C308 Protecting the Body with the Artifact
High above, two Spirit Walk cultivators from the Thunder Sect and Winter's Bite Sect watched intently. A seventh-level Silverfrost Dragon, the wielder of the Fallen Star Eyes, and a cultivator from the Sunblessed Empire aboard the Golden Ship all gazed downward.
Wang Jinlin of the Ethereal Void Sect, a practitioner at the Subtlety Stage with the Shadowgold blade, was poised for victory. How could he lose? Everyone surmised that Yu Yuan, hailing from the modest town of Asvetaesi, must have been spurred by some unknown provocation to challenge Wang Jinlin. Surely there was no deep-seated grudge between them.
The consensus was clear: Yu Yuan's challenge would only lead to his demise at Wang Jinlin's hands. If the Yu family's young master from Asvetaesi were to be slain by Chong Xiao's disciple, it would be seen as a self-inflicted madness. What could the Yu family possibly do, even if they were to find out?
Behind Wang Jinlin stood the formidable presence of Chong Xiao, the Solar Spirit Sage, and the Ethereal Void Sect. Even the influential Su family and Su Yan, having faced humiliation from Wang Jinlin, had to bite back their pride.
Yet, the outcome was unforeseen. Wang Jinlin, with his spiritual sense and two stages above Yu Yuan, was unexpectedly at a disadvantage under Yu Yuan's piercing gaze. Wang Jinlin's eyes bled, oblivious to the two evil spirits charging at him.
With a "Puff!" the evil spirits collided with Wang Jinlin and instantly penetrated his body. As the evil spirits entered, Wang Jinlin trembled violently, the Shadowgold in his grasp radiating an awe-inspiring glow.
An agonizing dragon's cry erupted from the Shadowgold Spirit Sword. The golden dragon scales, once fused with the Shadowgold, detached from the blade and transformed into pure golden light, cascading into Wang Jinlin's body.
His middle elixir field flung open like floodgates, unleashing a torrent of vitality. Infused with the golden dragon scales, Wang Jinlin's body seemed to spawn a formidable Five-clawed Golden Dragon within.
From their vantage point, the two Spirit Walk cultivators, the human-formed Silverfrost Dragon, and Liu Ying with her Fallen Star Eyes, all witnessed the wondrous transformation unfolding within Wang Jinlin.
They could see that two more Five-clawed Golden Dragons had suddenly manifested within Wang Jinlin's flesh and blood.
These dragons, drawn by the allure of Yu Yuan's Evil Body Refining, clashed with the evil spirits that had coalesced within Wang Jinlin's body.
The Five-clawed Golden Dragon was one of the divine abilities bestowed by Shadowgold.
Wang Jinlin didn't need to consciously command them; sensing their master in peril, they would autonomously come to his aid.
Moreover, the Five-clawed Golden Dragons were compelled to exert their full strength!
This was because their very beings were etched with dense glyphs.
These numerous glyphs were the work of Wang Jinlin's mentor, Chong Xiao!
Shortly thereafter, Wang Jinlin's body radiated a golden glow, and golden scales burst forth from beneath the skin around his waist.
"Phew!"
As Wang Jinlin took deep, natural breaths, many alien forces that had invaded and assailed his corporeal body were silently expelled.
The evil spirits were effortlessly neutralized by the Shadowgold.
Throughout the ordeal, Wang Jinlin himself had exerted no effort.
The cultivators from various sects, gathered around the lake, watched the confrontation intently but held back from intervening.
None from the Ethereal Void Sect's senior ranks had yet appeared.
In a show of trust for Wang Jinlin and adherence to principles of fairness, those allied with the Ethereal Void Sect opted to wait and see how events would unfold.
Yu Yuan, with his eyes deep and shadowy, utilized the power of the little world within the Soulforge Pool to clearly witness the evil spirits being effortlessly vanquished by the Five-clawed Golden Dragons, a creation of the Shadowgold.
Far from disheartened, he flashed a radiant smile and remarked, "What a formidable weapon."
His gaze never left Wang Jinlin as he flexed his arm joints.
A cascade of green, black, and deep purple lights, like countless shattered fragments, burst forth from his pores in an instant.
With the Evil Body Refining Technique in full swing, the myriad bizarre and arcane powers bestowed temporarily by Yu Zhu from the depths of the Forgotten Ruins were fiercely ignited.
"Swoosh!"
He lunged toward Wang Jinlin like a streak of sword light.
"Clang!"
Wang Jinlin, aglow with golden light, sparked as he was struck by Yu Yuan.
Barehanded, Yu Yuan immediately launched a punch at Wang Jinlin. Each punch he delivered was refined into a dazzling array of light strands, and with the augmentation of the Evil Body Refining technique, it exploded with a thunderous roar upon impact with Wang Jinlin's body. In the blink of an eye, dozens of punches descended like a torrential downpour.
Wang Jinlin's body resembled a red-hot iron bar hammered by a colossal mallet, scattering tiny golden sparks. With every punch from Yu Yuan, golden dragon scales seemed to magically coalesce beneath the skin, rendering Wang Jinlin's flesh as tough as dark iron and golden stone. Despite the relentless barrage, Wang Jinlin remained unscathed.
Conversely, even with the use of Evil Body Refining and fists heavier than any cultivator of his rank, Yu Yuan's hands still ached with soreness.
Shadowgold, the golden dragon scales, held the residual essence of a Five-clawed Golden Dragon's flesh and blood. Wang Jinlin's master, Chong Xiao, had refined the Shadowgold, bestowing it with wondrous properties that shielded Wang Jinlin through many perilous trials.
Constrained by the three souls of heaven, earth, and man, Wang Jinlin was in a haze, barely conscious. Yet, relying on the Shadowgold, he stood motionless, unharmed by Yu Yuan's strikes. Each of Yu Yuan's blows seemed to land on the impenetrable scales of a seventh-level Five-clawed Golden Dragon, leaving not a single mark on Wang Jinlin's body.
Had Wang Jinlin been lucid, he might have scoffed at Yu Yuan's audacity.
"Chong Xiao truly dotes on this disciple, slaying a Five-clawed Golden Dragon to forge a protective artifact for him," remarked Lei Xiao from the Thunder Sect, admiring Yu Yuan's futile efforts against the unyielding Wang Jinlin. "A seventh-level golden dragon is a formidable creature, comparable in strength to our Spirit Walk cultivators."
He glanced skyward, where the night was aglow with stars, and the moon crept silently into view. The Silverfrost Dragon, having arrived from Dragon Lake and taken human form, was adorned with gleaming silver scales, as if clad in a suit of natural, radiant dragon armor.
Listening to Lei Xiao's words and observing the golden dragon scales emerging within Wang Jinlin's body, a flicker of pain passed through the depths of her eyes. Her heart was heavy with sorrow.
It was common knowledge that the Nagas lived long lives. Following their defeat, they retreated to the depths of the sea. Each Naga treasured their life, opting for a reclusive existence, careful not to reveal themselves too much.
She had known the Five-clawed Golden Dragon from the time they were both dragon whelps, and they had shared a deep bond. Learning that the Five-clawed Golden Dragon had been slain by Chong Xiao after provoking the Ethereal Void sect filled her with rage, and she had contemplated revenge.
Yet, she was dissuaded by the elders of her clan, who presented her with the harsh reality, dousing the flames of her fury.
She had not anticipated encountering Wang Jinlin in the Forgotten Ruins, nor did she expect to come across the Shadowgold in his possession, and certainly not to catch the scent of that familiar dragon's breath.
As she watched Yu Yuan's relentless strikes hit the dragon scales infused with lifeblood, grief welled up within her.
Suddenly, she found both Yu Yuan and Wang Jinlin exceedingly bothersome.
It was as if she could still hear the stifled roars of the Five-clawed Golden Dragon in the ether.
She was well aware that the scales of the Five-clawed Golden Dragon, now bound within the Dragon Soul of the Shadowgold, had been refined by Chong Xiao, marked with numerous glyphs.
The more she watched, the more agitated she became, struggling to contain herself.
"This isn't fair," a cold voice unexpectedly broke the silence.
A green dagger flew swiftly to Yu Yuan's side and hovered there.
"Gutrender!" Yu Yuan turned and uttered in surprise, tracing the voice to a familiar face.
