Chapter 917: Life Deprivation Domain

Time passed by, second by second, and both sides remained locked in what appeared to be a stalemate. Gradually, however, Rong Yang's offensive began to weaken.

From tentative probing attacks at first to later full-force assaults, Rong Yang had been operating continuously within his domain. But maintaining a domain consumed a vast amount of energy. Even for a Great Nymph King, sustained combat like this was not something that could be endured for long.

Yet Tang San seemed like a bottomless pit. The stronger the opponent's attack, the more he assimilated; the weaker the attack, the less he assimilated. He was like a rubber ball, molded and squeezed at will, but his life assimilation never wavered.

Rong Yang's voice sounded beside Tang San's ear. "Clan Leader Jin, be careful!"

From his tone, Tang San couldn't detect any hostility. And why would there be? After all, the flames purified by Tang San's life energy had significantly benefited Rong Yang. Naturally, he held no ill will toward Tang San.

In the next moment, Rong Yang launched his attack. With a flicker of light, a solid figure suddenly appeared at Tang San's flank and stepped directly into the range of Tang San's assimilated flame energy.

Life assimilation worked on energy attacks, but what about physical attacks?

Rong Yang flashed forward, his body enveloped in golden-red light as he closed in on Tang San and struck toward his shoulder with one palm.

He was holding back and not striking with full power, clearly not wishing to hurt Tang San. In fact, if not for the Sunborne Nymph Emperor's instructions, he wouldn't have attacked at all. Being nourished by Tang San's energy had been a marvelous experience. Just from this fight, Rong Yang felt his own life force had increased—it was like gaining another year of life. Even the level of his flames seemed to have subtly improved. Where else could he get such benefits?

Tang San was aware that Rong Yang would attack him, all the more so since Rong Yang had deliberately warned him.

Turning his head slightly, Tang San smiled at Rong Yang. The eight sharp spikes on his back suddenly turned crystal clear, and in the next moment, all the golden light around him vanished. The bright blue light instantly deepened into a profound navy hue. Within a ten-meter diameter, the world became one of pure deep blue.

A domain!

That was Rong Yang's first thought.

As a Great Nymph King, his divine consciousness was naturally powerful. The moment he entered that deep-blue zone, a sense of unease surged within him. Instinctively, he tried to retreat, but... it was too late.

The area glowing with a deep blue hue suddenly radiated an intense pulling force. It felt as if he was being sucked in by a magically empowered quicksand; even with his strength, Rong Yang couldn't immediately break free.

This mysterious pulling force wasn't acting on his body, but on his life force. Life energy erupted out of him like a geyser. He had already consumed a great deal of energy with his earlier attacks; now, under the influence of this domain, a sudden, intense emptiness overwhelmed him.

His divine consciousness screamed of danger, and he immediately abandoned the attack. Halting in mid-air for an instant, he then leapt backward with all haste.

But then, the eight spikes on Tang San's back moved. Rigid and straight just the moment before, they suddenly shot out, transforming into vine-like tendrils that surged toward Rong Yang. They were incredibly fast, and under the pulling force of the blue domain, Rong Yang's speed was further reduced.

Brilliant golden-red light burst from his body as he tried to repel the tendrils, but the next instant, the light simply transformed into blue flames, blending into the deep blue without resistance.

The tendrils wrapped around him instantly, blocking all routes of escape and binding him tightly. Then, the deep blue glow engulfed Rong Yang entirely. A layer of deep blue coated the surface of his skin.

Rong Yang felt his life energy pouring out uncontrollably. No matter how he tried to suppress it with his spiritual consciousness, he couldn't stop the outward surge. Weakness swept through him.

"Clan Leader Jin, please have mercy!" Rong Yang called out in alarm.

Tang San replied with a chuckle, "Best not to get too close next time. We Blue Gold Trees are easily startled." As he smiled, the deep blue light dissipated, and a gentle blue-gold flame wrapped around Rong Yang, restoring the life energy just drained and rapidly rejuvenating his body.

Rong Yang let out a sigh of relief and quickly retreated, distancing himself from Tang San.

Then he saw Tang San smiling at him and nodding politely. "Thank you for the match."

He... won? This Jin Miaolin actually defeated Rong Yang?

The six Nymph Emperors present, including the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, all felt a sense of disbelief.

Was this really a Blue Gold Tree youngster? Everyone knew they weren't adept at combat, yet Tang San hadn't been at a disadvantage for even a moment against Rong Yang. Not even the formidable Scorching Sun Domain had managed to pierce his life defense. In the end, a powerhouse like Rong Yang had actually lost.

The Nymph Emperors were well aware that Tang San's success in this evaluation was already guaranteed; the Sunborne Nymph Emperor had given them prior notice. This trial was actually less of an actual trial by combat and more of a test of his abilities. None of them had expected Tang San to truly win, especially without any concessions being made. Moreover, while Rong Yang wasn't the most powerful Great Nymph King in the Scorching Sunflower clan, he was still a member of the strongest nymph clan!

For a moment, all the Nymph Emperors looked at Tang San with newfound respect. The Sunborne Nymph Emperor even had a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"How did you manage this? And what's that domain of yours?"

Though he hadn't predicted Tang San's victory, he couldn't deny a certain confidence he'd felt in him. And now, Tang San had proven that faith right.

Tang San bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesties, it's well known that our Blue Gold Tree clan is not adept at combat. We don't have many fighting abilities; the only thing we excel in is the control of life energy. Perhaps because of our weakness, we've often become targets of others' ambitions. That's why, after the Ancestral Tree recently awakened, it granted our clan a new ability: life deprivation. I received the strongest blessing, so I was able to develop a domain, the deep blue domain you just witnessed. However, its effective range is limited, only ten meters in diameter. If my opponent hadn't entered that zone earlier, then I probably wouldn't have lost, but I certainly wouldn't have won, either. I don't have many other offensive means."

"Life Deprivation Domain, you say?" The Sunborne Nymph Emperor looked at Tang San in surprise. He gestured. "Come, try your domain on me. Let me feel it."

"Understood." Tang San quickly stepped forward and activated the deep blue domain again, this time enveloping the Sunborne Nymph Emperor.

At once, the Emperor felt a strange pulling force from Tang San. It didn't affect his body, nor his consciousness, but even with his profound cultivation, he could still feel his life force beginning to leak out and being drawn into Tang San. Meanwhile, the blue glow surrounding Tang San grew even brighter as it absorbed life energy.