Chapter 1062 - Contest Between Divine Beasts

Everyone had avoided this prime location for a reason.

Liu Wuxie was aware of the risk, but he didn't care. Anyone who tried to provoke him would end up with only two outcomes: injury or death.

With each passing minute, his rate of absorption grew more intense. The sky around him had already been stripped of ambient spiritual energy, leaving only the densest currents lingering above the Celestial Lunar Lake.

Ripples shimmered across the lake's surface. High above, a massive wave of spiritual rain condensed in midair before cascading down around Liu Wuxie.

The grass surrounding him flourished as the liquid spiritual energy nourished it. The vegetation grew far more vigorously here than anywhere else around the lake.

Still seated, Liu Wuxie refined his physique using the dense liquid essence. His body expelled a foul stream of impurities, the residual toxins left behind by his past injuries. Although his wounds had healed, those impurities had remained. The spiritual rain now washed them away thoroughly.

Then, the moment of breakthrough arrived.

He summoned the laws of the Earth Profound Realm and channeled them into the desolate world within him. In response, the inner world expanded rapidly.

Stars shimmered across the desolate realm's sky as a chilling death aura thickened with every breath. His mastery of the Death Dao Art had grown ever more refined.

Laws of light, darkness, the five elements, ice, and faith coursed through every inch of the desolate world, reinforcing its foundation.

"He's about to break through," someone whispered in awe.

Unaware of the passing time, Liu Wuxie had already cultivated at the Celestial Lunar Lake for three days. A sizable crowd had gathered, abandoning their cultivation to fix their eyes solely on him.

"Even breakthroughs to the Earth Profound Realm never cause this much commotion," a disciple murmured.

The laws surrounding Liu Wuxie thickened, pulsating like the beating heart of the world. Even Earth Profound Realm cultivators couldn't draw this kind of response from the heavens.

Shocked expressions spread across the faces of the crowd. No one could believe that a mere Spirit Profound Realm cultivator had caused such a profound disturbance.

Suddenly, the lake let out a low roar, and massive waves crashed onto the shore. It was as if an ancient beast stirred beneath the surface, threatening to swallow Liu Wuxie whole.

"Time to make a breakthrough!" Liu Wuxie barked.

The surrounding space began to fracture, inch by inch, as it was unable to withstand the intense pressure radiating from his body. Cracks splintered outward like spreading ice, a clear sign that the laws within him had reached a level comparable to the seventh-level Earth Profound Realm.

He opened the gateway to the sixth level of the Spirit Profound Realm.

Having made all the necessary preparations, Liu Wuxie advanced swiftly. His true essence, lightning, and ice energy condensed into the form of a divine dragon. Roaring like thunder, the dragon surged forward and smashed through the gateway.

Power coursed through his limbs, accompanied by a sudden clarity of mind.

Unlike his previous breakthroughs, where he had relied heavily on plundered treasures, this time, every step had been forged through his own strength. Plunder could only carry one so far; true power had to be tempered through effort, discipline, and resolve.

He achieved this breakthrough to the sixth-level Spirit Profound Realm through his own determination and painstaking cultivation.

The space around him grew increasingly unstable as the ripples of spiritual force expanded. Cracks fanned out in every direction, distorting the air.

More critically, he absorbed spiritual energy at a rate faster than the lake could replenish it. He drew in nearly all the spiritual essence from the Celestial Lunar Lake, provoking countless furious glares from those around him. However, no one moved. Liu Wuxie's presence alone froze them in place. They knew stepping closer would mean certain death.

Then came a loud splash from the lake's surface as though something massive had stirred beneath the water and turned over.

Liu Wuxie initially ignored it and focused entirely on consolidating his cultivation.

However, the splashing continued, growing louder and more turbulent with each passing moment.

Around him, many disciples began retreating, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the lake. An ominous buzzing sound echoed from the array flags surrounding Liu Wuxie, signaling danger.

Liu Wuxie frowned, scanning the surroundings, but saw no threat. The disciples affected by his cultivation didn't dare approach, indicating that the danger hadn't come from them.

Even so, he remained vigilant. Splitting a thread of his divine sense, he kept it trained on the area around him while continuing the breakthrough process.

Suddenly, the lake exploded upward as a massive head broke through the surface, easily the size of a house.

Liu Wuxie's eyes snapped open and instantly locked on the lake.

"The Scarlet Dragon Python?" he muttered in shock.

He hadn't expected such a monstrous beast to be residing beneath the Celestial Lunar Lake.

The Scarlet Dragon Python's body was covered in shimmering crimson scales, each one bearing the distinct sheen of draconic lineage. Given a few more centuries, it would evolve into a true divine dragon.

Liu Wuxie had seen an Azure Dragon before atop Azure Dragon Mountain, yet even that majestic creature paled in this beast's comparison.

The difference lay in their bloodlines. The Azure Dragon was the lowest rank of its kind, while the Scarlet Dragon Python was a direct descendant of divine dragons. There was no comparison between them.

Even if the Azure Dragon matured, its potential would remain limited. But if this python awakened fully, it would have a genuine chance of transforming into a true divine dragon.

For countless years, the Scarlet Dragon Python had cultivated in the depths of the Celestial Lunar Lake without disturbance. This was its sacred ground.

However, Liu Wuxie's arrival shattered that balance.

Not only had he claimed a cultivation spot dangerously close to the python's resting grounds, but he had also devoured massive amounts of spiritual energy from the lake the beast considered its own. The disturbance was too great to ignore.

Liu Wuxie didn't realize he had chosen a location near the creature's domain. That explained why no one else had dared to settle there and why his extraordinary absorption rate had finally provoked a reaction.

Over the years, other disciples who ventured too close had vanished without a trace, devoured by the python. Even the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy turned a blind eye, having reached an unspoken truce with the beast.

It was different this time. That delicate balance had been shattered.

The Scarlet Dragon Python let out a thunderous roar that shook the mountains, its giant maw lunging straight toward Liu Wuxie.

Liu Wuxie's eyes turned cold.

The Scarlet Dragon Python wielded immense strength, rivaling a peak Earth Profound Realm cultivator, with one foot already into the Heaven Profound Realm.

Against such a monstrous opponent, Liu Wuxie stood at a disadvantage. His current cultivation, though nearing the seventh-level Earth Profound Realm, still fell short. Escape was impossible, and victory even less likely.

Over the years, this beast had devoured countless disciples.

From a distance, mocking laughter rang out from Liu An, who was still feeling bitter about being swatted aside earlier. His eyes gleamed with vindictive satisfaction.

Liu Wuxie was in no shape to deal with distractions. He was on the brink of breaking through. One wrong move, and he would have to start all over again.

Instead of panic, Liu Wuxie sneered.

"A python that hasn't even transformed into a dragon dares to show arrogance?" he said coldly. "Let me show you what a true divine beast is."

The disdain in his gaze pierced straight through the creature's pride, igniting its fury.

The Scarlet Dragon Python let out a deafening roar. Its cultivation had long reached a level where it possessed human-level intelligence, perhaps even surpassing it. Liu Wuxie's taunt had cut deep.

"Human, you dare mock me?" the python thundered, its voice shaking the skies.

The roar rolled over the surrounding peaks, shaking the air. Its voice reached far beyond the lake, echoing across the Myriad Phase Cavern and distant mountain ranges.

"What's happening?! Who provoked the Scarlet Dragon Python?" Voices rang out from the cavern.

Disciples burst out from their caves in alarm and surged toward the Celestial Lunar Lake.

Even though the beast had killed some disciples in the past, no one had ever heard it speak.

A wave of disciples surged in from all directions, drawn by the commotion at the Celestial Lunar Lake.

The Scarlet Dragon Python's colossal body rose higher into the sky, its serpentine form casting a vast shadow that loomed over Liu Wuxie like a mountain. Compared to the immense beast, Liu Wuxie appeared no larger than an insect.

As the python's massive head pressed forward, it unleashed an oppressive aura that seemed to distort the air. The pressure gripped Liu Wuxie's chest, and the suffocating aura twisted his stomach.

Without flinching, he flicked his wrist and opened the beast pouch.

A surge of power erupted from within, an aura even more terrifying than the python's. The unmistakable aura of a true divine beast burst forth.

The best way to deal with a divine beast was with another divine beast, one that possessed a purer bloodline. Beasts lived by the hierarchy of blood. The purer the lineage, the more dominant its authority. It was precisely through this principle that Fiery had once rallied a horde of profound beasts across the Western Barren.

A divine beast carried an innate pressure that compelled others of its kind to submit to its will. If they dared resist, Fiery could crush their beast cores through sheer bloodline suppression alone.

As Fiery's head emerged from the pouch, a thunderous force exploded outward. The aura of an ancient qilin surged skyward, shaking the heavens.

The Scarlet Dragon Python immediately froze.

Fiery's presence was overwhelming, and the python dared not move forward.

In the blink of an eye, Fiery's body expanded. From being just over a meter tall, it had grown rapidly into a towering behemoth, rivaling the python's size. True Samadhi Fire ignited around its hooves, blazing fiercely.

The two divine beasts now faced one another, locked in a tense standoff.

Gasps echoed throughout the crowd.

Disciples stared in disbelief. "What?! Liu Wuxie has a qilin with such a pure bloodline?!"

While the Scarlet Dragon Python also carried a pure bloodline, it had yet to awaken fully. On the other hand, Fiery was different. Its bloodline had long awakened, and it bore the aura of an ancient qilin.

Though the dragon clan ranked first and the qilin third in the divine beast hierarchy, that ranking reflected seniority, not strength. Dragons had emerged earlier in the world.

A flicker of fear glinted in the Scarlet Dragon Python's eyes.

Fiery's bloodline suppressed the python's core directly, crushing its strength. If this continued, its dao heart could also collapse under the pressure.

Its towering body sank as it submitted before a true monarch. It didn't dare meet Fiery's eyes.

Fiery stood tall and majestic, radiating unshakable pride. Years of consuming rare treasures under Liu Wuxie's care had accelerated its growth, and more critically, Liu Wuxie's cultivation of the Desolate Devouring Art had subtly shaped Fiery as well.

"How dare you bare your fangs at my big brother? Courting death, are you?" Fiery snapped, its voice high-pitched and childlike, jarringly delicate in contrast to the python's thunderous roar.

Despite its innocent tone, Fiery's aura pulsed with overwhelming might.

Since Liu Wuxie's return from the Sacred Ground, Fiery had risen in strength like a meteor, growing more powerful by the day, now rivaling experts at the higher levels of the Earth Profound Realm. While it might not have been stronger than the Scarlet Dragon Python in raw power, its bloodline was unquestionably superior.

Confronted with that superior bloodline, the python hesitated, unsure whether to fight or yield. It feared that Fiery might unleash its bloodline suppression.

The upper echelons of the Heavenly Spirit Celestial Academy rushed to investigate the confrontation. Several figures arrived in the sky above the Celestial Lunar Lake and staggered the moment they laid eyes on Fiery, nearly falling from the sky in disbelief.

"A divine beast? How could a divine beast willingly follow a human?" the Scarlet Dragon Python finally growled, regaining a sliver of composure. Its voice had grown far more subdued, clearly shaken by the qilin's appearance.

"What do you know?" Fiery snorted with disdain. "You have no idea how strong my big brother is! Following him was the best decision of my life!"

The crowd was stunned into silence.

Just moments ago, the Scarlet Dragon Python had been an overwhelming threat, a terror that silenced the entire Celestial Lunar Lake. Yet now, they watched it yield before Fiery, being scolded like a child by a qilin with a babyish voice.