Wind and clouds gathered as the five Origin Forces surged forward like a wild tide, pressing down until Jiang Huai’s breath hitched.
He gritted his teeth, the Two Energies of Yin and Yang between his hands rotating frantically. Black and white light swirled around his body.
His left palm’s pure white Lingli condensed into a scorching Yuanyang, while the profound black Lingli in his right palm gathered into a chilling Profound Yin.
Facing the encirclement of the five Dragons, Jiang Huai pushed his movement technique to its limit.
He transformed into a black and white afterimage, flickering between reality and illusion as he wove through the gaps between the Dragon Might and spiritual techniques.
A look of approval flashed in Cang Ling’s eyes.
Her jade-like finger tapped lightly, and a yellow Dragon Mark emerged from the void.
“Suppress.”
Jiang Huai’s body suddenly sank.
Ao Yao chuckled softly as green wood vines coiled around his left foot.
Chihuang’s flaming Sword Qi, Cang Ling’s surging palm force, and White Sandalwood’s freezing glacial light—three killing moves had already reached his front.
Jiang Huai let out a thunderous roar.
The Two Energies of Yin and Yang spun violently, condensing into a light cocoon of interwoven black and white around him.
Boom!
The cocoon trembled violently, spider-web-like cracks spreading across its surface.
A sweet taste rose in his throat, but he forced the blood back down.
His sword blade drew an arc, and the Yin Qi abruptly transformed into Pure Yang.
“BREAK!”
The light cocoon exploded, and the counter-force of the Yin and Yang shockwaves forced the three women back several steps.
However, the vines did not break; instead, they seized the opportunity to wrap around his waist.
Cang Ling’s second finger strike was already falling.
Jiang Huai’s pupils constricted.
He pressed his palms together, compressing the Two Energies of Yin and Yang into a tiny, chaotic point of light before thrusting it forward.
A silent collision occurred.
The point of light clashed with the spiritual power of the five Dragons, causing the green stone slabs of the Martial Training Platform to shatter inch by inch.
Veins bulged on Jiang Huai’s forehead, and the sleeves on both his arms turned to ash.
The point of light began to recede.
The ground beneath his feet collapsed, and blood finally leaked from the corner of his mouth.
Fighting five Dragons alone was still too much of a strain.
By the time the chaotic point of light shattered, the frost-white Dragon Breath still had remaining force, grazing his right shoulder.
Ice crystals instantly spread across half his body, and his right arm lost all sensation.
Amidst Chihuang’s startled cry, Cang Ling’s palm strike reached his back.
White Sandalwood appeared on his left at some unknown time, an icy palm printing itself against his ribs.
Ao Yao’s vines tightened suddenly, trying to drag him to the ground.
Of the five, only Chihuang had stayed her hand, unable to bear continuing the fight.
Jiang Huai’s left eye ignited with a pure white blaze, while his right eye sank into a deep, profound black.
Yin and Yang reversed once more, and the layer of frost freezing his right arm exploded.
He traded injury for momentum, allowing the long blade to cut into his shoulder and the icy palm to strike his side.
He spun his body with all his might, his blood-stained left hand forming a sword gesture to strike at the weak point of Ao Yao’s vines.
“OPEN!”
The wood spirits collapsed, and he broke free, though he staggered upon landing.
The icy chill spread from his side, blood flowed like a fountain from his right shoulder, and the Lingli within his body was nearing exhaustion.
Seeing him gradually showing fatigue as his spiritual power ebbed like a receding tide, Qin Xuange sighed softly in her heart, though a look of amazement flashed in her eyes.
‘These five are all Saintesses of the Dragon Race. Even the youngest, Ao Yao, is a genius who would overawe any region in the outside world. Not to mention, I, a Half-step Divine Transformation expert, am also present.’
‘Even under these circumstances, he can still stand his ground against five opponents without falling into a disadvantage until his Qi is exhausted… What kind of genius is this? He is only at the Golden Core Stage.’
Jiang Huai’s figure began to sway.
His sword techniques became erratic, and openings gradually appeared.
White Sandalwood’s cold eyes narrowed.
She threw out a palm strike from a distance, the sharp, icy wind aiming straight for Jiang Huai’s back, where he had no way to dodge.
His body shook violently as a mouthful of blood sprayed out.
The sword in his hand hummed incessantly, nearly falling from his grip.
“White Sandalwood!”
Seeing the blood trailing from his lips, Chihuang’s eyes flared with anger. She sheathed her sword and turned to bark at White Sandalwood.
“Are you insane?”
She clearly knew he could no longer resist, so why did she have to strike with such full force and beat him into this state?
White Sandalwood stood still with her sword behind her back.
Her expression did not change despite Chihuang’s harsh rebuke; she stood behind Jiang Huai, completely expressionless.
Jiang Huai endured the bone-chilling cold in his back and the churning Lingli in his internal organs.
He raised a hand to wipe the blood from his mouth and waved it at Chihuang.
“There’s no need for that. Keep it at this intensity.”
“I can’t… I can’t just stop like this. I must break through.”
He took a deep breath.
The Two Energies of Yin and Yang circulated through his body, barely suppressing his injuries.
He raised his sword again to start a stance.
“Everyone, let’s continue. Please, use your full strength.”
He was unwilling to stop here, unwilling to be trapped by a bottleneck, and even more unwilling to let White Dew or Su Yingman find women for him to engage in Dual Cultivation.
Today, he wanted to become stronger.
He wanted to clear the Outworld Heavenly Demons from this world, ascend to the Immortal Realm to find Qin Qingyue and Wu Zhaohua, and hold up a sky that would never be clouded for his still-young daughter.
The thought flashed through his mind like lightning.
Jiang Huai’s breathing was heavy as he pointed his sword tip at each of the five Dragons one by one.
“Do it. Come at me now.”
After being scolded, White Sandalwood did not move again. She stood silently with her sword, waiting for the others to act first.
Cang Ling looked troubled, her fists clenched as she hesitated on how to proceed. If they kept fighting like this, would he be beaten to death?
Ao Yao peeked at Qin Xuange, only to see her frowning in deep thought.
Only Chihuang stepped forward, her voice lowered.
“Let’s call it a day, alright?”
“We can continue after you’ve recovered. Why the rush?”
‘If we keep fighting like this, I’m afraid you’ll damage your Original Source, which would be bad instead.’
Although she was annoyed, seeing Jiang Huai’s miserable state made her feel heart-wrenched. It would be better to fight another day.
Jiang Huai shook his head. “If I shrink back now and my momentum breaks, I’m afraid it will be even harder to break through the barrier.”
“I don’t want to wait. Again!”
Hearing this, Chihuang hesitated with her sword. She bit her red lip, her full chest heaving violently with her breaths. She whispered, “Must it be like this?”
“Maybe it would be better to take a rest?”
Jiang Huai frowned. Knowing that someone had to be the first to strike for the other four to follow, he deliberately provoked her.
“Are you going to do it or not? If you can’t, I’ll just go find Chi Lian.”
Hearing Chi Lian’s name, Chihuang reacted as if she had been shocked. She immediately jumped, her Dragon Eyes glaring.
“What do you want with her?! Didn’t we agree that you’d look for me?!”
“I dare you to try and call her!”
If Chi Lian were to come and replace her now, Chihuang would find it unbearable no matter how she thought about it.
Especially in front of the other four Saintesses, she felt even more humiliated and annoyed.
“Then do it! Don’t stop!” Jiang Huai resumed his stance, the Two Energies of Yin and Yang swirling like a vortex.
“Don’t let my efforts go to waste.”
“Humph! If you get broken, don’t say this Saintess didn’t warn you!” Firelight flashed on Chihuang’s body as she thrust her sword out.
Seeing Chihuang move, the other four Dragons had no choice but to follow suit, continuing their siege on Jiang Huai.
However, no miracle occurred. Jiang Huai finally found it impossible to endure further.
Five spiritual energies of different attributes pierced through his body.
Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth elements rampaged through his meridians, clashing violently in a way he could not withstand.
Finally, his sword flew from his hand, and he was sent flying off the stage by a punch from Cang Ling.
“Young Lord Jiang!” Cang Ling shook her hand, calling out in concern.
Outside the field, Lai Jia flew about frantically, emitting urgent dragon cries.
If she hadn’t forgotten the location of her own mother, she would have wanted to find her mother right this instant.
Jiang Huai staggered, nearly falling.
Tiny beads of blood seeped from every pore of his body. His internal organs felt displaced, and his senses were beginning to blur.
‘Am I going to fall here?’
‘Fall here?’
Thoughts were still flickering in Jiang Huai’s mind.
In a daze, his steps were unsteady. His body swayed continuously as he fell toward Qin Xuange.
He found that everything before his eyes was becoming increasingly blurred.
The training platform, the snow, the light, and the shadows all melted into a mess of chaos.
Only the face in front of him became gradually clearer.
Jiang Huai’s consciousness was hazy, and as he struggled to move his feet, he stared intently at Qin Xuange’s face.
“Qingyue, Qingyue…”
Qin Xuange, who already looked seventy percent like Qin Qingyue, actually became clearer in Jiang Huai’s vision, growing more and more similar to the face in his memories.
Qin Qingyue—the warmth of the past, the pain of parting, and the unfulfilled promises all surged into his heart, turning into a blur of heat in his eyes.
“Qin Qingyue…” Jiang Huai cried out with a sob.
Qin Xuange was stunned. Looking at Jiang Huai walking toward her step by step, she didn’t know what to do for a moment and looked around frantically.
‘He doesn’t think I’m Senior Qin, does he? What should I do?’
Qin Xuange looked at Chihuang, only to find her frowning as she watched the scene.
Her mind raced.
‘If I push him away now, it would be too cruel. But if I let him…’
After thinking it over, Qin Xuange finally spread her arms, waiting for Jiang Huai to fall into her embrace.
A flush rose to her pretty face, staining even the tips of her ears red.
‘It’s just an expedient measure,’ she told herself.
Chihuang’s eyes widened as she glared at Qin Xuange.
Ao Yao had a teasing look on her face, while Cang Ling looked envious.
‘I can’t!’
As Qin Xuange’s face drew closer, Jiang Huai’s mind became clearer and clearer.
‘That’s right, I can’t fall. I cannot fall!’
‘I still have powerful enemies to deal with, romantic debts to repay, and a daughter to protect!’
‘Now that the Outworld Heavenly Demons are invading, if I cannot break through, White Dew and the others will surely be unable to hold on alone, and the Five Provinces will be destroyed by the demons.’
‘How can I fall?’
‘My companions need me, the Five Provinces need me, the Human Race needs me!’
‘I must stand up, I must…’
‘FIGHT AGAIN!!!’
In an instant, the Yin-Yang Body seemed to respond to his unyielding and powerful will.
His eyes, which had dimmed, suddenly burst with the light of the Two Energies of Yin and Yang.
Just as the two were inches apart, Jiang Huai stopped his footsteps.
He finally regained his clarity, and the battle of the previous generation’s Yin-Yang Body replayed in his mind.
In the hands of the previous Yin-Yang Body, there was not only Yin and Yang, but also Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Jiang Huai finally understood everything. Under the guidance of the Two Energies of Yin and Yang, the five types of spiritual energy in his body began to enter a cycle.
Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth bears Gold, Gold enriches Water, and Water nourishes Wood.
They generated each other in succession, never-ending.
Wood parts Earth, Earth dams Water, Water extinguishes Fire, Fire melts Gold, and Gold cuts Wood.
They restrained and balanced each other, and Order was established.
The Five Elements finally returned to their places, and Yin and Yang governed the universe of his body.
Crack.
The shackles of the Golden Core Stage shattered at the sound.
A majestic aura soared into the sky. Jiang Huai’s long hair flew wildly, and his robes fluttered without wind.
The Small World within his body expanded thunderously.
Golden lotuses bloomed in the void, and Spiritual Springs gushed from the earth’s veins.
The power of the Five Elements cycled repeatedly, constructing a nascent universe.
Qin Xuange’s open arms froze in mid-air.
After a long while, she quietly withdrew them, her fingertips curling.
‘So no hug, huh. Haha.’
‘That’s good.’
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