Chapter 1138: Ice and Fire Dual Demon Knights

The turn of events in the battle caused Shitiandao, who had been pale with rage, to relax slightly. He even felt that King Soul-Devourer's victory in this battle was now certain.

After all, for top experts of their caliber, losing their weapon would significantly reduce their overall combat power. This seemed to be an omen that Lingyao was about to be defeated and fall on the battlefield. At least more than half of the spectators present thought so.

Only Xu Yang, on his side, remained confident in Lingyao. "Remember," he said, "while a cultivator's weapon is important, a person's ability to react to unexpected situations often determines their true potential. The reason I haven't allowed any of you to interfere, and why I still believe Lingyao can defeat King Soul-Devourer, is because she and I have fought together more than once."

"I know Lingyao's potential far exceeds the power she is currently displaying," he continued. "So just rest assured; there's no problem with this battle."

Shitiandao, seated not far away, chuckled sinisterly. "Lord Xu Yang," he sneered, "you truly have a lot of confidence in your subordinate. I refuse to believe that Soul-Devourer, as the strongest of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings, can't defeat a woman who has lost her weapon." Xu Yang couldn't help but smile, replying, "Oh, then let us wait and see!"

At this moment, after losing her divine Sky Sword, Lingyao's soul world felt even more illusory. However, this very feeling allowed her to shed all her mental burdens and completely settle down.

In a trance, Lingyao seemed to grasp a truth: a cultivator can only unleash their true potential when they reach a point of no return.

Now, it was time for her to break through to a new realm. As her thoughts solidified, she suddenly clenched her fists. For too long, Lingyao had placed too much importance on her Sky Sword, rarely experimenting with combat methods or power releases beyond it. This fighting style had, to some extent, limited the development of her own cultivation system and realm.

The sudden loss of the Sky Sword's protection ironically forced Lingyao to take an unconventional path. She shifted her focus to the cultivation foundation she had accumulated within herself over many years.

Through an unexpected turn of events, this sudden enlightenment allowed Lingyao to see a new world and truly feel how terrifying the hidden powers within her body actually were.

A hearty laugh rang out. This time, Lingyao actually took the initiative to confront King Soul-Devourer. "Haven't you always thought your power was incredible?" she challenged. "Let me show you what a true expert's real foundation is!"

In an instant, Lingyao's entire body began to overflow with endless red and blue energy auras. The power of the Fire Dragon merged perfectly with the purest frost divine power within her.

At this moment, the first true dual-attribute Dragon Rider of Yingzhou Continent was perfectly born!

The dragon scales covering her body were also interwoven red and blue. At this moment, Lingyao had truly awakened her entire internal foundation.

At the same instant, King Soul-Devourer, who had previously appeared calm, instinctively grew serious. As Lingyao's aura continued to approach him, his expression grew increasingly distorted and ferocious.

He couldn't believe such power could be born on this battlefield.

"I can't believe it," he muttered. "The legacy of Dragon Island is real! A conqueror bathing in dragon blood and obtaining the dragon's power will break the limits of the spiritual cultivation system and enter the legendary realm!"

Lingyao raised a cold smile. "Afraid now? Too late! Accept your judgment!"

Boom!

With one punch, a surge of the strongest dragon power, interwoven red and blue, struck King Soul-Devourer directly.

His greatest reliance, the layer of dark golden energy defense, shattered with a crash. He was sent flying backward, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood.

Undoubtedly, the force of this punch shattered multiple meridians within King Soul-Devourer's body. Even the outline of the endless ice mountains behind him began to shrink little by little.

It was this seemingly insignificant detail that caught Lingyao's particular attention.

"Could it be... that the scenery in this battle space is all symbolic? If so, what do these surroundings have to do with King Soul-Devourer's power?"

Lingyao couldn't find a suitable answer in a short time. She landed steadily and approached King Soul-Devourer, who lay on the ground.

"Do you have anything left to say?" she asked. "You are now crippled, no longer a threat to me. Perhaps you should start begging for my mercy, pleading for my forgiveness with your most humble demeanor."

Lingyao's cold tone and beautiful face appeared before King Soul-Devourer. Unfortunately, his covered eyes could see nothing.

"Why should I beg for your forgiveness?" King Soul-Devourer sneered. "In my opinion, this battle is far from over."

King Soul-Devourer inexplicably revealed a cryptic, cold smile. Then he slowly removed his eye mask.

At that moment, Lingyao finally saw two incredibly deep hollows! The endless blackness brought a suffocating sense of oppression, identical to the despair and oppressive negative emotions Lingyao had felt when she first saw the outlines of the surrounding ice mountains.

"I understand... your eyes!"

King Soul-Devourer's laughter grew deeper as he slowly stood up, scanning the entire battle space with those two enormous hollows.

Just then, Lingyao distinctly felt a jarring visual effect rapidly appear. The entire battle space seemed to melt and dissolve! All previously stable visual lines began to involuntarily twist and collapse!

Those two hollows, which should have held a pair of eyes, had become enormous blind spots that devoured everything around them. The devouring power released from them was violently destroying everything in the space.

"As you can see," he explained, "my pupils are the only two gaps linking the outer world with the laws of Yingzhou Continent. They were transplanted into me by an ancient living fossil within the Imperial Soul Battle Group. This is also the fundamental reason I became the leader of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings and am considered the Imperial Soul Battle Group's secret weapon to the outside world."

"Apart from that ancient living fossil ancestor, you are the only living person to have seen this secret of mine. Even Shitiandao, the nominal Lord of Imperial Soul, is unaware of my secret; outsiders all believe I am blind. That's true to an extent, but my pupils possess the ability to devour all the laws of this world."

"Of course, because my physical body is still in a state of continuous evolution and growth," he added, "it's like a vast container that can continue to grow as my cultivation constantly improves."