The shadowy spear-tip trace moved like a bolt of lightning at the very instant the fireball erupted, slamming toward my chest!
I dared not let down my guard!
Instinctively tightening my legs, my mighty companion—that powerful frame—executed a nimble sidestep.
Like a ghost, we evaded the whistling fireball!
CRASH!
The massive fireball struck the empty ground beside us, exploding to carve out a huge crater!
So close!
If that great fireball had connected, even my companion couldn't have endured it!
I inwardly wiped a bead of sweat!
However, Xiang Tian’s Dragon Spear seemed to have calculated our precise evasion route!
Almost at the exact moment we shifted past each other, he was upon us in the blink of an eye!
The blurred spear-shadow seemed to instantly transform into eight lightning-swift blades of light!
Six graceful, eerie arcs of light slashed out toward the vital points surrounding both myself and my companion!
Such a fast spear technique—this move possesses the same principle as my One Sword, Three Lines; both rely on astonishing speed to strike six points simultaneously in an incredibly short span!
It leaves one utterly flustered and unable to defend against everything!
I dared not be careless! My Dragon Shadow Spear immediately swept up a torrent of battle qi, swirling around my body in defense—still the all-encompassing defensive move, Icy Current Reversal! The massive barrier of battle qi slammed toward the six indistinct afterimages!
Just as the barrier of Icy Current Reversal was about to collide with the blurred spear shadows!
Xiang Tian’s spear, mid-attack, suddenly retracted!
The surging battle qi force went entirely wide!
Yet, the energy within my own body experienced a subtle disarray and surging turbulence—it felt as if I’d thrown a heavy punch that missed its mark, that sensation of emptiness and misdirected force was deeply uncomfortable!
Almost simultaneously with Xiang Tian retracting his spear, the Blazing Dragon King steed beneath him unexpectedly retreated dozens of paces! It settled firmly about ten meters away!
What in the world was he trying to achieve!
While realigning the chaotic energy within me, I vigilantly watched the opponent's every move!
“The defense of Icy Current Reversal truly leaves no opening,” Xiang Tian revealed with a trace of gravity in his expression. “It seems I have no choice but to use my ultimate move.”
“Ultimate move.” I was somewhat curious. While the first two strikes of the Blizzard Spear Technique were formidable, both were blocked by the comprehensive defense of Icy Current Reversal! What other method could Xiang Tian possibly have to break through this technique!
The belly of the Blazing Dragon King suddenly contracted and expanded, bulging like a distended toad puffing itself up with air. Intense magical fluctuations began to surge around it!
Clearly, the Blazing Dragon King was gathering magic!
And Xiang Tian’s Blizzard Dragon King Spear began to shimmer with pulsing, frost-like streaks of crimson and violet light. In the sunlight, it exhibited an identical aura of tyranny and lethal coldness!
What kind of move was this!
My heartbeat suddenly, inexplicably, accelerated slightly. My intuition screamed that the next strike would be extraordinary!
I focused my attention even more intently!
The moniker Dragon King Xiang Tian was not earned for nothing!
The previous two moves, though repelled by me, did not showcase the entirety of Dragon King Xiang Tian’s strength!
What ultimate technique could it be!
I couldn’t recall when it started, but I had become addicted to this feeling—facing a formidable enemy, standing on the razor's edge between life and death! That thrilling, heart-pounding tension, that surge of excitement, and the sheer exhilaration!
The former me was not one to seek out conflict, yet years of martial arts practice had unknowingly forged me into a true warrior! I craved powerful adversaries, yearned to break past my own limits, to experience battles that were utterly satisfying!
Continuously defeating one powerful opponent after another, the satisfaction and exhilarating joy had transformed combat into a form of enjoyment and pleasure for me!
At this moment, I felt some tension, but more so, a thrill and anticipation!
Waiting for Dragon King Xiang Tian to unleash his strongest strike!
ROAR!
The Blazing Dragon King let out a wild roar, and its powerful body vanished instantly, along with the figure of Dragon King Xiang Tian!
However, my superior intuition immediately caught the trace of this man and his mount!
They hadn't truly disappeared; rather, their speed was so astounding that the naked eye couldn't follow their velocity!
A violent gust of wind howled towards me! The Blizzard Dragon King Spear, laced with potent battle qi energy, hurtled forward like a speeding train!
“What astonishing momentum?” I was greatly startled. This single spear thrust, in terms of both aura, power, and speed, was absolutely top-tier!
And what I knew clearly was that facing this thrust, I absolutely could not retreat or dodge even an inch, otherwise, what would follow would be the relentless, unending barrage of the Blizzard Dragon King Spear!
I’ll risk it all!
I took a deep, sudden breath!
My Dragon Shadow Spear was instantly infused with the full force of my inner energy! I swept out a torrent of battle qi, coiling it toward that incoming spear!
My companion, connected to me by heart and mind, roared once more and charged forward like a cannonball!
BAM! RUMBLE!
In a flash of lightning and flint, the two Dragon Spears violently collided! A wave of distorted light exploded outward!
The colliding spears did not spring apart; instead, they vibrated intensely, like two bulls locked in a contest of strength.
I could feel the terrifying power behind this thrust; I absolutely could not allow its form to break through my defense!
The peculiar battle qi within my body erupted violently again! Taking advantage of the momentary pause during the collision, I unleashed a subtle, sharp burst of kinetic force, attempting to forcibly shove aside the Blizzard Dragon King Spear!
But Xiang Tian answered with a long howl!
His fierce expression twisted into a maniacal grin!
Hmph! The instant I unleashed that sharp burst, Xiang Tian’s Blizzard Dragon King Spear simultaneously increased its power.
It precisely countered my kinetic burst!
Good heavens, truly formidable!
Even the explosive force of a short-range thrust couldn't overcome you!
This clash of techniques involved virtually no subtlety; it was a pure contest of whose strength was greater, whose battle qi was stronger!
The two mounts were forced to halt their momentum because of the two spears locked in mid-air!
Their thick limbs dug into the ground like iron spikes!
A sustained roar shook the air!
Both my companion and the Blazing Dragon King strained desperately to push forward, to take even one step!
If only their strength was a little greater, they could shove the opponent aside!
But at this precise moment, the Blazing Dragon King suddenly roared!
Its distended belly quivered!
A blinding burst of light suddenly spewed forth!
“Ah! A fireball!”
I was greatly surprised!
It turned out the Blazing Dragon King’s fireball was the true killing move behind this charge and collision!
Xiang Tian had exerted all his effort simply to close the distance, then hold me and my companion locked in place!
Under such circumstances, the Blazing Dragon King’s fireball spray would be absolutely impossible to evade!
Although, as a Demonic Devourer Body, I wasn't afraid of fireballs, my companion certainly couldn't withstand it!
My companion also saw this clearly!
Its belly instantly bulged!
ROAR!
A powerful, gigantic sonic wave-ball erupted in that instant of lightning and flint! The sphere violently collided with the incoming fireball!
BAM! RUMBLE!
A massive sphere of light, exploding flames, distorted space! The entire world seemed on the verge of shattering from this impact between the sonic wave-ball and the fireball!
And the spear lock between me and Xiang Tian, which had been evenly matched, was violently broken apart by this sudden explosion!
This round—spear against spear, sonic wave against fireball—neither side gained any advantage!
But I would never yield just yet! I knew that once Xiang Tian regained his composure, what followed would surely be wave after wave of fierce attacks!
No matter what, I could not let him seize the initiative!
In this moment, I cast aside any thought of holding back!
The instant I was thrown back!
My Dragon Shadow Spear abruptly shook!
Six Dragon Shadows, like bullets leaving a chamber, shot forth!
“Ah!”
It seemed he hadn't anticipated that I still held reserves even under these circumstances!
Xiang Tian, flying backward, showed a trace of shock for the first time!
The Blizzard Dragon King Spear darted out like lightning, stabbing six times consecutively!
CLANG! DING! BASH! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The six thrusts delivered in that instant miraculously struck the six eerie, elusive, and incredibly fast Dragon Shadows! The immense collision force between the Blizzard Dragon King Spear and the Dragon Shadows once again erupted in muffled thunderous echoes!
And Xiang Tian and the Blazing Dragon King’s powerful forms, due to these six consecutive impacts, compounded by the earlier intense collision, lost their balance and were thrown backward in an embarrassingly clumsy fashion several steps before they managed to finally halt their momentum!
But I would never give them a moment to breathe!
The instant my companion stopped, it charged forward rapidly! Closing the distance!
And I spurred the Dragon Shadow Heart Method even faster, whirling my Dragon Spear!
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The six Dragon Shadows that had been struck, emitting piercing, sharp whistles, successively carved beautiful half-circles in the air, only to immediately turn back and whistle towards the recoiling Xiang Tian!
“Is this the Dragon Shadow?” Xiang Tian stared at the six wildly dancing little dragons with a look of sheer terror.
“Indeed!” I declared proudly. “It was these Dragon Shadows that defeated Yue Che. Great Chieftain, you must be careful.”
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The little dragons charging ferociously simultaneously attacked Xiang Tian and the Blazing Dragon King from above, below, left, right, front, and back—like closing a net, surrounding them from all directions!
ROAR!
The Blazing Dragon King bellowed, and a massive light shield suddenly erected itself around its entire body!
That was the same peculiar energy as my companion’s Beast King Battle Qi, except the Blazing Dragon King manifested it using the formidable magical power within its body—a defensive magic akin to a magical shield!
Xiang Tian dared not slacken either; he activated his protective battle qi!
Faced with the six-directional, three-dimensional assault of the six Dragon Shadows, Xiang Tian and the Blazing Dragon King could only deploy this comprehensive defensive ultimate skill!
BASH! BASH! BASH!
Another series of resounding impacts!
The six Dragon Shadows struck the Blazing Dragon King’s magic shield and Xiang Tian’s battle qi shield almost simultaneously!
They were then violently repelled!
But I absolutely would not grant them any chance to recover!
While the power of the Dragon Shadows was astonishing, it wasn't enough to break through their defense in a short time!
I needed to intensify the attack force on a single point!
This was why I had reserved three Dragon Shadows!
Almost the instant the six Dragon Shadows were thrown back!
My Dragon Shadow Spear was waved once more!
The remaining three Dragon Shadows shot out like bolts of lightning and thunder, slamming toward Xiang Tian’s chest!
ROAR!
The continuous barrage of attacks gave Xiang Tian no opportunity to adjust his energy; he could only forcibly maintain his stance, sweeping the Blizzard Dragon King Spear out like lightning to meet the three incoming Dragon Shadows!
CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!
Several crisp metallic clashes echoed!
The three Dragon Shadows were once again squarely hit by Xiang Tian’s Dragon Spear and sent flying far away!
However, the incredible impact force and explosive power of the Dragon Shadows still violently jolted Xiang Tian and the Blazing Dragon King, forcing them backward several steps involuntarily!
But before Xiang Tian could catch his breath, the six previously repelled Dragon Shadows had already turned and charged back!
It was the same comprehensive, three-dimensional attack as before—top, bottom, front, and back!
“Damn it!” Although Xiang Tian was so enraged he nearly spat blood, he had no choice but to forcefully sustain his battle qi and raise his battle qi shield!
The ** Blazing Dragon King let out a muffled, heavy roar!
It raised that potent magical shield!
BASH! RUMBLE!
Another series of impact sounds boomed!
The six Dragon Shadows savagely slammed into the defensive energy wall conjured by the man and the beast!
They were then thrown back again!
However, I was absolutely determined to wear them down!
Under the control of the Dragon Shadow Heart Method, my nine Dragon Shadows could charge and retreat almost infinitely!
I refused to believe their magic shield and battle qi shield could be sustained forever!
The Dragon Shadow Spear flipped over again, and under the control of the Dragon Shadow Heart Method, those three Dragon Shadows once more wove an elegant spiral and simultaneously struck toward Xiang Tian!
“Go back!” Xiang Tian seemed to have foreseen my intention. This time, the Blizzard Dragon King Spear did not meet the Dragon Shadows with a straight-line collision!
Instead, he utilized a clever technique!
The thick Dragon Spear drew a precise, looping arc, like a pair of invisible demonic hands, actually wrapping around the swiftly darting Dragon Shadows!
Then, with a sudden, violent shake!
The Dragon Shadows originally aimed at Xiang Tian were involuntarily reflected back!
They instantly struck my chest!
“Ah!” I was quite surprised, but not panicked! The Dragon Shadow Spear gently coiled, and under the control of the Dragon Shadow Heart Method, the three Dragon Shadows, just as they were about to hit me, suddenly curved out in three elegant arcs, slipping past, then executing a nimble flip, and like three circling hunting eagles, they flew back towards Xiang Tian!
Simultaneously flying toward Xiang Tian were the six little dragons that had been previously repelled!
Everything was completed in the blink of an eye!
Xiang Tian couldn't seize the opportunity to counterattack!
He was forced to once again face these nine roaring Dragon Shadows!
This time, the Dragon Shadow attack was still a comprehensive, three-dimensional assault from all directions!
And I cleverly increased the ground-level attack power—meaning there were four Dragon Shadows attacking from below!
This was the most difficult position for Xiang Tian to defend, and the attack was aimed directly at the Blazing Dragon King’s lower body!
Ah! Faced with the dense attack of the nine Dragons unleashed simultaneously!
Xiang Tian and the Blazing Dragon King were forced into frantic defense once more!
Raising their energy wall!
BASH!
RUMBLE!
The nine little dragons struck the giant light shield simultaneously!
Amidst the muffled roaring, the Blazing Dragon King’s heart-wrenching shriek could be heard!
The terrifying explosive force sent the nine Dragon Shadows flying far away like shrapnel!
And at this moment, the dazzling light shield suddenly dimmed!
I saw the Blazing Dragon King’s robust body covered in blood, its thick limbs trembling uncontrollably!
It looked as if it might collapse at any moment!
And Xiang Tian’s face was ashen!
He stared fixedly at me!
His eyes filled with unwillingness, shock, and disbelief.
“Is this the Dragon Shadow?”
I knew he had lost!
Even the strongest protective battle qi couldn't withstand the successive waves of assault from the Dragon Shadows!
Especially the Blazing Dragon King, which had endured three waves of impacts from six Dragon Shadows almost simultaneously; the magical energy consumed was astonishingly vast!
Although the Blazing Dragon King was still standing, it was gravely wounded. If I hadn't held back earlier, the Blazing Dragon King would have been pulverized like Yue Che’s Ice Wolf King!
It remained standing purely sustained by its fierce fighting spirit.
“Do you still wish to fight?” For some reason, I felt no joy or excitement in my heart.
The moment the Dragon Shadows flew out, I sensed that victory in this match would inevitably be mine!
“No need.” Xiang Tian sighed deeply. “Your Highness’s Dragon Shadows possess not only astonishing speed and infinite power but are also constantly shifting and elusive, truly like nine peerless swordsmen attacking me simultaneously! I, Xiang Tian, am utterly convinced of this defeat.”
“You flatter me,” I replied calmly.
“A loss is a loss.” Though defeated, Xiang Tian maintained his heroic frankness. “It’s a pity that my Blizzard Spear Technique didn’t even get the chance to be fully utilized.”
“......” I couldn't help but be taken aback. It seemed that while Xiang Tian professed to be convinced, he still felt deeply aggrieved.
But that was understandable. With the Dragon Shadows in my hands now, they had become an unstoppable weapon in cavalry combat!
Astonishing power, terrifying speed, flexible attack patterns, combined with their indestructible, unsmashable unique structure—once the Dragon Shadows fly out, they are virtually nine versions of myself attacking the opponent simultaneously!
Imagine such a situation—who could possibly defend against it! Even I couldn't conceive of any technique that could break through the Dragon Shadow attack in mounted combat!
To be honest, even I hadn't expected that twenty-five years later, the power of the Dragon Shadows would be this outrageously strong!
This was due not only to the surge in battle qi energy within me from cultivating the Nine Dragons Body Protection but also to the immense power of the Phoenix Heaven Demonic Armor and the strange abilities accumulated by the Dragon Shadows themselves through twenty-five years of evolution!
“Great Chieftain is too modest,” I said calmly. “This King only benefits from the Dragon Shadows. In terms of personal skill and horsemanship, I might not be the Great Chieftain’s match.”
“That is true.” This fellow Xiang Tian was quite thick-skinned!
I was momentarily stunned!
And Xiang Tian actually looked utterly convinced: “These Dragon Shadows are bizarre beyond belief—indestructible and unsmashed, their power and speed are peerless. Perhaps truly no one in this world can break them. I only managed to unleash two-tenths of my full effort, never even getting a chance for close-quarters combat before being completely suppressed by them. I was forced into a battle of attrition using pure battle qi until my energy depleted and my defense was breached. This is practically a cheap trick.”
“Ha! A cheap trick.” For a moment, I was left without words, a half-laugh escaping me.
But reflecting on it carefully, no matter who faced my Dragon Shadows, they probably wouldn't have a good answer, would they!
At least among opponents with similar battle qi cultivation, the existence of the Dragon Shadows was virtually unbeatable!
This feeling was almost equivalent to cheating!
No wonder Xiang Tian said that!
The feeling was strange; it seemed this duel was slightly tainted by an unfair advantage on my side!
“Forget it. I’ll let you have the title of Strongest General.” At this point, Xiang Tian seemed somewhat reluctant, but a flicker of gratitude crossed his face. “However, I must thank Your Highness for holding back. Otherwise, my Blazing Dragon King would likely be nothing more than bones by now.”