Chapter 698 - 377: Startling Thunder

In an instant, dozens of miles in every direction were frozen solid.

Caught in this extreme cold, anyone without a warming treasure—even a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator—would freeze to death in a single breath. Even a Golden Core Master would ultimately become an ice sculpture if they couldn’t escape within one hundred breaths.

Caught in the combat between Great Cultivators, the destruction of Bidao Market was already sealed.

Meanwhile, after using three Teleportation Talismans to send his children and Su Caocao away, Lü Zhong turned to his two opponents, his gaze cold. Suppressing the rage in his heart, he said, "I have no grievances with the Celestial Origin Immortal Palace. Why are you two acting this way? Give me a reason!"

"Hahaha, you want a reason? How about ’winner takes all’!"

Fang Daoyun laughed as the Sword Box on his back shot toward the sky.

Laughing loudly, he pointed forward with a Sword Gesture. Suddenly, ten thousand streams of light rained down from the heavens. They were all Sword-type Magical Treasures, and in an instant, they formed a Sword Array. The clang of ringing blades intensified, poised to encircle and kill Lü Zhong.

’Why bother with probing attacks? Just go straight for the killing blow.’

"A Sword Array!" Lü Zhong’s expression darkened.

With a flip of his hand, he had already put on the Giant Spirit Mask.

At the same time, Yan Lianxing, coordinating perfectly with Fang Daoyun, had already activated the Cold Prison Banner in her hand. It unleashed a full nine Ice Dragons, which pulverized everything in their path as they charged toward Lü Zhong.

Lü Zhong, however, merely lifted a sleeve and released countless Ice Spears, destroying the Ice Dragons mid-flight.

As for the Sword Array, Lü Zhong did not dare to face it head-on.

However, this did not mean he had no way to break it.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! Three figures flew out one after another.

Immediately after, there was a flash of blinding light.

The Sword Array was broken. Fang Daoyun couldn’t help but let out a muffled grunt, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. A deep sense of powerlessness washed over him, and he couldn’t help but sigh, "The Outer Body Incarnation Skill... truly worthy of being the technique the Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch relied upon to rise. Seeing it today, it’s truly extraordinary. It broke my Sword Array with ease."

But he would not give up just like that.

’For a Sword Cultivator, the strongest Sword is not in the hand, but in the heart.’

A fighting spirit gleamed in Fang Daoyun’s eyes. With a flick of his hand, he summoned a fiery red longsword and clashed with Lü Zhong, who held the Thunder-Attracting Needle. Every strike was delivered with his full power, as if he intended to decide the victor through a direct clash of power.

Under these circumstances, Yan Lianxing could only stop her attacks.

In just a few breaths, Bidao was enveloped in a dense Sword Qi that cut and destroyed everything. The frozen ice sculptures, and even the sturdier houses, were all sliced into countless ice crystals.

However, after less than a hundred rounds, Fang Daoyun was forced to admit a certain fact.

Even as a Sword Cultivator, he could not defeat Lü Zhong in a direct clash.

His opponent was like a Flood Dragon in human form; no matter what techniques he used, he couldn’t gain the slightest advantage. In a battle of trading injuries, his opponent, relying on his superior physique, completely held the upper hand.

Nurtured by immense resources and possessing the Outer Body Incarnation Skill, Lü Zhong could now be said to be an established powerhouse. Even if the two of them used all their trump cards, they might only be able to defeat him.

But defeating him was not the same as killing him.

With Lü Zhong possessing the Thunder Escape Technique, it was almost impossible for the two of them to kill him. Since their goal was destined to fail, there was naturally no need to continue fighting.

"Let’s retreat and let Master handle him!"

Fang Daoyun decisively chose to abandon the fight.

Hearing this, Yan Lianxing was slightly taken aback, as if not expecting this outcome. Still, she quickly threw out a Jade Token. It was a gift from Cangmingzi, and it sealed the remnant soul of a Demon Saint.

It would be enough to keep Lü Zhong occupied.

This would buy them a moment of time, allowing the two of them to teleport away.

The Jade Token shattered, and a giant Flood Dragon surged forth.

Unexpectedly, Lü Zhong only sneered at the sight. He was willing to take a direct hit from the giant Flood Dragon just to summon his ultimate treasure.

It was none other than the "Cyan Nether Forbidden Bottle."

This treasure had the ability to seal space, making it perfect for the current situation.

A cyan light filled the sky, and space itself was thrown into turmoil.

The two figures, who should have been teleported away, stumbled back into view, their faces etched with shock and an indescribable sense of foreboding.

"I still underestimated you," Fang Daoyun said, his feelings complex.

Lü Zhong’s performance had repeatedly exceeded his expectations.

Fang Daoyun brought two fingers together, stroking the searing spine of the "Fire Qilin Sword" and feeling the response from its Artifact Spirit. His tone suddenly shifted, and with a resolute gaze, he declared, "It seems we will have to settle this today!"

As his voice fell, the two clashed once more.