Zong Shou instantly knew things were not good, and inwardly marveled at Jin Buhui's willingness to spend such a fortune. Five ninth-tier talismans were nearly the equivalent of five hundred seventh-tier Beast Crystals. That Barrier-Breaking Absolute Intent Talisman was exceptionally rare. Yet, this fellow used them all here.

He considered deflecting with words, but after a moment's thought, Zong Shou decided honesty was the best policy, resolving not to conceal the truth. Shaking his head, he replied, "Though I possess some wealth, I am not as generous as you. Ninth-tier talismans are impossible to purchase here. I could only use this clumsy method, following the rules of the Old Man of Dragon Shadow. This True Dragon essence blood was merely an unexpected bonus—"

Jin Buhui sucked in a sharp breath, staring fixedly at Zong Shou. After a long pause, he articulated slowly, word by word, "Zong Shou, I find you utterly perverse! Do you know how many of these nine True Dragon Sword Intents my Senior Brother Xuan and my Master managed to grasp?"

Zong Shou remained wholly uninterested, his gaze fixed on the lamp. Jin Buhui sighed in resignation and continued, "My Master and Senior Brother Xuan only comprehended five True Dragon Sword Intents. I am considered to have surpassed the previous generation, stronger than them, yet I only manage six. You are barely fourteen; how could you possibly master all nine? You are truly monstrously perverse. Wait, Zong Shou, you must be deceiving me, right? There are many people in this world whose talent surpasses mine, but such a vast gap is too exaggerated—"

"Deceiving you?" Zong Shou let out a soft laugh. "If you say so, then so be it!" As he spoke, a sharp glint flickered in Zong Shou's eyes. From beneath the lamp, he successively drew out seven golden needles and a small porcelain vial.

These items were incredibly well-concealed, hidden behind the lamp and deeply embedded within the stone wall. Their faint spiritual energy fluctuations were masked by the Everbright Lamp, which was itself a spirit artifact. Without meticulous attention, they would have been nearly invisible.

It was a stroke of luck, stemming from his experience treasure-hunting in dungeons in later eras; he had seen every manner of concealment. Had it been anyone else, they would have certainly grown careless after obtaining the True Dragon essence blood and missed these items.

He sneered inwardly. This True Person Xuanlang possessed formidable cunning. Perhaps the Dragon Spirit Fairy was one of the reasons this man betrayed Azure Dragon City, but she certainly wouldn't have lured him into such extreme danger willingly just for her sake.

If nothing else, the contents of this porcelain vial were most likely the true primary cause of Xuanlang defecting from Qiantian Mountain.

Furthermore, within this man’s mind, these seven golden needles and the vial probably held a value surpassing even the True Dragon essence blood.

Though he did not know what these items were or their precise function, Zong Shou still cheerfully shook the needles and the vial toward Jin Buhui, asking, "Brother Jin, you don't intend to ask for a share of these items, do you?"

Jin Buhui was on the verge of tears, his round, plump face contorted into a grimace. He forced a smile, "How could I? Didn't I just say that I, Jin Buhui, am unwilling to forcibly seize the opportunities of others?"

Inside, he regretted it so much he wanted to beat his chest and stamp his feet, fully realizing the contents of that vial must be far more valuable than the True Dragon essence blood.

In the past, it had always been Jin Buhui who took the lion's share, making others green with envy. Yet today, he could only watch as Zong Shou pocketed these great treasures one by one.

Zong Shou’s lips curved slightly; he asked no further questions and immediately put these items away. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he turned and left. There were no more points of interest here. Even if there were minor things overlooked, they would be negligible and not worth his further effort.

Jin Buhui quickly followed behind, tentatively probing, "With such treasures on you, Brother Zong, aren't you afraid others will try to steal them? Others aside, I suspect Azure Dragon City definitely won't let you go, and the people from Lingyun Sect are also seeking the Dragon's Blood. However, if Brother shared one or two things with me, perhaps I could help share some of the ensuing karma?"

"Share one or two with me?"

Zong Shou fell into deep thought. "Then how about these two items?" The things he produced were the Dragon-Piercing Spike and the Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill.

Jin Buhui was instantly speechless and simply closed his mouth. "I take it back!"

As for the Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill, the Hao Xuan Sect could produce as many as they wished. As for the Dragon-Piercing Spike, he had no intention of provoking the Dragon race, so what use would it be to him?

Zong Shou had fully expected this outcome. He let out a wry chuckle and casually retrieved another Dragon Blood Body Tempering Pill. With a soft crack, he bit it in half and swallowed it.

The energies within his body—the spiral Qi of water and fire—were still violently conflicting. Ingesting the Body Tempering Pill, though it felt like his body was on fire, paradoxically helped to reduce the overwhelming agony.

At that very instant, Zong Shou's expression shifted subtly. Just as he prepared to listen, a pair of fox ears suddenly stood erect from within his hair, listening intently in all directions.

Zong Shou had no time to concern himself with this transformation of his demonic body. His eyes gradually sharpened as he vaguely perceived a group of people approaching from about a hundred feet away.

They would appear around the next bend.

There were fourteen people in total. They moved with almost absolute silence. Their internal Qi was entirely concealed. Zong Shou had only noticed their approach through the subtle shifting of the dust motes in the air.

Almost without hesitation, Zong Shou suddenly scattered several Spirit Stone Talismans in all directions, letting them fall to the ground.

He then immediately drew his sword, his entire form transforming into a streak of swift shadow. Like mist or cloud, he moved soundlessly toward the bend twenty feet ahead, thrusting with the full force of his body, piercing forward.

Jin Buhui also sensed the approaching party. He merely tensed up defensively. At this moment, he was utterly stunned, never expecting Zong Shou to strike so decisively before either side had even faced the other!

The next moment, a middle-aged man in black robes emerged from the corner, completely unprepared.

Zong Shou's momentum accelerated again, abandoning any pretense of stealth. Purple lightning burst forth, followed by a flash of sword light, spewing a spray of crimson blood!

"Devour Yuan!"

Using Heaven-Devouring Primordial Transformation, he absorbed the vitality and essence blood of this man entirely into his sword. Zong Shou did not pause, his sword flashing again, instantly slaying three more people in this unprepared group with his blade. Then, his form retreated swiftly as the wind, drifting backward.

Almost simultaneously, a string of furious shouts erupted from the black-clad figures. Blades flashed—some summoning protective spirits or casting amplification spells, others pursuing relentlessly with ferocious expressions.

Zong Shou held his sword, continuously hacking, instantly batting away hundreds of hidden projectiles that rained down like a violent storm.

With several more swift slashes, he deflected all the blade lights that had come within striking distance.

Only after retreating a distance of eighteen feet did Zong Shou suddenly discard his sword, allowing the Thunder-Winged Sword to circle around him.

A cold glint flared in his eyes once more, and he uttered a true incantation. Within the ten-foot radius, countless booming sounds erupted, and pockets of fire light enveloped the entire cavern.

A turbulent gale also swept from behind him.

Zong Shou halted his retreat, then, utilizing the pushing force of the wind from behind, his entire body accelerated once more to its absolute maximum, charging madly forward!

"Boom!"

A punch collided with the blade lights coming from opposite him. The vital essence of four Martial Grandmasters of the Black Tortoise School erupted in that instant.

The power of Zong Shou’s punch suddenly surged a hundredfold! With a single blow, he shattered all the weapons before him. The momentum did not cease, and he utterly obliterated the chest and abdomen of a Martial Grandmaster behind them.

His large hand spread wide, fiercely grasping the bloodied flesh around the man’s Dantian. With a sudden clench, blood splashed wildly, and a vast torrent of primal force surged into Zong Shou’s arm.

Zong Shou’s other fist swung out at that moment. Countless arcs of lightning flashed around his left arm, followed by a resounding 'Boom!'

Another man’s entire flesh and blood were instantly blasted apart!

Within the twenty-foot distance, he took three steps, landing three punches. Each punch pulverized a Martial Grandmaster on the spot!

With the fourth punch, Zong Shou felt an equally immense recoil force striking his right arm.

His mind instantly focused. He knew the person before him was undeniably a powerhouse on par with Yue Guanyun or Xue Sui Fan.

His bones grated loudly, kacha-kacha. Zong Shou’s brow furrowed slightly as he channeled this massive force directly into his external skeletal armor.

The Thunder-Stride Tri-Form Armor, which he had finished crafting barely a month ago, instantly shattered completely!

Zong Shou paid it no mind. Seeing the opponent sent flying ten feet away by the force of his punch, he maintained his forward acceleration, charging into the midst of several Spirit Masters.

He retrieved the descending Thunder-Winged Sword, its light flashing rapidly, instantly shattering several protective beasts.

Then, several more streams of crimson light erupted—of the three Spirit Masters, two were killed and one wounded in mere moments!

The man who had been knocked back only then arrived, swinging a massive iron cone toward him. It must have weighed several hundred pounds, and the gale force it generated caused the stone walls to crumble, sending dust flying wherever the tip passed.

Zong Shou’s gaze contracted. Only then did he clearly see his opponent: a white-haired elder standing nine feet tall, his eyes ferocious, as if intent on devouring him alive.

His sword momentum had waned, and he had nowhere left to retreat. Although he had absorbed some more primal force internally, facing this descending heavy cone, he was still critically lacking in power.

He would surely be gravely wounded by this strike!

With a sigh of resignation, Zong Shou’s long black hair broke free from its clasp, gradually turning white.

Just as a wisp of deathly intent began to gather, Zong Shou’s heart suddenly stirred. He recalled the markings, the raised contours, and the forty-nine distinct patterns.

In that single instant, all extraneous thoughts were swept away. Only nine swirling giant dragons circled in his Sea of Consciousness.

His mind was utterly still and clear, thinking of nothing. The sword in his hand swung sideways, almost unconsciously.

Then, in that single moment, a thunderous dragon roar erupted within the cave. The purple sword shadow flashed and vanished with blinding speed!

Where the sword light swept past, the heavy cone spirit artifact, which was also sixth-tier, was shockingly cleaved into two halves with a single stroke!

Even the cone-wielding elder was unprepared, his head nearly severed by that stunning sword light!

Jin Buhui, watching from behind, was nearly suffocated. His gaze was fixed on Zong Shou, and the faint shadow of those nine swirling, dancing giant dragons!

"Dragon Shadow? Could it really be the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword?" (To be continued)