Chapter 781: The Prototype of San Shan Daoist's Dao Fruit

Meanwhile, at the main battlefield in the Dragon Palace, the conflict was on a higher level and attracted more attention compared to the battle between Lu Yang and the Young Cult Master Lu.

The Three Mountains Taoist acted preemptively, producing a pristine white, nine-story miniature pagoda. While the headquarters of the East Sea Cultivator Alliance was a nine-story pagoda, few knew that it was actually the Three Mountains Taoist's true-life magical artifact. The Three Mountains Taoist chanted incantations, and instantly the pagoda emitted a brilliant light, transforming into a golden ray of dawn that shot directly towards Ao Ling.

Ao Ling transformed, becoming a ten-thousand-foot-long dark black true dragon, its entire body covered in glossy, jet-black scales that shimmered with a deep, mysterious glow. Witnessing the outbreak of a semi-immortal battle, everyone desperately fled the Dragon Palace. Meng Jingzhou remained unusually calm; it was only a semi-immortal battle, and he had already witnessed two of them. This was not as entertaining as Lu Yang playing his double act.

The Three Mountains Taoist commanded its transformation. With a loud shout, the pagoda grew to the size of a mountain, aiming to suppress Ao Ling. However, Ao Ling simply swept her tail, effortlessly overturning the pagoda. The Three Mountains Taoist faced a formidable foe. Ao Ling had not even used her Dao Fruit manifestation; she had overturned his proud true-life magical artifact with mere physical strength. Ao Ling then rammed him with her dragon horns, stirring up an underwater tsunami that roared like wind. The Three Mountains Taoist, startled, hurriedly shifted the pagoda to block in front of him. The dragon horns were the hardest part of Ao Ling's true form. Even though the pagoda was the Three Mountains Taoist's true-life magical artifact, refined over a long time, it could not withstand Ao Ling's attack.

Boom—

The Three Mountains Taoist and his pagoda were sent flying together. Stone pillars collapsed, and a massive hole appeared in the Dragon Palace wall, as he was directly knocked out of the Dragon Palace! Lu Yang and the Young Cult Master Lu seized the opportunity to exit through the hole, continuing their battle on the surface of the sea.

People wondered who would win. Many speculated it would be the Dragon Ancestor, as she was known to be an absolute powerhouse even during the ancient times when prodigies were abundant, rarely losing in semi-immortal battles. Others agreed, emphasizing that dragons naturally possessed powerful bodies, and the Dragon Ancestor's physical strength had likely reached its peak, making it unlikely for the Three Mountains Taoist to dare engage her in close-quarters combat. Someone cautioned against premature conclusions, stating that there was no absolute strong or weak among semi-immortals, only countering relationships. If the Three Mountains Taoist's nascent Dao Fruit happened to counter the Dragon Ancestor, the outcome could be reversed.

Regardless of the crowd's discussions, the Three Mountains Taoist silently made a wish: to strengthen his body, reinforce his pagoda, and gain the ability to subdue dragons. After making his wish, the Three Mountains Taoist felt a radical transformation within himself. His physical strength reached the limit of the Tribulation Transcending stage, and his pagoda became infinitely close to an immortal artifact, invulnerable. The previously damaged parts were restored, and the weaknesses of the dragon race flashed before his eyes. To him, Ao Ling's true dragon form was riddled with flaws!

After his wish, the Three Mountains Taoist seemed like a changed person, fighting with increasing vigor. He was actually able to contend with Ao Ling physically, and due to his mastery of dragon-subduing techniques, he subtly suppressed her, drawing exclamations of awe from the onlookers. People wondered how the Three Mountains Taoist, not known for physical prowess, could be engaging the Dragon Ancestor in close combat. Ao Ling's physical strength was truly exceptional, the ultimate goal of all body cultivators. No one had expected that the Three Mountains Taoist, skilled in divine abilities and spells, could also reach such a realm!

This was the nascent Dao Fruit manifestation, the Ruyi Dao Fruit Form, which the Three Mountains Taoist obtained through the power of faith. It allowed him to make three wishes using the Dao Fruit, but the scope of these wishes had to relate to the wishes of his believers. For instance, since few believers wished for soul-related matters, he couldn't use the Ruyi Dao Fruit Form to strengthen his soul.

Ao Ling noticed the Three Mountains Taoist's changes and sneered lightly, recognizing it as the Ruyi Dao Fruit Form. She had seen this type of Dao Fruit manifestation during the Tinder Dynasty era, finding it unsurprising. The biggest problem with this type of Dao Fruit manifestation was the limited scope of wishes, as most were made by mortals who would not wish for absurd things like controlling time or space. Enraged by Ao Ling's sneering, the Three Mountains Taoist unleashed his dragon-subduing technique. The pagoda immediately glowed brilliantly, and grey chains shot out from its base, swiftly coiling around Ao Ling, attempting to bind her. Ao Ling found herself unable to break free, regardless of whether she grew larger or smaller.

The Old Dragon Emperor and two other Dragon Clan Tribulation Transcending cultivators moved to assist Ao Ling. Unexpectedly, Ao Ling suddenly extended two claws, gripped the grey chains, and with a forceful tug, snapped them. Ao Ling waved them off, asserting that dealing with a mere semi-immortal sustained by the power of faith hardly required their assistance. If Tribulation Transcending cultivators interfered in a semi-immortal battle, any poor coordination could lead to casualties, making them more of a hindrance.

With a mighty dragon roar, the seawater began to boil, as if an underwater volcano had erupted. The entire sea around the Dragon Palace boiled, and even seaweed began to burn. This was the Dragon Clan's true life fire, capable of burning underwater and difficult to extinguish. Its intensity surpassed even Nirvana True Flame, which was why it had once forced Jiang Lianyi out of her feigned death state. Of course, this also stemmed from Jiang Lianyi's lack of proficiency back then; the current Jiang Lianyi would not fear the flames. Dragons naturally possessed the ability to summon wind and rain, and with their true life fire, they were said to master yin and yang, excelling in both water and fire.

Ao Ling and the Three Mountains Taoist resumed their battle. The Three Mountains Taoist felt immense combat pressure; Ao Ling's dragon claws were impervious to all techniques, capable of tearing apart any spell. Worse still, he felt that each of Ao Ling's strikes was stronger than the last. Even with his pagoda, he couldn't withstand her relentless attacks. Ao Ling mocked him, stating that thinking he was safe with a pagoda blocking him was utterly naive, like striking a person through a mountain. Ao Ling used a subtle technique, her force penetrating the pagoda and striking the Three Mountains Taoist directly in the chest. Immediately, three bloody claw marks appeared on his chest. As his blood flowed into the seawater, it diffused into a dense crimson mist. He immediately wished for his injuries to recover, no longer strengthening his pagoda. The Three Mountains Taoist's injuries recovered at a visible rate.

While his injuries recovered quickly, Ao Ling's attacks were even faster. The Three Mountains Taoist inwardly cursed his misjudgment, realizing he had been too arrogant. He regretted not fleeing earlier and instead uttering pompous words. Now, he couldn't win, and fleeing would be too humiliating. He had already tried wishing for abilities such as 'control over the sea,' 'summoning wind and rain,' and 'increased luck,' but none of these made him a match for Ao Ling. He even felt Ao Ling gradually growing stronger. Initially, he could contend with her, but later it became a crushing defeat.

Boom—

The Three Mountains Taoist repeatedly tried to escape the battlefield, but Ao Ling dragged him back each time. Ultimately, his lower body was shredded by her dragon claws, and he plunged into the sea, raising colossal waves. Ao Ling transformed into her human form, stepping on the Three Mountains Taoist's face, her expression cold. The outcome was decided.

The Three Mountains Taoist tried to negotiate, asking if Ao Ling would believe him if he claimed he merely wanted to possess a body for amusement and would return it afterward. Ao Ling repeatedly sneered in response, implicitly challenging his claim. Seeing that Ao Ling had no intention of letting him go, the Three Mountains Taoist cried out loudly, pleading for help, warning that he was about to be killed.

After a moment of deathly silence, an aged, dark-faced elder appeared. If he had a choice, he naturally wouldn't have intervened, as the initial plan had not included fighting a legendary figure like Ao Ling. Furthermore, the appearance of the Young Cult Master Lu meant that Heaven had noticed this place. Although he was confident he could defeat Ao Ling, he also knew he was no match for Heaven. The Young Cult Master Lu glanced towards his hidden location, likely having discovered him. Fleeing would be useless.

The Young Cult Master Lu, who was currently performing his double act, cast a glance at the suddenly appearing dark-faced elder. The Immortal Fairy had informed him that another semi-immortal was hidden in the Dragon Palace, presumably the Three Mountains Taoist's accomplice. Lu Yang speculated that the individual was a semi-immortal from Great Qian, as the Three Mountains Taoist's method of forming his Dao Fruit manifestation through faith power originated from him.