"Wouldn’t it have been better to just cling to your last pathetic breath? What was the point of risking it all for one last fight? You still died by my hand!"
"I, Ouyang Qingtian, am the true man of destiny! All of you are relics cast aside by a new era, meant only to be my stepping stones!"
The Dragon Slayer, Ouyang Qingtian, laughed wildly as he watched Wulan Tianjue, the ancestor of the Jin Meng Empire, dissolve into a mist of blood.
Even though his opponent had used a Secret Technique to once again reach the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, he was still no match for him. Ouyang Qingtian himself had not yet broken through to the Martial Saint Realm; he was still accumulating power.
The death of one National Guardian Martial Saint wasn’t enough. He would kill another.
He would kill the Martial Saint Ancestor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty to forge his own supreme Martial Saint foundation. Then, he would seize the opportunity to destroy the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and slay its Destiny Golden Dragon. At that point, he would be the one and only Dragon Slayer to have felled the Destiny Golden Dragons of two Imperial Dynasties.
As one who bears the Mandate of Heaven, the more dragons he slays, the more power he will naturally accumulate and the greater his potential will become.
Ouyang Qingtian was determined to surpass all the National Guardian Martial Saints of past Imperial Dynasties and become an even greater being.
Beyond that, there were still the Celestial Wind Imperial Dynasty, the Thousand Seas Realm, and the Glacier Snow Country for him to conquer. He could even unite the entire Taiyu Divine Continent, becoming its one and only Emperor—the true sovereign.
The master of the Taiyu Divine Continent.
’Hmph! He failed his breakthrough. Destiny truly is on my side!’
The Dragon Slayer, Ouyang Qingtian, looked toward the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, Yang Sheng, and smiled.
Everything he was doing was going smoothly. All was proceeding according to his will.
The ancestor of the Jin Meng Empire had risked his life to fight him, only to be beaten to death, leaving not even a corpse behind.
The delay had given the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, Yang Sheng, time to attempt a breakthrough, but it had been useless.
The Original National Fate Golden Lotus Petal in Yang Sheng’s hand had failed to extend his Lifespan. Instead, he had been severely wounded multiple times by the backlash from the Destiny Golden Dragon, and his Cultivation was no longer at its Peak Realm. For Ouyang Qingtian, this was naturally good news.
"COUGH, COUGH!"
"Dragon Slayer... you who severs fate!"
"Even one who bears the Mandate of Heaven cannot have everything go their way!"
Yang Sheng wiped away the blood he had coughed up from the backlash of his failed attempt to extend his Lifespan, his cold gaze fixed on the Dragon Slayer, Ouyang Qingtian.
’Once upon a time, I was just like him. A pity that the years wear a man down. Otherwise, how could I have given Ouyang Qingtian such a perfect opportunity?’
’But even if I had another chance, I would make the same choice. For the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, it was the only way.’
’Besides, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty still has a chance. I am not its only hope.’
’Right now, I need to buy it more time.’
"I once pointed a single finger and subdued Cang Mountain, drew two swords and suppressed an Imperial Dynasty, and with three palm strikes, I quelled a rebellion! My fearsome name was known throughout the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. No one dared to cause trouble in my domain. Yet now, someone like you appears!"
"But you have not yet reached your full potential. Even though I am not at my peak, I can still crush you where you stand!"
"I am not Wulan Tianjue, the Grand Ancestor of the Jin Meng Empire—a man who suffered a backlash, fell in Realm, and then had to force his way back up!"
As Yang Sheng stared at Ouyang Qingtian, he thought, ’The appearance of a Dragon Slayer now is the greatest threat to the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. Otherwise, even without a National Guardian Martial Saint, the dynasty could have lasted for several more decades.’
’I have no more chances to extend my Lifespan. In that case, I will do one last thing for the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.’
’At the same time, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty still has one last hope.’
’There is a high chance of breaking through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm with the Power of Origin National Fate. If the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, can succeed, then the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s reign can continue.’
’If I kill this new Dragon Slayer, I might even win Yang Yu the opportunity to annihilate the Jin Meng Empire and expand Great Zhou’s territory.’
’Besides, my Lifespan is short. Rather than wait to die of old age, I would prefer to die in battle and drag this Dragon Slayer down with me.’
’My rise to power was glorious, leaving behind countless legends. Now, I must forge one last legend and leave behind a name that will echo even louder through history.’
’So what if he bears the Mandate of Heaven? If he can be killed, he will die. How many Dragon Slayers have failed, falling at the final hurdle, slain by the very Imperial Dynasties they sought to destroy?’
’Things going smoothly isn’t the same as being invincible. True power crushes all obstacles.’
"Your legend is a thing of the past. Now, I will become the new one."
"Reverse Slash Martial Saint! Let me make you a part of my legend!"
The Dragon Slayer, Ouyang Qingtian, sneered.
He was completely unafraid, even when facing the powerful aura of the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, Yang Sheng.
He had just slain a National Guardian Martial Saint—the very same one who had fought the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou to a standstill, not being crushed in the slightest.
"Young man, such arrogance. Unbridled ambition will only lead to your doom!"
A Martial Arts Will gathered around the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, a powerful force that pressed down upon the Dragon Slayer.
"Hmph, what’s the point of being young if not for ambition!"
The Dragon-Blood Patterned Saber appeared in Ouyang Qingtian’s hand. A surge of Sword Momentum erupted from it, instantly severing the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou’s Martial Arts Will.
’Although I speak as if I don’t take him seriously,’ he thought, ’I’m being far more cautious than when I faced Wulan Tianjue, the ancestor of the Jin Meng Empire.’
’Wulan Tianjue’s Realm had fallen, and he had to force his way back up. His power couldn’t last long, which is why I was able to slay him.’
’Although the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou is currently injured from the backlash of the Destiny Golden Dragon’s power, I don’t actually know how severe his injuries are. I just have a feeling that this is the best time to strike. If I give him any more time, the situation could change unexpectedly.’
’Even with his Lifespan nearing its end, there are still some life-extending medicines out there. The possibility is remote, but if the Grand Ancestor actually found one, it would take me much longer to conquer the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. By that time, if I no longer bear the Mandate of Heaven, I won’t be able to absorb the Destiny Golden Dragon’s power to forge a stronger Martial Saint foundation, even if I destroy the dynasty.’
’If that happens, my future will be just like his. I’ll most likely just be waiting for death, with no path forward.’
’The Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou is a legend, yet even he is trapped at the Martial Saint Realm, unable to advance. I’m confident that I’m stronger than him, but the road ahead is uncertain. Only by forging a supreme foundation now and constantly Breaking Realm can I ensure a longer path.’
’I refuse to walk the same path as the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou, only to be replaced by a new Dragon Slayer in the end.’
"Dragon Slayer Slash!"
A boundless amount of blood-red Qi gathered on the Dragon-Blood Patterned Saber in Ouyang Qingtian’s hand, coalescing before him into a massive Blood Saber. This blade was not physical, yet it was enormous—over a hundred meters long. Viewed up close, it seemed to blot out the very sun and sky.
A person standing before it would seem as insignificant as an ant.
"One Finger Points at Cang Mountain!"
Seeing this, the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou’s expression remained placid. The aura around him focused, and as he raised one hand, an immense Martial Saint’s Will converged upon his right index finger.
In an instant, his right index finger seemed to hold the power to pierce the heavens, a sight that would strike fear into any heart.
The Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou raised his finger. Instantly, the very sky seemed to warp and change color as a boundless torrent of Qi and Blood shot toward the heavens.
As the Grand Ancestor of Great Zhou pointed his finger forward, immeasurable power converged in an instant. Powerful streams of Martial Arts Will boomed like thunder.
"RUMBLE!"
The sound of thunder echoed between heaven and earth.
"BOOM!"
A colossal finger descended from the sky, striking the hundred-meter Blood Saber directly. A deafening roar erupted instantly, and the very earth was swept by the shockwave, shaking violently.
Without the protection of a Magic Array, the shockwaves from this power radiated for immense distances. In the eyes of those watching from afar, this was a power on the level of a true natural disaster—utterly terrifying, yet leaving them helpless, able to do nothing but be consumed by it.
Ordinary people are helpless before the forces of nature, completely powerless to resist.
When a cataclysm strikes, all one can do is pray for good luck, pray that it does not fall upon them. Otherwise, they will be buried within it, vanishing completely without a trace.
"As expected of a legend. Your strength is far greater than the ancestor of the Jin Meng Empire. But in my eyes, that’s as far as it goes!"
Amid the deafening roar, the Dragon Slayer Ouyang Qingtian’s expression remained unchanged; in fact, an even more confident smile spread across his face.
Although One Finger Points at Cang Mountain was formidable, it was still shattered by his Dragon Slayer Slash.
And though his Dragon Slayer Slash shattered in the process, the aura around him continued to intensify, especially when facing a Martial Saint of this caliber.
It was as if his power could increase without limit!