Chapter 1318: The Fifth Trial
Zhang Lie: an emperor-grade lifeform
Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (pinnacle), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Eclipse (pinnacle), Syzygy (pinnacle), Ninesoul Dragonblade (pinnacle), Blade of the Heavens (pinnacle)
Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 150; Disaster, 90; Monarch, 0; Emperor, 0
Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Dragonwolf (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak), Golden Roc (peak), Dragonwhale (disaster), Mistmeld Clam (disaster)
He returned to the trial-taker's chamber and was quickly assigned a fifth trial.
A golden roc swooped down toward him, its wings flapping furiously and creating a howling gale.
"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar]!"
Pale blue genetic energy rippled about Zhang Lie's arms. He flicked his wrists, causing a frightening aura to descend on the world. The sky began to darken, and a fish the size of a whale materialized in the air.
A howling gale swept over the hall. As more and more genetic energy gathered around Zhang Lie's arms, it looked as though he were at the heart of a whirlpool.
A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging.
Ripples of energy spread out from Zhang Lie, warping the space around him. The towering waves looked like enraged black dragons. magic Man and roc struck each other in a huge explosion of light that swamped heaven and earth. The world reverberated with force. As the waves burst apart, the air filled with echoes of Zhang Lie's signature genetic energy, shattering space and swallowing up all life in its vicinity. Light and shadow danced in the air.
Long moments later, as the light dissipated, the roc's golden feathers withered. There was a huge, gaping wound on its chest from which fresh blood flowed.
The initial confrontation between Zhang Lie and the golden roc of the fifth trial had left it with a severe injury.
The golden roc spread its wings wide, blazing with dawn light as it transformed into a divine sunbird. It fanned the ground with its wings furiously, spawning divine flame and lightning.
Zhang Lie's hair stood on end. His eyes sparked with lightning, and blood trickled from his lips. He raised his pointer finger into the air. A thick pillar of light shone down from the heavens, striking the divine sunbird.
The will of the boundless blade had descended.
Flames, sword energy, golden light, and pale blue genetic energy combined destructively, leaving another wound on the giant bird's body.
The golden roc's eyes transformed into two golden whirlpools that could devour souls, intending to launch a spiritual attack at Zhang Lie.
Zhang Lie roared, a spiritual glow emanating from his eyes and clashing against the roc's.
The golden roc's eyes began to burn. It swooped down toward him, sharper than a divine blade. Golden runes filled the sky, a frightening sight.
"Open!" Zhang Lie shouted. He kicked forward with his right leg, unleashing a divine attack, summoning golden runes of his very own.
The two combatants were both sent flying. Zhang Lie's eyes glinted. The divine sunbird felt immense pain from its wing. It swooped down from the heavens toward Zhang Lie, initiating another bout of intense attacks. The golden roc clawed at Zhang Lie, intending to tear him apart.
"[The Boundless Blade: Yawning Wave]!"
Water-attuned genetic energy encircled Zhang Lie's finger as he unleashed devastating sword energy.
With a huge thud, a golden wing fell to the ground, smashing a rock mountain as it fell. It was harder than common steel and boasted the essence of divinity. The golden roc shrieked as it fell to the ground, golden ichor splashing. Its body formed a huge crater, causing cracks to propagate through the ground for hundreds of meters.
The roc's body gleamed with golden light, and its feathers shone splendidly in the sun. Its skull was cracked open.
With a huge slash, the golden roc's skull was sent flying into the distance.
[You successfully killed a disaster-grade gildwing roc. By consuming the core of the disaster-grade gildwing roc, you may receive one to ten disaster gene fragments.]
Suddenly, the void trembled. A figure dashed forward at lightning speed, heading straight for Zhang Lie with unabashed killing intent.
Zhang Lie knew that the fifth trial couldn't have been as easy as it appeared at first glance. The fourth trial had involved six disaster-grade lifeforms attacking him together, so how could the fifth trial be any easier?
The unknown assailant's attack landed with a huge explosion, splitting the ground, shaking the heavens, and causing the world to break apart. It was a frightening blow that struck with the force of an earthquake.
The assailant was a red, hornless dragon, whose body was surrounded by flaming clouds. It struck at Zhang Lie once again.
"[Ninecarp Transformation: Golden Tiger]!"
The image of a golden tiger appeared behind Zhang Lie's back, and its roar echoed through the air. A golden aura suffused Zhang Lie. A mountain of blades rested atop the tiger's back, and Zhang Lie's body itself underwent a transformation. His hair turned silvery-white, until they became akin to silver needles.
His genetic energy likewise became more honed. Silvery-white genetic energy gathered over his body, and tigers' stripes appeared on his arms. His eyes became those of a tiger's, and steely sharpness erupted from every pore. An aura of the divine exuded from him.
The two combatants shattered mountains and destroyed spires with every blow. They clashed against each other and were both sent flying. Light covered heaven and earth, frightening in its intensity.
The dragon roared. It was strong and brimming with vitality, its scales shining resplendent, its body glowing with divine radiance. As it charged forward, it leveled a ten-ton rock.
It struck Zhang Lie, claws against fist, then swept its tail toward his waist.
Zhang Lie evaded the attack as the tail crushed countless rocks into powder in mid-air.
"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Fade]!"
Zhang Lie raised a hand. Concentrated genetic energy solidified into sharp silver crystals.
The crystals danced in the air, then honed in on the scarlet dragon. The dragon evaded the attack, but the rock mountain behind where it stood was drilled straight through. It collapsed instantly.