A figure emerged from the cave, ascending into the sky step by step as if climbing an invisible staircase. The sight was incredibly strange.

"SKREEE?"

Seeing the bizarre figure, an eagle-like Demon Beast at the Peak of the Qi Sect Realm let out a piercing cry and dove down from the sky.

SPLAT!

Before the eagle-like Demon Beast could even reach the figure, its body suddenly swelled and its head exploded. Its corpse fell from the sky with a THUD, reduced to a pile of mangled flesh.

’An... Ultimate Venerable? Impossible! He was at the Late-Stage Armor Realm... How could he reach the Ultimate Venerable Level in just one month?’

The eagle-like Demon Beast at the Peak of the Qi Sect Realm had died without them even seeing how the young man attacked. Hei Yan and Zi Tong felt like they were going mad.

’To possess such power, he must not only be an Ultimate Venerable, but his strength is likely greater than either of ours!’

’A month ago, this kid was only at the Late-Stage Armor Realm. How did he reach the Ultimate Venerable Level in the blink of an eye? How is that possible?’

’Armor, Qi Sect, Ultimate Venerable... Advancing through these Realms one by one... The fastest cultivator in history took at least three to five years to make such a leap. Even that genius they heard about, Mo Yanqing, reached the Qi Sect Realm at twenty-two and the Ultimate Venerable Level at thirty-one, meaning he was stuck in the Qi Sect Realm for a full nine years!’

’And this guy reached the Ultimate Venerable Level in a month? We can’t be seeing things!’

"What, sending a Demon Beast at the Peak of the Qi Sect Realm to test my strength? Find out what you wanted to know?"

Killing the eagle-like Demon Beast, Nie Yun looked calmly at the Black Bear and Iron Armor Dragon in the sky.

"We have our answer. An Ultimate Venerable. I never thought you’d have already reached the Ultimate Venerable Level! An Ultimate Venerable at sixteen or seventeen... You’d probably be considered one of the best even in the Divine Wind Empire!"

As expected of an Ultimate Venerable Level Demon Beast, Hei Yan suppressed the shock in his heart in the blink of an eye and snorted coldly.

"Have you already consumed the Primordial Essence Spirit Liquid?"

The Iron Armor Dragon, Zi Tong, fixed his purple eyes on Nie Yun.

’There was only one way someone could advance from the Armor Realm to the Early-Stage Ultimate Venerable Level in such a short time: by consuming the Primordial Essence Spirit Liquid!’

’The Primordial Essence Spirit Liquid... That was supposed to be mine...’ The Iron Armor Dragon’s heart bled at the thought.

"You’re a smart one," Nie Yun smiled. "That’s right, I’ve already consumed the Primordial Essence Spirit Liquid!"

"You consumed it? Good. Then die!"

Hearing the young man’s admission, the Iron Armor Dragon let out a roar. Its massive tail tore through space, whipping toward Nie Yun as a sharp horn protruded from its head. It was using its signature move from the very beginning.

"If we kill you and drink your Essence Blood, the effects of the Primordial Essence Spirit Liquid will still be present—and perhaps even stronger! Don’t blame us for being ruthless. Blame yourself for being arrogant enough to walk out of that cave!"

Hei Yan also roared, his massive frame transforming into a streak of light as his huge paws swiped down viciously at the young man before him!

BOOM!

The two powerful Demon Beasts, whose strength was comparable to the Ultimate Venerable Peak, attacked simultaneously. A violent vortex of energy shook the entire valley, sending rubble flying everywhere. The Qi Sect Realm Demon Beasts off to the side all tucked their tails and hid in the corners, their eyes filled with terror.

Although those at the Qi Sect Realm were considered First Generation Grandmasters with astonishing strength, the gap between them and an Ultimate Venerable was far too vast!

An Ultimate Venerable was only a single step away from the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm. An expert of this caliber unquestionably stood at the apex of all Qi Sea Cultivators, far beyond what a mere Qi Sect cultivator could ever hope to challenge!

"Kill me? With just the two of you? Heh. I think you’d be better off obediently becoming my Demon Pets!"

Facing the attacks of the two Ultimate Venerable Demon Beasts, Nie Yun remained unflustered, slashing forward with the Profound Jade Sword in his hand!

SWOOSH!

Nie Yun didn’t use the Momentum of Mountains and Rivers with his Profound Jade Sword, relying instead on simple, oppressive force. Even so, the roiling power smashed head-on into the Qi Force of the two attacks, instantly causing a mushroom-cloud-like shockwave to erupt in the air.

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!

Hei Yan and Zi Tong were both forced back several steps, their eyes filled with utter shock.

"Didn’t you just reach the Ultimate Venerable Level? How can you possess such immense power?"

They simply couldn’t comprehend how the young man before them possessed enough power to repel both of their strongest attacks with a single move!

"Heh. You’re about to find out just how powerful I am!"

With a soft chuckle, Nie Yun’s body flickered. He transformed into a flash of lightning, instantly appearing before the Black Bear and slashing down again with the Profound Jade Sword.

"Black Rock Armor! My defense is absolute!"

Seeing the young man’s speed, Hei Yan knew he couldn’t dodge. A dusky aura surged from him, and armor immediately materialized over his body.

Hei Yan was quite confident in the armor formed from his innate ability. After all, not even Zi Tong’s Thorn Spike Impact could break through it, and he was at the same level. Its defense was so strong that even a Royal Family’s Low-Grade Divine Weapon might not be able to compare!

"Absolute defense? Can it withstand my Momentum of Mountains and Rivers?"

Nie Yun didn’t try to stop his opponent from forming the armor. His eyes narrowed, and a sharp glint flashed within them for an instant.

"Momentum of Mountains and Rivers!"

With a great cry, the Profound Jade Sword transformed into a streak of light and struck the Black Bear squarely!

BAM!

The Black Bear was sent flying backward like a baseball struck by a bat. With a thunderous crash, its massive body embedded itself into a nearby cliff face.

He coughed violently, spraying blood everywhere!

Although his Black Rock Armor had a powerful defense, the Profound Jade Sword’s attack was simply too fierce. The force still passed through the armor, injuring his internal organs!

It was like a ten-year-old child holding a steel shield. The shield could block an adult’s punch, but if the adult truly wanted to hurt him and kicked it with full force, the sheer recoil would be more than enough to make the child suffer.

The armor’s defense was impressive, but it couldn’t block the rebounding force. Nie Yun’s Momentum of Mountains and Rivers technique concentrated all his strength into a single strike, creating an attack power that the current Hei Yan simply could not withstand!

"Secret Technique, Purple-Eyed Light!"

Just as Nie Yun sent Hei Yan flying with his sword, Zi Tong made his move. A radiant beam of purple light shot straight out from his enormous eyes, and the resplendent glow completely enveloped the entire valley.

"Hmm?"

As he felt the purple light enter his body, Nie Yun’s thoughts seemed to slow down, and he found himself completely unable to move.

’What a powerful Secret Technique...’

’Upon reaching the Ultimate Venerable Level, one naturally comprehends a Secret Technique, but one like the Iron Armor Dragon’s, which can slow a person’s thoughts and render them immobile, is truly astonishing!’

"Die!"

Seeing that the young man hadn’t dodged his Secret Technique and was frozen stiff, Zi Tong’s pupils flashed. His massive jaws snapped viciously toward Nie Yun’s neck!

As a descendant of the Dragon Race, the Purple-Eyed Iron Armor Dragon possessed a noble bloodline and razor-sharp teeth. If those jaws clamped down on Nie Yun’s head, there was no question it would be a fatal blow!

"Break!"

Seeing its massive mouth open wide, Nie Yun gave a cold sneer. With a sudden flick of the Profound Jade Sword in his hand, the all-encompassing purple light was swept away, and his stiff body was free to move once more.

"You can go down, too!"

Having broken free from the purple light’s restraint, Nie Yun swept the Profound Jade Sword horizontally!

WHAP!

The Purple-Eyed Iron Armor Dragon’s massive body was also sent flying sideways, crashing heavily onto the Black Bear, who still hadn’t managed to get back up!

PTUI!

Crushed by the Iron Armor Dragon’s massive body, the Black Bear spat out another mouthful of blood, wishing he were dead. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)