Chapter 101: Undersea Water Dragon Chant

After speaking, Yuwen Xing couldn't help but exclaim, "This person's cultivation talent is not only rarely seen in the world, but their cultivation will and courage are also exceptionally rare."

"Those seventeen powerful puppets are usually avoided by cultivators, yet Zhang Haobo does the opposite, using them to test his sword."

"If this person doesn't perish soon, their future on the Great Dao is certainly promising!"

Li Fan echoed, "Daoist Yuwen is absolutely right!"

For a long time, no further messages arrived from the other side. Clearly, Yuwen Xing had gone to spread the news to others.

Zhang Haobo, despite only recently entering the Qi Refining stage, had already managed to condense the twenty-four Sea-Stabilizing Swords, an ability typically reserved for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Was he particularly suited for this cultivation method, or was there some other reason? Interesting...

Intrigued, Li Fan immediately set off for the Tianyang Cave Mansion to investigate.

The Tianyang Cave Mansion was located within a dormant underwater volcano in the western sea area of Congyun Sea.

Since the volcanic eruption that revealed the Tianyang Cave Mansion, the underwater fire veins in the vicinity had become increasingly active.

Along the way, Li Fan occasionally saw Qi Refining cultivators walking in small groups. Their faces were alight with excitement, and their conversations inevitably revolved around Zhang Haobo, who was testing his sword. From their conversations, it seemed Zhang Haobo could now withstand the seventeen mechanical puppets for roughly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

Many people took advantage of Zhang Haobo distracting the puppets to secretly slip into the cave mansion, hoping to find opportunities. However, a tea-brewing's time was too short; before they could discover anything, Zhang Haobo would become exhausted and withdraw from the cave mansion. Consequently, these individuals became targets for the increasingly enraged puppets, suffering tragic deaths.

Nevertheless, news circulated that through these repeated sword tests, Zhang Haobo was making rapid progress. He was perhaps on the verge of breaking through to the Mid Qi Refining stage. At that point, his strength would undoubtedly take a significant leap, enabling him to hold off the puppets for an even longer duration. Others would then surely be able to "fish in troubled waters," entering the cave mansion to explore for opportunities.

Zhang Haobo, for his part, seemed largely unconcerned by this behavior, expressing no dissatisfaction. He simply continued his monotonous cycle of rest, sword testing, and rest. Consequently, more and more cultivators began to harbor their own cautious schemes. Of course, some were simply astonished by Zhang Haobo's solo feat of battling seventeen puppets and came merely to witness his prowess.

It wasn't long before Li Fan arrived at the sea area housing the Tianyang Cave Mansion. Due to the active subterranean fires, the water temperature here was noticeably higher than elsewhere. Numerous dead fish floated on the surface, a sight that persisted even after a prior cleanup. Fortunately, Li Fan had prepared in advance. After activating both a Concealment Talisman and a Fire-Bathing Talisman, he submerged himself in the seawater.

The deeper he descended, the hotter the seawater became. Nearing the seabed, the water was almost at a boil. Within an underwater volcanic crater, hot magma continuously erupted, accompanied by billowing white smoke. The magma rapidly cooled upon contact with the seawater, forming black, stony material that accumulated and spread outwards.

Many cultivators were gathered around the volcanic crater. They paid no mind to the boiling seawater or the unusual spectacle of the erupting underwater volcano. Their attention was entirely focused on Zhang Haobo, who sat in meditation with his eyes closed nearby.

As Li Fan drew closer, he overheard hushed discussions.

"'His first battle in the Mid Qi Refining stage just now... why didn't he seem to last much longer than before?'"

"'What do you know? Didn't you notice that the power of his moves was similar to when he was in the Early Qi Refining stage? He's clearly still adapting to the power gained from his breakthrough.'"

"'Exactly! I bet this time he'll definitely last for two tea-brewing durations!'"

Amidst the crowd's discussions, Zhang Haobo opened his eyes and abruptly stood up. With an unperturbed expression, he charged into the volcanic crater.

The onlookers did not follow him in. Instead, a water screen lit up in the center, displaying the scene inside the cave mansion. The seventeen puppets did not appear to be mere inanimate objects. After Zhang Haobo's repeated provocations, they had long anticipated his return and had already set up an ambush at the cave mansion's entrance. The moment he entered, they launched an immediate assault.

Zhang Haobo remained unhurried, his twenty-four azure water swords guarding his sides, parrying each of the puppets' attacks. He, meanwhile, leapt and weaved incessantly through the gaps between the puppets. In the blink of an eye, he had broken through the blockade and moved beyond the puppets' encirclement. He then soared upwards, hovering in mid-air.

"'Huh? What's he trying to do?'"

"'He's not just defending anymore? Is he going to use offense to defend?'"

Amidst the onlookers' gasps, Zhang Haobo's gaze, sharp as lightning, fixed on the puppets below as he formed a hand seal. In an instant, the speed of the twenty-four water swords suddenly accelerated several-fold. Like a sudden storm, they rained down upon the mechanical puppets.

The water swords danced ceaselessly like spirits, creating countless illusions. At first glance, blue shadows crisscrossed the arena, as if hundreds or thousands of water swords had appeared simultaneously. The mechanical puppets' bodies were incredibly tough; the water swords striking them couldn't even leave faint white marks, only causing their movements to momentarily falter. However, no sooner had they recovered from this brief pause than the water swords' attacks came relentlessly. Consequently, their movements once again became rigid. The water swords' attacks were like a continuous waterfall, relentless, forcing the mechanical puppets to do nothing but parry.

Zhang Haobo had surprisingly managed to suppress seventeen puppets all by himself!

Outside the cave mansion, all the cultivators witnessing this scene were dumbfounded, their hearts surging with emotion.

"'Is this Zhang Haobo truly in the Mid Qi Refining stage? What cultivation method does he practice? He's incredibly strong!'"

"'They say he's only been cultivating for just over a year? He's truly a heaven-sent genius!'"

"'Fellow Daoists, quickly charge! I see these puppets can barely lift their heads. Now is a perfect opportunity for us to explore the cave mansion for treasures!'"

Amidst the crowd, someone suddenly shouted, inciting the others. His words sounded quite reasonable, and so, everyone began to stir restlessly.

Just then, a rather robust man shook his head and said, "I don't believe so. While Daoist Zhang's technique is indeed formidable, it must consume immense vital energy and cannot be sustained. I fear he won't last as long this time as he did before."

Everyone paused at his words, and after a moment of contemplation, they all slowly nodded.

Li Fan, meanwhile, frowned slightly as he stared at Zhang Haobo on the water screen. Li Fan naturally recognized the move Zhang Haobo had just employed: a killing technique from the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Sword.

It was the "Water Dragon's Roar." The sword danced like a dragon, moving unrestrainedly. It boasted a wide attack range, rapid strikes, and powerful destructive force. Its power was truly extraordinary. However, it demanded immense spiritual energy consumption and could generally only be unleashed by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even Baili Chen, who had also been in the Mid Qi Refining stage and cultivated the complete version of the "Sea-Stabilizing Divine Sword," could not execute this move.

What puzzled Li Fan was that, while Zhang Haobo's talent undoubtedly far exceeded Baili Chen's, he was still only in the Mid Qi Refining stage after all. This "Water Dragon's Roar" technique was destined not to last long. Yet, Zhang Haobo now appeared remarkably confident, as if he had no concerns about his spiritual energy running out.

Why was this the case?