Chapter 870: The Intersection of Heaven and Sea

Everyone present, from ordinary aquatic creatures to true dragons and other immortal cultivators among the guests, was astonished by the phoenix's speed. It was as if, while they flew, the distant landscape was actively drawing closer to them.

Half a day later, many aquatic creatures already sensed the abundant moisture in the distance and soon saw a vast expanse of blue. Under the phoenix's incredible speed, in the very next moment, they found themselves above a boundless ocean.

All the dragon kin and aquatic creatures instinctively sensed the ocean. They quickly discovered that while the sea mist was abundant, its vital essence was not rich. It was also difficult to detect the presence of very powerful aquatic creatures within the sea. This situation easily led them to believe the aquatic species here were weak.

"Everyone," the phoenix's melodious voice carried to all, "we will reach the Wutong tree where I reside in less than half an hour. The primordial energy there is the most abundant in the world, making it more suitable for a magical duel."

The phoenix's beautiful voice reached everyone's ears, and its flight speed increased slightly. At the same time, everyone understood that even though the phoenix's flight was unbelievably fast, reaching the Wutong tree in such a short time indicated that this world was not very large.

A resonant cry echoed.

A phoenix cry echoed over the sea, traveling far across the waters. More and more avian demon creatures rose into the sky from the scattered islands. Streams of colorful light filled the air, and birdsong erupted, seemingly in welcome of the true phoenix's arrival. At the edge of their vision, an incredibly massive Wutong tree came into view.

Yin Zhaoxian and some officials from the Great Zhen were extremely excited, having seen the enormous Wutong tree described in "Discourse on Birds." The Dragon Girl, too, found it hard to remain calm, knowing that she was finally about to face Ji Yuan.

The Dragon Girl, of course, felt completely unprepared, but she was determined to use everything she had cultivated throughout her life in this encounter.

The phoenix directly led all the Dragon Palace masters and guests towards the Wutong tree in the sea, simultaneously broadcasting its voice to the avian creatures.

"Today, guests have arrived from afar. I wish to borrow this place for them to engage in a magical duel. The two combatants are a true immortal and a true dragon. All avian creatures may land on the Wutong tree to observe."

Phoenix Danyue knew that the cultivation levels of the two combatants were extraordinary, so it might not be safe for the avian creatures to observe from afar. It was better for them all to gather on the Wutong tree.

As these words fell, the sky became a cacophony of birdsong and cries from avian demons. The flock pursued the phoenix and the streaks of light behind it, flying together towards the Wutong tree.

Soon, all the foreign guests and the oceanic birds landed on the Wutong tree with the phoenix. The divine Wutong tree, standing thirty thousand *chi* high above the sea, still had ample space at its top.

Danyue had already transformed into a handsome man, though faint traces of five-colored aurora still lingered around him. In his hand, he held a book, precisely the "Phoenix Seeks Mate" that Ji Yuan had lent him earlier.

"Please make yourselves comfortable, everyone; there's no need to worry about the Wutong tree," Danyue said. "Mr. Ji, please begin."

Having spoken, Danyue sat down, opened a musical score, and began reading, clearly showing no interest in the impending duel.

Everyone else, including the avian demon beasts and other monsters, began finding suitable Wutong branches to sit or stand on. Only Ji Yuan and Ying Ruoli stood opposite each other on a thick branch.

"Uncle Ji," the Dragon Girl said, "this is a wonderful place, and we don't need to hold back. Please enlighten me with your guidance!"

As she spoke, the Dragon Girl bowed to Ji Yuan, who, without standing on ceremony, returned the bow.

"Please!"

With that, Ji Yuan and Ying Ruoli simultaneously transformed into streaks of light, each shooting towards a different part of the sky.

The Dragon Girl let out a soft hum, offering no further pleasantries. She flung out a claw, and a massive illusory dragon claw shot towards Ji Yuan. In Ji Yuan's eyes, this illusion seemed to constantly grow larger, arriving before him in an instant with a terrifying tearing aura, clearly a manifestation of profound power.

Ji Yuan did not evade. With a flick of his sleeve, he used the spatial magic of his vast sleeve to "bang" the illusory dragon claw aside. In the next instant, his form gradually faded, then reappeared before the Dragon Girl, shrunken by the sky-wind, and he thrust his sword-finger directly at her shoulder.

This close-quarters martial move greatly surprised the Dragon Girl; she had expected Uncle Ji to favor grand divine abilities. However, the sword-finger strike was too fast for her to ponder much. She extended her hand into a claw to meet Ji Yuan's sword-finger.

"Clang!"

Their hands clashed, producing a metallic clang. Although the Dragon Girl blocked Ji Yuan's sword-finger, a wave of sword intent constantly surged forth, forcing her to dodge.

"Rumble..."

A vast section of the ocean below parted, as if sliced by an invisible longsword.

Ying Ruoli also frowned slightly from the stinging sensation in her hand, but her movements were relentless. She continuously engaged Ji Yuan in close combat for a short period. While no grand divine abilities collided, the sword intent from Ji Yuan and the sharp energy from her dragon claws caused the surrounding sky-wind to howl, as if the outermost layer of gale-force winds had descended upon the sea. The ocean below surged with crashing waves.

The Dragon Girl's eyes had taken on an amber hue. Under such a rapid assault, she, as a true dragon, gained no advantage whatsoever and frequently felt a stinging pain from the sword intent. She constantly blocked Ji Yuan's fingertips with her dragon claws but was completely unable to touch any other part of his body, causing her to feel a sudden surge of impatience.

"Aooooh—"

With a single dragon roar, the Dragon Girl displayed no other casting gestures, nor much fluctuation in her magical power. Yet, on the ocean surface below, towering waves had already formed in the distance, their height surpassing even Ji Yuan's and the Dragon Girl's current elevation, like a giant hand slapping down from the horizon.

The Dragon Girl's hand movements became more intense now, using both hands and feet to continuously try to pin Ji Yuan down and prevent his escape. A few breaths later, the colossal wave surged forward. Ji Yuan swept his sleeve backward, instantly creating distance between himself and the Dragon Girl. Just as he was about to ascend, a fan appeared in the Dragon Girl's hand.

Uncle Ji might hold back, but the Dragon Girl would spare no effort. She channeled her full magical power and sharply fanned it.

"Whoosh..."

A great wind, far more terrifying and powerful than any celestial gale, swept in. Like a vast, dark wall of wind, it directly pushed Ji Yuan downwards to a lower position. The next moment, the massive wave struck, enveloping him like a descending curtain.

"Rumble..."

The colossal wave completely submerged Ji Yuan.

Those sitting on the Wutong tree kept a close eye on the duel. After the colossal wave passed, Ji Yuan's figure was nowhere to be seen. However, no one believed the Dragon Girl had gained an advantage. The Dragon Girl stood atop a vast expanse of water, her hands forming incantations, ready to counter Ji Yuan's inevitable retaliation.

A mist appeared in the sky, and Ji Yuan's figure seemed to step out of it. At that very instant, the Dragon Girl had already stretched her arms towards the heavens.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Dozens of massive water dragons burst forth from the waves beneath her feet. They had scales and claws and exuded draconic might. The imposing power of each one stunned everyone present as they charged with wild force towards Ji Yuan in the sky.

Ji Yuan moved as if effortlessly, stepping on the sky, dodging the rapid bites of the numerous water dragons within a small area. Sometimes he was even forced to wave his sleeve to block, splashing countless water droplets. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Ying Ruoli, who was clearly preparing a more powerful divine ability.

"Be careful!"

Ji Yuan's indifferent voice rang out. He then pointed a sword-finger towards the Wutong tree, then swept his hand upwards towards the sky.

"Zing—"

The Green Vine Sword, held by Zao Niang, hummed. A white arc, faster than a meteor, shot into the sky. At this moment, everyone, including the Dragon Girl, felt a jolt in their hearts, sensing that Ji Yuan was about to get serious.

However, the Green Vine Sword did not strike towards the Dragon Girl, nor did it head directly for Ji Yuan. Instead, it continued to ascend, surpassing both Ji Yuan's and the Dragon Girl's height in an instant, yet still climbing higher.

'Could it be...'

Some ghosts, gods, and those familiar with Ji Yuan's swordsmanship already had a hint of understanding, accompanied by strong anticipation.

As Ji Yuan's sword-finger continuously moved upwards and the Green Vine Sword climbed higher and higher, the artistic conception within Ji Yuan unfolded with the sword's momentum. The flowing clouds and boundless energy in the sky moved with the Green Vine Sword, as if winds and clouds were gathering, making the firmament restless. Despite the clear, boundless sky, it felt as though infinite suppression was converging at the horizon.

"Ruoli, take my sword art!"

Ji Yuan reminded her again as his body rapidly ascended. The numerous water dragons below barely managed to pursue him at his feet. Then, in the next moment, Ji Yuan's sword-finger ceased moving upwards and instead swept downwards.

"Boom—"

There was no thunderous sound in the sky, but in everyone's hearts, something terrifying seemed to explode. At the same instant, the Green Vine Immortal Sword descended from the heavens, and an unimaginably dreadful power also fell from above.

At this moment, the wind, thunder, and celestial forces, across thousands of miles of azure sky, seemed to continuously press down, following the immortal sword's boundless edge...

In that instant, all the guests instinctively leaned back, some even raising their hands to shield their heads, because everyone felt the same thing—the sky was falling!

Not to mention the Dragon Palace guests and observing avian demons, even True Phoenix Danyue, who had previously only been interested in the musical score, now had it resting on his lap. He stared blankly at the awe-inspiring sword strike in the distance, feeling an immense pressure above his head. His scalp tingled, and his pulse throbbed more intensely than usual.

In the pervasive silence, the Old Yellow Dragon's voice calmly resonated.

"The Sword of Heaven's Collapse lives up to its formidable reputation," he said. "The pressure on Lady Ying is hundreds, even thousands, of times greater than what we feel. If she cannot withstand this move, the duel will be over!"

Many guests, including aquatic creatures, ghosts, gods, and immortal cultivators, found it difficult to imagine how they could stand, or rather, survive, under such an immortal sword technique.

The Dragon Girl did not give up. At this moment, she faced Ji Yuan alone, confronting the Sword of Heaven's Collapse, as if she alone had to support the crumbling firmament. The pressure she bore in her heart was boundless.

The Dragon Girl bit her tongue hard. As blood welled at the corner of her mouth, she channeled a surge of vital essence, transforming her fear into a roaring dragon's cry.

"Aooooh—"

Following her roar, the Dragon Girl continuously boosted her magical power, completing her spell. Simultaneously, her form descended, transforming into a beautiful, iridescent *chili* dragon before touching the sea surface.

"Rumble..."

The sea surface seemed to continuously rise. In her true dragon form, she drew billions of gallons of seawater to surge towards the incoming sword momentum, as if the ocean's entire surface was elevating.

The Green Vine Sword descended with a sharp hum. All the water dragons that had been chasing Ji Yuan collapsed, turning back into water and falling. Ji Yuan stopped his ascent, his sword-finger still pointed at the Dragon Girl. This scene appeared as if the sky and the sea were about to collide.

"Ji Yuan!"

The Old Dragon's anxious voice suddenly rang in Ji Yuan's ears. Although the rising sea's might seemed extraordinary, how could it compare to the Heaven's Collapse Sword's universe-condensing power? Even if the Heaven's Collapse Sword's strength lay more in its momentum than its direct force, this falling strike still had the potential to severely injure the Dragon Girl.

Ji Yuan seemed to pay no heed. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the bright dragon eyes of the colossal dragon in the sea, maintaining the sword's descent.

"Clank—"

Between the sky and the sea, a profound, obscure change seemed to occur in an instant. It was as if everyone was momentarily deaf and blind, or perhaps that moment was merely an illusion.

But after that instant, all the rising seawater collapsed. A true dragon also plummeted with the water, as if dragon blood was scattering and dragon scales were shattering and falling. Yet, the immortal sword's light continued to pursue the true dragon downwards.

"Aooooh—"

At this critical moment, the seemingly soft and powerless *chili* dragon suddenly swung its tail, striking the immortal sword with its iridescent glow.

"Clang—"

The iridescent light on the dragon's tail shattered, and scales scattered, but the immortal sword's light was successfully intercepted. The Green Vine Sword, being sentient, chose not to pursue the Dragon Girl after its strike was blocked, transforming into a streak of light and returning to Ji Yuan's side.

After the *chili* dragon's tail strike, it continued to fall, but its descent gradually slowed. Just as it neared the sea surface, it transformed back into human form.

Ying Ruoli's clothes were somewhat tattered, and she was barefoot. Her bare feet lightly touched the sea surface, causing the turbulent waters beneath her to calm prematurely, becoming still as an ancient well.

Around her, an endless deluge of seawater cascaded down, as if the Heavenly River had burst its banks, yet the area beneath the Dragon Girl's feet remained tranquil.

The Dragon Girl was slightly breathless. She lightly wiped the corner of her mouth, and a trace of crimson vanished. Then, a folding fan appeared in her hand, emitting a brilliant golden light.

"Swish!"

The Dragon Girl snapped open the folding fan, and shimmering waves rippled with it. Her aura, far from diminishing, grew even more resolute than before.

"Uncle Ji," she declared, "Ruoli can still hold on! Ruoli has not lost yet!"