The intelligence obtained by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was inaccurate.
Chén Xīn only knew that there was a Jiányìlóng (Swordwing Dragon) in the Thunder Canyon with an age between 1,500 and 2,000 years, but he didn't realize that this Jiányìlóng was actually the offspring of a 50,000-year-old Swordwing Dragon King.
When Kē Jié found the Jiányìlóng and was about to strike, unexpectedly, the Dragon King suddenly appeared.
Caught off guard, he was nearly severely injured. Fortunately, his Celestial Chessboard (Tiān Qióng Qípán) was large enough to block the attack for him.
The strength of a 50,000-year-old spirit beast is roughly equivalent to that of a human Soul Douluo. Moreover, since Kē Jié was a control-type soul master, he lacked killing techniques. Although he could restrain the opponent, that was the limit.
"Damn those Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family! How could they not inform us in advance of the Swordwing Dragon King's existence?" Kē Jié cursed everyone in the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family in his heart.
This was their territory—how could they not know about the Dragon King's presence?
Perhaps, they were planning to use this opportunity to trap and kill Níng Tiānchén.
If it weren't for Níng Róngróng insisting on coming, Kē Jié wouldn't have been sent out. With Chén Xīn's swordsmanship, dealing with the Dragon King would be no problem.
But if the fight became too intense, other spirit beasts would come to assist.
Surrounded by multiple forces, Chén Xīn's strength might handle it, but Níng Tiānchén would have no chance of survival.
"The Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family is truly vicious. Fortunately, the young lady sees through it clearly," Kē Jié was furious inside.
Even if the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family actually did this, they would never admit it. Even if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect demanded accountability later, they could come up with all kinds of excuses.
This matter must be reported to the sect leader immediately, to expose the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family's ugly face!
...
About the time of burning an incense stick, Chén Xīn arrived with Níng Tiānchén and the others.
Upon seeing the Swordwing Dragon King, Chén Xīn immediately guessed the trick of the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family.
He snorted lightly, then placed Níng Tiānchén and the others in a safe area far from the battlefield.
"Tiānchén, hide well. Róngróng's safety now depends on you," Chén Xīn said solemnly, patting his shoulder.
Then he rushed to the battlefield to provide support.
The Thunder Canyon wasn't large, so the commotion quickly attracted the attention of other spirit beasts.
Among the spirit beasts raised by the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family, two thunder dragons with ages of 70,000 and 65,000 years had already arrived above the battlefield.
To avoid prolonged complications, Chén Xīn immediately manifested his Martial Soul true form.
Níng Tiānchén, hiding in the safe zone, had no idea he had been set up by the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family. His eyes were sharp as he stared intently at Chén Xīn in midair.
"'Killing' Sword Technique of the Seven Kill Sword!"
The "Killing" Sword Technique is one of the Seven Kill Sword's most powerful sword forms, and learning it requires at least the strength of a Soul Saint.
Two consecutive "Killing" strikes completely nullified the attacks of the two thunder dragons.
"Sword Grandpa is amazing!" Níng Róngróng couldn't help but applaud.
After so long, this was the first time Níng Tiānchén had seen Chén Xīn give his full effort. He stared without blinking, afraid of missing a learning opportunity.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled—something was about to burrow out from underground.
Níng Tiānchén snapped back to attention, the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul appeared, and two yellow spirit rings floated around him.
"Second Soul Skill: Dragon Sword Guard!"
The Seven Kill Sword was stabbed into the ground, and with his soul power, it transformed into thousands of spiritual swords, forming a sword qi protective barrier that wrapped around the two of them.
Níng Róngróng, watching the battle, noticed Níng Tiānchén's soul skill and immediately summoned her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul.
From beneath the ground, a 600-year-old Earth Dragon (earthworm-like) emerged. Its disc-shaped maw was filled with several rows of sharp teeth. It bit down on the barrier but did not break through.
"Such a disgusting spirit beast! Tiānchén, quickly deal with it!" Níng Róngróng exclaimed, her face pale.
"An Earth Dragon spirit beast with 600 years of cultivation? There must be some special opportunity here," Níng Tiānchén analyzed internally.
He had learned from the sect academy that Earth Dragons usually only had decades of cultivation at most. Without natural enemies, if they lived long enough, they might become century-old spirit beasts.
But that was the limit for this kind of spirit beast. Having 600 years of cultivation was simply impossible.
The size of the beast before him was already enough to swallow an adult whole.
"Róngróng, boost me!" he shouted.
Drawing his sword from the ground with a shout, Níng Tiānchén charged at the Earth Dragon.
The two yellow spirit rings around Níng Róngróng's feet shimmered as she chanted, "Seven Treasures rotate out glazed tiles; Seven Treasures are famed: one for strength, two for speed."
The two beams of seven-colored light entered Níng Tiānchén's body, increasing his strength and speed by 30%.
Seeing "food" approaching, the Earth Dragon's rear half emerged from the ground, intending to strike with its tail to severely injure and then swallow its opponent.
"First Soul Skill: Azure Dragon Smash."
Sword qi surged out, forming the phantom of an Azure Dragon.
As his soul power level rose, the power of this first soul skill increased significantly.
The sword qi struck the Earth Dragon's body, effortlessly cutting through its hardened carapace and slicing its body into two halves.
Earth Dragons are quite special spirit beasts. Normally, if a spirit beast's body is cut in two, survival is nearly impossible. But the two halves of the Earth Dragon, as if having gained independent consciousness, simultaneously attacked Níng Tiānchén.
Although only one half could survive long-term after being severed, for a short time, Níng Tiānchén undoubtedly had to face "two Earth Dragons" at once.
With flowing and spinning movements—light, steady, and fast.
Combining footwork with swordsmanship, Níng Tiānchén had already mastered this after five years of training.
His steps were swift and fierce, moving like a gentle breeze yet as steady as a mountain.
The Seven Kill Sword swung out a sword light that seemed like a breeze with no visible sword.
For a moment, the two Earth Dragons lost their target, their attacks failing to land on Níng Tiānchén.
The sword light struck their bodies again, cutting them into halves once more.
Earth Dragons cannot split infinitely. After being severed once, their bodies completely lose vitality.
A yellow spirit ring emerged from one half of the body.
Seeing the crisis resolved, Níng Róngróng finally relaxed and curiously examined the Earth Dragon's corpse.
"Tiānchén, is this really an Earth Dragon? How can such a spirit beast have such a high age?"
Níng Tiānchén did not answer. At this moment, he still dared not lower his guard.
The blood scent from the slain Earth Dragon could easily attract other spirit beasts. The urgent priority was to move away immediately.
...
Chén Xīn observed this scene on the ground.
At first, he intended to intervene and support, but seeing Níng Tiānchén remain calm and effectively respond to the Earth Dragon's attack, he felt relieved.
Níng Tiānchén's soul power had reached level 30—ordinary thousand-year spirit beasts were no match for him.
Retracting his gaze, Chén Xīn's attention shifted to Kē Jié.
At this moment, Kē Jié was surrounded by multiple spirit beasts aged up to 50,000 years.
Thanks to the special properties of the Celestial Chessboard, he was barely holding the situation steady.
But if the battle dragged on, the outcome was uncertain.