Chapter 106 - Monsters Rise (Final) (Patreon)

Cyan light erupted from Grandmaster Miao’s back as a myriad of Qi lines formed and spread across the sky during the battle above the sea. From both below and above, gaseous Water Qi condensed into liquid waves that reinforced the countless Qi lines.

After that, the cyan domain surrounding him further amplified the technique, increasing both the speed and piercing power of the Qi lines. And while all this happened, the gigantic serpent beneath him lashed its tail forward once more.

Meanwhile, Grand Elder Vermilion Tide also made her move.

While flapping her wings, she commanded thousands of feathers to explode behind her, propelling her body forward while allowing her to maneuver through the incoming Qi lines.

A golden spear formed in her right hand, its tip made of liquid fire. She pointed the weapon straight ahead, the fury within her eyes vanishing and replaced by cold killing intent.

In an instant, she reached the gigantic serpent and struck.

Unable to maneuver the massive creature away in time, Grandmaster Miao defended himself with layers of Qi lines and commanded the serpent to dive into the sea.

Even so, four horns were severed instantly, and a deep vermilion wound split open across the serpent’s scales, revealing cyan flesh and bone beneath.

Observing Grandmaster Miao retreat beneath the ocean surface, Grand Elder Vermilion Tide began controlling her Vermilion Qi to replenish the destroyed feathers around her.

A second later, she felt a violent pull on her right hand.

Without hesitation, she attempted to discard the spear.

But the spear refused to let go.

Thin cyan Qi lines had attached themselves to her hand through the weapon’s shaft, while only the flaming spearhead remained free from the restraint. Then, as if gaining life of its own, the spear suddenly moved, slashing sideways in an attempt to cut her face in half.

Grand Elder Vermilion Tide reacted immediately. She flooded her right arm with Vermilion Qi and manifested feathers around the limb. Then, she detonated it.

The explosion blasted her backward while severing her arm.

Her detached arm burned black beneath the vermilion flames while blood splattered across the ocean from her wound before being sealed by crimson fire.

A thin, scorched cut appeared across her face, proof that the spear had partially sliced through her before she escaped.

Flapping her wings, which had become smaller, she retreated from her original position just as an enormous serpent head erupted from the sea below.

After its jaws snapped shut on empty air, the serpent swung its tail and surged toward the Grand Elder again.

Realizing Grandmaster Miao would never allow her time to recover, Grand Elder Vermilion Tide reached her remaining hand backward, grabbed the base of her left wing, and tore it free.

Vermilion fire charred her hand black in the process, yet with overwhelming strength, she successfully severed the wing. The pain wasn't an issue at all for someone like her.

Next, she hurled the wing toward the gigantic serpent in a clean single motion.

The remaining feathers attached to it exploded one after another, propelling it forward at terrifying speed.

Grandmaster Miao had not anticipated such an attack. He immediately retracted the cyan Qi lines around himself and formed a protective cocoon. Then, once more, he commanded the great serpent to dive into the sea.

This time, however, the attack struck against the serpent’s neck before it could move.

Soon, a deafening explosion erupted across the ocean. Golden and crimson flames spread through the serpent’s body while pillars of fire shot toward the heavens, and immense quantities of steam rose from the boiling sea below.

The heat became unbearable, and dead marine lifeforms floated to the surface.

Watching the explosion illuminate the night sky and affect even distant ships near the docks that lacked sufficient protection, Grand Elder Vermilion Tide used the brief opportunity to regenerate her destroyed wing.

Her arm required more advanced healing techniques, so she ignored the injury for the moment.

A bit relaxed as she had guessed that Grandmaster Miao would be fully focused on protecting himself, she was caught by surprise when hundreds of cyan Qi lines suddenly emerged from the clouds.

Hastily trying to dodge them, her nimble movements avoided most of the attack, yet around ten lines still struck her body. They pierced through her head, back, and left shoulder, spreading into her meridians and flooding them with cyan-colored Qi.

As she controlled the Vermilion Qi to resist the invasion, a heavily burned Grandmaster Miao emerged from the previous explosion site.

His naked body was covered with cyan leather-like scales, while cracking sounds echoed behind him as fragments of shattered artifacts fell apart.

“Forcing me to waste my life-saving artifacts,” he said with a rough voice, his throat wounded. “You are indeed a Quasi-Core Formation cultivator. Even if a fake one.”

Along with his words, Grandmaster Miao radiated far greater killing intent than before as he floated beneath the clouds, carried by hundreds of cyan Qi lines.

Ignoring him, Grand Elder Vermilion Tide struggled against the invading technique. Soon, she grew alarmed when she noticed cyan light spreading outward from her seven chakra points.

For the first time during the battle, genuine fear surfaced within her heart. She could hardly believe that despite all her efforts, she might truly die here tonight.

Unable to activate her artifacts, she found herself frozen in the sky, fighting back against the cyan Qi lines. She had lost control over her body and her Qi, and she felt that soon even her mind wouldn't be hers anymore.

Grandmaster Miao remained focused on controlling his technique, carefully avoiding direct contact with Vermilion Qi while expelling the golden Qi from her body and gradually overtaking control of her cultivation base.

No matter how close he stood to victory, he refused to allow confidence to cloud his judgment. In fact, if everything failed, he had already secured another spoil of war, just to be safe.

That caution was why he reacted the instant a soft sigh sounded behind him.

Without a change in his expression, he manipulated the Qi lines that carried his body and shot upward through the air to gain distance.

Yet no attack came.

Next, he turned toward the source of the sigh. There stood a woman wearing dark purple makeup and black ornamental robes that exposed much of her legs and cleavage.  Her long black hair drifted calmly in the wind as she floated naturally in the air.

Grandmaster Miao clenched his teeth. He recognized the woman, but that alone wasn't important. The most concerning thing was that he realized he could not sense any technique or artifact supporting her flight.

Which meant she was flying through an innate ability alone.

Releasing the cyan Qi lines invading Grand Elder Vermilion Tide’s body, he suppressed his frustration and killing intent before bowing slightly.

“Greetings, Vice Lord Obsidian Sea,” he said, glancing at her bare feet marked by lightning scars. He then lowered his gaze toward the ocean below. “Congratulations on entering the Core Formation realm.”

Vice Lord Obsidian Sea glanced at him for a second. Then, she shifted her attention to Grand Elder Vermilion Tide.

“Lord Husband will be disappointed,” she said softly, her voice resembling the melody of distant dark waves. “You are causing a mess, even knowing his plans.”

Grand Elder Vermilion Tide remained silent, her expression frozen as she stared at the woman before her.

“A punishment is needed.” Obsidian Sea continued emotionlessly. “By tomorrow morning, there will no longer be a Tidal Church within Three Feathers City.”

Then Vice Lord Obsidian Sea turned around and vanished into the darkness. Vermilion Tide also disappeared into the night, forced by a technique without a choice or say in the matter.

Left alone, Grandmaster Miao no longer sensed their Qi fluctuations nearby and controlled his technique to descend into the sea below. Outwardly, he appeared disappointed to have failed to kill his opponent. Inwardly, however, he considered the outcome perfectly reasonable.

His opponent was one of the City Lord’s concubines, not a random Grand Elder of the Tidal Church. Besides, with the First Concubine not punishing him, he grasped the unspoken agreement that tonight’s matters should end.

Though he did not fully understand the reason behind it, Grandmaster Miao was happy to accept the deal. He had gained enough.

Firstly, once morning arrived, he would merge the forces of the West Bo Merchant Chamber with those of the East Bo Merchant Chamber, strengthening his position in the city.

Secondly, he had stolen something truly precious while he was inside Vermilion Tide!

As he submerged in the sea, Grandmaster Miao used investigative techniques to inspect his Dantian with utmost care, where Qi lines formed a wheel, radiating a power connected to Heavenly Daos. It was the symbol of the Authority he had grasped, something that Lucian would still learn more about.

And, in the middle of that wheel, a single drop of golden Qi floated, being pressed to remain still. Sealed inside that golden drop rested a fragment of Vermilion Qi.

Healing himself beneath the sea, Grandmaster Miao began contemplating advancing into the next realm. And, among the many reasons driving that thought, one stood above the others.

Now that a new Core Formation existence had appeared within Three Feathers City, the balance of power was bound to change completely, and there would be more casualties.

He didn't want to be a helpless passerby dying due to the clash of giants.

Before his life and death were out of his control, Grandmaster Miao Long wanted to rise!