Chapter 217: The Black Dragon Oblivion Seal!

Tick-tock!

In the pitch-black space, the faint sound of a single drop of blood hitting the ground, though subtle, echoed distinctly in the profound silence.

Yang Yan’s face chilled completely.

The man in black was truly strange—he had managed to silently infiltrate underground and launch an attack. Had Yang Yan not reacted swiftly and summoned the formidable Supreme Profound Heaven Technique, a powerful body-strengthening martial art, that strike from the black-clad assailant might very well have ended his life outright!

From the darkness came a low, muffled grunt. The black mist drifting in the space began to dissipate slightly. It was clear that although the black-clad man had nearly slain Yang Yan with his covert attack, the palm strike Yang Yan had delivered—imbued with the power of the Great Yin within his body—had inflicted some injury in return.

“What a peculiar fellow, responding so quickly. It seems that Old Hu really did die at your hands alone!”

A cold, emotionless voice drifted through the swirling black space. From its tone, Yang Yan could sense the fluctuations in the man’s aura, disturbed by the palm strike earlier. Though the black-clad man struggled to suppress his internal injuries, Yang Yan’s keen soul perception had not missed a thing.

As the voice faded, the black mist enveloping Yang Yan began to thin, revealing the shadowed terrain beneath. At that moment, a scarlet sun burst over the horizon, its pale red halo cutting through the sky and casting a warm glow upon the forest.

Suddenly, the pitch-black mist shattered completely, and the surroundings came back into Yang Yan’s view.

A thunderous roar!

Following the direction of the earth-shaking sound, Yang Yan’s gaze fell upon Blue Snow, who was howling defiantly. The beast was locked in a fierce struggle with two other men dressed in black. Judging by the situation, Blue Snow appeared to be slightly on the back foot.

Although Blue Snow’s strength neared its peak—a formidable edge bolstered by his innate magical beast physique—facing two peak-level Tongling Realm cultivators simultaneously was a severe challenge. Moreover, those two clearly possessed a higher level of skill than Old Hu whom Yang Yan had encountered before. They seemed adept at coordinated attacks, making them virtually invincible beneath the Linhai Realm.

Previously, in the Duanyun Mountain Range, Blue Snow had slain four elders of the Yin Puppet Sect, including their sect leader Tang Zhen. However, Tang Zhen had already been severely weakened after repeated battles with Yang Yan, his spiritual power nearly exhausted and body badly injured. This allowed Blue Snow to dispatch him with ease.

Now, the circumstances were different. Each of the two opponents before Blue Snow surpassed Tang Zhen’s strength individually, and their combined might multiplied their threat exponentially. Their combat prowess was truly formidable.

Though Blue Snow seemed slightly disadvantaged, it was unrealistic for the two to defeat him quickly. Upon assessing the battlefield, Yang Yan exhaled a breath of relief and then turned his gaze coldly toward the lead black-clad man standing not far away.

If he could take down this figure, Blue Snow’s predicament would naturally resolve itself. The outcome of the battle hinged on Yang Yan and that leader.

“Not planning to hide like a turtle anymore?”

Yang Yan’s eyes narrowed coldly as he stared at the black-clad man, lightly brushing the jagged scar on his cheek. His voice was icy.

The man in black remained silent. His face looked pale, and the arm behind his back trembled slightly. A strange black mist-like spiritual energy continuously surged from his spiritual core, weaving itself around the faint blue strands of spiritual power enveloping his body.

Though outwardly calm, turmoil roiled within him. Not only had Yang Yan reacted quickly and dodged his lethal strike, but that palm strike to his chest had been unexpected.

At the moment of contact, a chilling, terrifying spiritual force invaded his chest like sharp icy needles piercing his meridians. This force spread throughout his body, disrupting the flow of his spiritual energy like an icy freeze.

This phenomenon shocked the man deeply. He was a rare dark-attributed spiritual body, and even among equals, none had ever managed to suppress his spiritual power in battle. Yet this seemingly casual palm strike from a mere teenager had subdued his beloved spiritual energy—how could he not be astonished?

After his failed underground ambush, he realized that such assassination tactics no longer threatened this boy. Any secret attack would alert him, and other approaches would not escape his keen soul perception. Moreover, maintaining the darkness around them drained his spiritual energy significantly.

The man in black simply stepped out of the shadow space to face Yang Yan directly.

Before that, however, he had to expel the lingering pale blue spiritual energy from his body; otherwise, it would hinder his control in the upcoming battle.

Within moments, as he concentrated all his spiritual power, the Great Yin energy previously coursing through him was gradually dispelled by the overwhelming assault of his own dark spiritual energy.

Though he stood silently, Yang Yan’s sharp soul perception detected the man’s condition. The fact that he could purge the Great Yin energy so quickly startled him.

Yang Yan hadn’t expected the dark-attributed spiritual energy to be so formidable.

Though his own Great Yin True Body was rare—few had survived even tens of thousands of years with it—the dark spiritual body was no pushover either.

Yang Yan was certain that if his opponent had been a peak Tongling cultivator with an ordinary spiritual body, it would have taken at least tens of minutes to purge the Great Yin energy from within. In that time, Yang Yan would have held the upper hand, forcing his enemy to defend against both his direct attacks and the oppressive cold energy that expelled the Yin power.

But the black-clad man, with his special dark spiritual body, had cleared it in under three minutes.

Though Yang Yan’s palm strike had slightly injured him earlier, it seemed to have little impact on the coming duel.

Yang Yan knew he faced an unprecedented battle.

Before, when he was only in the Perceptive Spirit Realm, he had fought Long Aodi, who possessed a special ice-attributed spiritual body during the Qingxuan Sect’s disciple selection. That battle ended decisively in Yang Yan’s favor, as the Great Yin power was stronger than ice attributes.

Having experienced combat with a special spiritual body before, Yang Yan had previously underestimated other such beings, confident his Great Yin True Body could overwhelm them.

But now, his disdain was tempered.

Though he had sensed some of the dark attribute’s peculiarity from Ji Wuyue, their relationship then was not adversarial. Their interaction was more akin to a spiritual fusion, and Yang Yan was immersed in pleasure rather than analysis.

Facing an enemy with an innate dark spiritual body, even a single exchange revealed the tenacity of that dark energy.

Aware of this, Yang Yan had no intention of holding back. Blue Snow’s situation was not looking good.

Suddenly, Yang Yan’s hand swept over his dimensional bag, and a dazzling golden greatsword appeared in his palm. It was clearly a treasure-grade magical weapon obtained earlier at the auction.

Though treasure-grade weapons were rare and precious to ordinary Tongling cultivators, Yang Yan’s weapon-crafting skills had steadily improved. Along his journey, he had encountered legendary pure spiritual treasures, so treasure-grade weapons no longer held the same awe for him.

His only regret was revealing the Water Jade Willow Saber earlier.

Yang Yan had long favored swords. Though the Water Jade Willow Saber was called a saber, its slender form made it function more like a sword. His water-attributed spiritual core was now perfected, making the blade highly efficient.

As for the Moonshadow Frost, though Yang Yan liked it and had begun to sense its uniqueness with his growing power, it remained a low-grade high-level spiritual weapon. Such a weapon no longer provided much advantage to him.

A full restoration of Moonshadow Frost would require it to reach treasure-grade quality.

Yang Yan always kept the restoration of Moonshadow Frost in mind. He had gathered some necessary materials from the auction and ruins.

After leaving the Saint Spirit Tower, he had planned to consult President Frank of the Forging Guild about the last few materials needed. Given Frank’s influence in the Feiyun Empire and the guild’s reach, acquiring them would not be difficult.

Once the materials were complete, Yang Yan could ask Frank, the champion of the Forging Competition who had secured the Saint Spirit Tower’s use rights for three years, for help with the restoration—an offer Frank would likely not refuse.

However, the troublesome arrival of agents from the Tianlong Empire had forced Yang Yan to abandon these plans and leave the guild hastily. Thus, the restoration had to be postponed.

Firstly, he had not yet collected all materials. Secondly, Elder Yang had only just recovered and could not expend much energy assisting him.

Forging was a taxing art, and though restoration sounded simple, Elder Yang had explained that Moonshadow Frost’s current state was less than a tenth of its prime.

This hinted at the terrifying power it once wielded—surpassing treasure-grade and reaching imperial-grade.

Yang Yan’s own forging abilities were growing. Though he could craft high-grade spiritual weapons and was close to treasure-grade, crossing that threshold was incredibly difficult.

Many in the empire could forge high-grade spiritual weapons, but few could craft treasure-grade ones—far fewer by dozens of times.

This gap explained why treasure-grade weapons were so rare and valuable, worth far more than dozens of spiritual weapons.

Despite his status and strength, Yang Yan could easily obtain a treasure-grade sword-like weapon, but he sensed an inexplicable bond with Moonshadow Frost, as if their destinies were intertwined.

Though unclear why, an inner voice told him Moonshadow Frost would prove great use in the future.

Perhaps because of this special connection, he had held onto Moonshadow Frost even after his magic fist had shattered many high-grade spiritual weapons.

“Devouring Back Demon Fist!”

Yang Yan’s cold shout shattered the silence. The golden greatsword in his palm began to glow brilliantly, radiating light that surged into his arm.

In the blink of an eye, his ordinarily unremarkable arm swelled to more than twice its size, its skin turning a metallic golden hue, exuding an impenetrable, steel-like texture.

It was incredible—he could forcibly absorb the spiritual energy from his weapon and transform it for his own use!

Not far before Yang Yan, the black-clad man noticed the change instantly. His perceptive gaze caught the energy fluctuations flowing through Yang Yan’s arm, matching perfectly with the golden energy of the greatsword.

As the golden power poured into the blade, Yang Yan’s own Great Yin energy gathered within his arm like a thousand rivers converging into a sea.

With the infusion of Great Yin power, pale blue strands snaked over the golden arm, resembling bulging veins that intensified the oppressive aura emanating from Yang Yan’s arm.

Seeing this terrifying power, the black-clad man’s face paled entirely.

He vaguely sensed the terrifying strength Yang Yan was about to unleash. Knowing Blue Snow’s condition was poor, it was clear the youth sought a swift victory—an intention they shared.

But dawn was breaking. Though remote, the commotion might attract powerful passersby. Relations between the Tianlong and Feiyun Empires were hostile; if one found strong enemies within their territory, they would aid their own.

Hence, the black-clad man intended to end the battle quickly. Since Yang Yan already revealed his trump card, there was no need for concealment.

“Black Dragon Annihilation Seal!”

A cold roar burst forth. In the man’s palm appeared a black seal, as dark as ink, about the size of a palm, shaped like a perfect square.

At the center of the seal was a bizarre, profoundly dark black dragon. Upon closer look, the seal’s blackness was a reflection of the small black dragon within.

“This is the Black Dragon Annihilation Seal, held by the Tianlong Empire’s royal family. It’s a mid-grade treasure. You might as well rest in peace beneath it!”

The black-clad man sneered with murderous intent, clutching the black seal.

A mid-grade treasure!

Yang Yan’s face showed shock. Though the difference between low and mid-grade treasures might seem slight, it was immense.

None of the treasures Yang Yan had acquired—from auctions or raids—were mid-grade. They were all top-grade treasures.

Even Frank, a fifth-grade forging master, would find crafting a mid-grade treasure challenging.

Yang Yan’s sharp soul perception detected the terrifying energy pressure radiating from the black seal. Its power rivaled the pure spiritual treasures he had obtained in the ruins.

This opponent was far stronger than those he faced before. The mid-grade treasure would unleash the black-clad man’s full might, increasing his combat power by three to four tiers.

Such a terrifying boost made even Yang Yan silently marvel.

“This Black Dragon Annihilation Seal isn’t just mid-grade; it has an affinity for dark-attributed spiritual energy. Its power in my hands far exceeds that of others. But most importantly...”

The man paused, his eyes flashing icy coldly.

“It comes with a corresponding treasure martial technique! Now, let me show you its true power!”

With a cold laugh, he ceased all pretense. Dark, ink-like spiritual energy surged into his palm. The black seal trembled as rings of dark light rippled outward from his hand.

Trees within the affected area vanished as if erased from existence, leaving a vast clearing amid the once lush forest.

More strangely, the black dragon within the seal moved as if alive—darting back and forth like a fish in water, seeming poised to break free.

Black Dragon Roar!

As spiritual energy poured in, the black-clad man’s face turned deathly pale. Even for him, wielding a mid-grade treasure consumed great energy.

Despite his poor condition, a confident smirk of inevitable victory crept across his face.

As his voice fell, the black dragon burst forth from the seal. A thunderous dragon roar echoed as the beast expanded into a colossal black dragon about five or six meters long, baring fangs and claws, roaring skyward.

An overwhelming sense of pressure instantly swept over Yang Yan from head to toe!

(End of chapter)