Chapter 888: Slaying the Dragon-Croc, Seizing the God-Hunting Chariot!

True Lord Xuanjian and True Lord Juejian stared up at Lu Changsheng atop Beast God Mountain, his form merging with the great sun, radiating light across the heavens. That sacred, untouchable presence sent a chill through their hearts.

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

Even as allies, facing Lu Changsheng wielding the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror filled them with unease.

He looked more than capable of seizing this opportunity to unleash the Solar Divine Light and wipe them out.

“Kill!”

Without hesitation the two launched their secret sword techniques, merging them into a single world-shattering blade of light. It tore a crack through the blood-red scales of the Dragon-Croc, then shot toward Lu Changsheng as they prepared to escape into the Great Void.

But this Fourth-Rank Dragon-Croc sensed a terrifying danger in the face of the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror.

The instincts of a Beast King screamed at it to back away.

“Screee!” The Golden-Winged Roc, noticing the hesitation, issued a taunting cry and spread its wings. A gale of golden wind swept forth, each feather sharp as a blade.

Then, tearing a massive chunk of bloody flesh from the Gold Mane Lion King’s back, it tossed the meat right in front of the Dragon-Croc as bait.

All to distract it from fleeing, goading it by primal instinct.

True Lord Xuanjian and True Lord Juejian knew well—these Beast Kings, even when enraged, had an uncanny sense of danger, so they pressed the attack, unleashing another burst of terrifying sword light.

The Dragon-Croc’s fear at the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror was soon muddled by the blood of the Lion King and the relentless sword assaults.

With a thunderous roar it swallowed the bloody flesh in one gulp. Blood energy surged around it, and its tail swung like a colossal, bloodstained battle axe, slashing at True Lord Juejian.

One breath. Two breaths.

“Move! Now!”

Lu Changsheng’s anxious voice echoed in their minds, urging the two and the roc to get clear.

The Solar Profound Light burned with intimidating heat, wild and indiscriminate in its destructive power. Anyone nearby would be caught in its blast.

The two sword lords didn’t need to be told twice. They immediately unleashed the Bloodburn Escape, their figures transforming into blazing sword streaks, ripping through the void to retreat far behind Lu Changsheng.

The Golden-Winged Roc, heart aching, tore another slab of flesh from the Lion King and flung it at the Dragon-Croc, then shot skyward with Qian Zhuyan in tow.

“Ah Wu!”

Lu Changsheng gave the order, voice steady and resolute.

The Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror rang out with a deafening hum, rippling with endless blazing waves.

Then, a beam of divine light burst forth, as if it carried the burn of a billion suns.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

The searing light exploded with brilliance, flooding the sky and earth, its path fixed straight upon the Dragon-Croc.

Waves of heat and brilliance scorched the clouds, air, and even the void itself, leaving the world fractured and ablaze.

Where the Dragon-Croc stood was left a massive glowing crater, the void turned into a sea of fire, the landscape twisted and hazy, impossible to discern.

“What kind of treasure is that?”

“That’s the Solar Divine Light—they used this to annihilate the Fourth-Tier Void Kun and drive back the beast horde at the Immortal City of Damengze!”

True Lord Xuanjian and True Lord Juejian found their hearts pounding as they gazed into the Solar Profound Light.

Terrifying. Unimaginably terrifying.

Earlier, they thought facing this Solar Divine Light meant utter annihilation, even if it didn’t kill them outright.

Now, seeing the true might unleashed, they realized that without a powerful artifact to shield the Nascent Soul Spirit Body and immediate escape, they’d be reduced to ashes.

The Solar Divine Light would destroy their bodies, and the soul within would be incinerated to nothing.

“What… what is this?”

“How frightening!”

“I can’t control myself!”

The cultivators atop Beast God Mountain fared even worse. Faces went ghostly pale, bodies shook uncontrollably. Some simply collapsed, overwhelmed by dread.

Such divine might was far beyond what they could bear.

Their bodies felt like they were burning alive, souls on the edge of turning to ash.

And this was with Lu Ancestor purposely controlling the Solar Profound Light to avoid damaging Beast God Mountain’s spiritual veins.

He wasn’t eager to commit a massacre—hence having the sword lords and Golden-Winged Roc lure the Dragon-Croc out first.

Otherwise, a direct blast onto Beast God Mountain would have been enough to turn every cultivator on the mountain to dust.

At the same moment, thousands of miles away, Mo Luo stared at the mountain’s image, suddenly looking up, peering into the distant horizon.

“What kind of power is this?!”

Even stationed far away, Mo Luo and True Lord Nine Spirits had worked together to breed this Dragon-Croc just to test Yangming True Lord’s strength, hoping to find a weakness.

Mo Luo had prepared long ago, setting up a way to peer into happenings on Beast God Mountain from afar.

Seeing the Solar Profound Light fire from the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror rattled him to the core.

“A top-tier Spirit Treasure? Or could that be a quasi-Celestial Treasure?”

Through his crafted medium, Mo Luo stared at the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror atop Lu Changsheng.

He couldn’t observe up close like the sword lords, but the sheer force and that brief clash were enough to place the mirror at top-tier Spirit Treasure, maybe even quasi-Celestial Treasure balance.

A real Celestial Treasure seemed unlikely.

First, Celestial Treasures were shockingly rare. Even Blood Sea Sect only had one or two.

Second, all Celestial Treasures possessed their own sentient spirits. Only by earning the spirit’s recognition could one use the weapon at all.

Without that sentient spirit, or if the spirit faded away, a mere Nascent Soul Early or Mid-stage could never control it. Only by reaching late Nascent Soul and using the Celestial Treasure Art could one barely wield it.

“But… it’s not impossible,”

Mo Luo’s expression darkened, recalling Lu Changsheng’s earlier claims about past life legends. Maybe the mirror’s controller really was wielding a Celestial Treasure.

“If that’s a true Celestial Treasure…”

Mo Luo’s mouth went dry, cold sweat running down his spine.

A sentient, acknowledged Celestial Treasure in the hands of its master—its power was beyond imagination.

If the wielder was willing to pay the price, burning the artifact’s source, they could release divine might and kill above their level.

In the past, the Central Domain saw a lucky soul who’d earned the recognition of a damaged Celestial Treasure. As a Nascent Soul Early cultivator, he burned both his life and his artifact’s core, unleashing divine power that grievously wounded a Nascent Soul Late powerhouse.

If that mirror really was a Celestial Treasure and this Yangming True Lord were willing to pay the price, he’d be able to annihilate Mo Luo completely.

Even if it was just a pseudo-Celestial Treasure, burning his Nascent Soul and artifact core would be enough to wound or kill him.

“Time to go!”

Watching the Dragon-Croc’s futile struggle under the blazing radiance, Mo Luo knew its end had come. Yangming True Lord was far more dangerous than expected.

He used a stealth Spirit Treasure to slip into the Great Void, heading back to Blood Sea Sect to deliver this crucial news.

Though Yangming True Lord had ruined all his years of plans in the Liang Kingdom, this piece of intelligence was worth all he’d invested.

With his Sect’s grand plan looming, discovering such a powerful force meant they might even reward him.

“Boom, boom, boom!”

The Dragon-Croc bellowed in agony, roaring and writhing under the Solar Profound Light. It tried desperately to break free from the burning radiance.

But the Solar Profound Light was merciless, pinning it in place as its tough scales cracked, hide was torn open, and fresh blood gushed out.

The moment the blood emerged, the Solar Profound Light reduced it to vapor.

“Roar, roar, roar—”

“Ah Wu, destroy its vitality as much as possible—preserve the body and soul!”

Lu Changsheng’s face paled, but his eyes were bright with excitement.

Even so, he couldn’t help feeling a tinge of regret seeing the Dragon-Croc’s massive frame battered and broken.

A Fourth-Rank mid-level Beast King—every part of its body was precious for talisman making and artifact refining.

Even though this one was strengthened by secret arts and less valuable than a pure-blooded beast, its worth was still remarkable.

Qian Zhuyan and the Golden-Winged Roc were just as distressed.

To Qian Zhuyan, if the Dragon-Croc’s body stayed intact, even if artificially enhanced, it could be turned into a lower-grade Fourth-Rank puppet.

To the Golden-Winged Roc, all the precious vital essence had been ruined.

Only True Lord Xuanjian and True Lord Juejian were unmoved by the waste.

After all, they were getting none of the spoils.

Besides, this Dragon-Croc was too dangerous to risk holding back for profit. Any accident would’ve been a disaster.

A few breaths later, the Dragon-Croc’s scales were all shattered, its body a bleeding heap sprawled across the ground, aura barely flickering.

“No wonder a mid-rank Beast King is so hard to kill—even forcibly enhanced, its vitality far surpassed all ordinary beasts.”

Lu Changsheng sighed as he gazed at the dying Dragon-Croc.

If not for the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, he and the others would have spent untold effort dragging this out.

Also, unleashing the Celestial Treasure’s might served not just for a swift victory, but also to test its true power.

He now knew that, with a Fourth-Rank spiritual vein’s support, he could easily kill any average Nascent Soul Mid-stage.

As for true elites like the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, he’d only stand a chance if he completely controlled a Fourth-Rank spiritual ground and forbidden formation.

“No, that monster can’t be compared to other Nascent Soul cultivators. Its defense and vitality rival late-stage Beast Kings.”

Lu Changsheng respected the Turtle Immortal Patriarch’s strength.

Without the Demon Subjugation Talisman, he’d have lost completely.

Back then, only burning his lifespan and Nascent Soul as fuel, combined with the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, let him survive.

Even now, after enslaving the Turtle Immortal Patriarch, he worried it might break free if it ever reached late Fourth-Rank.

Its bloodline was simply extraordinary. Back then, even with the Demon Subjugation Talisman, it’d been at the very limit.

“I have to train the God-Devouring Technique as soon as possible, make faster progress.”

The Demon Subjugation Talisman’s effect was directly tied to its master’s strength.

If Lu Changsheng advanced to Nascent Soul Mid-stage or his spirit grew stronger, only a breakthrough to Fifth-Rank would let the Turtle Immortal Patriarch break free.

Setting those thoughts aside, Lu Changsheng calmed the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror.

Ripples faded, revealing his tall figure beside the fallen Dragon-Croc. He tapped his storage pouch.

Suddenly, a huge black war chariot appeared, cast of dark metal chased with gold and crimson, ancient beast images etched across its surface.

“Roar!”

At the front was a savage white tiger devouring the sun. As Lu Changsheng pressed his hand on it and fed in Nascent Soul power, the tiger’s eyes blazed red, locked on the Dragon-Croc, and roared.

With a metallic rattle, nine silver chains shot out, winding around the Dragon-Croc’s head, body, limbs, and tail.

Burning the last of the Heavenly Yuan Lotus’s power, Lu Changsheng poured everything into the Hunting God Chariot, attempting to seize the Dragon-Croc’s beast soul.

Normally, in his state, enslaving a mid-level Fourth-Rank Beast King’s soul with an unrefined Spirit Treasure would have been nearly impossible.

But now, the Dragon-Croc was nearly dead, scarcely resisting as the nine chains dragged its beast soul from its ruined body.

“Yangming True Lord wants to enslave the Beast King’s soul?”

“Is that some kind of soul-binding treasure?”

True Lord Juejian and True Lord Xuanjian exchanged stunned glances.

How did Yangming True Lord have so many tricks?

A suspected Celestial Treasure mirror.

A precious secondary dantian treasure.

Two Sword Dao treasures.

A top-tier stealth artifact.

Superb spirit armor.

And now, a war chariot that looked like at least a mid-grade Spirit Treasure.

Why call yourself Yangming True Lord? More like Lord of Treasures!

Sword cultivators like them focused on a single flying sword. Seeing Lu Changsheng’s riches was enough to make anyone envious.

Who wouldn’t want Fourth-Rank robes, armor, a collection of spiritual ornaments and weapons—if only they could afford it.

But finding resources for even a proper sword array was a feat. Collecting high-quality armor or spirit treasures was a dream.

Time ticked by.

About a quarter of an hour later, the Dragon-Croc’s beast soul was fully bound and enslaved.

Seeing the beast still struggling, Lu Changsheng’s expression chilled as he unleashed the Nine Calamity Sword. A flash of sword light brought the end.

“Splat!”

As blood spattered, the Dragon-Croc’s life flickered out. Its massive body went rigid at last.

Its beast soul, unable to resist, was tugged by the hunting chains into the God-Hunting Chariot.

Lu Changsheng collected the chariot with satisfaction. With this beast soul inside, its true might could finally be unleashed.

“My friend Xuanjian, I’ll need to rest and recover. I’ll leave Beast God Mountain’s clean-up to you two.”

Lu Changsheng passed the mantle to True Lord Xuanjian.

He had no interest in tedious affairs.

Besides, between the journey, firing the Solar Divine Light, and wielding the God-Hunting Chariot, his stamina and magic were almost spent.

Without his Chaos Body, secondary dantian Heavenly Yuan Lotus, and unlocked Kidney Divine Treasure, he’d be completely drained.

“Both of you contributed plenty taking down the Dragon-Croc—feel free to claim a share of materials as spoils.”

Lu Changsheng had no intention of keeping everything for himself.

He was always generous with friends and allies.

And as both sword lords had helped against Mo Luo and True Lord Nine Spirits, it was only fair.

He believed that showing sincerity was the only way to build lasting relationships.

“Generous as ever, Yangming! We won’t be shy.”

True Lord Xuanjian clasped his hands in thanks, gladly accepting.

For Lu Changsheng, the Dragon-Croc’s remains were nothing special, but for them it was a massive windfall.

Soon after, Lu Changsheng took Qian Zhuyan into Beast God Mountain, settling in a spiritual cave at the mountain’s most energy-rich peak to recover.

He left the Golden-Winged Roc and the sword lords to watch over things for now.