"How dare you!"
An enraged roar echoed across the battlefield.
It was the sky-shaking roar of a National Guardian Martial Saint, and it carried a hint of panic. He clearly hadn’t anticipated this situation.
Even from a distance, Yang Chan and the others could feel the shock and fury in the sound. The voice carried over a vast area, imbued with an exceptionally distinct will.
However, due to the great distance, it had little effect on him.
"So that’s it. It’s a Dragon Slayer!"
"A usurper of nations, a slayer of dragons... this is getting interesting. I can’t interfere, so I’ll just have to watch!"
A glint suddenly appeared in the Taiyin Saintess’s eyes, as if she had just witnessed something amusing. A flicker of eagerness appeared on her face, but it quickly returned to normal.
Evidently, she could not interfere in the battle, though it was unknown what trump cards she held.
Yang Chan’s heart skipped a beat as he heard the Taiyin Saintess’s words. However, the appearance of a new power was a good thing for him.
After all, the Magic Array trapping him here was about to be shattered.
"Slaying an Imperial Dynasty’s Destiny Golden Dragon... won’t there be a backlash?"
Yang Chan asked, looking at the Taiyin Saintess.
He chose not to use the methods he had prepared just yet. Based on what the Taiyin Saintess had just said, she likely had a way to intervene.
Anyone capable of interfering in a clash of the Martial Saint Level was, for now, an opponent he couldn’t face head-on.
Yang Chan cherished his life.
’If I’m going to make a move, I have to ensure the opponent has no chance to fight back. A single, clean strike to take them out, no resistance allowed.’
’If something goes wrong midway, I could suffer a backlash.’
’It’s better to be wary of unknown techniques, lest I get tripped up by something unexpected.’
Besides, Yang Chan was very curious about this title, "Dragon Slayer."
It was yet another unfamiliar concept.
"A backlash from the Destiny Golden Dragon? Haha, an ordinary person would naturally be affected, but not a Dragon Slayer. That’s because a Dragon Slayer usurps the nation."
"Wasn’t Yang Sheng, the Grand Ancestor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, a Dragon Slayer himself? He slew the Destiny Golden Dragon of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty and still lived for over five hundred years!"
"Dragon Slayers are born in accordance with the will of heaven and earth, possessing a naturally powerful Emperor Dao’s Fate. After slaying a dragon, they can gather the national fate, establish a new dynasty, and directly take its place!"
"Figures like this are born every so often. They might rise from obscurity, be born into a Noble Family, or even appear among beggars. Until they make their move, it’s impossible for ordinary people to know who they are!"
"Now, another one has appeared. He’s at the Peak of Bone Marrow Cleansing... no, he must be at the Half-Step Martial Saint Realm. He’s already completed his Blood Exchange and is only missing the final Will Promotion. It seems he intends to use this dragon-slaying act to achieve that promotion and break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm!"
As the Taiyin Saintess sensed that immense power, a flash of envy crossed her eyes. Though she was confident she could reach that stage one day, she was still a long way off.
If the person making the move succeeded, he would not only ascend to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, but by successfully slaying the dragon, he would also severely injure the one whose Destiny Golden Dragon was slain. This would allow him to usurp their position in one fell swoop, establishing a new dynasty upon the foundations of the old.
With one success, he would defy the heavens and change his fate, becoming one of the most distinguished figures in the Taiyu Divine Continent.
In an era where achieving the Divine Acupoint Realm was difficult, a National Guardian Martial Saint was already the pinnacle of the mortal world.
The Martial Saint experts from the major Holy Lands wouldn’t actively interfere in the struggles of Imperial Dynasties, and they were even wary of an empire’s fate. Thus, few could threaten them, granting them an exceptionally noble status that was nearly unrivaled.
However, her goals were now more far-reaching. A Dragon Slayer could soar to the heavens by slaying a Destiny Golden Dragon, but they would also be affected by it. Although the impact wasn’t as severe as Refining the Original National Fate, when the Destiny Golden Dragon died, their Lifespan and Cultivation would decrease, and their Realm might even drop. Furthermore, it would become extremely difficult for them to break through to the Divine Acupoint Realm.
Within the Taiyu Divine Continent, they would naturally be fine, but to walk a longer path would be exceedingly difficult.
They would not be able to go very far in their lifetime.
Of course, for many prodigies, this was already an unattainable feat.
Take herself, for example. Her previous goal was merely to become the Sect Leader of the Taiyin Holy Sect and reach the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm. If she hadn’t met Yang Chan, that would have been pretty much her limit. If possible, she would have continued to chase the traces left behind by the Golden Age, searching for a chance to advance further.
Yang Chan’s face remained expressionless as he listened, but inside, his mind was in turmoil.
’To think that a war between two nations would draw out an expert of this Level. Or rather, this expert was likely hiding all along, waiting for just such a rare opportunity.’
’He’s a true practitioner of the ’way of the patient turtle,’ hiding until the perfect moment. It’s true what they say, there’s always someone better.’
’My current Cultivation is still not enough. I need to learn from people like this, and even surpass them.’
"The Taiyin Holy Sect has ties to the Jin Meng Empire. Is the Saintess just going to stand by and watch the Jin Meng Empire fall? If you stop the Dragon Slayer, you might gain even more, you know!"
Yang Chan spoke, his words both a probe and a taunt.
’There was some information he needed to confirm, but asking directly was inappropriate. He had to beat around the bush.’
"It seems you really want me dead!"
"The matter of a Dragon Slayer is a struggle for national fate. If I get involved, I will inevitably be tainted by an Imperial Dynasty’s fate. When that happens, I won’t be able to keep my position as Saintess secure. Those seductive vixens will all be scrambling to take my place."
"You... you have such a wicked heart. You’re not innocent at all!"
The Taiyin Saintess stared intently at Yang Chan, her tone a mix of complaint and coquettishness.
She revealed a unique, captivating charm.
At this moment, the Taiyin Saintess stood before him without her Disguise Mask, revealing her true appearance.
Her stunning features were a rare sight in the world, and the charm she exuded was unforgettable. It was no wonder some men, even knowing there was something wrong with a woman like her, couldn’t help but draw near.
’They just can’t control themselves!’
Yang Chan’s Heart Spirit wavered for an instant, but he quickly came to his senses.
"A Mind Enchantment Technique!"
Yang Chan said, having snapped out of it.
’It seems the technique the Taiyin Saintess just used was meant to interfere with my Spirit and confuse my mind.’
’But my Spiritual Power is very strong, so I recovered quickly and returned to normal.’
’A technique like that is nearly impossible to guard against.’
Yang Chan had thought he was already being very vigilant, but it seemed it still wasn’t enough.
A character like the Taiyin Saintess had countless tricks up her sleeve, striking when one least expected it.
Had it been someone else, they would have likely fallen for it.
"As expected of the Cyan Emperor Longevity Dao Body, your Spiritual Power is also strong. With your current Spiritual Power, breaking through to the Cleansing Marrow Grandmaster Realm won’t be an issue. The spiritual trial is no longer a problem for you at all!"
Although her technique failed, the Taiyin Saintess’s expression remained unchanged, as if she wasn’t the one who had just cast it.
Or perhaps, she felt it was a perfectly normal thing to do.
"Sigh... why must you force my hand!"
Yang Chan sighed.
’I didn’t want to make a move, but looking at the Taiyin Saintess now, it seems I have no choice.’
’No matter what I say about my Physique, it’s useless.’
’A man must protect himself when he’s out in the world. Otherwise, he might be taken away by a bad woman and subjected to inhuman torment.’
’Just like the Taiyin Saintess, striking you suddenly in the middle of a conversation, trying to completely subdue you. How despicable.’
’My Soul Body is controlling a Flying Needle, ready to execute a full combo. Even if the Taiyin Saintess has hidden techniques, I’ll do it anyway and completely annihilate her.’
’I gave her a chance, but she didn’t take it. There’s nothing more to be done.’
"I’ve never forced you. I am simply giving you the best choice."
"Others could beg me, and I wouldn’t even spare them a glance. The fact that I’ve taken an interest in you is your honor. You should feel fortunate."
"Follow me, and you can have anything you want in the future."
"Power that surpasses the world, the most beautiful women, countless priceless Cultivation Resources—I can give them all to you and make you the happiest man alive."
"I’m offering you what countless people pursue their entire lives. Why must you be so ungrateful?"
The Taiyin Saintess let out a soft sigh. She was making her move now because she sensed the Dragon Slayer had acted, which also meant this Magic Array wouldn’t hold for much longer and would soon shatter.
She could feel that Yang Chan still had many hidden techniques. If she couldn’t take him down now, complications were likely to arise.
This was her premonition, a feeling that had helped her survive several deadly crises.
She felt threatened by Yang Chan, just as she had last time. However, for the sake of that supreme future, she was willing to take the risk. After all, the potential return was so high that it was worth a try.
Even if she failed, she believed she could escape unscathed with the trump cards she held. That was the source of her confidence.
Since she could bear the possibility of failure, she wouldn’t hesitate and would act decisively.
Unfortunately, her Mind Enchantment Technique, combined with her special methods, still failed to affect him for long.
If she had bought just a few more breaths’ worth of time, she could have suppressed Yang Chan and brought him completely under her control.
Although Yang Chan was resisting so fiercely now, she believed that with her methods, she could eventually change his perspective. In the future, he would willingly help her cultivate, and both of them could use this to step into a higher Cultivation Realm.
She had consulted ancient texts. The longer a Cyan Emperor Longevity Dao Body cultivated, the greater the benefits from dual cultivation. By pairing it with her Nine Nether Ancient Primordial Body and the Secret Technique she possessed, she could extract even more value.
The road to becoming a Martial Saint in the future would be a smooth one. She wouldn’t need to destroy an Imperial Dynasty’s national fate like a Dragon Slayer, nor would she need to attract the Original National Fate to break through. Moreover, the potential of her path was even greater than those two methods, making it her best choice.
When a better path existed, it was only natural to look down on the paths chosen by others.
Besides, those paths weren’t suitable for her anyway.
"Shouldn’t a gift depend on the recipient’s wishes? Forcing it will only be counterproductive!"
"Oh, Saintess... what a pity!"
Yang Chan shook his head as his aura erupted.
’My Soul Body has solidified, and the Flying Needle is ready. I’ll use my Sword Momentum to draw her attention, then silently pierce her skull with the Flying Needle, followed by a decapitating sword strike to completely extinguish her life force.’
’The whole process is simple and extremely fast, giving her no time to react.’
’When dealing with an expert of the Taiyin Saintess’s caliber, the more complicated the plan, the more likely something will go wrong. It’s better to use the simplest method to avoid a single mistake causing the entire plan to fail; that wouldn’t be worth the risk.’