To recover the Transforming Dragon Blade without interference, the Sky Python King realized it needed to go all out.
Acting decisively, the Sky Python King took a huge risk and expelled its demon core from its body, forcibly directing it toward the Six-Harmonies Eight-Directions Cauldron in an attempt to free the Transforming Dragon Blade.
The power of the demon core was immense; if it landed successfully, it could release the Transforming Dragon Blade, giving the Sky Python King a chance to escape.
Jiang Linglong would not let this happen. She immediately activated her trump card. A five-colored radiance descended from the sky, striking the Sky Python King's demon core and causing its light to fade as it plummeted to the ground.
"Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light?"
The Sky Python King's heart sank at the sight of the five-colored light, instantly recognizing its origins and showing a look of despair.
The Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light was a top-tier great divine ability, leagues above ordinary divine abilities.
In this realm, divine abilities were generally classified into three tiers: divine abilities, great divine abilities, and supreme divine abilities.
Ordinary divine abilities were the most common, with varying levels of power. Examples included Elian's Heavenly Flame Sword Art, Metal Element Divine Lightning, and Wood Essence Divine Light—abilities that constituted the vast majority of divine techniques.
Great divine abilities, however, were extremely rare. Usually, only Nascent Soul cultivators or a select few top-tier Golden Core cultivators could master them. These abilities, once learned, could establish dominion over an area, becoming even the ultimate trump cards for Nascent Soul cultivators.
Supreme divine abilities were the stuff of legend, rare even across the Purple Cloud Realm. Only Dao Lords or the most elite Nascent Soul Grandmasters could master such abilities.
The Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light was one of the rarest and most powerful great divine abilities. Its immense power derived from the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—combined into a devastating attack.
Although Jiang Linglong was not naturally suited to mastering this technique due to her lack of a five-element spirit root, she had used special methods and treasures to successfully cultivate it, sacrificing her ability to use any other divine ability until its completion.
Now that the Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light was fully mastered, its power was awe-inspiring.
A single strike of the five-colored radiance descended from the sky, carrying the destructive force of the five tribulations, splitting the lake for a hundred miles around.
Even though the Sky Python King's demon core was extraordinarily powerful, it could not withstand such an attack.
In an instant, the demon core was severely damaged, crashing to the ground in ruin.
"Ah—!"
The Sky Python King spewed blood from its injuries, nearly fainting from the pain.
To survive this strike, it not only sustained severe injuries but also drained its remaining spiritual energy. Its magical treasures and divine abilities weakened drastically, and even its defensive technique, the Mystic Profound Celestial Shield, was on the verge of collapse.
Jiang Linglong, too, had expended significant energy. The Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light consumed eighty percent of her spiritual energy in a single attack. However, thanks to the Pure Water Green Lotus Platform rapidly replenishing her energy, she avoided severe exhaustion.
"Clang—"
Taking advantage of the situation, Jiang Linglong struck again, using the Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword and Wood Essence Divine Light to shatter the Transforming Dragon Blade.
The group then launched a relentless assault on the Sky Python King, breaking through its defenses within moments.
Without the protection of its divine abilities or magical treasures, the Sky Python King's powerful body could not withstand the assault of high-grade celestial swords and magical artifacts, refined over months from premium celestial metals.
The battle lasted for three hours. In the end, riddled with injuries, the Sky Python King was impaled through its vital point by Jiang Linglong's Tianxu Immortal Slaying Sword, slain within Sky Python Lake.
With the ferocious beast defeated, the group finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
Working together, they hauled the massive hundred-zhang-long carcass to a small island in the inner lake.
Back at the inner lake, the group discovered a fourth-rank low-grade spiritual vein on a small island.
Jiang Linglong led the group in a search of the area, uncovering three fourth-rank spirit herbs and twenty-one third-rank spirit herbs.
The three fourth-rank herbs were exceptionally precious: the Celestial Heart Flower, Dragon Blood Fruit, and Sun-Moon Grass.
These three treasures were invaluable. The Celestial Heart Flower was a key ingredient in crafting the Golden Core Pill. The Dragon Blood Fruit could refine the bloodlines of demonic beasts, likely cultivated by the Sky Python King itself. Lastly, the Sun-Moon Grass replenished vital energy and was a key auxiliary ingredient for fourth-rank supreme-grade longevity pills.
Upon obtaining the Celestial Heart Flower, Jiang Linglong glanced at Elian. According to the Golden Core Pill formula, combining the Celestial Heart Flower with the Sky Python King's demon core could produce a batch of Golden Core Pills.
Although Jiang Linglong didn't need the Golden Core Pill, the pill's value was immense, easily worth one to two million spirit stones—enough to purchase a fourth-rank magical treasure.
"I had originally planned to give the demon core to Yan Ziji as payment," Jiang Linglong said with a smile.
"But with the Celestial Heart Flower, I can refine a batch of Golden Core Pills and exchange one for payment."
She carefully placed the Celestial Heart Flower into a jade box, a rare third-rank treasure that could preserve a spirit herb's potency for a hundred years.
Using such an exceptional box for anything below fourth-rank treasures would be extravagant. Jiang Linglong had specifically prepared it for this expedition.
The twenty-one third-rank spirit herbs, though slightly less valuable, were still precious. Jiang Linglong harvested them carefully, intending to distribute them later.
After harvesting the spirit herbs, the group ventured into the inner lake, where they discovered a fourth-rank Water Elemental Vein.
"Fourth-rank water vein?"
On a shallow reef, the group excitedly gazed at the source of the Pure Water Vein.
Without hesitation, Jiang Linglong led the group into the vein. The Sky Python King had occupied the area for years, eradicating any water element beasts long ago.
Thus, Elian and the group encountered no resistance as they reached the vein's core, where they found an abundance of treasures.
"Water Crystals, Celestial Lake Gold, Pure Spiritual Water…"
The group was ecstatic at the sight of these treasures surrounding the vein's core.
Despite years of exploitation by the Sky Python King and its forces, the vein still held seven Water Crystals and over a dozen third-rank treasures, showcasing the immense value of a fourth-rank vein.
"Something's not right."
After a moment of examination, Jiang Linglong frowned.
Within the vein's core, she couldn't find the fourth-rank Water Origin Pearl she was looking for.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D