Chapter 535: Living Fossil

The martial arts arena, built from massive rock slabs, was ancient and mottled, etched with the marks of time, a place where many Saint Lords had perished. The blood of peerless powerhouses had long dried, and their bones were long gone, yet a potent murderous aura permeated the air. It was, truly, an ancient battlefield.

The old man, silent as a wraith, pressed his palm forward. A chilling wind arose, and a deathly stillness pervaded the air, as if a ghost lord had descended. The Peacock King shivered with dread, sensing great danger. He darted a thousand zhang sideways, narrowly avoiding the blow.

*Snap!* The old man's seemingly effortless and ordinary palm strike imprinted a black hole in the void. It remained fixed there, unable to vanish, devouring everything.

*Bang!* He attacked again, like a ghostly shadow, incredibly insidious, moving through the void. Gales howled, and a chilling spectral aura emanated, yet its destructive power was immense.

The Peacock King roared, his vital energy surging through his body. He was like a divine furnace, radiating boundless light, his blood energy surging vast as an ocean.

*Boom!* He swung his fist with force, unleashing nine savage dragons, imbued with pure Yang energy. Each dragon held a golden sun in its mouth, erupting forth and clashing with the insidious energy.

*Rip!* When pure Yang and pure Yin met, the space between them silently transformed into a realm of light and shadow, initiating a terrifying collapse that imperceptibly gave rise to Solar Saint Power and Lunar Saint Power.

*Thump!* A colossal boom echoed through the martial arts arena. A dreadful light erupted there, engulfing both figures and forming a terrifying scene of vast annihilation. Lunar Saint Power and Solar Saint Power, though only appearing for a brief instant, were terrifying beyond measure; their collision obliterated everything.

*Hmph.* The old man from Yaoguang burst out like a specter, a trickle of black blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, as he rapidly retreated. At the same time, the Peacock King also coughed up a mouthful of blood, his hair flying wildly. Like a demonic deity, he shattered the confines of Lunar and Solar power and burst forth from the realm of destruction.

With just the first strike, both individuals were wounded. It was clear they aimed for a swift conclusion, as both had unleashed fierce killing moves. From the outset, it was a fight to the death, leaving no room for retreat. A relentless struggle, only one could emerge alive.

*Swish!* The Living Fossil of Yaoguang attacked again, his palm and fingers an earthy yellow, descending like viscous yellow mud. Without employing any astounding holy techniques, he simply pressed forward calmly. Yet the Peacock King felt a shiver of dread. At his current level, this old man had already achieved a state of profound simplicity; an ordinary palm strike from him harbored Yaoguang's devastating ultimate holy art.

It was the dreaded Yellow Mud Hand; even a peak powerful being, if struck, would be reduced to a pulp. It was truly a Hand of Death.

*Thwack!* As expected, when the Yellow Mud Hand struck the void, the emptiness itself disintegrated, turning into an abyssal void, a place of utter ruin.

The Peacock King's eyes shone with a piercing light. The nine savage dragons he manifested surged out, each holding a golden sun in its mouth, casting down myriad rays of golden light, forming a divine barrier.

*Splurt!* The first savage dragon was pulverized by the Yellow Mud Hand, and the golden sun it held shattered, creating a terrifying energy storm there.

*Thwack!* The Yellow Mud Hand struck repeatedly. The savage dragons were transformed into yellow mud, and the scorching golden suns were engulfed by the mud, their boundless vital energy dissolved.

The Peacock King bellowed, his blood energy surging skyward, scattering the leaden clouds. His vibrant life essence engulfed the entire land. It was a wondrous spectacle: from his crown, blood energy erupted like a colossal peak, and his entire being surged with vital energy, vast as an ocean, as if Pangu himself had arrived!

*Boom!* The Peacock King, exuding immense power, struck forward with his massive hands repeatedly, directly confronting the Yellow Mud Palm, nearly obliterating the sky! A colossal peacock appeared behind him, as if opening up the cosmos, with surging chaos.

The Yaoguang elder's face paled. His opponent was forcing him to draw upon his life force with such vigorous qi and blood, engaging him in a war of attrition. The Peacock King, like a divine spirit, his blood energy becoming ever more robust. With every palm strike, it was like a million volcanoes erupting, his aura terrifying, possessing an unparalleled oppressive power.

*Hmph!* Suddenly, the Yaoguang elder shook off his deathly aura. His whole body blazed with brilliant light, illuminating thousands of mountains and rivers, as awe-inspiring as a deity plucking a flower. He finally displayed the ultimate secret art of the Holy Land — the Primordial Sacred Light Art!

At this moment, the old man became terrifyingly formidable, seeming to possess even more vigorous qi and blood than the Peacock King. Divine flames surged forth like an ocean, completely submerging the vast ancient battlefield. He was now like a god; once the Primordial Sacred Light Art was unleashed, all methods shattered, and he could collapse the firmament with a mere lift of his hand or foot.

*Boom!* Sacred light blanketed the heavens and earth; every inch of space contained terrifying divine brilliance, causing souls to tremble! The Peacock King was sent flying by a single palm strike, blood marks appearing all over his body. He repeatedly coughed up blood; the situation was dire.

"When I, Wang Zheng, traversed the world, who could contend with me? You, little peacock, are too presumptuous! Today, I will suppress you forever!" The old man from Yaoguang seemed to have recovered his vigor, now possessing peak power, unstoppable. Divine light surged like an ocean, annihilating everything.

*Boom!* He swung another palm, as if a celestial hand descended. The sacred radiance, vast as clouds and oceans, submerged the boundless ancient battlefield; resistance was futile.

*Bang!* The Peacock King was struck and sent flying again, his entire body covered in blood. His form was almost shattered, his dark hair dyed red with blood and matted into sticky clumps.

All onlookers were aghast. The Peacock King was one of the most formidable figures of the current era, deeply feared even by the Saint Lords, a peerless demon king with few rivals. Yet, he was beaten to such a state. This was his first severe injury in eight hundred years! The three-thousand-year-old living fossil was truly terrifying, filling everyone with dread. If he fully erupted, who could stand against him?

An individual like him could dominate the Eastern Barrens; no one could rival him. Nearly all his contemporaries were dead, with only a handful remaining.

"He's truly a living fossil master!""Such terrifying combat power is truly frightening, dominating the Eastern Barrens. Sadly, his lifespan is depleted; he will soon depart this world."

Few could live for over three thousand years. Those who reached this age were monstrous beings, naturally invincible and terrifying. Alas, their lifespan was their greatest limitation. Though their cultivation had reached its peak, it could not endure indefinitely.

"You resist in vain!" The Yaoguang elder strode forward, ubiquitous Primordial Sacred Light erupting everywhere. A casual movement from him could collapse the void, shattering everything, threatening to melt the ancient battlefield.

The Peacock King let out a piercing cry, spewing forth five-colored divine light, which swept forward, finally managing to temporarily block the Primordial Sacred Light Art.

"Interesting, you've actually cultivated the Innate Five Elements, but sadly, it's not yet perfected; you can't escape death!" The Yaoguang elder, like a god, brought his massive hand down. Sacred light, like an ocean, again engulfed the martial arts arena. Every strand of light could slay a powerhouse; such an immense amount of Primordial Sacred Light was utterly terrifying.

The Peacock King's Innate Five Elements divine light was almost obliterated, and more blood marks appeared on his body, yet the sacred light could no longer press closer. Within the five-colored divine light he spat forth, a dark, black stone platform appeared, suppressing everything.

*Boom!* A ripple of energy made the black stone platform expand. Enveloped by the Five Elements divine light, it transformed into a massive seal, pressing ahead and scattering the Primordial Sacred Light.

"Chaos Treasure Seal!" Outside, the Yaoguang Saint Lord's face paled, and he loudly warned his Senior Martial Brother. He had suffered greatly under this seal before, nearly having his body shattered. When vying for the Nine Secrets in the ancient tomb of Lizhou, the Peacock King had taken that Chaos Stone and refined it into an extremely formidable secret treasure.

"This stone was left by Emperor Wu Shi," the big black dog stated in a deep voice. "Though it was only used as a bed, for other cultivators, it's an ultimate treasure!"

*Bang!* The treasure seal forged from Chaos Stone violently clashed with the sacred light. The martial arts arena was almost reduced to a primordial chaotic realm, a dreadful spectacle. The Peacock King used the Chaos Treasure Seal to withstand Wang Zheng's Primordial Sacred Light Art; neither could gain an advantage.

"This black treasure seal is indeed terrifying! It even blocked the living fossil, preventing him from advancing even half a step!"

The onlookers were astonished as the two clashed fiercely. The Chaos Stone Seal, enveloped in five-colored divine light, stood majestically like an ancient divine peak, indestructible and firm. Yet, the Primordial Sacred Light, reputed to annihilate all methods, was also terrifyingly potent, especially when unleashed by a three-thousand-year-old living fossil; it was nothing short of defying the heavens!

*Thump!* The Peacock King coughed up blood once more but did not retreat a single step. The Yaoguang elder, Wang Zheng, also had a flushed face, and his body trembled slightly. Between them, black holes appeared in clusters, as if they had entered an era of great destruction where all things were annihilated and nothing existed anymore. At this moment, only the Primordial Sacred Light and the Chaos Stone Seal within the five-colored divine light were violently clashing!

"This Chaos Treasure Seal is truly terrifying!" Everyone was horrified, feeling a chill run down their spines. Especially the Saint Lords were even more profoundly wary. If the Peacock King were to wield this stone seal against them, how could they possibly contend? A divine artifact like this, if refined day after day, who knew what kind of divine weapon it would become in the future!

However, people were also greatly fearful of the Yaoguang Saint Lord's Senior Martial Brother. A living fossil-level figure truly lived up to his name; he could undoubtedly rampage freely and slay Saint Lords!

*Boom!* The Chaos Stone Seal confronted the Primordial Sacred Light Art. The Peacock King again coughed up copious amounts of blood, yet still did not flinch. People knew that if the stalemate continued, it would be hard to say who would live or die. Although the Peacock King was coughing blood, his blood energy was as vigorous as an ocean, allowing him to sustain a prolonged war of attrition. As for the Yaoguang living fossil, though peerlessly terrifying, his lifespan was running out; he could not afford to be depleted.

"Stop!""Halt!"

The Yaoguang Saint Lord and Daoist Red Dragon simultaneously shouted, not wishing for them to continue fighting. Both feared casualties from their respective sides, which would be an immeasurable loss. Red Dragon, the Yaoguang Saint Lord, Nangong Zheng, and many other powerful figures intervened, forcibly separating the two combatants and bringing the battle to an end.

Ye Fan swiftly approached, pulled out a jade bottle, and offered the divine spring to the Peacock King. As he uncorked it, a fragrant aroma wafted out, and the eyes of several onlookers brightened. Particularly Daoist Red Dragon and Daoist Crow, their gazes burned with fervor, as if they had beheld an ancient scripture of a Great Emperor, intensely fervent. The Peacock King took several sips, then immediately sat down cross-legged. His vital energy surged throughout his body, and his severe injuries rapidly healed at a visible pace. His blood energy soared to the heavens, his entire body glowed with blazing light, the Innate Five Elements divine light swirled around him, and the Chaos Treasure Seal hovered above his head.

Ye Fan did not retrieve the jade bottle; instead, he offered it to Daoist Red Dragon and Daoist Crow. Both were visibly moved; for them, whose lifespans were limited, this was a precious gift.

"Red Dragon, I actually most desire to fight you!" Not far away, Wang Zheng, the Yaoguang Saint Lord's Senior Martial Brother, spoke. He had already consumed a sacred medicine and instantly recovered.

"Very well, I shall fight you!" Daoist Red Dragon, who had traversed the Eastern Barrens without fear of anyone, promptly accepted the challenge.

"Don't go. This old man won't live for another half a year; he wants to take you down with him before his demise!" Daoist Crow interjected.

"Does he truly think my fifteen hundred years trapped on Saint Cliff were in vain? I'll send him on his way early!" Daoist Red Dragon retorted.

All were astonished. Another great battle was about to erupt: two living fossils were about to clash! This was undoubtedly the most climactic battle of the moment! How many terrifying figures in the Eastern Barrens could live to be three thousand years old? When they were at their zenith, awe-inspiring the world, even the Saint Lords had to look up to them. Yet now, they had reached their human peak, but with little life remaining, they were on the verge of passing away. It was indeed a tragedy.

Throughout history, many peerless heroes fell to the ravages of time. Even if their accomplishments reached the level of creation, it was futile; they were forced to sadly approach life's end.

*Swish!* The two living fossils entered the ancient battlefield almost simultaneously, both moving erratically like phantoms.

"Senior Brother, be careful!" The Yaoguang Saint Lord transmitted a message. He understood the mind of his Senior Martial Brother, who was a thousand years older than him, knowing he was nearing his demise and wishing to eliminate Red Dragon, this formidable and rare foe.

*Thwack!* The two three-thousand-year-old ancients struck without any fervor. Like ordinary mortals, they exchanged a palm strike, nothing discernible. Yet, all Saint Lords were horrified. In that single palm exchange, countless Dao patterns flashed into existence and vanished within the void. It was a clash akin to a grand annihilation. However, both dissolved them in a flash; ordinary people couldn't discern it.

"Terrifying..." Ye Fan's heart pounded with dread. Having cultivated divine eyes, he could naturally see all of it.

*Thwack!* *Bang!*... The two living fossils' movements weren't particularly fast, occasionally launching an attack without employing peerless holy arts. Instead, they were engaged in a life-and-death duel that epitomized profound simplicity!

"Neither of us has much life left; we can't afford a war of attrition. Why not decide life and death with a single strike!" Both said simultaneously, sharing the same thought, wishing to instantly determine the victor.

*Boom!* Wang Zheng, the Yaoguang living fossil, his withered body blazed with brilliant light, engulfing the entire martial arts arena like a golden sacred spirit. At this moment, he was incomparably powerful. His flesh thrummed with endless vitality, his blood energy surged like an ocean, and Primordial Sacred Light blanketed the heavens and earth, terrifying beyond compare!

*Boom!* Endless sacred light in the void coalesced into a golden ancient cauldron, adorned with dense dragon patterns, suppressing the great world!

"He... he actually used the Primordial Sacred Light Art to manifest the form and partial laws of Yaoguang's Dragon-Patterned Black Gold Sacred Cauldron!" All onlookers exclaimed in shock, their faces paling, feeling an illusion, sensing a trace of ultimate holy might.

Daoist Red Dragon let out a long cry, his hair in disarray, his gaze sharp as blades. He seemed to possess eight arms, unleashing eight different Dharma seals in an instant.

"What? These are the Eight Styles of the Heavenly Demon, the most ancient and terrifying supreme inheritance of the Demon Race! He actually unleashed them as one!" People were dumbfounded, their hearts trembled, and a chilling sensation ran through their bodies, almost suffocating them.

With the Eight Styles of the Heavenly Demon unified, Daoist Red Dragon manifested an incredibly lifelike red dragon in the void. Ancient aura permeated the air, and the dragon's oppressive might was vast. This ancient battlefield was on the verge of collapse! If not for the Immortal Tear Tower of the Jade Lake providing protection, which emanated a trace of true ultimate divine might, the martial arts arena would have ceased to exist long ago.

The two living fossils collided fiercely, unleashing their most powerful strikes in a fight to the death! Black holes appeared in clusters, seemingly spawning universes, imbued with starlight, as if creating heaven and earth. The aura of destruction and rebirth surged like a tide.

An eternal instant! It felt as though a hundred long lifetimes had passed, yet it was only an instant. Time felt eternal, impossible to distinguish.

*Pfft!* Daoist Red Dragon spat out copious amounts of blood, flying backward from the black hole in the void. His body was covered in cracks; he was nearly dead.

*Pfft!* On the other side, the Yaoguang living fossil's eyes dimmed. His skull was cracked, brain matter oozed out, and his body separated, utterly mangled. Blood dyed the sky crimson. His form was reduced to a bloody pulp, his bones shattered into white fragments, utterly slain by Daoist Red Dragon.