MTLNOVEL Chapter 269: Split Open!
Passing Swift.
Since Li Zheng began studying the Zhan family swordsmanship, this has been his most skillful move.
After receiving Zhan Zhouzhou's guidance, this move progressed significantly, with its power increasing by more than a notch.
This sword technique, which appears to be just a simple thrust, actually hides profound mysteries.
Li Zheng used to think that as long as it was fast, accurate, and ruthless, he could fully unleash this move's power.
But Zhan Zhouzhou taught otherwise.
Straightforward moves can never be too profound, nor are they recorded in sword manuals refined over generations.
At this moment, the Passing Swift move Li Zheng executed was less sharp and unyielding compared to before, yet more unpredictable.
No matter how the opponent blocked, this sword seemed to be able to break through all obstacles and strike the yellow dragon.
Pfft!
The Earth Dragon swung its massive tail in front of it, and the Diamond Level sheathed sword pierced through the scales on the tail, delving into the flesh.
"Roar!"
The Earth Dragon winced in pain, its lack of agility making it hard for it to turn around, so it could only swing its massive tail to swat at Li Zheng.
"Yan Suifeng!"
Li Zheng's sword stance shifted, and he seemed to merge with the sheathed sword in his hand, swaying along the dragon's swinging tail.
Splat!
The massive tail struck a nearby tree trunk. Li Zheng, as if struck by lightning, was flung out by the rebound force, and the sheathed sword was also pulled out.
"Damn it, I messed up!" In mid-air, Li Zheng activated his flying device, feeling deeply vexed.
This "Yan Suifeng" move he had just learned was not yet fully mastered. If it were Zhan Zhouzhou, he would never have been flung out by the rebound force.
Crackling—
Boom!
The Earth Dragon's tail swipe knocked down the trees, scattering branches and leaves everywhere.
"Awooo!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
"Poli!"
Thud thud thud~
Little Sakura and Pink Poli also joined the battle, with Flying Rock Bombs darting through the falling debris like raindrops, hitting the Earth Dragon with little effect.
Transformed into a muscular Monster Fist, Pink Poli unleashed a barrage of punches, striking the Earth Dragon's body with power similar to the Flying Rock Bombs.
Li Zheng adjusted his posture: "Little Sakura, fall back."
On command, Little Sakura ceased the attack and quickly retreated with Pink Poli, flying in circles to seek an opportunity.
The Earth Ridge Piercing is Little Sakura's strongest ability right now, but it's perfectly countered by the Earth Dragon. If used rashly, it would just waste Original Force.
Using the weakest Flying Rock Bomb was because of better control, aiming at critical points like the Earth's Dragon's eyes. Even if it couldn't break through the defense, it could delay temporarily.
Li Zheng had already adjusted. Stepping to the side, awaiting the right moment to use Earth Ridge Piercing was a better choice.
Pink Poli lifted its Monster Fist, transforming into a thin membrane in front of Little Sakura, preventing any long-range attacks from the Earth Dragon from causing harm to Little Sakura.
The sheathed sword flicked off a few drops of the Earth Dragon's blood, as Li Zheng increased the output of the flying device, piercing through the falling leaves to attack the Earth Dragon once more.
Taking advantage of the moment when Li Zheng was flung away, the Earth Dragon finally turned around to face him.
Behind it, a bloody hole was stabbed in the tail, with blood gurgling out, soaking the scales and ground.
Seeing Li Zheng charging towards it, a heavy expression flashed in the Earth Dragon's pale yellow eyes, realizing that the weapon could pierce its scales, suggesting the creature before it had the power to kill it.
If not more cautious, today might be its last day!
"Roar~"
Li Zheng's speed was incredibly fast, already within reach, as the Earth Dragon let out a furious cry, with a rich pale yellow light flashing across its body surface.
A thick rock armor covered the scales, enhancing its defense, but making its movements even more sluggish.
Rock Armor!
This ability could drape a high-defense rock armor over its body surface, but the heavy armor would also hinder its own actions, so it wouldn't usually be activated unless necessary.
Upon releasing its last ability, Li Zheng roughly figured out the true strength of the Earth Dragon.
"Ice and Fire Attachment - Ice Element - Full-Power Activation!"
The blue chill intensified abruptly as the Genetic Force rapidly drained like pumping water, and the temperature around Li Zheng dropped further.
The cold wave arrived, condensing the moisture in the air instantly into dense ice crystals that fell.
The surroundings seemed to rise with a layer of thin mist from thin air, with Li Zheng at the center of it.
As Li Zheng flew, ice crystals spread toward the Earth Dragon, falling densely on it and wedging into the crevices of the Rock Armor.
Li Zheng didn't attack immediately but evaded the Earth Dragon's biting and flew around it for several laps.
Until the "mist" around him thinned to invisibility, the chill vanished abruptly.
"Ice and Fire Attachment - Fire Element!"
In an instant, the world turned fiery red, with towering flames rising and the temperature soaring from below zero to several hundred degrees.
The dense ice beads instantly reverted to vapor, making the surroundings like a steamer, with the extreme heat scorching everything into a dry yellow.
As the water vapor steamed, Li Zheng's figure vanished completely from the Earth Dragon's sight.
The tropical rainforest was filled with vegetation, and although the Earth Dragon cleared a small open area with its rampage earlier, it couldn't hide the scorching heat's power.
Several bushes nearby caught fire from the high temperatures, and the fire spread with a crackling sound.
But Li Zheng's aim wasn't to set the mountain ablaze; he merely used the massive water vapor to conceal himself.
The annoying sound of the flying device suddenly disappeared, leaving the Earth Dragon momentarily bewildered.
In the next moment, the flames vanished, leaving only a fleeting sword shadow in the mist.
Shh!
A faint sound, like someone tearing cloth from the mist or enduring holding back a long-suppressed fart.
Li Zheng's figure appeared in the mist, surrounded by pale blue chill, extinguishing the barely ignited basic flame.
At this moment, his hands were empty without a weapon.
When the steaming vapor once again solidified into falling ice crystals, the Earth Dragon lay motionless on the ground.
In the depths of its right eye socket, a round-hilted longsword was thrust in, with its intact left eye already losing its luster.
"This move, Bird Back to the Forest, resembles a hidden weapon technique; how did it end up in the sword manual?" Li Zheng shook his head indifferently, slapping the Earth Dragon's body.
Decompose!
[Decomposing the Earth Dragon, obtained: Intact Earth Dragon Eye +1, Flawed Earth Dragon Crystal Core +1, Fresh Earth Dragon Meat +50, Earth Dragon Essence Blood 500ml, Earth Dragon Heart +1, Tough Earth Dragon Scale +200, Flexible Earth Dragon Skin +100, Earth Dragon Skeleton +100]
"Flawed Earth Dragon Crystal Core?" Li Zheng noted this prompt and quickly retrieved the newly decomposed items from his capsule to check the attributes.
[Flawed Earth Dragon Crystal Core
Tier: Diamond
Function: For pet consumption, with a weak chance to inherit an Earth Dragon's ability.
Opus: Originally good, until someone pierced it from the outside, and it... cracked!]
"The chance turned into a weak chance..." Upon reading the additional description from Opus, Li Zheng immediately understood why this Earth Dragon Crystal Core was flawed.
"Oh~ damn!"
A perfectly good diamond-level item was wasted by himself, leaving Li Zheng breathless.
However, after checking the attributes of the other items, he found himself even more heartbroken.