Chapter 42: Endless Surges

This Transforming Serpent before their eyes called itself Shui Jingzi. Long ago, Fei Longzi subdued him. Lowering his status, he became the guardian Spirit Beast of the Longevity Palace. After Fei Longzi’s Primordial Spirit reached perfection and he left through Void Shattering, Shui Jingzi hid in the swamp behind the mountain. He practiced in seclusion, waiting for the day he’d transform from serpent to dragon, attaining the undying dragon body—the same freedom Fei Longzi had!

But today, a faint trace of savage, murderous energy caught his attention. It felt exactly like the legendary Wu Clan aura. Shui Jingzi grew excited. Many modern cultivators might not know, but he, having followed Fei Longzi, understood the Wu Clan was the founder of the Demonic Path. His own cultivation aligned with that path. If he could obtain a true Wu Clan technique, his dragon transformation would become a smooth journey!

His gaze swept over the source of that aura—a young cultivator who hadn’t even formed his Golden Core yet. Surprised, Shui Jingzi asked gruffly, “Little one, do you possess Wu Clan techniques?”

Facing Shui Jingzi, Mu Yuan felt an overwhelming wave of power crash toward him like a mountain avalanche or ocean surge. He feared he might drown in it at any moment. Even when meeting the three Primordial Spirit masters of the Longevity Palace, Mu Yuan hadn’t sensed such raw force. Daoist energy usually felt serene and inward, but this proved how immense Shui Jingzi’s might was!

Mu Yuan cautiously asked, “Senior, are you the Transforming Serpent who once practiced alongside our Longevity Palace’s founder, Fei Longzi?”

Shui Jingzi’s slender frame suddenly shook violently. Illusory light rippled as dark-yellow radiance engulfed him. In an instant, he transformed into an elegant, beautiful woman. With a delicate waist and lotus-like steps, she moved as fluidly as shifting water, her laughter soft. She circled Mu Yuan, her voice now gentle and smooth. “That’s right. That’s me.”

Mu Yuan’s heart settled, thinking to himself: So Spirit Beasts can shape-shift too. If a thousand-year cultivator couldn’t even become human at will, that would be too unfair!

Though inwardly puzzled, his words remained reverent. “Junior Mu Yuan of Longevity Palace pays respects, senior. The junior only recently encountered a set of Wu Clan Sword Formulas and was trying it out. Never meant to disturb your quiet cultivation!”

“Hmm.” A faint, fleeting disappointment crossed Shui Jingzi’s charming face. “Just a Sword Formula then.”

Mu Yuan felt uneasy against this unfathomably strong Demon Beast. He had no idea how advanced her cultivation truly was. Yet Mu Yuan didn’t doubt it: if she wanted him dead, it would take no effort at all!

Shui Jingzi’s thin brows furrowed. “Little one, show me that Wu Clan Sword Formula!”

Mu Yuan froze, about to say, “I haven’t mastered it yet,” when Shui Jingzi waved a jade finger. A stream of Zhenqi spiraled toward him.

It wasn’t overwhelmingly strong like her earlier aura, merely a probing tendril. Mu Yuan dodged sideways, fingers weaving seals. Air swelled beside him as several Flying Swords shot forth. Their sharp blade-intents sliced through the Void, spreading murderous radiance—powerful and fierce!

Shui Jingzi toyed with the Zhenqi coiling around her fingers. Her technique was equally forceful to Mu Yuan’s, simply matching swordsmanship skills.

After two months of hard practice, Mu Yuan had stabilized his Sword Qi Division realm. Handling it now felt effortless. Plus, his Sword Qi formations had multiplied. His attacks grew wilder—crashing, piercing, endlessly shifting!

No matter how intricate Mu Yuan’s moves became, Shui Jingzi wove her Zhenqi into layered loops. They wrapped around his blade-intents strand by strand, trapping them. Her Zhenqi flowed formlessly like water, nullifying all Mu Yuan’s tricks. Sparks flew brilliantly across the sky—a dazzling light-show!

Mu Yuan started cautiously. Soon, a competitive itch stirred within him. He’d reached Sword Qi Division at such a young age! Though his foe was ancient, she used no greater Zhenqi level than his own. Her magic was merely cleverer. Unfair! Mu Yuan let out a clear cry. Zhenqi surged. He merged the Tidal Flow art’s Canglang Water Sword variations into his Witch Clan Sword Formula!

Against this strong opponent, Mu Yuan knew his Longevity Art wouldn’t bring victory. Shui Jingzi’s Magical Power depth was unfathomable. Even amplifying his own Zhenqi with the art’s nuances wouldn’t match her. So he’d rely on unpredictable swordsmanship. Maybe he could win!

But Shui Jingzi was a millennium-old master. Her wisdom and endless spells quickly turned Mu Yuan’s struggles futile! Her Zhenqi morphed constantly—Dharma wheels, jeweled pagodas, phantom blades, dazzling greatswords… She even borrowed the Buddhist Sect’s immense Sumeru Palm! Mu Yuan strained just to defend.

Luckily his Witch Clan Sword Formula was sharp and crafty. Blending in the Canglang Water Sword only intensified its shifts. What began with a few Flying Swords soon swelled to ten. Using Sword Qi Division, a crisscrossing net of blade-intents blotted the sky. Sword Qi collided midair, dragging trails of sparks. Turbulent Zhenqi formed a brilliant, roaring river that coiled around Shui Jingzi!

Mu Yuan fought savagely, unleashing two months’ efforts. The ten Flying Swords moved like ghosts through gushing Zhenqi. Green vines occasionally burst too—long as serpents or dragons—adding to the chaos.

Shui Jingzi only chuckled, tapping her delicate fingers. The swirling Tidal Flow True Qi answered her gestures—flowing backward straight at Mu Yuan! “Silly boy, using water against me? Like teaching fish to swim!”

The massive wave tore from Mu Yuan’s control. His heart lurched. He remembered: Transforming Serpents commanded floods. Their cries drowned the world. He’d truly lost his wits! Seeing the wave roll toward him, Mu Yuan roared. Zhenqi boiled in his every pore. He unleashed the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force!

Shui Jingzi’s spells forced his utmost effort. Merging all his Sword Formulas and Tidal Flow didn’t tip the scale. Now she’d provoked him into using an ancient Dragon Clan secret art!

Amid the surging waters, violet light flared. The currents reversed, evaporating into misty vapor. It rose, curdled into clouds—purple flashes dancing. Thunder boomed. The Tidal Flow True Qi condensed into colossal spheres, crackling with electric edges. Dozens of massive orbs soared, howling through the air—heavy, pressing, aimed right at Shui Jingzi!

“This is…” Genuine shock flashed across Shui Jingzi’s face. Both her hands seized the air. Immense Zhenqi erupted, molding into a roaring river. Eddies spun it into a giant vortex that swallowed even the rampaging lightning!

Mu Yuan howled as more thunder gathered. Flickering bolts reshaped into an enormous, winged dragon—raking claws, churning a watery typhoon. Electric currents spread with the flow, crackling wildly. Even Shui Jingzi’s Zhenqi level couldn’t stop numbness spreading through her limbs!

Mu Yuan savored his first upper hand, seeing Shui Jingzi’s robes billowing, her hair shimmering with static. But then her ten fingers danced like phantoms. A spinning light-blade manifested. With a flick, it lashed out: sharp, furious slashes. Zhenqi poured from its tip, forming strand upon strand of thread-thin Sword Qi. These meshed into countless flowing Talismanic Seals, flying onto the electric dragon!

The dragon wailed as scales exploded. Its lightning essence disintegrated.

Mu Yuan gaped: Qi Condensation into Threads, then weaving threads into Talismanic Seals—this art was beyond any teaching he’d heard! As the dragon scattered, one flying Talismanic Seal curled toward Mu Yuan instead. Its sharp blade-intent sliced into his mind, chilling him to the core.

Shui Jingzi retracted her light-sword, eyes gleaming and smiling. “Little one, who taught you this technique? Show me properly, won’t you?”