Chapter 782: Ao Ling's Power

The Great Qian Dynasty was founded on faith and the divine path. Lu Yang speculated that there might be some connection between the Great Qian Dynasty and the Torch Dynasty. Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence for two consecutive great dynasties to be related to faith.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ao Ling, I am the Mountain and River Lord of Great Qian," the black-faced old man began, but before he could finish, Ao Ling suddenly kicked him, sending him flying.

Being an accomplice of Daoist Three Mountains meant he couldn't be a good person. There was no point in wasting words; it was better to fight first, determine the victor, and only then listen to explanations!

"Very well, since Fellow Daoist Ao Ling refuses to show me respect, then don't blame me for being impolite!" The Mountain and River Lord had expected Ao Ling, an ancient legendary figure, to be a person of decorum. He never anticipated that she would completely disregard convention and immediately launch an attack.

So you want to fight? Then I'll fight you!

He had given Daoist Three Mountains an incomplete faith cultivation method, hinting that Daoist Three Mountains could take over the old Dragon Emperor's body. His true intention was to use Daoist Three Mountains to obtain the worship of the Great Venerable Ying Long.

He hadn't expected things to escalate to this point.

"He says he's the Mountain and River Lord, that great general of the Great Qian Dynasty who conquered all directions?" "After the campaigns concluded, he was enfeoffed by the First Qian Emperor as the Mountain and River Lord, to forever enjoy the worship of the mountains and rivers!"

An ancestor in the Tribulation-Crossing stage was moved upon hearing the black-faced old man's title. This was a figure akin to a god of war in the Great Qian Dynasty, holding supreme military authority, skilled in command and combat, and victorious in every battle.

The Mountain and River Lord shook his arm, and a large bone spear appeared in his hand. Ao Ling transformed back into her true dragon form, her body enveloped in purple-gold dragon flames and lightning. The spiritual energy of the entire sea agitated, erupting with earth-shattering roars!

The Mountain and River Lord's figure did not waver in the slightest from the impact. He twisted his body, and his long spear, moving like a flash of light, thrust towards Ao Ling with lightning speed.

Ao Ling felt a lingering sense of danger in her heart. She violently twisted her dragon body, dodging the spear tip. The spot she had just occupied had inexplicably turned into nothingness, everything gone, as seawater poured back to fill the void.

"Ancient Ancestor, be careful! According to records, the Mountain and River Lord wields the embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit!" Ao Ya anxiously transmitted a message. Historical records showed that those who fought the Mountain and River Lord often met an end where their bodies were completely consumed, leaving no trace.

"The embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit?" Ao Ling's dragon eyes narrowed slightly. This was indeed a bit tricky.

Her dragon head tilted, dodging a streaking light attack.

It was none other than Daoist Three Mountains!

Taking advantage of the brief exchange between Ao Ling and the Mountain and River Lord, Daoist Three Mountains used all three wishes for recovery. In the blink of an eye, his injuries healed, and his consumed spiritual energy returned to its peak state.

"I'll assist you!"

Two Half-Immortals now fought Ao Ling!

The Nine-Story Demon Suppressing Pagoda and the bone spear emerged simultaneously. Daoist Three Mountains continued to make wishes: "Strengthen my body, strengthen the pagoda, grant the power to overturn mountains and seas." The Mountain and River Lord wielded his large bone spear and donned armor that had been tempered by the essence of worship, as if returning to the glorious era 300,000 years ago, when he conquered all directions and fought bathed in blood.

Though he was old now, his combat power remained at its peak.

As the three Half-Immortals made their move, the environment of the entire Dragon Palace sea area became turbulent. Others watched from a distance, observing the sky above the Dragon Palace sea enveloped in darkness. Three figures fought fiercely, their every move capable of altering the very landscape.

"Three Zen Heavenly Wind!"

Ao Ling controlled the wind and rain, stirring up an endless hurricane over the East Sea. This wind specifically targeted souls, filled with potent Yang energy, capable of forcing souls out of bodies and making them quietly melt away within the wind — truly terrifying.

"Under the Bodhi tree, boundless wondrous Dharma!" Daoist Three Mountains had secretly learned a Buddhist soul-stabilizing technique, which allowed him to fix his soul within his body, making it impervious to external influences.

However, all he could do was maintain his stability within the wind; he was unable to counterattack.

The Mountain and River Lord's soul was tempered and stable, unafraid of the Three Zen Heavenly Wind.

"World-Extinguishing Red Lotus!"

A red lotus, emitting the power of karmic fire, appeared above the East Sea. The black clouds turned crimson, like blood, as if the end of the world had descended.

"Innate Ren Water!"

Ao Ling stood atop the waves. Every drop of water beneath her feet could transform into a vast lake or ocean. Innate Ren Water, a mixture of three primordial divine waters—sun, moon, and stars—had long since vanished in an era where the celestial bodies were not manifest.

Firelight and water light intertwined, as if two worlds were colliding, forming a bizarre canvas of light and shadow.

The Innate Ren Water overpowered the World-Extinguishing Red Lotus, pressing down towards the Mountain and River Lord.

The Mountain and River Lord remained unmoved, allowing the Innate Ren Water to approach. Before it could even touch him, it was completely devoured by the embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit, leaving not a single drop of seawater on him.

"I make my wish here! This is my sacred ground, gathering the power of Mount Penglai, Mount Fangzhang, and Mount Yingzhou!"

This ritual required the use of three wishes, leaving him completely defenseless during the process. That's why Daoist Three Mountains hadn't dared to make such a wish when fighting Ao Ling one-on-one. Now, taking advantage of the Mountain and River Lord's engagement with Ao Ling, he completed the charging process in one swift move: "Three Mountains Suppress Demons!"

This was the very reason for his Daoist title, Three Mountains: he could mobilize the power of the Three Mountains of the East Sea!

Three phantom mountain peaks appeared. Though mere phantoms, they were no less formidable than real mountains descending. Within these phantoms pulsed the spiritual ley line power of the three mountains.

Penglai Island originally possessed a ninth-grade spiritual ley line, and Yingzhou Island, which was initially an eighth-grade spiritual ley line, had recovered to a ninth-grade spiritual ley line after the Celestial Void Immortal Herb was plucked.

The Three Mountains descended, suppressing all enemies!

Ao Ling was repeatedly struck by the three immortal mountains, causing her to vomit blood. The Mountain and River Lord relentlessly pursued her, like a persistent ailment. Tightly gripping his spear, he leaped with borrowed force, skillfully maneuvering around her dragon body. His spear tip condensed the embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit, and scarlet dragon blood rained down, dyeing the night sky red.

The three immortal mountains rose and fell, stirring up colossal waves and a mist of blood. Ao Ling's black dragon body was battered and bleeding profusely.

"That's it!" The Mountain and River Lord's eyes blazed with bloodlust. This was his old habit: once he attacked, it was a fight to the death. This was how he had forged his formidable reputation during the Great Qian era, his fearsome name known across the land.

"Immortal Fairy, is Senior Ao Ling truly alright?" Lu Yang's eye twitched at the sight; it looked like she was about to lose.

Immortal Fairy indeed wore an interested smile, looking as if she was enjoying a good show. "Do you truly believe Xiao Ling is at a disadvantage?" she asked.

"Isn't she?" Lu Yang thought to himself. "Senior Ao Ling has been beaten like this; can she really turn the tide?"

"Hehe, have you forgotten about her embryonic form of the Dao Fruit?"

Lu Yang suddenly remembered: Ao Ling wielded the embryonic form of the Survival of the Fittest Dao Fruit!

As the Young Master and the Lord of Heaven spoke, the balance of victory began to shift.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Daoist Three Mountains had a persistent feeling that despite Ao Ling's heavy injuries, her aura was not only not diminishing but actually showed a tendency to increase.

"Power of the Three Mountains!"

The three mountains pressed down on Ao Ling, pinning her in place. Only then did Daoist Three Mountains feel a slight sense of security.

Suddenly, as if infused with new power, Ao Ling arched her dragon spine and overturned the three mountains pressing down on her!

Daoist Three Mountains' eyes widened in shock. Wasn't Ao Ling heavily injured? How could she still possess such power?

Her massive dragon eyes held a hint of a smile, reflecting the astonished and uncertain expressions of the two Half-Immortals.

"Have you had enough fighting?"

The black dragon turned over, her body radiating a soft, sacred glow as her injuries rapidly healed.

"This is impossible!"

The Mountain and River Lord cried out in shock. Most of Ao Ling's injuries had been inflicted by his embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit, which devoured on a soul level, not something that could be easily repaired!

Ao Ling remained unmoved. Her massive dragon claw struck, intent on suppressing the two under it.

"If you've had enough fighting, it's my turn!"

"No, the Devouring Vortex!"

The Mountain and River Lord activated his embryonic form of the Devouring Dao Fruit, intending to devour Ao Ling's dragon claw. However, the massive claw simply shattered the devouring vortex, its force undiminished, as it moved to suppress the two Half-Immortals!

The Mountain and River Lord held the bone spear horizontally across his chest, but it was still shattered by the dragon's claw. The bone spear, which had accompanied him through countless Half-Immortal battles without significant damage, was now surprisingly broken with such ease by the dragon claw.

"This is an Immortal's body!"

The Mountain and River Lord's face was filled with disbelief. The dragon claw's ability to crush the devouring vortex and shatter the bone spear wasn't due to any special technique, but purely an overwhelming physical suppression!

Ao Ling possessed the embryonic form of the Survival of the Fittest Dao Fruit; as long as she was attacked and did not die, she would become stronger.

In other words, the longer the battle progressed, the stronger she became!

But as fellow Half-Immortals, how could they possibly defeat her at the very beginning?!

Daoist Three Mountains could wish to strengthen his body to the peak of the Tribulation-Crossing stage, but Ao Ling could break through the limits of the Tribulation-Crossing stage and ascend to an Immortal's body!

If Ao Ling were to ascend to an Immortal's body, even the Qilin Immortal in his Half-Immortal stage would not be able to defeat her!