Book One, Chapter 13: Victory or Defeat, Life or Death

The War Dragon Emperor’s attacks were fierce and unrestrained, wielding various great Dao principles as if they were at his whim, effortlessly summoned. Coupled with the might of the War Dragon Halberd, Lin Yang gradually found himself slipping into a defensive posture against the overwhelming force.

Yet, despite this, the War Dragon Emperor never showed the slightest sign of slackening. Every strike was delivered with full strength, worthy of one who had endured countless battles and earned the title of War Dragon Emperor.

Among the nine incarnations of the Ancestral Dragon, he was the most adept at combat.

Unable to hold the line alone, Lin Yang called forth the nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragon to join the fray. The nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragon formed a grand formation, weaving seamlessly into the intense battle.

As the formation reached its peak, the forms of the nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragons vanished, leaving only terrifying poisonous flames swirling in a circle. From afar, it appeared as a dark red halo.

This formation enveloped the War Dragon Emperor, attempting to suppress him.

However, under such circumstances, the War Dragon Emperor’s fighting spirit only soared higher, his roars shaking heaven and earth.

He even flung the War Dragon Halberd from his hand, which transformed into a Qinglong (Azure Dragon). Although its body was not as magnificent as the War Dragon Emperor’s own true form, it was still enormous.

The Qinglong, born from the War Dragon Halberd, swung its head and tail, striking alongside the War Dragon Emperor.

At this moment, the War Dragon Emperor shifted into another form—dragon-headed and human-bodied—with his upper body transformed into that of a dragon, as if to fully unleash his combat prowess.

Besides his dragon head, his hands morphed into massive dragon claws.

The War Dragon Emperor’s claws tore through the air fiercely, releasing streaks of azure light in all directions, their terrifying power unmatched.

After only a brief fight, the nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragons could no longer conceal their forms and reappeared from the formation, each dragon grievously wounded.

It was clear that if this continued, defeat was inevitable.

Had the War Dragon Emperor not intended to reclaim these nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragons, he would have already unleashed his most ruthless techniques to annihilate them one by one.

Sometimes, the gap in strength is truly stark. Although both were Great Dao Immortals, the War Dragon Emperor dispatched these Ancient Poison Dragons with ease.

Lin Yang realized the situation could not continue.

Suddenly, he once again summoned his primordial spirit, manifesting a gigantic vine above his head.

“Boom!”

Lin Yang’s primordial spirit expanded immensely; the colossal Innate Gourd Vine sent forth countless tendrils, flailing in all directions. In an instant, it ensnared the Qinglong form of the War Dragon Halberd.

The halberd reverted to its original form, still struggling to break free.

But at this moment, Lin Yang exerted his full strength to suppress it firmly.

Simultaneously, more tendrils shot toward the War Dragon Emperor, attempting to bind him as well.

However, the War Dragon Emperor was not so easily restrained. While fending off the tendrils flying in from all sides, he revealed a look of surprise mixed with understanding.

“So that’s it. You call yourself Fate because you are the Innate Gourd Vine incarnate!”

The War Dragon Emperor finally grasped Lin Yang’s true identity, and a spark of eager admiration flickered in his eyes.

The Innate Gourd Vine was one of the Ten Great Spiritual Roots of the Primal Era. In other words, there were only ten such roots in the entire Primordial World, and even the Ancestral Dragon had never possessed any of them.

Until this very moment, he had finally encountered one—this Innate Gourd Vine was the true form of the Yin-Yang Daoist.

Overcome with joy, the War Dragon Emperor laughed heartily: “Good, good, good! Once I reduce you to your original form and erase your consciousness, I shall finally claim one of the Ten Great Spiritual Roots!”

His divine attacks grew even more ferocious, forcing Lin Yang’s primordial spirit to retreat continuously, the tendrils unable to reach him.

This was the most critical moment.

For Lin Yang had now summoned his primordial spirit in full desperation—a sign of fighting with his life on the line.

Then the nine-headed Ancient Poison Dragons launched themselves fiercely at the War Dragon Emperor.

Enraged, the War Dragon Emperor bellowed, “Do you all seek death?”

With a single punch, he struck one of the Ancient Poison Dragons, this time unleashing his full power without restraint.

That Ancient Poison Dragon was sent flying, bones broken, sinews torn, coughing up blood, its body contorted in agony.

It was clearly gravely injured by the blow.

One after another, the War Dragon Emperor dealt crushing blows to the Ancient Poison Dragons, leaving nearly all of them combat-crippled.

However, after he had battered six of the Ancient Poison Dragons away, they had bought Lin Yang precious time.

Countless vines slithered in from all directions, some emerging even from beneath the ground.

The innumerable tendrils finally entwined around the War Dragon Emperor’s body, lifting him into the air.

Bound tightly by the vines, the War Dragon Emperor was utterly immobilized.

The tendrils tightened, even digging into his flesh and blood.

Blood flowed steadily but did not drip down; instead, the vines absorbed it directly.

The Innate Gourd Vine was drawing not only his blood but also his magical power and cultivation, siphoning them relentlessly.

With a single misstep, the situation had taken a drastic turn. Each passing second left the War Dragon Emperor feeling weaker.

At this rate, it would not be long before he was completely drained.

Yet just as it seemed the War Dragon Emperor was fully bound, unable to resist, he suddenly vanished.

The Dao of Space!

At this critical juncture, the War Dragon Emperor employed the Space Dao again, using void displacement to escape the Innate Gourd Vine’s bonds.

The next moment, he reappeared directly before Lin Yang.

At such close range, given their power disparity, Lin Yang could not withstand the War Dragon Emperor’s assault, even if the latter was unarmed.

For Lin Yang had poured all his strength into the Innate Gourd Vine primordial spirit.

Now, after a single misstep, the tide had reversed once more, and Lin Yang faced a life-or-death crisis.

Yet at this moment, the War Dragon Emperor relaxed, confident of victory.

At such proximity, Lin Yang would need time to summon his primordial spirit back to attack or defend himself.

Though brief, this interval was more than sufficient.

He could kill Lin Yang repeatedly within this time.

Thus, victory was his; Lin Yang’s fate lay entirely at his will.

“Fate Daoist, it’s all over!” the War Dragon Emperor said coldly.

But then, a strange and triumphant expression appeared on Lin Yang’s face.

“Is it?” Lin Yang seemed utterly unconcerned about his impending doom, as if it were the War Dragon Emperor who was truly trapped in a cage of his own making, falsely assured of victory.

“It’s over now—but it’s over for you!”

Without giving the War Dragon Emperor time to react, Lin Yang suddenly commanded, “My dear, turn around!”

“Boom!”

A flash of white light surged forth, within it vaguely appearing a creature with eyebrows, wings, a head, and eyes. White beams shot from its eyes, locking down the War Dragon Emperor.