Chapter 1144 - Hunting the Azure Nether Crocodile (2)

Only Yang Ni and Liu Wuxie remained on the glacier.

When Fiery emerged, it suppressed its formidable laws and released only a faint divine beast aura.

The shattered glacier, fractured by the earlier battle, allowed Fiery's aura to seep deep through the ice.

To ancient beasts, a divine beast's aura was like poison, irresistible and deadly.

In ancient times, beasts evolved by devouring superior bloodlines. Even divine dragons rose to power only after countless refinements.

Time passed, and the glacier remained unmoved.

The Azure Nether Crocodile rarely surfaced, spending most of its time dormant. Liu Wuxie’s theft of the Frost Bead had awakened it.

By noon the next day, faint cracking sounds echoed across the ice.

"Retreat," Liu Wuxie ordered, vanishing with Yang Ni and leaving Fiery behind like a pitiful sacrifice.

From time to time, Fiery let out pitiful whimpers, its cries oddly intelligent and almost coy.

By dusk, the Azure Nether Crocodile broke through the ice with its massive head.

As the Azure Nether Crocodile surfaced, Yang Ni's eyes widened in horror, as its head alone stretched hundreds of meters wide.

Had its whole body emerged, it might have covered half the glacier.

Cautiously, the Azure Nether Crocodile scanned its surroundings. Sensing no danger, it locked eyes with Fiery.

Fiery maintained an aura at the True Profound Realm, appearing harmless. It trembled as if in fear, acting vulnerable to lower the beast's guard.

Ten thousand meters above, Liu Wuxie formed seals; he embedded several array compasses into the glacier.

He knew he had to rely on arrays to trap and kill the beast. If it returned to the depths, he wouldn't get another chance.

Even he would die if exposed too long to the bone-chilling water beneath the glacier.

However, refining the Azure Nether Crocodile could elevate his Frost Dao Art into the Frost Mythical Art. It was a transformation vital to surviving the Astral Domain.

Mythical arts were more versatile than Dao techniques, able to take many forms.

Satisfied that no threat remained, the Azure Nether Crocodile advanced toward Fiery.

Cracks split the glacier as icy water surged across its surface.

"Senior Yang, focus on the spiritual array. Don’t let it dive beneath the ice. I’ll handle the kill," Liu Wuxie transmitted the message.

With her aid, his odds rose to fifty percent. Alone, he wouldn't have reached even ten. The beast's first instinct would be to flee once threatened.

However, now Yang Ni stood between it and escape.

"Understood," Yang Ni replied.

As the beast's head emerged further, it reached over a thousand meters in size. Even from miles away, its silhouette was visible.

Though the Renowned Sword Manor had retreated to the glacier's edge, they could still see the monster clearly.

"Brother Liu dares to hunt an ancient beast," Ji Qiu exclaimed. Meeting Liu Wuxie had been the fortune of his life.

Everyone nodded, while the Half-Moon Nunnery disciples continued to watch worriedly.

The Azure Nether Crocodile exposed part of its neck.

Fiery remained alone, appearing like prey.

The beast growled low, attempting to intimidate Fiery as it crept closer.

When it closed to fifty meters, it opened its massive jaws, intending to devour Fiery in one bite.

"Earth-Binding Chains, it's your turn," Liu Wuxie murmured. He hadn't used the chain in a year, nurturing it in his soul sea, planning one day to return it to the Spirit Clan.

After constant refinement with soul energy and Heaven Profound laws, its power rivaled heaven-spirit artifacts.

It shot through the air like a black thread and coiled around the crocodile's neck before it could react.

The Earth-Binding Chains could stretch over three thousand meters.

As soon as it latched on, it constricted violently. The Azure Nether Crocodile roared in agony.

Sensing the trap, it tried to dive beneath the glacier.

"Senior Yang, activate the array!" Liu Wuxie shouted, descending from the sky.

Yang Ni trapped the crocodile by activating a massive array.

The crocodile thrashed violently, but it couldn't break free.

Then Fiery struck, unleashing True Samadhi Fire.

Fiery's flames engulfed the beast, making it howl as the intense heat split its armored hide.

At that moment, the Heretic Blade descended.

A blade ray tore through the air, slamming into the beast.

The array would only hold for fifteen minutes. Liu Wuxie couldn't afford to miss this window.

The strike drove the crocodile downward, and massive crashes echoed through the glacier as icy water burst into the sky.

Liu Wuxie had poured all his essence into that blow, enhanced by the Panwu Divine Art.

A geyser of blood burst skyward, leaving the onlookers in awe.

Liu Wuxie summoned the Sky Devouring Divine Cauldron. He wouldn't waste the law-rich blood.

However, the wound wasn't fatal. The crocodile thrashed, struggling to break free.

The Earth-Binding Chains groaned under the strain. If they held on, they'd soon snap.

Not wanting to damage the chain, Liu Wuxie recalled it as he had promised to return it to the Spirit Clan.

Without pause, he struck with the Annihilation Fist.

The attack stunned the crocodile. Such a blow could kill a second-level Heaven Profound expert, but it only left the beast dizzy. Its toughness defied belief.

The crocodile roared, unleashing a deafening sonic wave.

The blast hurled Fiery back, forcing Liu Wuxie to dodge, interrupting his rhythm.

The Northern City trembled, and space cracked.

Cultivators gathered, drawn by the chaos.

The crocodile had shattered the glacier. With no foothold, Fiery hovered in the air.

The crocodile controlled the icy water, turning it into a crashing waterfall.

Liu Wuxie retreated again, and that gave the beast time. Cracks spiderwebbed across the spiritual array.

Despite all his planning, Liu Wuxie had underestimated the beast’s might.

Its power lay not in cultivation, but in its impenetrable defense.

Eons submerged in bone-chilling water had hardened its hide beyond heaven-spirit artifacts.

The Heretic Blade had only scratched it.

Stabilizing itself, the crocodile retaliated, releasing a tidal wave from its mouth.

It froze the surrounding space, binding Liu Wuxie's movements.

Above, Yang Ni grew anxious. She had made a promise, but the array was starting to fail.

"Great Five Elemental Palm! Great Dragon Aspect Art! Frost Dao Art!" Liu Wuxie roared, unleashing a barrage of techniques.

He didn't use Death Dao or Curse Dao, as they worked only on humans. The fate of ancient beasts followed different laws.

Only those who could curse worlds would succeed, and even ancient deities had failed at that.

Poison Dao was useless, as the frost would freeze any miasma before it could reach the target.

If this kept up, Liu Wuxie might fall instead.

Frozen space spread rapidly, covering thousands of miles in seconds, nearly reaching the glacier's edge.

"Could Brother Liu be in danger?" Ji Qiu asked, worried.

He trusted Liu Wuxie, but the Azure Nether Crocodile was no ordinary foe.

The Half-Moon Nunnery disciples echoed his concern.

"Don't worry. Brother Liu will be fine," Miao Jianying said with conviction.

Liu Wuxie had unleashed every dao technique at his disposal, yet the beast endured. His essence faded, and the battle had only just begun.

The Azure Nether Crocodile rose again, its jaws wide open.

It aimed to devour both Liu Wuxie and Yang Ni.