath an endless, purplish-red sky. Yet, near the horizon, the air shimmered, blurred, and wavered. The sand particles seemed like molten iron, flowing in scorching waves that pierced the vision.
Waves of searing air slammed into me! Instinctively, I pulled my cloak tighter, brushing the dust clinging to my mask. What a massive desert!
I knew that the true ordeal began now; everything prior had merely been adaptive training! The King's Forbidden Land, capable of forging super-soldiers for the ancient Divine Dragon Empire, surely possessed unique qualities!
Subconsciously, I activated my Eye of Death Desire, carefully sensing every rustle of the wind.
Yet, I still found nothing.
The entire world seemed devoid of life besides myself. This unusual, profound silence unsettled me, but I pressed forward with grim determination.
According to the little fellow’s description, reaching the stone tower in the east required crossing the vast desert of the King's Forbidden Land. At this moment, I was in the western sector, near the desert's edge.
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since I left the forest and plunged into the desert!
It was only then that my Eye of Death Desire detected an anomalous fluctuation! I felt a powerful aura stealthily approaching.
I instinctively glanced around, seeing nothing but endless, gently rolling sand dunes!
I was inwardly alarmed. What kind of monster could exist in this desert?
As I pondered, the aura’s approach suddenly accelerated!
Ah! It was from underground! This situation was identical to the Scarlet Moon Demon's previous attack!
Realizing what was happening, I instinctively shifted my stance and leaped away!
Boom! The ground suddenly erupted!
A curtain of sand, like shrapnel, shot outwards, momentarily obscuring a massive silhouette that suddenly flashed into view!
Swish! Swish!
What followed was a piercing whistle! I didn't even have time to properly discern what had struck! Yet, the Eye of Death Desire clearly captured a long, slender object flying through the air—moving with breathtaking speed!
Prepared, I casually swung out a sword strike!
Swish! A potent crescent, shining with dazzling silver-white, shot forth instantly! Like a half-moon shield of light, it flew toward the unexpected blur!
However, before the crescent could intercept the streak!
Clang!
Another strange sound cut through the air. The lightning-fast object suddenly curved in a bizarre 'C' shape, actually bypassing the intercepting crescent. Its speed remained undiminished, striking my chest!
Ah! It can actually change direction!
This startled me considerably. I quickly executed a sideways roll!
Crash! Rumble!
A powerful gust of wind grazed my body. The spot where I had been standing an instant before was blown open into a massive cavity!
It was only then that I finally saw clearly what that bizarre, unpredictable blur was!
It was the size of a small sedan! Its entire body glittered golden, as if the massive form were forged from pure gold. It possessed a pair of huge pincers in the front, and toward the rear, a long, thick, whip-like appendage extended from its body. The tip of this whip terminated in something resembling a dark blue hook.
Even under the scorching sun of the desert, that barb-like tip sent a chill down my spine, causing goosebumps to rise uncontrollably across my body!
Damn it!
It was a scorpion!
And not just any scorpion—a monumentally large one! As tall and large as an Audi sedan!
I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
The scorpion slowly advanced! Its massive pincers waved gently back and forth, and its huge tail, tipped with the barb, swayed subtly, much like a venomous snake writhing in water! It induced a feeling of helpless panic!
The thing that attacked me just now was that thick, long scorpion tail!
Blast it! I'd been fooled!
Although the relief carvings in the King's Passage also depicted scorpions, I never imagined that the scorpions inside the Forbidden Land would be this ridiculously enormous! If I hadn't reacted quickly just now, this scorpion would have killed me!
Shhh shhh!
The massive body suddenly accelerated! The ensuing muffled, almost suffocating sense of pressure arrived!
Whoosh!
With no warning, a blur flashed before my eyes! Almost instinctively, I sidestepped to evade!
Swish! Crash! Rumble!
The spot where I had just stood was blasted into another deep pit!
Good heavens, what a powerful scorpion tail!
I cautiously adjusted my position, deliberately creating some distance!
There was no doubt that this giant scorpion's most formidable weapon was its massive tail. Its speed and force were astonishingly strong, and even more terrifying was the poisonous substance contained within the barb-like tip. This was easily discernible from that heart-stopping, dark blue sheen!
Shhh shhh!
The attack missed again, and I sensed that the scorpion now seemed furious. Its massive body charged forward at astonishing speed! The tail, tipped with the hook, whipped down like a gigantic lash, striking overhead! I considered myself battle-hardened, possessing extensive combat experience. Therefore, I wasn't rushing to attack; instead, I focused on evading while meticulously observing the scorpion's attack patterns.
Crash! Rumble!
The scorpion's third attack missed yet again! The enraged scorpion let out a few strange shrieks! Its massive tail instantly dissolved into a flurry of afterimages, sweeping in like a torrential storm—horizontal sweeps and spiraling strikes!
It certainly had some tricks up its sleeve. I dared not be careless and quickly employed my fencing footwork. My movements were elusive, allowing me to narrowly dodge the scorpion's tail strikes in the split second before impact!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Crack crack crack crack!
Dust billowed high, and the wind roared fiercely. While the scorpion's attacks were incredibly fast and overwhelmingly powerful, my own speed was not lacking, and the scorpion consistently failed to strike me. Moreover, I gradually began to discern a pattern: this scorpion’s attacks relied primarily on its tail, combined with rapid body movements. The methods for using the tail were myriad; it felt as if the tail were being wielded by a master of the whip. Horizontal sweeps, vertical slashes, sometimes immensely powerful, sometimes ethereal and nimble—it possessed a hidden structure. Nevertheless, no matter how it attacked, it couldn't land a blow. In terms of pure speed, I held the advantage.
Five minutes later, I had completely mapped out the scorpion's attack choreography! Its technique and speed were decent; what remained was to test its raw power!
Having made up my mind, I stopped merely evading! Instead, I actively moved to meet it!
A blur flashed before my eyes, and the massive whip descended with the roar of wind and thunder! I instinctively poured my Dou Qi into a sword strike!
Crash Rumble!
In the dull impact, the hands gripping the sword were instantly jarred so violently they felt close to dislocation, and my entire body was involuntarily sent flying!
Damn, such incredible strength!
I executed an aerial somersault instinctively before landing back on the ground! After relentlessly attacking for a long time, it finally connected squarely, and in the first exchange, it sent me flying!
The scorpion let out a strange cry of triumph. It charged forward like a gale! The massive tail whipped down like lightning! Clearly, the creature intended to press its advantage!
Blast it! This is too much!
After rapidly adjusting my posture, I stopped retreating and stepped forward to meet it! Through the previous exchanges, I had roughly ascertained the information I needed. Undoubtedly, this giant scorpion’s attack speed, technique, and power were all commendable! What remained was to test its defensive capabilities!
The massive tail swept towards me again!
Hah! But I was prepared and certainly wouldn't be swept away by it. With a light leap, I not only evaded the horizontal sweep of the whip but also hurtled forward at astonishing speed towards the scorpion’s front. Mid-air, my Dragon Shadow Sword executed a 'Cleaving Mount Hua' chop, hacking fiercely towards the scorpion’s head!
Crash! Rumble!
The Dragon Shadow Sword strike, direct and unadorned, landed squarely on the scorpion’s massive head! Blinding sparks erupted! It felt exactly like striking a steel wall! And an astonishingly powerful recoil instantly rebounded, sending me involuntarily flying upwards again!
Moreover, a sharp, whistling sound tore through the air from behind me—it was the phantom-like tail sweeping back!
Good heavens! It has a counter!
I instinctively executed a reverse horizontal sweep with my sword.
Clang! The Dragon Shadow Sword collided once more with the immensely powerful tail!
Rumble! With a muffled roar, I was launched backward like a baseball struck by a batter, flying far before finally crashing to the ground!
Although the scorpion's tail was overwhelmingly powerful, I was also deeply versed in the art of controlling force, so I sustained no real damage. However, the scorpion’s formidable defense gave me a serious headache! It truly lived up to its status as a monster within the Forbidden Land; it was far stronger than those outside!
Remember, this environment subjected us to triple gravity, and under such conditions, this scorpion's strength, speed, and defense remained outstanding! It was terrifying to imagine what this scorpion would be like if it appeared outside!
At this moment, I was not wearing my Sky Demon Battle Armor, but I was still at the Grandmaster level, and after a month of adaptive training, I believed my strength had surpassed my previous peak. Although strength wasn't my innate advantage, since obtaining the Nine Dragons Body Protection, this weakness had been overcome; I could essentially say I had no weaknesses left!
Yet, facing this behemoth, I felt utterly helpless! Even after just two direct clashes, neither of us could overpower the other! Undeniably, I held the absolute advantage in speed, but the scorpion’s power and defense were monstrously high!
The battle once again settled into a stalemate. Perhaps sensing that I was no easy opponent, the giant scorpion also grew cautious. Its massive body advanced slowly, and its whip-like tail swayed unpredictably. However, now it dared not attack rashly. Furthermore, its pair of massive pincers lifted and lowered, adopting a defensive posture.
Clever brute! It understands the tactic of turtling, perhaps planning a counter-attack, I mused inwardly. Simultaneously, I considered how to increase my offensive power. No matter how outstanding my speed and technique, if I lacked the penetrating power to breach the scorpion’s armor defense, all of it would be meaningless. Attack power remained the key factor in victory.
It seems I have to resort to the old methods! I have four ways to deal with opponents possessing strong defenses!
The first is the improved 'One Thread, Three Swords' technique I comprehended in the Terror Space—achieving penetration by continuously striking the same point! However, this technique suffered from an insurmountable flaw: it consumed too much time. Against an opponent of equal standing, it was difficult to execute effectively, so I had discarded it.
The second method involves the principle of the King Kai Fist, instantly maximizing my attack power—both speed and force—at the moment of striking! I recall turning the tide against the White Tiger Luo Yan when cornered by relying on this move; it is truly my signature close-quarters, high-impact attack. However, using this technique carried significant risk; one slip could cause the vital energy meridians to become chaotic, leading to Qi deviation! I rarely use it unless necessary.
The third method was comprehended accidentally on the Seal Demon Continent: the Nine-Colored Dragon Shadow! This involves channeling both Thunder Dou Qi and Fierce Lion Dou Qi into the Dragon Shadow Sword, augmenting the attack power of the shadow projection. This is the most straightforward and direct attack method, possessing tremendous offensive power, and it is my favorite technique to employ.
The fourth, naturally, is the Nine Heavens Star River Sword Art! However, this sword art cannot be used on demand. Unless I am pushed to the absolute limit, fighting opponents far superior to myself and facing a life-or-death crisis, I cannot enter that state of extreme frenzy. The Nine Heavens Star River Sword Art, I believe, is entirely state-dependent—a peculiar sword art whose training conditions are also extremely demanding: one must face opponents vastly stronger than oneself. Unfortunately, since my last battle with the Thunder General, I haven't encountered an opponent capable of pushing me to that desperate state. Even Ji Du and Jiu Yao Chong Yang combined were not enough, meaning I haven't been able to practice the Nine Heavens Star River Sword Art! The scorpion before me, though powerful, was insufficient to trigger my state of excitement! It felt like using a cannon to shoot a sparrow—a sense of futility!
After much deliberation, I concluded that the Nine-Colored Dragon Shadow was undoubtedly the most suitable choice. Having made my decision, I hesitated no longer! I gripped the hilt of the Dragon Shadow Sword with both hands, and the Fierce Lion Dou Qi and Thunder Dou Qi flowed simultaneously under my control into the sword! The familiar seven-colored stream of light reappeared! The Dragon Shadow Sword hummed with a low resonance, like a living serpent!
Shhh shhh shhh!
The scorpion seemed to sense the impending danger and cautiously retreated several steps! Its golden eyes darted back and forth, assessing the Dragon Shadow Sword in my hand! It let out a series of strange shrieks!
Then, its massive tail suddenly whipped out! However, it wasn't aimed at me, but at the sand dust on the ground!
Crash! Rumble rumble!
A torrential downpour of sand blasted towards me! I was momentarily startled and quickly circulated my energy, forming a barrier of protective Qi around my body!
Crack crack crack crack!
The fierce sandstorm slammed against the Qi wall and was violently repelled! But when the swirling dust cleared, the giant scorpion had vanished into thin air!
Under the state of the Eye of Death Desire, I could sense that powerful aura rapidly retreating into the distance!
I curse! You’re kidding me!
This thing! It actually... it actually ran away!