Staring fixedly at the battle-axe that seemed to move slowly yet inexorably down toward my head, I felt a strange blankness wash over my mind! This strike couldn't be dodged, nor could it be blocked!
The Dou Qi swirled around me like a monstrous vortex, and in that moment, I was a tiny skiff caught in its grip! No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't escape the falling axe!
But just then! Fuzzy fragments flashed through my mind, like a myriad of stars scattered across the night sky!
Simultaneously, a familiar incantation surfaced—Three enter the central palace, four to Qian! Ah!
The trajectory of the Flying Star! Almost instinctively, the strange Dou Qi within my body surged, generating a powerful counter-force!
The invisible pressure that had bound me like a whirlpool instantly dissolved! My body moved beyond my control: my left foot subtly shifted, and I lunged forward like an arrow shot into the air!
Crack! Boom!
A violent roar erupted behind me. Where I had stood moments before, Daron's axe had cleaved a ghastly, bottomless pit!
Good heavens, what terrifying power—I was nearly pulverized! I could hardly believe I had managed to evade that blow!
Daron, whose attack had missed, stared at me as if he’d seen a ghost. "What movement technique is that, to slip the lock of Blood Axe Upholding Heaven's momentum?" "Heh heh." Having narrowly escaped death, I finally let out a breath.
Though I was disheveled, I tried to sound casual. "Big lug, how many years has it been?
You still rely only on brute force. I told you, being strong doesn't always win the fight." Though my words were light, dodging that attack had been anything but easy—it was pure luck, frankly.
If not for the sudden flash of insight at the very last second, deploying the Flying Star movement technique from the Star River Sword Canon, there’s no way I could have evaded Daron's assault! But now I was certain: even if I couldn't match his sheer power, I could use the Flying Star technique to keep him at bay!
"It seems you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve," Daron's expression grew grave and shadowed. "But this Emperor won't believe your movement skills can truly escape the grasp of the Blood Axe." "Why don't we try and find out?" I chuckled lightly.
"Catch me if you can, and you win." "You insolent brat," Daron said darkly. "You won't be so lucky next time." "Anyone can boast," I dismissed him.
"If you have the skill, bring it on." Hmph! Daron didn't reply further, launching himself forward to renew his frenzied attack!
Axes rained down, whipping up waves of surging Dou Qi, the atmosphere heavier and more oppressive than before! It felt as though the entire world had instantly transformed into a raging, tempestuous ocean!
And I was the tiny boat within that storm, tossed wherever the currents dictated, ready to be sucked into the vortex and swallowed whole! But having received that recent inspiration, I no longer feared these potent fields of Dou Qi!
Subconsciously, I invoked the Flying Star technique! With astonishing speed, I artfully sidestepped the endless array of axe shadows!
Undeniably, Daron’s cultivation of Dou Qi was formidable, and the Dou Qi field he established was intensely strong. However, now possessing the Flying Star technique, I was utterly unbound by these fields!
In fact, I could harness the attractive pull of these powerful, swirling currents to adjust my movements freely! No matter how cunning Daron's axe angles were, or how tremendous his force, I managed to evade every strike with finesse!
If Daron’s Dou Qi field was a raging, stormy ocean, then I, wielding the Flying Star technique, was like a fish swimming within it—no matter how fiercely the waves crashed, they simply couldn't harm me! Moreover, during my high-speed maneuvers, I constantly spotted openings to counterattack!
For a time, the fight was dead even! Daron’s Dou Qi cultivation was undeniably incredible, but if he couldn’t land a hit, it was all for naught!
Yet, I couldn't gain much advantage either! This guy’s defense was monstrously tough!
Under the effect of the Flying Star technique, my speed had more than doubled from before, and the thrusts of my long sword had increased proportionately. Facing such astonishing velocity, Daron finally couldn't parry every blow, yet he managed, relying solely on his robust protective Dou Qi, to shatter every attack!
It was like an impenetrable, unbreakable turtle shell! For a while, neither of us could gain the upper hand!
But off to the side, Xingye and Youyue were fighting fiercely against the combined assault of Dajia and Dawang, finding themselves in perilous situations! My heart twisted with urgency and anger!
At this moment, Daron and I were locked in a stalemate, and I couldn't easily break away. If this continued, the situation would turn dire!
And on top of that, there was that inscrutable old ape watching intently from the sidelines. I was certain that the instant I showed the slightest opening, I wouldn't escape his sneak attack!
Just as I was worrying internally! A sharp, piercing cry suddenly tore through the air!
The long, drawn-out sound signaled immense power and overwhelming presence! The speed was terrifying!
Almost the instant the cry faded! The sky darkened abruptly, and a scorching presence, accompanied by waves of powerful magical fluctuation, shot toward us!
Ah! It was the Sky-Eradicating Fire Dragon!
This fire dragon lunged fiercely, aiming directly at Daron and me in the heat of our battle! Ah!
The sudden, massive shift caught Daron completely off guard, and he quickly recoiled in a burst of speed! A perfect opportunity!
Paying no mind to the dragon behind me, the moment Daron retreated, I dove forward! Slicing out a sword strike like lightning!
"Boom..." Daron’s robust frame was actually knocked back over ten meters by the force of that single sword stroke! But as I struck Daron, I was simultaneously hit squarely by the Sky-Eradicating Fire Dragon from behind!
The intense heat instantly enveloped my entire body, and worse, the sheer kinetic force sent me flying uncontrollably! I crashed hard onto the ground!
My plan to capitalize on the opening and kill Daron vanished! Thud!
Almost the moment we both hit the ground! A streak of light flashed before my eyes!
A blurred figure flashed past me like lightning, hurtling toward the fallen Daron! As the figure neared Daron, it morphed into an enormous firebird!
For an instant, the entire world seemed to be consumed by scorching flames, everywhere alight with wildly dancing fire, as if the very air had been incinerated! "Fiery Eagle of Destruction!" Youquan shouted in alarm!
"Ah!" This sudden killing move startled Daron deeply as well! Almost as he propelled himself up, his great battle-axe whipped out in a crescent arc, slamming into the giant firebird!
Clash! Boom!
The solid crescent arc was instantly shattered by the firebird, which lost none of its momentum! Seeing the firebird about to collide with Daron!
Ah! Even the usually calm and collected Daron’s face changed drastically!
"Do not harm my Emperor!" Almost at the exact moment the firebird struck! A massive white screen of light suddenly flashed before Daron, like a silver waterfall pouring from the heavens, its momentum fierce, surpassing even that of the firebird!
Impact! The crimson and white energies finally smashed violently against each other!
But the massive firebird scattered instantly upon collision! Like a balloon exploding, countless fragments of flame sprayed outward at incredible speed!
The figure that had transformed into the firebird was violently thrown backward by the impact, then drifted down to land! Only then did I clearly see the appearance of this mysterious master who had suddenly intervened!
Clad in a long robe the color of deep crimson, his entire form was enveloped in a faint, shimmering halo of flame, making him look like a veritable fire spirit! Yet, what met my eyes was an exquisitely handsome face!
It was impossible to discern his age; he appeared to be barely twenty, yet his brow was filled with an inexpressible sense of desolation and melancholy! It was a gaze born only from the accumulation of vast, timeless years!
Seeing through the world, understanding life and death! "Feng Xiao," Youquan cried out in relief.
"He's finally here." So it was Feng Xiao. No wonder his power was so astonishing!
He must be the reinforcements Youquan mentioned! "Sorry I'm late to the party," Feng Xiao glanced at me dismissively, then fixed his stare on the figure who had materialized before Daron.
The one who saved Daron was the old ape who had remained utterly silent until this very moment. This creature truly had been hiding his strength, only forced to act now.